ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2018 High of 88 Low of 76 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 HIT AND RUN: THE LATEST ASSAULT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT BUSINESS | PAGE 10 CEC RECEIVES UCCI PRESIDENT’S MEDAL THREE ACTING JUDGES APPOINTED TO GRAND COURT Judge Aileen Downey, Simon Rus- sell Flint, QC, and Hugh Southey, QC, have been appointed to the Cayman Islands Grand Court panel. They will be added to a list of judges who are called upon to preside over Grand Court cases when necessary. For more on this story, see page 8. Public’s input sought on development plan Government is seeking public input on a new development plan for Grand Cayman. The Department of Planning has launched a website where members of the public can view plans for long-term develop- ment and land use on the island and give feedback. The project is dubbed “Plan Cayman.” This will be the first devel- opment plan the government has drawn up in 20 years. It looks at future infrastructure demands for Grand Cayman, such as new schools, roads, and public transport improvements required in the years ahead, as well as balancing the protection of the environment with ongoing development. Minister of Planning Joseph Hew said in a press release, “Our infrastructure has a direct im- pact on our businesses, com- munities and families; and to ensure it is sustainable in the future, we need the public to have its say.” The plan can be viewed on- line at www.plancayman.ky. Police, bikers join forces for weekend motorcycle rally JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Police will join an estimated 200 bikers in a legally sanctioned motorcycle rally through Grand Cayman Sunday. The “Ride Out Cayman” event will also in- volve the closure of a road in West Bay to allow for bikes that are not street legal to be involved in a separate “skills session.” The event is the result of months of talks between police, legislators and repre- sentatives of biker organizations, following the chaos that ensued during a similar rally last year. In the 2017 event, almost 200 riders, some with their faces concealed by masks or bandanas, on quad bikes, dirt bikes and high-powered motorcycles, paraded through the island, popping wheelies and per- forming other stunts. The riders were seen blitzing through traffic lights, mounting sidewalks and weaving in and out of traffic throughout the day. Several riders on illegal bikes brazenly charged through a police roadblock during the unsanctioned event last November. This time police have moved to head off potential trouble in advance, working with organizers of the rally to ensure only legal bikes are on the road. Brevon Scott, one of the organizers, said WORC agency to police work permit applications Bill passed to create new labor agency JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Businesses seeking work permits to bring in staff from overseas will face additional scrutiny under a new system aimed at en- suring Caymanians get first shot at employ- ment opportunities in the Cayman Islands. Employers will be legally required to ad- vertise all job vacancies through a new na- tional “clearing house” website that will allow officials to determine if a Caymanian has the skills for the position before a work permit can be granted, Premier Alden McLaughlin said Monday. The plan is part of a new system that in- volves the creation of the Workforce Opportu- nities and Residency Cayman agency, which will be responsible for advancing the cause of Caymanians in the workplace. Legislation to create the new agency, which merges some of the functions of the Immigra- tion Department and the old National Work- force Development Agency into one unit, was passed Monday evening. The Immigration (Transition) Bill, which was unanimously approved by all legislators present during Monday’s session of the Leg- islative Assembly, sets out the remit of the new WORC agency. Its responsibilities include training and developing Caymanians for the workforce, helping find work for job-seekers and processing work permit and residency applications. Introducing the bill, Mr. McLaughlin said successive governments had grappled with the question of how to balance the needs of the islands’ core industries with the desire to en- sure Caymanians come first in the job market. He said those efforts had been well intended but had Beach Suites bridge under repair Workers are conducting structural repairs on a footbridge linking the old Beach Suites hotel to the opposite side of West Bay Road this week. The Dart group is working on upgrades to the Beach Suites and plans to reopen the venue as an as-yet unbranded ‘boutique hotel’ early next year. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 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) 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 | 7:00 | 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 Turkey Feasts US Thanksgiving (November 24th) Christmas (December 24th & 26 th) Feast for 6 – 8 CI$105.00 A 10 Pound Wood Roasted Turkey with All the Trimmings!! 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Located in the West Shore Center 945-2290 KAABOO adds local bands to festival lineup MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Derrick McKay thinks KAABOO will be good for his punk band and a handful of other Cayman-based groups that were chosen last Sat- urday to perform at the two- day festival in February. Playing in front of 10,000 people, he said, will force the local bands, which he says are already good, to push themselves to be even better. “I think it’s an amazing platform,” Mr. McKay said of the festival. “Now we need to step our game up. I think it will push us to work harder at what we do.” Mr. McKay is a member of Suckerbox, which was chosen, along with Rico Ro- lando, The Lion Fish and Shameka Clarke, to perform at KAABOO following a battle of the bands contest Saturday at Royal Palms Beach Club. Danny Loops was also picked to be part of the lineup for the Bask Night Club on the first night of the festival, where a mix of local and im- ported DJs will perform. Henry Smith is the man- ager and drummer for The Lion Fish. He said the band is entering a new phase be- cause of KAABOO. “Before, we were just doing cover versions of songs,” Mr. Smith said. “This made us look at becoming songwriters. [Band member] Jason Brown is a very tal- ented songwriter. We’re showcasing his songs.” The Lion Fish formed four years ago almost on a whim, when a group of colleagues came together to play the company Christmas party. Since then, the band, whose seven members play a range of music from reggae to rock, has played some of the is- land’s big events, such as Taste of Cayman. KAABOO is different, he said. “It’s great to be on the same bill as some of these great performers,” Mr. Smith said, adding that it’s possible the headliners might draw people influential in the music business. “You never know who might be in the audience and what it might lead to.” If he does not meet any movers and shakers, he’s at least looking forward to the chance to hang with the stars. “There’s some legends,” he said of the KAABOO lineup, “Bryan Adams, Duran Duran, Counting Crows, Blondie. I won’t be ashamed to say I’ll be bringing my autograph book and trying to take a few selfies.” Mr. Rolando sees the festival as an opportu- nity for local bands to get broader attention. “It’s a great showcase for Cayman talent,” he said. He will be showcasing some new work. Until re- cently, Mr. Rolando said he was playing mostly covers of Top 40 rhythm and blues. Now he’s working on his own material and expects to re- lease an album in May 2019. “I’m going to be writing some new material and per- forming three new songs in the set,” he said. Between now and February, he said, his eight-member band will be keeping sharp by playing other local gigs. In December, they will play for Cayman Fashion Week. Mr. McKay said Suckerbox will also be pushing hard to prepare for the big gig, even writing a couple of new songs for their set. “I think it will enhance the music scene,” he said of KAABOO’s influence. “We’ve got some very talented people here. It’s a matter of putting it all together. KAABOO is kind of the fire to get things going.” The festival will be Feb. 15 and 16. More information is available at www.kaaboocayman.com. Members of Suckerbox, from left, Derrick McKay, Reno Ciantar, Robert Neesome and Mark McTaggart.Rico Rolando will perform on the KAABOO stage. - PHOTO: SAM LANCASTER Scientists work to save wild Puerto Rican parrot after Maria EL YUNQUE, Puerto Rico (AP) – Biologists are trying to save the last of the endangered Puerto Rican parrots after more than half the population of the bright green birds with turquoise-tipped wings disap- peared when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico and destroyed their habitat and food sources. In the tropical forest of El Yunque, only two of the 56 wild birds that once lived there survived the Category 4 storm that pummeled the U.S. territory in September 2017. Meanwhile, only 4 of 31 wild birds in a forest in the western town of Mar- icao survived, along with 75 out of 134 wild parrots living in the Rio Abajo forest in the central mountains of Puerto Rico, scientists said. And while several dozen new parrots have been born in captivity and in the wild since Maria, the species is still in danger, according to scientists. “We have a lot of work to do,” said Gustavo Oliv- ieri, parrot recovery pro- gram coordinator for Puerto Rico’s Department of Nat- ural Resources. Federal and local scien- tists will meet next month to debate how best to revive a species that numbered more than 1 million in the 1800s but dwindled to 13 birds during the 1970s after de- cades of forest clearing. The U.S. and Puerto Rican governments launched a pro- gram in 1972 that eventually led to the creation of three breeding centers. Just weeks before Maria hit, scientists reported 56 wild birds at El Yunque, the highest since the program was launched. But the population de- cline is now especially wor- risome because the par- rots that vanished from El Yunque were some of the last remaining wild ones, said Marisel Lopez, who oversees the parrot recovery program at El Yunque for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “It was devastating. After so many years of having worked on this project …,” she stopped talking and sighed. The Puerto Rican Am- azon is Puerto Rico’s only remaining native parrot and is one of roughly 30 species of Amazon parrots found in the Americas. The red-fore- headed birds grow to nearly a foot in length, are known for their secrecy and usually mate for life, reproducing once a year. More than 460 birds re- main captive at the breeding centers in El Yunque and Rio Abajo forests, but sci- entists have not released any of them since Hurri- cane Maria. A third breeding center in a forest in the western rural town of Mar- icao has not operated since the storm. Scientists are now trying to determine the best way to prepare the parrots for release since there are such few birds in the wild they can interact with, and whether Puerto Rico’s damaged forests can sustain them. One proposal scientists will consider is whether to capture some of the re- maining wild parrots in the Rio Abajo forest and place them in the same cage as birds that will be released to the wild, so they can learn to emulate their social be- havior to ensure their sur- vival, said Jafet Velez, a wildlife biologist with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Sci- entists are tentatively plan- ning to release 20 birds next year in Rio Abajo. Another proposal is to re- lease more parrots in Mar- icao, which was not as heavily damaged by Maria. “Our priority now is not reproduction … it’s to start releasing them,” Lopez said, adding that breeding centers can hold only so many parrots. But first, scientists need to make sure the forests can offer food and safe shelter. Jessica Ilse, a forest biolo- gist at el Yunque for the U.S. Forest Service, said scien- tists are collecting data about the amount of fruit falling from trees and the number of leaves shed. She said the canopy still has not grown back since Maria and warned that invasive species have taken root since more sun- light now shines through. Ilse said that many of the large trees where parrots used to nest are now gone and noted that it took 14 months for El Yunque’s canopy to close after Hurricane Hugo hit Puerto Rico in 1989 as a Cat- egory 3 storm.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2018 The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” “Magic mirror, on the wall – who is the fairest one of all?” Like the Evil Queen in the fairytale Snow White, when we reflect upon our society, often what we are actually doing is looking for an idealized vision of ourselves. Without question, the Cayman Islands enjoys a pleni- tude of blessings, both natural and man-made – beautiful shores, tranquil waters, attractive structures, a general atmosphere of public safety, a kind and friendly people, etc. But, as in every community, there exists below the surface a largely invisible stratum that includes an element of malefactors, wrongdoers and those who partake in anti- social behavior. Trust us, their mindset does not resemble anything we think of as “Caymanian.” You could grow up and live in this country for years without ever being aware of the extent to which this type of person exists among us – unless you are a judge, police officer or a court reporter for the Cayman Compass. (In fact, our editors deliberately send young interns and new reporters to sit in on Summary Court proceedings so they have a more accurate understanding of the commu- nity they are charged with covering.) But sometimes, the activities of this “unseen” element become so disruptive to the social order that they emerge from the shadows into the public conscious- ness and spotlight. On the front page of Tuesday’s newspaper, we pub- lished a story about one such incident, in which a Royal Cayman Islands Police Service officer was injured by a driver fleeing a police roadblock. The incident occurred late Saturday night along the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, near Yacht Drive. The driver (who had a passenger) pulled his dark-colored sedan into the roadblock. The officer left his marked police car and attempted to speak to the driver and passenger, who did not respond. The officer moved to the front of the vehicle to check the license plate and then, according to an RCIPS statement: “The driver of the vehicle then drove off and struck the officer with the car, then sped off and broke through the roadblock entering into West Bay.” Our immediate concern, of course, is with the health of the injured officer, who fortunately appears to be on the road to recovery after being discharged from the Cayman Islands Hospital. However, on a societal level, this sort of pathological behavior does great damage to the public commonweal and how we think about ourselves as a people. We rec- ognize that it is aberrant behavior and that it is not rep- resentative of ourselves individually or as a community. We recognize it as a foreign body, even a cancer, that has somehow invaded and disrupted our “Caymankind” tran- quility. It certainly is unwelcome evidence that in Cayman there is a person who (whether motivated by desperation, malice, sheer recklessness, etc.) proved capable of delib- erately jeopardizing the life of a uniformed agent of law enforcement. Further, it is the latest and most heinous in a series of assaults on or displays of absolute disregard for Cayman police. Who can forget last November’s humiliation of police (captured on video camera and posted on social media) by scores of motorbikers who “bypassed” a roadblock, weaving recklessly and taunting the officers who were attempting to apprehend them. This dual degradation of the public’s respect for police, and the police’s relationship with the public, is an extremely troubling trend that if left unchecked, could and will erode the cultural cornerstone of law and order. We do not always agree with or understand the strat- egies of police – for example, sanctioning this Sunday’s iteration of the motorbike rally that previously left them looking so inept – but we always support the mission of our police as an organization, and stand by our individual officers who discharge their duties with honor, integrity and professionalism. Hit and run: The latest assault on law enforcement WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Measuring public officials’ performance We have many ways to measure how well public of- ficials in all countries are be- having. Each year, various or- ganizations provide country rankings as to how well coun- tries are doing in maintaining economic freedom, restraining corruption, protecting civil liberties, including religious freedom, etc. One of the mea- sures is the annual report by the World Bank on Doing Business. The 2019 report ranking 190 countries has just been released. The report investigates “the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it,” including property rights and labor policies. In addition to the rank- ings, the report contains case studies of places and areas of regulation where significant reforms and improvements have been made. The en- closed table takes a ranking sample from some of the best and worst countries. The annual reports and rankings of economic and civil society success pro- vide roadmaps for leaders in poorer countries who may wish to see their own citi- zens prosper. The question is, why do so few of them ac- tually undertake the obvious reforms necessary? Even if some leaders care little about their own citizens, one would expect their own egos to drive them to make major constructive changes. Few remember leaders who merely served as place- holders, or worse, rather than being change agents. Lee Kuan Yew will always be remem- bered as the man who took Singapore from being a poor Asian backwater to one of the most successful and pros- perous places on Earth, now having a higher per capita in- come than the United States. When asked to name former British prime ministers, Mar- garet Thatcher is almost cer- tain to be the most recalled – because she took a nearly bankrupt and despondent country and made Britain great and prosperous again. Ronald Reagan is America’s most beloved former recent president, because he revital- ized the American economy and its spirit. In contrast, look at Haiti and Honduras. Despite each being independent for two centuries, they have been un- able to produce the political leadership to move the coun- tries away from grinding pov- erty and corruption. A com- ment was made to me recently that, without remittances, Haiti would have a nega- tive GDP. (I have not looked at the data closely enough to know if that is literally true – but it is probably not far off the mark.) Many Haitians and Hondurans come to the United States and work very hard, and are worth what- ever they are paid, or more, to their U.S. employers. Why is it that the same person is worth 10 times as much per hour in the United States than in their home country? Leaders of poor countries often find it much easier to engage in corrupt bargains with the ruling elite to, in es- sence, steal some of the coun- try’s wealth rather than en- gage in the hard work of economic reform. An honest leader in a poor country is probably not particu- larly well paid, while a dis- honest leader can accumulate many millions. Some religious organiza- tions use shunning to disci- pline those who have engaged in bad behavior. It might be useful if the upright did more to encourage other notables to shun the bad actors. Much more should be done to honor and reward those who brought real re- form and greater prosperity and liberty to their own people. This could be done by one or a group of billionaires setting up a prize system like the Nobel prizes, to give a prize with a substantial mon- etary reward (e.g. $10 million) to a select few each year who have done the most to bring about successful economic reform in their own countries. Too few know who Mart Laar and Leszek Balcero- wicz are. Mr. Laar became the youngest prime minister in Europe in 1992 and led the radical economic reform in Estonia – which had just re- ceived its independence from the Soviet Union. His reforms resulted in Estonia becoming a normal middle-income Eu- ropean country within one generation, and his creation and promotion of “e-govern- ment” to get rid of corrup- tion is now being adopted by many other countries. Mr. Balcerowicz served as deputy prime minister, finance min- ister, and president of the Na- tional Bank of Poland during the years from 1989 to 2007. More than any other single individual, he is responsible for Poland becoming a high- growth and normal middle- income European country. If people like Mr. Laar and Mr. Balcerowicz were given the international rec- ognition they deserve, along with a tangible award, per- haps others who become leaders of poor countries will be inspired and more moti- vated to undertake the neces- sary reforms. Richard W. Rahn is chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth and Improbable Success Productions. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. RICHARD W. RAHN RICHARD W. RAHNThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2018 BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND SALE STARTS AT 5PM ON THURSDAY 22ND NOVEMBER! THURSDAY 22ND NOVEMBER: 5PM - 8PM FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 23RD/24TH NOVEMBER: ALL DAY! BAYSHORE MALL, CARDINALL AVENUE & THE STRAND +1 (345) 815 7492 • KIRKFREEPORT.COM BLA CK FRID AY JIMMY CHOO BLOSSOM EAU DE PARFUM SP DKNY CHAMBERS SILVER TONE GUCCI GG RING IN 18K WHITE GOLD IS: $66.15 US WAS: $105.00 US IS: $117 US WAS: $195 US IS: $324 US WAS: $810 USThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS the annual event had started as a way for bikers from all corners of the island to get together for a cruise around Cayman. He said it had gone relatively smoothly in the first few years, but he acknowl- edged there had been issues in recent times, largely with younger riders on unlicensed dirt bikes. He said most bikers were responsible riders who just wanted to get out and enjoy the island. He said they wel- comed police involvement and had actually requested police participation in the past. The riders will leave from Industrial Park in George Town at midday Sunday, with police motorcycles leading the procession. Only street-legal bikes will be involved and all riders will be required to obey the speed limit and all other traffic laws, according to the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service. The procession will wind its way through East End and North Side before heading back through George Town and on to West Bay. It will conclude along the extension road between Willie Farrington Drive and the Esterley Tibbetts Highway, which will be closed between midday and 7 p.m. to allow dirt bikers to take part in a “skills session.” Police said the non-street-legal dirt bikes should be brought by trailer to the site. Bikers involved in the pro- cession will join them later in the day, around 3:30 p.m. There will be a heavy po- lice presence, including var- ious roadblocks along the route, and police are advising the public to expect delays and stay off the roads if possible. Commissioner of Po- lice Derek Byrne said police had done their best to ac- commodate the riders and would clamp down on any who choose not to abide by the rules. “Those who choose to ride illegally and pose a danger to other road users despite the fact that an authorized event has been organized can expect to face the legal consequences,” he said. “New legislation pro- vides police with increased powers, which we will use to arrest rogue riders and seize bikes. They can either enjoy a fun and legal event with scores of other bikers, or they can break the law, endanger their safety and possibly be hurt or arrested, and lose their bike. The choice is theirs.” Mr. Scott said the vast majority of riders were very happy to have police involved. He said, “We have engaged with the police to try to make it more of an organized event. They were willing to close off a road to give the dirt bikers somewhere they can go for that day, and the street legal bikers will have a ride out where the police will be along to escort and control traffic.” He said the bikers enjoyed riding together in a group. “It is a different feeling to ride with a group of 100 other bikers than it is just riding by yourself.” He said he hoped the non- street-legal bikes would abide by the rules and stay within the designated area. “They have closed off a road,” he said. “You can’t ask for any more than that.” National Planning Framework The first document to be made available online for public input is the Na- tional Planning Frame- work, which was drafted by the Central Planning Au- thority under the mandate of the Development and Planning Law. The document sets out the long-term goals for land use and also covers the natural environment, transportation, infrastruc- ture, recreation and open spaces. It also builds on information gathered during previous public outreach programs, ac- cording to the Department of Planning. The government’s vi- sion for the National Plan- ning Framework is out- lined in the document: “High-density develop- ments and major commer- cial uses will be focused in identified suitable areas, although locally serving neighbourhood centres and smaller-scale tourism will be encouraged in other locations around the Island. “Sustainable growth in residential development will be accommodated throughout Grand Cayman and facilitated by improved connections. Natural envi- ronmental assets will be protected and enhanced wherever possible.” Haroon Pandohie, di- rector of the Department of Planning, said his depart- ment is consulting with relevant public authori- ties and interested par- ties, as well as engaging with the public, to ensure agreement on the approach of the plan. “We want the public to be involved, because this directly impacts the com- munity,” he said. “Plan Cayman is an opportu- nity to guide the future of Grand Cayman. At this stage, we want to know whether you think we are on the right track.” Central Planning Au- thority Chairman A.L. Thompson stated in the press release that he was “very pleased” to see the department moving for- ward with this project, adding, “We are looking forward to hearing what the public has to say on the matter.” Updates on the plan will also be posted on the government and Min- istry of Planning social media pages. The deadline for re- ceipt of comments from the public on the National Planning Framework is Monday, Jan. 28, 2019. Next steps According to govern- ment, the document will be revised based on feed- back received from the public. Following that, the department will begin pre- paring more detailed “area plans” for various parts of Grand Cayman, begin- ning with the Seven Mile Beach tourism corridor. The public will be invited to be involved in that process. The various documents will then be amalgamated to create the draft of the Development Plan. “This is just the begin- ning of this process,” said Mr. Pandohie in the re- lease. “As we move for- ward, there will be more opportunities for the com- munity to get involved and help shape the overall plan, and we encourage people to take advantage of this opportunity.” ultimately failed. “It is time for fundamental reform,” the premier added. The WORC agency will be tasked with running programs that help Caymanians find and keep employment. It will also work with the private sector to identify skills and training gaps among Caymanian job- seekers and collaborate on pro- grams to help fill those gaps. WORC will also be charged with gathering labor market in- formation and providing anal- ysis that will help government direct resources on training and scholarships. Some aspects of the new system, including the online jobs portal, were not included in the bill passed Monday. Mr. McLaughlin said the procure- ment process for the tech- nology side of that portal was still ongoing. He expects fur- ther legislation to be brought in the early part of next year but said the transition bill had to be brought now in order for WORC to begin operating in January. He said the portal would mean that, “instead of adver- tising vacancies in a local newspaper, employers will be required to post the vacancy on a national clearing house portal and comply with a process that will determine whether there is a Caymanian that has the skills for that position. If employers wish to continue to advertise their jobs in any local media, that is a matter for them; there is no restriction on that, but there will be an absolute re- quirement to post the position on the new government portal. “That process will also pro- vide critical data to WORC in relation to labor market needs and skill shortages.” Later in the debate, Mr. McLaughlin, responding to concerns from George Town Central legislator Kenneth Bryan that the bill does not go far enough to protect Cay- manians, said the full legisla- tive framework would be in place next year. The premier also cautioned that it was not the intent of the bill to restrict businesses’ ability to hire the skilled employees they need. He said, “Anyone who be- lieves the fortunes of this country depend only on Cay- manians doesn’t even begin to understand how we got where we are. Yes, only Caymanians can vote. Let there be a signifi- cant exodus of foreigners here and see who supports the busi- nesses, who does a lot of work Caymanians won’t do, and see how many Caymanians lose their jobs as a result.” Without a strong economy, he said, there would be no jobs or opportunities for anyone. Mr. McLaughlin said his government had got the bal- ance right between ensuring the country stayed on solid eco- nomic foundations and pre- venting discrimination and prejudice against Caymanians in the workplace. Mr. Bryan said he supported the bill, but that it did not do enough to deal with many of the employment issues experi- enced by his constituents. “The truth of this bill is it’s just a merger of parts of the Immigration Department and parts of the NWDA [Na- tional Workforce Develop- ment Agency],” he said. “There hasn’t been much changes – the changes have yet to come. Why are we talking about how great is it going to be? Until we see the proof in the pudding, it is pointless.” Mr. Bryan said government was failing to make sure Cay- manians came first and urged government to get on with amending the Labour Bill. Other legislators, including Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller and Deputy Opposi- tion Leader Alva Suckoo, spoke in support of the Immigration (Transition) Bill and the new WORC department. Mr. Miller said he had long advocated for the sepa- ration of the work permit and border control elements of immigration and supported the creation of a human re- sources authority, similar to what government envisages for WORC. He suggested that the online jobs portal also include details of when ex- isting work permits were ex- piring and the qualifications and experience of the people in those posts. Mr. Suckoo said he was philosophically in support of the changes, particularly the jobs portal. “I am pleased that gov- ernment is going to move for- ward with a central clearing house and that the use of that clearing house is going to be mandatory by employers. I have always maintained that in order to make the right de- cisions when it comes to work permits, the immigration de- partment needed to have better access to employment vacancy information.” Public’s input sought on development plan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 This map shows the route Ride Out Cayman will take on Sunday. - MAP: RCIPS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Police, bikers join forces for weekend motorcycle rally WORC agency to police work permit applications CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Legislation to create the new agency, which merges some of the functions of the Immigration Department and the old National Workforce Development Agency into one unit, was passed Monday evening. WITNESS DETAILS BLOODSHED, BRIBERY UNDER ‘EL CHAPO’ NEW YORK (AP) – Infamous Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, armed with a diamond-encrusted pistol, relied on rampant bloodshed and bribery to protect his multibillion- dollar drug smuggling op- eration and his hold on power, a former lieutenant for his cartel testified on Monday at his Guzman’s U.S. trial. During his third day on the stand as a govern- ment witness, Jesus Zam- bada told the jury that the gunplay and cash payoffs were key com- ponents of the Sinaloa cartel’s business model. The jurors were shown a photo of the pistol deco- rated with Guzman’s ini- tials as the witness de- scribed the brutal way the cartel dealt with various violent threats and per- sonal slights. According to Zam- bada, he was told by his older brother, Sinaloa cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, that a 2004 meeting between Guzman and a competitor named Rodolfo Fuentes ended poorly when Fuentes didn’t shake his hand. The brother claimed afterward that Guzman made it clear he wanted Fuentes dead, and ended up ordering his killing.7 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2018 One Honeywell Lynx touch wireless residential/ commercial security alarm panel with 4.3” full colour touchscreen display Three wireless door/window contacts (white) One Honeywell pet immune motion sensor (up to 40Lbs.) One 4 button remote keychain Full installation and demonstration 12 months parts warranty WIFI module for the mobile Apps. Honeywell Lynx Intruder Alarm Package Includes: The Honeywell intruder system is linked to our 24/7 monitoring centre to keep your family and your property safe. Upon system activation our experienced monitoring station staff will handle the situation. The Total Connect app allows you complete control of your security system from your mobile device. To find out more about this special offer contact the Security Centre on 949-0004 or email info@security.ky *The free alarm system and installation is available to new clients when signing up for a 12 month monitoring contract ($660 residential - $860 commercial). 24/7 Alarm Monitoring Secure and protect your property with the Honeywell Lynx intruder protection system. Controllable from your mobile device. Man sentenced in death of motorcyclist SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Warren Samuel Hogarth, who had previously pleaded guilty in the death of motor- cyclist Denvil Roy Mitchell, was sentenced to two years and five months in Grand Court on Tuesday. Mr. Hogarth, 56, will also be disqualified from driving for five years upon his release from prison. Justice Roger Chapple handed down the sentence Tuesday morning. He said the case was “tragic” for all who were concerned or touched by it. The judge said the case came down to one “stark and simple re- ality,” noting that the defen- dant drove after he had too much to drink. The court heard that Mr. Hogarth’s blood-alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit. The motorcycle driver was riding safely and on the right side of the road, and Justice Chapple found that Mr. Hogarth had failed to follow the curvature of the road in front of him. “No sentence I can pass can turn back the clock or undo what was done,” said Justice Chapple. Mr. Mitchell, 40, had been employed with the National Roads Authority, and the fatal accident occurred in the vicinity of Countryside Shop- ping Village in February 2016. Mr. Hogarth was not charged with any offenses until May 2017 and did not immedi- ately plead guilty. Justice Chapple noted that the defendant was of previously good character and that he seemed to be “full of remorse,” but he also noted that Mr. Hogarth had been involved in a fatal acci- dent 30 years ago. The judge gave no details of that earlier incident, which did not ap- pear in the defendant’s ante- cedent history. Justice Chapple said that there must be an ele- ment of deterrence in his sentencing, and he said that getting behind the wheel at Mr. Hogarth’s level of intox- ication was “the height of irresponsibility.” EXTRADITION OF UK CITIZEN TEMPORARILY HALTED SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Magistrate Angelyn Her- nandez approved a request from Governor Martyn Roper on Tuesday, temporarily halting the extradition of Iain Nigel MacKellar to the United States. Crown counsel Anne- Marie Rambarran, repre- senting the governor, told Magistrate Hernandez Tuesday that Governor Roper would like more time so he can receive independent ad- vice on the matter. Mr. MacKellar, a perma- nent resident of Cayman since 2007, was named in an indictment issued in Texas alleging fraud. Charges in- cluded conspiracy, smug- gling and obtaining by deception. Three co-con- spirators have already re- ceived prison sentences of 47, 36 and 32 months. Magistrate Hernandez ruled in favor of extradition on Sept. 23. Mr. MacKellar, a resident of North Side, was arrested at his home in December 2017 after Cayman authorities re- ceived the extradition re- quest from the United States. Mr. MacKellar is a U.K. cit- izen and indicated that he would not voluntarily agree to extradition, prompting a hearing on the matter. The extradition judgment was issued on Sept. 23. Mr. Roper was appointed as gov- ernor the following month. “That would not have given him any time himself,” said Magistrate Hernandez of the new governor’s chance to evaluate the case. “And would not have given him any time for independent advice.” The matter will return to court on Jan. 31, 2019. Woman assaulted at Smith Cove Police are seeking wit- nesses who may have seen an assault on a woman at Smith Cove in the early hours of Sunday, Nov. 18. A 31-year-old man was taken into custody on sus- picion of the assault. Officers were dis- patched to the beach on Sunday morning, where it was reported that a man had become physi- cally aggressive to the woman and prevented her from leaving. Police said a struggle ensued, during which the man struck the woman in the face. Other people at the beach called police, but the man had left the area in a vehicle by the time officers arrived. Police subsequently lo- cated the man, who lives in George Town. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service is ap- pealing for anyone who was at Smith Cove be- tween the hours of 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Monday, who may have wit- nessed the incident, to come forward. Anyone with any information can contact George Town CID at 949-4222. Anonymous tips can also be provided via the RCIPS Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, via the RCIPS website, or via the Miami-based Crime Stoppers on 800-8477(TIPS). VENEZUELAN AMBASSADOR TO CUBA DIES CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Ali Rodriguez, an icon of Ven- ezuela’s socialist revolution who went on to serve as a diplomat in top government posts, died on Monday. Rodriguez had served as ambassador to Cuba since 2014. He passed away in Havana and was 81 years old, Venezuela’s state TV network said. Among stages of his storied career, Rodriguez oversaw the mass firing of thousands of workers at Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA. He also defended the sharply anti- American foreign policy of the socialist governments of late President Hugo Chavez and current President Nicolas Maduro.8 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The moment that you died our hearts were torn in two, one side fi lled with heartache, the other died with you. We often lie awake at nights, when the world is fast asleep, and take a walk down memory lane, with tears upon our cheeks. Remembering you is easy, We do it every day, but missing you is heartache that never goes away. We hold you tightly within our hearts and there you will remain. Until the joyous day arrives, That we will meet again. First Year In Heaven Elroy Erisualdo Watler Robinson 13 February 1929 - 19 November 2017 Sadly missed by your Wife, Daughters, Grandchildren, Great-grandchildren,and Caretaker. Free alarms for Prospect residents The Prospect Red Bay Community Group is giving away free window and door alarms to every home in the Prospect and Red Bay area. The group’s Community Emergency Response Team won first place in the 2017 annual CERT Challenge and decided to use the win- nings to provide a siren system for the community. “When we won the CERT Challenge and re- alized we had $6,000 to spend, we wanted to use the funds to do something positive for as many people in our community as pos- sible,” the group’s Executive Committee Chairperson Sabrina Turner said in a press release. “We decided on the alarms because they can be placed on any window or door in the home and they add another level of security and awareness to our existing neighbor- hood watch.” The lightweight alarms have a piercing 120 decibel siren and can installed to any surface in seconds and no tools are required, ac- cording to the press release. The free giveaway takes place on Wednesday and Thursday this week, be- tween 6-8 p.m. at the Seafarers Hall on Vic- tory Avenue. To receive an alarm, res- idents are asked to bring a current utility bill in their name or their voter ID to confirm they live in the area. In addition to the alarms, residents will also receive free neighborhood watch window decals. “The catchment area for our group begins from Sel- kirk Avenue and extends to the Flow telephone ex- change in Spotts, on both the land and sea side,” said Ms. Turner. “We are very ex- cited about the giveaway and look forward to re- ceiving a great response from residents that are able to come to the Sea- farers Hall. “For the seniors in our area who can’t make it to the Hall, we will also be organizing a delivery at a later date in the future.” She thanked Hazard Management Cayman Is- lands and the Cayman Islands Red Cross for hosting the CERT Chal- lenge, which made the give- away possible. For more information, contact the Prospect Red Bay Community Executive Committee at propsectcommunity345@gmail.com or visit its Facebook page. Three acting judges appointed to Grand Court Governor Martyn Roper on Tuesday announced the appointment of three new acting judges to the Grand Court panel – Judge Aileen Downey, Simon Russell Flint, QC, and Hugh Southey, QC. “The appointment of these three very experienced indi- viduals, along with the pre- vious appointments made on the recommendation by the [Judicial and Legal Services] Commission only serves to enhance the stellar reputa- tion of our judiciary amongst both the local and interna- tional business communi- ties,” Governor Roper said in a press release. The acting judges were chosen in an open recruit- ment process during which the positions were adver- tised by the commission lo- cally and overseas in the first quarter of last year. “Due to the large number of highly qualified candi- dates, the Commission con- ducted two sets of inter- views, including those held in July 2018. The purpose of the panel is to maintain a list of qualified and recom- mended persons who may be invited to sit from time to time as Acting Grand Court Judges,” according to the press release. Last year, six acting judges were added to the Grand Court panel: Mar- lene Carter, Roger Chapple, Carlisle Greaves, Kirsty-Ann Gunn, Stephen Hellman and Frank Williams. The release included bi- ography details of the three new judges. Judge Downey was called to the bar of England and Wales in 1991. She then prac- ticed at 9 Gough Square in Personal Injury and Family Law for 23 years. She was appointed as a Recorder in 2009 and as a Circuit Judge in 2014. She currently sits at West London Family Court. Mr. Flint was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1980. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2003. He was appointed as an Assis- tant Recorder in the Crown Court in 1998, and subse- quently a full Recorder in 2000. His practice in London has been to prosecute and defend in all aspects of the criminal law. He was Head of Chambers at 23 Essex Street, London between 2009 and 2015, and is now Head of Chambers of Reform Chambers, London. He is a Home Office ap- pointed Chair of the Police Appeals Tribunal and has been a member of the Inns’ Conduct Committee. Mr. Southey is an English and Northern Irish QC based at Matrix Chambers. He took silk in 2010. Since then, he has led in key public law and human rights cases at all levels up to and including the Supreme Court, as well as in the Euro- pean Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. He is a Recorder of the Crown Court of Eng- land and Wales. Bill eases way for long-term residents to apply for PR MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Immigration Tran- sition Bill seeks to re- move a restriction that pre- vents residents who have been in the Cayman Islands for more than nine years from applying for perma- nent residence. In introducing the bill in the Legislative Assembly, Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin said these eligibility rules for ap- plying for permanent resi- dence could be construed as arbitrary and were the un- intended consequence of immigration law changes made in 2013. When the term limit for work permit holders was ex- tended from seven to nine years in October 2013, a re- striction was imposed that required anyone who wished to apply for permanent res- idence to do so before the end of their ninth year of residence. “The rationale was that there should be a cut-off point that coincided with the expiry of a work permit holder’s term limit,” Premier McLaughlin said. The legislation gave resi- dents, who were in Cayman for more than nine years as of the Oct. 25, 2013, a period of 90 days to apply. However, a significant number of people missed this opportunity, despite re- peated public announce- ments and internal govern- ment circulars at the time, Mr. McLaughlin said. These residents have since been blocked from ap- plying for permanent resi- dence. In addition to those who have missed the dead- line, others have been im- pacted by changes in their personal circumstances that prevent them from becoming permanent residents under existing rules. These cases include di- vorcees from a Caymanian or permanent resident spouse, who despite having lived in Cayman for more than nine years cannot apply for per- manent residence and are unable to obtain a work permit because their term limit has expired. Similarly, government workers who missed the op- portunity to apply in 2013 would be forced to leave the islands should their em- ployment end, the premier said, because they cannot get a work permit once their term limit of nine years has expired. “While the reasons for introducing the nine-year limitation for work permit holders are understood, there is arguably no com- pelling justification for im- posing the same limitation on persons who are not sub- ject to those term limits,” the premier said. “We are also confident, having done the analysis, that by removing the nine- year restriction, only a lim- ited number of persons would benefit,” he noted. Since work permit holders have to leave the islands at the end of their term limit, the only ben- eficiaries of the proposed legal change would be those who have been able to remain legally resident beyond nine years on some other basis. They are either one of currently 145 government workers who have reached the nine-year term limit and not applied for permanent residence yet; the spouses of government workers; the spouses of Caymanians; former spouses of Cayma- nians whose residence and employment rights certifi- cate has been continued, be- cause they are the parent of a Caymanian child under the age of 18; spouses of work permit holders whose term limit has not expired; or spouses of persons who have applied for perma- nent residence. Justice Hugh SoutheyJustice Aileen Downey The free giveaway takes place on Wednesday and Thursday this week, between 6-8 p.m. at the Seafarers Hall on Victory Avenue. Residents can pick up their free alarms on Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 20 and 21. “While the reasons for introducing the nine-year limitation for work permit holders are understood, there is arguably no compelling justification for imposing the same limitation on persons who are not subject to those term limits.” PREMIER ALDEN MCLAUGHLIN Justice Simon Russell Flint9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 21, 2018 Suicide bomber kills 50 clerics in Afghan capital KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – A suicide bomber targeted a gathering of hundreds of Is- lamic scholars in the Af- ghan capital on Tuesday, killing at least 50 people as Muslims around the world marked the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majroh said another 83 people were wounded in the attack, with 20 of them in critical condi- tion and the toll likely to rise. The suicide bomber was able to sneak into a wedding hall in Kabul where hundreds of Muslim religious scholars and clerics had gathered to mark the holiday. No one im- mediately claimed the at- tack, but both the Taliban and a local Islamic State af- filiate have targeted religious scholars aligned with the government in the past. “The victims of the attack unfortunately are all reli- gious scholars who gathered to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad,” said Basir Mujahid, spokesman for the Kabul police chief. He said police had not been asked to provide security for the event, and that the bomber had easily slipped into the hall. Most wedding halls have private security. Mohammad Muzamil, a waiter at the wedding hall, said he had gone into the back to fetch water for the guests when he heard the explosion. “Everything was covered with smoke and dust,” he said. “There were dead bodies all around on the chairs, in large numbers.” Police sealed off roads leading to the scene of the attack. Hundreds of family members and relatives gathered at local hospi- tals, looking at lists of those killed and wounded that were posted outside. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani con- demned the bombing, calling it “an attack on Islamic values and followers of the Prophet Muhammad,” and declaring Wednesday a day of mourning. “It is an attack on hu- manity,” Ghani said. Pakistan’s Prime Min- ister Imran Khan also con- demned the bombing and ex- pressed condolences to the victims. Afghanistan and the United States have long ac- cused Pakistan of harboring the Taliban, whose leadership is based there. Pakistan de- nies the allegations, and says it uses its limited influence over the group to encourage peace efforts. The Islamic State group claimed a suicide bombing in June that killed at least seven people and wounded another 20 at a meeting of the country’s top clerics in the capital. The body of reli- gious leaders, known as the Afghan Ulema Council, had issued a decree against sui- cide attacks and called for peace talks. IS said it had targeted “tyrant clerics” who were siding with the U.S.- backed government. The Taliban denied in- volvement in the June at- tack but they also denounced the gathering. Both militant groups want to overthrow the U.S.-backed government and impose a harsh form of Islamic rule, but they are bitterly divided over lead- ership and ideology, and have clashed on a number of occasions. Injured men receive treatment at a hospital after a suicide bombing Tuesday in Kabul, Afghanistan. – PHOTO: AP U.S. JUDGE STALLS TRUMP ASYLUM RESTRICTIONS HOUSTON (AP) – A federal judge has barred the Trump administration from re- fusing asylum to immigrants who cross the southern border illegally. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Nov. 9 circumventing immi- gration law, saying anyone who crossed the southern border between official ports of entry would be ineligible for asylum. As the first of several caravans of migrants have started arriving at the U.S.- Mexico border, Trump said the restrictions were neces- sary to stop what he’s called a national security threat. He also sent thousands of ac- tive-duty troops to the border to back up immigration offi- cials there. But in his ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar agreed with legal groups that immediately sued, ar- guing that U.S. immigration law clearly allows someone to seek asylum even if they enter the country between of- ficial ports of entry and tem- porarily barred the ruling from going into place while the case is heard. “Whatever the scope of the President’s authority, he may not rewrite the immigra- tion laws to impose a condi- tion that Congress has ex- pressly forbidden,” said Tigar, a nominee of former Presi- dent Barack Obama. It was the latest legal challenge to thwart the Trump administration’s effort to harden the U.S.-Mexico border without Congress changing any laws, including an effort to try to detain mi- grant families in long-term facilities. Trump stopped family separations at the border earlier this year after a global outcry, but it was a federal judge who ruled the administration had to reunify the families. Monday’s ruling remains in effect for one month, bar- ring an appeal. In limiting asylum, Trump used the same powers he used to im- pose a travel ban – the third try was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court.Next >