JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Chief Justice’s plea for more courtrooms to manage a growing number of criminal cases should serve as a “stark warning” that a new approach to Cay- man’s social problems is needed, according to deputy opposition leader Al Suckoo. Responding to Chief Jus- tice Anthony Smellie’s an- nual address, Mr. Suckoo said the issues highlighted by the senior judge showed that government needed to do more to address the un- derlying causes of crime in the Cayman Islands. Justice Smellie said the planned renovation of the Scotiabank building served as the solution to a lack of court space in Cayman. He highlighted a record 147 Grand Court indictments carried over from 2018. He said the 71 cases concluded is about on par for previous years and said new court- rooms were urgently needed. Mr. Suckoo said it was time for government to ad- dress the social conditions contributing to such in- creases in criminality. He ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2019 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY ORIGINAL CHICKEN FRIES NEW CHICKEN FRIES Cayman Cookout fills bellies with mirth The beach haven of Grand Cayman was transformed into the culinary capital of the Caribbean this weekend, when the Cayman Cookout brought a menu of world-class chefs to its shores. Emeril Lagasse, Jose Andres, Andrew Zim- mern and many others joined Eric Ripert in toasting the town and tickling the taste buds of tourists and locals. Mr. Ripert, speaking at Saturday’s Beach Bash at Rum Point, said the five-day event has brought thrills and pleasant memories for its hosts and guests alike. “It’s a great event and the cookout has a life on its own,” said Mr. Ripert, the propri- etor of Blue at The Ritz-Carlton. “As you can see, it’s a lot of good energy. Everybody’s having a good time.” The Cookout started Thursday and wound all the way through Sunday eve- ning’s Great Gala dinner at Blue. Television personality Al Roker, who hosted the Beach Bash on Saturday, said he enjoyed being a part of it. Mr. Roker, a star of NBC’s Today show, said he’s been coming to Cayman for decades but had never been to the Cookout. Mr. Roker said that he first came down to Grand Cayman in 1985, and that there were no food franchises then. Rum Point, he said, was just a few small buildings, as op- posed to what it has become today. “The cuisine on the island has really ex- panded like crazy,” he said. “The world-class cuisine is just really spectacular. I’m just happy to be here. I’ll come down every time someone invites me.” Mr. Ripert said that one tangible change to the Cayman Cookout has been the absence of the late Anthony Bourdain, who loved coming down to Grand Cayman each year. “We are paying homage to his legacy and to his friendship,” Mr. Ripert said. “Tony loved his fans and he loved the Cayman Cookout. He came [10] times. Throughout the festival, we pay homage to him everywhere, and we will do that to the last minute. That will be our ‘Thank You’ to him.” A moment later, Mr. Ripert was asked about the best way to honor Mr. Bourdain. “To drink, smoke, eat and enjoy life,” he said. Community meets to visualize the future Suckoo calls for action to deal with causes of crime SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Dozens of concerned citizens filled the South Sound Community Centre on Sunday for a discussion on visualizing the future of Grand Cayman in 2020. The event, organized by members of the Cruise Port Referendum campaign, brought people together for an update on where the ref- erendum stands and the fu- ture of Cayman’s shoreline. Johann Moxam and Mi- chelle Lockwood issued a welcome to the assembled community members, and Theresa Leacock-Broderick, president of the Cayman Is- lands Tourism Association, read out a statement that in- dicated CITA is taking “a po- sition of neutrality” in ref- erence to the cruise port referendum. Christine Rose-Smyth, the former head of the Na- tional Conservation Council, gave a presentation on en- vironmental impact assess- ments and the National Con- servation Law. Later, the group broke into discussion panels and allowed the as- sembled community mem- bers to ask questions. Polly Pickering of eShore, Paul Rivers and CPR mem- bers Mario Rankin and Ka- trina Jurn spoke about sus- tainable tourism in Cayman, and another group discus- sion centered on coastal her- itage. Finally, Michael Myles of Hope Academy and Mr. Moxam spoke about social and community well-being. Alva Suckoo PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Chef José Andrés makes his grand entrance to the 11th Cayman Cookout aboard a Subsea Odyssey submarine on Friday, as Chef Eric Ripert and guests look on. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 LOCAL®IONAL LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) – Po- lice in Bolivia say a head- on highway collision be- tween two buses has killed at least 22 people and in- jured 37 others. The accident occurred Saturday on the road to Challapata, a town about 155 miles from the main city of La Paz. Col. Freddy Betancur, commander of the police in the central Oruro region, told The Associated Press: “There are seriously injured who have been transferred to the nearest hospitals.” Challapata Mayor Martin Feliciano told the AP that the death toll may rise. A police report said that the accident was due to ex- cessive speed and one of the buses may have driven into the oncoming lane. Deadly bus accidents are common in Bolivia’s highlands where narrow highways sometimes wind through mountain ranges near steep precipices. MONDAY JANUARY 21, 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. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) GLASS (PG13) 12:30 VIP I 4:20 I 6:30 VIP I 9:55 MARY POPPINS RETURNS (PG) 12:40 I 3:35 I 6:30 I 9:25 AQUAMAN (PG13) 1:10 I 3:25 VIP I 6:50 I 9:30 VIP GREEN BOOK (PG13) 1:00 I 3:55 I 6:50 I 9:45 THE UPSIDE (PG13) 1:15 I 4:05 I 7:05 I 9:55 BUMBLEBEE (PG13) 1:45 I 4:15 I 7:15 I 10:00 Cayman National stock price dips to $4 KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com As the Republic Bank Trinidad and Tobago (Bar- bados) Ltd. nears the final- ization of its acquisition of Cayman National Corpora- tion Ltd., the local bank’s stock price has dipped from US$6.25 per share to US$4. Cayman National’s stock was trading at US$3 last August, when Republic Bank unveiled plans to pay US$6.25 per share in an at- tempt to acquire majority ownership in the local bank and its affiliated entities. After the announcement, the price steadily rose over the next several months, reaching a high of US$6.25 on Dec. 21. That price held until Jan. 10, when it fell back to US$4. During shareholder meet- ings late last year, some people said they were selling their Cayman National stock because they were worried about what its price would be after the acquisition was finalized. Cayman National CEO Stuart Dack said it would be speculative to draw any links between the drop in the stock price and the fact that the acquisition is nearly complete. The only defini- tive thing that can be said about the transaction is that someone wanted to sell their stock last week on the Cayman National Stock Ex- change, and US$4 was the price they received. Meanwhile, Republic Bank’s offer to purchase Cayman National shares at US$6.25 is still open until Feb. 1, as the banks wait on regulatory bodies to approve the acquisition. The Dubai Fi- nancial Services Authority – approval from this regulator is required because Cayman National has a branch there, Cayman National (Dubai) Ltd. – signed off the deal last month, but approvals are still required from the Cen- tral Bank of Barbados, the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority, the Cayman Islands government, and the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority. So far, Republic Bank has received acceptances to buy 87.92 percent of the shares of the local bank. Republic Bank is still only initially acquiring 74.99 per- cent of Cayman National, and will determine how much stock it buys from each shareholder in accor- dance with a formula con- tained in its offer circular. Based on that formula, Re- public Bank will buy about 85 percent of the stock from each individual shareholder who accepted the offer – so if a Cayman National stock- holder agreed to sell 1,000 shares, the Republic Bank will actually buy about 850 at this point. Cayman National CEO Stuart Dack said it would be speculative to draw any links between the drop in the stock price and the fact that the acquisition is nearly complete. Colombia blames ELN for bomb, presses Cuba to arrest leaders BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Co- lombia called on Cuba to ar- rest 10 National Liberation Army commanders currently in Havana for stalled peace talks after a car bombing blamed on the leftist rebels killed 21 people and in- jured dozens at a police academy in Bogota. President Ivan Duque said late Friday that he had re- voked a decree suspending arrest orders against leaders of Colombia’s last remaining rebel group, known as the ELN for its Spanish initials, who have been living on the communist-run island. “It’s clear to all of Co- lombia that the ELN has no true desire for peace,” Duque said in a televised address, citing a long list of 400 ter- rorist attacks attributed to the guerrillas since peace talks began in 2017. “We would like to thank the Cuban government for the solidarity it expressed yesterday and today, and we ask that it capture the terror- ists who are inside its terri- tory and hand them over to Colombian police,” he said, adding that no ideology could justify the cruelty of Thurs- day’s attack. Duque’s comments came after authorities claimed that a one-armed ELN explosives expert was the person who carried out the attack, the deadliest in the South Amer- ican nation in 15 years. The shock bombing re- called some of the bloodiest chapters of Colombia’s recent past and has raised tough questions about lingering se- curity threats in the wake of a 2016 peace deal with the larger and far more lethal Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. It would also appear to mark Duque’s return to the law and order platform on which he was elected last year but then somewhat mod- erated once he took office. While Duque stopped short of shutting the door entirely to a negotiated end to decades of fighting with the ELN, he repeated his de- mands that the groups im- mediately cease all attacks and release 16 people it is be- lieved to be holding captive as a condition for restarting stalled talks. He also vowed to condemn any government that pro- vides safe haven to the group – an indirect shot at Vene- zuela, considered by some a valuable rearguard for the clandestine cell that Rojas is accused of belonging to. “Systematic deception and irrational violence have been the constant in three decades of failed talks with the ELN,” said Duque, who earlier in the day fielded phone calls of support from several foreign leaders as well as U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Cuba, which had been sponsoring peace talks and helped broker the historic 2016 deal with the FARC, offered its condolences to Colombia. Cuba’s foreign ministry “will act with strict respect for the Protocols of Dialogue and Peace signed by the Gov- ernment and the ELN, in- cluding the Protocol in Case of a Rupture in Negotia- tions,” wrote foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez. The death toll of 21 made it the worst tragedy since a 2003 car bombing carried out by FARC rebels against an elite Bogota social club that killed 36. It proved es- pecially unsettling because the target, the General Santander police academy, is one of the city’s most pro- tected installations. With the help of secu- rity cameras and fingerprints on his one-remaining hand, investigators were able to quickly identify Rojas and determine that he was the owner and driver of a 1993 Nissan pick-up that was loaded 175 pounds of pento- lite carried out the attack. Defense Minister Guill- ermo Botero said Rojas en- tered the heavily guarded facility via a side entrance used for deliveries, driving fast through a gate opened to allow the exit of a few mo- torcycles. He then maneu- vered into the heart of the leafy campus where the ve- hicle exploded in front of a red tile-roofed barrack used by female cadets just after an honor ceremony had ended. Less than 10 minutes be- fore the blast an unidentified man descended from the ve- hicle at a nearby bus stop – an indication the bomb may have been activated remotely and not an unprecedented suicide bombing as some had initially speculated. Investigators are now trying to determine whether that man is Ricardo Car- vajal, who acknowledged taking part in the attack in phone calls intercepted by police. Carvajal was arrested in a pre-dawn raid in Bogota on Friday in which authori- ties also seized a rebel com- batant manual. The 80-year-old managed to avoid jail after checking into a hospital with heart problems. Deadly bus accidents are common in Bolivia’s highlands where narrow highways sometimes wind through mountain ranges near steep precipices. A man holds a rose in his mouth Friday before placing it on an impromptu memorial outside the General Francisco de Paula Santander Police Academy in Bogota, Colombia, a day after a car bomb exploded at the site killing more than 20 people. – PHOTO: AP PERU MEDICAL BOARD SAYS FUJIMORI FIT TO RETURN TO JAIL LIMA, Peru (AP) – A medical board has determined that former Peruvian strongman Alberto Fujimori is healthy enough to return to jail and finish a long sentence for his role in the killing of 25 people. Former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski pardoned Fujimori on humanitarian grounds in 2017 in what many saw as an attempt to stave off impeachment by courting Fujimori’s allies in Congress. The supreme court last October overturned the pardon. But the 80-year-old managed to avoid jail after checking into a hospital with heart problems. On Friday a judge or- dered Peru’s prison authority to determine which facility is best suited for Fujimori to receive outpatient treatment. Some Peruvians credit Fujimori with defeating Maoist guerrillas during his decade-long rule that ended in 2000. But others condemn him for permit- ting human rights abuses. BOLIVIA BUS COLLISION LEAVES AT LEAST 22 DEAD3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2019 Six months for theft from tourist Defendant used stolen credit card CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man who pleaded guilty to theft from a tourist was sentenced on Thursday to six months imprisonment after Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn said such crimes could af- fect Cayman’s reputation as a first-class tourist destination. Stephen Lamont, 21, pleaded guilty to theft of items from a rental car at Spotts Beach on Dec. 31, 2018. Crown counsel Kerri-Ann Gillies listed those items as including two mobile phones, sunglasses, cash and the credit card. She said the owner of the credit card went to the beach with family members, leaving personal property in the car. When they returned to the vehicle, they saw that a window had been damaged and the prop- erty was missing. The matter was reported to police and the complainant learned from his bank that the credit card had been used four times, three times successfully. Mr. Lamont also pleaded guilty to obtaining prop- erty by deception – using the card without permission to obtain US$25 worth of fuel at a gas station, obtaining items valued at US$113 from one retail store and US$200 from another. He attempted to obtain items valued at $365 from a third store, but that transaction did not go through. All of these offenses occurred on Dec. 31. Ms. Gillies said CCTV footage showed the defendant making purchases at one of the stores with the stolen credit card. Other CCTV footage showed the car he had traveled in being driven from Sham- rock Road to the gas station. Mr. Lamont was apprehended on Jan. 3 and interviewed. He eventually admitted stealing the items and using the credit card. He told police he had had “a rough Christmas” and had not been able to buy anything for his fiancee. Defense attorney John Furniss said the facts as given were not disputed. However, he told the court, his client was concerned be- cause he alleged that it was his brother-in-law who had stolen the items from the tourist’s vehicle. Mr. Lamont had been arrested, his fiancee had been arrested, but not the brother-in-law. He had no information as to whether that individual had been ar- rested or even interviewed. Mr. Furniss urged the court to say that Mr. Lamont had played a lesser role in the theft. He had driven the other man from the scene and had used the credit card, but it was the other man who in- stigated the offense and took possession of the other stolen property. Items obtained with the credit card had been re- covered when police searched the premises where Mr. Lamont was arrested. His fiancée has been charged with handling stolen property, Mr. Furniss indi- cated. She had been willing to pay compensation on Mr. Lamont’s behalf, but she had a low-paying job and was not in a realistic position to make any payment at this time. The defendant was de- scribed as a Jamaican na- tional who had been on work permit as a landscaper, but his permit had been canceled. The magistrate asked what the total loss was to the complainant, calculating the amount to equal just over CI$2,100. She said thefts from tour- ists had become more preva- lent in these islands, so sen- tences had to deter other would-be offenders because of the impact on the tourist industry and the economy in general. The starting point had to be 12 months, she agreed. The magistrate accepted that Mr. Lamont had played a lesser role in the theft and he had no previous convic- tions. On this basis, she re- duced 12 months to nine months, then gave him a one- third discount for his guilty pleas, which she said was the strongest argument in his favor. For obtaining by decep- tion and the attempt, she im- posed concurrent sentences. She pointed out that there were many people in the world who suffered finan- cial hardship and struggled to put food on the table, but they did not resort to crime. Buying gifts was a want, not a need, she said and did not attract any discount. The magistrate did not order compensation. She said this might cause financial hardship to the holder of the credit card, but it was clear Mr. Lamont had no means to pay. His fiancee had been charged, but remained inno- cent while her matter was still before the court, so it was inappropriate to order her to pay compensation. She also noted that she had not been asked to make any recommendation for de- portation, so the defendant’s immigration status was a matter for him to deal with. Ms. Gillies advised that a charge of damage to the rental car was not being proceeded with against Mr. Lamont, given his denial of that offense but guilty pleas to the others. The magistrate pointed out that there were many people in the world who suffered financial hardship and struggled to put food on the table, but they did not resort to crime. A Jamaican national has been jailed for making purchases using a stolen credit card.BERLIN – Armin-Paulus Hampel, a former journalist and commentator who now is a member of the Bund- estag, is ebullient, affable, opinionated, voluble and ex- cellent company at lunch. But because his party is Alterna- tive for Germany, one won- ders whether he is represen- tative of it, and whether he is as congenial politically as he is socially. AfD is a Rorschach test for observers of German politics, who see in it either a recru- descence of ominous national tendencies or a healthy re- sponse of the political market to unaddressed anxieties. It was founded in 2013, two years before Chancellor An- gela Merkel impulsively de- cided to welcome almost a million asylum seekers, most from the Middle East. The na- tion was abruptly challenged to become a melting pot at a moment when there was in- creasing interest in recap- turing a sense of Germanness. Politics usually is grounded in grievances, and Hampel nurses AfD’s origi- nating complaint, which was that Germany’s role under the EU’s common currency has been to bail out slothful, spendthrift Greeks and other southern Europeans. In this, AfD resembles America’s tea party movement, which was a spontaneous combus- tion in response to TARP (the Troubled Asset Relief Pro- gram), the bailout of banks and of people with improvi- dent mortgages. AfD is strongest where re- sentments are deepest – in what was, until 1990, East Germany. There, change has come fast and hard, and in- comes are still significantly below those in the rest of Ger- many, which was spared im- mersion in socialism. AfD has populism’s hostility to the disruptions and homogeniza- tion that accompany global- ization. Hence AfD partakes of populism’s failure to will the means for the ends it wills: Globalization is not optional for any developed nation, least of all Germany, which on a per capita basis exports roughly four times more than the United States and 10 times more than China. Hampel, who sits on the Bundestag’s foreign rela- tions committee, is, to say no more, understanding of Russia’s ongoing aggres- sion against Ukraine, which he says has long been cen- tral to Russian identity, has many ethnic Russians, and so on. He suggests that Rus- sia’s behavior in its sphere of influence is none of Germa- ny’s business. His views on this – call it “Germany first” – can be wrong without being disreputable. However, given what is known about Rus- sian meddling in other na- tions’ domestic politics, it would be reassuring to know that AfD receives no Russian subventions. Three years ago, hackers working for Russia penetrated the Bundestag’s computer network. Edmund Burke, founding father of modern conserva- tism, said, “To be attached to the subdivision, to love the little platoon we belong to in society, is the first principle (the germ as it were) of public affections.” He meant that national patriotism sprouts from local soil, from the rich loam of civil society’s com- munitarian institutions such as families, churches, labor unions, clubs, service organi- zations, etc. But as the Euro- pean Union moves, more im- placably than democratically, toward ever-deepening “har- monization” of national polit- ical practices and economic policies, populist movements recoil by embracing Europe’s nations themselves as the little platoons, the molec- ular subdivisions that focus affections. The Economist maga- zine diagnoses many devel- oped nations’ discontents as “an outbreak of nostalgia,” an “orgy of reminiscence” that serves as “an anchor in a world being transformed” and a “source of reassur- ance and self-esteem.” In Germany, however, nostalgia is, for reasons as painful as they are obvious, still prob- lematic, even presumptively disreputable. When an AfD election party concluded with partic- ipants singing the national anthem, many scolds consid- ered this transgressive. It is, however, dangerous for a na- tion to detect danger in ex- pressions of national pride, or in the search for a national identity beyond economic success. Suppress expres- sions of national pride and you risk reaping a curdled version of pride. A premise of postwar German politics has been that there should be no party to the right of the Christian Democratic Union. There is now, and AfD is the largest opposition party in the Bund- estag. Hampel considers AfD the “natural successor” to the CDU, which has gov- erned Germany for 50 of the last 70 years. His measured judgment is that Germany can have an AfD chancellor in 2023. Then the party will be just 10 years old. How- ever, America’s Republican Party was just 6 years old when it won the presidency. But in 1860 the American na- tion was coming apart in an irrepressible conflict, while stable, temperate Germany will not be unraveling four years from now. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2019, Washington Post Writers Group The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 The show went on over the weekend, as epicures flocked to break bread with some of the world’s best chefs at the peerless Cayman Cookout. In its 11-year run, the event has earned its place as one of world’s most celebrated gastronomic gath- erings, drawing guests from the world over and fea- turing an A-list lineup of culinary superstars. This year, that included José Andrés, Andrew Zimmern, Emeril Lagasse, Dominique Crenn, Amanda Cohen, Emma Bengtsson and Nancy Silverton. Hosted by Chef Eric Ripert, head of New York City’s Le Bernardin restaurant and the guiding hand at our very own Ritz-Carlton’s Blue by Eric Ripert, the Cayman Cookout is particularly well-known for its intimate gatherings, where one can, for example, dine on Chef Lagasse’s own shrimp remoulade and, a mere 24 hours later, join Blue’s Chef de Cuisine Thomas Seifried for a Caviar Lunch. This year’s participants sampled from a generous menu of more than 50 events, including tastings, demonstrations, parties and experiences – a mix of old and new presentations from talents both local and exotic – capped off by the Great Gala itself. As always, Grand Cayman’s beaches, breezes and crystal waters were the secret ingredients to the annual event’s success. Whether raising a glass for a good cause at the Jacques Scott wine fair and auction, exploring the wild side of Cayman’s local foods with celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern, sipping under the stars at After Glow or, of course, sinking toes in the sand at the festival’s signature Barefoot BBQ, guests were treated to a uniquely Cayman experience. Sorely missed this year was longtime Cookout headliner Anthony Bourdain, whose death last June of an apparent suicide saddened all who were familiar with his good humor and welcoming person- ality. As Mr. Bourdain so poetically phrased it at last year’s event, “The ability to eat someone else’s food, to reach a hand across the table, is essential. When you give someone food, you’re doing something that your mother did; you’re nurturing another.” But although the Cayman Cookout wrapped up on Sunday, the final dishes washed and put away, foodies do not have long to wait for their next opportunity, as Saturday (January 26) brings the return of Taste of Cayman to the Festival Green at Camana Bay. What started as a friendly chili cookoff 30 years ago has grown into a smorgasbord of culinary temp- tations, with Cayman’s own stellar chefs, bakers and mixologists in charge of the show. Thousands are expected to attend this year to sample drinks and noshes on offer from more than 45 restaurants, to cheer for their favorites in Heavy Cake and Mixology competitions, learn a thing or two in cooking classes, or simply soak up live music and family fun. Please accept our invitation to visit the Pinnacle Media/Flava magazine tent – we are longtime sponsors – and take a turn on our “prize wheel.” Big fun, big prizes! These two wintertime events are more than mere threads in our island’s social fabric. They are evidence of our culinary community’s commitment to preserving our islands’ status as the culinary capital of the Caribbean. – EDITORIAL – Cayman’s ‘recipe’ for success with culinary events Opinion & Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS A Rorschach test for Germany’s politics GEORGE F. WILL A premise of postwar German politics has been that there should be no party to the right of the Christian Democratic Union. There is now, and AfD is the largest opposition party in the Bundestag.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2019 CUSTOMER NOTICE Paramount Carpet will be closed to facilitate Inventory Count From January 24th through the 26th, 2019 and on Monday January 28th to observe the National Heroes’ Day Holiday We will reopen on Tuesday January 29th at 7.30 A.M. We appreciate your patronage and apologize for any inconvenience caused by our closure. Cayman delegation returns from ‘engagement’ tour of Europe A Cayman government delegation finished a series of more than a dozen meet- ings in Belgium, France and Germany last week before heading to New York to at- tend the Cayman Finance Breakfast Seminar. Premier Alden McLaughlin, Minister of Fi- nancial Services Tara Rivers, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin and the Cayman del- egation met with members of the Cabinets of Pierre Mosco- vici, the EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Af- fairs, Taxation and Customs; and Valdis Dombrovskis, EU Commissioner for Financial Services and Capital Markets. The delegation also met with Emer Traynor, deputy head of unit at the Director General of Taxation and Cus- toms Union and representa- tives of the European Union Code of Conduct Group, in- cluding the group’s chair Fabrizia Lapecorella, who joined by telephone. The Code of Conduct Group is charged with as- sessing jurisdictions to de- termine whether they po- tentially have tax regimes that are harmful to EU member states. The discussions focused on the commitments made by the Cayman Islands and the jurisdiction’s intention of continuing to meet all in- ternational global standards. This included Cayman’s re- cently passed legislation to address any concerns over a lack of substance of com- panies that are tax-resi- dent in Cayman. Ms. Lapecorella noted that she was aware of the excel- lent cooperation and engage- ment by the Cayman Islands, the Premier’s Office said in a press release. Cayman’s new substance legislation, and that of other offshore financial centers, is still being assessed by the Commission. The Code of Conduct group on business taxation is scheduled to discuss the sub- stance measures passed by low-tax jurisdictions, during its next meeting on Jan. 30. If the measures are deemed insufficient, juris- dictions could be blacklisted ahead of EU finance minis- ters’ meeting on Feb. 12. “Whilst the EU delega- tion were not at this stage able to provide any insight on whether the Cayman Is- lands had passed muster and would avoid being black- listed, they did not mention anything glaring that has so far concerned them,” Premier McLaughlin said. “However, we are taking no chances. The extensive engagement throughout the week in Europe, at the EU level as well as with repre- sentatives of several member states, including the influ- ential French and Germans, was important to help ensure that those in the EU Commis- sion, and in some Member States, who decide on these things, or who make recom- mendations to the decision makers, understand fully that we take our role as an international finance center seriously and that we will continue to adhere to the evolving international stan- dards. It also assisted in a better understanding on where some states were in their thinking,” he said. In Brussels, the delegation also met with the permanent representatives of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Nether- lands, Romania and Spain. In the meeting with the Netherlands, the premier and minister raised concerns re- garding the blacklist that was recently issued by the Netherlands government, in particular the lack of en- gagement before the list was published, and the rationale for including the Cayman Is- lands on the list. In France, Cayman’s gov- ernment held talks with Gael Perraud, deputy director of International Taxation and European Affairs, as well as with senior representatives of Secretariat General on Euro- pean Affairs. The Secretariat is a department of the prime minister and deals with sev- eral matters including taxa- tion and the OECD. “We have been directly engaging with the EU for al- most two years, both at the technical as well as the po- litical level, including some five visits by myself to Brus- sels and three for the pre- mier,” Minister Rivers said. “We have worked with fi- nancial services partners at home in crafting the legisla- tion, and I am proud of the work we have done and for the support of Industry. In addition, we have consulted with the EU along the way to ensure that the elements that they were seeking to be in legislation were present. In short, we are collectively doing what we can to main- tain a vibrant financial ser- vices business for years to come,” she said. Governor to accompany government officials at financial services meetings Governor Martyn Roper is scheduled to travel to New York on Monday to at- tend a series of events with U.S. financial services asso- ciations, including Cayman Finance’s breakfast briefing on Tuesday. Mr. Roper will join Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin, Fi- nancial Services Minister Tara Rivers, Attorney Gen- eral Samuel Bulgin and Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Managing Director Cindy Scotland. The Cayman Finance breakfast briefing will pro- vide attendees with an over- view of the industry, in- cluding a review of 2018 and a look forward to 2019. Following the breakfast briefing, the governor will at- tend a roundtable event on reinsurance, also hosted by Cayman Finance. The delegation for this event will be made up of a small number of representa- tives from Cayman Finance member firms and rein- surers from the U.S. market, as well as other reinsurance stakeholders. “I was very pleased to be invited to attend Cayman Fi- nance’s meetings in New York. In my short time in Cayman I have already heard so much about the efficiency and professionalism of the Fi- nancial Services industry and its global impact. I welcome Cayman Finance’s proactive approach to collaborating with government in order to achieve lasting success for the industry,” Mr. Roper said of the upcoming meetings. “The U.K. continues to work closely with the Cayman Islands Government to ensure that the industries’ interests are protected. I hope by attending the New York meetings I can help to dem- onstrate my personal support for the industry and also that of the United Kingdom.” The Cayman Finance breakfast is scheduled to be held from 8-10 a.m. Monday at the Harvard Club of New York City. For more information, email events@caymanfinance.ky. POST-MORTEM CONFIRMS CHILD DROWNING Detectives have confirmed there are “no suspicious cir- cumstances” surrounding the death of a 22-month- old baby found dead in the water off East End earlier this month. A post-mortem examina- tion on the child victim, con- ducted by a pediatric pathol- ogist, confirmed drowning as the cause of death. According to a statement from the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service, “The Po- lice investigation into this matter has not yet concluded, however, there are no sus- picious circumstances at this time.” Police responded to a re- port of a missing child in East End just after 6 p.m. on Jan. 4. When police arrived at the scene, they were informed the child had been found by a family member along the shoreline. Detectives are appealing to anyone who may have seen anything that evening to contact either Inspector Kevin Ashworth, head of the Family Support Unit, at kevin.ashworth@rcips.ky or the George Town Police Station at 949-4222. Anonymous tips can be submitted directly to police or through Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS) or online. Premier Alden McLaughlin, Financial Services Minister Rivers and Attorney General Sam Bulgin meet with Gael Perraud, deputy director of International Taxation and European Affairs, second from left.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman Cookout fills bellies with mirth Not much pirating, but plenty of rum Other than the couple wearing pirate hats and a roomful of hearty “Arrr!”s at the end of Friday’s “Rum: How to be a Pirate in 60 min- utes” session, there was little swashbuckling in mixolo- gist Charles Joly’s tutorial on rum drinks. Nevertheless, the crowd at Mr. Joly’s session did not seem to care. They were learning about rum – and other spirits – and enjoying a lesson on how to mix their own drinks. Mr. Joly, who has won the James Beard Award along with Outstanding Bartender of the Year, and who expects to mix 8,000 cocktails at the Academy Awards’ Governors Ball in February, showed at- tendees how to properly stir, mull and garnish while pro- moting the attributes of a good rum. The combination of rum, lime and sugar is the basis for a number of cocktails, he said, as he detailed how to create a proper rum mojito. “We should have the same expectation of the liquid in our glass as we do for the food on our plates,” he said. With an enthusiastic “Arrr!” the crowd seemed to agree. Rain or shine A half-hour-long deluge of rain interrupted the Cayman Cookout’s Barefoot Barbecue on Friday at the Royal Palms, causing some food stands to close earlier than last year. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm of many attendees remained undampened by the down- pour, and they continued to party into the late evening, enjoying gourmet food, cham- pagne and drinks. A DJ and a fireworks display added to the entertainment. Few seemed happier than chef Bernard Guillas, who runs the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club restaurant near San Diego, California. Mr. Guillas once again prepared his signature dish of whole snapper or grouper baked in a pastry and then flambéed on an open grill. “It’s a great time to share a great passion with pas- sionate people from all over the world,” Mr. Guillas said of the Cayman Cookout. First-time attendees Mi- chelle Soderquist and Ram Meng, both from Denver, Colorado, were drenched from the rain, but said the event had exceeded their expectations. “It’s amazing,” Ms. Soder- quist said. “People are so nice and the food is amazing.” Ms. Meng, who said she has attended other culinary festivals, said she was en- joying the atmosphere of the Cookout events. “This is more intimate,” she said. “It’s more laid-back. We sat with Jose [Andres] on the beach. “ “It’s above and beyond what we thought it would be,” Ms. Soderquist said. Journalists Mark Muckenfuss, Kayla Young and Spencer Fordin contributed to this story. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Westin team poses with some stylish roast pigs at Flavours of Cayman. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Thomas Tennant shares some finger food at Flavours of Cayman - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Chef José Andrés puts on a show as he shares his paella secrets. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Culinary fans enjoy the annual Beach Bash at Rum Point. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Chef Emeril Lagasse entertains the crowd. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Cheeses and other culinary delights await guests at the Barefoot BBQ at Royal Palms. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE General Manger of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Marc Langevin and host of NBC’s ‘Today’ show Al Roker at the Beach Bash - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Chef Bernard Guillas entices guests at the Barefoot BBQ. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2019 Please be advised there will be no newspaper on Monday, January 28th, National Heroes Day (public holiday) For more information call 949.5111 or email sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com HEROES 2019 DAY NATIONAL CELEBRATE THE STAFF OF PINNACLE MEDIA WISHES EVERYONE A SAFE HOLIDAY EDITION DEADLINE Monday, January 28th NO PUBLICATION (CLOSED) Tuesday, January 29th Wednesday, January 23rd Wednesday, January 30th Thursday, January 24th Thursday, January 31st Friday, January 25th Friday, February 1st Tuesday, January 29th Chef José Andrés reflects on charity work, loss of Bourdain MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Chef José Andrés said his World Central Kitchen is serving meals to furloughed government workers in Washington D.C., for the same reason it’s feeding asylum seekers in Ti- juana, Mexico. “It’s hungry people,” Mr. Andrés said, taking a break on Friday, just before the start of Cayman Cook- out’s Barefoot Barbecue at the Royal Palms. “What I’m doing in D.C. right now is what we’re doing around the world. You need to pro- vide for others. We be- lieve in longer tables and shorter walls.” The star chef has been part of the Cayman Cookout event for the past 11 years, serving up signature dishes while puffing on an al- most ever-present cigar and making sure he has a good time. On Friday night, he joined the stage band during its performance, grabbing a microphone and repeatedly chanting to the dancing crowd such things as, “I don’t see you jumping!” and “Who loves Eric Ripert?” His charitable organiza- tion first received recogni- tion for its work in Puerto Rico after the island was devastated by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. What started as a relief ef- fort with 20 cooks grew into an organization with 25,000 volunteers, Mr. Andrés said. More than 4 million meals have been served to storm survivors, he added. Since then, World Cen- tral Kitchen has popped up post-disaster in places such as Indonesia, North Caro- lina, Guatemala and Cali- fornia, where recent wild- fires displaced thousands of people. Overall, Mr. Andrés said, more than 9 million meals have been served by the organization. “I’m happy we’re able to make a difference one plate at a time,” he said. “We feel we’ve learned now that we can come any- where and help.” That includes Cayman, should the need arise. “I hope we never see another hurricane come through Cayman,” he said. “But if it does, we’ll be here supporting the people of this island. You were there for us in the good times and we will be there for you in the bad times.” Mr. Andrés said he and his fellow chefs are struggling with their own bad time this year. Chef and television star An- thony Bourdain, who was a Cayman Cookout fixture from its inception, took his life in 2018. Each year, Mr. An- dres said, he, Mr. Bour- dain and chef Eric Ripert – founder of the Cookout – would walk together down the beach from The Ritz- Carlton to the Royal Palms for the Barefoot Barbecue. “We’ve always walked the beach, the three amigos,” he said. On Friday, it was just himself and Mr. Ripert. “We walked and cele- brated him,” he said. “He al- ways made us feel the world was a much smaller place.” Mr. Bourdain’s presence still hangs over the event, he said. And he feels his late friend may have shown up a couple of times. At an event earlier in the day, Friday, Mr. Andrés held a cooking class where he demonstrated making the Spanish seafood dish, pa- ella. At the end of the ses- sion, he said, a blackbird landed on the table where the paella was sitting and helped itself to a bite. “Eric said, maybe that was Tony,” Mr. Andrés said with a smile. More convincing to him, was finding a sea- horse while on a dive in front of The Ritz-Carlton. Seeing a seahorse is rare and this one was in an un- usual place, he said. He im- mediately thought about his daughter. “Her dream was to see a seahorse,” Mr. Andrés said. The following day, they went diving together in the same spot. “We found the sea- horse again and were able to take a picture. Maybe the spirit of Tony was in the seahorse.” Mr. Andrés’s charity work led to a nomination this past year for the Nobel Peace Prize, but he shrugs off the accolade, saying he knows many others more worthy of such recognition. “I don’t think much about it,” he said. “I’ve got enough love and enough recognition. I don’t need more recogni- tion. The world is full of amazing heroes. “I did my little part be- cause I had the ways and the means,” he said. “If I can give back a fraction of what I got, I’m very happy.” “ What I’m doing in D.C. right now is what we’re doing around the world. You need to provide for others. We believe in longer tables and shorter walls.” CHEF JOSÉ ANDRÉS Spanish-American Chef José Andrés is known just as much for his talent in the kitchen as for his ability to put on a great show. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Chef José Andrés makes his grand entrance at Seven Mile Beach aboard a yellow submarine. - PHOTOS: STEPHEN CLARKE Chef José Andrés and his organization World Central Kitchen have taken on feeding those in need in Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., among other locations.8 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS Chef Andrew Zimmern digs into Cayman cuisine and culture JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com For the man who has made a career out of eating strange, bizarre or downright weird foods, the lineup of Cayman’s culinary flavors on the Great Lawn of The Ritz- Carlton on Friday was a gas- tronomical delight. Andrew Zimmern, the American celebrity chef and TV host who has captivated millions around the world with his “Bizarre Foods” se- ries on the Travel Channel, hosted the Flavours of Cayman event as part of the five-day Cayman Cookout. Chef Zimmern proved to be a charming, down-to- earth guy who just likes to eat and meet new people. From the age of five, he said, he watched his father get adventurous with foods. In 1966, his father took him to Chinatown, and he had his first chicken foot. He said his obsession for weird foods started there. He shared stories from his international culinary encounters and his obses- sion with weird foods with chefs from restaurants across Cayman and over 200 guests. Mr. Zimmern made his way through food stalls fea- turing some of Cayman’s top chefs and culinary de- lights with Pinnacle Media’s own Vicki Wheaton and Slow Food Cayman’s Alan Mar- koff in tow. Among the dishes served were Cayman Cabana’s turtle stew and marinated conch and Kirk Market’s rabbit rundown with dump- lings. At the Kaibo booth, he tried squid ink cracker and at chef Thomas Tennant’s booth, green iguana. “Iguana is delicious,” he said, referring in par- ticular to the green curry with dumplings. Chef Zim- mermn also tried Grand Old House’s braised conch cooked on a Kamado Joe grill, and the Wharf’s fried pressed veal head. Cayman Cabana owner Luigi Moxam bragged about Cayman’s national dish, turtle stew, cooked by his wife Christina. He informed chef Zim- mern that locals are picky about how turtle should be cooked, and that many parts of the animal, such as the fin, lungs, liver and kidney are enjoyed by locals. “What is phenomenal about turtle that people do not know, is that, like pigs, it has dozens of muscles in its body, some of which taste much different from the others. Turtle has nine dif- ferent flavors in its muscles. It’s incredible. It has very dark meat in some places and very light meat in others and it’s an extraordinary flavor,” Mr. Zimmern said. Chef Zimmern said he cannot eat enough turtle. “I love it,” he exclaimed. He gave Mrs. Moxam the thumbs up for cooking turtle on the bone. “If you are visiting here, write down the restaurant names and go and visit them. Keep the local restau- rant community vibrant and alive. Culture in this part of the world is so impor- tant to support. It’s the eco- nomic driver of tourism,” Mr. Zimmern said. He complimented Kirk Market’s rabbit rundown with dumplings. “It’s so per- fectly cooked, just the right amount of heat, thyme and the sauce is fantastic, and those wonderful little dump- lings in there – just heaven,” he said, adding that a home- made hot, pickled-vege- table relish accompanying the rabbit dish elevated the whole experience. Joao Baptist Fernandes, head chef at Kirk Market, said he was very proud of what Mr. Zimmern had to say about the dish. Chef Zimmern also had high praise for Filipino cui- sine, saying people needed to take in the vibrancy of the flavors. Taking a seat on stage with Ms. Wheaton and Mr. Markoff, Chef Zimmern an- swered questions about his compulsion to eat weird foods and travel the world. A fan was curious what surprised him about some of the foods he liked or disliked. Chef Zimmern said no particular dish came to mind, but to give each dish a chance and “not judge a book by its cover.” He said he’d gone into small, humble homes in re- mote parts of small countries and had been impressed with their welcome, their kindness and hospitality. He said he usually cannot wait to get home to try cooking dishes he finds on his trips. Andrew Zimmern, right, speaks with fans during a question-and-answer session facilitated by Vicki Wheaton and Alan Markoff. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Chef Andrew Zimmern enjoys a personalized treat from Luca. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY The Ritz-Carlton Great Lawn hosts chefs from across Cayman, who showed off their skills for Chef Andrew Zimmern. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Andrew Zimmern hosts ‘The Late Night Show’ on Saturday. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKEThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY JANUARY 21, 2019 Study shows health of Cayman reefs declining SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new report conducted by the Central Caribbean Marine Institute indicates that overall coral health and coral size have significantly decreased in Grand Cayman waters over the last 20 years. The report, conducted in cooperation with the Depart- ment of Environment and the National Trust, is the third study done by CCMI over the last 20 years. Katie Cor- reia, the science education manager at CCMI, shared the findings at a meeting at the South Sound Community Centre on Sunday. Ms. Correia indicated that the report is awaiting formal publication, but has been ap- proved by the DoE. CCMI’s first baseline study was conducted in 1998, and it found that 20 percent of coral reefs were healthy. Ms. Correia said that means that they had increased stony coral cover, healthy corals, low disease, low predation, high amounts of herbivores and lots of Apex predators. Twenty years later, Ms. Correia said, only 17 per- cent of Cayman’s reefs are healthy. That is a reduction from the previous study, but still well above the global average of stony coral cover, which is less than 10 percent. But the study also found an increase in coral of poor health. Twenty years ago, only four percent of reefs were in poor health, but today that number is eight percent. “If you don’t think four percent is significant,” Ms. Correia said, “Think doubling it.” The survey also mapped out the average size of coral around Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands, and it found that coral size is re- ducing all around, but only at a statistically significant rate in Grand Cayman. The original baseline study found that the av- erage stony coral size in Grand Cayman was 40 cen- timeters in diameter in 1999, and today it is 34 centime- ters. Smaller stony coral means less places for fish and aquatic animals to hide and more surface area for algae to grow. “That may not seem like a large proportion of a coral,” said Ms. Correia of the dif- ference in coral sizes, “But when you go out on a survey and you’re surveying thou- sands of corals and they’re all significantly smaller, it makes a difference in a reef over time.” Finally, the report found that in 1999 there was 50 percent macroalgae cover. Today, that has increased to 60 percent. That is a 20 per- cent increase from the first study to the third. Ms. Correia urged the au- dience at South Sound Com- munity Center to make a dif- ference in any way they can and to help ensure that fu- ture generations have ac- cess to Grand Cayman’s pris- tine waters. “Everyone has a different story, but everyone can help,” she said. “Small efforts make a huge difference when a community comes together about something that you’re passionate about.” Graphs and statistics help demonstrate a decline in reef health over the last 20 years. Katie Correia, the science education manager at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute, gives a presentation on local coral reef health on Sunday. – PHOTOS: SPENCER FORDIN A cross section of concerned Cayman citizens attend the meeting at the South Sound Community Centre on Sunday. – PHOTOS: SPENCER FORDIN Mario Rankin and Katrina Jurn of the Cruise Port Referendum campaign speak at the South Sound Community Centre on Sunday. Mr. Rankin said that the cruise port petition has received signa- tures somewhere in the “high 4,000s” of the 5,280 needed to trigger a ref- erendum. Mr. Rankin emphasized the need to protect local businesses and the local shoreline, and he said the tourism industry should be fo- cused on stay-over visitors, who make up about 20 percent of tour- ists in Cayman and 80 percent of tourism revenue. “It’s really unfortunate we have emphasized building a port where we don’t need a port,” Mr. Rankin said. “We can talk about all the statistics and all the benefits and all the dollars derived from tourism, but if the very thing that attracts tourism is jeopar- dized, then none of that is relevant.” Community meets to visualize the future Suckoo calls for action to deal with causes of crime highlighted a private mem- bers’ motion he had brought calling for a study on the root causes of crime and the bar- riers faced by Caymanians in moving from one socioeco- nomic strata to the next. He said the ultimate aim of the study would be the “cre- ation of policies and initia- tives” to address these issues. “Far too many people are not earning enough to sustain themselves and their families, many are not sufficiently ed- ucated and trained to be able to secure adequate wages, and far too many are turning to criminality,” he said. He said a new approach was called for. “What is needed is a rad- ical shift in thinking and in our approach. We can no longer simply react in an ad hoc fashion to every problem that is thrown at us.” He said more court- rooms and a bigger prison were not the long-term solu- tion, and urged government to do more to deal with the causes of crime. Other social advocates have previously highlighted the number of reports that already exist but have not been implemented. Govern- ment’s former at-risk youth officer Michael Myles told the Cayman Compass in an interview last year that the solution had already been spelled out in multiple re- ports. But he said there had been little follow through from government. He highlighted three re- ports, in particular – “In- quiry into the Causes of So- cial Breakdown and Violence Among Youth in the Cayman Islands (2001),” “Pre-dis- posing Factors of Criminality in the Cayman Islands (2006)” and the “IPAC Report: Re- view of the Assessment and Treatment of Criminal Of- fenders in the Cayman Is- lands” – as providing a clear blueprint to address the root causes of crime. The key recommendations from those reports were con- solidated by Mr. Myles in a 2015 memo, compiled at the behest of the National Secu- rity Council following two murders early that year. Programs earmarked for implementation include a youth diversion and early in- tervention program for young people involved in petty crime, a community par- enting program and a na- tional youth database for sharing information on all at-risk youth with police, social services and educa- tion leaders. Other needs include tran- sitional housing for youth coming out of care, improved mental health services in schools and in the commu- nity, and halfway houses for adults leaving Northward Prison, he said. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1Next >