ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9, 2019 Fewer cruise ships to dock at Spotts JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Port Authority plans to reduce the number of cruise ships allowed to use Grand Cayman’s back up “bad weather” an- chorage at Spotts. The sight of cruise ships off the southern coast of the island have been a fixture of the winter storm season, with bad weather making the main port in George Town inacces- sible on several days. Citing overcrowding and safety concerns, the Port Authority plans to reduce the number of ships simultaneously allowed to tender at the Spotts terminal from three to two. That means more ships will have to be turned away on days when it is not safe to anchor in George Town. Acting port director Joey Woods told board members that the tender operator and the main shipping agent had agreed to the pro- posal, according to minutes of the November meeting of the Port Authority. Mr. Woods also indicated that the proposal had been sent to the cruise lines through the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association for input, the minutes note. Minutes from an earlier board meeting, in September, detail a presentation by Mr. Woods on the problems experienced at Spotts with three ships in port. He highlighted safety concerns around overcrowding at the pier and lengthy wait times for passengers, and suggested having two slots instead of three would increase effi- ciency and improve customer experience. Mr. Woods showed pictures to the board members of the scenes at Spotts on busy HEROES DAY TO HONOR BROKERS OF COAT OF ARMS Vestrymen and Justices of the Peace who were instrumental in getting the Cayman Is- lands its own Coat of Arms will be hon- ored at the 2019 Heroes Day celebrations on Monday, Jan. 28. “Celebrating the Creation of our Coat of Arms” will replace the previously announced theme of the 2019 Heroes Day, which was “Pi- oneers in Maritime Heritage.” Those Maritime pioneers will be recognized in the 2021 Heroes Day ceremony. Next year’s Heroes Day will mark the granting of the constitution. “The grant of the Coat of Arms represents the seminal moment that started the chain of events that placed the Cayman Islands on the path to modernity,” Premier Alden McLaughlin said in a press release. Queen Elizabeth II approved the Royal Warrant assigning “Armorial Ensigns for the Cayman Islands” on May 14, 1958. To mark the 60th anniversary of the occasion, the Cayman Islands government in May last year launched “Celebrate Cayman” – a year of activities and celebrations that included an educational road show that visited all the districts of the islands to help inform people of the history and significance of the Coat of Arms. “The National Heroes Day is a highlight of Restored glass-bottom boat now Little Cayman tourist vessel JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com A tour operator has opened a window into Little Cayman’s underwater treasures for non- divers or snorkelers after he spotted an abandoned glass- bottom boat while walking home from work one day. Now with “Miss Polly” re- stored and operational, Little C Tours, a successful Caymanian- owned and operated business, provides land and sea tours for those who live in and visit Little Cayman. It was a dream come true for local owner Damian Bancroft to have “Miss Polly” gliding through the water, with him at the helm and visitors enjoying the trip of a lifetime. Visitors on Little C Tours enjoy local Caymanian dishes prepared by the crew, as well as a variety of tour packages around the island. “I grew up close to the wa- ters around Spotts-New- lands on Grand Cayman [and] as a child and teenager went fishing almost every day,” Mr. Bancroft said. “I like to see people smile and the excitement on their faces, es- pecially the children when they hook a fish.” ‘Come early and bring a shovel’ You know the festive season is officially over when you see the forlorn piles of Christmas trees filling dumpsters around the island. Shorn of their tinsel and baubles, hundreds of trees were relocated from sitting rooms to recycling depots around Grand Cayman this week. The felled forest of firs at the George Town cricket field made a depressing scene for commuters returning to work this week, lamenting the end of the holiday. There is one more gift in store, however. The Department of Environmental Health plans to shred the trees and give away ‘free mulch’ at the cricket field from 8 a.m. Saturday. The department advises anyone interested to come early and bring bags and shovels. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Tourists disembark from ‘Miss Polly’ at Owen Island, near Little Cayman. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL®IONAL WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9, 2019 • 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) ESCAPE ROOM (PG13) 1:55 I 4:30 I 5:35 I 7:25 I 10:00 MARY POPPINS RETURNS (PG) 12:50 I 3:50 I 6:45 I 9:45 ELLIOT THE LITTLEST REINDEER (PG) 12:15 I 4:50 AQUAMAN (PG13) 12:45 VIP I 2:05 3D I 3:45 I 6:35 VIP 8:00 I 9:40 3D THE GRINCH (PG) 2:30 I 7:05 BUMBLEBEE (PG13) 1:00 I 3:55 VIP I 7:00 3D I 9:25 I 9:50 VIP Visiting Specialist will be available for consultation at Novo Clinic, Britcay House 236 Eastern Avenue from 21 January - 8 February, 2019 For appointments please call +1 (345) 746-6082 clinic@novocayman.com Gynecology, Urogynecology, Cosmeti c Gynecology DeSantis sworn in as Florida’s new governor GUATEMALA TO WITHDRAW FROM UN ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Former Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis was sworn in as Florida’s new governor on Tuesday with promises to keep taxes low and to make education and the environ- ment a priority. In a speech filled with naval references, the former Navy officer also promised to be tough on illegal immigra- tion and to appoint Supreme Court justices who will not “legislate from the bench.” DeSantis took his oath in front of Florida’s historic Old Capitol. His predecessor, Re- publican Gov. Rick Scott at- tended, along with former Republican Govs. Jeb Bush and Bob Martinez and former Democratic Gov. Bob Graham. Scott left the ceremony early to fly to Washington, where he was to be sworn in as a U.S. senator. DeSantis praised Scott’s work over the previous four years. “Your laser-like focus on improving Florida’s economy has meant so much in the lives of so many here in our state. You are leaving a strong foundation from which we here today can build,” De- Santis said. With strong support from President Donald Trump, De- Santis defeated Democrat An- drew Gillum to win the seat. He will work with a firm Re- publican majority in both branches of the Legislature. “Let’s promote a virtuous cycle whereby low taxes, a reasonable regulatory cli- mate, a sensible legal system and a healthy environment attract jobs, businesses and investment,” he said. He also said the environ- ment will be a high priority, citing the need to eliminate toxic algae that grow from Lake Okeechobee pollutants and to address red tide off the state’s coast. “For Florida, the quality of our water and environmental surroundings are founda- tional to our prosperity as a state.” he said. “It doesn’t just drive tourism; it affects prop- erty values, anchors many local economies and is cen- tral to our quality of life. The water is part and parcel of Florida’s DNA.” He also touched on illegal immigration, saying he will not allow “sanctuary cities” in Florida. “We will stop incentivizing illegal immigration, which is unfair to our legal immi- grants, promotes lawlessness and reduces wages for our blue-collar workers,” he said. DeSantis has said he will appoint the first of three Supreme Court Justices on Wednesday. During his speech, he made it clear the court will be different than the one that has overturned Republican laws ranging from abortion restrictions to caps on medical malprac- tice lawsuit awards. Three liberal-leaning justices were forced to retire Tuesday due to age limits. “Judicial activism ends, right here and right now. I will only appoint judges who understand that the proper role of the courts is to apply the law and Constitution as written, not to legislate from the bench. The Constitution, not the judiciary, is supreme,” DeSantis said. Bush, who served from 1999 to 2007, said he loved the speech, and praised De- Santis for pushing for school choice, focusing on the envi- ronment and his “advocacy of judicial restraint.” “It felt like 1999 all over again. His priorities are right on,” Bush said. “I think he’s off to a fantastic start.” Democrats saw some good and some bad in the speech. Rep. Joseph Geller said he liked that DeSantis stressed protecting the environment and working with the Legis- lature. But he was turned off by his criticisms of the judi- cial branch and his brief re- marks on immigration. “I think we need to pro- tect the independence of the judiciary,” Geller said. “That’s very important to me. And I think we need to recognize the positive role that immi- gration often plays in our country. But listen, he’s the new governor. We’ll see how he governs,” Geller said. DeSantis, 40, is the youngest governor in de- cades and the first to live in the governor’s mansion with young children in a half- century. He decided to forgo the traditional inaugural pa- rade. Instead, he and his wife, Casey, will hold a bap- tism ceremony at the man- sion for their 9-month-old son, Mason. DeSantis is expected to take swift action in the next week on a number of issues, including whether to sus- pend Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel. Israel has been criticized for the perfor- mance of his deputies during the Feb. 14 shooting at Mar- jory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 people dead. He also has hinted he might take action against other officials. A small group of pro- testers across the street from the inauguration held large plastic eyeballs and signs that read “We Will Be Watching You.” Some of the people in the group, which numbered less than 100, also had signs that read “Not our Governor” in English and Spanish. GUATEMALA CITY (AP) – Guatemala announced Monday it was pulling out of a United Nations-spon- sored anti-corruption com- mission after more than a year of tension between the government and the group, which has investi- gated top government of- ficials and people close to President Jimmy Morales. Foreign Minister Sandra Jovel announced the de- cision after meeting with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the com- mission, known as CICIG for its initials in Spanish, at the United Nations. An hour later, Morales, accompanied by minis- ters and family members of people accused of cor- ruption, held a news con- ference in Guatemala City in which he accused the U.N. and Guterres of being silent in the face of what he said were human rights abuses com- mitted by CICIG. “In spite of Guatema- la’s efforts with the United Nations, the silence, pas- sivity and negativism of the secretary-general con- tributed to an uncertainty in the CICIG’s actions that put at risk the country’s sovereignty,” Guatemala’s president said. Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric issued a statement saying the U.N. expects Guatemala to keep up its end of an agree- ment that created the com- mission, until its mandate ends in September. Guterres “strongly re- jects” Guatemala’s com- plaints in withdrawing from the commission, Du- jarric said, adding that the group has made an “im- portant contribution … to the fight against impunity in Guatemala.” Jovel accused the com- mission and its members of politicizing its work, vi- olating Guatemala’s sov- ereignty, failing to respect the presumption of inno- cence and causing “divi- sion in our society.” “The CICIG has ex- ceeded its authority,” she said. Jovel said the com- mission’s staffers have 24 hours to leave the country, though a Guate- malan court has ruled that the country has to grant them visas. DeSantis, 40, is the youngest governor in decades and the first to live in the governor’s mansion with young children in a half-century. Ron DeSantis, right, is sworn in as Florida Governor by Chief Justice Charles Canady, left, as his wife Casey and son Mason look on, Tuesday in Tallahassee, Florida. – PHOTO: AP Norm Macdonald replaces David Spade at KAABOO Comedian Norm Mac- Donald will be replacing David Spade in the KAABOO lineup next month. Mr. Spade was slated to perform on the first day of the two-day festival, but has had to pull out of the event, according to information on the KAABOO Facebook page. “Due to a filming con- flict for a new movie, David Spade has to cancel his KAABOO performance,” the page says. “We’re sad we’ll miss him this year, but ex- cited to welcome fellow Sat- urday Night Live alum Norm Macdonald.” Mr. Macdonald rose to fame when he anchored Sat- urday Night Live’s Weekend Update segment from 1994 to 1997. He currently has a talk show on Netflix, “Norm Macdonald Has a Show.”David SpadeNorm MacdonaldThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9, 2019 SOLD! LIST YOUR PROPERTY WITH IRG info@irg.ky | (345) 623 1111 | www.irgcayman.com Ritz-Carlton Deckhouse #12 Mahogany Point Villas | North Side 6 Cardinal Ave | George Town Genesis Building | George Town Hymie Plaza | Smith RoadMizpah #8 | West Bay Cayman Club | 7 Mile Beach House Lot | South Sound West Bay Palms | West BayConch Point Rd Home | WB San Sebastian | South Sound West Bay Land Countryside Estates Beacon Point Residence | South Sound On The Bay | North Side Duck Pond Acreage The Point #16 | Paradise Cove Westview Condos | West Bay All 18 Units SOLD Harbour Reach Lot | Grand Harbour 15 Ironshore Drive | Vista del Mar Colonial Grand | Spotts Bodden Town LandWaterways Lot | Vista del MarBeach Groves Land | Pease BayGloria May Drive Land Strathvale House | George Town 9 0 % L E A S E D Beach Front Lots B1 & B2 | Pease Bay Old Robin Road Land | North Side 2 x Windsor Village Condos | South Sound (2018 Listings)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. The only thing worse than having a bad law is having a bad law but not enforcing it. Flawed or ill-conceived legislation can cause Excedrin-strength headaches, economic roadblocks or personal injustices. But when officials pass bad laws but only enforce them selectively, or not at all, they create potentially even more serious issues, such as mistrust of institutions, disregard for the rule of law generally, and the opportunity for government to wield those laws as weapons to punish opponents. Accordingly, we now find ourselves in the somewhat interesting position of calling out Cayman Islands offi- cials for not carrying out the provisions of an admittedly terrible law that we have long argued should have never become a law in the first place. We speak of the National Conservation Law, about which we said, before its passage in late 2013: “Nearly everybody should hate nearly every- thing about it” – hardly a ringing endorsement. As the Compass reported Tuesday, the National Con- servation Council, enshrined in the law, has, in effect, gone dormant: Following the resignation of former council chairperson Christine Rose-Smyth in late 2017, the council did not have a chairperson for some eight months. It also has not held a single public meeting since June last year. Ms. Rose-Smyth resigned amid uncertainties over the government’s continuing support for the body. Around that time, Premier Alden McLaughlin had announced a forthcoming review of the National Conservation Law and the removal of “ridiculous” portions of the law. The law’s biggest champion, previous Environment Minister Wayne Panton, had suffered an electoral defeat in May 2017 and was no longer in office. Mr. Panton’s successor to the ministry position, current Environ- ment Minister Dwayne Seymour, did not meet with the council during the five months after the election, Ms. Rose-Smyth reported. We applauded the premier’s stated intent to review and revise the law – with the goal, of course, to preserve private property rights and enable economic develop- ment, while providing suitable protections for Cayman’s natural environment. Although we do not believe that the interests of environmental advocates should be given equal standing with the wishes of citizens seeking to use or develop their own private property, we would defend the position that concerns about the environment are oftentimes valid and in need of thoughtful advocacy. The previous incarnation of the council did itself considerable harm by taking fanciful – even comical – positions, such as requiring an environmental impact assessment on the proposed removal of beach rock from a site which was to be the home of a Four Seasons luxury resort. Using reasoning that has never been clear, at least to us, the same council elected not to require an envi- ronmental impact assessment for the huge Grand Hyatt resort planned on the southern end of Seven Mile Beach. (Please do not misunderstand us. We are not advocating for an EIA for the Grand Hyatt. Quite the opposite. Our position is that EIAs are at least as polit- ical as they are scientific and in some instances have been used by environmentalists as tools to impede, if not euthanize, projects they oppose.) The solution to reining in an unsatisfactory or arbi- trary government board is to reappoint the board – not to leave it leaderless or without a quorum. Similarly, the solution to remedying a flawed law is to amend or repeal it – not to withdraw political support for it and hope those responsible for executing the law “get the message from upstairs.” For the better part of last year, Cabinet, through its inaction, silenced the Conservation Council and the interests it represents. It brought to realization an obser- vation we made in late 2013 about the Conservation Bill: “The bill neither guarantees the protection of the environment nor does it provide assurance for Cayman Islands landowners and developers.” In this New Year, lawmakers need to address the mess they made with the passage of this ill-conceived legislation – and the offspring, such as the National Conservation Council, it engendered. Conservation Council: Once fanged and feared, now dormant and toothless WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Britain should quit Europe and declare free trade The European Union is failing, and populism – or- dinary folks are rebelling against the hubris of elites – is rising. The EU’s primary ante- cedent, European Economic Community (1957), was struc- tured to bring down barriers to trade – a customs union with antitrust enforcement powers to crack the cartel- ization of national markets by private and public ac- tors – and permit workers and capital to move freely across borders. It has since morphed into an expansive bureaucracy that dictates all manner of immigration, economic and social policies but has not attained the democratic in- stitutions and fiscal powers necessary to manage a conti- nental economy. Free trade always has vic- tims, but the EEC delivered dynamic growth from the consolidation of businesses across national boundaries. And just as international eco- nomic textbooks predict, the rising tide raised all boats. In recent decades, however, the EU’s expanded bureau- cracy reach and single cur- rency have not delivered enough growth. Professionals in big cities profit from globalization but the working classes in sub- urbs, smaller cities and rural communities languish. Im- migrants corrupt local cul- tures and incubate crime, and burdensome regula- tions and high taxes make starting a business and af- fording simple necessities too difficult. President Emmanuel Ma- cron sought to impose a new tax on petrol, which is al- ready terribly expensive in France. The bankers in Paris ride the subway but folks in the hinterland must fuel up to get to work. Most discre- tionary driving has already been taxed away – the levy would have had little impact on CO2 emissions but create much hardship. The gilets jaunes riots in- spired Macron to react like a man controlled by an alien force. Confronted by com- plaints that fuel taxes were crushing ordinary people, Macron lectured about the need to lower carbon emis- sions and reminded “when we change things, we shake up habits and people aren’t necessarily happy.” Let them eat cake! The EU bureaucracy is now cracking down on duly elected national governments to force Italy to adhere to the eurozone’s unworkable na- tional budget rules, Hungary to take down its border fence and stop enforcing its na- tional immigration laws, and Poland to block its efforts to make its judiciary account- able to Polish values and not those of international civil society. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s open im- migration policies have im- posed disastrous social consequences and crime. Meanwhile, her desig- nated successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, muses “through the social market economy and our system of social partnership, we have a system where many issues and conflicts are always dis- cussed and settled in orderly structures.” Let them discuss Kant. Britons sensing the mad- ness voted for Brexit but Prime Minister Theresa May did not support leaving. In negotiations, she acceded to nearly every EU demand. Britons should read the Declaration of Independence, and get a new prime min- ister – pronto! The new leader could in- form European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and all the other oligarchs of Eu- rope’s ruling class that on March 29 his government will declare unilateral free trade with Europe. It would continue to permit EU banks and professionals to do busi- ness and work in the U.K. if the EU does the same. Brussels can take it or leave it – the continent needs London’s financial sector and U.K. markets as much as the U.K. industries needs theirs. If the EU does not comply, then London doesn’t pay the $50 billion divorce settlement and makes a hard break. The transition would be painful for Britain but Eu- ropean banking would no more move from London to Frankfort Frankfurt than American banking would move to Charlotte if Man- hattan became an indepen- dent country. Anyway, the future is in artificial intelligence and other such stuff where the U.K. will do a lot better un- chained from EU dysfunction. Italy and others would follow and that would begin the process of returning the EU to its original but more limited mission – free trade! Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2019, The Washington Times, LLC. PETER MORICI Britons should read the Declaration of Independence, and get a new prime minister – pronto! 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 • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9, 2019 6 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS CLERK FROM ISLE OF MAN SECONDED TO CAYMAN The Cayman Islands Public Accounts Com- mittee has a new clerk from the Isle of Man on a 10-day secondment which started this week. The attachment is part of a U.K. Overseas Ter- ritories project to help share skills and experience across the territories. The three-year project focuses on public finan- cial oversight and is the result of a partnership between the Common- wealth Parliamentary As- sociation, the U.K. Na- tional Audit Office and the Government Internal Audit Agency. Jonathan King, deputy clerk and clerk of the eco- nomic policy review com- mittee of Tynwald as well as clerk of the Legisla- tive Council, will work alongside the clerk of the Public Accounts Com- mittee in the Cayman Is- lands Legislative As- sembly and others. According to a press release from the Cayman Islands government, “the attachment will provide bespoke face-to-face as- sistance in the prepara- tion of inquiry planning, public reporting, and communicating findings with the aim of strength- ening the capacity of the committee.” Mr. King said in the re- lease, “With many years’ experience as a clerk, I hope that through the at- tachment I will be able to provide some rele- vant insight and support to the Cayman Islands PAC. Hopefully, this will also allow for long-term communication between Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man.” The Public Accounts Committee chairman and clerk will also attend the U.K. Overseas Territo- ries Project Oversight of Public Finances Forum in Miami in March. Grand Cayman tops list for best islands in 2019 MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Want to know the best Caribbean island to visit in 2019? You are standing on it. At least that is the as- sessment of the Caribbean Journal, which just published its list of the 19 best islands to visit in the Caribbean for the coming year. Grand Cayman is first on the list. “These are places to go and we chose Cayman to be No. 1,” said Guy Britton, exec- utive vice president and man- aging editor of the magazine. “We chose Cayman because of its unique qualities.” The magazine says Grand Cayman is “home to one of the greatest beaches in the world – but it’s also so much more. Seven Mile Beach is home to two of the most luxurious hotels in the Caribbean, The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman and the Kimpton Seafire.” It also notes the island of- fers “an array of culinary op- tions and an unparalleled comfort and ease,” citing Ca- mana Bay as an example. “The Cayman Islands is as sophisticated, well-devel- oped and easy-to-explore a destination as there is in the Caribbean right now,” the magazine says, “and that’s why it’s gotten the No. 1 slot for 2019.” In a news release, tourism minister Moses Kirkconnell was quoted as saying, “I am extremely pleased that the Cayman Islands is the recip- ient of this distinct honour. It is a testament that the future is bright for tourism in 2019.” The release noted that 2018 was on track to be the biggest year ever for over- night tourists, with 410,984 such visitors in the first 11 months of the year. Topping the Caribbean Journal list is the latest ac- colade from the magazine. In 2018, it awarded “Carib- bean Restaurant of the Year” to Blue by Eric Ripert at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Jonathan King Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach is one of the attractions that led Caribbean Journal magazine to place the Cayman Islands on the top of its best Caribbean islands list. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKEThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9, 2019 The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS days, before requesting permission to negotiate a change in policy. Mr. Woods told the Compass there were a number of reasons for the worsening condi- tions at Spotts. He said larger ships were visiting Cayman, meaning there were more passengers disembarking. He said the tender boats had also got larger, meaning only two could fit on each side of the pier at any one time. He said this cre- ated serious delays as the third ship waited for space to berth. “In addition to that, the pier is very narrow and safety with large crowds on it is an issue,” he added. “Having analyzed it all, in the best interest of safety and customer expe- rience, it was the best op- tion,” he said, adding that feedback from all involved, including the cruise lines, had been in favor of the new policy. He said the cargo dock and the North Ter- minal sometimes offered alternate poor weather backup options, but when those were not safe, only two ships selected to use Spotts would be per- mitted to stop. According to the Port Authority, a total of 14 ships, carrying 24,304 pas- sengers, bypassed Grand Cayman, mostly be- cause of weather issues, in December. Mr. Bancroft said “Miss Polly” was just a shell of a boat when he first saw it, but fortunately, there was no rot. After making inquiries, he also found out the boat had been out of commission for seven years and had quite a bit of history attached to it. He first saw the boat in the yard of the late Linton Tibbetts, founder of Cox Lumber, the Brac Beach Re- sort and the Little Cayman Beach Resort. Mr. Tibbetts had bought the glass-bottom boat for his wife Polly, who did not know how to swim, because she wanted to see what the underwater scenery of South Hole Sound looked like. Mr. Tibbetts passed away in 2011, and Polly Tib- betts died in 2016. Mr. Bancroft bought the boat with his savings, salary and tip money he had received from his job at Little Cayman Beach Re- sort’s Beach Nuts Bar. It took him a year to get the boat seaworthy. “I wanted to honor Mr. Tibbetts’s wife and his legacy and to boost tourism on the island,” Mr. Bancroft said. At his Window Bay home, Mr. Bancroft painted the in- side of the boat, repaired the seats, sprayed the railings black, redid the roof railing and covered it with silver thatch palms. A 60 horse- power Yamaha outboard en- gine completed the restora- tion work last August. The boat was launched in Sep- tember 2018. He kept the name “Miss Polly” because it is consid- ered bad luck to change a boat name. “From the beginning of time, sailors would say that the unluckiest or bad luck ships were the ones that had their names changed,” Mr. Bancroft said. Linton Tibbetts behind the wheel of ‘Miss Polly’ in earlier years. Restored glass-bottom boat now Little Cayman tourist vessel our cultural calendar each year. The Ministry looks for- ward to working with the Protocol Office to ensure the 2019 event comes together adeptly and that the pioneers who saw the Coat of Arms in- stated, are duly recognized,” said Minister of Culture Dwayne Seymour. The Celebrate Cayman website outlines how the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms came about. It states: “In 1957, the Commissioner Major Alan H. Donald put forward a proposal for a Coat of Arms for the Cayman Is- lands. This resolution for the Cayman Islands National ‘Arms’ was passed on April 3, 1957, by the local Legis- lative Assembly of Justices and Vestry. “On April 11, 1957, Gov- ernment notice 33/57 was is- sued requesting all interested Caymanians who had ideas on the subject of the prepara- tion of a Coat of Arms for the Cayman Islands to submit ideas with illustrations. “The Commissioner sought the help of The Reverend Ar- thur W Saunders to assist with the creation of our Coat of Arms. Reverend Saunders was an Englishman stationed in Jamaica with the Meth- odist Church in St. Lucea. He was also a member of the Heraldry Society and was as- sociated with the Coat of Arms for the proposed West Indies Federation. James Ford, formerly of the Yacht Club/ Ports of Call, now The Wharf, submitted a design which as- sisted in the formation of the present Coat of Arms for the Cayman Islands. “On Feb. 5, 1958, the Com- missioner formally moved a motion to accept exhibit A as the desired design of the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms. The motion was sec- onded by Vestryman Alfred Lawrence Thompson, [who] was serving as a represen- tative of Prospect. The Royal Warrant signed by Her Maj- esty Queen Elizabeth II on May 14, 1958, assigned these ‘Armorial Ensigns.’” Heroes Day to honor brokers of Coat of Arms A celebratory poster to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms was hung from the Government Administration Building in May 2018. Justices of the Peace and Vestrymen who played a part in the introduction of the Coat of Arms will be honored at this year’s Heroes Day celebrations. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Fewer cruise ships to dock at Spotts CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “ The grant of the Coat of Arms represents the seminal moment that started the chain of events that placed the Cayman Islands on the path to modernity.” PREMIER ALDEN MCLAUGHLIN London’s Heathrow briefly halts flights due to drone report LONDON (AP) – London’s Heathrow Airport briefly halted departing flights on Tuesday after a reported drone sighting – a develop- ment that came just three weeks after multiple reports of drone sightings caused travel chaos at nearby Gat- wick Airport. The suspension of take- offs from Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, was announced shortly be- fore 6 p.m. on Tuesday, a move the airport said was made as a safety precaution. London’s Metropolitan Po- lice said it received a report about a drone “in the vicinity of Heathrow airport” at about 5:05 p.m. Police and airport officials were investigating the reported sighting, which was not confirmed. Flights resumed roughly 90 minutes later. The airport said “based on standard operating pro- cedures, working with Air Traffic Control and the Met Police, we have resumed de- partures out of Heathrow fol- lowing a short suspension.” The temporary depar- ture shutdown at Heathrow follows the pre-Christmas shutdown of London’s Gat- wick Airport for parts of three consecutive days due to dozens of reported drone sightings. The Gatwick clo- sure stranded or delayed more than 100,000 travelers – the worst-ever drone-re- lated disruption at an inter- national airport. The person or persons re- sponsible for the Gatwick drones have not been located and no group has claimed responsibility. British officials used so- phisticated military gear to get Gatwick back in opera- tion, and aviation authorities said that equipment could be deployed at other British airports to deter drone intrusions. A statement by British Transport Secretary Chris Grayling indicated that anti- drone equipment had not yet been put in place at Heathrow. “I have already spoken to both the Home Secretary and Defense Secretary and the mil- itary are preparing to deploy the equipment used at Gatwick at Heathrow quickly, should it prove necessary,” he said. Heathrow Airport is a crossroads for the world, serving 78 million passen- gers in 2017. It hosts 81 air- lines that fly to 204 destina- tions in 85 countries, and its most popular destination is New York. A woman waits in the departures area at Gatwick airport, near London, on Dec. 20, 2018, as the airport remained closed after drones were spotted over the airfield. London’s Heathrow Airport suspended flight departures Tuesday after a reported drone sighting. - PHOTO: AP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 9, 2019 Dutch-based Brits get Brexit grace period The Dutch government says it will let British citizens living in the Netherlands remain in the country for 15 months in the event of a no-deal Brexit, and has offered them the opportunity to apply for residency permits. Turkey slams US request for assurances on Syrian Kurds ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Er- dogan accused the U.S. na- tional security adviser of making “a very serious mis- take” Tuesday by demanding that Ankara guarantee the safety of Kurdish fighters in northeastern Syria before the U.S. withdraws its troops from the war-torn country. “We cannot make any con- cessions in this regard,” Er- dogan said after John Bolton sought assurances of pro- tection for Kurdish forces that fought alongside U.S. troops against the Islamic State group. The Kurds fear an assault by Turkey if the U.S. withdraws. Turkey’s presidential spokesman said Turkey would not seek permission from its allies to conduct a military of- fensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters but was willing to co- ordinate operations. Erdogan said Ankara’s preparations for a new military offensive against what he describes as terror groups in Syria are “to a large extent” complete. Bolton departed Turkey without meeting with Er- dogan, with a spokesman for the U.S. official saying they were told Erdogan cited the local election season and a speech to parliament for not meeting with him. Trump abruptly an- nounced last month he in- tended to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, and the U.S. has sent mixed signals over how soon that would be accomplished. Bolton’s trip to the Mideast was aimed at as- suring allies it would not be done precipitously. But Turkey’s president spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters after talks with Bolton there is no slow- down in the timetable for U.S. withdrawal from Syria. He said U.S. officials have said during their discussions that the withdrawal could take place within “120 days.” Kalin said talks with Bolton focused on how the U.S. would collect the weapons that were given to Kurdish militia fighting Is- lamic States as well as the future of U.S. bases in Syria. He said he handed over two dossiers to Bolton – one on Turkish help to Kurdish pop- ulations in Iraq and Syria, the other on the Kurdish mi- litias’ “criminal activities and human rights violations.” A Bolton spokesman, Gar- rett Marquis, said in a state- ment that Bolton and Turkish officials “had a produc- tive discussion of the Presi- dent’s decision to withdraw at a proper pace from North- east Syria.” But Erdogan, for his part, said Bolton had “made a very serious mistake. Whoever thinks this way is also mis- taken. We cannot make any concession in this regard and those involved in a terror cor- ridor” in Syria would “receive the necessary punishment.” Trump’s shifting timetable for pulling U.S. troops out of Syria has left allies and other players in the region con- fused and jockeying for in- fluence over a withdrawal strategy that appeared to be a work in progress. Trump faced widespread criticism that he was aban- doning the Kurds in the face of Turkish threats. Of- ficials said at the time that although many details of the withdrawal had not yet been finalized, they expected American forces to be out by mid-January. After Bolton announced this week the U.S. pullout would not be as immediate as Trump had initially de- clared, U.S. allies were still seeking clarification from American diplomats. Turkey insists its military actions are aimed at Kurdish fighters in Syria – the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or YPG – whom it re- gards as terrorists, and not against the Kurdish people. That has been Ankara long- time position and Turkey has rejected any role for Kurdish fighters in restoring peace to the war-torn region. Bolton had said the pro- tection of U.S. allies in Syria, including the YPG, was among “the objectives that we want to accomplish that condition the withdrawal” of U.S. forces. Trump had also said that Turkey would step up the fight against the remnants of the Islamic State in Syria, but Bolton said Sunday U.S. troops will eliminate what remains of IS there. Trump on Monday struck back at the perception that his intentions in Syria had changed. “No different from my original statements, we will be leaving at a proper pace while at the same time continuing to fight ISIS and doing all else that is prudent and necessary! …. ” he said in a tweet. Bolton maintained there is no fixed timetable for com- pleting the drawdown, but in- sisted it was not an indefinite commitment to the region. Still, some 200 U.S. troops will remain in the vicinity of al-Tanf, in southern Syria, to counter growing Iranian ac- tivity in the region, he said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, meanwhile, has begun an eight-nation trip of the Middle East. Both he and Bolton are seeking input and support for the specifics of the withdrawal plan, ac- cording to one official, who said U.S. partners were eager for details. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to the media at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday. - PHOTO: APNext >