FRIDA Y MARC H 1, 2019 CAYMAN C OMPASS Dog Jog heads to SafeHaven Grab you r pooches a nd join in the fun B2 ■ ART & CULTURE r oches a de fff R CAYMAN WEEKENDER Red Sky at Night EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ROAMING DOGS: THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PET OWNERSHIP High of 86 Low of 73 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2019 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY T E N D E R J U I CY C R I S P Y M A D E W I T H W H IT E M E A T C H I C K E N Dart plans ‘iconic tower’ for Cayman Company tight-lipped on details KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Dart Enterprises is planning to build a tower that would “greatly exceed” Cayman’s current 10-story height limit on buildings, Premier Alden McLaughlin said at Thursday’s Cayman Economic Outlook conference. Mr. McLauglin said Dart would invest about $1.5 billion in the potential skyscraper and its surrounding infrastructure, which would include major road improvements and “potentially” social infrastructure invest- ments in schools and affordable housing for Caymanians. By way of comparison, the 160-story Burj Khalifa in Dubai cost about US$1.5 bil- lion, and the 104-story One World Trade Center in New York cost about US$3.9 billion. The $1.5 billion would also be added to the roughly US$1.3 billion Dart spent on Camana Bay through 2017, according to the company. The tower would be mixed-use, with hotel, residential, retail and entertainment spaces. Neither Mr. McLaughlin nor Dart offi- cials stated exactly how tall the tower will be, where it will be located, or what it will look like. Mr. McLaughlin said he would “leave it to Dart to outline their plan in more detail,” and a Dart spokesperson said a rendering of the structure has not been drawn, and that it’s “too early in the process” to provide any of those details. Mr. McLaughlin stressed that the plan is still in its infancy. Government and Dart offi- cials are discussing the proposal, and no com- mitments have been made, he said. The premier said he was using this an- nouncement as a way to “kick-start” the de- bate over the future of Cayman’s development. “I pose this as a series of questions the na- tion should consider: Do we want to continue with the approach of incremental change, or is now the time for us to think bigger and act more boldly when it comes to our land use and CONSERVATION COUNCIL SEEKS $10 MILLION TO PROTECT LAND JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The National Conservation Council is seeking $10 million in new funding to help buy environmentally significant land to pro- tect from development and other threats. The council approved 10 new nominations for pieces of land to be designated as terres- trial protected areas under the National Con- servation Law at its meeting on Wednesday. Those will now go to Cabinet for approval, along with a request for funding from the En- vironmental Protection Fund to help buy some of the parcels currently in private ownership. The parcels include a two-acre section of the Lower Valley Forest, part of the Central Mangrove Wetlands and the Western Man- grove Cays in Grand Cayman, Tarpon Lake in Little Cayman, and an expansion to the Eastern Lighthouse Park in Cayman Brac. The nominated parcels have been through a public consultation process and were rubber stamped by the conservation council on Wednesday. Cabinet will make the final call. Most of the parcels attracted widespread support from the public, though the parcel in Lower Valley was opposed by some neigh- boring residents, who were concerned it would impact their development rights. Fred Burton, the DoE’s terrestrial resources officer, said those rights would not be cur- tailed unless development was proposed that had a direct negative impact on the protected area itself. Council chair McFarlane Conolly ques- tioned whether it was worth proceeding with From Cayman to Lebanon, and beyond Tortuga Rum: a local success story KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com In the late 1970s, former Air Jamaica pilot Robert Hamaty was waiting to take off from Bermuda when he noticed a number of passengers boarding his plane carrying bottles of Gosling’s Rum. “There’s no sugar cane there, no factory, no nothing. So I got back to Jamaica and asked, ‘How the hell do these people have rum?’ And they said, ‘Oh, that’s Jamaican rum, and they bottle and blend it in Bermuda.’” After Mr. Hamaty joined Cayman Air- ways in 1978, he noticed passengers here would board planes carrying Appleton or other brands of rum made abroad. That is when the idea of Tortuga Rum was born. “I said, ‘Why can’t this island have its own rum?’” Mr. Hamaty said. More than 35 years later, Tortuga stands out as a local success story, with a rec- ognized brand and products distributed throughout the world. According to Mr. Ha- maty, his company has 20 storefronts and some 110 employees here, along with bak- eries and 100 employees in Jamaica, 70 in the Bahamas and 40 in Barbados. Tortuga Rum founder Robert Hamaty pours a glass of his locally made rum as his wife, Carlene, looks on. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL®IONAL FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cimboco - A Caribbean Café 94-PASTA (947-2782) Located in the Marquee Plaza BRUNCH-A-THON Saturday, Sunday Monday, Tuesday & Bank Holiday Wednesday Cayman Orthopaedic Group Dr. Krishan Rajaratnam, M.D., F.R.C.S.C. Upper Extremity, Trauma and Joint Arthoplasty will be at #1 Smith Road Plaza Monday, 4th March, 2019 to Friday, 8th March, 2019 Please call 945-8380 for appointments Clampdown on mishandling of stingrays at Sandbar JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Mishandling of stingrays at the Sandbar could soon mean tour operators having their licenses pulled or even ending up in court. Concerns have been raised over tour guides and tourists lifting rays out of the water, draping them on their shoul- ders or posing for a kiss with a stingray at the popular tourist attraction. Now the National Conser- vation Council has approved draft guidelines outlining what behavior is considered illegal under the law. Some interaction, in- cluding touching the rays, is still allowed, but environ- ment officials are concerned about the repeated impact of aggressive handling of the rays by a growing number of tourists. Scott Slaybaugh, deputy director of operations and enforcement at the DoE, said the National Conserva- tion Law forbids taking, ha- rassing or injuring rays, but those provisions were diffi- cult to enforce without clear guidelines over exactly what was not permitted. Once the guidance notes are finalized and come into force, he said the DoE’s en- forcement officers would have the power to charge people and potentially pull the licenses of offenders. Mr. Slaybaugh said there would be a period of edu- cation first, before the de- partment gets tough with prosecutions. A presenta- tion will be given to all water-sports businesses permitted to operate in the Wildlife Interaction Zone, and an educational video has been produced in asso- ciation with the Guy Harvey Foundation. He said the DoE had drafted the guidelines based on the advice of stingray ex- perts about the long-term effects on the health of the animals. He said lifting the animals out the water and bending them in any way were the key concerns. Exposure to sunscreen has also been highlighted as an issue. “A single incident of mis- handling may not result in immediately apparent harm, but the same rays are handled several times daily and impacts such as from bending, lifting while pregnant, sunscreen, and scratches, can be cumula- tive and long-term,” the draft guidelines indicate. Mr. Slaybaugh said the majority of tour operators were responsible. “Most people are trying to do the right thing, but there are a few that are trying to impress the tour- ists and that is the sort of thing we want to prevent,” he said. Lobster season comes to a close Lobster season has come to a close. The National Conser- vation Law sets the closed season for lobster from March 1 through Nov. 30, and nobody is allowed to take lobster from Cayman waters during that period. People are also prohib- ited from purchasing, re- ceiving or possessing lobster taken from Cayman waters during that time. The closed seasons are designed to give a protected species a chance to repopu- late in the wild. “We’ve already warned for prosecution a number of in- dividuals for exceeding take or possession limits during this open lobster season,” said Mark Orr, chief conser- vation officer for the Depart- ment of Environment. “Those caught illegally taking lob- ster or other protected spe- cies during a closed season will face potential prosecu- tion and may be fined or imprisoned.” The National Conserva- tion Law sets a general pen- alty of up to four years’ im- prisonment and/or a fine of up to $500,000 for successful prosecution related to il- legal removal of marine pro- tected species. The DoE warned the public Thursday that the closed season for Nassau grouper continues during spawning season through April 30. The penalties for taking or possessing grouper are the same as for lobster. “These rules are in place for a good reason, that is to help ensure the sustain- ability of our marine spe- cies for more generations to come,” said Environment Minister Dwayne Seymour. GAO: Unclear if $560M US Caribbean security plan has worked SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – A federal report released Wednesday said the U.S. government spent more than $560 million to boost security across the Carib- bean during this decade but does not know whether its efforts have worked. The U.S. Government Accountability Office said that the collection and maintenance of data for the Caribbean Basin Se- curity Initiative varies by country and that there is no centralized data storage system. It also said the U.S. State Department has not created a plan to assess overall progress. “They cannot attest to the initiative’s success or failure,” the report said. The initiative began in 2010 and aims to reduce drug trafficking and im- prove public safety in 13 nations, most of them Ca- ribbean islands, along with Guyana and Suri- name in South America. The report noted the na- tions have long coastlines that are difficult to patrol and have limited air and sea capabilities to fight drug trafficking. The GAO said it con- ducted its audit from No- vember 2017 to February 2019 and focused on Bar- bados, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, in part because they receive the highest amount of U.S. funding. The initiative has provided boats, aircraft and other equipment as well as trained prosecutors in places like the Domin- ican Republic. The GAO said the State Department agrees with its recommendations to create a mechanism to monitor, evaluate and report all re- sults and implement a data management system to centrally collect data, saying it is already working on those goals. CORRECTION A story that ran in the Compass on Feb. 28, titled “Heart health symposium to be held next month,” had the incorrect date for the conference. It will be held on Thursday, March 14. Environment officials are concerned about the impact of tourists lifting stingrays out of the water. - PHOTO: DOE People are prohibited from taking, purchasing, selling or possessing lobster taken from Cayman waters from March 1 to Nov. 30. Concerns have been raised over tour guides and tourists lifting rays out of the water, draping them on their shoulders or posing for a kiss with a stingray at the popular tourist attraction. The initiative began in 2010 and aims to reduce drug trafficking and improve public safety in 13 nations, most of them Caribbean islands. www.ndc.ky Is your drug use larger than your portfolio?The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2019 The finest in finishes, design and amenities combine for an unrivalled penthouse living experience. Disclaimer : FIN Grand Cayman features and amenities are based on current development plans and concepts and are subject to change without notice. Some services and amenities are subject to service-based fees or homeowner fees. fin@fingrandcayman.com + 1 345 326 1400 FIN.cayman fingrandcayman Reserve your private tour and discover the last word in luxury A NEW STANDARD IN PENTHOUSE LIVING THE SKY LOFT A two-level penthouse occupying the fourth and rooftop levels. Each penthouse has a large, private, glass-enclosed rooftop pavilion, bookmarked by two outdoor terraces. The east terrace enjoys a garden oasis with outdoor shower, and facing west, the oceanfront rooftop terrace is enhanced by an infinity plunge pool. Spanning the width of the building the Penthouses enjoy views of both South Sound and the Caribbean Sea, allowing residents to bask in the beauty of both sunrise and sunset. Only two multi-level Penthouses remain, starting at USD 2,999,000 THE SKY DECK A three-level penthouse occupying the third, fourth and rooftop levels. 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” “The biggest way to fix this problem is for every dog owner to take responsibility for their own dog. Then the problem goes away.” – RCIPS Acting Sergeant Jonathan Kern It’s been said that there is no such thing as bad dogs, only bad owners. Perhaps there’s some truth to that. But it is undeniable that dog owners have a legal and societal responsibility to look after their pets, and to make sure they are not a public nuisance or poten- tial threat. Too many of our islands’ dog owners are allowing their animals to roam the neighborhood, chasing cars and pedestrians, getting into scuffles with other dogs. In the worst cases, these free-range animals have terrorized children and injured unlucky bystanders. Just last Friday, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service officers responded to three reports of “ferocious dogs.” In one incident, a woman was bitten by a dog through an open car window. None of these dogs were feral or “strays,” police said – all were pets. In late January, 7th grader Evie Sweetman described her own harrowing experience with a roaming pack of dogs on the pathway between Britannia and the road to Camana Bay. In a letter to the editor, she wrote, “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 ….” “How can this have been allowed to happen,” she asked. “As residents of the Cayman Islands, the gov- ernment should protect us, not let wild dogs wander around, threatening people.” In recent weeks, police and Department of Agri- culture officers have been canvassing neighborhoods: educating owners, registering animals and handing out leaflets explaining the law. That seems to be a sensible measure, particularly since so many people seem unaware that the law mandates that owners register their dogs with the DoA, keep their animals leashed in public, or otherwise confine their dogs within the owner’s property. Police and DoA officers cannot, and should not, be expected to be everywhere at once, continually issuing reminders about responsible pet ownership. It is the owners who must follow the law by setting and enforcing the rules for their pets. “Man’s best friend” is not an equal partner in the relationship. Some owners may think they are doing their dog a favor by giving it the “freedom” to roam with the neighborhood pack. (Similarly, some argue that is unfair to spay or neuter a pet because it would “change” the animal’s personality, or deny it a satisfying “love life.”) But pets are not people. Left to its own devices, even the best-natured pooch can cause mischief. When that happens, it is the dog that suffers the harshest punishment. As RCIPS Acting Sergeant Jonathan Kern told the Compass, “It is not the dog’s responsibility to look after itself, but unfortunately it is the dog that will take the blame and face the consequences if there is an incident.” Negligent owners should face consequences, too. On occasion, officers seize dogs that (along with their culpably careless owners) are known as “repeat offenders.” But perhaps losing a dog that already was only loosely held is not enough of a deterrent. Maybe the possibility of significant fines or community service would have more teeth. Roaming dogs: The responsibilities of pet ownership FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cuba expands rights but rejects radical change MARÍA ISABEL ALFONSO Cuba has rejected a pro- posal to legalize same-sex marriage in its new and re- vised constitution, a move that disappointed some gay rights activists. An article that would have redefined marriage as a “union between two people” – rather than a “union between a man and a woman” – was eliminated from a proposed new constitution, which was written last year by the Na- tional Assembly, analyzed and debated in thousands of public meetings across the island and, on Feb. 24, ap- proved by the Cuban people at referendum. But marriage equality is not totally off the table in Cuba. Marriage is now defined in the constitution as “a so- cial and legal institution” and “one form of family or- ganization.” In other words, same-sex marriage is not ex- plicitly permitted – but it’s no longer strictly prohib- ited, either. This is how social change works these days in Cuba, my home country and the subject of my aca- demic research. Progress is no longer revolutionary. It comes slowly, and cloaked in moderation. In this way, Cuba has un- dergone a gradual and dra- matic metamorphosis under the governments of Raúl Castro and his successor, President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Thanks to a thaw in U.S.- Cuba relations under Presi- dent Barack Obama, Amer- ican tourists began visiting the communist country for the first time since the Ken- nedy administration placed a trade embargo on Cuba after Fidel Castro’s 1959 commu- nist revolution. Starting in 2008, Castro opened the economy to some foreign investment and al- lowed Cuban workers – once confined to government jobs – to start small businesses. The new constitution – the fourth such update to Cuba’s founding docu- ment – creates official legal standing for Castro’s eco- nomic reforms, which had remained in legal limbo under a Cold War-era con- stitution that did not recog- nize private property or the business sector.Many Cu- bans hoped the reform pro- cess would also expand civil liberties, bringing Cuban law more into line with its changing society. LGBTQ rights groups, in particular, launched public awareness campaigns about sexual diversity. By late 2018, the path seemed to have been paved for gay marriage. But religious groups fiercely opposed the move, and ultimately the govern- ment removed new language defining marriage as a “union between two people.” Still, the newly approved constitution does substan- tially expand social, political and economic rights in Cuba. It limits Cuban presi- dents to two five-year terms. Previously, Cuba had no term limits. It also creates a prime minister position and strengthens local govern- ment, shifting power out of the executive. The criminal justice system in Cuba now operates on the presumption of innocence, not guilt. Freedom of assembly, long restricted on the island, has also been expanded. Previously, Cubans had the “right to meet, demon- strate and associate, for licit and peaceful purposes,” but only as part of a so-called “organización de masa” – the Cuban term for state-run groups. The new constitu- tion removes the words “or- ganizaciones de masa,” de- politicizing the freedom of assembly. It remains to be seen whether the government will actually respect Cubans’ new right to form indepen- dent organizations – espe- cially if those groups are po- litical in nature. Cuba’s prior constitu- tion prohibited discrimina- tion on the basis of race, skin color, sex, national or- igin and religious belief. Now gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ethnic origin, disability and territo- rial origin have been added to the list. The National Assembly stopped short of proposing any affirmative action poli- cies, however, which would have been a more radical step toward equality. .Independent media is still prohibited, a blow to the blogs and alterna- tive news sites that have cropped up to fill the infor- mation vacuum of a country where all news sources are government-owned. Some analysts have ob- served that, as in the case of gay marriage, language de- fining the role of the media in Cuba was loosened some- what. And in December the government announced it would allow Cubans to ac- cess the internet on their smartphones. This may leave the door open for greater press freedom in the future. However, in my anal- ysis, regional politics make that unlikely to occur any time soon. The constitutional re- form process has confirmed that radical progress in Cuba will have to wait. But Cuba is changing, in zigs and in zags – just perhaps not as fast as some might hope. María Isabel Alfonso, Professor of Spanish at St. Joseph’s College of New York, is affiliated with Cuban Americans for Engagement (CAFE), This article was originally published on The Conversation. Still, the newly approved constitution does substantially expand social, political and economic rights in Cuba.The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2019 It starts with you! ©2019PricewaterhouseCoopers, a Cayman Islands partnership. All rights reserved. Join our College, Coffee and Careers Student Session March 16that 9:00am! Discover how our CDP scholarship, work experience, internship, and exam support opportunities can be right for you. Register and find out more at: www.pwc.com/ky/careersThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Imagine an employer who shares your ambitions. We offer a structured training programme, through which our articled clerks have the opportunity to work with leading offshore practitioners not only in the Cayman Islands but throughout our global network. Our articled clerk training programme is offered to Caymanians with a minimum of a 2:1 or equivalent in the Bachelors of Law Degree or Graduate Diploma in Law. Closing date: 31 March 2019 Learn more at harneys.com/careers Harneys is now accepting applications for our articled clerk training programme. “A gentleman said he went to Lebanon the other day and was shocked to see the cake in Lebanon,” he said. But Tortuga’s growth has not been an easy process, Mr. Hamaty said. “We didn’t climb to the top,” he said. “We clawed.” Tortuga’s struggles started before the company even ex- isted. Mr. Hamaty said when he tried to trademark “Tor- tuga” in 1982, he was told by British officials that he’d need permission from the govern- ment of Haiti since there is an island there named La Tortue – tortuga and tortue both mean “turtle” in Spanish and French, respectively. Luckily, Mr. Hamaty said he met in Jamaica with a Haitian consulate who gave him permission. “They said they’re French, so they wouldn’t name a rum Tortuga,” he said. “So we got permission.” In 1984, Tortuga opened a storefront on the George Town waterfront, selling its products to cruise ship pas- sengers. While that business got off the ground, Mr. Ha- maty’s wife, Carlene, would often make rum cake for vis- iting guests and family. “We had guests at our house who said, ‘Forget the rum, you need to focus on this cake,’” Mr. Hamaty said. The Hamatys followed that advice, with Robert con- tinuing to focus on the rum side of the business and Car- lene heading up the cake baking. Along with baking thousands of rum cakes for customers – Mrs. Hamaty said she once baked 3,700 cakes for the CEO of Citibank to take to his employees in Texas – Mrs. Hamaty trav- eled around the Caribbean, training cooks in Barbados, Jamaica and the Bahamas to bake her family’s recipe. Mr. Hamaty explained that his wife made trips abroad to train cooks because tariffs made it too expensive for the cakes to be made in Cayman and shipped to other Carib- bean jurisdictions. Despite having to teach others to bake, Mrs. Hamaty said she has been able to safeguard her family’s secret recipe throughout the de- cades. However, competitors have indeed tried to steal the formula, she said. One time, a local com- petitor – Mrs. Hamaty de- clined to name this person – tried to get into the bakery when he thought she was off island. “A girl called me and said there’s a gentleman who wants to get into our bakery. I came over and he said, ‘Hi, Mrs. Hamaty, I was just taking some cakes back to England,’” she said. “I said, ‘I appreciate your business, but this is the second time you tried to get into our bakery.’ I said, ‘Tell your boss, the next time you try to get into our bakery, I’m going to send you back to him in a Tortuga rum cake box.’” While trying to spread the Tortuga brand throughout the Caribbean and beyond, the Hamatys also focused on making the brand a mainstay back in Cayman. A major breakthrough to that end came in 1994, when they opened the first Tortuga store in Owen Roberts Inter- national Airport. That store was replaced last month by a new Tortuga outlet at the re- developed airport terminal. Tortuga also opened its first local distillery last Jan- uary, and plans to open an- other, larger one in West Bay. After all that work, Mr. Hamaty took a moment to enjoy his success at a 35th anniversary celebration on Wednesday evening. One of the reasons the Tortuga founder is taking time to re- flect on his career is be- cause he also celebrated an- other anniversary last week: the 23rd year of his heart transplant. “I’ve lived with someone else’s heart for 23 years. We’re very lucky and we’ve done a lot,” he said. “It’s time to take a break and let the new generation take over.” From Cayman to Lebanon, and beyond CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Tortuga distiller Jordan Telford works on making a batch of locally made rum at the company’s distillery at the Seven Mile Shops. The company is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. - PHOTOS: ALVARO SEREY Rum cakes have become a major export for Tortuga.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2019 or info@artscayman.org / www.artscayman.orgThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS In Loving memory of our darling Jeanne Diane Watler-Miller Feb 04, 1963 – March 02, 1994 The sun still rises in the east, And darkness falls at night. But nothing now seems quite the same, Each day is not as bright. The birds still sing, the flowers grow, the breeze still whispers too. But it will never, ever be, the same world without you. It’s so sad that you had to go, Your leaving caused so much pain. But you were very special, and Earth’s loss is Heaven’s gain. Very, very sadly missed by all the Family The sun still rises in the east,The sun still rises in the east, Frances Elizabeth Morris, Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of who passed away on February 19, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at Church of God Full Gospel Hall, 63 S Church St, George Town on Sunday, March 03, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Viewing will be from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Interment follows at Spotts Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com The Family of the Late Davin Gerrian Ebanks fondly known as Jigs regrets to announce his passing on 8 February 2019, at the Broward Medical Health Centre. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A Memorial service will be held atThe Wharf Restaurant, 43 West Bay Road, Grand Cayman, on Saturday 2 March 2019, at 10:00 a.m. The Family of the Late Dr. Clarence Russell Turner, Jr. regrets to announce his passing on Thursday, 21 February, 2019. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Saturday, 2 March, 2019 at Bethel Baptist Church, Cayman Brac. Interment will follow in Spot Bay Cemetery. The Family of the Late Valerie Deanna Merren deeply regret to announce her passing on Sunday, 24th February, 2019. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A Thanksgiving Service to celebrate Deanna’s life will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, 9th March, 2019 at the Church of God (Universal) Walker’s Road, George Town. Interment will follow at Garden of Reflections on Old Prospect Road. the application, given the public concerns. He said the council had a negative image in some sections of the public and questioned whether the piece of land was worth pursuing if it added to that perception. Ultimately, the council voted to proceed with the nomination and leave the final decision to Cabinet. Speaking after the meeting, Mr. Burton said the protected area was a small but valu- able piece of the Lower Valley Forest. He said the law only enabled the council to nego- tiate with landowners who wanted to sell or enter agree- ments to protect the land. While the council might like to protect wider swathes of forest and mangrove, he said the law enabled it to pursue a kind of jigsaw ap- proach to protecting envi- ronmentally important land, while respecting the rights of property owners. The nominations now go to Cabinet for approval and a request for funding is ex- pected to go to the Legislative Assembly at the next session. Conservation council seeks $10 million to protect land Miller says Cayman not ready for independence Opposition leader Ezzard Miller says he shares Premier Alden McLaughlin’s concerns about potential legislation that would grant British cit- izens the right to vote and hold elected office in its over- seas territories, including the Cayman Islands. But Mr. Miller he does not think the threat of leaving British pro- tection is a good strategy. Also included in the pro- posed legislation would be forced recognition of same- sex marriage. Mr. McLaughlin said in recent days that if such regulations were imple- mented, the Cayman Islands should pursue independence as a country. The initiatives are con- tained in a report issued by the House of Commons For- eign Affairs Committee ti- tled “Global Britain and the British Overseas Territo- ries: Resetting the relation- ship.” The report was pub- lished Feb. 21. “I join the Premier in his concerns,” Mr. Miller said in a statement issued Wednesday, “but where our views diverge is with respect to the notion that we should sit tight and hope that the recommenda- tions go nowhere, while at the same time hold indepen- dence as a sort of sword of Damocles in the event the proposals do materialize as local law.” He said he believes Cayman should take a more active approach. “When we hear a train whistle, we don’t need to wait to see the train be- fore we take preemptive action,” he said. “We must take appropriate formal ac- tion now, debate the report in the Cayman Islands Leg- islature and report our con- cerns to the UK through ap- propriate channels.” The committee is ex- pected to send its recom- mendations to the House of Commons where they could eventually be incor- porated into legislation. Mr. Ezzard said Cayman should do what it can to derail the ideas before that stage. Threatening indepen- dence, he said, is a bad idea at this point because he does not believe Cayman is ready yet for that step. Laying the groundwork for making the islands ready, however, is worthwhile, he added. “We must begin from now to prepare for greater internal management of our own affairs,” he said. Such steps would mean “im- proving our standards of governance.” It would also require in- vesting in people and in- stitutions that would help support self gover- nance, he said. Ezzard Miller CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Tarpon Lake in Little Cayman is one of 10 sites earmarked for extra protection by the National Conservation Council. - PHOTO: JENNY GABRUCH NICARAGUA TALKS ENTER 2ND DAY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, NO ORTEGA MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) – Nicaraguan government and opposition representa- tives began a second day of negotiations Thursday on resolving the country’s po- litical standoff, amid an at- mosphere of rumor, secrecy and an early lack of con- sensus on key points. The discussions were held behind closed doors at a business institute south of the capital, Managua, and President Daniel Ortega has not been attending, in- stead sending various lieu- tenants to negotiate with an opposition delegation comprising members of the business, political and aca- demic worlds. It’s a sharp contrast to a previous, failed attempt at dialog last year, when the sessions were broadcast live and Ortega was forced to endure an awkward moment when a student leader admonished him to “give in” and leave office. After an eight-hour ses- sion Wednesday, the Vati- can’s ambassador to Nica- ragua, who is acting as an observer, read a brief state- ment to journalists saying that nine of 12 elements of a “roadmap” for negoti- ations had been approved. But he did not say what they were or what sticking points remained. An opposition figure with knowledge of the ne- gotiations confirmed to The Associated Press that one was the Ortega camp’s op- position to demands for par- ticipation by international guarantors, such as from the Organization of Amer- ican States, the European Union or the United Nations. The opposition has also sought a more active role for the Roman Catholic Church, as was the case in last sum- mer’s talks. The opposition figure, who spoke on con- dition of anonymity so as not to disrupt the negotia- tions, said the government was rejecting demands that Matagalpa Bishop Rolando Alvarez take part. A university group that is part of the opposition Civic Alliance said in a statement Thursday that the previous day’s discussions centered on “logistics,” but issues of mediators, guar- antors and observers were still pending. “We are working on the roadmap. There have been advances, but more re- mains,” a businessperson who is part of the opposi- tion negotiating team told AP, also speaking on con- dition of anonymity to avoid harming the process. “It will be public when we finish. We hope it is soon.” But concrete informa- tion on the discussions has been elusive. The Civic Al- liance said in a statement that it remains committed to demanding the release of those it considers po- litical prisoners; the res- toration of freedom of ex- pression rights following a crackdown on independent media outlets, journalists and anti-government pro- tests; and electoral reform.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2019 Inez Hortensia Bell 1 st March 1938 –29 th January 2013 So many happy memories, Mommy, Come flooding back today, of birthday celebrations Before you went away. Those wonderful occasions Never changed throughout the years, But now your smile is missing Replaced with birthday tears. You may not be here with us But the day means just as much, And we can feel your presence And the comfort of your touch. We’ll celebrate your birthday, Mommy, The Way we always do, For the precious love between us And all that we owe to you. Celebrating you today and always Pat, Paula, Pamie, Saulo,Rochelle & Savio January 2013January 2013 So many happy memories, Mommy,So many happy memories, Mommy, Never changed throughout the years,Never changed throughout the years, We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. SeredAreli Pars, who passed away on Monday, February 25, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at George Town Seventh Day Adventist Church, Smith Road, Grand Cayman on Sunday, March 03, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Viewing will be from 1:00 –2:00 p.m. Interment at: Dixie Cemetery Churchill’s Funeral Home Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com In Loving Memory of Charles L. Walton Snr. (Nicky) May 26, 1944 – March 02, 2016 Someone I love has gone away and life is not the same The greatest gift that you can give is just to speak their name. I need to hear the stories and the tales of days gone past I need for you to understand these memories must last We’ll never make more memories since they are no longer here So when you say their name To me its music to my ear Rest in Peace Your Loving Wife, Cherrie Walton building heights?” he said, adding, “I believe we must at least take a long, hard look at the potential for the kind of tower Dart is proposing.” Mr. McLaughlin extolled the many benefits a giant tower could bring. The development would create hundreds of jobs and would be an ongoing project that would serve as an eco- nomic buffer for when the inevitable next recession hits, he said. Instead of the growing “wall of concrete and glass” along Seven Mile Beach, towers would allow for the conservation of more land, the premier stated. Dart made similar economic and conservation arguments in a statement released shortly after Mr. McLaugh- lin’s speech. “Additionally, the inclu- sion of a luxury hotel and residences will provide on- going employment and will be an economic engine for the government for decades. In 2018, two of our ho- tels, The Ritz-Carlton and Kimpton Seafire, contributed more than $14 million di- rectly to government reve- nues.” Mark VanDevelde, CEO of Dart Enterprises, stated in the release, with the com- pany adding, “With limited land available on Seven Mile Beach, the ability to build up- wards will provide new op- portunities for developers, with an essential component being increased setbacks from the beach, as exempli- fied by Kimpton Seafire Re- sort + Spa.” Citing the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the premier also stated that the tower of Dart could create “a new skyline that would be recognizable throughout the world.” In fact, when the Eiffel Tower was being built in the late 1800s, some 300 contem- porary French artists signed a petition to halt its develop- ment, Mr. McLaughlin said. “Yes, petitions against progress were a thing, even then,” he said. “I can just imagine those in Cayman who will make similar objections.” The premier’s announce- ment comes on the heels of House Speaker McKeeva Bush calling for 50-story buildings here in his New Year’s message. “I want to see buildings’ heights move to 50 storeys, even if only for one building, for tourism, residential and commercial businesses to make a mark in the region, so that the wealthiest among the wealthy will work, shop and live there, to set us apart in the region,” Mr. Bush wrote. “We must offer something dif- ferent. We are limited in space except for in the air. Why not go as high as we can go and we will be saving land.” Convicted realtor cannot pay compensation CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former realtor Antonio Paolini, convicted of thefts from two clients, had his sentencing concluded on Thursday, when the judge determined that he would not make any order for compensation. Justice Philip St. John- Stevens said he was making no such order because of Mr. Paolini’s lack of means to pay. “You are no longer before the court. You may go,” he told the defendant. Mr. Paolini was found guilty by a jury of stealing $51,600 from a woman who had paid for a parcel of land but never received it or her money back. That offense oc- curred in 2013 and trial took place in August 2017. In early 2018, Mr. Paolini went to trial for theft from another client, this one in 2014. At the close of the case for the prosecution, he changed his plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.” Some money had been returned to this second complainant, but $14,500 was still owed. Since Justice St. John Ste- vens had presided over the aborted trial, he was the sentencing judge for both matters. In August 2018, he imposed prison terms of two years and 19 months, to run concurrently; he suspended the sentences for two years. Defense attorney Alex Davies had put forward Mr. Paolini’s previous good character, noting the defen- dant was 78 years old. He had not used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle: he had used it for business ex- penses, such as office rent and staff salaries. As part of the mitigation placed before the court, there was an expectation that he would be able to compensate his victims. Crown counsel Toyin Salako applied for compen- sation orders, but Mr. Davies asked for an adjournment so that Mr. Paolini could at- tempt to work and gather funds for repayment. As things turned out, there was an impediment to his working – he could not travel to obtain parts for his computer repair business. On Thursday, the court was presented with an affi- davit of means, which dem- onstrated an inability to pay compensation. The court was also advised of Mr. Paolini’s medical condition. He now relied on assistance from the state for everyday needs and he was unable to generate any other income. The judge noted that he was not of the view that Mr. Paolini’s decla- ration of intention to pay was “hollow.” He pointed to estab- lished law regarding com- pensation orders. A period of imprisonment can be im- posed in default of payment if such an order is made, but such an order should not be made when there is in- ability to pay. Justice St. John Stevens pointed out that there were civil remedies available, “which sometimes are best suited to collect debt.” On Thursday, the court was presented with an affidavit of means, which demonstrated an inability to pay compensation. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dart plans ‘iconic tower’ for Cayman SOMALIA: 4 DEAD IN BOMB BLAST IN THE CAPITAL NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A powerful explosion killed at least four people in the Somali capital Thursday, police said. An Islamic ex- tremist group claimed a Mogadishu hotel was the intended target, but a police officer said militants deto- nated a bomb while trying to assassinate a judge. Militants set off a car bomb near the residence of appeals court chief Judge Abshir Omar, and security forces stationed outside the judge’s house fought off gunmen who tried to force their way inside, police officer Mohamed Hussein said. Eight others were in- jured in the attack, Hussein told The Associated Press. Two witnesses said the blast ripped off part of the roof of Omar’s house. The witnesses, shopkeeper Ahmed Mohamed and area resident Fatima Nur, re- ported hearing gunfire after the explosion and said smoke billowed from the site of the attack. Al-Shabab, which is considered the deadliest Islamic extremist group in Africa, claimed respon- sibility for the attack. The al-Qaida-linked group said the Maka Almukar- ramah hotel, not the judge’s house nearby, was the in- tended target. Another witness, Sabir Abdi, said the hotel suf- fered significant damage and several people inside were injured. Dozens of cars were on fire along Maka Almukar- ramah Road, which is in a busy part of Mogadishu where restaurants and ho- tels are located. Al-Shabab has targeted the Maka Almukarramah hotel multiple times in the past, including a March 2015 attack in which at least 18 people died. The militant group, which opposes Somalia’s federal government and wants to impose sharia law, has carried out many deadly attacks inside So- malia and elsewhere in the region, including in neigh- boring Kenya. Al-Shabab said it was responsible for an attack on a hotel and shopping complex in the Kenyan cap- ital, Nairobi, that killed 21 people in January. Cars burn after a bomb blast, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Thursday. - PHOTO: APNext >