ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY ORIGINAL CHICKEN FRIES NEW CHICKEN FRIES Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall to visit Cayman Airport terminal will have opening ceremony during Royals’ stay KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com When Prince Charles visited Cayman on July 14, 1973, the trip was mostly for rest and recovery. The Prince of Wales and his crew from the HMS Minerva had just come from independence cel- ebrations in the Bahamas, and were taking a four-day break here before heading to Venezuela to commemorate the 150th anniver- sary of the last battle of the Ven- ezuelan War of Independence. “The frigate’s crew took part in various activities, including a number of sports matches, cock- tail parties, a tour around the Island and a visit to the turtle farm,” the Caymanian Weekly reported at the time. “Those who were lucky enough to meet his Royal Highness Prince Charles were impressed by his humility, his wit and charm.” Some 46 later, Prince Charles’ visit to Cayman will likely not be as relaxing, as he and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Corn- wall, will have an event-packed schedule from March 27-28. Immediately upon his arrival, the Prince of Wales will partic- ipate in the opening ceremony for the new Owen Roberts Inter- national Airport ceremony. After that, he will go to the Govern- ment House for a meeting with Governor Martyn Roper and Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin. The next day, Prince Charles will travel to the Sister Islands, where he will open the new swimming pool on Cayman Brac and participate in a “marine-fo- cused event” on Little Cayman, according to Mr. Roper. When he returns to Grand Cayman later that day, he will visit the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Gar- dens – which was opened by his mother in 1994 – and par- ticipate in the opening of the children’s center there. The Duchess of Cornwall will also have a busy day, visiting George Town Primary School for a “cultural event,” as well as at- tending the opening of the new Jasmine hospice center. There will be a reception PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » KAABOO sets Cayman alight MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com If 10,000 people cannot be wrong, Jason Felts pulled it off. The brains behind KAABOO Cayman, Mr. Felts broke open a new avenue for entertain- ment on the island, bringing the kind of fes- tival few had imagined could happen here. The chief brand officer for Virgin Pro- duced, Mr. Felts partnered with Dart En- terprises – eventually bringing in Digicel, BritCay and a slew of other sponsors – to mount the biggest concert event ever pro- duced in Cayman. Two large outdoor stages, an enclosed comedy club and rows of tented food and drink booths popped up on a 37-acre plot of land west of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway overpass in recent days to accommodate the crowds and such per- formers as the Chainsmokers, Duran Duran, Blondie, Jason Derulo, Flo Rida and Zedd, along with comedians Wanda Sykes, Norm Macdonald and Natasha Leggero. A year ago, many greeted Mr. Felts’s an- nouncement of spinning off a smaller ver- sion of the four-year-old KAABOO Del Mar he produces with skepticism – skepticism that only grew with the disaster that was Bahamas-based Fyre Festival that came not long after that announcement. But few could argue that when the last notes of Duran Duran’s “Rio” faded into the midnight air on Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will visit the Cayman Islands next month. A sea of hands waves in the air during Maxi Priest’s set Saturday afternoon. - PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Fireworks erupt from the Ironshore stage during Zedd’s set before a packed crowd on Saturday night. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 REGIONAL NEWS MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Lestor Toledo, an exiled pol- itician who is coordinating the international aid effort for Guaido. Maduro has been using the military, which re- mains loyal, to help him block the aid from entering Venezuela, describing it as “crumbs” from a U.S. govern- ment whose restrictions have stripped his administration of control over many of its most valuable assets. “They hang us, steal our money and then say ‘here, grab these crumbs’ and make a global show out of it,” Maduro told The Associated Press on Thursday. “With dig- nity we say ‘No to the global show.’ Whoever wants to help Venezuela is welcome, but we have enough capacity to pay for everything that we need.” His vice president has al- leged, without evidence, that the aid packages are con- taminated. Green on Sat- urday called the allega- tions “absurd.” Saturday’s 180-ton ship- ment includes high-energy food products or hygiene kits of soap, toothpaste and other goods for more than 25,000 people. Guaido spoke to a crowd of supporters gathered in eastern Caracas on Saturday and vowed to form cara- vans of activists to reach the border and bring in aid on Jan. 23. He also called for people to gather in cities across the country to receive the aid – and called for the armed forces to allow it into the country. In the crowd was Anibrez Peroza, a 40-year-old nurse, who said she was ready if necessary to go to Cucuta in a caravan to bring in the aid. “We have to do something to save so many people who are suffering and dying for lack of medicine,” she said. Peroza wept as she described a dehydrated child dying in her arms for lack of a cath- eter to rehydrate him. The U.S. and widespread European recognition of Guaido complicates Maduro’s efforts to find funds to keep his government, and its own food programs, running. The U.S. has placed Vene- zuela’s U.S. assets, including oil company Citgo, under Guaido’s control and bans fi- nancial transactions by Mad- uro-controlled entities. Scores of Venezuelan officials also face personal financial sanc- tions in the United States. • 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) FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY (PG13) 1:20 I 4:20 I 7:20 I 10:10 ALITA BATTLE ANGEL (PG13) 12:30 I 1:00 VIP I 3:50 VIP I 4:30 3D 6:50 VIP I 9:45 VIP I 10:00 COLD PURSUIT (R) 3:20 I 6:45 I 9:30 THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART (PG) 1:05 I 3:55 3D I 6:35 I 9:10 3D WHAT MEN WANT (R) 1:05 I 4:10 I 7:00 I 9:45 THE UPSIDE (PG13) 1:15 I 7:15 US aid planes land near Venezuela border CUCUTA, Colombia (AP) – The U.S. military airlifted tons of humanitarian aid to a Co- lombian town on the Ven- ezuelan border Saturday as part of an effort meant to un- dermine socialist President Nicolas Maduro and back his rival for the leadership of the South American nation. Three scheduled Air Force C-17 cargo planes that took off from Homestead Air Re- serve Base in Florida had landed in Cucuta. That border city, swollen by a flood of mi- grants from Venezuela, is a collection point for aid that is supposed to be distributed by supporters of Juan Guaido, the congressional leader who is recognized by the U.S. and many other nations as Vene- zuela’s legitimate president. He has called for the aid. “This wasn’t the first, and it won’t be the last,” said USAID Administrator Mark Green, standing on the tarmac in Cucuta at a cer- emony to receive the aid. “More is on the way.” Commercial planes had been used for earlier ship- ments of aid, which is aimed at dramatizing the economic crisis – including hyperinfla- tion and shortages of food and medicine – gripping Venezuela. Critics say last year’s re-elec- tion was fraudulent, making Maduro’s second term illegal. “We are saving lives with these airplanes,” said Saturday’s 180-ton shipment includes high-energy food products or hygiene kits of soap, toothpaste and other goods for more than 25,000 people. Venezuela’s self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guiado greets the crowd during an event Saturday to swear in nurses, doctors, professionals and others, as the group that will help with the arrival and distribution of humanitarian aid in Venezuela, in Caracas, Venezuela. – PHOTO: AP Haiti to unveil economic measures to quell violent protests 8 EMPLOYEES OF BRAZIL’S VALE ARRESTED OVER DAM COLLAPSE PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) – Haitians on Friday vowed to keep protesting until Pres- ident Jovenel Moise re- signs, despite his announce- ment of upcoming economic measures designed to quell more than a week of vio- lent demonstrations across the country. Moise said during a tele- vised address late Thursday that he would not surrender the country to armed gangs and drug dealers, and he ac- cused people of freeing pris- oners to kill him. It was the first time Moise had spoken since the demonstrations began, and he made an- other call for dialog with the opposition. “I heard the voice of the people. I know the problems that torment them. That’s why the government has taken a lot of measures,” he said. “I asked the Prime Min- ister to come and explain them and implement them without delay in order to re- lieve misery.” He said Prime Minister Jean-Henry Ceant would share details of the new economic measures Friday, but none were announced as protesters once again clashed with police in the Port-au-Prince neigh- borhood of Delmas. Unrest also was reported in cities in- cluding Gonaives and Mireb- alais, while opposition leaders said they would join in and head to Moise’s home. Protesters remain angry about skyrocketing inflation and the government’s failure to prosecute embezzlement from a multi-billion dollar Venezuelan program that sent discounted oil to Haiti. Few believe the government will take any steps to alle- viate the crisis. Widler Saintil, a 35-year- old shop owner, said he has been forced to reduce the amount of food he eats be- cause he cannot afford to buy as much milk, bread, sugar, rice or beans as be- fore. He also has been unable to work or send his two chil- dren to school. “The situation has gotten worse,” he said, adding that he will take part in the demonstrations until Moise resigns. Protesters also continued to block roads across Haiti as food, water and gas became scarce and schools, busi- nesses and government offices remain closed. Louis Didie Herold, who oversees Haiti’s National Ambulance Center, told Radio Vision 2000 that the center would likely not be able to provide service after Friday because of gas short- ages. Meanwhile, a hospital in Desjardines north of the cap- ital said it was running out of oxygen and medicine. Moise was sworn in as president in February 2017 for a five-year term and promised to fight corruption and bring investment and jobs to one of the least de- veloped nations in the world. His swearing-in marked Hai- ti’s return to constitutional rule a year after ex-President Michel Martelly left office without an elected successor amid waves of opposition protests and a political stale- mate that resulted in sus- pended elections. SAO PAULO (AP) – Eight employees of Brazilian mining giant Vale have been arrested in connection with the investigation into last month’s collapse of a mining dam that killed at least 166 people and left 147 missing in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais. The state’s prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the employees were ar- rested Friday. They will be held “under temporary custody” for 30 days to determine whether they have responsibility for the Jan. 25 collapse. Those arrested in- clude four managers and four members of technical teams in charge of moni- toring the stability of the dam located near the city of Brumadinho. Brazil research insti- tute Fiocruz recently said the contamination of the ecosystem and the Parao- peba River could precipi- tate the spread of dengue, yellow fever or diarrhea in the area. Demonstrators run from police who are shooting in their direction, as a car burns during a Tuesday, Feb. 12 protest demanding the resignation of Haitian President Jovenel Moise in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. – PHOTO: AP3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019 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. Opposition raises questions over cruise ship port financing JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Opposition leader Ezzard Miller claims government’s negotiations with cruise lines to finance the new port have compromised the entire pro- curement process for the controversial project. Mr. Miller said the an- nouncement late last year that Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corporation have agreed to part-finance the project, threw the whole tender process into doubt. Mr. Miller, who claims, based on undisclosed sources, that government is still in- volved in further negotia- tions with multiple additional cruise lines over financing, said such efforts were outside the parameters of the original request for proposals. The North Side legislator, also chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said multiple groups had bid on the original RFP, which went out in May, 2017, on the basis that they would be required to provide 100 percent financing as part of a Design, Build, Fi- nance Maintain submission. He said, “You can’t issue an RFP to a number of bid- ders which includes 100 per- cent financing and then sepa- rately and privately negotiate financing from two or more cruise lines …. “If they got commitments for financing they should have altered the RFP for ev- erybody. They should have said we no longer require 100 percent financing. The re- quirement is now financing minus what is being paid by the two cruise companies.” He said the issue was fur- ther complicated by the fact that both Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corporation are part of one of the three bid teams vying for the final project. If, as Mr. Miller claims, further negotiations are con- tinuing with other cruise lines over financing, that could muddy the waters fur- ther in terms of the via- bility of the proposals by the three bidders. Mr. Miller said parallel negotiations were effec- tively taking place over fi- nancing, outside of the pa- rameters of the original RFP. He suggested the entire pro- curement process needs to be repeated. Responding to those alle- gations last week, a Ministry of Tourism spokeswoman said the cruise lines financial agreement, announced in No- vember, was included in the invitation to submit final ten- ders which went out to the three finalists in the bid pro- cess in December. Citing a press release is- sued at the time, the spokes- woman said the financing for the project would be pro- vided by the two cruise lines in partnership with the pre- ferred bidder. She did not ad- dress Mr. Miller’s claims that negotiations are still taking place with further cruise lines. The ministry has not stated exactly how much money Royal Caribbean and Carnival have committed to the project or clarified if and how this impacts their in- volvement in one of the three bid proposals. The spokeswoman said the process followed was in keeping with the outline business case for the project, which recommended a public- private partnership involving cruise line participation as the preferred procurement model. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said in a press release, “The Design Build Fi- nance Model means that the project will not require any government loans or bonds. Construction of the piers, in- cluding the expansion of the cargo port, will be paid for by the cruise lines using the passenger fees which would otherwise have been used for ferrying passengers to and from the cruise ships.” Speaking specifically about the project’s timeline, Min- ister Kirkconnell emphasized that the information and data gathering aspects of the cruise berthing project started in 2013 and the bidding pro- cess has been ongoing since May 2017. “The project is now in its sixth year and has reached the stage where three bidders will be submit- ting their final bids shortly. I look forward to updating the public when those final sub- missions are received and the successful bidder has been identified,” he said. By pursuing separate in- dependent negotiations for at least part of the financing, Mr. Miller said government had effectively moved the goal posts part way through a bid process that began by requiring interested parties to submit proposals that in- cluded 100 percent financing. Ezzard Miller CAYMAN DENGUE-FREE TO DATE IN 2019 The Caribbean is experi- encing a regional outbreak of dengue fever, but Cayman has no reported cases so far. The Public Health Depart- ment said on Friday that there have been 19 investigations here for the mosquito-borne illness since Jan. 8, and that 13 results have been received. Of those, none were positive for dengue, chikungunya, or Zika, although the results of six are still outstanding, ac- cording to the department. In light of the regional cases, local health officials say they are providing up- dates on a monthly basis until the outbreak is over, in- creasing the frequency as re- quired by the situation. Symptoms for these dis- eases include severe frontal headaches, joint pain, pain behind the eyes, muscle and bone pain, rashes, and nausea. “Signs of bleeding (such as: pinpoint red or purple spots on the skin, nosebleed, bleeding gums, blood in urine or stool, or vaginal bleeding) are seen in a severe form of dengue fever, known as dengue haemorrhagic fever, severe dengue or dengue shock syndrome,” the Depart- ment of Health noted.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 Doubtless, KAABOO organizers would have pre- ferred to forgo the drama caused by last Thursday’s rains, which raised the nerve-wracking possibility that the weather – the one factor even the most diligent of festival organizers cannot control – might upend months of planning and preparation and sabotage the sold-out event. But Friday brought the dawning of a perfect Cayman day, the sun shining brilliantly down on the biggest festival of its kind our island has ever seen. Perhaps even providence thought better of displeasing Sir Richard Branson and the army of planners, orga- nizers and wranglers that worked together to pull off such an impressive feat: An “elevated experience” for 10,000 daily attendees, carefully crafted to delight each of the five senses and complement an eclectic musical lineup. Inspiring artwork, tantalizing food and libations, abundant goodwill and celebration – a one-of- a-kind experience that will not be soon forgotten, and which, hopefully, will be repeated next year. Thanks to a diligent crew that worked through the night, there was little evidence of Thursday’s rain at the festival site the following day, apart from some squelchy grass in certain areas. Working with blowers and vacuums, they removed much of the standing water on the lawns and stages. There were a few glitches, of course, as could only be expected for an inaugural event of this size and scope. Spotty WiFi reception and connectivity, espe- cially on Friday, bothered some, while others grumbled about the occasional long lines at bars and restaurant stalls. Los Angeles alt-rock group Transviolet were a few minutes late hitting the stage, apparently because of some problems with sound equipment, but these and any other issues were handled with a quiet and swift competence (often publicly, via KAABOO’s active social media presence). For the most part, “island time” wasn’t in evidence, with almost every act appearing exactly when they were supposed to. A minute-by-minute countdown on the KAABOO Cayman app of when each act would start and finish let the audience know when it was time to move over from the Ironshore stage to the Coral Reef stage, or when to drop by the Humor Me tent to see the comedy lineup, or when their favorite chef was about to appear at the Palate culinary site. Thursday’s postponed VIP event morphed into an exclusive brunch on Saturday morning. From there, the show went on … and on … and on – never losing momentum, never growing stale – to a powerful finish by iconic British band Duran Duran. There were those who scoffed at Virgin Produced’s ambition to pull off the “biggest live entertainment event ever on Cayman,” when it was first announced in February last year, but there is no question that the festival delivered on its promise of an outstanding “curated” experience for a discerning clientele. One understands why organizers eschewed the label “music festival,” which brings to mind hordes of people massed like cattle into fenced-off venues with little infrastructure, surrounded by dirt and trash. Months of site work and planning yielded smooth flow of traffic and people. The inclusion of local performers and vendors ensured the experience was as uniquely Cayman as it was world-class, leaving an indelible impression on res- idents and visitors alike. – EDITORIAL – Take a bow, KAABOO 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 FEBRUARY 18, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Socialism: a classification that no longer classifies “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” – Karl Marx WASHINGTON – Norman Thomas was not easily dis- couraged. Running for presi- dent in 1932, three years into the shattering, terrifying De- pression, which seemed to many to be a systemic crisis of capitalism, Thomas, who had been the Socialist Party’s candidate in 1928 and would be in 1936, 1940, 1944 and 1948, received, as this column previously noted, fewer votes (884,885) than Eugene Debs had won (913,693) as the par- ty’s candidate in 1920, when, thanks to the wartime hys- teria President Woodrow Wilson had fomented, Debs was in jail. In 1962, Michael Har- rington, a founder of the Democratic Socialists of America (it succumbed to a familiar phenomenon: Two American socialists = three factions), published “The Other America.” It suppos- edly kindled President John Kennedy’s interest in poverty, which had not escaped his attention while campaigning in West Virginia’s primary. Harrington, like “democratic socialist” Sen. Bernie Sanders today, thought socialism should be advanced through the Democratic Party. Today, socialism has new, angrier advocates. Speaking well of it gives the speaker the frisson of being naughty and the fun of provoking Re- publicans like those whose hosannas rattled the rafters when the president vowed that America would never become socialist. Socialism is, however, more frequently praised than defined be- cause it has become a classi- fication that no longer clas- sifies. So, a president who promiscuously wields gov- ernment power to influ- ence the allocation of capital (e.g., bossing around Carrier even before he was inaugu- rated; using protectionism to pick industrial win- ners and losers) can preen as capitalism’s defender against socialists who, like the Bolsheviks, would storm America’s Winter Palace if America had one. Time was, socialism meant thorough collec- tivism: state ownership of the means of production (in- cluding arable land), distri- bution and exchange. When this did not go swimmingly where it was first tried, Lenin said (in 1922) that socialism meant government owner- ship of the economy’s “com- manding heights” – big enti- ties. After many subsequent dilutions, today’s watery con- ceptions of socialism amount to this: almost everyone will be nice to almost everyone, using money taken from a few. This means having gov- ernment distribute, according to its conception of equity, the wealth produced by cap- italism. This conception is shaped by muscular factions: the elderly, government em- ployees unions, the steel in- dustry, the sugar growers, and so on and on and on. Some wealth is distributed to the poor; most goes to the “neglected” middle class. Some neglect: The political class talks of little else. Two-thirds of the fed- eral budget (and 14 percent of GDP) goes to transfer pay- ments, mostly to the non- poor. The U.S. economy’s healthcare sector (about 18 percent of the economy) is larger than the econo- mies of all but three nations, and is permeated by govern- ment money and mandates. Before the Affordable Care Act was enacted, 40 cents of every healthcare dollar was government’s 40 cents. The sturdy yeomanry who till America’s soil? Last year’s 529-page Agriculture Im- provement Act will be ad- ministered by the Agricul- ture Department, which has about one employee for every 20 American farms. Socialists favor a steeply progressive income tax, as did those who created today’s: The top 1 percent pay 40 per- cent of taxes; the bottom 50 percent pay only 3 percent; 50 percent of households pay either no income tax or 10 percent or less of their in- come. Law professor Richard Epstein notes that in the last 35 years the fraction of total taxes paid by the lower 90 percent has shrunk from more than 50 percent to about 35 percent. In his volume in the Ox- ford History of the United States (“The Republic for Which It Stands,” cov- ering 1865-1896) Stanford’s Richard White says that John Bates Clark, the leading econ- omist of that era, said “true socialism” is “economic re- publicanism,” which meant more cooperation and less in- dividualism. Others saw so- cialism as “a system of social ethics.” All was vagueness. Today’s angrier socialists rai against today’s “rigged” system of government in the service of the strong. But as the Hoover Institution’s John H. Cochrane (aka the Grumpy Economist) says, “If the cen- tral problem is rent-seeking, abuse of the power of the state, to deliver economic goods to the wealthy and po- litically powerful, how in the world is more government the answer?” The “boldness” of today’s explicit and implicit social- ists – taxing the “rich” – is a perennial temptation of de- mocracy: inciting the ma- jority to attack an unpopular minority. This is socialism now: From each faction ac- cording to its vulnerability, to each faction according to its ability to confiscate. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2019, Washington Post Writers Group GEORGE F. WILL After many subsequent dilutions, today’s watery conceptions of socialism amount to this: almost everyone will be nice to almost everyone, using money taken from a few.5 LOCAL NEWS Bail conditions varied after committal proceedings CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A cruise ship pas- senger arrested earlier this month in Grand Cayman had charges against her aired in Summary Court on Thursday afternoon. Magis- trate Kirsty-Ann Gunn ruled that the matter should go to Grand Court. Carol Ann McNeill Skorupan, 67, was charged on Sunday, Feb. 3, with pos- session of a .25 handgun and six rounds of .25 ammuni- tion without a license in the Cayman Islands. The magistrate pointed out that, at the stage of pre- liminary inquiry, she simply had to decide whether there was a version of events on which a jury properly in- structed could convict. Ms. McNeill Skorupan had come to Cayman aboard the Celebrity Silhouette. After being granted bail on Feb. 5, she took up residence at a local hotel. Defense attorney James Stenning applied for a vari- ation of her bail conditions. The magistrate agreed to the removal of an electronic ankle monitor and she ad- justed curfew hours so that the defendant is now re- quired to remain at her place of residence from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. She is required to re- port to the George Town Po- lice Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Other conditions remain as originally imposed: cash bond of $10,000; surrender of travel documents; prohibition from coming within 100 yards of any airport or port. The matter was set for mention in the Grand Court on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Crown counsel Alliyah McCarthy represented the Of- fice of the Director of Public Prosecutions. CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019 Evidence concluded in immigration conspiracy trial Jury to hear closing speeches, judge’s summing-up this week CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Evidence concluded late Friday in the trial of five im- migration officers and two civilians charged with con- spiracy to commit fraud against the government. Each of the seven defen- dants pleaded not guilty and chose to give evidence after the Crown completed its pre- sentation of evidence the pre- vious Friday. They are charged with conspiring with each other and/or others to commit fraud by arranging for pay- ment of rewards to public officers as consideration for providing assistance to work permit applicants who were required to pass an English language test. The test is a requirement for anyone from a country in which English is not the primary language. The countries specifically men- tioned were Honduras, Cuba and Dominican Republic. The alleged offenses were said to have occurred be- tween August 2015 and June 2016. The five officers are fur- ther charged with failure to report the solicitation of an advantage or reward. Each defendant was questioned by his or her at- torney. Other defense attor- neys then had the option of asking questions. Acting Director of Public Prose- cutions Patrick Moran fol- lowed. If there were any points that needed clarifi- cation, the defendant’s at- torney was allowed to ask further questions. Some of the defendants called witnesses. Much of the evidence each defendant gave had to do with messages recovered from their phones. The Crown’s case is that references to money had to do with a payment of CI$600 or US$800 for a passing score on the English test. The defendants explained the references as pertaining to “numbers” (a lottery that is illegal in Cayman), “partners” (a savings scheme in which participants contribute a spe- cific sum on a regular basis and then take turns col- lecting the entire amount) or commissions on rental agree- ments where the defendant referred an incoming pas- senger to the owner of the rental property. Justice Philip St. John- Stevens released jurors until 11 a.m. Monday, telling them they would hear speeches from counsel and then he would sum up the case for them. The magistrate agreed to the removal of an electronic ankle monitor and she adjusted curfew hours. Cruise ship passenger’s charges go to Grand Court Coat of Arms road show reaches West Bay The National Museum’s Coat of Arms Travelling Dis- trict Display arrives in West Bay this week, the final leg of the road show’s journey around the Cayman Islands. The display opens for public viewing at the Church of God Chapel, West Bay on Town Hall Road on Wednesday, Feb. 20, and con- tinues until Saturday, Feb. 23. Opening times are 6-8 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and 2-6 p.m. on Saturday. The mini display was cu- rated by the Cayman Is- lands National Museum and features artifacts that share the story of the Coat of Arms, which was created 60 years ago. Events to mark the anni- versary have been held over the past several months, with this year’s National Heroes Day dedicated to members of the local Legislative As- sembly of Justices and Vestry who passed the resolution to create the Coat of Arms. The expanded Coat of Arms exhibition, which brings Cayman’s first offi- cial national symbol to life in a new way, is open at the National Museum through May this year. They are charged with conspiring with each other and/or others to commit fraud by arranging for payment of rewards to public officers as consideration for providing assistance to work permit applicants.6 LOCAL NEWS Check out these photos and others by visiting caymancompass.com/photogalleries or on facebook.com/caycompass (and don’t forget to tag yourself and your friends!) MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS K AABOO Cayman got off to a rousing start with local act Rico Rolando taking to the stage as the first arrivals were streaming through the gates early Friday afternoon and concluded with a spectac- ular show by British band Duran Duran who closed out the weekend with their mega-hit “Rio,” moments before midnight on Saturday. - Photos: Taneos Ramsay, Stephen Clarke and Mark Muckenfuss Sarah McTaggart of Transviolet, who grew up in Cayman, kicks off the band’s set in dramatic fashion on Friday by leaping off the drum kit. Orville Richard Burrell, better known as Shaggy, insists, ‘It Wasn’t Me.’ Maxi Priest gives a shoutout to the audience. Adam Duritz of Counting Crows in full voice. Canadian reggae fusion band Magic! in action. Hip hop duo Salt-N-Pepa take the stage early Saturday afternoon. Duran Duran runs through a litany of their hits as the band closes out the weekend of festivities. Local band Suckerbox gets the crowd rocking early on Friday.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019 Kimpton Seafire Resort Grand Cayman Thursday 28 Feb 2019 Braving the Turmoil Dynamic New World Register Now | rfceo.ky Media Group Flo Rida welcomes audience members onto the stage to help him out. Hands in the air: Organizers say 10,000 people attended each day of the sold-out festival. Country singer Margo Price on the Coral Reef stage. Jason Derulo gets serious on the Coral Reef stage on Saturday night. Rico Rolando, from West Bay, opens the festival Friday afternoon. The Chainsmokers close out the first day of KAABOO Cayman with a spectacular stage display.Debbie Harry of Blondie wows the crowd on Saturday. Country singer Maren Morris on the Coral Reef stage early Friday evening. Kevin Nealon, of ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘Weeds’ fame on the Humor Me stage.8 KAABOO PERFORMANCES AT A GLANCE MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS Maxi Priest Maxi Priest brought his calf-length dreadlocks and his signature brand of reggae and soul to Friday’s performance, and he worked the crowd into a frenzy during his hour-long set. Lead guitarist JJ Sansaverino added some flair by playing his guitar riffs behind his head, and Maxi Priest worked both sides of the stage while running through many of his hits, like “Caution,” “Just a Little Bit Longer” and “Wild World.” Counting Crows Adam Duritz is more of an acquired taste. The lead singer for Counting Crows does not prance around the stage or engage in theatrics. He’s more interested in taking his audience on an emotional journey. Known for playing many of their more obscure tunes in concert, or presenting alternate versions, the band stuck closely to the hits during its hour-plus show, with “Mrs. Potter,” “Round Here” and “Mr. Jones.” The set ended with rousing and energetic versions of “Hanginaround” and “Rain King.” Bryan Adams Everything he does, he did it for you. He did it for KAABOO. Canadian rocker Bryan Adams pulled out many of his classics Friday night, and had the crowd singing along to some of his chart-topping hits. He played “Run to You,” “Heaven,” “It’s Only Love” and “Summer of ’69” off his 1984 smash “Reckless” album. Adams, who said on stage this was his first time in Cayman, barreled through his repertoire, alternating between propulsive rockers and mid-tempo ballads. Flo Rida Nobody escapes a Flo Rida set without throwing their hands up and spinning “Right Round.” The American rapper got Friday’s audience energetically moving to his hit “Good Feeling,” and he filled the stage with women from the crowd eager to dance and get “Low, Low, Low, Low.” The sun followed suit as his set began to close out, and Flo Rida also welcomed an unlikely backup dancer – Sir Richard Branson, whose company Virgin Produced put together the KAABOO Cayman festival – to the stage to greet the crowd. Blondie Wearing a short white skirt and long white cape – the latter bearing an exhortation to save the planet that is not printable in the Compass – Debbie Harry dropped the KAABOO crowd back to the days when new wave music was washing over disco. The lead singer of Blondie pulled her band through a series of hits, including “Call Me,” “Hanging on the Telephone” and, of course, “Heart of Glass.” Harry, now 73, still has the voice to pull off the classics. Shaggy “Mr. Lover Lover” brought his impish sense of humor and smooth Caribbean reggae fusion to the Ironshore stage on Saturday. He told the crowd he had first come to Cayman in 1993, and he said he knows Grand Cayman has a strong Jamaican presence. He sang “I Need Your Love” and “Don’t Make Me Wait,” along with his 1993 breakthrough international hit “Oh Carolina.” He then told the male members of the audience “You should not be like Tiger Woods” before launching into “It Wasn’t Me.” Jason Derulo As much a dance performance as it was a music concert, Jason Derulo and his crew of six dancers muscled their way through an evening of jumps, spins, hair flips and actual flips lifting the music to another level. Derulo opened with “Watcha Say?” followed by “Tip Toe,” then led the band through such songs as “Wiggle,” “Swalla,” and a shortened version of “Colors.” By the end, he had doffed his shimmering silver tank top to deliver bare-chested versions of “The Other Side” and “Talk Dirty.” Zedd Zedd may well be the world’s best Zumba instructor. The award- winning Russian-German DJ and songwriter had the Millennial and Generation X population sweatily dancing elbow-to-elbow deep into the night. The 75-minute set of electro-house music kept the crowd in perpetual motion and was underscored by stunning visual laser-lights and pyrotechnics. Time and time again, Zedd incited the crowd to jump while mixing in hits by Michael Jackson, Cardi B. and other artists. The Chainsmokers Electronic dance music duo Alex Pall and Andrew Taggart, aka The Chainsmokers, closed out the first day of the festival with a bang. The show was full of throbbing beats, high-register sound effects, pyrotechnics, spinning lasers, smoke cannons, and a visibly happy crowd. Drummer Matt McGuire even played with flaming drumsticks at one point. “This is what Fyre Festival was supposed to be, right?” Pall said, before the performers launched into their smash hit “Something Just Like This.” Maren Morris Maren Morris gave her KAABOO audience “The Feels.” Morris, a 28-year-old Nashville-based country siren, unleashed her rich and robust voice on “Sugar” and a series of tracks from her 2016 debut album “Hero.” Morris, wearing a black blouse and a pink skirt, sultrily powered through her latest single, “GIRL,” and shone on album tracks like “I Could Use a Love Song,” “How It’s Done” and “Just Another Thing.” Live Live lives again. Ed Kowalczyk, lead singer of Live, returned to the American band from a five-year absence in 2016, He told Saturday’s crowd at KAABOO Cayman that he was thrilled to be back with his bandmates. And it showed. Live opened with a propulsive rendition of “All Over You” and went on to play several hits from their seminal album “Throwing Copper” including “Selling the Drama,” “I Alone” and “Lightning Crashes.” Duran Duran The KAABOO headliners, with lead singer Simon Le Bon resplendent in a white suit over a black “Wild Boys” T-shirt, opened their set with “Paper Gods.” Two songs later, Le Bon asked the crowd, “Did you get your conch fritters? … Or is everyone hungry?” before the band launched into “Hungry Like the Wolf” and a series of mega-hits, including “Notorious,” “I Don’t Want Your Love,” and “The Reflex.” The group came back out for a brief encore to play “A View to a Kill” and “Rio.” Words by Spencer Fordin and Mark Muckenfuss; photos by Stephen Clarke and Taneos Ramsay.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2019 Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall to visit Cayman hosted by Premier McLaughlin at Pedro St. James that evening, and the royal couple will depart thereafter. Government stated that de- tails about the events will be an- nounced soon. The royals’ visit here is a part of a spring tour that includes stops in Cuba, St. Kitts and Nevis, Bar- bados and Grenada. The trip is mostly ceremonial rather than for anything related to public policy, as Mr. McLaughlin said he will not be speaking to Prince Charles about diplomatic issues, such as Cayman’s constitutional reform efforts. “We look forward to showing them the very best of our islands and our people during their visit. We have been privileged to receive visits by other members of the British Royal Family over the years and, like many others, I also re- member fondly the two visits of Her Majesty The Queen to our shores in 1983 and 1994,” the premier said. “This upcoming visit by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Corn- wall during the year that we are cel- ebrating our Coat of Arms and our first Constitution is greatly appre- ciated and reinforces our ties to the United Kingdom.” Mr. McLaughlin said he was an 11-year-old schoolboy when Prince Charles first visited in 1973. He does not remember details about that visit, but does recall the “tremen- dous excitement” surrounding the event, he said. “It will be interesting to view his impression of the significant changes the islands have under- gone since then,” said the premier. “The population then was only around 10,000.” When asked how much the royals’ visit will cost Cayman tax- payers, Mr. Roper said the financial details about the trip are still being finalized, but some of the costs will be footed by the U.K. and others will be paid for by Cayman. Mr. McLaughlin downplayed any potential expenses the territory will have to incur. “Nothing in this world is for free,” he said. “This is a magnifi- cent promotional opportunity for the Cayman Islands, and we should focus on that rather than worrying too much about the cost. “It will be repaid in scores.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Premier Alden McLaughlin and Governor Martyn Roper announce the March visit of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. - PHOTO: KEN SILVA KAABOO sets Cayman alight Saturday that the two-day festival was anything but a major success. “The event has been spectacular,” said Krista Maierhofer, 38, a nine- year Cayman resident. “This puts us on the map. It brings the spirit of Cayman out to the world.” Mr. Felts was unwinding in North Side Sunday morning and looked back on the process of put- ting together an event he first visu- alized in 2009. “I had the kernel of the idea when I was at the Lions Centre many years ago watching the Shaggy show,” he said. Although he is based in Southern California, he spent much of his youth in Grand Cayman and spent time over the years helping to pro- mote the arts on the island. He worked to establish the local film commission and supported such agencies as the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands and the Cayman National Cultural Foundation. He was working for Virgin’s entertain- ment arm when the company de- cided to invest in KAABOO Del Mar. “My very first move was to work with my partners to extend the KAABOO brand,” he said. “I was very adamant that Cayman would be the next [location].” He met with government and Dart officials early on to deter- mine how and where such a festival might take place. Only one other po- tential site on the island was seri- ously considered and the site north of the Kimpton SeaFire resort turned out to be a “no brainer,” he said. “We all recognized that we could achieve my goal of advancing the arts in Cayman,” he said, “and the overall goal of making Cayman the entertainment capital of the Caribbean.” What resulted, he said, was vir- tually everything he had imagined. “It honestly was exactly what I envisioned,” he said. “I knew it would sell out. I knew all of the art- ists would have an incredible time. The international exposure we’re getting is incredible.” For a few nervous hours on Thursday, it looked as if Cayman’s weather might throw a wrench in that vision. Heavy night and morning rains left the festival site drenched on Thursday afternoon, forcing organizers to postpone a VIP preview event that evening. Crews worked through the night with vacuums and blowers to dry up the puddles. Apart from a few stubborn areas in the transporta- tion drop-off area and some soggy patches on the lawns in front of the stages, the water issue evaporated, along with such worries as massive traffic jams around the venue that never materialized. It was almost as if Cayman col- lectively sighed and said, “OK, let’s have a good time.” Chris Price, 49, a local civil engi- neer, said he was happily surprised by the way KAABOO Cayman turned out. Mr. Price said he has experience as a DJ and has been involved in the local nightclub scene. He has not been impressed by the way many of the island’s larger events have been handled in the past, he said. “I had no expectations,” he said when he first heard about KAABOO Cayman. “I thought it would be a typically bad Cayman production. It’s a real pleasure to see this. This is really great.” Amy Ford, 34, said she was on board from the beginning. She bought her ticket before the lineup was even announced. “I thought it sounded like a good time regardless of who they got,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for the island.” Those who paid extra for VIP tickets also seemed pleased. In the Royal Palms lounge area – one of several “amplified” passes that were available – guests could relax in padded Adirondack chairs and enjoy free food and drinks, meet-and-greet opportunities with performers, mas- sages and other amenities. John Lopez, 47, brought his wife and two sons from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mr. Lopez said he had been to two KAABOO Del Mar fes- tivals and jumped at the chance to come to the one in Cayman. “I knew KAABOO would do a good job and put on a good show,” he said. Paying extra for a VIP ticket was worth it, he said. “You’re going to spend the money anyway,” he said, referring to food, drinks and transportation. Plus, the family had the benefit of a better view of the concert. Highlights from the two days were performances by Zedd, Maren Morris, Bryan Adams, The Chain- smokers and Live. Rico Rolando, Suckerbox and Shameka Clarke were among the local acts who got a chance to perform at the festival. Other locals got involved as well. Flo Rida invited some audi- ence members onto the stage for his show and in the comedy tent, some locals were singled out for attention, as often happens during a stand-up performance. Cayman businessman Burns Rutty ended up as part of Kevin Nealon’s act, as the comedian singled him out several times, asking him about his night- time bathroom habits and what he did during his working years. “Burns, what did you do for a job?” Nealon asked him before re- acting to his responses. “Hotel busi- ness? Fast food? The water com- pany? When you say fast food, do you mean you worked the counter?” Local artists also got exposure during the two days. A converted shipping container was turned into gallery space featuring at least a dozen Cayman artists. Kristi Dabah, 32, of Chicago, and her husband Wajde, 35, bought a piece by Dready. “The same artist has some art in our hotel,” Ms. Dabah said. “We saw this and really liked it. We always try to buy art at festivals, but we never find anything we like. “It seems like a lot of festivals, art is part of it, but not really part of it,” she said, adding that KAABOO was different. She particularly liked the two murals that were being painted live during the two days. Mr. Felts said he would like to expand that element of KAABOO Cayman next year. “I’d personally like to see more art,” he said of the fine art and live mural paintings, “and I’d like to see more local artists on stage.” Other than that, he said he was elated at how the festival came off. “Personally, I’m so honored and appreciative that the people of Cayman trusted me,” he said. “This is the country’s festival. We all did it together, every guest, every em- ployee, every artist. We all did it together.” The royals’ visit here is a part of a spring tour that includes stops in Cuba, St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, and Grenada. Richard Branson stuffs cigarettes in his mouth as he introduces The Chainsmokers Friday night. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Jason Felts of Virgin Produced, pictured at a suite at the Kimpton Seafire resort on Friday morning before the festival kicked off. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The KAABOO sign by the beach was a popular spot for photographs. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKENext >