FRID AY MARCH 8, 20 19 • CAYMAN COMPASS Pretty on the Outside Ardra Shep hard, international blogger, to spe ak at multiple sclerosis fun draiser B5 ■ EVENTS Walk a mile in her shoes Men step out to raise funds for the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre. B6 CAYMAN WEEKENDER Walk a mile in her shoes EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 A LONGER ‘RUNWAY’ IS NEEDED TO MEET INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS High of 85 Low of 73 Seas: Moderate to rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY MARCH 8, 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 Turtle Centre clears $50 million debt Taxpayer contributions to tourism attraction will reduce JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Turtle Centre is officially debt-free after making the final payment on a $50 million loan. The money was borrowed to build the taxpayer-funded tourism facility at its current location in Boatswain Bay after Hurricane Michelle destroyed much of the old turtle farm in 2001. At the time, it was envisaged that a cruise jetty would be built close to the center, pro- viding a steady stream of customers. But that project never materialized and the Turtle Centre, as it is now known, has never made a profit. The center has received an annual sub- sidy of around $9 million from government to cover its operating losses and to fund repay- ment of its loans. Tim Adam, managing director of the center, said the repayment of the loans was testimony to the government and the people of Cayman Islands’ faith in the value of the facility. Though it will still require government funding – expected to be around $3 million a year – he said the center was worth every penny spent in terms the economic spin- off benefits. It employs more than 100 people and is an “integral part” of the islands’ tourism product, Mr. Adam said. He added that the value of its turtle release program, which studies show has helped bring Cayman’s wild green sea turtle population back from the brink of ex- tinction, was inestimable. CAYMAN AIRPORT USED IN UNDERCOVER DRUGS STING JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com U.S. Homeland Security agents shipped five kilos of sham cocaine through the Cayman Is- lands in a sting to catch a New Jersey bag- gage handler connected to an international drug smuggling operation. Tyrone Woolaston, 35, was convicted of a multi-year scheme to smuggle cocaine into the U.S. through Newark International Airport after a trial last month. Investigators used criminal informants in an undercover operation to arrange a deal to ship drugs from Cayman into the U.S. on a United Airlines flight from Owen Roberts International Airport on Feb. 10, 2018, court records show. Mr. Woolaston used his position as a baggage handler to ensure the suitcase got through airport security in Newark. He was arrested when he tried to deliver the drugs Ready to soar Special Olympians take off for Abu Dhabi Cayman’s Special Olympic squad is en route to the Middle East to compete in the World Games alongside more than 7,500 athletes from over 190 countries. The 19-strong Cayman team bid farewell to their families at Owen Roberts International Air- port Thursday as they began the long journey to Abu Dhabi for the games, which start next week. Cayman’s athletes will repre- sent their country in everything from bocce and basketball, to swimming and track and field. “It is a very diverse group with a wide variety of ages Tourism dreams big with new ad campaign Silversides create a shimmering underwater dress for a model in this promotional ad created for the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism as part of a new international advertising campaign. A series of ads featuring striking images of models alongside iconic Cayman scenes and creatures, like the Crystal Caves, a blue iguana and a green sea turtle, was launched this week as part of the new ‘Dream in Cayman’ campaign. For more on this story, see page 10. The Special Olympics Cayman Islands team gathers at Owen Roberts International Airport Thursday morning before beginning their journey to Abu Dhabi. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS West Shore Center, Seven Mile Beach • 10am to 10pm Cayman Cookin’ Over a Wood Fire! Internati onal Award-Winning Caribbean Chicken! Dine-in! Take-out! Indulge on a feast for 2 to 4 or 6 or more! With an awesome selection of sides to choose from. 945-2290 It starts withyou! Join our College, Coffee and Careers Student Session March 16th at 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/careers ©2019PricewaterhouseCoopers, a Cayman Islands partnership. All rights reserved. CORRECTION A caption of a photograph that accompanied an article titled “Fossils reveal existence of 3 new species unique to Cayman,” which ran in Thursday’s Cayman Compass, mis- identified the individual in the image. The person in the photograph was Thomas Sevik and the photograph was taken in 2009, not the 1980s as stated in the caption. ‘Shark talks’ to get kids hooked on conservation Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation targets next generation with conservation message JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Shark movies, beach cleanups and fishing clinics are all part of the line-up for this year’s Ocean Conser- vation Month. The series of events, which kicks off on Cayman Brac on Monday, March 11, is organized by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and con- cludes with the annual fund- raising cocktail party for the conservation organization at LUCA restaurant on April 5. One of the key features of Ocean Conservation Month is the “shark talk” series. Every child in the Cayman Is- lands has been invited to the cinema to watch Mr. Harvey’s latest shark documentaries and take part in a question- and-answer session with ma- rine conservation experts. There will be sessions at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre on Cayman Brac, as well as at the Camana Bay Cinema in Grand Cayman. One of the fea- tured movies is “Sea of Life,” which charts the experience of two Cayman Islands high school students, Josh Weaver and Cassandra MacDowell, swimming with whale sharks off Isla Mujeres in Mexico. The month of events also features the public premiere of Mr. Harvey’s newest doc- umentary about Cayman’s Stingray City and the work his foundation does moni- toring the health of rays at the tourist attraction. Louisa Gibson, of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, said the question-and-an- swer sessions with school- children, which have become a staple of the event series, are usually entertaining. “The younger ones usually ask what is the biggest shark or the fastest shark or what is a megalodon, but the older ones often have some very interesting, well-informed questions.” She said sharks were a great hook for getting people interested in talking about the ocean. “Everybody loves to talk about sharks and the media often put sharks in a nega- tive light. What we want is to get people talking about how interesting and how im- portant sharks are to our oceans,” she said. The event also features a beach cleanup, starting at Safe- Haven on Sunday, March 17, and a fishing clinic focusing on catch-and-release and sus- tainable fishing practices. A family fun day is planned at Royal Palms on Sunday, March 31, and the event series con- cludes on April 5 with the fundraising cocktail party at LUCA restaurant. The theme for the event is “Generations” and Mr. Harvey will partner with his daughter Jessica Harvey, who also works with the founda- tion, to give a keynote speech on the way the ocean has changed from one generation to the next and their goals for the future. Mr. Harvey said edu- cating the next generation was the key to reversing the trends that have decimated marine life. “Conserving marine life is a generational process. We have managed to consume most of our valuable marine assets in just two generations,” he said. “Through research, edu- cation of the next genera- tion about the value of ma- rine resources is mandatory. Our children will then have a head start on conserva- tion and will know right from wrong. They will acknowl- edge the true consequences of over-exploitation and what is meant by sustainable use of a marine resource.” For more information or to purchase tickets, email events@guyharvey.com. COURT HEARS EMPLOYER HAS MADE RESTITUTION SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Summary Court heard Tuesday that an em- ployer has made substan- tial progress in reconciling charges against his com- pany for failing to pay over- time and public holiday remuneration. Lincoln Robinson, trading as H&A Mainte- nance and Construction, was charged with three counts of failing to pay overtime and four counts of failure to pay holiday remuneration dating back to 2015. There is also one case of failing to pay overtime that dates back to 2016, and one lone charge of failure to pay wages for 2018. Mr. Robinson’s at- torney, John Furniss, pro- vided a receipt showing that his client had made restitution. All of the charges dating back to 2016 have been accounted for, Mr. Furniss said, and now Mr. Robinson and the Of- fice of Public Prosecutions have just one outstanding charge to handle. Mr. Rob- inson disputes one count of failure to pay wages worth $749, according to Mr. Furniss. “It seems that’s near conclusion,” said Mag- istrate Valdis Foldats of the charges of failure to pay overtime. Mr. Robinson was told to return to court on April 10 to finalize the matters remaining on the docket, but Magistrate Foldats gave him credit for taking care of his responsibili- ties to date. “The one very signifi- cant case with numerous charges looks like it’s near completion in a posi- tive way,” Magistrate Fol- dats said. “Well done in terms of finalizing one of the cases.” OCEAN CONSERVATION MONTH EVENTS March 11 ...........................................Shark Talk Cayman Brac March 14 ...........................................Fidel Murphy’s Pub Quiz March 15 ...........................................Shark Talk 1, Camana Bay March 17 ...........................................Beach Cleanup, SafeHaven March 22 ...........................................Shark Talk 2, Camana Bay March 23, 24 .....................................Fishing Clinics March 31 ...........................................Family Fun Day, Royal Palms April 5 ................................................Fundraising Cocktail Party, Luca All of the charges dating back to 2016 have been accounted for, Mr. Furniss said, and now Mr. Robinson and the Office of Public Prosecutions have just one outstanding charge to handle. Guy Harvey paints a surfboard which will be one of the prizes at his conservation organization’s fundraising event in April.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2019 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. Images for illustration purposes only. fin@fingrandcayman.com + 1 345 326 1400 FIN.cayman fingrandcayman Reserve your private tour and discover The Last Word in Luxury UNIQUE OPULENCE UNPARALLELED VIEWS The finest in finishes, design and amenities combine for an unrivalled penthouse living experience. Multi-level Penthouses priced from USD 3,199,000The 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. Just weeks before the grand opening of the new Owen Roberts International Airport terminal, airport authorities already are turning their attention to the next project: Lengthening the airport runway. The Cayman Islands Airports Authority has posted a request for proposals on government’s central pro- curement website and hopes to have contractors secured by June. The project will extend the runway to nearly 8,000 feet and strengthen the pavement to accommodate larger planes and longer flights. The news was met with some skepticism, as many in our community wondered whether the expansion is truly necessary. Their watchful reserve is understand- able, especially coming in light of project delays and cost overruns during the current expansion – a project now estimated to cost $64 million or more. The longer runway would support many direct flights to London and allow safe landings in wet con- ditions, but why throw another $20.5 million at the airport when stayover tourism already is booming on Grand Cayman? Why, especially when there has been no clear signal from airlines that a longer runway would necessarily lead to longer flights in the near term? The real question is not whether a longer runway would be useful today, next month or even next year, but rather many years into the future. Extending the runway as has been proposed maximizes the airport’s current real estate at a rela- tively modest cost. It is a reasonable middle path between maintaining the status quo and a significantly costlier alternative, which would require building into North Sound. Predicting future infrastructure needs can be tricky. On one hand, planners must be careful not to be too grandiose in their predictions or too eager to overbuild costly projects that far outstrip future demand. But it is equally dangerous to be too cautious, which can lead to infrastructure improvements that, while still costly, are overburdened and outdated almost from the moment they are put to use. For the past three decades or more, Grand Cayman has been on a growth trajectory the likes of which few jurisdictions ever experience. Planners have been playing catch-up to create an infrastructure system that can keep up with our explosive growth. The symptoms are all around us: From maddening daily traffic snarls to the hulking George Town landfill, from patchwork public transportation to a court and prison system bursting at the seams. There is no question that to keep moving forward, Cayman’s planners must get out far, far ahead of these problems. Their plans must extend beyond what is cur- rently adequate or imminently needed to anticipate future needs. As a public, we, too, must shift our mindset from “getting by” to recognizing that Cayman’s infrastruc- ture will require monumental investment, careful coor- dination and a vision that extends far beyond what is adequate or imminently needed. Expanding the airport runway is one small piece of a critical bigger picture: Developing a clear, com- prehensive and integrated infrastructure plan that will carry us far into the future. A longer ‘runway’ is needed to meet infrastructure needs FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS How young people suffer in Britain’s economy EDWARD YATES Conditions for young people in the U.K. are bleak. Young people are more likely to be unemployed than all- age workers, and are more likely to be in low-paid jobs when employed. Na- tional minimum wage laws allow lawful discrimina- tion against young people as they mean a young worker can be paid less than those over the age of 24 for doing the same job. Young people have worse pension opportunities than previous generations and suffer from a housing market characterized by high rents and purchase costs. They are also paying record levels of tuition fees for university, as well as spending more on ac- cessing training and skills in a system of provision that is increasingly driven by profit. Media portrayals of young people compound the problem and are rife with discriminatory lan- guage. Young people are la- beled lazy, idle “snowflakes” and are blamed for their own problems. These cir- cumstances lead to inter- generational resentment between “millennials” and “baby boomers.” This approach is limited for two reasons. First, it ig- nores social class inequali- ties, which are much worse. Second, it distracts from the underlying causes of the problems facing young people which are the result of economic and political changes since the 1970s. Longer term issues The 2007 economic crisis, recession and imposition of austerity made things harder for young people – youth un- employment went up, decent jobs became scarcer, and public spending was hugely reduced in a way which hit those already on the mar- gins of labour markets. But what’s less known is that conditions for young people had actually been worsening before 2007. Manufacturing began to decline as a major part of the U.K. economy from the 1960s. This decline was exacerbated by the global economic crisis in the early 1970s, leading to the government abandoning Keynesian economic policies which had been committed to full (male) employment. In the 1980s, the govern- ment favored controlling in- flation at the expense of jobs, leading to millions becoming unemployed. This point is key because the manufacturing sector was a source of good jobs (usually for men) in large engineering firms. In these sectors there were specific, “sheltered” entry points for young people meaning they could get a job – often with few qualifications – acquire skills and training, and prog- ress into more senior roles. Government policy in the 1980s heavily reduced the number of jobs in the public sector in areas such as local government and utilities like water, gas, elec- tricity, communications and railways. All of these utili- ties were privatized and suf- fered heavy job losses as their new owners cut staff to turn a profit. Young people suffered as training schemes were axed and opportuni- ties for internal progression disappeared. Government policies since the 1980s have gen- erally worsened things for young people. Labor mar- kets have been deregulated in an attempt to make the U.K. compete on the basis of low wages rather than high-quality work. A crucial change has been the weak- ening of trade unions, which act as a mechanism to in- crease wages and reduce inequality. The election of New La- bour in 1997 did little to undo the changes of pre- vious decades and in some instances further locked them in. The result is young workers in 2019 experience labor market conditions that are far worse than in pre- vious decades. The jobs available are increasingly polarized be- tween a section of extremely well-paid, high-level jobs and a steadily increasing amount of low-paid, low- skilled jobs. Too many young people find themselves in these jobs, often for long pe- riods after they have ceased to be young. Three solutions First, do not dismiss the problems of young people. Young people work, and they experience poor working con- ditions because there has been a worsening of work and employment conditions in the U.K. since the 1970s. Young people therefore need to be thought of as workers first and foremost. Second, if conditions of work are to improve, then workers need to organize. Unions need to redouble their efforts to organize in small, privately owned firms where young people often work. They also need to chal- lenge the lawful discrimina- tion of young people which occurs via the pay and pen- sions system. Finally, the U.K. urgently needs to change the na- ture of its economy. To this end, institutional pressure from trade unions needs to be linked to larger efforts to shift the U.K. economy away from a reliance on finance and low-paid service sector work. To achieve this, a de- tailed industrial strategy and substantive program of in- vestment would be a solid starting point. Edward Yates is a lecturer in Employment Relations at the University of Sheffield. This originally appeared on The Conversation. Media portrayals of young people compound the problem and are rife with discriminatory language. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited 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 EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way”The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2019 Investing in Cayman’s future: Providing valuable experience to aspiring lawyers At Ogier, we’re looking for the next generation of leaders to keep us moving forward. What we’re offering is a platform to Be Extraordinary – to collaborate across borders, to be the first to experiment with new technology, and to be a part of an international law firm that wants to do things differently. What we’re looking for is not just technical expertise. It’s also about curiosity, teamwork and the confidence to innovate. So we’re flexible about what hours people work, where they choose to work from and what they wear – we’re much more interested in their skills, their ideas and their commitment. If this resonates with you, get in touch. We have a number of great opportunities for students from work experience that includes vacation placements and summer internships, to training for graduates and financial support in the form of bursaries and scholarships. L-R: Alexandra Leon, Mark Plowright, Bianca Meghoo ADVERTORIAL Flexible o'clock. We’re a company of individuals, so we’ll support you to make sure that your hours, contract, development and working space meet your needs. Ogier. Be extraordinary. Alexandra Leon - an Ogier intern, is working towards gaining entry to Aberdeen University in Scotland for a degree in English Law and European Legal Studies. How is Ogier supporting your career aspirations? Ogier is supporting me through work experience programs and scholarship opportunities, as well as expanding my knowledge of what it’s like to work for a law firm. How would you describe your experience at Ogier? I always had something to look forward to. Everyone worked really well together, we all had a few laughs but we still got work done, which made it enjoyable. How would you describe the Ogier culture? It’s not as ‘strict’ as you would expect a law firm to be, and it’s goal oriented as they have a program for employees to meet specific targets to ensure they are working to their full potential. Mark Plowright - an Ogier intern, plans to study law. How is Ogier supporting your career aspirations? Ogier has given me the experience to strengthen my studies in law, solidifying my experience with the expectations of what the world of law can look like. How would you describe your experience at Ogier? My experience at the firm was one I would love to have again. The knowledge I obtained, along with the support from the lawyers, is a learning experience every potential law student should have! How would you describe the Ogier culture? Calm, innovative and inviting. There is no micromanaging; you are trusted and given guidance. The atmosphere makes you motivated to work. Bianca Meghoo - an Ogier intern, is pursuing a Bachelors of Art degree in International Relations at the University of Leicester. She then aims to complete a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). How is Ogier supporting your career aspirations? Ogier values and encourages my desire to obtain another relevant and useful degree additional to a law degree, which I feel will help to set me apart in terms of the skills I have to offer. How would you describe your experience at Ogier? I was able to experience a variety of law-related tasks as opposed to solely administrative work. I really valued being exposed to real cases, from learning how the documents are put together to seeing how they come alive in the courtroom. How would you describe the Ogier culture? The Ogier culture is extremely warm and inviting, which helped me make the most of my time. As an intern I always felt I could take control of my experience by asking my supervisors for assistance or to set a more diverse range of work. Ogier’s internship programme is a four-week summer placement offering training and development alongside our experienced team of legal and business services professionals. Aimed at supporting undergraduates and postgraduates, we’re interested in students with solid, competitive academics - but we’re not just looking for grades. We want to hear from people who stand out for their ability to work in teams, with a positive approach to problem solving and clear communication skills. We take a long-term approach to developing relationships with our Scholarship students, who receive support from us – financially and with their career. We also take on a number of Articled Clerks each year. We are looking for the very best trainees to join us: the next generation of our firm must be collaborative and tech-savvy with strong academic achievement, and ready to drive our business forward. The program is open to Caymanians or those holding a dispensation from the Cayman Attorney General. Ogier is committed to fostering and developing local talent. The application period for the Ogier Scholarship and Internship scheme closes on 30 April 2019. Find out more at www.ogier.com/careers Join our team ogier.com/careers Legal and Corporate Services British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Guernsey Hong Kong Jersey London Luxembourg Shanghai Tokyo6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cuban asylum seekers not invited to attend appeals hearings KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cubans asylum appli- cants detained in George Town’s Immigration Deten- tion Centre received notices recently from the Department of Immigration that they are not to attend their own ap- peals hearings, unless in- vited to do so. The Cubans said that none of the applicants who received the letters had been granted legal aid to hire a lawyer to represent them be- fore the Immigration Appeals Tribunal, the body tasked with reviewing asylum ap- plications that have been re- jected by the Department of Immigration. There are currently 10 Cuban asylum applicants detained in Grand Cayman – four individuals who arrived in September, five who ar- rived last week, and one who was returned to the facility after problems with his su- pervised release. The letters, written under a Department of Immigration heading, state, “Section 16(2) and 16(7) of the law estab- lish that sessions will be fun- damentally written and sub- mitted only. Due to that, you will not appear in person be- fore the IAT [Immigration Ap- peals Tribunal] unless you are invited.” Section 16(2) of the Immi- gration Law establishes that appeals hearings “shall be on the basis of the written grounds filed by the appel- lant and neither the par- ties nor their representa- tives shall be present at the hearing.” Section 16(7) states, “Neither the appellant nor his representative shall be per- mitted to be present at the re- hearing of the original appli- cation which shall be based on written submissions with respect to fresh evidence or changes in circumstances.” In the case of most de- tained Cuban asylum ap- plicants, their grounds for appeal have been hand- written in Spanish them- selves, without the guidance of a lawyer. The issue of denying or holding off on granting legal aid for asylum applicants has been recently brought before the Grand Court. In a case before the court in No- vember, attorney Alastair David argued that many Cuban asylum applicants have not received a fair pro- cess in the Cayman Islands because they either have not received legal aid or did not receive legal aid until well into their process. He also argued that the Immigration Appeals Tri- bunal did not sufficiently ex- plain its reasons for denying their applications, making it difficult for applicants to properly appeal their cases. In another appeal filed to the Grand Court in January, a Cuban asylum applicant argued that he had not re- ceived adequate legal assis- tance and had been required to prepare his own case, with little command of the Eng- lish language. “The Appellant is a Cuban National, who speaks little or no English. He has been re- quired to conduct his own application to the Immigra- tion Department, and sub- sequently Appeal to the Respondent, without the as- sistance of an attorney-at- law. He has been assisted by a Mackenzie friend, unqual- ified in law, and for whom English is a second language,” the Cuban’s writ states. “The Appellant has not had his right of a fair trial protected, and the policy re- fusing to allow Legal Aid in [Immigration Appeals Tri- bunal] matters is, it is sub- mitted, in contravention of Article 16 of the Refugee Convention.” Asylum applicants in the Cayman Islands are first re- viewed by a Department of Immigration officer, who con- ducts an intake interview and uses that information to de- termine eligibility for asylum status. If applicants are de- nied at this phase, their cases can then be appealed to the Immigration Appeals Tri- bunal. If the tribunal rejects these cases, applicants can then apply for legal aid and request judicial review by the Grand Court. The Grand Court cannot deny or grant asylum cases but can send applicants back to the Immi- gration Appeals Tribunal for further review. The role of the Immi- gration Appeals Tribunal in asylum matters is currently under review. The Immigration (Amend- ment) Bill, 2018, seeks to es- tablish a Refugee Protection Appeals Tribunal, which is expected to take over respon- sibilities delegated to the Im- migration Appeals Tribunal in reviewing rejected asylum applications. Training to es- tablish the five-person board was expected to take place in February. MAN SENTENCED TO ADDITIONAL BIKE THEFT SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Alvin Shaquille Ebanks, who was sentenced in De- cember for a motorbike chase in which he led police on a 30-minute pursuit around West Bay, was sentenced for an unrelated case on Tuesday. Mr. Ebanks was told at his December sentencing hearing that reckless bikers are a “menace to the public,” and he was cited for taking selfies of himself as he led the po- lice on the chase. Magistrate Valdis Foldats said “the bra- zenness of recording the chase” was an aggravating factor on that occasion. On Tuesday, Mr. Ebanks was cited for handling stolen goods. The case, which dated back to 2017, involved a black Suzuki motorbike valued at $2,300. Mr. Ebanks, who is currently serving time at Northward, was arraigned on the charge of handling stolen goods and pleaded guilty. Defense counsel John Furniss said that the charge predates the ones for which Mr. Ebanks had been sen- tenced in December, and he hoped that the magistrate would keep totality in mind. Magistrate Foldats or- dered that Mr. Ebanks would be sentenced to three months’ imprisonment running con- current to his current sen- tence. The magistrate also or- dered that Mr. Ebanks pay a compensation order of $300 to the bike owner, but he gave him until 2020 to comply.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2019 The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passin Ms. GledaEuleanMcLaughlin , who passed away on Monday, February 25, A Thanksgiving Service will be held at East End Church of God, Grand Cayman Saturday, March 09, 2019 at 2:00 p.m Viewing will be from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p Interment at: Old Man Bay Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at churcu nf at nn m .m. y hllsfufufnrahmm Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Ms. Linda DornellWhittaker, who passed away on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. AThanksgiving Service will be held at North Side Civic Center, Grand Cayman on Sunday, March 10, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Viewing from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Interment at: Old Man Bay Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com 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. to the buyer at a hotel the following day. The undercover opera- tion followed a three-year Homeland Security inves- tigation into a drug traf- ficking organization sus- pected of organizing the smuggling of luggage con- taining cocaine shipments from the Caribbean, in- cluding the Cayman Is- lands, through the airport. A partial trial tran- script, viewed by the Cayman Compass, shows Mr. Woolaston and his partner, Xavier Williams, communicated on multiple occasions with an under- cover informant, posing as a Colombian drug dealer named Jerry. After discussing mul- tiple potential locations, including Antigua and the Dominican Republic, they agreed to ship the drugs from Cayman. Mr. Woolaston charged a fee of $9,000 per kilo, or $45,000 in total, to ensure the drugs got past security at the airport. Summing up the evi- dence for the jury, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Moe said the defendant had been recorded making the deal and was later caught with the drugs in his hands. “There is no dispute that [the] defendant was caught red-handed attempting to deliver a yellow bag con- taining what he thought were kilos of cocaine. Duct- taped bundles of sham co- caine were literally in his hands when the agents went to arrest him. “There’s no dispute he had those. And you know there’s just no question that the defendant agreed to smuggle cocaine from a flight from the Cayman Is- lands, because the items that were in that suit- case were literally in his hands when the agents ap- proached him.” Ms. Moe said investiga- tors believed it was not the first time Mr. Woolaston had helped smuggle drugs through the airport, saying he was “ready, willing and more than capable” of doing so. The court heard that he was suspected of assisting drug importers to get ship- ments through Newark on numerous other occasions. It is not clear why the agents chose Cayman as the point of origin for the ship- ment or what level of in- volvement there was from local law enforcement. A Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service spokes- woman said, “The RCIPS and Customs and Border Control [have] mutual co- operation agreements with other law enforcement to combat international drug trafficking. The success of these operations in dis- rupting international drug smuggling is a mutual ben- efit to the safety and secu- rity of the jurisdictions of all participating law en- forcement agencies.” U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in a statement, “As proven at trial, Tyrone Woolaston abused his posi- tion as an airline employee with secure access to re- stricted areas of Newark International Airport. In re- ality, Woolaston was also a drug dealer, who smuggled large cocaine shipments through the airport and into the United States.” and experience levels,” said swim coach Jess McDowall as she pre- pared to board the plane Thursday morning. She said the athletes had worked hard and were excited to compete. “I told them, ‘you have already put the work in. Enjoy your time, keep fo- cused and do your best to represent your island and have a good time.’” Ms. McDowall in- herited her passion for helping people with spe- cial needs from her mother, Penny Mc- Dowall, the founder of Cayman’s Special Olym- pics swimming program. She passed away in Jan- uary after a long battle with cancer. “She did a very good job of making sure I was ready to step into her shoes. I was basically born into it,” Ms. McDowall said. She said she was confi- dent that the team would do her mother proud. “The team knows that she is there with them as well. It is sad timing, but also great timing, because we get to show the world what she has done with these athletes.” The team was trav- eling to Fort Lauderdale Thursday at lunchtime be- fore taking a 14-hour flight to Abu Dhabi. With the major loan re- payment behind them, Mr. Adam said the long-term goal was to try to break even. “Our aim over the next few years is to try to get to that point,” he said. He believes a new cruise port in George Town harbor would have a signifi- cant impact. He said the Cayman Turtle Centre attracted a consis- tent percentage of cruise visi- tors and more arrivals would mean more revenue. The fa- cility is currently under- going an image change and focusing on developing more of a conservation and educa- tion ethos. Mr. Adam said ec- otourism initiatives, such as the public release of hatch- lings on Cayman’s beaches, had real potential. He added that the center was already Cayman’s most popular land-based tourism attraction, pulling in around 300,000 visitors each year. The long-term debt has been a cloud over the Turtle Centre for more than a decade. Loans extended by local banks First Caribbean Inter- national Bank Cayman Is- lands and Cayman National Bank were paid off in 2017 and 2016, respectively, with the large initial bond of US$44.6 million finally paid off on March 1 this year. Stran Bodden, chief officer in the Ministry of Tourism, said it was a momentous day for the attraction. “Government under- stands the benefit of the Cayman Turtle Centre and has supported it financially wherever possible, because it sees Cayman Turtle Centre as being both innovative and creative to increase rev- enue streams. We applaud the continued determination of the Centre to serve the Cayman Islands both as a top-notch tourist attraction, as well as the leader in the area[s] of sea turtle conser- vation, education and scien- tific study,” Mr. Bodden said in a statement. Mr. Adam said all govern- ment funding would now be able to go toward the attrac- tion’s mission of bringing in tourists, working with sci- entists and researchers on turtle conservation, and ed- ucating visitors and school groups. The center still also produces farmed turtle meat for the local market, which it sells at a subsidized rate. “We are grateful to the Cayman Islands Government, and by extension, the people of the Cayman Islands, who have never stopped be- lieving in, and supporting us,” he said. Turtle Centre clears $50 million debt CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cayman airport used in undercover drugs sting CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Ready to soar CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 EX-TRUMP CAMPAIGN BOSS MANAFORT TO BE SENTENCED IN TAX FRAUD ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) – When former Trump cam- paign chairman Paul Manafort is sentenced for tax and bank fraud, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III will likely issue the same lecture he gives to drug dealers and bank robbers. “You write the pages to your own life story,” Ellis routinely tells defendants before pronouncing sen- tence. He also tells those who appear before him that “life is a series of choices and living with the conse- quences of those choices.” Manafort’s choices leave the 69-year-old with the very real possibility he will spend the rest of his life in prison. Under federal sen- tencing guidelines, Manafort could receive a 20-year sentence Thursday, though most observers expect he will receive less than that. Last year, a jury in U.S. District Court in Alexan- dria, Virginia, convicted Manafort on eight felonies related to tax and bank fraud charges for hiding foreign income from his work in Ukraine from the IRS and later inflating his income on bank loan appli- cations. Prosecutors have said the work in Ukraine was on behalf of politicians who were closely aligned with Russia, though Manafort has insisted his work helped those politi- cians distance themselves from Russia and align with the West. After his conviction, Manafort pleaded guilty to separate charges in the District of Columbia re- lated to illegal lobbying. He faces up to five years in prison on each of two counts to which he pleaded guilty. In the District case, prosecutors say Manafort has failed to live up to the terms of his plea bargain by providing false infor- mation to investigators in interviews. In the Virginia case, nei- ther prosecutors nor de- fense attorneys have rec- ommended a specific term to the judge in their sen- tencing memoranda. Manafort’s lawyers have sought a sentence signif- icantly below the guide- lines, based on a number of factors. After discussing multiple potential locations, including Antigua and the Dominican Republic, they agreed to ship the drugs from Cayman. Mr. Woolaston charged a fee of $9,000 per kilo, or $45,000 in total, to ensure the drugs got past security at the airport. With a major loan repayment behind them, the Turtle Centre’s long-term goal now is to try to break even. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2019 Residence/status ‘scam’ trial begins Woman accused of obtaining $1.9 million by deception CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Trial began in Grand Court on Thursday for a woman accused of obtaining more than $1.9 million by deception in what Crown counsel Toyin Salako called a “scam” involving perma- nent residence and Cayma- nian status. Judith Francia Douglas, 53, is charged with dishonestly obtaining $1,946,437 with the intention of permanently de- priving a named person of that amount by falsely repre- senting that the money was required for payment to the Cayman Islands government for a legitimate application for permanent residency, status and a Caymanian passport. The offense is al- leged to have occurred be- tween November 2010 and January 2016. The Crown’s first witness was the complainant. He said a neighbor had introduced him to Ms. Douglas, who told him she was a courier for some officials in government. His impression was that she was working for them and “could walk everything through the process” of ob- taining residence and status. He had been in Cayman since 2001 and had “key employee” status at the time. He said he completed the forms that Ms. Douglas had given him and he returned them to her. He also gave her documents such as a po- lice clearance, which she re- quested to aid the applica- tion process, he said, and he also gave her $8,000 as an initial payment. Subsequent payments by the man were recorded in an Excel spread- sheet over the course of the five-year scam. He said he never gave cash to anyone other than Ju- dith Douglas. He told the court that he had phone conversa- tions “with two gentlemen whom she stated were gov- ernment officials she was working with.” The witness was still giving evidence by press time. The matter is being heard by Justice Timothy Owen with a jury of four women and three men. Ms. Douglas is represented by attorneys Anthony Akiwumi and Lee Halliday-Davis. In opening the case to the jury, Ms. Salako listed dates and payments in cash the complainant said he had made to Ms. Douglas. The prosecutor cautioned, how- ever, that her speech was not evidence – the evidence would come from the witness. POLICE ISSUED 98 SPEEDING TICKETS IN A WEEK Police handed out 98 speeding ticket last week in a series of traffic opera- tions to crack down on ex- cessive speeding. According to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice, officers issued 37 of those tickets in a single day – Sunday, March 3. The operations, which began on Monday, Feb. 25, targeted specific areas, in- cluding sections of Sham- rock Road in Spotts and Lower Valley, the Esterley Tibbetts Highway and the Linford Pierson Highway. Motorists who were ticketed were found to be traveling at speeds ranging from 60 to more than 80 miles an hour. The highest speed limit in the Cayman Is- lands is 50 mph. “The speeds that we are seeing continue to be ex- cessive, and I want to em- phasize how much risk this level of speeding poses, not just to your safety but to that of other road users as well,” said Inspector Ian Yearwood, head of the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit, in a press release. Speeding drivers who are caught by police face a standard fine of $20 for every mile over the speed limit. Speeding penalties are doubled in school zones and other special zones. “If your fine exceeds $500, you will have to make a mandatory court appear- ance, where you are likely to lose your license for a min- imum of six months,” In- spector Yearwood warned. “And make no mistake, if you are caught speeding, you will be prosecuted.” FAIRBANKS ROAD CLOSURE Fairbanks Road, be- tween Ithmar Circle and Outpost Street, will be par- tially closed on Sunday morning as the Water Authority-Cayman car- ries out work. The closure will take place between 7 a.m. and noon in the vicinity of the Secret Garden apartment complex. The water com- pany stated that the clo- sure is necessary to con- duct infrastructure work. The Water Authority is advising drivers to use alternative routes Sunday morning. Traffic signs will be posted in the area and mo- torists are asked to drive with caution to ensure their own safety, as well as the safety of Water Au- thority staff. Lagarde: IMF ready to help rescue Venezuelan economy WASHINGTON (AP) – The In- ternational Monetary Fund is ready to help rescue Ven- ezuela’s economy, but the task will be so huge that it will require financing from the larger international com- munity, the head of the body said Thursday. “As soon as we are asked by the legitimate authori- ties of that country to come in and help, we will come in,” IMF managing director Christine Lagarde told The Economist Radio. The IMF has yet to de- termine whether it will rec- ognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as president of Venezuela. Guaido, who is the leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, pledged on Jan. 23 to serve as interim president of the South Amer- ican country and has been recognized by many coun- tries in the Americas and Eu- rope who argue Nicolas Mad- uro’s re-election as president was invalid. Lagarde called a poten- tial economic rescue a “mon- umental” task, mainly be- cause the fund would have to a lot to catch up on since late President Hugo Chavez and his successor Maduro refused to provide infor- mation that would enable the IMF to perform the an- nual audit it requires of its members. She added that the amount of financing needed by the country would be “sig- nificant,” but did not pro- vide a precise amount. “We will open our wallet, we will put our brain to it and we will make sure our heart is in the right place to help the poorest and the most ex- posed people,” she said. The economy of the oil- rich nation has shrunk by more than half since 2013, according to IMF data. Hy- perinflation and shortages of food and other necessi- ties have also driven at least 3 million Venezuelans out of their country, according to the United Nations. In comments about who the body believes is the legiti- mate president of Venezuela, IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said Thursday the “situation remains very fluid on the ground and in terms of inter- national recognition.” Important members of the IMF including Russia and China continue to recog- nize Maduro. Rice said he is not aware of any contact in the past month and a half between the IMF and neither Venezu- elan authorities nor members of Guaido’s staff. He also said the executive board has not convened a meeting, which would be the first step to- ward lending Guaido official recognition. CAL’s second 737 Max 8 plane arrives Cayman Airways’ second Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, VP-CIX, took off for Grand Cayman from the Boeing Field in Seattle Thursday. Pictured in the plane’s cockpit before takeoff are Captain Steven Coe and First Officer Giselah Ebanks, with Cayman Airways president and CEO Fabian Whorms, left. The aircraft will be christened into service with the CAL fleet next week. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has been carrying out operations to crack down on speeding motorists. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY COSTA RICA AUTHORITIES RAID CATHOLIC CHURCH OFFICES SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) – Judicial police in Costa Rica’s capital raided Roman Catholic church of- fices Thursday, searching for information about two priests accused of sexual abuse. The raids on offices of the metropolitan curia and the national bishop’s conference were broad- cast live on television, which showed officers from the judiciary’s in- vestigation bureau taking documents and computers from two buildings in the center of San Jose. The prosecutor’s of- fice said the police were seeking information about priests Mauricio Viquez and Manuel Guevara and looking for clues to any possible cover-up of sexual abuse cases by San Jose Archbishop Jose Ra- fael Quiros. An international arrest warrant has been issued against Viquez, who is ac- cused of abusing two teen- agers in 2003 and was ex- pelled from the priesthood two weeks ago.Next >