SECTION | PAGE ## TITLE FOR THE SPORT/ BUSINESS SKYBOX FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Queen recognizes photographer Alex Mustard to be awarded MBE for his work B2 Celebrating Cayman’s Coat of Arms Festivities in George Town feature fireworks and music B5 Food & Drink Events Events ■ FOOD & DRINK Tapas Marvelous mangos are back in season From Nam Doc to Julies, get them while you can! B3 Exciting events for all ages KidFest and a Jean Michel-Cousteau film are both geared towards families B6 STOLI FLAVOURS2 for $ 56 Until 31 July FLAVORS SAVE $ 6 For the Month of June REG. $33.99 NOW $27.99 STOLI FLAVOURS 2 for $56 Until 31 July Tapas Tahu @ New restaurant in Caribbean Plaza has distinctly Spanish flavor. B7 PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Chef Nicolau Pla CAYMAN WEEKENDER Tapas @ Tahu High of 88 Low of 76 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 FOR THE RECORD: THE COST OF OBTAINING PUBLIC COURT DOCUMENTS ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018 Prisons seeking extra space to house inmates BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands public prisons facilities will need more available space, both immedi- ately and in the longer term to keep up with current and future demands, local law en- forcement officials acknowledged this week. However, it was not known as of Thursday precisely where space would be found to serve the short-term need to ease prisoner overflows occurring at both the main adult men’s facility at Northward and at the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service jail facility. By Wednesday of this week, the adult male prison population on Grand Cayman had reached critical mass, with 221 people being housed at Her Majesty’s Prison, North- ward in Bodden Town – a facility with a stated maximum capacity of 213. Since at least March of this year, North- ward Prison has been steadily sending re- mand prisoners – those whose criminal charges before the court have not been re- solved – to the RCIPS detention center in Fairbanks, George Town. The police deten- tion center is only meant to house criminal suspects RCIPS officers have arrested, not charged individuals being held in prison awaiting trial. However, as of Wednesday, there were nine such remand prisoners in the police UCCI NURSING BUILDING TO BE DELAYED MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Plans for constructing a nursing building at the University College of the Cayman Is- lands have been delayed due to a planned road widening that will take away space needed for student parking. UCCI established a bachelor’s degree nursing program five years ago and is pre- paring to graduate its second class of nurses. Officials had expected to break ground on a dedicated building for the program by the end of the calendar year. That now looks unlikely. Anthony Ritch, chairman of the college’s board of governors, said he was told by a rep- resentative of the National Roads Authority two months ago that it had raised concerns about the planned building. The NRA has plans of its own to widen Olympic Avenue, the street that separates UCCI from the new John Gray High School, which is still under construction. The widening is reportedly nec- essary to accommodate more traffic flow once the high school is opened. “The NRA came along and said, ‘We have a road to widen and we’re going to have to take some parking spots,’” Mr. Ritch told a meeting of the UCCI board on Wednesday, adding that no formal discussion or notification on the plans had taken place. “I guess it’s all govern- ment land and they’re letting us know they’re taking a little bit more of it.” The original plans for the nursing building were denied by the Central Planning Au- thority because they did not provide for ade- quate parking. UCCI’s architects had modified the building plans to provide for additional parking and were ready to resubmit them. But with the announcement of the road wid- ening, which could eliminate as many as a dozen parking spots, UCCI officials deemed it unlikely that the modified plans would be JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com As thick mats of yellow seaweed continue to invade Cayman’s beaches, canals and har- bors, environment officials are warning the cure could be worse than the problem. The Department of Environment fears ef- forts to clear sargassum from Cayman’s coast- line risk destabilizing beaches and crushing sea turtle nests. Anyone seeking to use heavy machinery to remove the seaweed requires written permis- sion from the DoE. Officials are also asking property owners to consult them before con- ducting any kind of clean-up. The department generally advises people to leave sargassum seaweed where it is, as it is a naturally occurring phenomenon which can help nourish and stabilize beaches. But the scale of the influx this year has caused problems for hotels, restaurants and businesses across Grand Cayman. The foul- smelling seaweed has clogged up the coastline, preventing people from swimming in some places and causing a range of other issues. In West Bay, a kitesurfer had to be res- cued by marine police after the lines of his kite got tangled in sargassum and he was un- able to launch it, leaving him stranded at sea. Jhon Mora, who runs Kitesurf Cayman, said Caribbean community discovers Cayman’s heritage Anthony Eden, MLA for Bodden Town West, left, shares the cultural heritage of Cayman’s historic outside kitchens with delegates visiting Cayman for the 43rd regional conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Delegates enjoyed a day of cultural tours Thursday, including a visit to historic Bodden Town. To the right is Isle of Man Speaker of the House Juan Watterson. To read more about the CPA tour, please see page 6. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Clearing sargassum comes with environmental risks2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS West Shore Center, Seven Mile Beach • 10am to 10pm Fresh, Healthy & Delicious! Cayman Cookin’ Over a Wood Fire! Internati onal Award-Winning Caribbean Chicken! Dine-in!Take-out! Indulge on a feast for 2 to 4 or 6 or more! With an awesome selection of sides to choose from. 945-2290 Young musicians head to prestigious summer camp JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com With no cellphones and no internet, the Lu- zerne Music Center might not be the summer vaca- tion destination of choice for many youngsters. But for Amare Hamilton, 12, and Dequan Smith-McCo- nvey, 15, the chance to spend a month at the elite music camp is an opportunity not to be missed. Sponsored by the Cayman Arts Festival, the talented students will play alongside gifted musicians from across the world at the prestigious music center in New York State. Situated in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, the school states its mis- sion is to provide intensive world-class tuition to gifted youngsters in a distraction- free environment. Amare, a violinist, left Cayman to join the camp last weekend. Speaking to the Cayman Compass before his departure, he said he was grateful for the opportunity and determined to make the most of his chance. “I think I am going to have a great time and a great expe- rience and try to perfect my skills and become a better vi- olinist,” he said. “I think I am going to be homesick but I think the idea of not having a phone is good because you won’t be dis- tracted. People will be prac- ticing as much as they can.” Dequan, a cellist who as- pires to play professionally, will be attending the camp for the second time. The senior session, which he will attend, starts July 17. He said taking part in the camp last year had helped him improve as a musician. “There are some world- class musicians in this place and just by being around them, you end up becoming better,” he said. Amare and Dequan are two of around 100 students that receive music tuition through the “gifted and tal- ented” program organized by the Cayman Arts Festival. Fran McConvey, a music teacher at John Gray High School, said the summer camp would allow them to hone their craft along- side world-class musicians and instructors. “It is going to be an amazing opportunity for them to learn with other tal- ented kids. The standard is so high, it also gives them a chance to see where they stand,” she said. For the past four years, the Cayman Arts Festival has sent one student to the Lu- zerne Music Center summer camps. This year is the first time they have been able to send two students. Chess champ wins 22 games at once Four-time women’s world chess champion, Hou Yifan, took on 22 challengers in the Cayman Islands this week and emerged victorious in every game. The Chinese chess prodigy played all 22 games at one time in an event at the Kimpton to support chess programs in local schools. Businesses who sponsor the schools program, including Dart, Ogier and BDO, put up representatives to take on the maestro in the event Tuesday. The “last man standing” was Johan Otto from Dart who outlasted the other competitors. Shaun Tracey, who founded the Cayman Chess Association, said, “Despite the four-time women’s world champion de- feating all of her challengers, a good time was had by all.” In a separate event Monday, Ms. Hou also played simul- taneous matches against 20 youngsters from the Cayman school chess program at George Town Public Library. Her challengers included five students from East End Primary, as well as the stron- gest local junior, Enfield Bush, who recently competed at a tournament in Jamaica. Ms. Hou said she was glad her visit helped generate publicity for the school pro- gram and hopes to return to the island soon. Mr. Tracey said the school chess program still needed further sponsors and was seeking government funding for the next academic year. Anyone interested in assisting can call Mr. Tracey on 525-5862 or Carlo Lee on 924-6246. New pleas for three Jamaican nationals in drug bust SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com A trio of Jamaican na- tionals pleaded not guilty to charges of being con- cerned in the importa- tion of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, and possession with intent to supply MDMA on Thursday. The three men – Assad Adana Walker, Fitzroy Ottey and Owen Omar Reid – were arrested in March as part of a drug bust that netted 313 pounds of ganja. They previously pleaded guilty to both importa- tion of ganja and posses- sion of ganja with intent to supply before Thursday’s court appearance. The three men are also charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition, but they have not pleaded to those counts. The trio elected to hear that case in Grand Court on Thursday, and they will next appear in court on July 3 for a prelim- inary inquiry. Mr. Walker, Mr. Ottey and Mr. Reid were appre- hended March 2 after the Joint Marine Unit discov- ered a canoe with three men aboard. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said that the men were observed throwing packages over- board, and they were later apprehended by police. The packages con- tained a large quantity of ganja, a .38-caliber revolver handgun and 49 rounds of ammunition. Magis- trate Valdis Foldats said Thursday that 49.3 grams of MDMA were recovered. “They’re looking at a few years for their guilty plea in any case,” said Magistrate Foldats on Thursday. Mr. Walker is being rep- resented by defense at- torney Neil Kumar, and Mr. Reid is defended by Prathna Bodden. The last defendant, Mr. Ottey, is being repre- sented by Jonathon Hughes. Dequan Smith-McConvey, right, plays with the orchestra at John Gray High School. He will be returning to music camp in New York for the second time. - PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER FLETCHER CORRECTION A story on the gender gap in college bound students on page 3 of Thursday’s Compass contained errors in the per- centage increase from 2010 to 2016 in scholarship recip- ients. The correct figures are as follows: Total recipients: 45 percent increase; female recipients: 57 percent increase; male recipients: 25 percent increase. The packages contained a large quantity of ganja, a .38 caliber revolver handgun and 49 rounds of ammunition. Magistrate Valdis Foldats said Thursday that 49.3 grams of MDMA were recovered. Four-time women’s world chess champion Hou Yifan faces Sandipan Bhowmik, left, and Denis Thilbeault during a 22-game competition at the Kimpton. - PHOTO: CARLO LEEThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018 An important message from the Registrar of Companies Owners of registered companies are legally required to fi le benefi cial ownership information by Saturday, 30 June 2018 1. Why is this needed? Cayman companies are required by Law to maintain and le bene cial ownership information, in line with international standards and commitments to combat money laundering, tax evasion and terrorist nancing. This regime is aimed at improving the exchange of information between Cayman and international regulatory, enforcement and tax authorities. Once led, the information will be stored on the Cayman Islands Government’s centralised bene cial ownership platform. 2. I haven’t fi led yet. What do I do? If you don’t use a licensed service provider (such as a law rm, or corporate administration company) to maintain and le your BO information, you must register your bene cial ownership information with General Registry using the secure, online Cayman Business Portal (www.cbp.ky). 3. How do I fi le the benefi cial ownership information? Is there a fee? • There is no fee. • On www.cbp.ky, click the ‘Get Started Today’ button (circled in the image below). Have a current email address and a valid form of identi cation handy. • Once you have CBP access, le your bene cial ownership information by Saturday, 30 June 2018. 4. Who is a benefi cial owner? A bene cial owner of a company: • holds, directly or indirectly, more than 25% of the shares or voting rights in the company; • or has the right to appoint or remove a majority of the company’s board of directors. • if no individual in the company meets these conditions, the bene cial owner is the person who (directly or indirectly) has signi cant in uence or control over the company, through either direct or indirect ownership. This does not apply if such control is solely in the capacity of a manager, director, or adviser. 5. What happens if I don’t fi le benefi cial ownership information? Among other penalties, your company can be struck o the Companies Register; and the assets of your company can be vested with Government, in accordance with The Companies Law. 6. Will I benefi t from using the CBP? Yes. Once registered, you’ll have 24/7 access to: • Certi cates (Good Standing, Incorporation, etc.) • Filing directors and o cers • Registering non-pro t organisations • Paying annual fees and ling of returns • Retrieving certi ed copies of documents Have questions? Call the Registrar on 946-7922, or email help@cbp.ky or cigenreg@gov.kyThe 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. The Compass does not usually engage in “check- book journalism,” but this week we were forced to pay cash for a story – not to a source looking for a quick payday, but to the Cayman Islands government. Here’s what happened: A reporter went to the courthouse on Tuesday to examine a writ filed in Grand Court regarding the legal challenge to Cayman’s same-sex marriage ban, and to check on a document for an unrelated case in the Financial Services Division of the court. By law, those court documents are available for inspection by the public (not just journalists). But to access them, one must pay various costs prescribed in the Court Fees Rules for inspection and copying. Few people – not us – would argue against officials charging reasonable fees for public records, in order to ensure the sustainability of the process of obtaining those records. Read the following, and determine for yourself if Cayman’s court fees are reasonable, or verge on punitive: Our reporter approached the cashier and said he wanted to search the records. She asked which area, Grand Court or Financial Services Division? The reporter answered, “both.” She advised him he would have to pay a $20 search fee for each. (The Grand Court and Financial Services Division records are located in the same room, inside binders in adjacent cabinets.) The reporter paid the $40. The cashier allowed him into the room. The reporter searched the Grand Court binder, discovering the gay marriage writ was not yet there. In the Financial Services binder, he did find the document he sought. In order to make a photocopy of the document, the reporter was charged another $20, plus an additional 50 cents per page (for six pages). The final price for Tuesday’s search: $63. On Wednesday, the reporter returned to the court to search again for the gay marriage writ. This time, it was in the binder. He paid another $20 search fee, another $20 for permission to copy and an additional 50 cents per page (for 27 pages). The final price for Wednesday’s search: $53.50. In all, it cost the Compass $116.50 to secure copies of two public records totaling 33 pages, including $73.50 for the writ we needed to report Thursday’s front page story, informing the country of a substantial challenge to Cayman’s marriage law. Don’t feel sorry for our reporter – the Compass picks up the tab for expenses such as payments for public records. As a company, we can absorb the costs, but for many individuals in Cayman, such expenses could con- stitute a real burden, and an obstacle to gaining informa- tion about litigation in which they, a family member or associate may be involved. Who has the time, patience, and knowledge to navigate those bureaucratic rapids, sift through binders of legalese or locate the court records room in the first place? (FYI, it’s on the third floor of Kirk House on Albert Panton Street downtown.) Is it the court system’s intention to foster an informed citizenry, or to turn a profit? The court clamped down on its open records policy (and effectively hiked the cost of obtaining records) in spring 2017, causing a bit of an international stir. The affair settled down somewhat in June 2017, when the Grand Court Rules Committee – composed of Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin and two local attorneys – met to consider revising the court records policy. After that meeting, court administrator Suzanne Bothwell said, “I can confirm that steps are currently under way to make available online, on the Judicial Website, free of cost, the inspection of all public regis- ters, including unreported judgments. This is aimed at expanding the public’s access to court records.” A full year later, updates from Ms. Bothwell on the supposedly ongoing digitization process have become more and more sporadic. To date, the promise of free, online, public court records has not yielded any results or demonstrable evidence of progress. If anything, the court system has become more aggressive about charging fees for records that formerly were available for free, such as autopsy reports. One is tempted to wonder, if court officials eventu- ally declare that the free public online register project is dead, will they charge us for that autopsy report, too? For the record: The cost of obtaining public court documents FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Can Bill Weld restore conservatism? WASHINGTON – “This,” ex- claimed Margaret Thatcher, thumping Friedrich Hayek’s 500-page tome “The Consti- tution of Liberty” on a table in front of some Conservative Party colleagues, “is what we believe.” It also is what Bill Weld believes, which is why he aspires to be the Liber- tarian Party’s 2020 presiden- tial candidate. The former twice-elected Republican governor of Mas- sachusetts has been visiting Libertarian Party state con- ventions and will be in New Orleans at the national con- vention June 30 – July 3. There he will try to convince the party, which sometimes is too interested in merely sending a message (liberty is good), to send into the au- tumn of 2020 a candidate rep- resenting what a broad swath of Americans say they favor – limited government, fiscal re- sponsibility, free trade, the rule of law, entitlement re- alism and other artifacts from the Republican wreckage. Once when a Democrat noted that Weld’s ancestors had arrived on the Mayflower, Weld replied, “Actually, they weren’t on the Mayflower. They sent the servants over first to get the cottage ready.” He was the 19th Weld – the first was in the Class of 1650 – to graduate from Harvard. Since then, the 20th and 21st have attended – two of the five children he had with his first wife, Theodore Roo- sevelt’s great-granddaughter. Two Harvard buildings are named for Welds. Bill Weld, who majored in classics, took philosophy classes from Robert Nozick, whose “Anarchy, State and Utopia,” a canonical text of libertarianism, argues that “the minimal state is inspiring as well as right.” Weld served in Ronald Reagan’s adminis- tration for seven years, five years as U.S. attorney for Massachusetts. Next, Weld was head of the Justice De- partment’s Criminal Division. There he brought from San Francisco, as his replacement in Massachusetts, a man “who might be the straightest guy I’ve ever met,” Robert Mueller. Weld’s sandy-reddish hair is still abundant and, at 72, he is eager to build on his 2016 experience as the Libertar- ians’ vice presidential nom- inee. During that campaign, “I carried around with me every day” the 10th Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Con- stitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.” Noting that the Articles of Confedera- tion excellently referred to powers not “expressly” del- egated, Weld says, “I might have been an anti-Federalist.” Imagine having a president who knows that there were anti-Federalists. The top of the Libertar- ians’ 2016 ticket was an- other ex-governor, New Mex- ico’s Gary Johnson, who was too interested in marijuana and not interested enough in Syria to recognize the name Aleppo. Weld, however, is ready for prime time. During a recent break- fast at the Hay-Adams hotel across Lafayette Square from the White House, Weld re- called how as governor he taught agencies to not expect “last year’s appropriation plus 5 percent.” He cut taxes 21 times and raised none. A believer in freedom for what Nozick called “capitalist acts between consenting adults,” Weld says his most satisfying achievement was cutting the 6 percent tax on long-term capital gains by 1 point for each year the asset is held. If the florid face of to- day’s snarling GOP wants to be re-nominated, he will be. Five-hundred days into his presidency he had 87 percent approval among Republicans, 10 points above Ronald Rea- gan’s rating at 500 days. And in the autumn of 2019, up- ward of 20 Democratic presi- dential aspirants might clog the stages at “debates” that could become contests to see who can most arrestingly pander to activists who are enamored of “Medicare for all,” government-guaranteed jobs, and generally gobs of free stuff (college tuition, etc.). If in autumn 2020 voters face a second consecutive re- pulsive choice, there will be running room between the two deplorables. Because of its 2016 efforts, the Liber- tarian Party will automati- cally be on 39 states’ ballots this fall and has a sufficient infantry of volunteers to se- cure ballot access in another nine. So, if the Libertarian Party is willing, 2020s poli- tics could have an ingredient recently missing from pres- idential politics: fun. And maybe a serious disruption of the party duopoly that in- creasing millions find an- noying. Stranger things have happened, as a glance across Lafayette Square confirms. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2018, Washington Post Writers Group GEORGE F. WILL Because of its 2016 efforts, the Libertarian Party will automatically be on 39 states’ ballots this fall and has a sufficient infantry of volunteers to secure ballot access in another nine. 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018 LOM Financial (Cayman) is licensed to conduct Investment Business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. www.lom.com The future is bright. LOM offers tailored products to suit your needs. We pride ourselves in offering a personalised service and dedicated account managers to give you the flexibility and security you deserve. Contact us today at +1 (345) 233 0100 or info@lom.com One man in court for Tuesday’s ganja bust No mention made of others being charged CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com One man appeared in Summary Court on Thursday in connection with the ganja reportedly offloaded at Smith Barcadere earlier this week. The defendant, Franklin Alexander Hinds, was charged with possession of 623 pounds of ganja with in- tent to supply. He was ad- vised of his right to speak to an attorney for free and then apply for legal aid. Defense counsel Neil Kumar appeared for him at this early stage and the defendant was not asked to say anything. Police issued a press re- lease about the incident on Wednesday, saying five males had been arrested. Director of Public Prose- cutions Cheryll Richards at- tended court for the Crown. She advised Magistrate Valdis Foldats that mat- ters were still at a prelim- inary stage. For example, there was a GPS to be ex- amined, as well as phones, she indicated. The magistrate said he was very impressed with the size of the disclosure bundle – the papers in the case for the defendant to read and see the case against him. He commended the officers in the matter and the DPP’s of- fice for getting it prepared so quickly, since the incident had occurred on June 19. Ms. Richards said there was likely to be more infor- mation and she agreed to send it to Mr. Kumar. The next mention was set for July 10. Neither she nor anyone else made mention of any other person being charged. Approached afterward, Ms. Richards said only, “Investi- gations are ongoing.” The court file showed a Bodden Town address for Mr. Hinds and listed his age as 25. Other people were men- tioned in the police press re- lease as being arrested on suspicion of importation of ganja. They were described by age and district – one man, 29 of West Bay; and three of George Town, ages 15, 25 and 30. Their arrests came after officers from the Joint Ma- rine and Air Operations Units were conducting border pa- trols along South Sound around 3:30 a.m. A vessel was spotted offloading pack- ages on the beach near Smith Barcadere. Assistance was re- quested from land-based of- ficers, who pursued several people along the beach area. In addition to the drugs, a vessel and two vehi- cles were seized. TRIAL DATE SET FOR DORA DUO IN ANIMAL CRUELTY CASE SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Andrei James Chal- lenger and James Rolin Challenger, the pair of men charged in an animal cruelty case involving a dog named Dora, appeared in court and had their trial date set on Thursday. The two men will have their case heard in Summary Court on Nov. 19 and 20. Andrei James Chal- lenger is represented by Dennis Brady, and he is been charged with cruelty to an animal, causing unneces- sary suffering and failing to exercise proper care and supervision. His father, James Rolin Challenger, is being repre- sented by Richard Barton. The elder Mr. Challenger has been charged with causing unnecessary suffering and failing to exercise proper care and supervision. Both men have pleaded not guilty to all charges laid in front of them. Dora was believed to be between one and two years old at the time of her wounding last May. The dog was pregnant and suffered extensive burns to her flank and abdomen. Dora lost her litter of puppies but was saved after emergency sur- gery by Dr. Brenda Bush at Island Veterinary Services. Magistrate Valdis Foldats said Thursday that all wit- nesses will be needed to tes- tify at the trial, and he ex- pected that the proceedings could take a full day and possibly a second. “The defense is basically a denial,” said Magistrate Foldats of the defendants. Animal cruelty charges brought against police constable SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com A 26-year-old George Town man has been charged with one count of animal cruelty following a Depart- ment of Agriculture investi- gation into an incident from December of last year. The man, who is em- ployed as a police constable with the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service, al- legedly delayed veteri- nary treatment to his dog after it had been struck by a vehicle. The man was arrested by a DOA staffer on June 13 and is currently out on bail. An investigation by the Cayman Compass last De- cember revealed that the Department of Agriculture had investigated 105 cases of animal cruelty and ne- glect in 2016 and 2017. Only one of those cases resulted in prosecution, and as of Thursday, that case was still winding its way through the court system. That case involved a dog named Rufus that suf- fered burns to his back when its owner tried to use Pine-Sol to rid him of ex- ternal parasites. The dog’s owner pleaded guilty to cruelty to an animal.6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman cultural heritage impresses visiting CPA delegates Local church reaches silver anniversary ROTARY PROMOTES AWARENESS ABOUT DISABLED PARKING Christ the Redeemer Cath- olic Church celebrated its 25th anniversary on June 17 with a Silver Anniversary Mass officiated by the Rev. Devon Nash, and assisted by the Rev. Suresh Rajaian and the Rev. Naveen D’Souza. The 200-seat church had an official groundbreaking ceremony in the summer of 1992, and after funds were successfully raised, the building was constructed by Gilles Langlois of K Coast Development. The new facility was of- ficially dedicated as Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church on Easter Sunday – April 11 – of 1993 in a cer- emony officiated by the late Archbishop of Kingston, Ja- maica, the Most Rev. Samuel Carter. Rev. Nash assisted in that ceremony, as did Monsi- gnor John Meaney. The church was sparsely attended in the first few years, but it has grown to hold an average weekly at- tendance of more than 175 people. During the tourist high season from November to April, the church is reg- ularly filled with an atten- dance level greater than its stated capacity. More land was pur- chased along the south boundary of the church in 2010 for the purpose of ex- panding the building’s parking lot. Rev. Rajaian launched a fundraising ap- peal in April for the acquisi- tion of a 52,000-square-foot parcel of land adjacent to the parking area. That purchase is expected to be completed at some point in this calendar year. Rotary Central Cayman Islands launched a national awareness campaign, “Not Your Spot,” on June 14 to educate the public of the proper and improper use of designated disabled parking spots, as well as their importance to dis- abled members of the local community. “It is imperative that Cayman’s community comes together on the issue of illegal parking in dis- abled spots,” said Susie Bodden, president of Ro- tary Central Cayman Is- lands. “Disabled parking spots and blue badges are an essential service for Cayman’s disabled pop- ulation, allowing ease of access to workplaces, shops and other basic re- quired services.” The campaign will be communicated through the media, printed flyers and posters. Rotary Central will be partnering with DMS Broadcasting and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice to spread the mes- sage throughout the en- tire community. JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Delegates from the Carib- bean community discovered Cayman’s cultural heritage on display at Nurse Josie’s Heritage House in Bodden Town Thursday. Here for the 43rd Annual Commonwealth Parliamen- tary Association Regional Conference, some 62 dele- gates from approximately 20 commonwealth countries will be in Cayman until June 23. The tour of the heritage house Thursday morning was the first on their agenda of culture experiences. Mary Lawrence, chair- person of the Bodden Town Heritage Committee, along with committee members led delegates on a tour of two homes – Nurse Josie’s and a maritime heritage house – displaying ma- rine artifacts along with other memorabilia. “Bodden Town held the first church, the first school and first parliament where our government was formed,” boasted Ms. Lawrence as she welcomed the delegates to Bodden Town. “As you go through the two buildings, you will see a part of our history,” she con- tinued. “For 15 years, a group of senior citizens – like my- self – got together and de- cided we had to preserve the heritage of the country, which was fast slipping away and being absorbed into other areas, as we now have 130 nationalities living in the island. To be sure our heritage was preserved, we started working on the heri- tage homes in 2003.” She said they secured the first building and later the second building, which they filled with artifacts they col- lected along the way. “I like the buildings … Bodden Town is just fasci- nating. I like the poems; the poetry is sweet … the history, the culture, the artifacts. Ev- erything is just amazing, it’s a great experience,” said Zavia Walker, a Jamaican delegate on his first trip to Cayman. “The delegates have been loving the island. They like how Caymanians used to live back then, and they also said how fortunate we were compared to how they were raised. So far, they are en- joying it,” said Manesa Webb, a Legislative Assembly and parliamentary procedure clerk on tour with the group. “It has been really nice. It’s very similar to Bermuda culturally but you guys just have more of a mixture of Ca- ribbean than us, but it is very similar,” said Taj Outerbridge from Bermuda. “Its very comforting to be somewhere else like home … Its very hot though,” said Mr. Outerbridge, catching a seat under the shade of a naseberry tree. Since arriving on Tuesday, Mr. Outerbridge said the del- egates have visited the Ha- vana Club and the Legislative Assembly, but this was their first day of cultural tours as they have been in conferences since arriving. “It’s very cool that you guys are preserving your her- itage, and Bermuda should do the same. It’s been re- ally interesting,” Mr. Out- erbridge added. Laquesha Bailey from Trinidad said she really liked the island on her first trip. “It’s interesting to learn about the history and how people here lived. A lot of things are like my country in Trinidad, but there are subtle differences, and it’s nice to find out about it,” she said. Xavier Richardson, also from Trinidad and Tobago, said so far the trip has been amazing. “There is a lot of fun ac- tivities that we are doing. It’s really informative and so far, it has been great.” He said he looked forward to seeing what else the island has to offer. “The Heritage House is nice with a lot of unique artifacts and history, and things that are intricately de- signed,” he added. Welcoming delegates, An- thony Eden, MLA for Bodden Town West, said the heri- tage houses were the center of culture and heritage in the Cayman Islands. “What you will see is the greatest collection of arti- facts displayed by a handful of senior citizens,” he told the delegates. As delegates moved around the two buildings and outside where several craft works were on display, Ms. Lawrence invited the group to enjoy a taste of Cayma- nian conch chowder, coconut bread, banana bread, cassava cakes and several kinds of native drinks. The conference at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort will also in- clude the annual gen- eral meeting of the CPA, the 11th Regional Confer- ence of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians, and the 14th Annual Regional Youth Parliament. The newly renovated interior of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church. Mary Lawrence, chairperson of the Bodden Town Heritage Committee, welcomes delegates visiting Cayman for the 43rd regional CPA conference to Nurse Josie’s Heritage House in Bodden Town. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Susie BoddenThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018 A celebration of art, culture, history, and community Saturday 23 June 2018 4pm - Midnight Downtown George Town Harbourfront Free Admission All are invited to kick off the summer at this enchanting evening and multi-sensory experience. Food Stalls Arts, Craft, and Specialty Vendors Children's Activity Area 4pm to 8pm National Youth Culinary Competition & Exhibit 5pm to 7pm Fireworks 8pm Live Performances Be a part of the celebrations visit celebratecayman.kyThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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 A funeral service will be held at the Church of God Holiness, Red Bay on Sunday June 24 at 3:00 pm. Interment will follow at the Prospect Cemetery The family of the Late Celia Mercedes Menzies regrets to announce her passing on Tuesday, 12 June, 2018. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com Funeral Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, 24 June 2018 at Wesleyan Holiness Church, North West Point, West Bay. Interment will follow in Prospect Cemetery. The family of the Late Chester K. Hydes regrets to announce his passing on Monday, 18 June, 2018. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, 27 June 2018 at the Cayman Islands Seafarers Hall. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Cayman HospiceCare & The Cayman Islands Cancer Society approved. Board member Tom Simpson said there should be some accommo- dation for the loss of space. “Forget the nursing building, that impacts our regular programs,” Mr. Simpson said. He suggested that if the government was taking some of the school’s prop- erty at its entrance, it should allow the campus to expand onto other adjacent land. “There ought to be some discussion of what is your idea of expanding this campus to accommodate the nursing building?” he said. Mr. Ritch said he hoped to bring the issue up with Ministry of Education offi- cials at a meeting he is at- tempting to arrange with them in July. UCCI offi- cials have complained in the past about the amount of access they have to min- istry officials. In the meantime, he said, the construction schedule for the nursing building will be pushed down the road. “I’d love to see us have a set of approved plans by the end of the year, so we can break ground next year,” Mr. Ritch said. He added that there may be a silver lining to the situ- ation. The $1 million appor- tioned by the government for the nursing building will be returned to the gen- eral fund if it is not spent by the end of the year, Mr. Ritch said. He and other board members are hoping to gain approval to use some of the money for facility repairs on the campus. Several of the campus’ buildings have problems with leaking roofs and there is concern about whether some meet struc- tural standards. “The president has reached out to do some sur- veys to look at our roofing structures,” Mr. Ritch said. He said he believes such work is justified and that using some of the funding now will not mean less money for the nursing building in the future. “I’m satisfied we can demonstrate we’re more than just good custodians, and we deserve to have gov- ernment provide the money we need,” he said. New UCCI VP/Provost announced The search for a new pres- ident for the University Col- lege of the Cayman Islands continues, but the school has named Livingston Smith as its first vice president and provost. The new position was cre- ated last year when current President Roy Bodden an- nounced he would retire this year, and school officials de- cided to redefine the top ad- ministrative roles for UCCI. The new president, whom Board of Governors Chairman Anthony Ritch said he expects will be announced by the be- ginning of fall semester, will focus more on issues beyond the campus boundaries, such as fundraising, cooperative programs with other universi- ties and accreditation. The vice president/provost will handle the day-to-day operations of the university and make sure its programs are meeting ex- pected standards. An 18-year veteran of UCCI, Mr. Smith has taught polit- ical science, history, sociology, ethics and research meth- odology. Currently, he is di- rector of special projects and of research and publication. He has also chaired the de- partment of the social sciences and research, and is acting dean of academic affairs and administration. An honors graduate of Church Teachers’ College, Ja- maica, Mr. Smith has a bach- elor’s degree in social sciences and a master’s and Ph.D. in government. He was recently honored by Florida Interna- tional University, where he earned his Ph.D. as an out- standing alumnus. Livingston Smith has been named the new vice president/provost of UCCI. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS UCCI nursing building to be delayed Plans by UCCI to construct a nursing building could be delayed, after the National Roads Authority announced a road-widening project. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Clifton Hunter publishes student newspaper MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com A broken-down bus led to the first publication of a stu- dent newspaper at Clifton Hunter High School, which came off the presses on Thursday, just in time for graduation ceremonies. Cassidy Verona, 11, said she was impressed by her bus driver’s efforts to help another bus driver fix his ve- hicle when it broke down one day on the way to school, so students could get to school. She told a friend they should start a student newspaper to tell such stories. “I kind of like the news that is Caymanian,” Cas- sidy said. Her love of story- telling seemed an obvious fit, she said, and she en- joyed the process. “I found it a lot of fun,” she said. “It feels like I was working on something that was really important. People need to learn how to read and enjoy reading.” English teacher and li- brarian Donett Nattoo served as adviser to the newly formed Newspaper Club. She said students were en- thusiastic, initially meeting every Wednesday and, as production neared dead- line, spending their lunch breaks, free periods and even staying after school to com- plete the work. “We wanted to get it out before we go off [for summer],” said Ms. Nattoo, who is in her first year at the school. “Cassidy is going off to England for school next year.” She said neither she nor the kids had any experi- ence with newspaperwork. Principal Pauline Beckford suggested the club take a tour of the operations at Pinnacle Media. “It was really an eye- opener for the kids,” she said. The inaugural issue of Hunter News included stories on student lobbying efforts to get government to elimi- nate plastics on Cayman, a fashion guide to the annual formal dance, food stories, poetry and an editorial page. The paper was printed by Pinnacle Media Ltd., which owns the Cayman Compass. Gianni Jervis-Solomon, 12, said working on the student paper was a process that was both fun and challenging. It was worth the challenge, she said to give her peers good information. “Sometimes people start really bad rumors,” Gi- anni said. “If we have the right news, there won’t be so much argument going on. Our information is going to be true. We want to get eye- witness news.” Principal Beckford said having a school newspaper not only gives students a taste of the media, it also helps strengthen their writing as well as other skills. “I’ve been trying to get this going for six years,” Ms. Beckford said. “It’s a dream come true.” From left, Clifton Hunter Principal Pauline Beckford, newspaper advisor Donett Nattoo and student journalists Gianni Jervis-Solomon and Cassidy Verona look over the first issue of Hunter News. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSSThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JUNE 22, 2018 Churchill’s Funeral Home Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Ms. Vicki Rankin - Smith, who passed away on Monday June 18, 2018. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at Church of God Full Gospel Hall, West Bay on Saturday June 23, 2018 at 10:00 am. Viewing: Closed Casket. Interment follows at Prospect Cemetery. e have been asked to announce the passing of est Bay on Churchill’s Funeral Home Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Buel Timothy Rivers, who passed away on Friday June 8, 2018. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Saturday June 23, 2018 at North Side Civic Center at 3:00 pm. Viewing will be from 2:00 - 3:00 pm. Interment follows at North Side Cemetery. e have been asked to announce the passing of Churchill’s Funeral Home Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Daniel Caballero, who passed away on Wednesday June 13, 2018. Mr. Daniel Caballero will be repatriated to Honduras. Churchill’s Funeral Home Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Loxley Watler of Bodden Town, who passed away on Monday June 18, 2018. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at Western Memorial United Church, 261 Bodden Town on Saturday June 23, 2018 at 10:00 am. Interment follows at East End Cemetery. Happy Birthday Tonie “Montana” Rodriques OUR BROTHER, SON, DAD You gave no one a last farewell, Nor ever said good-bye. You were gone before we knew it, And only God knows why. A million times we’ve missed you. A million times we’ve cried. If love alone could have saved you, You never would have died. In life we loved you dearly, In death we love you still. In our hearts you hold a place No one else can ever fi ll. It broke our hearts to lose you, But you didn't go alone, For part of us went with you, The day that you left home. We will meet again someday Amongst the starts in the sky. We thank God He made you our Brother, Son, Dad While you were here on this earth. Always in our hearts & forever on our minds Love always, Mommy, Daddy, Taylor, Tascio, Denay, Dior, Nekita 20 June 1987—8 October 2017 Happy BirthdayHappy Birthday Tonie “Montana” RodriquesTonie “Montana” Rodriques OUR BROTHER, SON, DADOUR BROTHER, SON, DAD You gave no one a last farewell,You gave no one a last farewell,You gave no one a last farewell,You gave no one a last farewell,You gave no one a last farewell,You gave no one a last farewell,You gave no one a last farewell,You gave no one a last farewell,You gave no one a last farewell, Nor ever said good-bye.Nor ever said good-bye. You were gone before we knew it,You were gone before we knew it, And only God knows why.And only God knows why. A million times we’ve missed you.A million times we’ve missed you.A million times we’ve missed you.A million times we’ve missed you.A million times we’ve missed you.A million times we’ve missed you. A million times we’ve cried.A million times we’ve cried. If love alone could have saved you,If love alone could have saved you, You never would have died.You never would have died. In life we loved you dearly,In life we loved you dearly, In death we love you still.In death we love you still. In our hearts you hold a placeIn our hearts you hold a place No one else can ever fi ll.No one else can ever fi ll. It broke our hearts to lose you,It broke our hearts to lose you,It broke our hearts to lose you,It broke our hearts to lose you,It broke our hearts to lose you,It broke our hearts to lose you, But you didn't go alone,But you didn't go alone, For part of us went with you,For part of us went with you, The day that you left home.The day that you left home. We will meet again somedayWe will meet again someday Amongst the starts in the sky.Amongst the starts in the sky. We thank God He made you our Brother, Son, DadWe thank God He made you our Brother, Son, Dad While you were here on this earth.While you were here on this earth. Always in our hearts & forever on our mindsAlways in our hearts & forever on our minds Mommy, Daddy, Taylor, Tascio, Denay, Dior, NekitaMommy, Daddy, Taylor, Tascio, Denay, Dior, Nekita 20 June 1987—8 October 201720 June 1987—8 October 2017 We will meet again somedayWe will meet again someday facility and according to sources that spoke with the Cayman Compass, two more remand prisoners were sent over to the RCIPS lock-up late Wednesday. Those figures were in addition to the six RCIPS prisoners being kept in police holding cells as of Wednesday. According to law enforce- ment sources with knowledge of the situation, as many as eight more male pris- oners who are not currently being kept at HMP North- ward were expected to face sentencing in the courts this week and there was “nowhere to put them.” Additionally, while the main adult female prison, also located in Fairbanks, George Town, was not at ca- pacity as of Wednesday, prison officials said it was housing 17 prisoners, just three away from its stated capacity. In total, there were 253 people – not counting mi- grants held in the Immi- gration Detention Centre – being held in local lock-ups on Wednesday. Forced to deal with a per- sistent overcrowding situ- ation, both prisons officers and police have dealt with the situation by “doubling up” some prisoners in cells. The RCIPS does not do that in its jail as a matter of policy, preferring to hold a maximum of 12 pris- oners – one in each available cell – for both security and human rights reasons. How- ever, faced with more remand prisoners in addition to ar- rested suspects, the RCIPS has started putting two re- mand prisoners per cell. The arrested suspects, who have not been charged with any crime, are kept alone in their cells and typically released after 48 hours. Head of the Governor’s Office Matthew Forbes said Thursday that all options were being considered in dealing with the prison over- crowding problems, but that no firm solutions had been announced. On the positive side, Mr. Forbes said it was good that police were ar- resting more criminal sus- pects, “but you’ve got to have places to put them.” “There are options being looked at [at] the mo- ment to create additional space,” he said. There are several options available to Her Majesty’s Prisons Service and it was understood that prisons of- ficials were consulting with legal advisers concerning those on Thursday. One option could involve placing certain prisoners in the Immigration Detention Centre, which is located next door to the police jail in the Fairbanks area. The low-se- curity facility is staffed by prisons officers, but it has not been considered a secure lock-up. Multiple escapes and escape attempts by Cuban migrants housed there after landing illegally in Cayman led security officials in 2013 to bring in prison officers to provide more security. The RCIPS no longer uses older prison cells located in the George Town Police Sta- tion since the police jail fa- cility was opened in the Fair- banks area in March 2016. A U.K. prisons report completed in 2011 raised serious human rights concerns about using those cells to house anyone. Former Police Commis- sioner David Baines com- mented in March 2016 that Cayman was “lucky to avoid lawsuits” over the use of the old police jail cells. Courts affected Northward Prison’s ca- pacity issues were first brought to the public’s atten- tion during a mid-March 2018 court hearing when a de- fense attorney told the judge that three drug suspects were being held at Fairbanks be- cause there was no room at the adult men’s prison. The day after that, the number of remand prisoners being held at the Fairbanks jail reduced to just one. However, a police spokes- person later confirmed that the demand for space at the police jail from the Prison Service has not been totally eliminated since the time of that court hearing. Court difficulties per- sisted this week, with the overcrowding situation raised again Tuesday during a hearing for a suspect before Summary Court Magistrate Valdis Foldats. During consideration of the matter, Mr. Foldats was informed by veteran defense attorney John Furniss that “there’s no room at the inn” – referring to Northward Prison – for his client to go. Mr. Foldats agreed to put the suspect on an electronic monitoring device. the incident had been swiftly dealt with by police and the man was not hurt. He said the seaweed was causing real problems off Barkers and the school is advising kitesurfers to take extra precautions. In Cayman Brac, sea turtle hatchlings attempting to make their way to the ocean became trapped in large banks of sargassum that had washed up on the beach. Volunteers were able to find and rescue many of the hatchlings on this occasion, said Tim Austin, deputy di- rector of the DoE. But he said the invasion did pose a real risk to hatchlings. A bigger concern, though, is that clean-up efforts do not cause a worse problem. He said heavy machinery used to shift the seaweed could crush turtle nests completely. Mr. Austin said the DoE’s phones had been “ringing off the hook” for the last week with reports about sargassum. He said: “There is a dispro- portionately large amount of it out there and the big con- cern is how it is cleaned up.” He said the DoE was working with the parks de- partment to advise on the clean up of public beaches. Private property owners are also required to consult with the department. “If people call us and con- sult with us, we have a very simple process. If it is not a turtle nesting beach, it is simply a matter of advising them what methods to use and ensuring people stay within those. If it is a turtle nesting beach we come out and mark the nests.” The DoE has issued guide- lines on how to remove sar- gassum from beaches, urging people to hand rake the sea- weed rather than use ma- chinery where possible. It cites concerns that the over “grooming” of beaches can lead to erosion and suggests sargassum can be left alone. “The experience in loca- tions that have left the sar- gassum on the beach is that it will eventually get washed away or buried in the next storm, with rain easing the smell. Leaving sargassum on the beach has proven to be the simplest and lowest-cost approach, also helping to nourish the beach and stabi- lize the shoreline.” If it must be moved, the department warns people to be very careful about what they take out of the water, noting that hundreds of spe- cies of juvenile fish and in- vertebrates live within the mats of sargassum. Prisons seeking extra space to house inmates CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Clearing sargassum comes with environmental risks CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Newborn turtle hatchlings became entangled in sargassum off Cayman Brac as they tried to make their way to the sea. – PHOTO: BONNIE SCOTT Sargassum has clogged up the coastline from East End to West Bay.Next >