ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2018 High of 89 Low of 78 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ‘RAISE THE ROOF’ TO HELP STOP DOMESTIC ABUSE BUSINESS | PAGE 10 BRAC SEES RECENT BOOST IN TOURISM Cayman mango season called ‘the worst ever’ MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com The mangoes at Jackson Collins’s pro- duce stand looked lonely this week. Only a few green, fist-sized fruit lay in the bottom of a plastic crate that could easily have held 50 or more. Mr. Collins, a grower who sells at the Hamlin Stephenson Market at the Cricket Grounds in George Town, said the first wave of this year’s mango crop has been dismal due to an early heat wave. “Because of the jolt,” Mr. Collins said, “most of the blossoms burned off.” According to the market’s owner, Hamlin Stephenson, heat was not the only factor. “We had a lot of strong winds that blew off a lot of the mangoes,” Mr. Stephenson said. Arthur De Bis, produce manager at Hur- ley’s supermarket, said the rains of a few weeks ago also negatively impacted the crop. The combination of these factors, Mr. De Bis said, have made this season “the worst ever.” “My assistant said they haven’t seen any- thing for the last 20 years like this,” he said. Mr. De Bis said he’s having to import about 80 flats of mangoes – mostly grown in Mexico – each week in order to stock his shelves. Normally, he said, the store would only be ordering eight to 10 flats from off BILL AIMS TO STREAMLINE BORDER CONTROL JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new system of vetting travelers before they come to the Cayman Islands aims to im- prove border security and speed up the flow of passengers arriving in the territory. The Advance Passenger Information Bill, which goes before the Legislative Assembly at the next session, starting Wednesday, June 27, will facilitate swifter information sharing between Cayman Islands authorities and in- ternational partners, according to Michael Ebanks, deputy chief officer in the Ministry of Human Resources and Immigration. The system involves the capture of a pas- senger’s biographic data and other details by the airline when they make a reservation or during check-in. Those details are then for- warded to border security officials in the Cayman Islands in advance of travel. Mr. Ebanks said the system had the po- tential to reduce inconvenience and delay for some passengers by making border security checks more efficient and better targeted. “Given security concerns regarding poten- tial terrorists, drug traffickers, criminal de- portees, and prohibited immigrants, this pro- vides border control authorities with greater capacity and capability to assess a pas- senger’s risk profile and potential threat level,” he added. He said similar systems already existed in many countries and the bill, if passed into law, will help Cayman fulfill its responsibility as part of the global community. “The goal is ultimately to ensure that border control resources can be directed to- ward those areas where they are most likely to produce significant results in the interest of security and public safety,” Mr. Ebanks said. BROADWAY DESIGNER’S ART ON DISPLAY For the next four days, works by Oliver Smith, one of the best known set designers for Broadway, will be on display at the Harquail Theatre in George Town. Among the pieces in the exhibit are sketches, paintings and blueprints for such productions as “Camelot,” “Gigi” and “Paint Your Wagon.” For more, please see page 5. Green iguana meat exports to begin JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman Islands com- pany will begin exporting green iguana meat to be sold to con- sumers in the United States from August. After a lengthy vetting pro- cess, Spinion Ltd. has obtained the necessary permits to process both lionfish and iguana at its George Town processing plant for export to the U.S. The business hopes it can help provide a commercial so- lution to the exploding popula- tions of both invasive species. The company has established an online store in the U.S. and will ship 200 lbs of Cayman- caught iguana – equivalent to around 100 iguanas – to its dis- tribution center in Illinois at the end of July. Ultimately, it aims to export an average of 500 lbs of iguana a month. Maria Yapelli, one of the founders of the business, said the company had switched from its initial focus on lionfish in an effort to help deal with the green iguana crisis. At last count, environment officials es- timated Cayman’s green iguana PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Jackson Collins runs a stall at the Hamlin Stephenson Market where, like most places on the island, mangoes have been scarce. - PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER FLETCHER PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - WEDNESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) JURASSIC WORLD: THE FALLEN KINGDOM (PG13) 1:00 VIP I 1:30 3D I 4:00 VIP I 4:25 7:00 VIP I 7:20 3D I 9:50 VIP I 10:10 INCREDIBLES 2 (PG) 12:45 3D I 3:30 I 6:30 3D I 9:20 TAG (R) 1:35 I 4:30 I 7:40 I 10:05 BREAKING IN (PG13) 12:45 I 3:00 I 5:15 I 7:30 I 9:45 OCEANS 8 (PG13) 1:15 I 4:10 I 7:20 I 10:00 Two-time hurricane evacuee, cancer survivor heads home BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Audrey Rogers spent nine months on an unexpected whirlwind tour after Hur- ricane Irma devastated An- guilla in the eastern Carib- bean last September. The 87-year-old eventually ended up in the Cayman Islands. Mrs. Rogers fled the eastern Caribbean Island, her lifelong home, airlifted by the U.S. military to a shelter in Puerto Rico, only to be evacuated from there just before the wrath of Hurri- cane Maria struck the U.S.’s eastern Caribbean territory. She was taken to her broth- er’s house in New Jersey, where she received much- needed chemotherapy treat- ments at a nearby hospital, treatments which had been interrupted by the two de- structive storms. However, due to the con- ditions in post-Irma Anguilla and in the neighboring island of St. Maarten, Mrs. Rogers was unable to return home. In April, she came to Cayman to stay with her daughter, Renee, and son-in- law, Cayman’s Deputy Om- budsman Jan Liebaers, and continued to receive chemo treatments at Baptist Hos- pital in Miami, taking at least three separate trips there during the spring. Although the frequent travel and uncertainty has taken its toll on the octoge- narian, daughter Renee said it might have been the best thing for her mom. “The Baptist [Hospital] doctors said they could do a bit better than the chemo. They actually removed the mass from her lung,” Ms. Li- ebaers said. “They said it wasn’t stage 4 cancer, and now she’s recovering fine.” Mrs. Rogers is now ready to head home. “We’ve just had innu- merable calls from Anguilla asking how she is and when she’s coming back,” Ms. Li- ebaers said. “She’s quite an icon there.” Mrs. Rogers has received the member of the Order of the British Empire for her work in education on the small eastern Caribbean is- land, home to about 14,500 people. Her concrete home has been locked up since Irma struck last September, and Ms. Liebaers said her mom is anxious to get back and check things out. One more lengthy trip awaits the 87-year-old, who on July 5 will travel to Miami, then to St. Maarten via plane, and then board a ferry for a 25-minute boat ride back to Anguilla. Ms. Liebaers said she will accompany her mom on the trip, just to make sure she gets there in good health. “She’s really anxious to get back home … she wants to make sure every- thing is secure for hurricane season,” Ms. Liebaers said. As the Cayman Com- pass reported last September, it seems it will take more than two major hurricanes and lung cancer to slow Mrs. Rogers down. Reflecting on the whole ordeal after her travels last September, Mrs. Rogers re- mained quite positive. “That’s life,” she said. “I’m 87 years old. I’ve had a good life. I’ve enjoyed good health. My lung cancer came on me in January [2017] and I was shocked because I’ve never been sick. But I’m still very grateful. It’s fine if I make it to 89, that’s longer than most people get.” Audrey Rogers during a 2016 visit to Grand Cayman. Police: A dozen ‘fake premiers’ on Instagram BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Scammers are falsely using the names of Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin and Attorney General Sam Bulgin in bogus fundraising efforts, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service re- ported Tuesday. “The Financial Crime Unit is aware of at least 12 fake Instagram profiles that are impersonating the premier,” a po- lice statement indicated. “The scammers are claiming to offer intended victims funds from a ‘United Nations Grant’ of various sorts.” In addition to Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. Bulgin, the names or other high- ranking Cayman civil servants are being used in similar scams, police said. Premier McLaughlin does not main- tain an official Instagram account. Repeated reports of the premier’s name being used for various so- cial media “fundraisers” have been made since 2016. One example was reported to Ins- tagram in early October 2017. The ac- count in this case was obviously a fake. The name attached to it was the “Hon. Alden McLaughli” (sic) and the page con- tained more than a dozen photos of the premier, most of which came from offi- cial events, such as press conferences or media photo ops. Other attempts to impersonate the premier have been more sinister. In October 2016, the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Financial Crime Unit is- sued a public warning about a fake Facebook page, purporting to belong to Mr. McLaughlin. Police said that page, which had nothing to do with the premier, was being used in attempts to fraudulently solicit donations and bank account numbers from individuals who were “friended” by the fake account. The page was removed from Face- book and RCIPS investigators noted it appeared no one had been defrauded. “However, new fraudulent pages may appear,” a police statement noted. That appears to be what has hap- pened more recently with the Instagram pages linked falsely to Mr. McLaughlin and Mr. Bulgin. “Members of the public are advised not to communicate with any profiles that they suspect may be scammers, and to be wary of any solicitations for finan- cial details or donations via Instagram or any other social media,” an RCIPS statement released Tuesday read. “If any member of the public encounters one of these fake profiles they are asked to take a screenshot and forward it to the RCIPS Financial Crime Unit.” This Twitter account falsely posed as Premier Alden McLaughlin in 2017. PARAGUAY PRESIDENT WITHDRAWS RESIGNATION AND SENATE BID ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) – Paraguay’s Presi- dent Horacio Cartes said Tuesday he was with- drawing his resignation, signaling at least tempo- rary defeat in his effort to take a full Senate seat and extend his influence – and perhaps legal pro- tections – after his term ends in August. Cartes made the an- nouncement in a tweet, ex- pressing frustration that he’d been unable to get enough Senate votes to ap- prove the resignation that would allow him to take up the Senate seat by the June 30 deadline, about six weeks before his presiden- tial term ends. The coun- try’s constitution forbids officials to hold two of- fices at once. The president, barred from re-election, won a Senate seat in the April 22 election, apparently hoping that the position would help extend his influence into the future. Critics also say he may be motivated by the fact a Senate seat would grant him immunity from prosecution for any crimes. Both opposition par- ties and dissident mem- bers of Cartes’ own Col- orado Party blocked his attempt to resign. A substitute will take Cartes’ place in the Senate, but political analyst Ig- nacio Martinez said Cartes is likely to try again to take up the Senate seat after leaving office “because it’s obvious that his objec- tive is to have parliamen- tary immunity in case there are criminal complaints against him.” Before becoming pres- ident, Cartes expanded a family fortune involving two dozen businesses, ranging from banks to to- bacco to soft drinks and a soccer team. Suspicions about Cartes’s business opera- tions became widely re- ported after WikiLeaks published a 2010 U.S. State Department cable that la- beled him the head of a drug trafficking and money laundering operation, something he has denied. “I wouldn’t want to be president if I had ties to drug traffickers,” he said while running for of- fice. “Go to the courts and check. There’s nothing, not a single charge against me.” Cartes did spend 60 days in jail in 1986 during a currency fraud investi- gation. He was accused of making millions of dol- lars on a central bank loan obtained at a prefer- ential exchange rate and then moving it through his money exchange busi- ness before buying farm equipment in the U.S. The case was dropped. Paraguay’s constitu- tion gives Cartes and other ex-presidents an honorary Senate seat, but that is a non-voting post that many legal experts say does not carry immunity.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2018 The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” It’s not often that the stated vision of an organi- zation is to put itself out of business. But that is pre- cisely the goal of the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre: “to close our doors forever because our services are no longer needed.” This ambitious goal should be the collective aim of all of us in the Cayman Islands. We all want to live in a society that is tranquil and peaceful; one in which everyone is safe – particularly in their own home – and domestic violence is nonexis- tent. It’s an admirable, but elusive, dream. In the interim, the Crisis Centre provides essential services to individuals and the community. The Centre provides safe shelter to victims of domestic violence and their children; staffs a Crisis Helpline for anyone who is being hurt by a partner or who suspects they know someone who is; counsels and supports survivors of domestic violence; and works to educate the com- munity about family violence and healthy relationships. The Crisis Centre is composed of stalwart advocates for a vulnerable population that finds it difficult, or unsafe, to speak out publicly about their experiences. Therefore, it is encouraging to see so many busi- nesses, groups and individuals coming together to support this most worthy cause – particularly during the ongoing “Raise the Roof” campaign to raise funds for a purpose-built shelter to safely house victims of domestic abuse. Most recently, the Crisis Centre was the beneficiary of this year’s Flowers Sea Swim. Hundreds turned out to help kick off the fundraising campaign at the annual charity dinner and listen as actor Kelsey Grammer shared his own family’s experiences with violence. “This Crisis Centre, it’s all of you, a wonderful group of caring people,” Mr. Grammer told the crowd. “You’re all willing to hold a light up to extraordinary darkness.” Despite the best efforts of advocates, domestic violence remains a persistent social problem. Demand for Crisis Centre services has been increasing for several years. In 2011-12, for example, the center received 157 crisis calls and sheltered 52 women and children, according to the group’s statistics. In 2014-15, they received 316 crisis calls and sheltered 113 clients – more than double the numbers from only three years before. A purpose-built shelter will help the Crisis Centre meet this increasing need for services, offering a safe place for people to escape violence at home. The estimated price tag for the facility is $1.2 million – significant, but certainly reachable, given the demonstrable generosity of Cayman’s philan- thropic community. As with so many societal issues, domestic violence has roots that are entangled with other phenomena. For example, it is difficult to separate the issue of mental or physical abuse from the subject of alcohol abuse which, in turn, contributes to a myriad of social ills, including violence, carnage on our roadways and a host of serious health problems. To find out how you can help the Crisis Centre and its mission, call 949-0366 or visit www.cicc.ky. If you are experiencing domestic violence or are concerned that someone is being abused, call the Crisis Helpline at 943-CICC (2422). And, finally, if you are in an emergency situation or are in immediate danger, the first number you should dial is 911. ‘Raise the Roof’ to help stop domestic abuse WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS But her emails? You are dang right her emails When the Justice Depart- ment inspector general’s re- port revealed that former FBI director James B. Comey had used a personal email account to conduct official business, Hillary Clinton claimed vindication. “But my emails,” she tweeted. Yes, Madam Secretary, your emails. In fact, the overlooked bombshell of the report is the inspector general’s confirma- tion that classified informa- tion contained in Clinton’s emails was in fact compro- mised by foreign intelligence services, and that Clinton had recklessly emailed Pres- ident Barack Obama using her unsecured personal email from the territory of a hostile foreign adversary. Before the report was re- leased, we knew from Com- ey’s July 2016 statement that Clinton’s private emails in- cluded “seven email chains concern matters that were classified at the Top Secret/ Special Access Program level when they were sent and re- ceived.” We also knew that the FBI “also found informa- tion that was properly clas- sified as Secret by the U.S. Intelligence Community at the time it was discussed on email.” Comey further de- clared, “We do assess that hostile actors gained ac- cess to the private commer- cial email accounts of people with whom Secretary Clinton was in regular contact from her personal account.” And he speculated that, given how “extremely careless” Clinton had been, it was “possible that hostile actors gained ac- cess to Secretary Clinton’s personal email account.” Well it turns out, the FBI knew with certainty at the time that hostile actors had in fact gained access to clas- sified information via Clin- ton’s emails. According to the inspector general, a special review of the Clinton email investigation in 2017 by the Office to the FBI’s Inspection Division (INSD) found that “the FBI … successfully deter- mined classified information was improperly stored and transmitted on Clinton’s email server, and classified informa- tion was compromised by un- authorized individuals, to in- clude foreign government’s or intelligence services, via cyber intrusion or other means” (emphasis added). The initial draft of Com- ey’s 2016 statement said it was “reasonably likely” that hostile actors had gained access to Clinton’s private email account. Moreover, the inspector general quotes FBI agent Peter Strzok as com- menting on that “It is more accurate to say we know foreign actors obtained ac- cess to some of her emails (including at least one Se- cret one) via compromises of the private email accounts of some of her staffers” (em- phasis added). These facts were inexplicably left out of the final statement. We still do not know the full extent of the damage Clinton caused, because the inspector general reports that the FBI intentionally chose not to follow every potential lead of compromised classi- fied information. The report notes that “Strzok further stated that the FBI’s ‘pur- pose and mission’ was not to pursue ‘spilled [classified] in- formation to the ends of the earth’ and that the task of cleaning up classified spills by State Department em- ployees was referred back to the State Department.” We also learned new de- tails about Clinton’s reckless- ness and willful misconduct in using her private email. The final version of Com- ey’s statement did note that Clinton “used her personal email extensively while out- side the United States, in- cluding sending and re- ceiving work-related emails in the territory of sophisti- cated adversaries.” But we did not know at the time that the original draft included one more sentence: “That use included an email exchange with the President while Sec- retary Clinton was on the ter- ritory of such an adversary.” According to the inspector general, “This reference later was changed to ‘another se- nior government official,’ and ultimately was omitted.” When I worked in the George W. Bush White House, and traveled to certain for- eign countries with the pres- ident, we were required by the Secret Service to re- move the batteries from our BlackBerrys, place them in a sealed plastic bag, and leave them on Air Force One for the duration of our visit to pre- vent foreign adversaries from hacking into the White House email system. But Clinton was so cavalier that she ac- tually used not her govern- ment communications device, but her unsecured private email to communicate di- rectly with the president of the United States from the territory of a foreign adver- sary. By emailing Obama di- rectly from hostile territory, she put both her own email system and the president’s at risk of foreign intrusion. Many Democrats blame Comey’s July 2016 statement for causing Clinton irrepa- rable harm in the election. But we now know Clinton’s actions were worse than what Comey presented to the American people. Follow Marc A. Thiessen on Twitter, @marcthiessen. © 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group. MARC A. THIESSEN We still do not know the full extent of the damage Clinton caused, because the inspector general reports that the FBI intentionally chose not to follow every potential lead of compromised classified information. 5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2018 GET THERE FASTER. The pace of copper can set you back and limit business growth. C3's fibre-optic network meets your application demands with lightning speed. Enhance your productivity with our business Fibre-optic connectivity. Email info@C3business.ky for details. COPPER INTERNET FOR BUSINESS. JUST PLODDING ALONG... Broadway designer’s art on display MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com The sketches, paintings and design drawings on dis- play at the Harquail Theatre take Henry Muttoo back to his youth. The artistic director for Cayman National Cultural Foundation says the framed pieces hanging in the the- ater’s alcoves are the kinds of work he was enamoured by as a student of the- ater design. He wanted to share that with the Cayman community, he said. For the next four days, works by Oliver Smith, one of the best known set designers for Broadway, will be on dis- play at the theater. Mr. Smith, who studied architecture at Penn State, became a struggling artist in New York City in the early 1940s. His cousin suggested he try using his talents for theater sets. Over the course of his ca- reer, Mr. Smith, who died in 1994, designed the sets for such iconic productions as “Hello Dolly,” “West Side Story,” “My Fair Lady,” and others. Among the pieces in the exhibit are sketches, paintings and blueprints for such productions as “Camelot,” “Gigi” and “Paint Your Wagon.” “This brings back terrific memories,” Mr. Muttoo said, while showing off the various pieces in the show. “During my time in college, Oliver Smith was one of the people we looked at.” Mr. Muttoo left Guyana to study theater in the 1970s in London. A friend dis- suaded him from pursuing acting, telling him that his accent would keep him from getting work. “I always liked to draw,” Mr. Muttoo said. “So he said, ‘Do design.’” Mr. Muttoo went on to do just that, as well as to direct in the theater. He’s hoping that some Cayman students will find the same kind of in- terest he did. Four schools are scheduled to visit the ex- hibit, he said. “The idea is to inspire young artists,” he said. “Hopefully, they can come and fall in love with the idea of design.” Hosting the traveling ex- hibit came about as part of a cooperative relationship between the cultural foun- dation and the University of South Florida. Mr. Muttoo said the two entities have been en- gaging in joint projects for the past 12 years. Mostly he has worked with the uni- versity’s theater professor, Patrick Finelli. “When Patrick told me, ‘I’m doing this great exhibi- tion on Oliver Smith,’ I said, ‘We’d like to bring it here.’” Mr. Muttoo said he hopes people will appreciate the display, not only for its his- toric importance, but its aesthetic value. “It’s such beautiful art- work,” he said. The work is on display here until Saturday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call 949-5477 or email cncf@artscayman.org. OBITUARY BARTON ‘COOSIE’ WHITTAKER Mathis Barton Whittaker was born to Barton and Oleta Whittaker on Aug. 25, 1974 at the George Town Hos- pital, Grand Cayman. He was the fifth and last child born to this union. Barton, affectionately called “Coosie”, attended Truth For Youth School from the age of 5 for his primary years. He then transferred to Wesleyan Christian Academy, where he graduated high school. While at Wesleyan, he often read Bible stories to his fellow classmates. After grad- uation, he continued learning through private tutoring along with his sister Mitzie. He worked for a time with Kirk Supermarket before he became too ill to work. From infancy, he attended the Church of God (Universal) where he was saved and bap- tized. He enjoyed church, praising the Lord with en- thusiasm and those pow- erful “amens.” Barton enjoyed his child- hood days running around the neighborhood playing with his friends. He was exceptionally good at hula-hoop, as he could go forever. In later years, put- ting jig-saw puzzles together and word search puzzle books were his hobbies. One of his favorite pas- times was hanging with his sister Mitzie and listening to his favorite Gospel singers, the Way of Truth Singers on the old record player. Another favorite was playing the board game “Aggravation.” In fact the entire family got to love that game and it was carried around from house to house. Barton would come up with the most unique state- ments at times, and gave the family many laughs. Once while in Miami driving around and around trying to find a clinic, after passing the same intersection sev- eral times, he said to [sister] Marilyn, “Lolo - you know where you going?” Every- body cracked up. He was usually quiet, therefore some of his comments came when they were least expected, and would usually be profound. On family trips, he enjoyed places such as Disney World in Orlando, Busch Gardens in Tampa, Convention in Hager- stown, Maryland and Niagara Falls in Canada. Perhaps the highlight of the trips he went on were Parrot Jungle and Sea World in Miami. He also went to Cuba for medical reasons and would talk excitedly about the antique cars in Havana. During his medical trips to Miami, the family en- sured he did something en- tertaining each trip. And, of course, he had to go shopping for his clothes and shoes. When Barton succumbed to his illness, he was in the Critical Care Unit of George Town Hospital. That night he was surrounded by his family and close friends. The family is grateful to the hospital for allowing that many people to visit at the same time. His family sincerely thanks the nurses and doctors for all their diligent care and atten- tion, in particular Dr. Wallace, who was his primary doctor. The family also expresses our thanks to Barton’s life-long caregiver Ms. Lema Sinclair for her everlasting love and support to the entire family and especially to Barton’s care. Barton was preceded in death by his sister, Mitzie, grandparents, and several aunts and uncles. Left to mourn his passing are his parents Barton and Oleta Whittaker, sisters Lavonne and Marilyn, brother Marty and adopted sister Daisy Byrd, special uncle John Byrd, aunts Carolyn Carter, Ingrid Whittaker, Cynthia Byrd and a large number of cousins, church friends and school friends. Barton ‘Coosie’ WhittakerThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Another neighborhood watch launches in Bodden Town JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Nature’s Circle residents in Bodden Town put their feet down and joined hands with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service to address crime in the area by setting up a neighborhood watch program Saturday evening. Around 20 people showed up for the group’s first meeting with police on Beach Palm Way off Nature’s Circle. “If we are aware of what is going on in our commu- nity and being each oth- er’s eyes and ears, we can better protect our commu- nity,” said Lindsay Wright, coordinator of the watch for Beach Palm Way. RCIPS Sergeant Corne- lius Pompey, accompanied by other RCIPS officers, told resi- dents to make effective use of WhatsApp messaging when fighting crime in the area. Sergeant Pompey encour- aged residents to use the app wisely and solely to share relevant community mes- sages, rather than jokes or rumors. Sergeant Pompey said some people saw neigh- borhood watch as just a sign, but he said it is neighbors looking out for neighbors. “You have to be like your own police in your commu- nity. Think about midnight when you are at home and the police is not there. You are the ones who must see and hear what is going on in your community. You have to be the eyes and ears, not just for yourself, but also your neighbors, and that’s why its called neighborhood watch,” he explained. Sergeant Pompey said when you have people coming together as a commu- nity and sharing information, it lessens crime and creates an environment where ev- eryone knows each other. Tony Scott, a neighbor- hood watch ambassador, en- couraged Nature’s Circle resi- dents to set up a committee. He said the watch program has more than doubled since it was started 3 years ago. Mr. Scott said key points when hosting a committee meeting are setting a time limit of one hour and estab- lishing an agenda. Watch signs are also im- portant, as they act as a de- terrent and keep people from using their area as dumping grounds, he said. Retirees, he said, could assist by walking and checking out the neighbor- hood. They will know when people are home from when they are at work. He told the residents they needed to have that relation- ship with the police. “The key is building the relationship within the area,” he said. Mr. Scott told the group that to do any soliciting for the committee they had to be registered as a nonprofit organization. Bodden Town East MLA Chris Saunders at- tended the meeting. He said at the end of the day, police are a response unit, so it’s important for the community to be proactive. On registering as a non- profit, Mr. Saunders said that was one of the issues that the previous government rushed through without going through the thought process that was needed. He told res- idents he saw some changes to that law coming along. Other issues in Bodden Town Mr. Saunders said garbage collection remains an issue. Through a meeting with Min- ister Dwayne Seymour, he said he learned that some private contractors had been engaged. He was in the pro- cess of pushing one private contractor to get Nature’s Circle covered. Mr. Sanders also assured residents the road closure notices they re- ceived sometime last year concerning the Beach Bay development had been amended and there would be no road diversions. He was still working on the overall impact it would bring to the community, despite govern- ment giving the OK to con- tinue building. He reminded those present that Hurricane season was now upon us, and those needing assistance with cut- ting trees should let him know. “What we don’t want is if a storm is approaching and people are scrambling to get these things done,” Mr. Saunders said. Sergeant Cornelius Pompey, second uniformed officer from right, along with other community officers, facilitates the launch of a neighborhood watch meeting with residents of Nature’s Circle. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY population at just over one million, warning that unless it is brought under control, the species could cause major ecosystem change. Spinion is in the final stages of setting up an online store to sell iguana meat di- rect to homes in the U.S. Ms. Yapelli said there was a strong and underserved market for the product in the U.S., particularly from immigrants used to eating iguana meat in their home countries. The meat can also be processed and turned into pet food. Spinion has two people, one employee and one con- tractor, who catch iguanas for them on a regular basis. The iguanas have to be caught live and processed under strict health and safety conditions at their plant. Holding pens are being set up in North Side, West Bay, Bodden Town and Prospect for short-term storage, and the company plans to supple- ment its catch by paying $2 per head for iguanas. Ms. Yapelli said it had been a slow and at times frustrating process to get the necessary permissions to establish both aspects of its business. It has been nearly two years since the company first sought endorsement from the Department of En- vironmental Health to pro- cess both lionfish and iguana at the same site. Approval was finally granted ear- lier this month. The company had already been granted approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Adminis- tration and by the Cayman Islands Department of Envi- ronment to export both spe- cies for sale in the U.S. The lionfish aspect of the business is still a work in progress. Part of the problem has been that the lionfish in- vasion has been partially brought under control by cullers in the Cayman Is- lands, meaning it is difficult to catch enough fish to pay full-time staff. Spinion plans to use sub- contractors in Honduras to supplement its yield, pro- cessing the fish in Cayman for export and sale in the U.S. They plan to make their first export at the end of September. Ms. Yapelli said it was satisfying to have reached the point where both species could be exported. “That first shipment is going to mean so much, be- cause it has taken us a long time to get there,” she said. “There has been one road- block after another but you have to get through all the ‘nos’ until you get to a ‘yes.’” Contractors interested in supplying iguana to Spinion can call 925-8779 or email myapelli@spinionexports.com. Ms. Yapelli said there was a strong and underserved market for the product in the U.S., particularly from immigrants used to eating iguana meat in their home countries. The meat can also be processed and turned into pet food. Benjamin Bodden and Maria Yapelli process iguana at Spinion’s plant in George Town. – PHOTO: GRAZIELA PORTELA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Green iguana meat exports to beginThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2018 www.rbcroyalbank.com/caribbean ® / ™ Trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. IMPORTANT NOTICE RBC Royal Bank (Cayman) Limited wishes to advise its clients that due to a recent change in the United States Federal Reserve interest rate, the CI$ and US$ prime interest rate will increase from 4.75% p.a. to 5% p.a. effective July 27, 2018. island, with the rest coming from local growers. Those marketing the fruit are hoping things will im- prove. There are three waves of mangoes during the summer months as various varieties reach ripeness. And while the first wave has been disappointing, the second wave, which is expected to hit in two to three weeks, should be at least a little better. Mr. Collins said in the coming weeks, consumers can expect to see the East In- dian, Julie and Nam Doc va- rieties appear in stands and on store shelves. In terms of numbers, he said, “the next batch would be maybe normal, but not so plentiful as last year.” Growers William and Zel- malee Ebanks aren’t that op- timistic. “Hopefully there will be a few more than there were for the first crop,” Ms. Ebanks said. But even if production picks up, this year is pretty much a loss. None of the Ebanks’ more than 70 vari- eties of mango trees is doing well. And the third wave of the crop, late in the summer, is expected to be disap- pointing as well, she said. “Our late bearers are very scarce,” she said. “We don’t even see blossoms on those trees.” Ms. Ebanks said it’s the smallest crop she’s seen in a long time. “This is even worse than the year after [Hurricane] Ivan,” she said. The Ministry of Agricul- ture was unable to provide any annual figures on mango production. But last year, by June 27, the Ebanks had picked 97,271 lbs of mangoes. This year, as of Tuesday, they had gathered just 3,458 lbs. Johann Moxam, who was at the Hamlin Stephenson market on Monday looking for mangoes, found himself disappointed for the third time in a week. “The number of mangoes seems to be far less than what we’re accustomed to,” Mr. Moxam said. “Normally, there’s a lot of local mangoes.” Even when there is a good season, he said, it is not like what he remembers growing up on the island, when he could walk down Walkers Road after school, pick a mango from the trees that lined the street and eat it on the way home. “Mangos are a way of life,” he said. “We ate them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s part of the culture. It’s part of who we are.” Mr. Moxam and others may well feel they are missing that part of them- selves this year. There will be imported mangoes, but that is not the same, said Hur- ley’s Mr. De Bis. “Any fruit is better when you can pick it ripe,” Mr. De Bis said, as opposed to picking it green and shipping it. “If they can come off the tree in the morning and eat it at night, it’s amazing.” He said one spin-off ben- efit would be the ability of border control officials to process passengers faster. “Along with other stra- tegic approaches to border controls, the comprehensive use of Advance Passenger In- formation contributes to a decrease in airport clearance times for legitimate (non-tar- geted) passengers.” He added that the collec- tion of advance information could also help airlines en- sure all passengers had valid travel documents and avoid fines for inadvertently trans- porting undocumented trav- elers to the Cayman Islands. It will also help prevent suspects wanted by interna- tional authorities from en- tering Cayman, something that has happened on at least two occasions in the past three years. “One of the major bene- fits of API for our border con- trol authorities will be the enhanced enforcement capa- bility realized through ad- vance notification of the ar- rival of potential wanted criminals, persons with terrorist affiliations, and other high-risk persons,” Mr. Ebanks said. “API data received by border control authorities will permit thorough and rigorous screening of pas- sengers, allow officials to target those passengers that present the highest risk, and facilitate faster throughput of low risk passengers at ports of entry. Cayman mango season called ‘the worst ever’ “Along with other strategic approaches to border controls, the comprehensive use of Advance Passenger Information contributes to a decrease in airport clearance times for legitimate (non-targeted) passengers.” MICHAEL EBANKS, deputy chief officer CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Bill aims to streamline border control “This is even worse than the year after [Hurricane] Ivan.” ZELMALEE EBANKS, mango grower CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Local mangoes have been a rare sight at grocery stores and farmers markets as Cayman experiences one of its worst seasons in years. - PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER FLETCHERThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY JUNE 27, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Bee Gees star becomes Sir Barry Gibb Bee Gee Barry Gibb has received a knighthood at Buckingham Palace, and says he hopes his late brothers Robin and Maurice are proud of him. After being knighted at the palace by Prince Charles on Tuesday, the 71-year-old songwriter said, ‘If it was not for my brothers, I would not be here.’ One Sad Year Without You Cristiano T. D. McKenzie July 29, 2013 – June 27, 2017 Words cannot describe the sadness this brings or how very dearly you are missed… Knowing that you’re no longer here is very painful indeed… An emptiness now exists which only you, once fi lled. You were such a wonderful son – You gave me so much joy… You would make any parent proud – I couldn’t ask for more. Why is life so cruel? Why did you have to go? How I wish I could bring you back – My heart aches for you so… I miss our times together, I miss you my precious son. Life is not the same without you I’ll miss you for evermore. I cherish my memories of you – Nothing can take that away from me… I hold you closely in my heart Each day, and always will. Heart of a warrior Soul of an angel Love and miss you our lil’ Cristiano Mom, Dad and Family Court upholds Trump travel ban WASHINGTON (AP) – A sharply divided Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld President Donald Trump’s ban on travel from several mostly Muslim countries, re- jecting a challenge that it discriminated against Mus- lims or exceeded his au- thority. A dissenting justice said the outcome was a his- toric mistake. The 5-4 decision Tuesday is a big victory for Trump on an issue that is central to his presidency, and the court’s first substantive ruling on a Trump administration policy. The president quickly tweeted his reaction: “Wow!” Chief Justice John Rob- erts wrote the majority opinion for the five conserva- tive justices, including Trump nominee Neil Gorsuch. Roberts wrote that presi- dents have substantial power to regulate immigration. He also rejected the challengers’ claim of anti-Muslim bias. But he was careful not to endorse either Trump’s pro- vocative statements about immigration in general or Muslims in particular, in- cluding Trump’s campaign pledge to keep Muslims from entering the country. “We express no view on the soundness of the policy,” Roberts wrote. The travel ban has been fully in place since December, when the justices put the brakes on lower court rulings that had ruled the policy out of bounds and blocked part of it from being enforced. In a dissent she summa- rized in court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said, “History will not look kindly on the court’s misguided decision today, nor should it.” Justices Ste- phen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan also dissented. Sotomayor wrote that based on the evidence in the case “a reasonable observer would conclude that the Proclamation was motivated by anti-Muslim animus.” She said her colleagues in the ma- jority arrived at the opposite result by “ignoring the facts, misconstruing our legal prec- edent and turning a blind eye to the pain and suffering the Proclamation inflicts upon countless families and indi- viduals, many of whom are United States citizens.” She likened the case to the discredited Korematsu V. U.S. decision that upheld the detention of Japanese- Americans during World War II. Roberts responded in his opinion that “Korematsu has nothing to do with this case” and “was gravely wrong the day it was decided.” The travel ban was among the court’s biggest cases this term and the latest in a string of 5-4 de- cisions in which the con- servative side of the court, bolstered by the addition of Gorsuch last year, pre- vailed. Gorsuch was nomi- nated by Trump after Repub- licans in the Senate refused to grant a hearing to federal appeals Judge Merrick Gar- land, who was appointed by Barack Obama with more than 10 months remaining in Obama’s term. The Trump policy ap- plies to travelers from five countries with overwhelm- ingly Muslim populations – Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. It also affects two non-Muslim countries, blocking travelers from North Korea and some Ven- ezuelan government officials and their families. A sixth majority Muslim country, Chad, was removed from the list in April after improving “its identity-management and information sharing practices,” Trump said in a proclamation. The administration had pointed to the Chad decision to show that the restrictions are premised only on na- tional security concerns. The challengers, though, argued that the court could not just ignore all that has happened, beginning with Trump’s campaign tweets to prevent the entry of Muslims into the United States. The travel ban has long been central to Trump’s presidency. He proposed a broad, all-encompassing Muslim ban during the presidential campaign in 2015, drawing swift rebukes from Repub- licans as well as Demo- crats. And within a week of taking office, the first travel ban was announced with little notice, sparking chaos at airports and protests across the nation. While the ban has changed shape since then, it has remained a key part of Trump’s “America First” vision, with the president believing that the restric- tion, taken in tandem with his promised wall at the southern border, would make the Unites States safer from potentially hos- tile foreigners. In a statement he re- leased Tuesday morning, Trump hailed the decision as “a moment of profound vin- dication” following “months of hysterical commentary from the media and Demo- cratic politicians who refuse to do what it takes to secure our border and our country.” Strongly disagreeing, Democratic Rep. Keith El- lison of Minnesota said, “This decision will someday serve as a marker of shame.” Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, and Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, who was born in Japan, both compared the ban and the ruling to the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. Critics of Trump’s ban had urged the justices to af- firm the decisions in lower courts that generally con- cluded that the changes made to the travel policy did not erase the ban’s legal problems. The current version dates from last September and it followed what the adminis- tration has called a thorough review by several federal agencies, although no such review has been shared with courts or the public. Federal trial judges in Hawaii and Maryland had blocked the travel ban from taking effect, finding that the new version looked too much like its predecessors. Those rulings that were largely upheld by federal appeals courts in Richmond, Virginia, and San Francisco. Protesters call out against the Supreme Court ruling upholding President Donald Trump’s travel ban outside the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill, Tuesday in Washington. – PHOTO: AP Dutch parliament approves limited ban on burqa, niqab THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – The Netherlands has ap- proved a limited ban on “face-covering clothing” in public places, including Is- lamic veils and robes such as the burqa and niqab but not the hijab, which covers only the hair. Firebrand far- right politician Geert Wilders had pushed for the ban for over a decade. Parliament’s upper chamber made the final ap- proval in a vote Tuesday. Wilders’ Freedom Party claimed the development as a major victory, while Sen- ator Marjolein Faber-Van de Klashorst called it “a his- torical day because this is the first step to de-Islamize the Netherlands.” “This is the first step and the next step is to close all the mosques in the Nether- lands,” she said, building on Wilders’ anti-Islam rhetoric. The Dutch law is described by the government as “reli- gion-neutral,” and does not go as far as more extensive bans in neighboring countries like France and Belgium. It applies on public transport and in ed- ucation institutions, health in- stitutions such as hospitals, and government buildings. Successive Dutch govern- ments have sought to ban niqabs, which cover most of the face but still shows the eyes, and burqas, which cover the face and body – even though studies suggest that only a few hundred women in the Netherlands wear the gar- ments. The ban also covers ski masks and full-face helmets. The government said people still have full freedom on how to dress, except when it is necessary to have full facial contact – for instance in education and health-re- lated situations. The ban does not apply to public streets, although po- lice can ask an individual to remove face-covering clothing for identification. “This is actually virtu- ally a complete ban because the only spaces that are still available for women (who wear face-covering clothing) are the street and the private sector,” said Annelies Moors, professor of Anthropology and Sociology at the Univer- sity of Amsterdam. “And, of course, the private sector can also have their house rules, they could also possibly leg- islate against their presence. So this leaves women very little space.” “It is completely dispro- portionate and the only effect will be that many of these women will stay at home even more,” said Green Party senator Ruard Ganzevoort. “They will not have an oppor- tunity to go to school. 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New for old cover, personal possessions ZERO deductible for claims (excluding catastrophe) Interest free monthly payment plan cgigrp coverwithoutaddedcosts! *$250 BritCay gift certificate applies to new buildings insurance policies only Santos sees Colombia peace deal surviving BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – As Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos prepares to step down, he says he’s con- fident that his crowning achievement – the peace deal with leftist rebels that brought him a Nobel Peace Prize – will survive despite sharp criticism of it by the man now coming into office. “The accord is bullet- proofed,” Santos told The As- sociated Press in an interview Monday at the presidential palace that in six weeks he’ll hand over to incoming Presi- dent Ivan Duque. “Just the fact that Timo- chenko voted for the first time, as ex-commander of the FARC and now head of a po- litical party, shows that the accord worked,” he said, re- ferring to the former leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, who will be among former rebels sit- ting in Congress next month when Santos delivers his final address to the legislature. He also noted that the country’s constitutional court has ruled it’s binding on the next three governments. Santos, 66, won interna- tional praise for signing a peace agreement with leftist rebels to end five decades of conflict that left an estimated 260,000 dead and 7 mil- lion displaced. However he’s not seen as a prophet at home, where he faces decidedly dismal ap- proval ratings and sharp polarization over his pur- suit of peace. A recent poll found just about 20 percent of Colombians approve of his performance. Santos leaves Duque a string of challenges, among them a rise in criminal activity in areas vacated by the FARC that fueled a record boom in cocaine production last year, according to a White House report released Monday. He will also have to contend with a political and economic crisis in neighboring Venezuela that has led more than 1 million migrants to flee their homes for Colombia, putting added stress on the country’s already overburdened health and wel- fare services. But by far the biggest challenge –and opportunity – is implementation of the 310-page peace accord. While some 7,000 fighters have al- ready surrendered their weapons and are making the transition to civilian life, what Santos calls the “am- bitious” portion of the 2016 accord – efforts to bring de- velopment to Colombia’s long-neglected countryside – is just getting under way and faces a budgetary as well as security constraints. Many Colombians believe Santos offered far too gen- erous terms for former guer- rillas behind scores of atroci- ties. His successor, Duque, has vowed to “correct” the accord, starting with rolling back the rights of former rebel com- manders to occupy seats in Congress even before they confess their crimes and pro- vide reparations to victims. This week, on his in- structions, his party blocked passage of a law essential for special peace tribunals to start hearing testimony from former combatants, prompting a standoff with Santos and putting at risk the accord’s promise of jus- tice for victims. Santos said he’s never fix- ated on opinion polls, saying he’s following the example of former British Prime Min- ister Winston Churchill to do what’s right by his country even if it’s unpopular. Still, with time, he said he hoped with Colombians will re- member him as someone who worked tirelessly to pro- mote peace and modernize a country long beset by pov- erty, political violence and one of the world’s highest rates of inequality. “This accord wasn’t made for the FARC, it was made for the local communities,” he said. “These are exten- sive areas of the country that were totally abandoned for more than 50 years and sooner or later the state had to arrive there.” Duque worked for Santos two decades ago, first as an employee of his Good Govern- ment Foundation and then as an aide in the finance ministry whom he endorsed for a job at the Inter-American Devel- opment Bank in Washington. Santos described his suc- cessor as smart and someone with sound judgment. He’s hopeful Duque’s rep- utation for pragmatism will prevail over calls from hard- liners within his Democratic Center party to tear up the accord, and said he was heartened by Duque’s call on election night for unity, something that proved elu- sive during his presidency. “If he manages to achieve that it will be very positive,” he said of Duque’s pledge to turn the page on years of bitter polarization. “The country needs it.” But if Duque does try to change the accord, he’s likely to confront stiff political and legal obstacles that will leave him little room to maneuver, Santos said. They include a fragmented Congress, over- whelming international sup- port for the deal and a ruling by the constitutional court that the accord is binding on the next three governments. “I told the president-elect that if there are proposals that improve the accord and that can be reached by con- sensus then they are very wel- come,” he said. “But what you can’t do is impose changes that alter the accord’s essence, among other reasons because it would require a constitu- tional reform.” Once he leaves the presi- dency on Aug. 7, Santos said he looks forward to spending time in Bogota with his new- born granddaughter, his first. He also has an invitation to work with Amartya Sen, the 1998 Nobel laureate for eco- nomics, on issues of poverty reduction and plans to lec- ture internationally on his government’s efforts to pro- mote peace and protect the environment from the effects of climate change. Even though he’s vowed in retirement to stay out of Co- lombia’s rancorous political battles, he cannot resist one last piece of self-interested advice to Duque. “If I were in the new pres- ident’s shoes, I’d focus on my other campaign promises,” Santos said. “The country has a lot of needs, a lot of chal- lenges. He shouldn’t wear himself out on something that was already negotiated, that’s working and that ev- eryone agrees is in the coun- try’s best interests.” Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos speaks during an interview Monday at the Presidential Palace in Bogota, Colombia. – PHOTO: AP Santos, 66, won international praise for signing a peace agreement with leftist rebels to end five decades of conflict that left an estimated 260,000 dead and 7 million displaced.Next >