A tropical wave that brought heavy rains to Cayman has moved out of the area. The Caribbean and the United States still have plenty of tropical weather to worry about, however, as Tropical Storm Isaac and Hurricane Florence inch closer. Please turn to page 6. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 High of 89 Low of 78 Smooth with wave heights less than 2 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 COMMENTS POLICY: NO ‘NO NAMES,’ NO PEN NAMES WORLD | PAGE 9 U.S. MARKS 9/11 WITH SOMBER TRIBUTES CIVIL SERVICE PAY INCREASE Bigger paychecks, no healthcare costs JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s civil servants have welcomed the news that they will be receiving larger paychecks next month after Premier Alden McLaughlin announced a 5 percent pay in- crease backdated to July 1. There was more good news for government workers this week as well after it was con- firmed that a previous plan for civil servants to contribute to their healthcare costs had been “stood down.” The idea had been put forward by previous Finance Minister Marco Archer but is not cur- rently being pursued, according to Acting Deputy Governor Gloria McField-Nixon. The cost of living increase for all civil ser- vants in core government will be paid in the September salary, the premier said in a State of the Nation address at the Legislative As- sembly in Cayman Brac last week. John Bothwell, head of the Civil Service As- sociation, said the increase was “welcome rec- ognition” of the hard work that the civil ser- vice had been doing for the last several years. He said paychecks had effectively decreased when adjusted for inflation during that time and the adjustment would help government retain and attract high quality staff. He said, “Government bringing the Civil Service pay scales more in keeping with the actual value of the work carried out, as well as the cost of living in Cayman, is welcomed by all of our members and we are particularly heartened to see that Government intends to keep the Civil Service pay scale competitive through ongoing cost of living adjustments in the near future.” CYCLIST KILLED IN EARLY MORNING CRASH JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.ky A cyclist was killed Tuesday morning when his bike collided with a car that had appar- ently pulled to a stop in a cycle lane of the Es- terley Tibbetts Highway. The 56-year-old victim, originally from Australia, was well known on the local sports scene and was a regular competitor in races on and off the island. He has not been named by police and the Cayman Compass is not naming him at this point. The cyclist was riding toward West Bay when the accident happened between Yacht Drive and Batabano Road at around 7:30 a.m. The accident has caused shock and con- cern among the cycling community. Jerome Ameline, who runs Revolutions spinning gym and competes in local cy- cling races, said the victim was well known and well liked. He believes more must be done to enforce the rules of the road and called for motorists to show greater concern for cyclists. He said there were frequent close calls be- tween cyclists and motorists and in areas where CARIBBEAN EYES PROGRESS OF TROPICAL STORM ISAAC 7 Lighthouse School students make exam history For the first time, students at Lighthouse School have sat and passed City & Guilds exams, which will enable them to con- tinue their education by entering the Cayman Islands Further Ed- ucation Centre. The seven students passed the Stage One exams, giving them qualifications that are rec- ognized worldwide. In late 2017, the seven stu- dents – Lynval Foreshaw, Marlon Bodden, Chelsea Fred- erick, Keanu McKenzie, Dante Thompson, Julius Smith and Ya- nique Ebanks – entered the first City & Guilds program at the school. The program culminated with each of the students taking two exams in English (reading and writing) and mathematics. “Lighthouse School is a beacon of light and hope for many young people in the Cayman Islands. Every year the staff and students achieve amazing things,” Education Min- ister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said in a statement. “However, the light shone even brighter in An invitation to read The fact that September is Literacy Month is writ large in Camana Bay this month with a giant sign that encourages anyone who passes by to pick up a book and read. The ‘READ’ sign, located outside the Books & Books store, is part of a month-long initiative that invites young readers to take part in a scavenger hunt in the area to find some iconic fictional book characters. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 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) THE NUN (R) 2:00 I 4:40 I 7:20 I 7:40 VIP REPRISAL (R) 7:30 I 9:45 CRAZY RICH ASIANS (PG13) 1:35 I 4:25 I 7:20 I 9:50 MISSION : IMPOSSIBLE FALLOUT (PG13) 1:45 I 3:50 I 9:30 PEPPERMINT (R) 2:20 VIP I 4:25 I 10:10 VIP I 10:10 CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (PG) 1:25 I 5:00 I 7:00 THE MEG (PG13) 1:40 I 5:00 VIP I 7:15 I 9:40 Local music, arts series brings life to George Town library KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com The old George Town Public Library will transform into a concert and performing arts venue once a month, starting this Thursday evening. The Cayman Arts Festival has partnered with the Cayman Islands Public Library Service to launch the new culture se- ries, “Music at the Library,” with the aim of promoting Cayman Islands musicians, artists and performers. The first installment will include a lineup of local musicians – Glen Inanga (piano), Sarah Newton (vi- olin), Naomi Allnutt (violin) and Dequan Smith-McConvey (cello) – performing the clas- sical works of Mozart, Haydn, Bloch and Faure. For future performances at the library, Cayman Arts Festival Executive Director Marius Gaina hopes to incor- porate readings from poets and writers as well. The debut event will also feature a recently donated, handmade Shigeru Kawai piano, imported to the island from London. Mr. Gaina said the limited-edition instru- ment was donated by an un- named foundation. “It’s a very good piano,” he said. “It’s not a Mercedes but it’s a Lexus.” The donation will serve not only during perfor- mances, but also as a teaching tool for young mu- sicians. It will also save the festival piano rental costs. Mr. Gaina spoke highly of all the performers who will be featured Thursday, but en- couraged the public to keep an eye out for cellist Dequan Smith-McConvey. Dequan, 15, has twice at- tended the Luzerne Music Center summer camp through the Cayman Arts Festival. While at the pres- tigious music center in New York State, he was able to learn from gifted mu- sicians in a distraction- free environment. “He progressed a lot. After two years sending him for a month there, he decided it’s time for him to focus on be- coming a professional cellist,” Mr. Gaina said. Dequan is the kind of gem that Mr. Gaina says the fes- tival seeks to polish, adding, “he’ll be big.” Thursday’s performance is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be held in the old library building. Tickets will be sold at the door and are $5 for students and $20 for adults. The next concert is sched- uled for Oct. 25. Those who wish to participate or who would like to know more can contact Mr. Gaina at enquiries@caymanartsfestival.com or at 922-5550. This handmade Shigeru Kawai piano will be one of the features at the debut Music at the Library event this Thursday. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY Students collect books for LIFE literacy campaign Cayman Prep and High School’s Key Club has col- lected more than 1,300 books for literacy charity LIFE during its third an- nual book drive. The lightly used books will go to several government schools on Grand Cayman. “We are really pleased by the generosity of our fellow students who raided their bookshelves to contribute to this year’s drive,” said Zolla Jones, the school’s Key Club president and Year 10 stu- dent. “We as a club are fully behind LIFE’s commitment to developing classroom li- braries in local schools.” According to Zolla, the annual book drive for the charity is important in the Key Club calendar as it is an opportunity to get ev- eryone behind a spectac- ular community service ini- tiative that has a strong impact. “Students would much rather give books a new lease of life than throw them away once we’ve read them,” she said. Donated by students in the run-up to summer va- cations, the books cover several different genres, ranging from classic young readers literature to young adult fiction including ad- venture, dystopian tales and science fiction. Among the donated books were sev- eral copies of the “Hunger Games” series. Marilyn Conolly, LIFE’S chief executive, said, “LIFE is very pleased to once again partner with the excep- tional students at Cayman Prep and High School for this generous gift to their fellow students. “When we learn to help each other as young people, these lessons and actions will transfer to our adult lives, helping us to build a community of people who care for each other.” Key Club members, faculty advisors and Marilyn Conolly, LIFE director, pose with a sample of the books collected this year for the literacy charity. Mr. Gaina spoke highly of all the performers who will be featured Thursday, but encouraged the public to keep an eye out for cellist Dequan Smith-McConvey. Grandparents honored at church service JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Grandparents were hon- ored in a special way at Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Sept. 9. Grandparents Day is cel- ebrated on the first Sunday after U.S. Labor Day. The church’s Reverend Jason Knox delivered the sermon, “More Precious than Life.” “We are just convinced by scripture that God sees and acknowledges all of his people, that no act of service or love is too small to be un- noticed by him,” said the Rev. Knox. “So, we think it’s im- portant for us to likewise no- tice and recognize all of our people [and] we’re so grateful for the love they show with their grandchildren, espe- cially in bringing them to church. We are glad they are noticed by God and their church community.” Grandparents were rec- ognized for their partici- pation in the community and awarded for their per- sonal achievements over the years by organizer Ezi- ethamae Bodden. “The Boatswain Bay Pres- byterian Church has been celebrating Grandparents Day for the past 29 years,” Ms. Bodden said. Varion Ebanks, 90, was the oldest grandfather present and Carolyn Watson, 80, was the oldest grand- mother. Allon Powery, 49, and Ingrid Ebanks, 58, were the youngest grandfather and grandmother, respectively. All grandparents were presented with a gift and a poem. Grandparents Day has both an official flower and song. The official flower is the forget-me-not, and the song is Johnny Prill’s “A Song for Grandma and Grandpa.” Grandparents were recognized for their participation in the community and awarded for their own personal achievements.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 PURE L CK CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2018 GRAND PRIZE WINNERS! Winston Roach $20,000 Grand Prize Lorna’s Omar Robinson $3,000 2nd Prize Jose’s Darren Cranston $1,000 4th Prize Peanuts Loretta Reyes Neyra $1,500 3rd Prize Savannah Raja Ramaraju $500 5th Prize Walkers Road FUEL THE DIFFERENCE RUBISCAYMANISLANDS.COM PURE L CK CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2018 GRAND PRIZE WINNERS!GRAND PRIZE WINNERS! Winston Roach $20,000 Grand Prize Lorna’s Omar Robinson $3,000 2nd Prize Jose’s Darren Cranston $1,000 4th Prize Peanuts Loretta Reyes Neyra $1,500 3rd Prize Savannah Raja Ramaraju $500 5th Prize Walkers Road FUEL THE DIFFERENCE RUBISCAYMANISLANDS.COMThe 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. In recent days, the Compass received a letter to the editor (via email) that contained what appear to be some valid observations about the recent pay raise for teachers. The letter writer observed that the salary increases did not extend to principals, deputy principals, support staff or others throughout the educational system. Nevertheless, our readers will never get to read that letter because it was sent to us anonymously, and this newspaper does not publish anonymous or unsigned letters, nor any correspondence signed with a “pen name.” A growing, and we believe consequential, debate is taking place in the media world about the perils of publishing “anonymous submissions.” The debate has been spurred on by the New York Times which recently published on its “op-ed page” (the page opposite the editorial page) an unsigned column by, supposedly, a “senior official” in the White House. The column was highly critical of the president and his policies. President Donald Trump has asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the matter, citing national security concerns. Even the First Lady, Melania Trump, has entered the fray, posting on Twitter thoughts that echo ours: “Freedom of speech is an important pillar of our nation’s founding principles and a free press is impor- tant to our democracy. The press should be fair, unbiased and responsible. “Unidentified sources have become the majority of the voices people hear about in today’s news. People with no names are writing our nation’s history. Words are important and accusations can lead to severe consequences. If a person is bold enough to accuse people of negative actions, they have a responsibility to publicly stand by their words and people have the right to be able to defend themselves. “To the writer of the op-ed – you are not pro- tecting this country, you are sabotaging it with your cowardly actions.” One of the first actions the current publisher of the Compass took upon acquiring the newspaper in 2013 was to end the practice of publishing anonymous correspondence. We knew that our must-sign policy would reduce the volume of letters we receive for pub- lication, both in our print edition and on our website (caymancompass.com). However, we believed then, and we believe now, that signing one’s name to one’s words engenders responsible, and oftentimes courageous, comment, and the opposite – not signing – offers the opportunity for irresponsibility, inaccuracy and even, as Mrs. Trump states, cowardice. Readers may be interested in knowing that some media outlets are now eliminating ALL comments from readers because the administrative process has become so burdensome. In announcing the elimination of the comments section on its website, National Public Radio (NPR) stated: “Like countless other news outlets, NPR found itself overwhelmed by trolls, anonymous contributors who had too often hijacked comment threads with offensive and inappropriate submissions. Simply put, trolls are the loudest voices in the room, the ones who write ‘crazy nasty things just to get people all riled up.’” Even Reuters, the huge and highly regarded news service, has eliminated reader comments. The Compass will not go that far, but we always verify the identity of our correspondents. We recently discovered that a frequent poster to our online site was, in fact, writing under a pseudonym. He had somehow long ago slipped through our filter, perhaps not being aware of our policy. (Subsequently we have reviewed all of his postings and can report that a number of them are thoughtful and substantive, and none strikes us as libelous, defamatory or even the slightest bit offensive. Of course, we screen every posting before we publish it.) Nevertheless, the Compass is now going through an exhaustive process of “re-verifying” the identities of all of our contributors. Please bear with us if you are contacted during this process and, please, always know that we welcome, encourage and value your thoughts and opinions. Comments policy: No ‘no names,’ no pen names Last week, the Federal Re- serve announced that it had reached its goal of a 2 per- cent inflation rate. Why not 1 percent or 4 percent or better yet, zero? The act creating the Federal Reserve back in 1913 tasked the Fed with the goal of price stability – which in normal (not Washington) speak should mean an infla- tion rate of zero. The United States and most other countries were on the gold standard in 1913, which had given the world a high degree of price stability. After the U.S. finally totally decoupled the dollar from gold in 1971, the country went through a bout of high infla- tion, which, by the late 1970s, had reached a rate of above 13 percent and caused the prime interest rate to climb as high as 21 percent. To bring down the inflation rate, the Fed forced a severe recession on the country. That disaster of four decades ago is still deep in the memories of us who were alive at the time. People see the debt buildup in the U.S. and most other major countries and correctly ask, “How long be- fore the next great inflation?” This justified fear of a new inflation is one of primary motivations of many in the search for money alterna- tives that are independent of the irresponsible world po- litical class. The great economist/phi- losopher F.A. Hayek wrote a classic book in 1976, “Dena- tionalisation of Money,” which not only made the economic case for non-government money, but described how private commodity-backed monies could come about. In addition to inflation, there are other factors that motivate the search for non- government monies. The U.S. dollar is de facto the world’s currency. Most commodities are denominated in U.S. dol- lars. Most foreign govern- ments hold a major portion of their monetary reserves in U.S. dollars. People in countries with unstable currencies use paper U.S. dollars both as a transactional currency and store of value – in fact, much more physical U.S. currency is held outside of America than within. The foreign holdings of U.S. dollars and very low-in- terest dollar-denominated debt means the rest of the world is, in essence, giving the United States a subsidy in the form of interest-free or very low-interest loans. Obviously, this situation causes resent- ment in the rest of the world – poorer countries subsidizing the biggest rich country. Another resentment is caused by U.S. financial impe- rialism. The United States is able to impose its tax law out- side of its borders, and regu- late foreign banks, other fi- nancial institutions, and even non-financial institutions. Most international commerce is done in U.S. dollars – and the U.S. government sets the rules for dollar usage. All businesses need banks, and banks need other banks – called corresponding banks – to transmit and receive funds within and outside national borders. The corresponding banks need to have their own corresponding banking rela- tionships with even bigger, usually international, banks. The biggest banks deal di- rectly with the U.S. Fed to clear both domestic and in- ternational payments (checks and wire transfers) among each other and the banks that have corresponding rela- tionships with them. If the U.S. government tells a primary bank that has an account with the Fed not to deal with another bank, because that bank deals with banks or businesses that en- gage in things the U.S. gov- ernment disapproves of – ter- rorist or drug dealing finance, or facilitating U.S. tax eva- sion, or violations of other U.S. tax regulations or secu- rities laws, etc. – the bank has almost no choice but to comply – or be shut down. Such financial power en- ables the U.S. government to impose sanctions on coun- tries like Iran or North Korea. In sum, the U.S. government tells businesses and banks throughout the world, “Comply with our sanctions or we will make life hell for you if you make or receive payments that are ever converted to U.S. dol- lars anyplace in the world.” The U.S. government, in cooperation and encourage- ment of some other gov- ernments, notably the Eu- ropeans, uses its power to strip away virtually all finan- cial privacy from individuals, companies, and even govern- ments. And finally, the costs of regulations have resulted in high fees for international payments through banks. Many governments, mil- lions of private individ- uals and companies want to free themselves from the U.S. financial yoke. Hence, the search for a functional cryptocurrency. Bitcoin, with its block- chain technology, was a great step forward, by enabling peer-to-peer transactions (outside the banking system) with a high degree of finan- cial privacy. But it has failed to provide stability given its huge price swings, and it has proved to be cumbersome to use and slow, and much more-costly than envisioned by its creators. Hayek was probably right in that any new currency will need to be backed by real commodities. A computer al- gorithm, such as that behind Bitcoin and most cryptocur- rencies, is unlikely to meet the test. The effort to find al- ternatives to the dollar is al- most certain to succeed given the global political and finan- cial interest, and the amount of brainpower at work. Richard W. Rahn is chairman of Improbable Success Productions and board member of the American Council for Capital Formation. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The rush to cryptocurrencies RICHARD W. RAHN 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” Many ... want to free themselves from the U.S. financial yoke. Hence, the search for a functional cryptocurrency.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 SECURE YOUR PROPERTY WITH THE BEST DEALS IN SURVEILLANCE CAMERA SYSTEMS AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ON ISLAND. The Security Centre has three exceptional CCTV deals that just can’t be matched. 3 The Gold Standard: a complete digital, four camera IP system – 4 meg precision viewing at just $1799 The Security Centre guarantees that we will beat any price on a comparable system. Call the Security Centre for your demo today at 949-0004 or visit us online at security.ky 2 The Eagle Eye Special: a high-definition system perfect for the home and small businesses - $1549 All systems offer mobile device access - so you can check on your property remotely. bring an existing security camera system into high-definition – using existing cabling - at just $999 1 The Phoenix HD Upgrade: Sunday liquor sales amendment in effect Liquor stores and gas sta- tions will be able to apply for Sunday opening hours when the Liquor Licensing Board of Grand Cayman meets Thursday. Changes to the law, al- lowing the board to permit Sunday opening for holders of package licenses, came into effect Monday. The amendments are de- signed to clarify and simplify a licensing regime that had become confusing and diffi- cult to navigate, resulting in controversy over which busi- nesses were permitted to open on Sunday and under what circumstances. The most im- mediate practical effect of the change will be that liquor and convenience stores, such as Peanuts store at Red Bay gas station, will require only one li- cense and will be able to serve beer, wine and spirits to cus- tomers on Sundays. The Liquor Licensing Board had already agreed to allow Sunday sales for convenience stores, gas stations and liquor stores. In a decision, announced in April, the board concluded, after taking legal advice, that it was permitted to grant retail li- censes, typically reserved for bars, to other types of business. Retail licenses allow for Sunday sales of alcohol to be taken off premises, in quanti- ties of a case of beer or a bottle of spirits or more. Package li- censes, the more common cat- egory for traditional liquor stores, only permit Monday to Saturday hours but place no restrictions on quantity. The amendments extend Sunday opening to package license holders, at the board’s discre- tion, and clarify that retail li- censes should be reserved for bars and other venues that sell alcohol on the premises. That means that when the liquor board meets Thursday, it will face the task of ensuring every business is licensed in the right category. The spin-off ben- efit for businesses is that they will only require one license and that liquor stores will be able to sell beer in smaller quantities on Sundays. Minister for Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure Jo- seph Hew said in a press re- lease that the changes sought to address urgent matters only. “Over the years there has been some ambiguity and is- sues with several sections of the Liquor Licensing Law,” he said. “These amendments were done in [an] effort to address some of the critical deficiencies and provide a more efficient li- censing regime.” He said a more compre- hensive review of the law is planned, which will take a closer look at rules around the training of bar staff and the advertising of alcohol, as well as potentially combining the Music and Dancing Control Law with the Liquor Licensing Law. Noel Williams, chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board, said in the release, “The Liquor Licensing Board is pleased that the recent changes to the law now provides clarity to the roles and responsibility of the Board. The Board will now be equipped with the tools and training necessary to run fairly and efficiently.” Customs officers arrested a Caymanian man at Owen Roberts International Air- port Sunday on suspicion of importing 9 pounds of ganja and attempting to bribe a customs officer. The 34-year-old man arrived on a Cayman Air- ways flight from Miami, Florida. Customs officers found several packages of ganja after carrying out a secondary examination of his luggage. Following the arrest, cus- toms narcotics enforcement officers and police officers conducted a joint operation, in which the man’s house was searched and drug para- phernalia found. Commenting on the arrest, Deputy Collector of Customs Jeff Jackson, who has re- sponsibility for the customs border protection portfolio, said the Customs Depart- ment and its partner agen- cies have “the capability to leverage significant seizures into wider investigations, both domestic and foreign, to ensure that those engaged in smuggling of illegal drugs are brought to justice.” MAN ARRESTED AT AIRPORT, 9 POUNDS OF GANJA SEIZED The most immediate practical effect of the change will be that liquor and convenience stores, such as Peanuts store at Red Bay gas station, will require only one license and will be able to serve beer, wine and spirits to customers on Sundays. COURSE OFFERED ON PESTICIDE USE The Cayman Islands De- partment of Agriculture is offering a six-day training course on the safe use and handling of pesticide products. The course, a repeat of a similar course offered in pre- vious years, takes place at the Stacy Watler Agriculture Pa- vilion, Lower Valley, Bodden Town on Sept. 24 to Oct. 1. The course will train par- ticipants in how to limit the negative repercussions of pes- ticide misuse while targeting farmers, nursery personnel, professional landscapers, lawn and garden mainte- nance personnel and pest con- trol operators. Participants will be eval- uated through practical and written examinations and cer- tificates awarded for full par- ticipation, achievement, merit and distinction. Course facilitators will be staff from the Depart- ment of Agriculture and other government agencies. Agri- culture plant protection of- ficer Joan Steer will be the course coordinator. According to the Depart- ment of Agriculture, pesticides are important in the mainte- nance of a suitable environ- ment for comfortable living, food production and food storage. They form an impor- tant and necessary part of crop protection and animal health activities. Pesticides pose hazards not only in terms of their ap- propriate use, but also with regard to their disposal, ac- cording to the DoA. The course is designed to train individ- uals in the proper selection, use and disposal of pesticides. For more information, contact 947- 3090 or email ciagriculture@gov.ky.6 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Caribbean keeps close eye on progress of Tropical Storm Isaac Hurricane Florence poses major threat to U.S. East Coast KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com The southeastern Carib- bean went on alert Tuesday, as the first hurricane and tropical storm watches were issued for Isaac. The storm, initially ex- pected to hit the Lesser An- tilles Thursday as a Category 1 hurricane, has been down- graded to a tropical storm. That does not mean residents should rest easy, however, ac- cording to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. “Isaac is expected to be at or near hurricane inten- sity when it approaches the Lesser Antilles on Thursday, and hurricane and tropical storm watches have been is- sued for several islands. In- terests in those areas should follow any advice given by their local officials,” the Na- tional Hurricane Center said Tuesday morning. Isaac is not currently fore- cast to impact the Cayman Islands, but residents should observe the progress of the storm, currently positioned east of the southern Carib- bean in Atlantic waters. The tropical storm was moving west near 16 mph as of Tuesday afternoon. A hurricane watch is in ef- fect for Guadeloupe, Marti- nique and Dominica, while a tropical storm watch is in ef- fect for Antigua, Montserrat, and St. Kitts and Nevis. Rainfall of 3 to 5 inches with isolated amounts nearing 10 inches is forecast for the Leeward Islands later this week. A storm surge of 2 to 4 feet above normal levels is also anticipated. “Swells generated by Isaac will begin to affect portions of the Lesser Antilles on Wednesday afternoon. These swells are likely to cause life- threatening surf and rip cur- rent conditions,” the National Hurricane Center said. Meanwhile, sunny weather returned to Cayman on Tuesday, as a tropical wave moved away from the islands and toward the U.S. Gulf Coast. “Cloudiness and showers associated with the interac- tion between a tropical wave and an upper level trough will continue to decrease across the Cayman area … as the tropical wave moves west over the Yucatan Penin- sula. Radar images show iso- lated showers in and around the Cayman area moving to- wards the northwest,” the Cayman Islands National Weather Service said Tuesday. That tropical wave is fore- cast by the U.S. National Hur- ricane Center at a 70 percent chance of cyclone formation within the next five days. Gulf residents, particularly in northeastern Mexico, Texas and Louisiana, should mon- itor the progress of the storm. Hurricane Florence Two active hurricanes – Florence and Helene – were also moving across the At- lantic Tuesday. While Helene is expected to stay in Atlantic waters, Florence posed a se- rious threat to the U.S. East Coast. The storm is forecast to make landfall near the Carolinas Thursday or Friday as a major hurricane with winds around 130 mph. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper called the storm a “monster.” “It’s big and it’s vi- cious. It is an extremely, dan- gerous, life-threatening, his- toric hurricane,” he told the Associated Press. “The waves and the wind this storm may bring is nothing like you’ve ever seen. Even if you’ve ridden out storms before, this one is dif- ferent. Don’t bet your life on riding out a monster.” Mass evacuations were ordered across North and South Car- olina and Virginia, and states of emergency were issued by the federal government. Isaac is not currently forecast to impact the Cayman Islands, but residents should observe the progress of the storm, currently positioned east of the southern Caribbean in Atlantic waters.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 Custodian BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, Cayman Brac Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky Colonial Pension Services Ltd. Jardine House, 33-35 Reid Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda NOTE: British Caymanian Insurance Agencies Limited acts solely as an agent on behalf of Colonial Pension Services Ltd. and it does not act as a broker on behalf of its customers. Colonial Pension Services Ltd. is licenced to conduct Investment Business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority and holds a restricted trust licence with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Please visit www.britcay.ky for our General Information and Disclosures. A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. insurance, health, pensions, life cgigrp How well are my investment funds doing? Custodian is a pension plan from Colonial Pension Services Ltd. It offers a wide selection of investment options which are competitive with major benchmark indices. How easy is it to access accurate, up-to-date information when I need it? Each calendar month, all member investments, accounts and statements are updated and available for employers and employees to check online. How about one more question? If your pension plan isn’t delivering on long-term investment objectives in the way you would wish, why not talk to BritCay? Call 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky If you really want to know if your pension plan is working for you, ask two questions. Schools join beach cleanup efforts Audit of collected beach trash scheduled for Saturday More than 120 volunteers, including students, par- ents, teachers and commu- nity members, took part in an effort to clean up a pre- viously pristine East End beach on Sunday. Rising before dawn to start the cleanup at the beach beside Eagle Ray’s Bar & Grill, the volun- teers managed to remove more than 1,600 pounds of waste from the site, despite threats of torrential showers and high winds. Children as young as 3 years old joined Miss Cayman Caitlin Tyson in the cleanup. Sponsored by Plastic Free Cayman and Red Sail Sports, this back-to-school beach cleanup also featured an ed- ucational booth directed at all demographics with the goal of making people aware of their consump- tion habits and the effects of bioaccumulation. The booth, which was presented by Cayman In- ternational School students, included reusable alterna- tives to plastic straws, that were available for purchase, and the effects of degrading plastic toothbrushes, lighters and microplastics in the sand and water sources. Many students, from both public and private schools, were able to obtain commu- nity service hours and hope to attend future cleanups. Although most of the trash has been successfully removed from this one area, the greater problem of waste contamination remains prev- alent across the islands, or- ganizers said. Volunteers sought for Saturday trash ‘audit’ The trash collected on Sunday joins garbage from previous beach cleanups orga- nized by Plastic Free Cayman throughout this year, inside a large dumpster in the Depart- ment of Environment’s parking lot on North Sound Road. The dumpster contains some 1,700 pounds of gar- bage collected from the beach cleanups. The waste will be sorted, cleaned and “audited” Sat- urday afternoon by a group of volunteers, who will try to determine exactly how much trash has been collected, of which types, and what can be recycled. The group is asking that no one places anything in, or take anything out, of the dumpster before the trash being sorted on Saturday. Volunteers are wel- come to join in Saturday’s sorting effort from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Depart- ment of Environment, 580 North Sound Road. Another cleanup by Plastic Free Cayman and Parley, this time on Cayman Brac, is being organized for the weekend of Oct. 5 and 6, and all volunteers are welcome. Cayman International School seniors Jack Paolini and Madison Imparato con- tributed to this story. A young volunteer tries to untangle discarded netting from a piece of wood on the beach in East End during Sunday’s Plastic Free Cayman cleanup. CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The trial of William Ian Rivers on a charge of murder continued this week with evi- dence from two psychiatrists. Mr. Rivers, 38, is ac- cused of the murder of Mark “Hubba” Seymour on the af- ternoon of Jan. 28, 2017, in the vicinity of Super C Restaurant in West Bay. Mr. Seymour died from gunshot wounds. The defendant pleaded not guilty on the basis of di- minished responsibility. The issue, as identified by Director of Public Prosecu- tions Cheryll Richards, is Mr. Rivers’s state of mind at the time of the shooting. Defense attorney Crister Brady called forensic psy- chiatrist Dr. Ali Ajaz, who gave evidence on Monday via video link. He then called Dr. Omotayo Bernard, who gave her evidence in person on Tuesday morning. Dr. Ajaz was scheduled to be in Cayman on Wednesday in order to complete his evi- dence in person. Trial began last week. After the Crown’s case was concluded, Mr. Brady began the case for the defense by calling Mr. Rivers’s long-time partner, Loretta Ebanks. The defendant himself did not give evidence. JURY IN MURDER TRIAL HEARS MEDICAL EVIDENCE CUSTOMS EMPLOYEES IN COURT CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two civilian employees of the Customs Department ap- peared in Summary Court on Tuesday charged with theft. The defendants are Danny Oscar Ebanks, 48, of West Bay; and Rhymiech Keyon Adolphus, 31, of George Town. The men were charged separately, but details of each of their two charges were the same. The first charge is that each man, on or before Aug. 13, 2018, at the Customs Warehouse on Owen Roberts Drive, stole five cellphones belonging to a named person. The second charge is that each man, on or before Aug. 14, 2018, stole a quantity of herbal supplements and vitamins be- longing to a named person. No value was given for any of the items. The defendants were not asked for their pleas. No details of the alleged offenses were mentioned. Magistrate Valdis Foldats observed that the case pa- pers comprised “a fairly thick bundle” and therefore ad- journed the matter for three weeks so that the men could speak with their attorneys. Mr. Adolphus was repre- sented by attorney Dennis Brady. Attorney Graham Hampson appeared on behalf of Mr. Ebanks. In a press re- lease issued last week after the men were arrested, Col- lector of Customs Charles Clifford referred to the men as “civilian employees” and confirmed they had been placed on required leave.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Churchill’s Funeral Home Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com In Loving Memory of Our Beautiful Mother, Netha Pearl Ebanks, who left us on Wednesday August 29, 2018. Please join us for a Candlelight Service in her memory on Friday September 14, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Glass House Building, (Next to the Government Admin. Building). Please join us as we Celebrate Her Life on Saturday September 15, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cayman Islands Baptist Church, 163, Pedro Castle Rd, Savannah, Cayman Islands. In Lieu of Flowers, Donations can be made at Trisha’s Roses, North Church Street, GT. Interment follows at Old Prospect Cemetery. Please join us for a Candlelight Service in her In his speech, Mr. McLaughlin said that, pro- viding government finan- cial performance and the economy remain strong, a further cost of living in- crease would be made in 2020 to adjust for the Con- sumer Price Index between 2018 and 2020. “This will finally begin to bring civil servant sal- aries back on track after seven or more years of playing catchup with an increasing cost of living. This will also complete the plans started during the last administration to bring civil servants pay back in line and will not only ben- efit families of civil ser- vants but is money that will be spent back into the local economy,” Mr. McLaughlin said. Cost of living adjust- ments were historically awarded periodically to ensure civil service salary scales kept pace with in- creases in the Consumer Price Index, according to Ms. McField-Nixon. The practice was sus- pended during the recession and civil servants pay was actually cut by 3.2 percent in 2010. That pay cut was re- versed in 2015 and the latest cost of living increase sig- nifies a return to what Ms. McField-Nixon described as “normal HR practices” fol- lowing the stabilizing of government finances. On the subject of healthcare costs, Ms. Mc- Field-Nixon added, “The previous[ly] announced plans to have civil servants contribute to their health- care costs was stood down. As part of its mandate to modernise terms and con- ditions of employment, the Portfolio of the Civil Ser- vice continues to support the Deputy Governor’s Of- fice and the Ministry of Fi- nance and Economic De- velopment to ensure the sustainability of civil ser- vice employment benefits.” In his speech last week, Mr. McLaughlin said gov- ernment is also reviewing the broader salary scales of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, Fire Service, and employees of the De- partment of Environmental Health, “to ensure we can attract and retain the staff we need and I will advise on these at a later date once the reviews are completed.” According to the most recent Annual HR Re- port from the Portfolio of the Civil Service, there were 3,778 civil servants in core government in De- cember 2017. According to that report, the average salary for civil servants is $46,575 per annum. there are cycle lanes, they are often blocked by parked vehicles or other blockages. “A lot of people say they don’t want to ride because it is too dangerous on the roads,” he added. In the aftermath of the accident, police were again forced to issue a plea to the public not to dis- tribute pictures of the body. In a number of recent in- cidents, including a gun murder and a suicide ear- lier this year, police have is- sued similar warnings after gruesome pictures were distributed via WhatsApp. “Sharing such photo- graphs online or via phone applications is insensitive towards the grieving par- ties and we implore the public not to engage in this behavior,” a police spokes- woman said Tuesday. the 2017-18 academic year. These students have paved the way for their peers, who hope to in the future follow in their footsteps.” Under the guidance of their teacher, Dee Clark, sup- port staff Philipa Miller and Melissa Jackson, and the se- nior management teams at Lighthouse School and CIFEC, the students under- took “what many perceived as an impossible challenge,” said Elroy Bryan, principal of Lighthouse School. “They worked harder than they had ever worked before and sacrificed lunch breaks, free time, and even Saturday mornings to en- gage in extra tuition with Ms. Clark. Some of them faced challenging per- sonal obstacles which they bravely overcame. Their incredible attitudes to learning and growth mind- sets helped them to perse- vere, even on the toughest days,” Mr. Bryan added. According to a press re- lease from the school, the path to success was not an easy one and mock exams proved more daunting than expected. Interventions and extra study sessions took place to prepare the stu- dents further and increase their chance of success. “Through sheer hard work, focus and determina- tion, the students produced all their required course- work to a very high stan- dard and worked tirelessly to prepare for their exams,” the release stated. They sat the exams in June and waited with anticipation during the summer months for their results, which they received in August. They all passed the Eng- lish and mathematics exams, and collectively achieved four passes, nine merits and a distinction. Cyclist killed in early morning crash CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Authorities target noisy unlicensed events Police and enforcement officers from the Department of Commerce and Invest- ment are cracking down on unlicensed events in George Town that have prompted neighbors to complain about excessive noise and nuisance in recent weeks. Officers have been car- rying out what police de- scribed as “a series of pro- active patrols” following the complaints, that have mostly centered around the Rock Hole and Washington Boulevard areas. During one such patrol on Saturday, a few locations were found to be playing loud music. “The persons re- sponsible were spoken to and warned to desist under sec- tion 12 of the Town and Com- munity Law, with which they then complied. One of the persons was also informed by the DCI officers on how to apply for a license to host an event,” police said. Later that night, officers also attended a location off Godfrey Nixon Way, and dis- rupted an after-party that was planned for the location. Claudia Brady, head of compliance and enforcement at DCI, said, “Our goal is to make sure that any event which requires a license is not conducted without such a license. We also want to ensure that once a license is obtained, the license holders abide by the re- quirements and conditions of that license. If not, per- sons will be prosecuted ac- cording to the law.” Licenses are required to conduct any trade and busi- ness, including where food or alcohol is sold. Inspector Courtney Myles of the Community Policing Department, said in the state- ment, “While people do have the right to gather and so- cialize, the laws are in place so that the rights of others in the community to peace and quiet are respected. We know some people are igno- rant of the laws, so we are taking this opportunity to educate. But those who are found knowingly in breach of the laws will be dealt with accordingly.” For information on how to obtain a trade and business license or liquor license, visit the Department of Commerce and Investment’s counter at the Government Administration Building. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CIVIL SERVICE PAY INCREASE Bigger paychecks, no healthcare costs 7 Lighthouse School students make exam history Parents, school staff and Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, second from right, pose for a photograph with seven Lighthouse School students who passed their City & Guilds exams. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 JOLLY ROGER PULLED FREE AFTER RUNNING AGROUND Cayman’s pirate-themed ship the Jolly Roger, which ran aground amid rough weather Monday morning, was successfully pulled off a sandbank near Burger King later in the day. Roylee Moore, acting security manager at the George Town port, con- firmed Tuesday that the ship was safely secured at the Port Authority dock. Tugboats removed the vessel from the sandy area around 9:30 p.m. Monday night where it had been lodged for several hours. “The tug boat crew had to wait until the high tide came in before they could remove the ship,” said Mr. Moore. He added that there did not appear to be any se- rious structural damage to the hull of the ship, but that the ship’s crew mem- bers were carrying out fur- ther inspections. The cyclist’s bike is seen behind the car it collided with along the Esterley Tibbetts Highway in West Bay Tuesday morning. The Jolly Roger is safely secured at the dock in George Town Tuesday morning. - PHOTO: KAYLA YOUNG9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2018 US marks 9/11 with somber tributes NEW YORK (AP) – Americans looked back on 9/11 Tuesday with tears and somber trib- utes as President Donald Trump hailed “the mo- ment when America fought back” on one of the hijacked planes used as weapons in the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. Victims’ relatives said prayers for their country, pleaded for national unity and pressed officials not to use the 2001 terror attacks as a political tool in a po- larized nation. Seventeen years after losing her husband, Margie Miller came from her sub- urban home to join thou- sands of relatives, survi- vors, rescuers and others on a misty morning at the memorial plaza where the World Trade Center’s twin towers once stood. “To me, he is here. This is my holy place,” she said be- fore the hours-long reading of the names of her husband, Joel Miller, and the nearly 3,000 others killed when hi- jacked jets slammed into the towers, the Pentagon and a field near Shanksville, Penn- sylvania on Sept. 11, 2001. The president and first lady Melania Trump joined an observance at the Sept. 11 memorial near Shanks- ville, where one of the jet- liners crashed after 40 pas- sengers and crewmembers realized what was happening and several passengers tried to storm the cockpit. Calling it “the mo- ment when America fought back,” Trump said the fallen “took control of their des- tiny and changed the course of history.” They “joined the im- mortal ranks of American he- roes,” said Trump. At the Pentagon, Vice Pres- ident Mike Pence recalled the heroism of service members and civilians who repeatedly went back into the Pentagon to rescue survivors. The terrorists “hoped to break our spirit, and they failed,” he said. At the United Nations, Security Council members stood for a moment of si- lence, led by U.S. Ambas- sador Nikki Haley. The 9/11 commemora- tions are by now familiar rit- uals, centered on reading the names of the dead. But each year at ground zero, victims’ relatives infuse the ceremony with personal messages of remembrance, inspira- tion and concern. For Nicholas Haros Jr., that concern is officials who make comparisons to 9/11 or invoke it for polit- ical purposes. “Stop. Stop,” implored Haros, who lost his 76-year- old mother, Frances. “Please stop using the bones and ashes of our loved ones as props in your political theater. Their lives, sacri- fices and deaths are worth so much more. Let’s not trivialize them.” This year’s anniversary comes as a heated midterm election cycle kicks into high gear. But there have long been some efforts to sepa- rate the solemn anniversary from political campaigns. The group 9/11 Day, which promotes volunteering on the anniversary, asks can- didates not to campaign or run political ads for the day. Organizers of the ground zero ceremony allow poli- ticians to attend, but they have been barred since 2011 from reading names or deliv- ering remarks. If not political speeches, there were politically tinged appeals from some victims’ relatives amid the reading. “May we support our pres- ident to lead our country,” said Joanne Barbara, who lost her husband, Fire De- partment Assistant Chief Gerard Barbara. Another victim’s family sent a different message. “My hope is that discrim- ination, hatred and bigotry will cease and that we all will come together and love,” said Debra Epps, a sister of victim Christopher Epps. An- other sister, Chaundera, had an answer for anyone who wonders why families still come to such ceremonies after 17 years. Sept. 11 still shapes Amer- ican policy, politics and ev- eryday experiences in places from airports to office build- ings, even if it’s less of a con- stant presence in the public consciousness after 17 years. A stark reminder came not long after last year’s an- niversary: A truck mowed down people, killing eight, on a bike path within a few blocks of the World Trade Center on Halloween. In December, a would- be suicide bomber set off a pipe bomb in a subway pas- sageway near Times Square, authorities said. They said suspects in both attacks were inspired by the Islamic State extremist group. Calling it “the moment when America fought back,” Trump said the fallen “took control of their destiny and changed the course of history.” SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) – The marine commander gave an order to Chief Petty Officer Pienovi, who moments be- fore had obeyed an order to help send his own wife to a torture center. “Take her!” he demanded – referring to the couple’s frantic and shouting 9-year old child. And so he did, the daughter now recalls, raping his own child on the spot. Forty-five years after the Chilean coup led by Gen. Au- gusto Pinochet, there are still stories emerging of the hor- rors that followed the Sept. 11, 1973, overthrow of Marxist President Salvador Allende. Many accounts have come from the testimony of soldiers prosecuted for human rights violations, and others from those who endured kidnap- ping and torture, from those who watched the murder of friends. But other memo- ries have remained repressed, rarely shared, such as those of children abused in their own homes by parents who were agents of the dictatorship. That repression is still stamped on the mind of Vit- toria E Natto, a 54-year-old teacher who uses that pseud- onym to write and speak about her history. A strong noise, the sight of a soldier, still can shake her. “Even today, I see a uni- form and I freeze,” she told The Associated Press. The coup set off a cam- paign of repression against suspected leftists across Chile, with tens of thousands rounded up and tortured, often raped. The navy even took over several private ves- sels to help hold the sudden wave of prisoners. Among them was a ship known as the Lebu that held hundreds of captives at a time. One of those on the black lists of suspected leftists was Vittoria’s mother, Matilde. Her husband – who had been a member of naval in- telligence – was summoned by superiors. He later re- counted the conversation to his daughter: “If you are not capable of maintaining order, that’s treason,” he said he was told. “So either all of you will go to the Lebu tonight or we will do what must be done.” Vittoria said her mother was no millitant, but had worked with left-leaning Catholics to collect food for the poor, and had organized Masses in her apartment with leftist priests, a class of person often targeted by the dictatorship. Vittoria’s 9th birthday fell that Sept. 22, and when she heard a knock on the door, she thought someone was bringing a late-night present. Instead, two armed ma- rines entered and pointed guns at her. They shouted for her mother, and Vittoria watched her father hand Matilde over to them. The child began to shout and kick, angering the officer overseeing the arrest. “Take her!” he shouted to Pi- enovi. And he did, she recalls with tearful eyes. Many prisoners of the dic- tatorship, which continued until 1990, suffered sustained and barbaric sexual assaults, sometimes including animals. Vittoria says her mother re- ceived “special treatment:” Because her husband was in the service, she was allowed to go home two days after being raped by three officers. “The woman they re- turned was a broken woman, changed, totally destroyed, totally destroyed, devastated. Me too. Me too,” she recalled. For a long time, she said, nobody spoke of those days, though nine years later, Vit- toria threw her father out of the house. For 20 years, nei- ther mother nor daughter sought psychiatric help. Stories still emerge of the horrors after Chile’s coup A woman leaves a bouquet of flowers at the North Pool during a ceremony marking the 17th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States, Tuesday in New York. - PHOTO: APNext >