ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2018 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY GOV’T INJECTS MORE CAPITAL INTO CINICO MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cabinet approved an equity investment of $4.53 million into Cayman Islands National Insurance Company to raise the public sector health insurer’s capital base above the min- imum level prescribed by the regulator. Finance Minister Roy McTaggart revealed the payment in the Legislative Assembly on Nov. 14 as part of other “exceptional circum- stance” transactions undertaken by govern- ment in the 2018 financial year. All insurers must maintain adequate levels of capital to be able to satisfy their PRISONERS TO HELP COLLECT GARBAGE JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Serving prisoners will be used as tempo- rary garbage collectors in a new scheme to deal with continued delays in roadside trash collections. Amid staff shortages and problems with “absenteeism” among some current workers at the Department of Environmental Health, government has resorted to hiring additional staff on temporary contracts. Government also plans to use prisoners as assistant garbage collectors in an effort to prevent a repeat of the chaos last December when garbage was PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Hedge Funds Care hosts colorful gala Cindy Hislop, Natalie Baldwin, Ania Milanowska, Julie Hughes and Sarah Murphy attend Friday night’s vintage circus-themed Hedge Funds Care Cayman gala at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. The charity raises funds to help prevent and treat child abuse in the Cayman Islands. For more on this story, see page 8. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Let the festivities begin ... With the touch of a button, Camana Bay turned into a festive wonderland Saturday as thousands gathered at the Crescent for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. MCs Kevin Morales and Taylor Vaughn di- rected the festivities and, helped by Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, led a countdown to the spectac- ular tree lighting, which was followed by a sudden “snow” shower. Throughout the evening, the crowd enjoyed plenty of entertainment, from carol singers and choirs to dancing reindeer. As well as action on the stage, there was also a holiday-themed craft market to give shoppers a head start on their Christmas shopping.It’s never too early for Santa to make an appearance. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE ‘Reindeer’ show off their dance moves. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE The crowd watches on Saturday evening as the giant Christmas tree at Camana Bay is lit up. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 LOCAL&REGIONAL MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 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. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) AIR STRIKE (R) 4:15 I 10:00 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (PG13) 12:15 I 3:20 I 6:30 | 9:45 VIP THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB A NEW DRAGON TATTOO (R) 1:15 | 9:50 THE GRINCH (PG) 12:20 I 1:15 VIP | 2:35 | 4:00 3D | 6:30 3D | 9:30 FANTASTIC BEASTS THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (PG13) 1:00 3D | 3:45 VIP | 6:50 VIP | 8:45 NOBODY’S FOOL (R) 4:50 | 7:25 WIDOWS (R) 12:50 | 3:45 | 6:50 | 9:40 call : 946-9020 between 9am to 5pm Dr. Wayne R. Porter MD F.A.A.D. Dermatologist Dees Plaza #282 on Crewe Road, GT He will be in office from November 19th - November 24th, 2018 Government defends $55K spending on marketing port JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Tourism officials have de- fended a decision to spend more than $50,000 of public money promoting the con- troversial cruise and cargo port project. The spending, revealed in response to an anonymous Freedom of Information re- quest, includes print, radio and social media advertising, as well as a $30,000 six- month contract with public relations firm Fountainhead. The data was shared with the media last week. The Ministry of Tourism simulta- neously released a statement to all media, explaining the rationale behind the expendi- ture on what it describes as a “public education” campaign. Stran Bodden, chief officer in the Ministry of Tourism, said the aim was to make the reams of information gath- ered in the planning stages of the project more accessible to the public. According to the min- istry’s response, a total of $25,292.50 had been spent on advertising for the “Sup- port our Tourism” campaign from August through to the end of November 2018. This includes advertising costs, as well as the creation of a Face- book page and website. Mr. Bodden said, “Since 2013, a tremendous amount of research, data and other relevant information re- garding the cruise berthing project has been posted to the Ministry of Tourism’s website, but over time it has become harder to locate, in between other Ministry-re- lated information. We there- fore wanted to provide the public with a more conve- nient, central location for re- trieving the cruise berthing project information.” Fountainhead was hired on a $5,000-a-month contract to assist with developing and running the campaign. Mr. Bodden said the ministry does not have the resources available internally without outside support. He added, “We have a single-member of staff han- dling PR, communications and speech writing for all of the ministry’s portfolios and felt it was prudent to provide additional support so that a high level of public engage- ment could be consistently maintained for the dura- tion of the campaign. Conse- quently ‘Support our Tourism’ is being administered by the Ministry’s PR Manager along with her normal daily duties and support from Fountain- head is included within their contracted scope of works. “The Ministry is not in- curring any other costs or salaries with respect to the campaign to date.” Government moves high school project forward MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com The slow process of com- pleting the new John Gray High School has taken an- other step forward. The Cayman Islands gov- ernment announced late Thursday that it has ap- proved the outline business case for the project, which, in addition to the new construc- tion, also involves the repur- posing of the buildings that make up the current John Gray High School and demo- lition of most of what is now the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre. The next phase for the projects will be procurement and design development. Contractors and consultants are being asked to make pro- posals on the final design. KPMG, which developed the business case, deter- mined that the optimum de- sign option is to complete the school by adding to the par- tially constructed buildings to make them into a two- story, interconnected depart- mental high school building, according to a statement re- leased by the government. Price limits have been set on the different stages of construction, but are not being shared with the public. “The affordability ranges for each of the projects in- cludes fees and contingen- cies,” the statement said. “However, the budget for the projects will not be re- leased at this time as a re- sult of being in the process of tendering.” Completion of the high school will be the first of three-stage project. The pro- jected completion date is March 2021. However, in Au- gust, Education Minister Ju- liana O’Connor-Connolly said she would push to have the new school ready by the end of 2020. She did not respond to a request for clarification. The repurposing of the former George Hicks site, where John Gray is now housed, is expected to be complete in February 2022. The buildings will house CIFEC, the Department of Education Services, Student Services, Corner Stones, Par- enting and Pregnant Teens, and space for the University College of the Cayman Is- lands to expand. The third stage of the project will be the demoli- tion of the current CIFEC fa- cility – with the exception of the meeting hall, which will become a hurricane shelter, indoor sports facility and community hall – and the construction of a sports field for the high school. Com- pletion is expected in Sep- tember 2022. Ms. O’Connor-Connolly said she expects the new high school to be a pre- mier facility. “In the same way that we have five-star tourist facili- ties, our children deserve a world-class facility that will demonstrate education as a major priority of the country,” she said in August, calling the project an important compo- nent of nation building. During the development process, KPMG analysts actu- ally downsized the footprint of the school. Reducing the size of the school, the government said, will make it more comparable with similar campuses in other countries. The process also “identified efficiencies in the deployment of teaching staff which will enable better collegiality and (lead to) im- provements in student and school performance.” The business case will be available for public download from Monday at www.education.gov.ky. The partially completed John Gray High School building. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY Cruise ships moor off George Town. The Cayman Islands government has spent $55,000 on a publicity campaign to promote the creation of a cruise ship and cargo dock in George Town. EXCAVATORS FIND TOMBS BURIED IN BOLIVIA 500 YEARS AGO LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) – Ar- chaeologists say they found tombs at a Bolivian quarry containing remains from more than 500 years ago that give an insight into the interaction of various peo- ples with the expanding Inca empire. The remains, which were found about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from La Paz, belong to more than 100 in- dividuals from an indige- nous civilization and were buried with more than 30 vessels used by the Incas for performing death rites, said an archaeologist in- volved in the excavation. “The vessels are whole and are Incan,” said Jedu Sagarnaga, an archae- ology professor at Univer- sidad Mayor de San An- dres in La Paz who led the investigation. The site near the modern-day town of Viacha also contained elongated skulls that may have been stretched to differentiate the social rank of individ- uals, he said. The cemetery carved into limestone appears to have been built by the Pa- cajes people, whose cities were conquered by the Incas toward the end of the 15th century. The Pa- cajes formed part of the Ay- mara kingdom and devel- oped around the year 1200 after the decline of the Ti- wanacu people in the An- dean highlands. “This finding reaffirms our identity and culture and shows that not only was there an influence from the Incas, but from other people as well,” said Julio Condori, an archae- ologist who runs the Ar- chaeological and Anthropo- logical Research Center in Tiwanacu and was not in- volved in the excavation. Bolivian Minister of Culture Wilma Alanoca called it an “unprecedented discovery.” The site was excavated months ago, but the find- ings were not made public until this week. Sagarnaga said that in addition to the bones, the burial site held more than 150 decorative bronze objects including necklaces, bracelets, orna- ments for women’s hair, large broaches, and two horseshoe-shaped head- bands used by nobles. Jedu Sadarnaga shows pottery from one of the tombs found at a Bolivian quarry near the capital of La Paz. The tombs contained remains buried with more than 30 vessels used by the Incas. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2018 BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY BLACK FRIDAY 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” The beginnings of the holiday season are not marked on anyone’s calendar and, in fact, most of us have our own unofficial harbingers to remind us that Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hanukkah and the New Year are upon us. Those signs are beginning to appear with increasing regularity and visibility throughout the islands. This past weekend, the annual Christmas tree lighting, along with entertainment and much merry- making, took place at Camana Bay. Thousands – from toddlers to octogenarians (and beyond) – were in atten- dance and certainly would declare collectively (after the oohs and aahs when the tree lights went aglow) that this was indeed the “start” of the holiday season. We personally mark our mental calendars when the landscaping on our roundabouts goes from merely verdant to holiday festive (again, Camana Bay gets especially high marks for its “trees and ornaments” presentation at its signature entryway to its growing retail, residential and commercial community). Our Christmas traditions may be unique to our little islands – the Crighton display of spectacular propor- tions, the Bodden counterpart on South Church Street, the immaculate raked sandy front yards of our wattle and daub homes. In modern times, the traditions of more than 100-plus other countries are finding their way into Cayman’s cultural tapestry. After the predictable chaos of the “Black Friday” sales later this week, social calendars will begin to fill up. Christmas parties already on the books include the Pink Ladies Christmas Tea, the Visual Arts Society Christmas sale, the Playhouse Family Christmas, the Cayman National Choir and Orchestra’s annual Elmslie Carol Concerts and the Singing Christmas Tree … and so many more. (The Compass will be publishing calen- dars aplenty to keep you abreast of all the goings-on.) Schoolchildren are already practicing for pageants, while charitable organizations are planning activi- ties and opportunities to help the less fortunate and our aged during this special season. Our churches, of course, are preparing to usher congregations through one of the most important seasons in the Christian calendar – when the faithful celebrate the birth of Jesus. Some will decry that Christmas is starting “earlier and earlier” each year, driven as much by commerce as spirituality. That is probably true and, equally true, probably inevitable. Nevertheless, such thoughts need not be dispiriting. In fact, it might not be a bad thing if the spirit of Christmas – of giving, of caring, of reconnecting with relatives and friends – were shared more evenly throughout the entire year. This is perhaps a good time to remind ourselves that “company’s coming” to share our holidays with us. Our “Christmas season” coincides with our high-travel season. Already, our hotels, condominiums and guest houses are largely booked with our northern friends who are opting for sand over snow. We should be aware that they are our guests and, like all guests, may require a little extra patience – especially on our roadways: Many have never driven “on the left” in rental cars with steering wheels on the right. Roundabouts, which even many Caymanians haven’t figured out, will be a total mystery to thousands of befuddled motorists. Be understanding, be kind, and be reluctant to make your “real feelings” known by blaring your horn or employing a well-known (even universal) hand signal that even visitors will recognize. Don’t do that. (Santa will be watching and, as we all know, he knows who’s been naughty or nice.) No. We encourage all our readers to get in the spirit, to share the goodwill that is beginning to make its annual appearance on these little islands, and to take the time to enjoy this most joyous time of the year. Yes, the season of joy and light is upon us … WASHINGTON – The world’s oldest political party has de- veloped an aversion to dis- cretion. The Democratic Party is manacled to an over- caffeinated base that be- lieves that deft government can deliver parity of status to everyone while microman- aging the economy’s health- care sector, which is larger than all but three other for- eign nations’ economies. In- conveniently, the party must appeal to voters who, living in dread of their next inter- action with the department of motor vehicles, yearn only for governmental adequacy. Which is why John Del- aney, who is ending a three- term tenure as a Democratic congressman from Mary- land, is seeking his party’s presidential nomination. His quest will test whether Dem- ocrats’ detestation of Donald Trump is stronger than their enthusiasm for identity pol- itics: A white male busi- nessman, Delaney comes to bat with three strikes against him. Suppose, however, Dem- ocrats are more interested in scrubbing the current presi- dential stain from public life than they are in virtue-sig- naling and colonizing the far shores of leftwingery. Delaney is much more than an example of the If-Donald Trump-Can-Be-Elected-So- Can-My-Cocker-Spaniel re- sponse to 2016. His grandparents, he says, “made pencils and worked the docks.” He did not become wealthy, as to- day’s businessman-turned- president did, through a fa- ther’s largesse supplemented by tax chicanery. Neither of Delaney’s parents went to college. His father was a 60- year member of the Interna- tional Brotherhood of Elec- trical Workers. An IBEW scholarship, and support from the American Legion, VFW and Lions Club, helped Delaney through Columbia University. After George- town Law School, where he met his wife, he founded a financial company and be- came the youngest-ever CEO on the New York Stock Ex- change. His next company invests in small and mid- size companies. In 2017, For- tune magazine included him among the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.” Solidly built and impec- cably tailored, Delaney, 55, is a Democrat who believes in what he has lived: upward mobility, with assistance. He recognizes the obvious, that globalization has been “ex- traordinarily positive” for billions more people than it has injured, but its Amer- ican casualties are real and deserve government help. He speaks with the calm con- fidence of one who under- stands, as the man he hopes to displace does not, that the lungs are not the seat of wisdom. He checks var- ious boxes that might mol- lify all but the most fastid- ious progressives: He likes early childhood education, a carbon tax, a $15 minimum wage and extending the So- cial Security tax to higher in- comes. He dislikes the NRA, the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, high interest rates on student loans and “outrageous” drug prices. He would achieve “universal” healthcare by offering Med- icaid for all, and for those who choose to opt for private programs, as he thinks most people would, there would be federal subsidies for those who need them. He says “the screaming top headline” from the mid- term elections was that mod- erate Democrats won. Few not occupying safe seats won while hollering “Single payer healthcare!” and “Abolish ICE!” and “Impeachment!” It is Delaney’s persona – think of a Joe Biden 20 years younger and half as prolix – that will distinguish him and seem either pleasingly adult or insufficiently car- bonated when the prancing ponies from the U.S. Senate come cantering into Iowa. If the nomination scramble is a decibel competition, Delaney will lose – and the winning Democrat probably will lose in the November 2020 ren- dezvous with him who spe- cializes in loud. Delaney illustrates the reason for tolerating what Iowa considers a Man- date of Heaven – its entitle- ment to begin the nomina- tion process. Iowans are so thin on the ground that re- lentless retail politicking can give a dark horse candidate a fighting chance against the ponies who, being senators and hence barely employed, have ample time to flit around the country raising money and their pretty pro- files before coming to where the tall corn grows. Delaney, who is not ne- glecting New Hampshire, has been tilling Iowa’s po- litical soil as an announced candidate for more than 475 days, and long since ex- ceeded 50 percent name rec- ognition among Democratic Iowans. He has visited all 99 counties with more than 440 days remaining before the 2020 caucuses. In the 10 presidential cycles since Jimmy Cart- er’s 1976 win in Iowa made the caucuses important, six Democrats have won com- petitive caucuses and then their party’s nomination: President Carter (defeating Ted Kennedy) in 1980, Walter Mondale in 1984, Al Gore in 2000, John Kerry in 2004, Barack Obama in 2008, Hillary Clinton in 2016. Del- aney in 2020? Democrats could do much worse. They generally do, and probably will. As in 2016, Trump is counting on it. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2018, Washington Post Writers Group MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Presidential candidate tests Democrats’ values GEORGE F. WILL His quest will test whether Democrats’ detestation of Donald Trump is stronger than their enthusiasm for identity politics.The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2018 Viruses or Bacteria What’s got you sick? Antibiotics only treat bacterial infections. Viral illnesses cannot be treated with antibiotics. When an antibiotic is not prescribed, ask your healthcare professional for tips on how to relieve symptoms and feel better. Common Condition: What’s got you sick? Common Cause Are antibiotics needed? Bacteria Bacteria or Virus Virus Strep throat Yes Whooping cough Yes Urinary tract infection Yes Sinus infection Maybe Middle ear infection Maybe Bronchitis/chest cold (in otherwise healthy children and adults)* No Common cold/runny nose No Sore throat (except strep) No Flu No * In some cases, acute bronchitis is caused by bacteria, but even in these cases antibiotics still do not help. Antibiotics Aren’t Always the Answer www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use info@hsa.ky • www.hsa.ky CaymanIslandsHSA HSA_Cayman6 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Barbara Anley Sebastien Guillbard Amanda Wilson Simon J. Watson Jennifer Cowdroy Member Appreciation and Elections 2019 Wednesday, November 21 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at The Ocean Room, Wharf Restaurant Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres will be Served VICE PRESIDENT (one available position) Mike Gibbs SECRETARY (one available position) Steve McIntosh COUNCIL NOMINEES (Three Positions Available) TREASURER (one available position) Colin Robinson Tim Bradley Voting allowed by one representative per organization in good-standing. NOMINEES FOR THE 2019 CHAMBER COUNCIL OfReg and Cayman Water resume talks KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com After the Utilities Regu- lation and Competition Of- fice (OfReg) rejected Cayman Water’s most recent proposal for a licensing deal to serve customers in the Seven Mile Beach and West Bay areas, the two parties have resumed negotiations. Frederick McTaggart, CEO of Cayman Water parent company Consolidated Water, told the Cayman Compass that he met with the regu- lator on Tuesday to provide more “information relating to the negotiations.” Mr. McTaggart declined to go into details about the ne- gotiations, but said he’s con- fident that Cayman Water and OfReg will reach a deal that is beneficial for Cayman consumers and is fair to the company. “I don’t want to speculate, other than to say I think we’ll ultimately reach an agree- ment with [OfReg],” he said. “In every negotiation, there’s some rough patches you go through. But we’ll get it re- solved, I think.” He added that customers are in no danger of having their services interrupted. “Nobody would even con- sider that – on either side of the table,” he said. Earlier this month, OfReg rejected Cayman Water’s most recent proposal. “Further, OfReg indicated that if the Company is un- willing to submit a new pro- posal offering certain ad- ditional concessions, then OfReg will have to consider its other available options,” stated Consolidated Water’s third quarter financial report. Mr. McTaggart said he does not know what OfReg meant when it said it may have to “other avail- able options.” Gregg Anderson, who is the executive director of OfReg’s energy and utilities office, also declined to com- ment on the negotiations. He did, however, send the Com- pass a portion of the Water Section Regulation Law, which outlines some of the regulator’s powers. The powers in that law include “setting, monitoring and regulating the tariffs, rate structures, and terms and conditions for water and wastewater services charged to consumers … ; reviewing and approving other rates of- fered by service providers … ; and establishing, monitoring, reviewing or amending ser- vice standards provided for under this Law or in any li- cence granted or administra- tive determination issued by the Office under this Law.” Cayman Water’s retail li- cense was originally set to expire in July 2010, but has been extended several times over the years so that govern- ment and the company could reach a new deal. The most recent license extension expired on Jan. 31 this year, but Consoli- dated Water stated in its re- port that it continues to pro- vide water on the assumption that the license has been fur- ther extended to allow nego- tiations to continue without interrupting an essential service. The company began negotiating with OfReg in July last year. Under its current license regime, Cayman Water pays a 7.5 percent royalty to the government of its gross re- tail water sales revenues – excluding energy cost adjust- ments. The selling prices of water sold to its customers are determined by the license and vary depending upon the type and location of the customer and the monthly volume of water purchased, according to Consolidated Water’s annual report. Previous financial re- ports from Consolidated Water state that govern- ment is looking to restruc- ture its water supply deal in a manner that could sig- nificantly reduce the compa- ny’s income. “The resolution of these license negotiations could result in a material reduc- tion of the operating income and cash flows we have his- torically generated from our retail operations,” Consoli- dated Water stated in a pre- vious report. The report added that one of the likely outcomes to the negotiations will be that Consolidated Water will no longer receive tax breaks on its imports related to the re- tail license. Under the ex- isting license agreement, Con- solidated Water does not pay duty on supplies imported into the Cayman Islands under its retail water license. According to a 2010 filing, the Cayman Islands gov- ernment is looking to lower water rates for residents. “Depending upon the terms included in such new license, the company’s water rates to customers could be reduced, thereby resulting in a corresponding reduc- tion in the company’s oper- ating income as compared to operating income that the company has historically generated under the license,” Consolidated Water stated in a 2010 filing. Cayman Water is back in talks with regulator OfReg about its license.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2018 Now you can have a fully installed GPS satellite tracking device in your car, shipping container, truck, boat – or even complete vehicle fleet for less than $35 per month with no upfront cost. If your possessions ever get stolen, you can log in through your mobile device to locate it immediately. It can even be given to a family member to ensure you’re aware of their location. To find out more about this special offer contact the Security Centre on 949-0004 or email info@security.ky Just mention “Sat Trak” to get more information about this great deal. FULLY-FITTED GPS TRACKING UNITS FOR LESS THAN $35. Alleged NRA impersonators could face more charges KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three men who were ar- rested last month appeared in Grand Court on Friday for allegedly presenting them- selves as workers with the National Roads Authority and offering to paint the parking lot of a business premises on North Church Street. However, the case was adjourned for another two weeks after Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Pat- rick Moran told the court that the prosecution has received further complaints about the men for “similar matters” on the same day, Oct. 26. Mr. Moran requested more time so that his of- fice could decide whether to file more charges against the men. Defense attorney James Stenning agreed that the case should be adjourned so his clients know exactly what they are accused of before they plead. Grand Court Justice Roger Chapple granted the adjournment, setting a return date of Friday, Nov. 30. The men are David Gam- mell, 20, a British national; Patrick Sheridan, 21, and John Quilligan, 22, both Irish nationals. They were visitors who had been staying at a hotel on West Bay Road. They have since moved to a dif- ferent hotel. They are charged with “personating public officers” and with obtaining $672 with intent to permanently deprive the owner. The men originally ap- peared in Summary Court on Wednesday, Oct. 31, when Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn heard that they had ap- proached Cash Wiz on North Church Street and offered to paint the business’s parking lot for a fee, stating that they were employed by the NRA. The business owner later as- certained they did not work for the NRA and reported the incident to police on Sat- urday, Oct. 27. Following an investiga- tion, the three men were lo- cated and taken into custody. The case has been sent to the Grand Court, and the de- fendants are out on bail. Additionally, they each face a charge of working without a permit, and are scheduled to appear in Sum- mary Court in relation to that charge on Wednesday. The Department of Envi- ronmental Health is advising the public to place bulk waste items for collection on kerbsides in time for sched- uled pick ups. According to a statement from the DEH, during the re- cently concluded first phase of the collections, staff made repeated trips to retrieve bulk waste from previously collected areas. As a result, there was a slight delay in the completion of bulk waste collection from North Side and East End. The department reported that a total of 43 loads of bulk waste, weighing 154.3 tonnes, were ultimately col- lected from those districts. Bulk waste collections in Bodden Town began last week and end on Friday, Nov. 23. Collections will begin in the George Town District on Saturday, Nov. 24, and in West Bay on Dec. 8. The collections at Cayman Brac East will be on Nov. 28-29; at Cayman Brac West on Dec. 5-6, and at Cayman Brac South on Dec. 12. The tentative dates for collections on Little Cayman are Dec. 17 and 19. For more information, call the DEH at 949-6696 or email dehcustomerservice@gov.ky. DEH asks for bulk waste to be left out early Department of Environmental Health workers pick up bulk waste in North Side. - PHOTO: DEH CUC PLANS WEST BAY SERVICE INTERRUPTION The Caribbean Utilities Company advised customers Thursday that there will be a planned service interruption Tuesday morning in the Birch Tree Hill, Mount Pleasant, Barkers, Batabano and The Shores areas in West Bay. The interruption will occur on Nov. 20 between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. All customers on Birch Tree Hill Road, Mount Pleasant Road, Captain Reginald Par- sons Drive, Conch Point Road, Batabano Road and all side roads will be affected by the planned interruption. Some customers on Fountain Road and Hell Road will be affected for no more than 20 minutes. Motorists are asked to proceed with caution when utilizing roads in the ser- vice area. The interruption is intended to facilitate over- head infrastructure upgrades in the area. For more information, contact CUC’s Customer Service Team at 949- 5200 or through service@cuc.ky.8 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Hedge Funds Care hosts vintage circus evening Dressed as ringmasters, harlequins and performers, supporters of Hedge Funds Care Cayman attended the charity’s glitzy annual gala at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman on Friday night. The theme of this year’s fundraiser was “Vintage Circus,” and the audience did not disappoint, donning an array of costumes that would not look out of place in any classic Big Top. The primary aim of the benefit is to raise money to fund programs to aid in the prevention and treat- ment of child abuse in the Cayman Islands. The charity was still tal- lying the numbers this weekend to establish how much was raised by ticket sales, in donations and in auction bidding, but or- ganizers said the an- nual galas typically raises about $250,000. Hedge Funds Care is an international charity sup- ported largely by the hedge fund and finance industry. Since its inception in 2005, the Cayman chapter has raised more than US$3.5 mil- lion to help prevent and treat child abuse and neglect in the Cayman Islands. Organizers said the net funds raised in Cayman are used to provide grants for a variety of initiatives, in- cluding the Children and Youth Services (CAYS) Foun- dation and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service in their work with the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub for Chil- dren and Families (MASH). HFC Cayman also sup- ports the Department of Counselling Services, which provides parenting work- shops to strengthen family life and decrease the risk of current or future child abuse in the community. HFC Cayman also supports the Crisis Centre, which provides aftercare services and coun- selling for victims of vio- lence, and a safe space for at- risk young people. The Committee of Hearts, organizers of Friday’s Hedge Funds Care gala, gather under the Circus sign at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. - PHOTOS: STEPHEN CLARKE AND MAGGIE JACKSON Renee Ravazzani on the aerial silks.David Bell, Wiekert Weber, Nikkie Feringa, Margot Weber, Carol Bell, David Sage, Christine Sage, Shawn Gale and Anja Gale Gary Linford, center, with Cassandra Powell, left, and Nisha Linford The live auction mystery box reveal: Three wrapped boxes of wine were auctioned off, with each bidder hoping that they would win the most valuable prize: from left, Baron Jacob won the best box, valued at more than $1,000, with Peter Small, center, pulling the dud, and Tim Frawley escaping somewhat unscathed with the medium value box.Carolina Ferreira, Dr. Bart Grossman and Camila Ferreira Julie Hughes, Vicki Wheaton, Anne-Marie Leadbetter and Dominic WheatonThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2018 MONDAY - DECEMBER 3, 2018 To our precious Angel Shenni DaCosta February 27, 1978 - November 19, 2014 Four sad years ago They say that time is a healer, but as time goes on We seem to fi nd it just as hard to face the fact you're gone. You will never be forgotten and every day we shed a tear But it's because we love you and wish you were still here. Gates of memories will never close How much we miss you no one knows Days have passed away into years We think about those memories with silent tears. Time means nothing because love never dies. We love you and miss you so very much Your broken hearted parents Ashton and Marlene Bodden And ail your family policy obligations and ab- sorb potential losses. As a Class A insurer, CINICO is required to meet prescribed capital require- ments under insurance cap- ital and solvency regulations issued by the Cayman Is- lands Monetary Authority to meet its insurance business commitments and adequately manage its risk. CINICO’s capital fell below the prescribed capital limits this year, prompting CIMA to set a deadline, ad- vising the insurer that it would not allow CINICO to remain below the capital requirements. Minister McTaggart said that non-compliance with minimum capital levels ex- posed CINICO to high credit and liquidity risk that could negatively affect the insurer’s financial position and ability to pay for claims. “Also, there was the possibility that CIMA could have imposed regulatory sanctions, including the sus- pension of CINICO’s license,” he noted. “The closure of CINICO would be detrimental to the country as CINICO provides health insurance coverage to over 15,000 mem- bers that include civil ser- vants and their dependents, pensioners, seafarers, vet- erans and residents that have low income and those that have impaired health.” Mr. McTaggart said, during the finalization of the 2018 and 2019 Budgets, CINICO had already advised it would need additional pre- miums from the government to cover the cost of civil ser- vants’ health insurance. Instead of revising the 2018 and 2019 budgets to in- clude the increased premium costs across the various min- istries and portfolios, govern- ment budgeted the increased cost of $4.3 million centrally within the Ministry of Fi- nance and Economic Devel- opment, and then reallocated the costs to individual gov- ernment entities during the financial year. In the subsequent debate, East End MLA Arden McLean questioned why the payments were recurring and CINICO had fallen repeatedly below its capital requirements. Minister McTaggart re- sponded, if CINICO’s ob- ligations exceed available funds, the insurer has to “eat into the capital” and take it below the required limits. It was up to government to re- store the capital levels “from time to time” through equity injections. Bodden Town MLA Chris Saunders noted that while private sector insurers made more than $100 million in profits during the past four to five years, government was stuck with losses each year. Given that additional funds must be appropri- ated every year and the cir- cumstances could therefore hardly be described as ex- ceptional, he asked what gov- ernment was doing to find a permanent fix. Mr. McTaggart said his ministry, in conjunction with CINICO, was preparing a strategic analysis and un- derstanding of CINICO and its operations and “whether what they do continues to be fit for purpose.” That pro- cess has begun in terms of defining the scope of the re- view, he added. left uncollected on the road- side over the Christmas period. Prisoners will ride the gar- bage trucks and assist crews collecting trash in neighbor- hoods across Grand Cayman, according to Minister of Health Dwayne Seymour. Problems with roadside collections have persisted for the past 12 months, with the department facing additional scrutiny after an internal audit revealed it had exceeded its overtime budget by 800 per- cent in 2016/17. The head of the department, Roydell Carter, who was blamed by auditors for the debacle, has since re- tired, after being on leave for nine months. Minister Sey- mour acknowledged Friday that prolonged and continued issues with garbage collection were a national embarrass- ment. Speaking in response to questions from George Town legislator Kenneth Bryan during a meeting of the Leg- islative Assembly, he said gov- ernment had hired 11 tempo- rary staff and was training prisoners to supplement road- side collection crews. He said a longer term dis- ciplinary process was going on with staff who were under- performing or consistently not showing up to work. Asked why they could not simply be fired, he said the civil ser- vice had a legal process to go through in such situations. He insisted government was getting to grips with the situation. He said temporary workers would be coming back into the department on Monday while prisoners were already being trained to join them in the coming weeks. He said the plan would also help with the reintegration and rehabilitation of low-risk prisoners into the community. “I can only applaud the director of the prison for thinking of this method to be able to fill the gaps. In case of absenteeism we have a backup plan as we try to resolve the human resources problem that we have,” said Seymour. He said the prisoners would be supervised and the program would not put the community at risk. “The prisoners that will be involved in this are all low risk and they will be properly as- sessed and trained before this program is rolled out. “We have to give them some opportunity. We have to try. If it doesn’t work, then we will change our strategy.” The Compass understands the DEH has performance and absenteeism concerns over around a dozen staff, but the lengthy internal disciplinary process, required by law, for government workers means it is having difficulty getting rid of them. Minister Seymour admitted he was frustrated at the pace of the process but said the workers were Cayma- nians and had to be treated with respect and afforded due process under the civil service laws. “I don’t hire and fire and I have to respect the process, al- beit the process does seem a little long,” he said. “It is em- barrassing for our country that we have a national problem such as this and it couldn’t be remedied as quick as possible. He said action was being taken internally that could not be revealed publicly. Mr. Bryan, who asked sev- eral questions on the issue, said he sympathized with the minister, who was bearing the brunt of the public back- lash over tardy roadside gar- bage collections. He said he was pleased to see government trying to work out solutions but was reserving judgment on the concept of putting pris- oners on garbage trucks. He said he supported com- munity rehabilitation pro- grams, but was concerned about the level of supervision of offenders assigned to ride garbage trucks. “I am not saying it is a bad program, but if you are going to do something like that, I think you need community buy-in. I don’t think they have had any public consultation on it at all,” he said. Government injects more capital into CINICO Prisoners to help collect garbage CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dump trucks line up at the George Town landfill. Northward Prison inmates will be joining Department of Environment work crews to try to get garbage collection schedules back on track. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYNext >