FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 2 019 CAYMAN COMP ASS Muzaic celebrates local musical talent Five events in fou r days held at multiple ve nues B3 ■ON STAGE ‘Educating Rita’ Award-winning play opens at Prospe ct Playhouse this weekend. B2 CAYMAN WEEKENDER ‘Educating Rita’ EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 RECOGNIZING AND HOPEFULLY ENCOURAGING ALL AT BEACON FARMS High of 84 Low of 74 Slight with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 2019 $ 3 99 M EAL D EALS MONDAY - SATURDAY 9pcs MIXED , 2 Sides & 5 BISCUITS NEW FAMILY SUNDAY A beacon of hope for recovering addicts JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com At Beacon Farms, the workday starts with a 12-step meeting. A small group musters under the timber frame of the makeshift break room to reaf- firm their commitment to staying sober. Then they get to work, operating the backhoes that sculpt the ever-changing landscape, running the reverse osmosis ir- rigation system or tending the unusual va- riety of crops at this self-styled “idea farm.” The 34-acre property in Frank Sound is growing into a fully functioning agricul- tural operation that aims eventually to pro- duce everything from livestock feed and coconut oil to Cayman’s first homegrown, premium cigar. But its real business is recovery. The mission, says Bud Volinsky, the farm’s executive director, is not just to tend CAYMAN UPBEAT AT NEW YORK BRIEFING Premier Alden McLaughlin told the more than 150 attendees at the 6th An- nual Cayman Finance New York Break- fast Briefing on Tuesday that Cayman remains bullish about the prospects of financial services business in the jurisdiction. The premier, along with Governor Martyn Roper, Financial Services Min- ister Tara Rivers and Attorney General Samuel Bulgin attended the briefing, which is hosted each year by Cayman Finance to give member firms and as- sociates the opportunity to learn more about developments in the Cayman fi- nancial services industry. For more on this story, see page 6. IMMIGRATION REFORMS COME INTO FORCE NEXT WEEK JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Provision for temporary work permits and seasonal permits for tourism industry workers are included in the regulations to the Cayman Islands’ new immigration legislation. The laws, passed last year to establish the new Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman agency and merge aspects of customs and immigration into a single border control unit, come into force on Feb. 1. WORC will be responsible for vetting work permit applications and ensuring fair access to job opportunities for Caymanians. The Immigration (Transitions) Bill, 2018, which establishes WORC, had caused some concern in the business community as it did not include temporary work permits – con- sidered an essential tool to fill vacancies in a timely manner. The provision is included in the regulations to the bill, however. Businesses can apply to the director of WORC for temporary permits of up to six months. The regulations also include a category of temporary permits for “seasonal workers” employed in the tourism, hospitality or water sports industries during the peak season. For those workers, eight-month permits are available. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » Bud Volinsky and Derik Feher, of Beacon Farms, where recovering addicts are experimenting with crops, including tobacco, as part of a rehabilitation program. - PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Master cigar roller Barbara Garcia rolls premium cigars at the Bodden Town store. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 »2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cimboco - A Caribbean Café 94-PASTA (947-2782) Located in the Marquee Plaza The Long Weekend! Brunch & Breakfast till 3pm Saturd a y, Sund a y & Holiday Monday! 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 Race head of safety Simon Barwick leads a training sessions for the teams involved. - PHOTOS: AMY STRZALKO Kiteboarders raise $120K ahead of race JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Kiteboarders have raised more than $120,000 for the Cayman Islands Cancer So- ciety ahead of an epic 82-mile race from Little Cayman to Grand Cayman. The Estera Little Grand Race will see relay teams and individual boarders make the challenging ocean crossing next month. With the race scheduled some time between Feb. 18 and 24, depending on wind and sea conditions, the ath- letes involved are stepping up their training. Teams will be out on the water over the weekend re- hearsing safety drills and building stamina ahead of the race. The ocean crossing is ex- pected to take around eight hours to complete. Though the official course distance is 82 miles, kiteboarders tack and jibe with the wind, like sailing boats, meaning the actual distance traveled will be significantly longer. Amy Strzalko, a member of the organizing board and one of the kiteboarders plan- ning to sail the full distance, said the race was unique. Ms. Strzalko, who com- pleted the course in 2016, the first and only time the event has been held, said it was a physical and mental chal- lenge being out on the open ocean for so long. “It can be pretty scary being out in eight-foot swells, not being able to see land. I will be following the boat pretty closely,” she said. Staying hydrated and fueled up over more than eight hours of racing is also a challenge. Each kite- boarder or team will have its own boat and support crew. While some will stop for food and refreshment, Ms. Strzalko aims to go the distance without a break, using a camelback pack for hydration and fueling up on boiled eggs. Though the event is pri- marily a charity challenge, it is also a race, with winners in various categories. “Everybody’s going to be going for it,” she said. While the relay teams will have the advantage of fresh legs every few hours, the in- dividual racers may have the edge because of the time-con- suming logistics of changing kiteboarders at sea. As the training and race preparations intensify, par- ticipants have been working equally hard off the water. Each team is required to raise at least $5,000 for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society to help Cayman families affected by cancer. Most have already sur- passed that target, with more than $120,000 raised be- tween the nine participating teams so far. Ultimately, they hope to raise more than $200,000. “One of the great things about this event and one of the reasons I think it is so well supported is that all the money stays on island,” Ms. Strzalko said. A live auction is planned on March 14 at Abacus with $10,000 of raffle prizes, in- cluding work by local art- ists, as part of the fund- raising effort. More information on how to get involved in the race or make a donation is available at www.kiteforcancer.ky. A helicopter’s eye view of the Little Cayman to Grand Cayman race in 2016. Though the official course distance is 82 miles, kiteboarders tack and jibe with the wind, like sailing boats, meaning the actual distance traveled will be significantly longer.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 2019 APPLEBYGLOBAL.COM FUTURE LEADER? BECOME ONE AT APPLEBY. Realise your full potential by joining the right firm. If you’re a young Caymanian looking for a fulfilling career in law, Appleby offers Legal Scholarships and Internships. Submit your application before 1 March 2019. Learn more now at applebyglobal.com/careers The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion & Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” “Growth has its seasons. There are spring and summer, but there are also fall and winter. And then spring and summer again. As long as the roots are not severed, all is well and all be well.” – Jerzy Kosinski, “Being There” Wise men and visionaries have always known, cog- nitively or intuitively, that there is something restor- ative in the alchemy of combining soil and toil. From the Garden of Eden to Pearl Buck’s Good Earth and Wendell Berry’s quiet ruminations on the nature of Nature, the condition of the land and the condition of the human soul have been intuitively and expressly understood to be inextricably intertwined. Here in Grand Cayman, Beacon Farms has tapped into a well of knowledge in making the focus of its business the growth of both seeds and planters. As told in today’s Front Page article about the program, organizers intend for the 34-acre property in Frank Sound to be a fully functioning, independent agricul- tural operation, involved in the production of every- thing from coconut oil to premium cigars. In so doing, the farm offers honest work, a steady paycheck and a supportive environment to alumni of the Bridge Foundation halfway house for recovering addicts and reformed prisoners in West Bay. About half of the Bridge Foundation’s graduates have historically been able to stay clean over the long term. Beacon Farms Executive Director Bud Volinsky hopes this “second phase” of support will provide opportunities for the other half similarly to thrive. The farm expands upon the Bridge Foundation’s mission to assist individuals in recovery, to strengthen the resil- iency of Cayman’s community for future generations. “We are taking the mothers and fathers of the children that have been abandoned for a while and bringing them back together so they can do their share in raising the children,” he told the Compass. “We are mending families.” In these early days of operation, Beacon Farms is reliant on the U.S.-based Haugh Family Charitable Foundation, but organizers hope it will grow to sustain itself financially. The farm offers a “proving ground” which will equip workers with skills, work history and references they can leverage to secure employment in other businesses, aligning with the farm’s agrarian cycle of planting, nur- turing and harvesting. Rather than being left to the mercy of welfare checks or well-intentioned handouts, farmworkers earn decent wages and receive invaluable lessons in self-reliance and the dignity of labor. As a whole, Beacon Farms is a straightforward initiative to help solve an issue – rehabilitation of offenders and addicts, and reintroduction into the greater community – that too often is shrouded in social stigmas, bureaucratic complexities and self-ful- filling feelings of hopelessness. While others wring their hands and wrinkle their brows over the puzzling phenomenon of declining social conditions, the organizers and workers at Beacon Farms are plowing a direct path from problem to solution. All farmers know that the road to harvest does not run through tangled thickets of blue-ribbon commissions, consultancy reports and elaborate social service programs. What a seed needs to grow is water, sunshine and fertile ground. Recognizing and hopefully encouraging all at Beacon Farms WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL BOARD “Hyperbole, passion and spin have often trumped fair- ness, moderation and neu- trality.” That’s how a Los Angeles Times reporter char- acterized the dispute be- tween the Los Angeles Uni- fied School District and the teachers union in the days leading up to last week’s crip- pling strike. Nowhere is that description more apt than with the battle cry the union is sounding against public charter schools. The union seeks to pin the problems of the school system on charters – which offer valuable educa- tion choices, are popular with parents and generally benefit minority and poor children. Teachers, librarians, coun- selors and others represented by United Teachers Los An- geles in the 600,000-student system, the second-largest in the country, walked off the job Monday after months of failed negotiations. How long the strike, the first in the city since a nine-day walkout in 1989, will last is unclear; we hope, for the sake of the stu- dents who are the ones most hurt by it, an agreement will be reached quickly. The two sides are close on salary but not on issues such as class size; additional counselors, nurses and other support staff; and more teacher con- trol over school spending and testing. The sides fundamen- tally disagree about what the district can afford. The union, casting the im- passe as “a struggle over the future of public education,” has taken direct aim at the charters, largely non-union, which enroll about 1 in 5 of all LA public school stu- dents. The union wants a cap on their growth, along with stricter regulation. Trotted out is the now-familiar and phony trope about char- ters “draining” or “siphoning” money from public schools. Charters are public schools. In California, they are oper- ated by nonprofit organiza- tions, and the money they receive is public per- pupil funding that follows students. It is not the district’s money, nor the union’s money; it is the students’ money. In Los Angeles, 88 percent of these students are Latino and black, and 82 percent are low-in- come. A 2015 Stanford Uni- versity study found that stu- dents at charters in Southern California are learning more than their counterparts in tra- ditional public schools. No question that charters must be held accountable, as all schools should be. But whose interest would be served by capping their growth and in- hibiting their operations? Not the children’s. Teachers in Los Angeles, like those in West Virginia and other states that saw a wave of protests last year, are right to focus attention on the need for public support of public education. California, despite its liberal image, lags behind much of the country on ed- ucation spending, and the union would be more than justified to address its pro- tests to Sacramento. But to the California Charter Schools Association? Depriving poor children of public-school op- tions does not strike us as a progressive value. FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS LETTER TO THE EDITOR Ambushed by wild dogs I am writing to complain about the lack of manage- ment of the wild stray dogs roaming around the Camana Bay and Britannia area. I am a seventh grade student at Cayman International School, and my brother and I cycle into school from our condo in Britannia almost every day. On Jan. 16, we were cy- cling along the pathway be- tween Britannia and the road to Camana Bay when we no- ticed a large brown dog lying in the bushes beside the path. Just after we noticed it, the dog and five others jumped out of the bushes and started barking and growling ferociously at us. We were terrified, and for several sec- onds stood there frozen. Meanwhile, my brother had fallen off the bike in terror. We leapt on to our bikes and cycled away as fast as we could, only keeping the dogs away with our screams. However, it was an ut- terly terrifying experience. I have never been so scared in my entire life, but it was worse for my brother. He is 9 years old and he thought he was going to die, and what’s more, even though the most serious dog attack on island has been a bite, wild dogs that come above a grown per- son’s knee with massive teeth could easily kill a 9 and a 12 year old. And it’s not just us. What if one of my parents and my two younger sisters (aged 6 and 4) were attacked? Or a parent with a child in a stroller? We were lucky, but someone else might not be. How can this have been al- lowed to happen? As residents of the Cayman Islands, the government should protect us, not let wild dogs wander around, threatening people. It has occurred to us that the dog attacks have escalated since the mas- sive iguana cull. I was won- dering if the dogs often killed and ate iguanas, and since the recent cull, have become hungrier. If that is true, the cull both indirectly harmed people and changed the bal- ance of nature. I was told that the De- partment of Agriculture were on site with cages. Surely there must be a way to cap- ture these dogs in a quick, safe and humane manner. I am writing to you be- cause I will never forget that harrowing experience, and I would never want anyone else to go through it. How many people will have to be attacked before the dogs are taken care of properly? Evie Sweetman Leave the charter schools out of it I have never been so scared in my entire life, but it was worse for my brother. The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 2019 6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS One Honeywell Lynx touch wireless residential/ commercial security alarm panel with 4.3” full colour touchscreen display Three wireless door/window contacts (white) One Honeywell pet immune motion sensor (up to 40Lbs.) One 4 button remote keychain Full installation and demonstration 12 months parts warranty WIFI module for the mobile Apps. Honeywell Lynx Intruder Alarm Package Includes: The Honeywell intruder system is linked to our 24/7 monitoring centre to keep your family and your property safe. Upon system activation our experienced monitoring station staff will handle the situation. The Total Connect app allows you complete control of your security system from your mobile device. To find out more about this special offer contact the Security Centre on 949-0004 or email info@security.ky *The free alarm system and installation is available to new clients when signing up for a 12 month monitoring contract ($660 residential - $860 commercial). 24/7 Alarm Monitoring Secure and protect your property with the Honeywell Lynx intruder protection system. Controllable from your mobile device. Delegation promotes financial services A Cayman delegation consisting of Premier Alden McLaughlin, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin, Minister for Financial Services Tara Rivers and Governor Martyn Roper attend the Cayman Finance Breakfast Briefing in New York on Tuesday. Premier Alden McLaughlin told the more than 150 at- tendees at the 6th Annual Cayman Finance New York Breakfast Briefing on Tuesday that Cayman remains bullish about the prospects of fi- nancial services business in the jurisdiction and that the country and government are gearing up to meet the chal- lenges and uncertainties of the future. Premier McLaughlin, Min- ister of Financial Services and Home Affairs Tara Rivers and Attorney General Samuel Bulgin traveled to New York from Europe, where the Cayman delegation held 13 meetings in London, Brus- sels, Berlin and Paris with representatives from the Eu- ropean Union and various EU member states, including Germany and France. In those meetings, Mr. McLaughlin said, “We wanted to ensure that the EU Com- mission, the Code of Conduct Group and member states understand that Cayman is meeting the commitments we made and to provide oppor- tunities for them to raise any concerns.” Mr. McLaughlin also spoke about the new Ministry of International Trade, Invest- ment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs, which has been set up to better coordinate Cay- man’s work in promoting the Cayman Islands overseas, and the U.K.’s assistance in estab- lishing Cayman’s own Asia Office based in Hong Kong. The New York Break- fast Briefing, at the Harvard Club, is hosted each year by Cayman Finance to give member firms and associates the opportunity to learn more about the latest develop- ments in the Cayman Islands financial services industry. On Tuesday evening, the Cayman delegation attended the Cayman Finance New York Reinsurance Round- table, also at the Harvard Club, where reinsurance pro- fessionals spoke about the benefits of their companies being domiciled in Cayman. In his welcome remarks at the breakfast briefing, Cayman Islands Governor Martyn Roper noted the pro- fessionalism of Cayman’s Fi- nancial Service sector and confirmed that the sector had the support of the United Kingdom, a government press release stated. Minister Rivers outlined Cayman’s efforts in the fight against tax evasion, money laundering and countering terrorist financing, and said this work had been recognized by the likes of the OECD. She also mentioned Cayman recently passed eco- nomic substance legislations designed to meet the require- ments of the EU and the OECD. Minister Rivers said the presence of the Cayman Is- lands government at the event underscored its com- mitment to the financial ser- vices industry, which con- tributes about 56 percent of Cayman’s GDP. “It is our pleasure to not only sponsor this event annu- ally, but to also participate in providing the key policy up- date covering the work of the past year and providing in- sight into the plans for the year ahead. “Cayman will continue being a place for sound busi- ness long into the future, be- cause we will continue to meet internationally adopted standards,” she said. “Over the many decades we have demonstrated that we have the expertise and the resil- iency needed in order to suc- cessfully navigate change, for the benefit of our clients and our country as a whole. As our history has shown us, the future of the Cayman Islands is bright.” HEROES DAY ROAD CLOSURES Some roads and junc- tions will be cordoned off in downtown George Town from Friday evening as organizers prepare to hold Monday’s He- roes Day ceremony. Police said the roads will be closed from 6 p.m. Friday until 9 p.m. Monday to allow for setup and breakdown of the site. This year’s Heroes Day cer- emony will be held as usual in Heroes Square, in front of the courthouse. Vestrymen and justices of the peace who were instrumental in creating the Cayman Islands Coat of Arms more than 60 years ago will be honored at the event, as will companies that have been operating on island for more than 50 years. To facilitate the celebra- tions, the following roads will be closed from Friday evening, but will temporarily reopen from midnight Friday to noon Saturday: ■■ Fort Street, from Al- bert Panton Street to the clock tower at the junc- tion with Edward Street; ■■ Edward Street, from the junction of Fort Street and Dr. Roy’s Drive; ■■ Albert Panton Street, from the junction of Fort Street to Kirk House. In addition, Fort Street, between Harbour Drive and Albert Panton Street; Albert Panton Street between Kirk House and Cardinall Avenue; and Edward Street between Main Street and Dr. Roy’s Drive will remain open until 2 p.m. Saturday. After that time, they will be closed until 9 p.m. Monday. Customers will have access to businesses and banking for establishments open on Sat- urday and the holiday Monday.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 2019 8 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS From left, RCIPS constable Margaret Baldino and police dog Baron, constable Kevin Alleyne and polic dog Inca, constable Keiron Davies and police dog Shadow, and constable Laura Hicks and police dog Athena have been certified to U.S. and U.K. standards. - PHOTO: RCIPS RCIPS dogs certified to US, UK standards Four Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service K-9 of- ficers and their police dogs were officially certified on Tuesday after completing a three-week course on general purpose and nar- cotics work. The certification means these officers and their dogs have received training on par with standards in the U.S. and U.K., according to the RCIPS. The training was con- ducted by Constable Keiron Davies, who himself re- cently completed a K-9 in- structor course in Michigan. He is now able to deliver the equivalent of the U.S. training locally. The RCIPS K-9 unit con- sists of four police dogs and four handlers: three gen- eral purpose dogs and one “passive” dog. The three general pur- pose dogs and handlers – Mr. Davies and his po- lice dog Shadow, Constable Laura Hicks and her dog Athena, and Constable Mar- garet Baldino and her po- lice dog Baron – are trained to track and apprehend sus- pects, search vehicles and premises for narcotics and firearms, search for cur- rency, and locate items that have recently been discarded or hidden, the RCIPS stated. The passive dog – Inca, handled by Constable Kevin Alleyne – is trained to scan people for drugs and fire- arms, and to search vehi- cles and premises. Being a passive dog means that she can more easily be used in public locations such as beaches and at public func- tions, the RCIPS stated. “With the completion of this training, and the addi- tion of a passive dog and a third general purpose dog, the RCIPS K-9 Unit is now at full strength,” said RCIPS Acting Superintendent Brad Ebanks, who oversees the unit. “Because each has dif- ferent advantages, having both passive and general purpose dogs gives us even more tools in our mission to enhance the safety and se- curity of our islands.” Permit applicant failed three of four English tests CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Senior immigration of- ficer Joey Scott gave evi- dence on Thursday in the trial of five immigration of- ficers and two civilians ac- cused of conspiracy to commit fraud on the govern- ment by arranging payments to the officers in exchange for inappropriate assistance to candidates to pass an English language test. Mr. Scott said he had be- come aware of “potential is- sues” regarding the manner in which the tests were being given. At the time, he was acting assistant chief immigration officer. He was questioned in de- tail about one woman who was required to take the test because a work permit had been applied for for her, but she was from a country where English was not the primary language. Mr. Scott said the woman was given one of four ver- sions of the test on May 8, 2016. The pass mark was 75 percent, but she failed it, with a score of 21 percent. Four days later, she was given a chance to re-sit the test, which was adminis- tered by one of the defen- dants. This time, the score sheet showed she had scored 75 percent. Mr. Scott said the woman was tested again on May 31, 2016. She did two tests. This time she received 40 percent on the same test she had pre- viously passed with 75 per- cent. On another version of the test, her score was lower. The witness gave several examples of different an- swers the woman had given for the test that was re- peated. One part of the test required the officer to ask a question and write down the answer the candidate gave. When asked by the de- fendant officer what month she was born in, the an- swer written down was the date, month and year. When Mr. Scott asked what month she was born in, the an- swer was “23.” A written part of the test showed a mock calendar with days, dates and events listed. One question was, which date is between 6 and 8? In the test administered by the defendant officer, her answer was 7. In the test ad- ministered by Mr. Scott, she wrote “14.” Questioned by defense at- torneys, Mr. Scott said it was quite common for persons to be given a chance to re-sit the test, but permission had to be given by an officer at the rank of deputy chief or above. A lower ranking officer could not re-test someone without that permission. He agreed that not all of the information about this particular candidate had been filled in when he ad- ministered the re-tests, in- cluding the time frames of the tests. He also agreed that having three officers present, as he did, was not the norm. He said the woman had agreed to be re-tested on May 31, 2016. If she had not agreed, he would not have had much of an op- tion because the records showed she had passed. He said he subsequently turned the tests over to investi- gators from the Anti-Cor- ruption Unit. For legal reasons, the Cayman Compass is not naming the defendants in this case. CANCER SOCIETY HOLDS ANNUAL RUN SUNDAY The Stride Against Cancer will draw runners to the streets of Cayman on Sunday, as they support the annual fundraiser for the Cayman Is- lands Cancer Society. The starter’s gun for the main events, a half-mara- thon and quarter marathon, goes off at 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., respectively, at Seven Mile Public Beach. The quarter marathon course runs down West Bay Road and turns around at The Wharf restaurant. The half-marathon route also goes down West Bay Road and onto Church Street, Har- bour Drive and South Sound Road where runners will turn around at Caribbean Paradise. Motorists are asked to use caution and watch for runners. There will also be traffic restrictions. Barricades will be placed on West Bay Road at the entrance to Seven Mile Public Beach, and on South Sound Road directly in front of Caribbean Paradise, just east of the intersection with Walkers Road, to manage traffic flow, from 6-9 a.m. There is also a North Side Mini Stride on Sunday, which goes from Kaibo to the site of the old Driftwood Bar & Grill, and a Little Stride on Little Cayman, from the Southern Cross Club to Salt Rock Dock and back. Both those events start at 7 a.m. Registration for the events must be completed before race day. The cost is $30. Reg- istration forms are available online. In-person registra- tion is at the Cancer Soci- ety’s office, 114 Maple Road in George Town. For information on the Grand Cayman Stride, call 949-7618; for the Mini Stride in North Side, call 925-1899; and for the Little Stride, email gm@southerncrossclub.com. Participants in last year’s Stride Against Cancer make their way along the course. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY New Sister Islands commander seeks more police presence The new police area com- mander appointed to the Sister Islands says he would like to see a larger police presence on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Acting Inspector Kevin Bogle began his duties as the islands’ new commander last week. He succeeds In- spector Andre Tahal in the role. Inspector Tahal has re- turned to policing duties on Grand Cayman. The RCIPS stated that Mr. Bogle had initially identified that an increased police pres- ence on both islands was his first objective, with a special focus on schools. Additional priorities include addressing antisocial behavior, including the use and sale of drugs, and speeding as well as other traffic violations in school zones and residential areas. “I am firm in the enforce- ment of the law, but at the same time, I strive to be sen- sitive to the traditions and customs of a small com- munity,” Mr. Bogle said in an RCIPS press release an- nouncing his appointment. “Communication is the key to a successful relation- ship with the public, and I am eager to build partner- ships with all groups on the Sister Islands. The safety of the public and the fight against crime is everybody’s business, therefore, it is my goal to get to know everyone on the islands as much as possible,” he added. He said he is reaching out to residents and busi- ness owners to meet them on an individual basis and un- derstand their concerns and priorities. According to the RCIPS, Acting Inspector Bogle has 22 years of policing experi- ence and has been with the police service in the Cayman Islands since 2006. He has moved over from the Com- munity Policing Department where he was the sergeant in charge of George Town. “The Senior Command Team felt that A/Insp. Bo- gle’s range of experience and proven abilities suited him to the important post of Sister Islands’ Area Commander, to which he has been ap- pointed for a minimum of two years,” the RCIPS stated in the release. He is taking the first few weeks of his tenure “to con- duct a thorough assessment of policing coverage and per- formance, and will be ex- amining the current shift schedule in order to ensure better police availability,” the statement continued. Anyone who would like to contact or meet Acting Inspector Bogle is invited to call the Cayman Brac Police Station at 948-0331. Kevin Bogle He said he is reaching out to residents and business owners to meet them on an individual basis.9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JANUARY 25, 2019 The Family of the late Ms. Olga Nasaria King - nee Trujeque “Tre-Heck-Ae”, r egrets to announce her passing on December 16th, 2018 in Boca Raton, Florida. Left to mourn her passing are: Husband Richard King Grand Aunts Elsie Bodden, Rebecca Hydes, Nephew Christopher Johnson and a host of family and friends here in the Cayman Islands and USA. A memorial service for the late Ms. Olga Nasaria King will be held on Tuesday, January 29th at 3 pm at Elmslie Memorial Church. The Family of the Late Arine Loretta Eden affectionately known as “Lerita” regrets to announce her passing on Thursday, 17 January, 2019. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, 27 January, 2019 at Church of God, (Full Gospel Hall) Savannah. Viewing will be held from 2:00 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow in Tall Tree Cemetery. Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Ms. Leonie V. Irons, who passed away on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at South Sound Community Center on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. Viewing will be from 9:30 –10:0 a.m. In lieu of flowers please donate to Hospice Care. Interment at: Garden of Eden Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com :30 The family of the Late Penny McDowall regrets to announce her passing on Monday, 31 December, 2018. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A celebration of Penny’s life will be held 4:30 p.m. Saturday, 26 January 2019 at Pedro St. James. In lieu of flowers Penny would ask for donations to be made to the Cayman Islands Special Olympics (SOCI) CNB Accounts #’s: CI$-01105336 US$-02209194 Attendees should wear bright island casual attire. Ministry of Education clears debt with UWI’s Open Campus MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Ministry of Edu- cation has squared its ac- counts with the University of the West Indies with a pay- ment of $2.3 million, and says it wants to strengthen the relationship between the two entities. The Cayman Islands Gov- ernment has been running a deficit with the univer- sity for most of the past de- cade, starting with a debt of $1,100 in 2008. The universi- ty’s financial reports indicate that the government has not been fully paying its bills to the school, although discus- sions for bringing its account current have apparently been taking place for the past five years. The university’s 2013 fi- nancial report says, “The re- ceipt of (CI)$92,669 was in- sufficient to liquidate the opening balance of $760,058. Discussions are in process with a view to liquidate the balance.” The Cayman Islands has had a relationship with UWI and its distance learning programs dating back to the 1960s, officials said in a news release. In 2006, the school established an open campus presence in George Town, one of 42 satellite lo- cations serving 17 countries throughout the Caribbean that provide mostly on- line courses. In 2017-2018, 150 students were enrolled in the Cayman campus. The school’s annual report said four students graduated in that period. Education Minister Ju- liana O’Connor-Con- nolly said UWI’s presence has made a difference for Cayman students. “Our country has ben- efited from numerous Cay- manian students who have received a world-class educa- tion from internationally re- spected professors and lec- turers, all embedded in a Caribbean experience,” Ms. O’Connor-Connolly said in a statement. The Education Ministry said UWI gives Cayman stu- dents certain advantages such as guaranteed admis- sion spaces provided they meet the admission stan- dards, a 40 percent discount on tuition fees to sponsored students attending any of the three full campus sites in Ja- maica, Trinidad or Barbados, and greater access to courses, internships, and post-grad- uate studies in medicine. The ministry also said courses at the open campus are a bargain, with under- graduate classes costing US$300, and graduate classes US$450. Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, second from left, presents a check to the University of West Indies Chief Financial Officer Andrea McNish, as Ministry of Education Chief Officer Cetonya Cacho, left and Acting Deputy Chief Officer Philip Scott look on. Legal Aid director: More experienced attorneys needed SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Legal Aid system is short on attorneys but those on the roster are working to soldier through the docket, according to Stacy Parke, the director of Cayman’s Legal Aid department. Ms. Parke, responding to Cayman Compass queries, placed some recent judicial statistics into context. Chief Justice Anthony Smellie noted in his cere- monial address during the opening of the Grand Court that there are only 27 law- yers, out of more than 800 in Cayman, who are willing to ac- cept Legal Aid criminal briefs. He also noted that there were only 12 to 15 in earlier years, and Ms. Parke con- firmed that fact. Cayman added one new criminal at- torney willing to work Legal Aid cases earlier this year. “There has always been a smaller number of criminal attorneys at the bar,” said Ms. Parke in an email response. “As the Hon. Chief Justice mentioned, the number was around 12 or so in the early 2000s but with the changes in our society and the increase in demand for experienced crim- inal attorneys, that number has increased over the years. But more experienced attor- neys are still needed.” Ms. Parke expects the number of attorneys working Legal Aid cases to increase slightly over the coming cal- endar year, but she stressed that the number of attorneys practicing at the criminal bar will never approach the number of corporate and civil attorneys in this jurisdiction. Justice Smellie also noted that the shortage has played into a backlog of cases before both the Summary and Grand Court, and Ms. Parke said that is particularly true when multiple criminal attorneys are engaged in a complex Grand Court trial. When that happens, there’s a trickle- down effect to the rest of the court, but Ms. Parke said the attorneys on the Legal Aid roster are working hard to provide quality service. “Our legal aid system seeks to provide the services of an attorney-at-law to per- sons who are unable to af- ford one and who have been charged with more serious offenses,” she said. “The re- ality is the Legal Aid Depart- ment works within an allo- cated budget and with those funds seeks to provide per- sons charged with certain of- fenses or who need to take or defend legal proceedings with the means to do so, es- pecially where this relates to their fundamental rights.” As for the rate charged in Legal Aid cases – $160 an hour – Ms. Parke said there is no timeline to review and change the compensation of- fered to attorneys. The rate was changed from $135 an hour to the present rate in 2015, and Ms. Parke said the chief justice and the admin- istration are constantly re- viewing all matters relating to justice and legal aid in this jurisdiction. “We remain grateful for the dedication of all attor- neys who agree to be on the roster,” said Ms. Parke of the attorneys providing Legal Aid services. “Their services to community and the court are greatly appreciated and cer- tainly not overlooked. How- ever, it is highly unlikely that in any jurisdiction, the legal aid rate will compete with the standard rate charged by attorneys in their private practice. We hear the sugges- tions and issues raised and will undertake to review the same in due course.” Legal Aid Director Stacy ParkeNext >