ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2018 $ 399 MEALDEALS MONDAY - SATURDAY 9pcs MIXED , 2 Sides & 5 BISCUITS NEW FAMILY SUNDAY Barkers in the balance The unfulfilled dream of a national park at Barkers – dis- cussed for more than two decades – hinges on ongoing negotiations between the Dart group and gov- ernment, the two major land- owners in the area. Though it is often referred to as a national park and thought of as such by many Caymanians, the majority of the land in Barkers is owned by Dart and is zoned for residential or tourism-oriented development. Around one-third to one-half of the area, in the center of the peninsula, is government- owned and protected under the National Conservation Law. An application by Handel Whittaker, the owner of Calico Jack’s beach bar on Seven Mile Beach, to remove around 180,000 square feet of sea grass to create a swimming area on a stretch of beach at Barkers sparked a wave of opposition when it was filed last month. The proposal is linked to a 21-acre parcel of land owned by Dart, which is backing the ap- Barkers National Park: A series of false starts MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Just because you say it’s a park does not necessarily make it one. That is pretty much what Cayman officials have found in the 15 years since they estab- lished Barkers National Park, the first area of land so desig- nated on the islands. Confusion over the actual park boundaries, a lack of a cohesive development plan and poor management have left the peninsula at the northwest tip of North Sound arguably worse off than it was when Prince Edward attended its dedication ceremony in 2003. At the time it was established, it was known as a dumping ground for trash, a place for criminal activity and an area with a significant influx of invasive species. Trash remains a major problem in the park area. Crime has decreased. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 22 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 23 » See Editorial, “‘Barkers Park’ and principles of private property” on page 4. JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Jutting like a crooked finger into the North Sound, Barkers peninsula offers a glimpse of what Grand Cayman might have looked like to the first settlers – the verdant island set in blue Ca- ribbean sea, exalted in our na- tional song. As the old-growth forests and coastal mangroves that once blanketed the island have slowly disappeared amid the westward creep of development, Barkers has remained largely untouched. Now, it is poised to become the latest frontier in the battle be- tween economic development and conservation in the territory. plication, and aims to create a beachside entertainment venue as an alternative to Seven Mile Beach for cruise tourists. Dart’s vision Ken Hydes, vice president of special projects and partnerships at Dart, is leading the project for the landowner and has emerged as its principal spokesman. He says he understands the anxiety about development on Barkers. But, he says, the proposed Calico Jack’s site is well outside the area that had been marked out as a potential national park. Though the works on the marine side require special permission from Cabinet through a Coastal Works License, the land itself is legally zoned for hotel/ tourism development. Nearly all of the remainder of Dart’s holdings on the peninsula is zoned for beach resort/residential or low-density Last frontier: The Barkers peninsula is at the center of a debate over the competing interests of development and environmental protection.2 LOCAL&REGIONAL FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Open daily 10am -10pm West Shore Center, SMB WHY COOK? Est. in 1992 caymanfirst.comcaymanfirst.comcaymanfirst.comcaymanfirst.comcaymanfirst.com WISHING YOU ALL THE JOYS OF THE SEASON AND HAPPINESS THROUGHOUT 2019! Boned-In Cubes $6.75/lb Boneless Cubes $8.00/lb Hind Quarter Boned-In $8.00/lb Hind Quarter Boneless $9.00/lb Front Shoulder $6.75/lb Rib Roast Centre Cut $10.00/lb T-Bone Steaks $10.00/lb Rack of Ribs $7.50/lb (2/pack) For orders please contact: T: 926 3665 E: sales@blufffarms.com FRESH LOCAL GOAT MEAT CHRISTMAS ORDERS NOW BEING TAKEN Price List in CI$ Whole or half goat upon request. Average weight 50lbs. Full pricelist available on /Bluff.Farms CORRECTION A caption on a pho- tograph that ran with the Community Calendar on page 6 of Thursday’s Cayman Compass con- tained incorrect informa- tion regarding the date of the upcoming Santa Run at Camana Bay. The run will be held on Sunday, Dec. 16. Venezuela’s El Nacional newspaper to cease print edition CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Venezuela’s last nationally circulated, opposition news- paper will stop publishing its print edition amid unre- lenting government pressure and paper shortages, editors said Thursday. El Nacional’s final edition will run Friday after 75 years in print. It will become an ex- clusively online publication, leaders of the newspaper said. “We’ve endured longer than the others,” El Nacional’s president and CEO Miguel Otero told the Spanish news- paper ABC. “But in the end we could not persist.” El Nacional is known for its harsh criticism of the gov- ernment of Venezuela, a once- wealthy oil nation that has been plunged into turmoil under two decades of so- cialist rule. Both late President Hugo Chavez and current President Nicolas Maduro have had strained relations with the media and accused journal- ists of contributing to anti- government plots and pub- lishing fake news. Otero told ABC that gov- ernment controls on im- ported paper were one of the biggest obstacles. He also said that pres- Compass Marathon booth winners announced Three half-marathon runners in bright, Christmassy running gear were the winners of this year’s Cayman Compass Marathon photo booth competition. Photos were taken after the race on Dec. 2. Nancy Euvrard, Sharon Shaw and Adele Schoeman struck the winning pose at the booth, where runners who had completed the half, full or relay marathon stopped off following their run. The photos were posted on the Cayman Compass Facebook page and the people in the photo that received the most reactions won dinner and drinks for four at Tahu restaurant and bar, a Royal Flush IV treatment from REVIVCayman, and Bose Sound Sport Wireless Ear Buds from Cayman Health. Mexican sewage flows into California waters IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. (AP) – Millions of gallons of raw sewage has spilled into Mex- ico’s Tijuana River and is flowing north into California, fouling beaches in San Diego County, where swimmers and surfers were urged to stay out of the ocean. If the spill that began late Monday continues unabated, it could be the largest since early 2017, when coastal wa- ters were tainted for weeks, the Los Angeles Times said. The wastewater is sup- posed to be treated before it’s emptied into the river. In September, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra joined the U.S. cities of Imperial Beach, Chula Vista and the Port of San Diego in suing the Trump administration over sewage spills and other toxic flows coming from Mexico. The lawsuit seeks to force the U.S. government to up- grade the capacity of pumps in the river and catch basins in nearby canyons. The systems are intended to divert flows to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant before the waste reaches beaches. More than 6 million gallons a day of raw sewage has spilled into the river since Monday, authorities say. The U.S. section of the In- ternational Boundary and Water Commission said Tuesday that officials in Mexico attributed the leak to a ruptured collector pipe. The aging collector un- derwent major upgrades over the past year but is not fully rehabilitated, officials said. A woman records with a phone along the beach as a sign warns of contaminated water Wednesday, at Imperial Beach, California. - PHOTO: AP sure against El Nacional and its executives had mounted over the last 15 years, citing an on- slaught of lawsuits, tax reviews and advertising restrictions. More than a dozen other local newspapers in the South American country have also ceased circulation in recent years. Editors and re- porters in the news- room Thursday morning said they are undaunted, pressing ahead to de- liver critical news to readers online. In a letter sent to em- ployees and published on the El Nacional website, Jorge Makriniotis, the paper’s general manager, vowed to continue. “El Nacional has not died but is reinvented to bet on the future,” Makriniotis said. “Be- cause nobody is going to shut us up.” El Nacional is known for its harsh criticism of the government of Venezuela.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2018 The Rum Point Club Residences Model Unit Now Available For Viewings We invite you to visit our Residences by private boat charter to experience life at our luxury boutique hotel opening June 2019. INTRODUCING... One, two, three and four bedroom residences available for purchase. Hotel bookings opening online early 2019. For viewing and more information: contact@rumpointclubresidences.com | www.rumpointclubresidences.com | @rumpointclubresidencesThe 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. President Trump’s deci- sion to yet again negotiate with China, instead of im- posing across the board tar- iffs, will empower his critics and undermine American prosperity. The White House reported that Mr. Trump emerged from his Dec. 1 meeting in Buenos Aires with President Xi with an agreement to discuss reforms in China’s nontariff barriers, require- ments that U.S. subsidiaries in China transfer technology and state-enabled intel- lectual property theft and cyber espionage. That is hardly a full list of American grievances – others include its high tariffs, export subsidies, requirements that U.S. mul- tinationals take domestic joint-venture partners to sell in China, arbitrary treat- ment of U.S. investors by Chinese courts and regula- tors, and Beijing’s 2025 Pro- gram to achieve global dom- inance in chip making and software that define artifi- cial intelligence. The policies enumerated and omitted are so mutually reinforcing in the tyranny they impose on U.S.-based businesses and workers that all are likely fair game, at least in the minds of U.S. negotiators. True to form, Chinese of- ficials emerged from the Dec. 1 meeting refusing to admit accepting the U.S. agenda and characterized the agree- ment as focusing on elimi- nating the limited recently imposed U.S. tariffs in ex- change for beefing up pur- chases of U.S. agricultural products and energy. Mr. Trump’s decision to suspend broader tar- iffs – advocated by doves on his trade team – simply continues the Bush-Obama policy of appeasement veiled in endless bilateral talk. China’s mercantilist poli- cies, espionage and felonious private behavior are so em- bedded in the culture of its authoritarian, socialist gov- ernment and private sector that any agreement reached by the March 1 deadline will have little more significant impact on bilateral commer- cial relations than to rein- state pork and soybean ex- ports and increase natural gas sales–products that ge- ography requires China im- port anyway. Ultimately, the winners will be Beijing and large U.S. multinationals, like Google and GM, which are so intox- icated with penetrating Chi- na’s large markets that they abandon national loyalty. And Wall Street financial houses, who arrange for the financing that outsources American jobs and recycles the dollars that China steals through its bilateral trade surplus into ownership of American businesses, real estate and securities. Those decadent inter- ests are effectively repre- sented in the Trump admin- istration by Goldman Sachs alumni and Treasury Sec- retary Steven Mnuchin. It is noteworthy, for example, that he was rewarded by President Xi for brokering the Buenos Aires armistice with concessions loosening restrictions on the activities of U.S. bank in China. Those will further both Beijing’s and Wall Street’s agendas to move U.S. factories to the Middle Kingdom and do nothing to alleviate Amer- ican complaints about Chi- na’s high-tech kleptocrarcy. It is important to rec- ognize Mr. Trump is nego- tiating with an extremely repressive regime. Beijing persecutes its Muslim and Buddhist minorities, har- vests prisoners’ organs for transplant, tightly con- trols internet content, and monitors the actions and thoughts of its citizens to compel ideological purity and robotic behavior. Those should elicit cries of outrage and support for more substantive American policies punishing Chinese violations of human rights and international commit- ments from activists like Rep.-elect Alexandria Oc- asio-Cortez and congres- sional Democrats generally. However, either they are too enamored with socialism or bent on replicating Beijing’s techniques for imposing their brand of politically correct behavior on Amer- ican society. Campaigning for of- fice, Mr. Trump promised to slap a 25 percent across the board tariff on all Chi- nese imports and do what- ever else was necessary to redress bilateral commer- cial relations. At Mar-a-Largo in April 2017, Mr. Xi coaxed him into a round of bilateral talks that resulted in little prog- ress – an approach that has failed presidents going back to Bill Clinton. And in Buenos Aires, Mr. Trump took the bait again. Historians will take the president’s measure and on trade, it may find him lacking. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © The Washington Times, LLC. ‘Barkers Park’ and principles of private property Philosophical debate over property ownership dates back to the foundations of Western Civilization. For thousands of years – from Plato and Aristotle, to Hume and Locke, and Marx and Mill – great minds have wrangled over and refined concepts related to private and public property, and just where the rights and responsibilities of individual owners intersect with the realm of the state. Generally speaking, as political history played out – including the downfall of Soviet-style socialist systems and the triumph of market economies – a common precept throughout the first world is that people can do with their property whatever they like (as long as it conforms with the law), and the state cannot dispossess people of their property … unless, and this is a major caveat, the needs of society (think roads and infrastruc- ture projects) mandate the “compulsory acquisition” of that property – and with the owner being recompensed for his loss at fair market value. Amid this accumulation of nuanced philosophical dis- course, our position on private property rights is straight- forward: If it’s mine – it’s not yours. In a small, capitalistic society such as the Cayman Islands, private property rights carry disproportionate importance, nearly to the point of sanctity. If those rights are ever called into question – if there is ever the appearance of expropriation by the public sector or curtailment by public sentiment – then Cayman’s fleeting era of prosperity is over. Don’t even bother to build out the airport or even consider the cruise port. Expropriation is not a deal-killer; it’s a country killer. (For examples, look to Cuba, Venezuela or Zimbabwe.) On today’s front page, we publish an in-depth feature package on the Barkers peninsula – Cayman’s “National Park” that never was. The ownership of the area is split between the government and the Dart Group, which is considering its private landholdings for commercial devel- opment. To us, the situation is clear: Dart owns property that is zoned for beach resort, hotel and/or residential devel- opment. The neighboring property owner, government, wants to create a National Park. Fine. The government can no more tell Dart what it can and cannot do with its property (again, abiding by existing laws) than Dart can tell government what it can and can’t do with its public property. Despite unwarranted combativeness displayed by some officials, and the outright demonization of Dart by certain segments of our population, the government could ask for no more receptive a negotiating partner, on this topic, than Ken Dart and his company. Many of the developers we know would not even come to the table on an issue such as this. Mr. Dart, some may know, owns hundreds of thou- sands of acres of wilderness across the globe that he has earmarked never to be developed. Locally, he is responsible for the planting of more trees than anyone in Cayman’s history. He is unsparing in charitable contribu- tions, including creating and maintaining public parks. When discussing competing ideas for Barkers, it must be remembered that Dart has the fundamental right to do what it wants with its property. Any negotiations or agreements with government, in regard to a National Park, are being made by Dart on a wholly voluntary basis. There is an additional issue that is narrower and philo- sophically distinct. We refer to the Coastal Works License Application by Handel Whittaker (owner of Calico Jack’s beach bar) to remove four acres of sea grass to comple- ment development on a parcel of land owned by Dart – within Barkers but well outside the boundaries of the proposed National Park. The application is being considered by Cabinet according to well-defined statutes. In this instance, Cabinet is not obliged to approve or disapprove the application. Quite the opposite. Whether they arrive at a “thumbs-up” or a “thumbs-down,” Cabinet members’ duty is spelled out in the Cayman Islands Constitution: “All decisions and acts of public officials must be lawful, rational, proportionate and procedurally fair.” When considering Mr. Whittaker’s application, Cabinet cannot allow itself to be influenced unduly by petition- signers, anonymous bloggers, committed conservationists or thinly-disguised detesters of all-things-Dart. Certainly, if and when Dart proceeds with development plans for the inland parcels it owns, government officials cannot let anything or anyone overrule the rule of law. FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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” Why Trump cannot do business with China PETER MORICI It is important to recognize Mr. Trump is negotiating with an extremely repressive regime. 5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2018 NEW BOSE SOUNDBARS info@creativetechltd.com www.creativetechltd.com Shops 5-6 Bay Town Plaza 36 West Bay Road 946 8324 TOP GIFTS WIDE ASSORTMENT OF TVS, UP TO 82” IN STOCK HUGE SELECTIONS of Headphones Portable Bluetooth Speakers 1-YEAR MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTIES ON ALL TVS INCLUDING BLUETOOTH & NOISE CANCELLING MODELS SAVE $100 500 & 700 & Bose 500 Speaker SAVE $25 TABLETS Kids 7” now $111.30 $159 8” now $97.30 $139 10” now $160.30 $229 GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE Performance - Value - Aesthetics NAME AMOUNT PLAY:1 Connect:Amp FOR EVERY LIST 3 years for stealing first governor’s war medals Stolen items were not recovered SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Mitchum Kenjo Wood was sentenced to three years in prison Wednesday on a Grand Court burglary charge stemming from an incident in which the war medals of Cayman’s first governor, Ath- elstan Charles Long, were stolen in September last year. The court heard that Mr. Wood was one of two par- ties that broke into the law offices of Amanda Roberts on Sept. 14, 2017, and stole items that were “quite significant.” Crown counsel Greg Wal- colm told the court that in addition to the war medals, the burglars took a diamond ring worth $30,000, an eight- point star diamond brooch worth $5,000, other jewelry and coins. A microwave oven and coffee machine were also taken. “They ransacked the place,” Justice Linda Dobbs said. None of the items were ever recovered. Mr. Walcolm noted that a significant degree of force was used to smash the door of the office, and Justice Dobbs said that the items stolen had “both financial and sentimental value.” The defendant and his partner were seen on CCTV climbing onto the balcony of the office at 2:21 a.m. and leaving at 4:37 a.m. The identity of the other burglar is unknown. Mr. Wood was identified by DNA evidence on a bottle of beer that had been in the refrigerator of the law office. “I believe they had been thirsty due to the work to get into the premises,” Mr. Walcolm said. Mr. Wood had been pre- viously convicted for similar offenses, and Mr. Walcolm noted that he was on proba- tion for criminal trespass at the time of the burglary. Mr. Wood will also have to be sentenced in Summary Court for his breach of probation, said Justice Dobbs before im- posing her sentence. Mr. Walcolm told the court that he believed the offense was one of high culpability in that it was an organized burglary that specifically tar- geted the office and made off with high-value goods. Defense attorney Crister Brady said that Mr. Wood acted in a secondary role during the burglary. He added that it is believed the other in- dividual involved in the crime has left the jurisdiction. Justice Dobbs said that she regarded the offense as one of medium culpability. “This was obviously planned, but it wasn’t particu- larly sophisticated,” she said. Justice Dobbs noted the previous convictions for similar offenses as an ag- gravating factor and said that there were no miti- gating factors to consider be- fore sentence. “You haven’t learned your lesson, it seems,” she said to Mr. Wood before imposing her sentence. Justice Dobbs sentenced Mr. Wood to three years in prison for the burglary, but gave him credit for three months of time served for his year spent wearing an elec- tronic ankle monitor and on curfew while awaiting trial and sentence. Man sentenced in Brac stabbing, hammer attack SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Ronald Truman Bodden was sentenced to six years in prison Wednesday for an in- cident in which he stabbed two of his roommates and struck one of them in the head with a hammer. Mr. Bodden was origi- nally charged with attempted murder in the incident but ultimately pleaded guilty to wounding and wounding with intent. The six-year sentence was imposed for wounding with intent, and he will serve two years concurrently for the separate wounding charge. The attempted murder charge will lie on file. Crown counsel Greg Wal- colm told the court that Mr. Bodden, a Cayman Brac resi- dent, had attacked his room- mates on the night of April 29, 2017. He attacked one with a knife while the victim was sleeping, and he also stabbed the other roommate when he came to the first vic- tim’s defense. The defendant was found in the home when police arrived. Mr. Walcolm told the court that the defendant said, “Yeah, I did it,” when police arrived on the scene, and he later admitted the of- fenses again during a po- lice interview. One of the roommates re- ceived extensive injuries, in- cluding lacerations to the nose, lip, back and thigh, in addition to a fractured rib and a partial collapse of the lower lobes of the lungs. The second roommate, who rushed to the first’s defense, suffered lacerations to the arm and chest. Mr. Walcolm told the court that the attack hap- pened in the early hours of the morning and that the de- fendant was under the influ- ence of alcohol and cocaine at the time. Mr. Bodden was said to have previous convictions for offenses of violence. Defense attorney Crister Brady noted that the injuries are not likely to be permanent or to require ongoing treatment. Justice Linda Dobbs gave the defendant credit for pleading guilty to both offenses. Mr. Bodden was sentenced to six years for wounding with intent, and Justice Dobbs noted it would have been nine years without his early guilty plea. Justice Dobbs also said that the two-year sentence for wounding would have been three years in the absence of an early guilty plea. Mr. Bodden was given credit for a year of time served while waiting for his sentence. Cayman’s first governor Athelstan Charles LongMiniature versions of medals stolen from Athelstan Charles Long.6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS STP Christmas Greeting Ad - Cayman Compass 4C • CMYK / 1/2 Page / Non-Bleed / 10.333" W x 7.8975" H Nov. 28, 2018 Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year. We would like to thank each and every member for your patronage over the past year. Thank you. The Silver Thatch team www.silverthatch.org.ky A taste of a Taste of Cayman Mystery restaurant tour heralds return of culinary festival JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The return of Taste of Cayman was announced Wednesday during an island- wide restaurant tour that provided a preview of the main event. The renowned food and drink festival is scheduled for Jan. 26 at Camana Bay and is expected to feature more than 40 local restaurants and bars serving their signature dishes and drinks to thou- sands of festivalgoers. To promote the festival, this week the Cayman Is- lands Tourism Association and Tower Marketing held a “magical mystery bus tour” of some of the event’s featured venues. Journalists were treated to a taste of Taste of Cayman in a mini-tour that served as an appetizer to January’s main event. At Bandidos Cantina in Seven Mile Shops, the first stop, owner Jason Moir served Mexican street corn along with the restaurant’s famous guacamole and tor- tilla chips. Mixing drinks in front of shelves filled with different varieties of tequila, he said the restaurant was looking forward to taking part in the festival for the second year since its opening. Mr. Moir, who has been involved in the festival with other establishments in the past, said the event was going from strength to strength and he plans to serve up his fa- mous corn along with a mys- tery “sweet treat” next year. At Agua restaurant in Camana Bay, Cristiano Vincentini served conch, Scotch bonnet and seasonal pepper pasta, washed down with a Mediterranean Es- sence cocktail. He said the restaurant was thriving since its move to the town center. Along with sister restaurant Catch, in West Bay, he said Agua sought to stand out from the crowd through its commit- ment to using the best in- gredients and hiring the best sommeliers, mixologists and chefs on the island. Next stop on the tour was the 1981 Brewing Company, a new venue in George Town’s industrial estate, and a first- time participant in Taste of Cayman. Brewmaster Jordan MacNevin introduced the gathering to a sampler of four of the venue’s craft ales, including a Cayman Blonde and a Tropical IPA. Mr. MacNevin already of- fers a literal taste of Cayman with his seasonal beers. Local farmers have helped him make a mango beer, a guinep beer and a soon-to-be-re- leased Christmas sorrel beer. He said he has an idea in mind for a special ale for the Taste of Cayman festival. Next stop on the tour was the Brasserie, one of the win- ners at last year’s event. With its own beehives, vegetable garden, laying hens and buy-local philosophy, the Brasserie was among the pio- neers of the farm- and sea-to- table movement in Cayman, said manager Corey Blohm. “The conch you are having today was delivered from one of our boats to the back door this morning,” he said. After tasting success last year, Mr. Blohm said, the Brasserie was hungry for more. “We are going to try and top it this year,” he said of last year’s winning sliders entry. “We have got an idea but it is not set in stone yet.” The tour wrapped up at the Westin, where Cayman Islands Tourism Associa- tion officials gave details of what is in store for this year’s festival. More than 40 venues will serve up their favorite drinks and dishes at Camana Bay’s Festival Green as they com- pete for the coveted title of Cayman’s favorite restaurant, as voted by festivalgoers on the night. The All Things Cayman area will provide a snapshot of cultural and traditional el- ements of Cayman’s culinary scene, including a heavy cake competition, amateur chef cook-off and Seven Fathoms mixology competition. Further demonstrations, including a lionfish and iguana cooking demo, will be held in the experience room. Details of the entertainment, including bands and DJs, will be announced at a later date. Tiffany Dixon-Ebanks, ex- ecutive director of CITA, said, “After the enormous success of the 30th anniversary cele- brations of Taste of Cayman in 2018, we’re looking for- ward to continuing the is- land’s fabulous and longest running food and drink fes- tival in January. “Grand Cayman is re- nowned for not only its amazing local cuisine, but for the diverse food and drink of- ferings we are lucky enough to have here. Taste of Cayman brings together locals and visitors for one amazing night under the stars to cel- ebrate everything we love about island life.” 1981 Brewing Company’s brewmaster Jordan MacNevin introduces some of his craft ales. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKERThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2018 SATURDAY, DEC 15TH · 4PM - 7PM CHRISTMAS ON CARDINALL Bayshore Mall : Cardinall Avenue : The Strand (345) 949.7477 : kirkfreeport.com • Refreshments • Popcorn • Cotton Candy • Balloon Maker • Face Painting • Cookie Decorating • The Church of God Chapel’s Children’s Choir • St Ignatius Bands • Fireworks A SPECIAL EVENING FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FAMILY STREET FAIR WITH DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES IN EACH KIRK FREEPORT CARDINALL AVENUE STORE!8 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS HOLIDAY SPECIAL - TAEKWONDO $49 - 1 Month Membership & Uniform (New Mbrs) Buy your child a gift for a lifetime: Discipline, Respect, Self-Con dence Children and Adult TAEKWONDO Classes, FITNESS & SELF DEFENCE Private, Semi-Private & Group Classes Cayman Islands Taekwondo Academy CROWN SQUARE, Eastern Ave., Open 10am – 5pm, Ph. 749-5348 Dr. Ivan Wong, M.D., F.R.C.S.C. Hip & Shoulder Arthroscopy & Sport Medicine Specialist CAYMAN ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP PLEASE CALL 945-8380 FOR APPOINTMENTS will be at UNIT #1 SMITH ROAD PLAZA Monday 17th DECEMBER, 2018 to Friday, 28th DECEMBER, 2018 may you have a Blessed and Joyous Holiday Season as we pause to remember Jesus Birth. We wish you all a We’re OPEN Christmas Day for Dine-in and Catering Orders. Yes, we will cook your Christmas Dinner (pick up only) SPECIAL NEW YEAR’S EVE DINNER from 5 pm to 10 pm! Phone 916-5736 restaurant@championhouse.ky For information and menus visit our website at: www.championhouse.ky WE also CATER! Small groups of up to 50 persons for Lunch and Dinner in our Dining Room Small and large groups for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at your location ~ You create the menu, we’ll cook and serve! We are open to serve you daily Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (closed Saturdays) Lunch and Dinner Bu et will feature some traditional Christmas items from Dec. 9 to Jan. 1, 2019 HOLIDAY HOURS Dec. 24, 25, 26 and 31 OPEN 8am - 5pm School cross-country run next week John Gray High School is hosting a cross-country run on Tuesday, Dec. 18. The run starts at 10 a.m. at the Truman Sports Complex. The runners will leave from the sports complex, travel along Olympic Way, As- piration Drive and onto Fair- banks Road. They will then turn around at the Agape Family Worship Centre and take the same route back to the Truman Bodden stadium. The run is expected to finish at about 12:15 p.m. Police are asking motor- ists traveling in the area on Tuesday morning to exer- cise caution. Officers honored for long service Long-serving police, fire, and prison officers were hon- ored on Dec. 6 at Government House for the career mile- stones they achieved between 2014 and 2017. According to a govern- ment press release, 136 offi- cers received either 18-year medals, 25-year clasps, or 30-year clasps at the Over- seas Territories Long Ser- vice Medal presentation ceremony. For the “special constabulary long service medal,” two categories were presented: nine-year medals and 19-year clasps. Acting Governor Franz Manderson presented the medals. Other government representatives at the cere- mony included Acting Deputy Governor Stran Bodden, Acting Ministry of Human Resources Chief Officer Mi- chael Ebanks, and Min- istry of Financial Services Deputy Chief Officer Kathryn Dinspel-Powell. The officers honored are as follows: Police Long Service Medal 30-year clasp: Gregory Banks, Patrick Beersingh, Hugh Bush, Clell Ebanks, Dewey Ebanks, Jerrian Hutchinson-Myles, Mi- chael Montaque, Wendy Parchment, Colin Pryce, Kurt Walton. 25-year clasp: Stanley Clarke, Charmane Dalhouse, Fran General, Rudolph Gordon, Eustace Joseph, Mark Luke (posthumously), Angelique McLoughlin, Doris Morris-Herrera, Stephen Myers, Dane Pinnock, Leonel Riverol, Dausea Scott, Or- ville Williams. 18-year medal: Liv- ingston Bailey, Richard Barrow, Pearson Best, Em- manuel Brown, Marcia Codner, James Collins, Jo- leta Conolly, Jaclyn Ebanks, Rayal Forbes, Harold Forte, Leighton Groves, Antonio Hanna, Paulette Hines, Brian Jameson, Malcolm Kay, Ian Lavine, Sharon Lewis, Orlando Mason, Mi- chelle Miller, Christsandra Mitchell, Neil Mohammed, Wilburt (Mannie) Myles, Car- lile Nation, Adeniyi Oremule, Alrice Palmer, Winsome Prendergast, Andre Tahal, Everton Spence, Angela Scar- lett, Ian Yearwood. Special Constabulary Long Service Medal 19-year clasp: Na- dine Crooks. 9-year medal: Ju- lius Blackwood, Craig Coe, Ronald Gonzales, Elizabeth Macintosh, Steven Mclaughlin, Colby Powery, Reuben Stewart, Glinton Williams. Fire Brigade Long Service Medal 30-year clasp: John Bodden, Roy Charlton, Devon Chisholm, Carl Chris- tian, Curtis Connor, James Dixon, Nigel Ebanks, George Hurlston, Trent Jackson, Norman Joseph, Frank Mar- tinez, Larue Nixon, Gil- bert Rankin, Garfield Ritch, Larry Seymour, Curtis Sol- omon, Witney Tatum, Percival Whorms, Sherman Yates. 25-year clasp: Ernest Barnes, James Bodden, Per- nell Bodden, Alfred Connor, Lincoln Ebanks, Matthew Ebanks, Elton Martin, Sean Mellaneo, Karl Pascal, Warren Scott, Philip Stewart, Robin Walton, Brian Watler, Kirk Watson, Samuel Whitelocke. 18-year medal: Daniel Bernard, Henri Ebanks, Jef- frey Ebanks, Brevon Elliott, Troy Forbes, Marlon God- dard, Randy Hodgson, Morris Martin, Carson Mcfield, Urick Mcfield, Ian Mclaughlin, Lewis Mclaughlin, Ricardo Mclaughlin, Conisby Myles, Erik Rankin, Joseph Smith, Jeremy Tatum, Whitman Tatum, Christopher Webb. Prisons Long Service Medal 30-year clasp: Stephen Atherley, Noel Deslandes, Peter Foster, Corine Flores, Daniel Greaves, Marlon Thomas Hodgson, Ricardo Lashley. 25-year clasp: Errol Brown, Lawrence Cun- ningham, Carl Grant, Carley James, Carlton Montaque, Oscar Owen. 18-year medal: Steven Carter, Karen Dixon, Robert Dysdale, Eustace Elliott, Paula Mcfarlane, Paul Lor- raine, Maxwell Pennicooke, Brian Poy Fong. Members of Her Majesty’s Prison Service wear their new long service medals and clasps.Fire Service officers at last week’s long service award ceremony. Acting Deputy Governor Stran Bodden and Acting Governor Franz Manderson, center, seated, with members of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service who received long service awards.9 LOCAL NEWS St. Ignatius prize winners announced St. Ignatius Catholic Church and School has an- nounced the winners of prizes from this year’s Christmas concert and fundraisers. The winner of the $25,000 prize was Joel Joyner. Vir- gilio Nangyo won CI$2,500 and Shomari Solomon won US$2,500. Cayman Airways US$300 voucher winners were Lessley Christudoss, Joseph Wal- ters, Gregory Rivers, Kristoffer Mahzaho and Yvonne Broderick. Other winners will re- ceive LUCA, Ragazzi or Treats gift vouchers. Lucille Guettler won CI$1,000 for selling the winning ticket, while Lazarus Moraes won CI$1,000 for selling the most tickets and Marilyn Ver- tudazo got CI$500 for selling the second most tickets. Organizers said a team of six accountants from KPMG did a thorough audit of all tickets, and the drawing of the winning tickets was witnessed by a few hundred people. St. Ignatius Community Liaison Coordinator Jeremy Rice said, “A huge thank you to all those who pur- chased tickets, sold tickets, donated prizes, or other- wise supported this event. An extra special thank you to all those volunteers who gave many hours of service selling tickets at the various supermarkets.” Proceeds of the fundraiser will go to the school facilities development fund, church facilities upgrades, and the scholarship fund. Winners can collect their prizes from the St. Igna- tius Church Office weekdays from 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. All prizes must be claimed by Thursday, Jan. 31. CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY DECEMBER 14, 2018 The family of the Late Bill Everson regret to announce his passing on Friday, 30 November, 2018. A memorial service was held privately. In lieu of flower donations may be made to Jasmine (formerly Cayman HospiceCare). The Family Of The Late Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. Joseph Wagenhals regret to announce his passing on Wednesday, 28 November 2018. Mr. Wagenhals will be repatriated to the United States of America. The family of the Late Naomi Oyog regret to announce her passing on Monday, 10 December, 2018. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Police host workshop on counterterrorism The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service hosted the first Cayman Islands International Counterter- rorism Workshop on Grand Cayman this month. The workshop, which was held Dec. 4-6, was fa- cilitated by instructors from the National Counterter- rorism Center with support from the U.S. Treasury De- partment and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to an RCIPS press release, the main aim of the workshop was “to share expert knowledge and experiences involving coun- terterrorism and to have a cohesive national counter- terrorism strategy that pro- tects against the threat of terrorism and other violent extremism from a multi- agency approach.” The workshop was at- tended by some key per- sonnel from a wide spec- trum of agencies in Cayman that play roles in any coun- terterrorism strategy, the RCIPS said. These agencies included Customs and Im- migration, the 911 Emer- gency Communications Centre, Hazard Manage- ment Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands Fire Ser- vice, the Health Services Authority, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecu- tions, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority, the General Registry and the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service. The instructors were joined by personnel from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Foreign Common- wealth Office, United States Southern Command and the Jamaica Defence Force. Detective Inspector Eu- stace Joseph, who was one of the organizers, said, “This workshop not only pre- sented real-time scenarios, possibilities and challenges, but also the importance of networking with the var- ious agencies, locally and internationally.” Deputy Commissioner Anthony Ennis, who opened the workshop and delivered closing remarks, explained that while the Cayman Is- lands might be viewed as low risk, this is what makes it equally vulnerable. “As a British overseas territory and with the vast majority of our visi- tors originating from the USA, as well as significant American interests domi- ciled within the territory, a cohesive national counter- terrorism strategy is criti- cally vital in coordinating resources and sharing in- telligence among key agen- cies,” Mr. Ennis said. “This will enable us to ensure the safety of our visitors and communities.” Attendees of the first Cayman Islands International Counterterrorism Workshop. Recycling bins added for expected holiday increase Anticipating higher holiday volume, the Department of En- vironmental Health has added a combined total of three new re- cycling containers to two of its supermarket recycling depots. Two additional containers were placed at the Kirk Market recycling depot, doubling the number of recycling bins for type 1 and type 2 plastics as well as for mixed paper. The third container was placed at Hurley’s Grand Harbour, and will be available for the recy- cling of type 1 and type 2 plastics. “We anticipate increased purchasing activities during the holiday season,” DEH Acting Di- rector Richard Simms said. “It is an opportune time to encourage [people] to recycle.” Eight additional containers for plastics, paper and card- board will be added to Foster’s Food Fair IGA locations in the coming days. Containers for recycling tin and aluminum cans and glass/ ceramic items are also available at each of the supermarket de- pots on Grand Cayman. The DEH urges the public to remove their recyclables from plastic bags before placing the material into recycling con- tainers. Only clean recyclables should be deposited. For more information, call the DEH at 949-6696, email dehcustomerservice@gov.ky, visit the DEH’s website at www.deh.gov.ky or message its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/DEHCaymanIslands.A new recycling container for paper and cardboard is placed alongside others at Kirk Market. NICARAGUAN LAWMAKERS GO AFTER ANTI-GOVERNMENT NGOS MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) – President Daniel Ortega’s al- lies in Nicaragua’s legisla- ture are canceling the legal status of non-governmental groups identified as sup- porting months-long opposi- tion protests. In the past two weeks, Ortega’s Sandinista party, which controls 70 of the 92 votes in the National As- sembly, took action against the Center for Health Re- search, the Institute for Strategic and Public Policy Studies, Let’s Make Democ- racy and the Nicaragua Center for Human Rights. The Sandinistas contend the groups financed a failed coup attempt against Ortega. Since April, protests against changes to Nicaragua’s so- cial security system have been violently repressed. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights says at least 320 people have died in the violence.Next >