ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY DATA PROTECTION LAW START DATE PUSHED BACK MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Government is delaying the enforcement of the Data Protection Law, originally slated for Jan. 1, 2019, by nine months following representations made by the financial ser- vices industry. The Data Protection Law regulates how businesses and government agencies must handle all personal data in the Cayman Is- lands and provides a framework of rights and duties designed to give individuals greater control over their personal data. The law specifically covers how such data is collected, processed, stored or transmitted, particularly when dealing with government bodies, corporate entities, practices and firms. The new commencement date of Sept. 30, 2019, is aimed to enable all entities im- pacted by the new law to be ready to meet its requirements. Attorney General Samuel Bulgin said stake- holders in the financial services industry had sought more time to better prepare themselves for complying with the law. This included the completion of staff training, hiring new staff as needed, auditing existing data and estab- lishing the needed administrative framework. Mr. Bulgin said in a press release, “Gov- ernment is hoping that the new starting date will allow all impacted by the law, including NEW HEAD HIRED FOR PROCUREMENT OFFICE MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Government has hired Taraq Bashir as the new director of the Central Procure- ment Office. Mr. Bashir, a British national, has more than 30 years of experience in both the public and private sector in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Caribbean. The new head of procurement “is pas- sionate about the opportunities that his new position brings to improve service and pro- cure considerable savings for the Cayman Is- lands Government in its purchases of goods and services,” a government press release said, adding that Mr. Bashir delivered “hefty sav- ings” for several of the entities he has worked for in the past. Mr. Bashir comes to the Cayman Islands from his last appointment in Montserrat, where he was the head of procurement for the govern- ment and helped review, develop and implement key reforms of the Overseas Territory’s procure- ment regulations. While there, he also tested and completed the implementation of an electronic procure- ment system within four months of taking over as head, to increase the efficiency, transparency, Local designer outfits Cayman’s Miss Universe candidate MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Caitlin Tyson thought Miss Cayman Is- lands should look like a goddess of the sea. Preparing for the Dec. 17 Miss Universe pageant, Ms. Tyson, who was crowned Miss Cayman in August, needed a national cos- tume, one of the contest’s requirements. The costume must reflect something about the culture or character of the contestant’s country. In past years, outfits have been made to reflect various Cayman themes, such as fire coral, an orchid and, most re- cently, a green parrot. Cayman-based designer Kenzie Rose said Ms. Tyson plucked a lyric from the na- tional song as the inspiration for this year’s theme: “O sea of palest em’rald/Merging to darkest blue.” The result is a glittering illuminated tulle and sequined gown studded with 10,000 Swarovski crystals and emblems made from plastic recycled on Cayman. “I do believe that Caitlin’s vision came through,” said Latrese Haylock, deputy di- rector of Miss Cayman Islands Universe. “Kenzie just sat down and drew it and brought it to life.” Ms. Haylock makes it sound simple. Ms. Rose, 31, who has been designing clothing since she was 15 and has been doing national pageant work for the past three years, said it took nearly 100 hours of cutting and sewing over five weeks – she Caitlin Tyson’s gown for the Miss Universe pageant includes 200 feet of LED lights and 10,000 Swarovski crystals. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 »2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS 94-P ASTA [ 947.2782 ] • Marquee Plaza Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner Daily Specials Caribbean Flair Local Seafood Pizza & Pasta Call 345-949-7028 | Visit caymanfirst.com PROTECT WHAT’S VALUABLE TO YOU. CHOOSE CAYMAN FIRST. PROTECT WHAT’S VALUABLE TO CAYMAN FIRST. Cayman Orthopaedic Group Please call 945-8380 for appointments DR. TIMOTHY CAREY M.D., F.R.C.S.C. Paediatric Spine, Trauma, Foot & Ankle Surgery will be at Unit #1, Smith Road Plaza Monday, 3rd December, 2018 to Friday, 14th December, 2018 Marathon road closures Several roads and junc- tions will be closed along the route of Sunday’s Inter- trust Cayman Islands Mar- athon, police advise. Police are asking mo- torists traveling in these areas on Sunday to be mindful of the safety of participants and spec- tators. Police will be on hand to direct local traffic along the route. Cardinall Avenue will be closed from 8 a.m. the night before the marathon, and the junction of Harbour Drive and Fort Street will be closed from midnight. Between 2 a.m. and midday Sunday, the west- bound left lane will be closed from South Sound Road along Shamrock Road to the first roundabout on the East-West Arterial at Prospect Point Road. West- bound traffic will be re- duced to a single right lane. Also, during those times, the junction at the end of South Sound Road and Shamrock Road will be closed. The road will be open into Grand Harbour and to Crewe Road. The following junctions will be closed from 4:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday: ■■ The junction of Edward and Fort Street (George Town Clock) ■■ The junction of Fort Street and Harbour Drive ■■ The junction of Edward Street and Cardinall Avenue ■■ The junction of Main Street and Shedden Road ■■ The junction of South Church Street and Goring Avenue ■■ The junction of Shedden Road and Elgin Avenue ■■ The junction of Elgin Avenue and Hospital Road (Government Administration Building Roundabout) ■■ The junction of South Sound Road and Walkers Road ■■ The junction of South Church Street and Goring Avenue ■■ Walkers Road at Hinds Way and at Academy Way ■■ The junction of Aspiration Drive and Hinds Way ■■ The Junction of Old Crewe Road and South Sound Road Prospect Point Road will also be closed Also, the junction of Elgin Avenue at Humber Lane will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday. St. Ignatius cub scouts inducted JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Twenty boys in St. Igna- tius’ cub scout pack have been inducted as full-fledged members of the Cayman Is- lands Scout Association. Winston Hayle, execu- tive commissioner for the Cayman Islands Scout Asso- ciation, formally welcomed the new cub scouts into the local movement and by exten- sion into the worldwide orga- nization during an investi- ture ceremony at St. Ignatius School courtyard last week. “It’s a major achievement for a unit of this size to have all its members invested in New CAL jet arriving Friday Cayman Airways’ new Boeing 737 Max 8 is scheduled to arrive in Grand Cayman Friday afternoon. The airline will hold a welcoming reception for of- ficials attending the inau- gural landing of the aircraft, which is due to touch down at 4:30 p.m. The plane will be greeted on the runway with water cannons from the Fire Services department. Cayman Airways is also inviting mem- bers of the public to attend a family friendly “welcome party” at the Airport Park, at 3-6 p.m. This is the first time Cayman Airways will operate the 737 Max 8 model and is the first airline in the Caribbean to do so. The plane completed its first major flight tests on Nov. 7 and the CAL livery was painted on the plane earlier this month. Three other Max 8 air- craft are also being leased by Cayman Airways and are scheduled to arrive in March and September next year and in September 2020. The aircraft will facili- tate long-haul flights, in- cluding the five-hour Denver- Grand Cayman route which launches in March. Winston Hayle, scouts executive commissioner, reaffirms the ‘Promise’ with cub scouts. 949-1461 www.caymanislandshumanesociety.com Volunteer, Adopt or Sponsor From dog walking, educating the public or adopting, we have an opportunity to make a difference that’s just right for you. one sitting,” said Mr. Hayle. “I look forward to working closely with the group as the boys continue to grow and develop within the scout pro- gram,” he added. He wished the new mem- bers an enjoyable, fun-filled and rewarding scouting ex- perience. “I am sure that the training received and skills acquired will be of benefit to themselves and their commu- nity,” he said. Rebecca Whiteside, cub pack leader, invested the other members. “This ceremony is im- portant to us as a ‘pack’ as it reminds cubs, and all of us, that we are members of a larger association and are also members of a worldwide movement …. We have much to celebrate,” she said. According to Ms. White- side, the boys are kept busy working on projects and earning badges. Three of the boys have been promoted to the rank of sixer, a boy scout leader. Each sixer is in charge of a pack of six boys and they assist with the training of members in their small unit, keep attendance records and assist with collecting dues. Seconders assist sixers in carrying out their duties. Mr. Hayle said the cubs have fulfilled their civic du- ties, marching with pride at parades, and attending ser- vices for Remembrance Day, Commonwealth Day and the Queen’s Birthday. He also said they con- tinue to inspire their leaders with their energy, creativity and enthusiasm in everything they do, and they work hard to uphold the high standards of conduct and to obey the Cub Scout law. James Hickey, prin- cipal at St. Ignatius, said he was pleased St. Ignatius cub scouts were finally of- ficially invested into the World Organization of the Scout Movement. “I know that you all take your responsibilities very se- riously and I know that you see it as a great honor to be part of the Cayman and worldwide scouting associa- tion,” he said. Mr. Hickey also recog- nized parents for their sup- port in encouraging the boys, pack leaders, Mr. Hayle and the sixers who had taken on leadership roles. LANE CLOSURE DURING FUNERAL PROCESSION Police are advising mo- torists to expect delays in downtown George Town and on the route to Spotts Cem- etery Saturday as a funeral procession will be under way. The funeral for Arthur Hunter will be held at the Elmslie Memorial United Church at 2:30 p.m. The funeral procession, which is expected to take place between 3:45 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., will begin at the church on Harbour Drive and travel via South Sound Road and Shamrock Road to the Spotts Cemetery. In addition, one of the westbound lanes of Sham- rock Road, directly in front of Spotts Cemetery, will be closed between 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., police advised. The first of four Cayman Airways’ Boeing 737 Max 8 planes will arrive on Friday afternoon.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 Disclaimer : FIN Grand Cayman features and amenities are based on current development plans and concepts and are subject to change without notice. Some services and amenities are subject to service-based fees or homeowner fees. ART DECO INSPIRED RESIDENCES WITH UNIQUE FIVE-STAR AMENITIES Priced from US $1.8M Reserve your private tour and discover the last word in luxury + 1 345 326 1400 fin@fingrandcayman.com Guest suites Owners private Aquariva Private wine locker with sommelier service Personal car service & two parking spaces per residencePrivate business centre FIN.cayman fingrandcaymanThe 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. What tiny Sark can teach the Cayman Islands Mention the Channel Islands to many in the Cayman Islands – especially those in the financial community – and the islands of Jersey and Guernsey will come to mind. But for our purposes today, we want to focus on a lesser known Channel Island, the bucolic community of Sark, home to fewer than 500 people – but not to a single streetlight or automobile. (A few horse-drawn car- riages make up Sark’s “mass transportation” system.) Now Sark has found its way into the worldwide media (including the Compass!) because as of midnight Friday, unless God or man intervenes, Sark is about to go dark. Its electric company is about to pull the prover- bial plug because government regulators have “regu- lated” it out of business. The regulator ordered the electricity provider, Sark Electricity Limited, to lower its rates. The provider said the order would result in the company losing 20,000 pounds (approximately CI$21,300) per month, which would put it into bankruptcy. The regulator refused to budge, and the power supplier sent out a notice to every household in Sark, apologizing for the crisis and advising the occupants, well, to gather up their most valued possessions – and evacuate their homeland. The problem, you see (but the regulator couldn’t or wouldn’t), actually went beyond electricity. The pumping system that enables the delivery of potable water requires electrical power, so the islands will have neither power nor water. (A last-minute meeting between government and the family-owned power company failed to reach a deal.) Now back to Cayman and our own version of regulator chaos. Since its inception in early 2017, the Cayman Islands’ Utility Regulation and Competition Office, more commonly known as OfReg, has been defined by erratic policymaking, general ineptitude, threats of violence and the incomprehensible squandering of over-budget dollars. Revisit this silliness: Shortly after its establishment OfReg issued an advisory warning that anyone providing an internet or communications technology service for a fee must be licensed as an internet service provider. This potentially could have included hotels or coffee shops which offer WiFi to their customers. Premier Alden McLaughlin swiftly stepped in to stop that nonsense by publicly denying it government support. By then, OfReg was already turning its attention from coffee shops to telecoms – vowing to force those entities to pay for a fiber optic network that would bring high-speed internet service to the eastern districts. The Compass strongly opposed OfReg’s stated inten- tion as a landmark intrusion into the private sector. During a consultation process, the country’s telecom- munications companies condemned the idea for, among other things, its sheer impracticality. Now, OfReg appears to be retreating from that particular item on its agenda. But clearly the broader lesson for OfReg has not sunk in. Recently, the regulator rejected Cayman Water’s latest proposal to extend its licensing deal (which expired more than 10 months ago) to provide water to homes and businesses in the Seven Mile Beach and West Bay areas. Considering that the private water company can turn off the taps and spigots of the coun- try’s most-densely developed corridor (presumably with the twist of a valve), OfReg’s negotiation strategy can be described as reckless and, at the end of the day, a big bluff. (Of course, that is what the residents of Sark no doubt thought, too.) We know that external displays of dysfunction derive from internal disorder. In OfReg’s case, this was exhibited most unprofessionally during a meeting of the regulator’s Board of Directors, where Board Chairman Linford Pierson threatened physical violence against Deputy Chairman Ronnie Dunn, after Mr. Dunn claimed that Mr. Pierson may have broken the Anti-Corruption Law by attempting to secure a commitment from board members to support Mr. Pierson’s appointment as acting CEO of OfReg – the very entity he was appointed to oversee. Premier McLaughlin has attributed OfReg’s woes to “teething challenges” – but it is quite clear that if OfReg were ever allowed to develop real teeth, they might well be fangs capable of sucking the lifeblood out of some of Cayman’s most vital industries and utilities. The sitting government must no longer sit on its pro- verbial you-know-what as if it were merely a bystander watching the regulatory mess it created. Cabinet must step in and fix it – now. FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Solving the student loan problem Ten years after the fi- nancial crisis, banks may be safer and the economy more resilient but many young people are saddled with huge student-loan balances. Too many are stuck in low-paying dead-end jobs, delaying mar- riage and children, and may never own a home. The financial crisis brought home two funda- mental realities. Low in- terest rates, flooding finan- cial markets with liquidity and an $831 billion stimulus package would not quickly create high-quality jobs, and many good-paying op- portunities for semi-skilled workers and college grad- uate generalists were perma- nently lost. Simply, the economic con- traction accelerated many of the structural changes in the broader economy and labor markets that globalization and technological innova- tions were imposing. President Barack Obama responded by encouraging young people to borrow to attend college and graduate school. That took millions off the jobless rolls and aimed to upgrade the quality of the labor force. That strategy did not work as well as expected. To send most everyone to college, nearly everyone has to receive a college-pre- paratory high school educa- tion. Fewer than 40 percent of secondary school grad- uates have the math and reading skills to do college- level work. Faced with tight budgets and pressures to absorb in- adequately qualified appli- cants, colleges and universi- ties lowered standards. About 70 percent of high school graduates now en- roll in two- or four-year pro- grams, student-loan bal- ances now top $1.5 trillion, but many young people do not get the quality education they are promised. Standardized tests in- dicate four years of college often adds little to students’ analytical abilities and four in 10 college graduates lack the critical thinking skills necessary for entry-level pro- fessional work. These problems are par- ticularly acute but by no means isolated among for- profit colleges. Often, those use exaggerated claims and easy access to student loans to sell the least sophisticated young people expensive and useless programs. Consequently, more than 40 percent of young col- lege graduates remain stuck in jobs that do not require a college education, and more than 3.6 million graduates live below the poverty line. President Donald Trump gets good and bad grades. His emphasis on appren- ticeships that pay students, leave them without debt and after a year or two pro- vide most with opportuni- ties that pay better than the $50,000 the average new col- lege graduate earns is admi- rable. However, his efforts to roll back Obama’s crackdown on for-profit colleges are not flattering. To clean up the overhang of student debt, it’s time for some good old-fashioned debt forgiveness. After all, if Presidents George W. Bush and Obama could bail out the banks and General Mo- tors and restructure lots of home mortgages, Trump should be able to rescue young people who got into a mess by doing what their government encouraged them to do – borrow large sums for college. This could be partially fi- nanced by going after the re- sources of for-profit colleges and mainstream universities that admitted unqualified students and watered down curriculum. A few bank- ruptcy auctions for the prop- erties of second-rate schools and tort judgments against endowments of revered insti- tutions would have the same reformative consequences as suing negligent corporations that hawk shoddy products. Going forward, though, more responsible behavior by all could be encouraged by having colleges and universi- ties directly participate in the financing of student debt . With skin in the game, admission and graduation standards would rise and when endorsing student loans, college financial aid offices would be incentiv- ized to scrutinize the selec- tion and content of majors to ensure the marketability of graduates. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. PETER MORICI Faced with tight budgets and pressures to absorb inadequately qualified applicants, colleges and universities lowered standards. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way”The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 BAYSHORE MALL, CARDINALL AVENUE & THE STRAND +1(345) 949-7477 • KIRKFREEPORT.COM CHRISTMAS SWEEPST AKES Rolex giveaway is on January 2nd 2019. 3 X US$5,000 CASH WINNERS 5 X US$1,000 CASH WINNERS AND OTHER GREAT PRIZES! Every US$100 purchase at any Kirk Freeport store made before noon on December 22nd qualifi es for all prize draws! Winners will be announced on XFM 107.1 and KISS FM 106.1 on each draw date. RULES AND REGULATIONS: Minimum US$100 purchase to enter. One entry per purchase. Receipts can be combined to reach US$100 requirement. Winner must claim prize at Kirk Freeport on Cardinall Avenue within 7 days of announcement. Non- winning valid entries from Kirk Freeport Christmas Sweepstakes will be included in the Rolex Drawing. Kirk Freeport employees and immediate family members are not eligible to enter. DEC 1ST: ENTRY COLLECTION BEGINS Friday 7th US$5,000 Friday 14th US$5,000 Monday 17th - Friday 21st $1000 each day Monday 24th US$5,0006 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Grouper season closes, lobster season opens Saturday, Dec. 1, marks the closing of the Nassau grouper season and the opening of the lobster season in the Cayman Islands. Taking Nassau grouper from local waters will be il- legal until the season re- opens on April 30. During the closed season, anyone who takes, purchases, receives, offers for sale, exchanges or donates Nassau grouper is violating the National Con- servation Law. It is also il- legal for anyone to possess, or permit another person to take, Nassau grouper from Cayman waters. “The Nassau grouper is a protected species under the NCL, so we shouldn’t see any fresh grouper being sold in restaurants or markets during the closed season,” Department of Environ- ment research officer Bradley Johnson said in a statement. “If members of the public do see it for sale, please don’t purchase it.“ Fishermen who inadver- tently catch Nassau grouper during closed season should release them alive, even if the grouper is hurt during the catch. Using circle hooks, as opposed to J-hooks, can make the process of removing the hook from the fish’s mouth easier, as the circle hooks are designed to not hook in the stomach of the fish but rather in the mouth. The DoE is sched- uled to embark on its an- nual Grouper Moon project in January, monitoring the Nassau grouper popula- tion and spawning sites in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The ef- fort will include public edu- cation workshops and pos- sibly some on-location live broadcasts. The closed season is part of an effort to restore the overfished grouper in local waters. Lobster season During the three-month open lobster season, which runs from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, the Department of Environ- ment is urging members of the public to abide by the National Conservation Law. During open season, there are strict rules regarding how many lobsters, and of what size, can be taken. Lobster may only be taken from outside marine pro- tected areas and only spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) may be taken. Any lobster taken must have a minimum tail length of six inches. There is a take limit during the open season of three spiny lobster per person, per day, or six spiny lobster per boat, per day – whichever is less. In addition, anyone who takes, purchases, receives or offers for sale, exchange or donation more than three lobster per day from Cayman Islands waters commits an offense under the National Conservation Law. Anyone who possesses more than three lobster per day, or al- lows another person to take, more than three lobster per day from Cayman waters also commits an offense. The law also bans the taking of lobster, and all other marine life except li- onfish, while scuba diving. Using gloves, a spear or a hook stick to catch lob- ster is also unlawful at any time. The preferred method of catching lobster is with a snare. Lobster snares, which can be purchased locally, allow users to humanely catch lobster and also allow the harmless release of any undersized lobster. “If you see a lobster and you are in doubt about the size and whether it is legal to take, to be on the safe side, it is prob- ably best to leave it and look for a bigger one,” said the De- partment of Environment’s John Bothwell. The DoE also asks that individuals catching lob- ster avoid, to the extent pos- sible, taking females. Females can be easily identified as they have two “toes” on their hind/bottom legs nearest to the tail and will often have a black, slimy substance at- tached underneath them in the area between their legs. “All members of the public who are involved in lobster- catching must obey these rules and support our ef- forts to preserve this spe- cies for future generations,” said Environment Minister Dwayne Seymour. To report violations, call 911 or contact DoE enforcement officers directly on Grand Cayman (916-4271), on Cayman Brac (call 911) or on Little Cayman (916-7021). For more information on open/closed seasons for lobster, conch, whelk and other marine life, visit www.doe.ky. The Nassau grouper is a threatened species in the Cayman Islands.Lobster season runs from Dec. 1 to Feb. 28. NATIONAL TRUST TO HOLD GEORGE TOWN FUNDRAISER The National Trust’s George Town District Com- mittee is inviting residents to attend its upcoming dis- trict meeting and wine tasting event. At the meeting, which will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at Grand Old House on South Church Street, attendees will discuss how to protect important historic sites in the district. “Funds from the event will be used to maintain the identified sites, pre- serving history and heri- tage within the district of George Town for many gen- erations,” organizers said in a press release. Tickets cost $60 and are available for purchase at the National Trust office at Dart Family Park. Public invited to give input at airport wildlife hazard meeting The Cayman Islands Air- ports Authority is inviting members of the public to attend the annual meeting of the Hazardous Wild- life Working Group on Monday, Dec. 3. According to a statement from the CIAA, the meeting will cover current measures being used at the airport “to alleviate hazardous wildlife,” such as birds and iguanas, as well as new measures being taken to attract less wildlife at the airport. Among the measures under way at the airport to try to keep birds away from aircraft are plans to fill in ponds, which attract water- fowl such as cattle egrets on the periphery of the runway, and development of an air- port drainage plan. The CIAA has used a variety of different ap- proaches to rid the airport of birds, including the use of air cannons. “The CIAA is aiming to raise awareness, not only to their airport partners, but also to the neighboring com- munities of the airport,” the statement continued. Attendees will have a chance to interact with CIAA and airport personnel and to ask questions about wildlife control measures and deter- rent practices. The meeting will be held at 9-11 a.m. at the CIAA con- ference room on the second floor of Owen Roberts Inter- national Airport. For more information, contact CIAA Chief of Safety Andrew McLaughlin at andrew.mclaughlin@ caymanairports.com. White cattle egrets walk in the grass beside ponds at the Owen Roberts International Airport. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY ELDERLY VISITOR DIES WHILE SNORKELING An 80-year-old vis- itor from the United States died after getting into difficulty on a snor- keling trip in the North Sound Wednesday. Police said the 911 Com- munications Centre re- ceived a report of a person in distress in the waters of North Sound shortly after noon. According to police, the man lost con- sciousness after entering the water. He was assisted back on board the boat he had been on and CPR was performed as the vessel re- turned to shore. He was transported by ambulance to the Cayman Islands Hos- pital and subsequently pro- nounced dead. This is the 12th water- related death in the Cayman Islands this year. Eleven of the fatalities were visitors to Cayman.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 8 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Happy Birthday Thomas The day that God called your name It broke my heart in two But Heaven needed an Angel And the one he picked was you I just wish he could have waited And let you stay with me But you have left memories in my heart And that’s where they’ll always be I just wish I could rewind the clock Or make it turn real slow I could have hugged you one more time Before you had to go No matter how much time will pass I’ll miss you everyday Keep shining bright in Heaven So you can light my way Happy Birthday Big Bro We Miss You So Much, Love Your Baby Brother, Anthony Butler, Mom & Family Thomas Rupert Joseph Hubbell December 1st, 1972 – June 12, 2017 The family of the late Arthur B. Hunter regret to announce his passing on Wednesday, 21 November 2018. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, 1 December 2018 at the Elmslie Memorial United Church. Interment will follow in Spotts Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Jasmine (formerly Cayman HospiceCare) or Meals On Wheels. Parking for the funeral service will be available on a first come, first served basis in the Butterfield Bank parking garage, the Court’s parking lot (behind Kirk House) and on the site of the former Tower Building. Parking for the graveside service will be in the parking lot for the Spotts Cruise Terminal,there will be a shuttle service from there to the cemetery. No change in bail for defendant in cocaine case Prosecution awaiting outcome of DNA test SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Ezekiel Nelson Carter, who is awaiting trial in Summary Court on charges of possession of cocaine with intent to supply, ap- peared in court Thursday in an attempt to revise his bail conditions. Mr. Carter, 33, who is scheduled to stand trial on Dec. 17, was initially granted bail on Sept. 10, but then his bail was re- voked when he was ap- prehended on suspicion of another offense while on release. The court heard on Thursday that the Crown prosecution has requested a DNA test on some of the evidence related to the Dec. 17 trial and that it could take some time to return the results. Defense attorney Prathna Bodden said Wednesday that she will need time to examine the results of the DNA test once they are revealed. She requested a bail hearing on Wednesday due to the changing circumstances of the case. It will be difficult, she said, for the case to be heard on schedule due to the DNA report. “This is justice delayed,” said Ms. Bodden on behalf of her client. “The court can’t accommodate a trial any sooner, and it can’t accommodate a trial any later because of the fes- tive season.” Crown counsel Emma Hutchinson told the court that Mr. Carter was denied bail by the Grand Court on Nov. 19, and she said that nothing has changed from the date of that decision. Magistrate Grace Don- alds refused to grant Mr. Carter bail and said that if the court needs to set a new trial date for him, then bail conditions can be re- visited at that time. “I really don’t see how I can say there’s been a change in circumstances as of now,” Magistrate Don- alds said. “If we get to the trial date and we can’t pro- ceed then, that would be a change in circumstances.” Mr. Carter is also awaiting trial on separate charges, including damage to property, common as- sault, cruelty to animals and intentionally causing harassment, alarm or dis- tress. Trial relating to those charges is scheduled for May, but there will be a special measures applica- tion heard for it in the new year, on Jan. 17. Both the prosecution and defense lawyers told the court on Thursday that the second trial may ulti- mately be moved to an ear- lier date next year. OfReg tight-lipped on universal broadband plan KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com In March, Premier Alden McLaughlin announced gov- ernment’s intention to have the Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg) build its own fiber-optic cable network in the un- derserved eastern districts, something he said was nec- essary given the telecom- munications companies’ failure to provide broad- band internet services in those areas. Shortly after that an- nouncement, OfReg stated in a press release that it “has been formulating a plan and considering timelines for the installation of the [uni- versal service network] ac- cordingly,” and that it expects to make a final determina- tion on this issue by the end of September. However, OfReg has been tight-lipped on the matter since then. When asked by legislators on Thursday last week at a Fi- nance Committee meeting about providing islandwide broadband, the regulator’s co-acting CEO Gregg An- derson did not mention any plans of building its own fiber network. Mr. Anderson said OfReg is looking at a “number of approaches to facilitate the high-level goal of making sure eastern districts and Sister Islands have competi- tion and choice.” Opposition Leader Ez- zard Miller asked whether the telecommunications companies are breaching their licenses by not building out to the entire island, and if so, whether OfReg will penalize them for that. Mr. Anderson responded that it is a licensing re- quirement for the com- panies to build fiber net- works to the entire island – all the companies besides Flow have that requirement – but that OfReg is looking to explore more productive alternatives. “What we’re focusing on is how to remedy those breaches in light of what we want to accomplish,” he said. “We can impose sanctions and fines, or we can take into account these breaches and leverage that to [chart] a path forward.” Mr. Anderson and OfReg’s other co-CEO, Duke Munroe, told the Compass on Thursday that they are dis- cussing the issue and will make a statement once de- tails are finalized. “In the meantime, note that OfReg’s mandate to push to ensure all con- sumers have (feasible) access to Broadband remains,” Mr. Munroe said. Part of OfReg’s process is to undergo a consultation with telecom companies to determine what mandatory internet speeds should be of- fered by the companies and by when those speeds should be available. When the initial consulta- tion was launched in March, OfReg proposed to force all telecoms companies to offer broadband internet access services to all residents of the Cayman Islands, with at least one of their broad- band service plans offering an unlimited data allow- ance. The regulator’s pro- posed definition for “broad- band” is download speeds of 100 million bits per second (Mbps) and upload speeds of 50 Mbps or higher. OfReg proposed to set a three-year timeline for tele- coms companies to meet these requirements. OfReg stated in March that it hoped to make a determination from the consultation by the end of September. But the responses from the telecoms companies to the regulator’s proposals were highly critical – for in- stance, the companies stated that the speeds OfReg wants to mandate are much faster than those mandated in other developed countries – and OfReg has yet to issue any determinations. CIMA run raises $18,000 The Cayman Islands Mon- etary Authority donated $18,150 raised in its charity walk/run earlier this year to literacy and numeracy pro- grams in local government primary schools. CIMA Managing Director Cindy Scotland said, “It’s not a secret that a good ed- ucation has the power to change lives. Literacy and numeracy are important as- pects of any child’s devel- opment. Therefore, CIMA takes great pride in helping to ensure that young people are provided with ade- quate resources to acquire these skills from early on. We owe much thanks to the local community and participants for their con- tinued support.” Pictured above, from left, are, Wayne Roberts and An- drea Nixon of Cayman Is- lands Behavioural Support Services, Sharon Campbell- Danvers of George Town Primary, Jessica Eden of Savannah Primary, Kim Watler and Loreta McBean of Bodden Town Primary, Nekita Rodriques of East End Primary, Carol Saunds of Edna Moyle Primary, Matthew Read of Prospect Primary, Meredith Ran- kine of Red Bay Primary with students Alanna Ed- wards and Thian Bodden, CIMA Deputy Managing Di- rector – Operations Patrick Bodden, and Deputy Man- aging Director – Supervi- sion, Anna Mclean.9 OBITUARY CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2018 The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Crisanto Dizon regret to announce his passing on Sunday, 28 October 2018. Mr. Dizon will be repatriated to the Philippines. The family of the Late Donovan “Donnie” Smith regrets to announce his passing on Saturday, 24 November, 2018 . Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, 8 December 2018 at the Family Life Centre, Walkers Rd. Viewing will be held from 1:00 p.m. prior to the service and from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, 7 December, 2018 at Bodden Funeral Service, 117 Walkers. Rd. The family of the Late Hebe Macartney Affectionately known as “Nurse Hebe” regrets to announce her passing on Saturday, 24 November, 2018 . Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Friday, 7 December 2018 at Wesleyan Holiness Church, West Bay. Viewing will be held from 2:30 p.m. prior to the service and from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, 6 December, 2018 at Bodden Funeral Service, 117 Walkers. Rd. The family of the Late Miranda Bodden better known as “Miss Rinnie” regrets to announce her passing on Saturday, 24 November 2018 . Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday, 8 December 2018 at Elmslie Memorial United Church. Interment will follow in South Sound Cemetery. The family of the Late Eric James Bergstrom, MBE regrets to announce his passing on Saturday, 13 October 2018 in Pompano Beach, Florida. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A memorial service will be held 5:00 p.m. Sunday, 9 December 2018 at Pedro St. James. Attendees are encouraged to wear “Island smart casual”. Please join Eric’s family after the brief ceremony for refreshments on the Great Lawn at Pedro. The family of the Late Donald George Hew Better known as “Danny” regrets to announce his passing on Wednesday, 14 November 2018. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, 1 December, 2018 at the Wesleyan Holiness Church, West Bay. Viewing will be from 10:00 a.m. One hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Prospect Cemetery In memory of Marcos Barcelo Marcos Hilarion Barcelo was born on Oct. 21, 1949, in the town of El Santo in Villa Clara, Cuba. He was the ninth child of ten children born to Cecilia Fundora and Ramon Barcelo. His formative years in Cuba were not idyllic ones, his family was poor and Cuba’s economic turmoil made daily life hard for its citizens, but he was a happy and adventurous child, who grew up in a loving household filled with laughter and closeness. During his school years, he was an avid student, who was interested in history, math, and navigation. He had a passion for flying and at 18 years old, obtained his pilot’s license. This would prove to be a significant mo- ment in his life. He was still a young boy when the political landscape in Cuba took a dramatic turn. What followed was years of rebellions, revolutionary movements and eventually the rise of a political regime that left many of Cuba’s citi- zens suffering and seeking to escape the island. After becoming a pilot, Mr. Barcelo worked as a crop-duster in the fields in southern Cuba, diligently per- forming his duties, even as a daring and dangerous plan took shape in his mind. On the morning of Oct. 3, 1970, at 20 years old, he performed an es- cape so bold that no one could have anticipated it, especially his family, who he did not utter a word of his plan to, for fear they would be persecuted by the government. He got into the cockpit of his single engine plane, made several passes over the crop fields he was charged with spraying, and then simply flew off the is- land where he was born, to an unknown future. Although he left behind everything he ever knew that day and did not re- turn for another 14 years, his experiences in Cuba would be an integral part of shaping the person he would become. His landing on Cayman Brac was featured on the front page of the Caymanian Weekly newspaper, the predecessor of the Cayman Compass. Shortly after arriving on the Brac, he was escorted to the ref- ugee camp located on Ceme- tery Beach in West Bay, Grand Cayman. There, he spent about a year, learning a new language and assimilating to life outside of Cuba. During an afternoon walk on the beach, an activity that he enjoyed until the end, he met a young woman by the name of Abrana Rivers. Their marriage spanned 18 years and resulted in three children; Karidad, Margo and Miguel. Although their marriage dis- solved, the couple remained close friends until his passing. Mr. Barcelo met Helen Dawson during his time as a volleyball coach, a sport he was passionate about and that Helen actively played. Ever the charmer, he wooed the much-younger Helen and the two began a relation- ship that lasted several years, during which time he be- came a father again when his fourth child, a daughter, Ga- briela, who was born in 1994. He met Acelia Cruz in 1995. He embraced her children, Rollin and Martha, as his own and it seemed that their family was complete. That is, until shortly after they began dating, Marcos informed ev- eryone that at the ripe old age of 49, he was expecting his fifth and final child, named Claudia. Marcos and Acelia were married on Feb. 27, 1999, and she would be the woman with whom he would spend the rest of his life. Mr. Barcelo was the epitome of a family man. He cherished all of his children and grandchildren and it was always important to him to be present for the significant events in their lives. Although he had left Cuba, he loved his country and he took all of his children back to visit the place where he was born. He was the original king of dad jokes, the cornier the better! He enjoyed telling his chil- dren stories from his own childhood, albeit greatly em- bellished ones, but he was a spellbinding storyteller and his audience was a captive one. He was a strict, but fair disci- plinarian. He stressed family values and loyalty and he was the patriarch in a large, close- knit group of children, step- children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and in-laws. He came from humble be- ginnings. That may be why he had such a strong work ethic, because no matter the task, he gave maximum effort. During his time at the refugee camp on Grand Cayman, jobs were limited due to his refugee status, but he got a job as a technician at the Mosquito Research Unit and performed his job diligently. Over the next few years, he worked in various industries with brief stints at the Cayman Com- pass and managing Periwinkle Restaurant on West Bay Road. He tried his hand at en- trepreneurship and opened an office supply shop in West Bay, simply called Barce- lo’s. He had knack for busi- ness and numbers and he fi- nally found his niche when he became office manager at Kirk Freight Line. From there, his skills were used at the Cayman Turtle Farm. He took the years of knowledge learned there to his final job, at Mega Systems, where he was the office manager for many years before he retired. Mr. Barcelo was a man of many talents and strengths; from piloting planes, to building houses with his own two hands, playing and coaching volleyball, to gar- dening, discussing history and philosophy, reading, going to the beach, listening to and playing music. He had a great variety of interests that he enjoyed sharing with those around him. He enjoyed travel and his explorations took him to Costa Rica, France, Spain and the United States. He took great pride in his yard, and a number of people have enjoyed the lit- eral fruits (and vegetables) of his labor. He loved music, in both Spanish and English and could listen to a song and play it back on a variety of instruments that he had taught himself to play. Mr. Barcelo, died peace- fully in his home on Wednesday, Nov. 14. He was laid to rest at Boatswains Bay Cemetery in West Bay. He is preceded in death by his mother, father and brother Victorino. He is survived by his wife Acelia Barcelo, his five children, Karidad Bar- celo-Haylock, Margo Zechman, Miguel Barcelo, Gabriela Bar- celo, Claudia Barcelo, his step- children Martha Quintero and Rollin Rodriguez, and 11 grandchildren. He also leaves behind his brothers Celes- tino, Ramon, Gregorio, Her- menegildo and sisters Juana, Caridad and Gudelia. He had a large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and in-laws. Submitted by son Miguel Barcelo Marcos Barcelo’s daring landing on a crop-dusting plane on Cayman Brac in October 1970 was featured on the front page of the Caymanian Weekly. Marcos BarceloNext >