ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2019 High of 87 Low of 74 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 SKILLED TRADES OFFER STUDENTS A PATH TO SUCCESS LOCAL | PAGE 5 BODDEN TOWN BUSINESSMAN ‘BUDDY’ WOOD PASSES AWAY Regulated in the Cayman Islands as a licensed insurer by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Generali Worldwide is a trading name of Utmost Worldwide Limited. Registered Head Office address: Utmost Worldwide Limited, Utmost House, Hirzel Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands GY1 4PA. Regulated in Guernsey as a licensed insurer by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission under the Insurance Business (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 (as amended). Incorporated in Guernsey under Company Registration No. 27151. Call us to learn how we can support your business today at 747-2000. Local Touch, Global Reach. www.generali-healthcare.com COE WOOD BEACH GETTING $200K CRAFT MARKET JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com A part-built structure, that has been puz- zling beachgoers in Bodden Town for several weeks, will eventually be home to a new sea- side craft market, the Public Works Depart- ment confirmed Wednesday. Government is in the early stages of building a $200,000 open-air cabana at Coe Wood Beach that will host a variety of arti- sans and vendors. Island Builders is carrying out the work after the company was successful in the bid- ding process launched by the Ministry of Com- merce, Infrastructure and Planning in 2017. Work began in the first week of February, with the tearing up of floorboards and rem- nants of four huts that government had previ- ously constructed on the site and demolished in January 2017. The new 1,614-square-foot structure will have a concrete base and main structural el- ements constructed from wood. The project, which got the necessary approvals from the Department of Planning in 2018, will be com- pleted in less than seven weeks, according to the Public Works Department. Over the years, the revitalization of Coe Wood Beach has been a part of the “Go East” campaign, aimed at attracting more visitors to the eastern districts of Grand Cayman. The construction currently under way is on the same area of beach on which four ki- osks previously stood. They were torn down in 2017 after being padlocked and unused for four years. The kiosks, which were completed in late Demolition of Divi Tiara planned KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com After being vacant for more than a decade, work will begin Monday to demolish the Divi Tiara Beach resort on Cayman Brac, according to Scott Devel- opment operations manager Mervyn Scott. Mr. Scott, whose company re- ceived the contract to tear down the structure, said the work will entail knocking down the ex- isting buildings, cleaning up the area, and filling in the land with what he called “beautiful sand.” The job should take about six weeks, he said. When the 71-room Divi Tiara closed in 2006, 37 workers, in- cluding 22 Caymanians, lost their jobs. Its owners, the North Carolina-based Divi Resorts, cited economic problems led by insufficient airlift from the U.S. “We spent five years nur- turing a team in order to create an unbelievable tourist expe- rience,” former resort general manager Max Hillier said at the time. “The resort closing is a major issue. Concern for the fu- ture of the staff is what makes it heartbreaking.” UCCI swears in first female president MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Leaning on local history, Stacy McAfee, the new president and CEO of the Univer- sity College of the Cayman Islands, invoked nautical themes during her official inaugu- ration Tuesday evening. “When Daniel Jervis, of Cayman Brac, built the catboat, it was because he was dissatisfied [with existing vessels],” Ms. McAfee said. “Similarly, UCCI will build a new model of continuing education. Today we are embarking on a sea change. We are building new boats and charting new courses.” During an address to a crowd of sev- eral hundred people in UCCI’s Sir Vassel Johnson Hall, Ms. McAfee laid out a vision for the school that was clearly ambitious. Framed by a new strategic plan that was due to be approved by UCCI’s board of gov- ernors on Wednesday, the president shared her ideas for the enhancement of existing programs, the addition of new ones and ex- panding the role of the university college in the broader Cayman community. This was the first inauguration cere- mony in the school’s 44 years. Ms. McAfee is the first woman to head the campus. She took over Jan. 1, following the retirement of Roy Bodden, who was recognized during the evening’s speeches for providing a foun- dation upon which the new plans could be implemented. “I feel proud to have played some part,” Mr. Bodden said, following the ceremony. “I wish them well in their new journey.” PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » The Divi Tiara resort on Cayman Brac closed down in 2006 and was then badly damaged in 2008’s Hurricane Paloma. Anthony Ritch, chairman of the UCCI Board of Governors, drapes the school’s medallion over the head of new president Stacy McAfee at her inauguration ceremony Tuesday evening. Vice President/Provost Livingston Smith, left, and Kwabena Asamoah, dean of administration, look on. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - THURSDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) CAPTAIN MARVEL (PG13) 12:30 VIP I 1:10 3D I 3:25 VIP I 4:05 6:30 VIP I 7:00 3D I 9:30 VIP I 9:50 A MADEA FAMILY FUNERAL (PG13) 1:10 I 3:45 I 6:45 I 9:20 HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD (PG) 1:30 I 4:05 3D I 6:40 I 9:15 3D FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY (PG13) 1:55 I 7:20 ALITA BATTLE ANGEL (PG13) 1:10 I 4:10 I 7:10 I 10:00 WHAT MEN WANT (R) 4:30 I 10:00 Early arrival for new police helicopter A new police helicopter will arrive in the Cayman Islands within days, Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin and Governor Martyn Roper an- nounced Wednesday. The arrival of the new $11 million helicopter was fast-tracked because the ex- isting police helicopter is out of action after sustaining damage in a forced landing last month. Ultimately, the second he- licopter, an Airbus H145, will be used alongside the ex- isting aircraft to boost Cay- man’s search-and-rescue ca- pability and support law enforcement and border pro- tection operations. The air- craft will also be used to re- spond to disasters and other emergency situations in the other U.K. Caribbean Over- seas Territories. The Governor’s Office an- nounced plans in early De- cember last year to pur- chase the new helicopter, stating at the time that it was hoped the helicopter could be brought into operational use in mid to late 2019. According to a memo- randum of understanding signed in London by Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister of State for the Over- seas Territories, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, and Premier McLaughlin, the U.K. will con- tribute 25 percent of the pur- chase price and running costs of the helicopter from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, while Cayman picks up the remaining 75 percent. Governor Roper said in a statement released Wednesday, “We are grateful to the Air Operations Unit and Airbus Helicopters for their work to ensure that the new helicopter can be de- ployed so quickly. “This will help to ensure the safety and security of the territory while the existing helicopter is out of action, and is a significant step-up in our law enforcement capability.” Premier Alden McLaughlin said the new helicopter would also be an invaluable tool to help support the new Coast Guard agency. “I appreciate the expedi- ency of the arrival of the new helicopter to help pick up the work of the damaged air- craft to aid in our continued efforts of providing support for security, law enforcement and disaster response for the Cayman Islands and our Ca- ribbean Overseas Territo- ries,” he added. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service will take possession of its new helicopter, an Airbus H145 similar to the one in the above photograph, this month. ‘Compliant’ Bermuda says it will be removed from EU blacklist by May MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Bermuda’s Premier David Burt called the island’s tax blacklisting by the Euro- pean Union a “setback,” but said that, as of Wednesday, he believes Bermuda is com- pliant with EU require- ments and should be re- moved at the next EU Council meeting in May. Surrounded by business leaders, Mr. Burt told local media at a press conference that the developments “are not where we want to be, and certainly not where we intended to be when we em- barked on this process.” But, the premier added, “Bermuda is compliant and we are confident that within a matter of weeks that will be accepted by EU member states and Bermuda will be removed from this list.” Mr. Burt said U.K. Trea- sury officials had supported that view, arguing that Ber- muda had legislated to ad- dress any remaining issues identified by the EU. The EU on Tuesday added 10 countries, including Ber- muda, to its list of coun- tries it deems uncoopera- tive in tax matters. News agency Reuters earlier this week cited EU documents in which the EU Commission claimed that Bermuda had been “playing games” and had added new loopholes to its revised legislation. Ber- muda had also not provided a final text of its legisla- tion by the set deadline, ac- cording to the report. Bermuda’s premier re- jected this interpretation, claiming that any issues were the result of a “tech- nical omission which was rectified in good time.” Bermuda’s Finance Min- ister Curtis Dickinson as- cribed the problems with the EU’s Code of Conduct Group, which evaluates compliance with EU re- quirements, to “a slight ty- pographical error.” The omission meant that Bermuda’s submission was incomplete because one pro- vision was not included. “Once we realized we had an issue, we rectified it im- mediately and got our sub- mission in – in time for it to be properly considered by Ecofin [Economic and Fi- nancial Affairs Council],” Mr. Dickinson said. Like the Cayman Islands, Bermuda committed to intro- ducing new legislation that requires Bermudian busi- nesses that are part of a mul- tinational group to demon- strate sufficient economic activity on island to justify that profits allocated to the entity remain untaxed. Bermuda’s Economic Substance Regulations came into force on the last day of 2018, but on Jan. 30, 2019, the Code of Conduct Group raised concerns about some of the provisions and re- quested amendments to be made before Feb. 24. Bermuda made the changes on Feb. 22, but on Feb. 27, the EU flagged another issue, Mr. Dick- inson explained. Bermuda made additional changes a week later. How- ever, Mr. Dickinson said some press reports indicated that this March 4 revision was not fully considered in the final evaluation. Bermuda’s premier added that he did not accept the notion that Bermuda had missed the deadline. “This has been an evolving target. Our submis- sion was made prior to the deadline. There was a minor technical omission that was flagged to us; we made sure that was resolved in good time,” he said. “Between now and May, a fairer assessment of Ber- muda’s legislation will con- firm our compliance, and we will be removed from this list,” he added. Bermuda-headquartered offshore law firm Conyers Dill and Pearman called the blacklisting “unexpected.” The firm advised clients in a notice, “We have been as- sured by the Bermuda Gov- ernment that it is doing everything it can to en- sure that this situation is temporary.” In the past years, Ber- muda has become known in connection with “double Irish, Dutch sandwich,” a legal tax avoidance structure that allowed Google, owned by Alphabet Inc, to reduce in- come and withholding taxes on overseas profits from roy- alties, by channeling them to a Bermuda-based sub- sidiary that has no staff or office space. In January, media re- ported that documents filed with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce showed Google had moved nearly $23 bil- lion to Bermuda through a Dutch company in 2017 alone. Asked about the lack of substance of the Google en- tity, Mr. Dickinson said, “We would like to encourage Google, [who] are part of the issue, to help us through this by establishing a more sub- stantive presence in Ber- muda. We think that works for both ourselves and for Google.” 2 ARRESTED FOLLOWING MACHETE ATTACK Police arrested two men in connection with an ag- gravated burglary in which a man suffered head and arm injuries after being struck with a machete at his home in West Bay ear- lier this week. A 53-year-old man, of West Bay, was arrested Monday on suspicion of ag- gravated burglary in rela- tion to the March 9 inci- dent in the Batabano area. Following further enqui- ries, a second man, age 40, of West Bay, was arrested early Tuesday in connection to the same offense. Both men remained in police custody Tuesday as investigations continue. According to the police’s original report on the in- cident, officers were dis- patched to the address following a report that a masked man had broken into a residence armed with a machete and de- manded jewelry from the man inside. An altercation en- sued during which the victim was struck with the machete. The culprit left the resi- dence and searched the vic- tim’s vehicle, before fleeing on foot with personal items, police said. Emergency services at- tended the scene and the victim was taken for treat- ment for injuries, in- cluding lacerations to his head and arm. SMALL FIRE EXTINGUISHED AT LANDFILL The Cayman Islands Fire Service extinguished a small surface fire at the George Town landfill on Tuesday evening. The Fire Service said the fire was extinguished shortly after officers ar- rived on the scene. Per- sonnel monitored the site throughout the night, and confirmed on Wednesday morning that there were no reoccurrences. An altercation ensued during which the victim was struck with the machete.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2019 PERSONAL BANKING | BUSINESS BANKING | FIDUCIARY SERVICES | FUND SERVICES | INVESTMENT SERVICES CAYMAN ISLANDS | ISLE OF MAN | DUBAI Cayman National Corporation Ltd 200 Elgin Avenue, PO Box 1097, Grand Cayman KY11102, Cayman Islands | Tel +1 345 949 4655 caymannational.com | cncshares.ky Republic Group completes its investment in Cayman National A stronger, brighter future for Cayman National Dear Shareholders, Customers and Friends, We are pleased to announce that, having received all required government and regulatory approvals , the Partial Offer to purchase Cayman National shares by Republic Bank Trinidad & Tobago (Barbados) Limited (a subsidiary of Republic Financial Holdings Limited) (“Republic”), expired on Friday, March 8, 2019. We are delighted that Cayman National will now be part of the extended Republic family whilst still retaining our own unique identity. We will continue to provide our local touch, with the mainly Caymanian team providing high levels of services throughout all three of our Islands. As previously announced, lending decisions will continue to be made in the Cayman Islands, and the majority of the board will continue to be comprised of Caymanian directors, but we will now be backed by the resources of a global financial player. This is a major milestone in the history of Cayman National and is a very favorable step towards securing the stability of the organisation for years to come. We look forward to growing with you and the Cayman economy well into the future. Sincerely, About the Republic Group Established in the Caribbean in 1837 as the Colonial Bank and becoming Barclays Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, the Republic Group is today one of the region’s largest and most successful financial institutions. Now a global player with assets in excess of US$9.4 billion and equity of US$1.4 billion, the Republic Group has more than 117 branches and 5,574 staff across the Caribbean and Ghana. Learn more about the Republic Group at republicfinancialholdings.com Information on Payment to Tendering Shareholders Shareholders resident in the Cayman Islands and entitled to consideration under the Partial Offer may pick up their cheque from 12pm (Cayman Islands time) on 13 March 2019 at Cayman National Securities Ltd., 2nd Floor, Suite 6201, 62 Forum Lane, Camana Bay, Grand Cayman. Thereafter, cheques will be available for collection at the same address during regular business hours. Currently valid government issued photo identification will be required for collection. Shareholders not resident in the Cayman Islands will receive payment via wire transfer. Stuart J. Dack President and Chief Executive, Cayman National Corporation Ltd. Truman M. Bodden OBE, LLB (Hons), ACIB Chairman of the Board of Directors, Cayman National Corporation Ltd.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 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” “At the crossroads of future innovations and a robust future society lies the nation’s construction industry, where everything starts. Ideas are evolved into designs that are transformed into a physical reality.” – NCCER report, “Restoring the Dignity of Work” For at least a generation, a four-year college or university degree was considered by many to be a non-negotiable stepping-stone on the path to a lucrative and fulfilling career. But rising student debts and an increasing discon- nect between employment-seekers’ skill sets and avail- able jobs has turned that received wisdom on its head. Too many students are graduating with four-year degrees, mountains of debt and few opportunities to use the knowledge and skills they have acquired in their schooling. Others try their hand at university, learn too late that it’s not for them and drop out – likely also with student loans and even fewer job prospects. The truth is, not every young person has the interest, aptitude or means to pursue a university edu- cation; even if they did, there would not be enough jobs in those professional and specialized fields to go around. At the same time, society suffers without skilled tradespeople to build our houses, roads, schools and churches, to maintain and repair critical systems. Enter Michael Myles with a plan. Mr. Myles, who could rightly be called our islands’ strongest and most stalwart youth advocate, has announced that he is creating a vocational school to train Caymanian students in high-demand skills such as carpentry, construction, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and automotive repair. The school, which he hopes will begin offering courses in July, will also teach students “soft skills” that will help them succeed in the trades. His proposal fills a real need for training for our trades-minded young people and addresses a serious skills gap in the industry which, as Mr. Myles noted in an interview with the Compass, heavily relies on a foreign workforce to keep up with demand. Mr. Myles is to be commended, and his efforts supported – particularly by parents and educators who influence young people’s choices and who may be unaware of today’s job market realities. As has been noted by the U.S.-based National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) – the nonprofit education foundation that has certified Mr. Myles as a master trainer – many parents, teachers and school counselors still consider college as a child’s only real chance to secure a prosperous future. In actuality, the group notes in a July 2018 report, only about one-third of the jobs in the U.S. economy require a bachelor’s degree or higher and in recent years, supply is significantly outpacing demand. We expect similar figures would hold true on Cayman. Every person deserves the right to contribute meaningfully to our economy and enjoy the fruits of their labor. By making sure our residents have access to trade and vocational training, we can help foster a society that rewards individual initiative, offering clear paths for the pursuit of excellence and the dignity of work. Skilled trades offer students a path to success JEFFREY SELINGO In a few weeks, selec- tive colleges will announce their application totals for the year along with the usual superlatives to de- scribe their recruits. The talking points will be fa- miliar: The number of ap- plications went up, and the acceptance rate reached an all-time low for yet another group of “amazing” stu- dents. Once again, anxious parents and disappointed applicants will be left to wonder just what else they had to do to get into their dream school. The admissions scandal that broke Tuesday shows the extreme efforts that some people will employ to claw their way into elite college circles. Among those charged were 33 par- ents who were accused of paying bribes to get their children into selective col- leges. But their logic, along with their alleged morals, is off-kilter. When you are wealthy, where your chil- dren go to college really does not matter. These rich and powerful parents – like so many of us – seem to think that getting into the “perfect” school is the most important thing. College certainly matters. But the notion that a specific col- lege is going to transform your child’s life, especially when you’re already rich and powerful, isn’t borne out by any research. If the actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin and the other super-priv- ileged parents considered for a moment the potential return on their allegedly criminal investment, they might have realized what a bad deal they got – that is, beyond the possibility of an orange jumpsuit. Going to an elite school has little impact on the ma- terial outcomes of gradu- ates, especially for those with the financial means and professional networks to pave the way for their children. And most of all, the college search is sup- posed to be about finding the right fit – academically, emotionally and socially. If the indictments are true, these parents simply by- passed making the best match for their kids so they could brag about their off- spring’s elite college educa- tion at cocktail parties. And yet it seems ev- eryone, including Holly- wood stars, are obsessed with elite schools. Last spring, Eric Furda, the dean of admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, told me he spent part of early April responding to emails, phone calls and let- ters about admissions de- cisions, mostly from par- ents whose children were denied entry. (Penn ac- cepted only 8 percent of ap- plicants last year.) What he noticed was that some par- ents started their inqui- ries by questioning the ac- complishments of a student they knew was admitted rather than espousing the merits of their own child. This anxiety reflects a perception that economic stability is increasingly scarce, and so are slots at the big-name, elite colleges that are supposed to guar- antee it. That perception is not entirely wrong: At many schools, class sizes have stayed stable even as applications have skyrock- eted as higher education has turned from a local in- dustry to a national and even international one. In pursuit of this eco- nomic insurance policy, parents sign up their chil- dren for travel soccer teams and piano lessons, hire high-priced SAT and ACT tutors, and pull out all affordable stops in pursuit of college acceptances. Never mind that we do not know exactly what a prestigious degree really means in terms of quality. Parents believe it buys ac- cess to a certain set of ca- reers and the ability to rub shoulders with widely connected classmates and eventually alumni. It’s not because the education is so much better at those places; it’s because of the network. Research shows that life- time earnings for students of comparable academic abilities is basically the same whether they went to an elite school or not. What I found in the re- porting for my last book is that how students go to college, from the ma- jors they choose, to the re- search opportunities they pursue and the internships they get, matters more to success after graduation than the college’s name on the diploma. The problem is too many students go to all kinds of schools, including elite campuses, and treat col- lege like a spectator sport. By surveying tens of thou- sands of college graduates, Gallup and Strada Educa- tion Network found that undergraduates who en- gage in the campus around them by working closely with professors, taking on research projects and par- ticipating in outside-the- classroom activities were more likely to have a pas- sion for life and work after graduation. Without good measures of what makes a college good, we fall back to the power of popularity and ex- clusivity. The more applica- tions a school gets and the more students it rejects, the better it seems. Those num- bers are simply based on inputs, just like the stan- dardized test scores the parents accused in the ad- missions scandal paid to fake for their children. What really makes a col- lege good is what it does over four years to turn ado- lescent students into adult graduates. It’s pretty hard to see how children whose parents cheated and bought their way into school are ready take on the chal- lenges once they get there. Jeffrey Selingo is the author of ‘There Is Life After College’ and a special adviser and professor of practice at Arizona State University. THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS What parents in admissions scandal got wrong Without good measures of what makes a college good, we fall back to the power of popularity and exclusivity. The more applications a school gets and the more students it rejects, the better it seems. 5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2019 CAYMAN ISLANDS GOVERNMENT Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Investment & Commerce The 2019 Cayman Sword sh Challenge is two days of shing, Friday 15 & Saturday 16 March. This is a team event with a captain and at least one angler. Entry fee is CI$500 per team of four including the team captain + CI$100 each for any additional anglers. CI$20,000 in cash prizes! $5000 Heaviest Total Weight (1 or 2 sh combined) $3000 2nd Heaviest Total Weight (1 or 2 sh combined) $2000 3rd Heaviest Total Weight (1 or 2 sh combined) $2000 Most Releases rst day $2000 Most Releases second day $2000 Heaviest Total Weight rst day (1 or 2 sh combined) $2000 Heaviest Total Weight second day (1 or 2 sh combined) $1000 Single Heaviest Sword sh caught in Cayman Brac $1000 Single Heaviest Sword sh caught in Grand Cayman Registration and Captain’s meeting is at 6:30pm on Thursday 14 March at The Barcadere (Dock/Weigh Station). For more information on how to enter go to Cayman Sword sh Challenge Facebook page, email info@caymansword sh.ky, or call King on 345.916.2177. Welcome to Cayman’s 13th Annual Sword sh Tournament Bodden Town businessman ‘Buddy’ Wood passes away Wood was father, seafarer, farmer, and drive-in cinema owner JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com William “Buddy” Wood, a prominent businessman in the Bodden Town community, passed away Tuesday night at the age of 84. Surrounded by family members, Mr. Wood died at his home after a long illness, his son Mark Wood said. An ardent family man, en- trepreneur and farmer, Mr. Wood, like many Caymanians of the seafaring era, spent time working with National Bulk Carriers. In his time on the ship, he became a certi- fied engineer. While at sea, he began screening films after pur- chasing a 16mm projector. He would charge the other sailors a small stipend to come to his films and when National Bulk Carriers heard of this, the company de- cided to outfit all of their ships with a projector for watching films. This interest in films would serve Mr. Wood well later in life, especially when he returned to Cayman. Once settled back home in Cayman, Mr. Wood opened the Ever-glo Drive- in Theatre in Pease Bay in the 1960s as a family ori- ented establishment, where locals would gather to watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters. The drive-in cinema served as the backdrop for many Caymanians’ child- hood memories and local people recall there was nothing like getting dressed up to go watch a movie at Mr. Buddy’s place. The drive-in closed in the mid-80s. In later years, Mr. Wood turned the Ever-glo building into a bar and restaurant. Mr. Wood was proud of how Caymanians were self-sufficient in local pro- duce and meats when he was growing up, and to keep this heritage alive, he opened Buddy’s Pro- duce Market in the Ever- glo building, selling freshly grown produce. Filled with an infec- tious enthusiasm for life and very active in the com- munity, Mr. Wood had a smile and a greeting for ev- eryone he met. “He had a good life. He’s been all over the world, even visiting the Pope, and then he came back home and started his own busi- ness,” said his son Mark. “He started the drive-in theater, went into con- struction, farming and sold real estate. Even when I started the quarry busi- ness, he went into that with me also.” The Rev. Godfrey Meghoo said Mr. Wood will be missed by his family and the local community, as well as by local churchgoers. “He was a god-fearing man, a leader in the com- munity of Bodden Town, and also a Rotarian,” Mr. Meghoo said. “Mr. Wood was a member of the Bodden Town and North Side United churches and a Justice of the Peace. He had a family of three children, one of whom died some years ago. He also has six grandchil- dren, all of whom grew up in the church.” Former cemetery care- taker Freddie Watler said of his friend, “I was with him from the time he opened the theater until the day it was closed. We went fishing a lot and raised cows together. He would give me any- thing I wanted and we lived very close.” Mr. Wood and Corine, his wife of 60 years, spent time traveling the world after he retired. He loved to travel, often taking his family along, according to son Mark. Mr. Wood is survived by his wife Corine, chil- dren Mark and Judy, and six grandchildren. His funeral service details will be an- nounced at a later date. Once settled back home in Cayman, Mr. Wood opened the Ever-glo Drive-in Theatre in Pease Bay in the 1960s as a family oriented establishment, where locals would gather to watch the latest Hollywood blockbusters. Coin proves to be quick-silver hit Following a record-fast sellout of a silver commemo- rative coin to mark the 60th anniversary of the local coat of arms last year, a second edition of the coin has been minted. The Cayman Islands Mon- etary Authority debuted the silver $5 coin just before Christmas, and it became the fastest selling coin in the au- thority’s history. Produced in collaboration with Celebrate Cayman, it sold out within 36 hours of arriving on is- land, according to CIMA. Scottsdale Mint of Scott- sdale, Arizona, which minted 250 of the 60th anniversary coins in early 2018, was also commissioned to carry out the second mintage, in which 350 of the coins were created. The stylistic details of the second mintage “differ ever so slightly from the first edi- tion, a move to protect the integrity and authenticity of each,” CIMA stated in a press release. The second mintage coin features the thatch rope and “Our Coat of Arms” in gold – elements that ap- peared in silver in the first mintage. The Coat of Arms is depicted on the obverse side of the coin with the 60th An- niversary logo in partial color on the reverse. The one troy ounce of .999 fine silver coin was de- signed by Celebrate Cayman Committee Project Coordi- nator Kara Coe, and is the second commemorative coin she has designed for the Cayman Islands government. “The popularity of these coins is clear indication of the interest and desire for people to celebrate and com- memorate this milestone in a special way,” said Celebrate Cayman Committee Execu- tive Chairman Alfonso Wright in the release. “This second mintage will give even more people the opportunity to purchase a piece of history and be part of the celebra- tions in this special way.” The conferral of the Coat of Arms was made by Queen Elizabeth II on May 14, 1958. In May 2018, to celebrate the 60th anniversary, the Cayman Islands Government launched Celebrate Cayman, a two-year national initiative to tell the story of the Coat of Arms and Cayman’s first con- stitution, which was issued a year later, on July 4, 1959. The coin is available for purchase from CIMA for CI$48.90 or US$60. Contact s.watler@cimoney.com.ky or 244-1596 for more information. Coins commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Cayman Islands coat of arms are on sale. William ‘Buddy’ Wood, 1934-20196 LOCAL NEWS Check out these photos and others by visiting caymancompass.com/photogalleries or on facebook.com/caycompass (and don’t forget to tag yourself and your friends!) THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS T he annual auction of original artwork from the Cayman Watercolours Calendar raised more than $21,000 for Jasmine and the National Council of Voluntary Organisations Tuesday evening. It was held in the new Jasmine facility off West Bay Road, where at- tendees got to see the first prints of the 2020 calendar. The calendar will be available for purchase later this year. Darren Trickett walks the runway with artwork in hand. – PHOTOS: MAGGIE JACKSON Sydney Coleman flexes his muscles, holding one of the artworks aloft for the audience to see. From left, Adam Vanicek, Mika Hlungwani, Gemma Henry and Alan Shek. Dr. Sarah Cuff with Hilary Cuff Liz Dobbin Watkins and Chris Duggan Richard Addlestone and artist Shilpa Tagalpallewar hold her contribution to the event. Sara MacKay and Elizabeth Dikau Helga Marty, Tansy Maki and Nancy Binz create a colorful trio. Betty Baraud and Darren Trickett Jean-Marc Lesieur and artist Caroline Courtis7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2019 Pet owner disputes account in case of euthanized dogs SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com A local pet owner is dis- puting the account of the Department of Agriculture regarding an incident this week in which three dogs were seized and ultimately euthanized. Mario Manning told the Cayman Compass Tuesday that his three dogs – Poppy, Karma and Dusty – were seized by the Department of Agriculture last Thursday for being unsecured on nu- merous occasions. Mr. Manning said that he signed a paper allowing the dogs to be taken by the gov- ernment agency, but he main- tains that he did not under- stand that they could be euthanized as a result. And now that they have been put down, he said he wants an opportunity to say goodbye. “They are property of the Crown,” said Mr. Manning of his dogs. “From a human aspect, I just want to say goodbye. I am pleading for them to hand them back to me so I can cremate them.” Many elements of the story are not in dispute. The Depart- ment of Agriculture issued a press release Tuesday in which it detailed its account, and Mr. Manning agreed with many of its details. The DoA said its senior animal welfare officer at- tended the Manning home last week along with commu- nity officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice following numerous complaints about roaming and aggressive dogs that have chased nearby pedes- trians and cyclists. The officers found one dog unsecured and roaming freely when they arrived at the Manning home. They spoke to Mr. Manning and es- tablished that he had been warned on previous occa- sions about keeping his dogs secure, and they asked him to surrender his dogs to the DoA on this occasion. Mr. Manning acknowl- edged that he had previ- ously been spoken to about not allowing his dogs to be unsecured, and he said that he had complied with ev- erything the DoA had asked him to do. But he disputed that his dogs had ever in- jured someone and said he’s never been told of such an incident. “He told me it was my third strike,” said Mr. Man- ning of his interaction with the animal control officer. “I was told they were a nui- sance and could be a threat to the public.” Mr. Manning said Tuesday that he signed an Agreement for Surrendering Animals because he did not under- stand the repercussions that could ultimately be taken. Two of the dogs – Karma and Dusty – were pit bull mixes, a breed that is prohibited by the government of the Cayman Islands. Mr. Manning and his girl- friend, Diane Gagne, had in- tended to arrange for the dogs’ adoption in Canada, and Mr. Manning said that he never would have signed the dogs over if he had known they could be euthanized. The DoA disputes that account and says Mr. Manning was informed at the time. “In accordance with the law, dogs surrendered to the DoA that are of prohibited breeds are euthanized by the Licensed Veterinarian,” said the press release issued by the department on Tuesday afternoon. “The owner was informed of this when the dogs were surrendered.” Mr. Manning said that is not true, and he maintains that he was told he would be informed before anything happened to the dogs. But he did not learn that the dogs would be euthanized, he said, until after the fact. The Department of Agri- culture provided a copy of the Agreement for Surrendering Animals to the Cayman Com- pass, and it clearly states above the signature line that “Prohibited breed types will be euthanized by the licensed veterinarian.” Brian Crichlow, the acting director of the DoA, issued an official statement clarifying the government’s position. “While this situation is unfortunate and we sympa- thize with the feelings of the former owner, we have fol- lowed Department of Agri- culture policy and the law,” he said. “This is why it is es- pecially important to follow the law when it comes to se- curing your animals. “While we do work with members of the public as much as possible to educate and provide opportunities for them to come into compli- ance, as we did in this case, at a certain point educa- tion must be followed by en- forcement. Unfortunately, it is often the animals that end up paying the price.” Mr. Crichlow documented the previous times that Mr. Manning’s dogs came into contact with the DoA. The DoA seized the dogs and re- quired home improvements to be made to the Manning household in October of last year, and the animals were released after the repairs were demonstrated. DoA representatives also came into contact with the dogs in January of this year. The dogs were loose but evaded capture and ran back into Mr. Manning’s residence. In February, Mr. Crichlow said the DoA re- ceived reports from an el- derly man who claimed to have been attacked by a dog at that address. The DoA received further complaints about the dogs in February and observed all three dogs loose when they attended the area on March 7. Mr. Crichlow said that all three dogs were of the pro- hibited breed variety. Two were classified as pitbull ter- riers and the third as a pit- bull crossbreed. When prohibited breeds are impounded, he said, the DoA is required by law not to “sell or exchange such a dog.” “This includes placing a dog for adoption, which would be gifting the dog,” said Mr. Crichlow. “Doing so would place the Department in violation of the Law. Ac- cordingly in such instances euthanasia is the only option open to the Department.” MARTIAL ARTS COACH TO GIVE FREE SELF-DEFENSE CLINIC The best defense is self-defense. Alan Predolin, an inter- nationally acclaimed martial arts instructor, will stage a free self-defense seminar for women on Friday at the Cayman Karate Academy from 6:30-8:30 p.m. That event is timed to coincide with International Women’s Month. Mr. Predolin, the chief instructor for 360 Krav Maga in Long Beach, Cali- fornia, is a certified Muay Thai kru (coach). Bob Daigle, owner of Cayman Karate Academy, was so impressed with Mr. Predo- lin’s knowledge that he de- cided to invite him to speak to local people who are in- terested in self-defense. Mr. Predolin has trained with international martial artists like Marco Ruas, Bas Rutten and Randy Cou- ture, and he travels the world teaching Krav Maga to people of all skill levels. He first began training in martial arts at a dojo in Italy, and he later studied Jeet Kune Do after traveling to the United States. He even became a member of the Guardian Angels, a non- profit group that patrols troubled New York neigh- borhoods with the pur- pose of protecting innocent bystanders. Mr. Predolin joined the Italian army at the age of 21 and deployed to Somalia and southern Italy. He was first exposed to Krav Maga when his unit was sent to Israel for a two-week deployment. He later moved to the U.S. and served in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne. When he left the armed forces in 1999, he moved to New York to train in Krav Maga under instructor Rhon Miz- rachi. Mr. Predolin became an instructor in 2001 and moved with his wife to Los Angeles in 2003. Now, at this advanced stage of his career, Mr. Predolin owns two Krav Maga schools and one CrossFit facility. He has about 1,000 regular stu- dents and he teaches on- going courses for law en- forcement agencies and military units. He also goes on the road to provide sem- inars around the world. Anyone interested in taking part in Friday’s self-defense seminar can email caymankarateacademy@gmail.com to reserve a space. The disconsolate pet owners posted this photo of their departed dog on the Cayman Stray and DOA Dog Rescue Facebook page. Trial starts for three who admit ganja, deny gun Cocaine and ecstacy also found in ganja packages CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Trial got under way on Wednesday for three men who admitted their involve- ment with ganja, but denied any knowledge of a firearm, ammunition and cocaine found inside packages of the illegal vegetable matter. Crown counsel Garcia Kelly opened the case to the jury by relating an incident on the night of March 2, 2018, that resulted in the arrest of Assad Adana Walker, Fitzroy Ottey and Owen Omar Reid. He said Cayman’s Joint Marine Unit was patrol- ling at sea around the north- east corner of Grand Cayman when officers observed a Ja- maican canoe-style vessel with three people aboard. The men in the canoe attempted to evade capture and sped off. The Air Support Unit was deployed and began searching the area where the 28-foot blue and gray canoe had last been seen. Air Sup- port officers observed men throwing packages overboard and videoed these actions. The three men were de- tained and the area searched; 16 packages were recovered. The men were arrested for importation of ganja. The packages were taken to the Customs Department to be X-rayed. During the scanning of a package, an ob- ject was seen that appeared to be a firearm. Further ex- amination revealed a Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver. Inside a green drink bottle, 49 rounds of ammunition were found. Days later, when a chemist was examining packages of vegetable matter, 10 off-white pellets were found; they tested as a total of 101 grams of co- caine. The chemist also found a plastic bag with 97 orange tablets that proved to be MDMA, known as ecstasy. When interviewed, Mr. Walker indicated he was the captain of the boat and was to be paid JA$50,000 (CI$325) to do a delivery to Cayman. He admitted knowing the pack- ages contained ganja, but de- nied knowledge of any firearm. Mr. Ottey told authorities he had been paid JA$100,000 and expected to receive JA$300,000. He said he rented the boat and the ganja was brought to him, but if he had known about the gun he would not have got involved. Mr. Reid admitted knowing about the ganja while still in Jamaica, but de- nied any knowledge of any firearm aboard the vessel. He admitted throwing packages overboard in an attempt to avoid capture. Mr. Walker is represented by attorney Amelia Fosuhene, Mr. Ottey by attorney Jona- thon Hughes, and Mr. Reid by attorney Prathna Bodden. The matter is being heard by Justice Marlene Carter with a jury of four men and three women. Trial began Wednesday for three men on drug and firearm charges. - PHOTO: CHRIS COURTThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, MARCH 14 WORLD KIDNEY DAY: Free health screening at Cayman Islands Hospital Atrium. 8 a.m. to noon. Includes blood pressure, glucose, cholesterol, weight and height. PIANO RECITAL: 5:30-7:30 p.m. at George Town Public Library. Cayman Arts Festival showcases young Caymanian pianists who will present a concert/ competition with a prize of a two-week scholarship at the International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York. The concert- competition will be followed by Matei Varga’s piano recital. Tickets available at the door. $20 for adults, $5 for children. There will be only 75 tickets available. FRIDAY, MARCH 15 IRISH JOG: The 27th annual St. Patrick’s Day 5K Irish Jog begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Britannia green space. This year’s jog will raise funds for the Alex Panton Foundation. Entry fee is $10. Registration takes place at Butterfield Bank at Governors Square from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, or on the day of the jog at Britannia from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. To register online, visit www.butterfieldgroup.com. CHILD EVANGELISM FELLOWSHIP: The Church of God Holiness in Red Bay holds training sessions for volunteers, Sunday School teachers and youth workers. Training will take place Friday 5:30-9 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. A contribution of $10 per person is requested. Register via email at cefcayman@gmail.com or phone 926-1541. HONOURING WOMEN MONTH LUNCHEON: A luncheon featuring speakers, networking and celebration, with a focus on leadership, empowerment and progress. Noon to 2 p.m. Aurea East, Kimpton Seafire resort. $25 tickets include 3-course lunch, door prizes and raffle. Group bookings available, tables seat 10. For more information, send an email to hwm@gov.ky. SUNDAY, MARCH 17 COLOUR ME PURPLE RUN: The Family Resource Centre is hosting its annual 5K walk/ run as part of Honouring Women Month, 6:30 a.m., Seven Mile Public Beach. Funds support empowerment programs for women and youth in the community. $25 registration includes T-shirt (for the first 200 paid registrants), raffle prizes and light refreshments. There will be color bombing, breakfast and medals for runners, as well as raffle prizes. Register at www.caymanactive.com/ purple. SUMMER INTERNSHIP: Training opportunities exist for young people through the Summer in the City Internship Program at Cayman Enterprise City. Application deadline is March 17. For more information, visit www. caymanenterprisecity.com/ enterprise-cayman/intern- in-the-city or contact Bianca Mora, public engagement officer at CEC, at b.mora@ caymanenterprisecity.com. NATIONAL ORCHESTRA CONCERT: The Cayman National Orchestra presents “Fiesta,” a concert that bridges Spanish music to Latin American, from Bizet’s Carmen to Argentinian Tango, and which will feature the full orchestra and special guests. At the Harquail Theatre. Adult tickets are $40, children’s tickets are $20. Tickets can be purchased from www.eventpro.ky. TUESDAY, MARCH 19 EMPLOYMENT, THE HIRING PROCESS: Chamber of Commerce course. 9-11 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $175 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky or call 949-8090. SEAFARERS ASSOCIATION: Members are advised that the March Social will be held on March 19 at 7 p.m. in the Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Ave. Prospect. Buses will be provided from West Bay Town Hall at 6 p.m. A bus route has been added in George Town, leaving the Public Library parking area at 7 p.m., stopping at Cayman Compass building and the Airport Fosters. The bus is marked Bobo $1 Public transport and is blue in color. There is no charge. THURSDAY, MARCH 21 PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE: Chamber of Commerce course. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chamber office, Governors Square. $150 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky or call 949-8090. ACCELERATE THE SUCCESS OF YOUR BUSINESS: Chamber of Commerce workshop. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Chamber office, Governors Square. Free of charge, register online at www.caymanchamber.ky or call 949-8090. MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY: George Town Public Library, 6-7 p.m. Tickets available at the door, $20 for adults, $5 for students. Presented by Cayman Arts Festival and the Cayman Islands Public Library Service. The event will be showcasing Glen Inanga (piano), Sarah Newman (violin) and Dequan Smith (cello). Poetry moments with Camille Bodden. PUB QUIZ: Fidel’s. 7 p.m. Benefits Humane Society. Teams up to six members, $10 each. Contact 949-5189 or sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. BULLYING: The Ministry of Community Affairs and the Alex Panton Foundation host a presentation on bullying at Webster United Church Hall in Bodden Town. 6:30-8 p.m. All are invited. FRIDAY, MARCH 22 FIRST-TIME MANAGER: Chamber of Commerce course. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Chamber office, Governors Square. $450 for members, $525 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky or call 949-8090. MEALS ON WHEELS: Cayman Islands Meals on Wheels needs 250-plus volunteers for its annual “¢hange for Change Coin Drive” to raise money to feed housebound and disabled seniors. The coin drive takes place on March 22 and 23 across 30 locations. Service groups, corporate teams and individuals are invited to sign up for two hours on those dates to assist in collecting donations. Volunteers will be provided a collection bucket, T-shirt, instructions and lapel stickers. Sign up online at www.mealsonwheels.ky, or contact info@mealsonwheels.ky or 769-1974 for more information. SATURDAY, MARCH 23 BRAC AGRICULTURE SHOW: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Agriculture Show Grounds. Contact Chevala Burke at chevala. burke@gov.ky or 916-4874, or visit www.fb.com/ bracagricultureshow for more information. RED SKY AT NIGHT: 4 p.m. to midnight. Rescheduled from March 2. More than 100 artists and artisans, delicious food, live entertainment. All tickets will be valid for the new date. Members of the public who are unable to attend today and would like a refund, contact cncf@artscayman.org. KIWANIBIKE: Pre-registration 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Strand. Fee of $25 includes T-shirt, refreshments and raffle entry. To register and for more information, visit www.kiwanis.ky. SUNDAY, MARCH 24 KIWANIBIKE: Participants may drop off their bike at Smith Cove between 5:30 and 6 a.m. and the bikes will be transported to the Blow Holes in East End. Participants may then take a special bus to the Blow Holes where the ride back to Smith Cove begins at 7 a.m. CHORAL CABARET: The Cayman National Choir presents an evening of choral arrangements of well- known songs spanning the last six decades, from pop to doo-wop, from Disney to disco, as well as a guest appearance from the local a capella group, The Singrays. The concert, at the choir’s rehearsal rooms at Bay Harbour Centre (building with the green KAABOO mural) on West Bay Road, begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available from www.eventpro.ky. TUESDAY, MARCH 26 BASIC ACCOUNTING MADE EASIER: Chamber of Commerce course. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Chamber office, Governors Square. $150 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky or call 949-8090. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 PEDRO AND BOTANIC PARK CLOSED: The Pedro St. James National Historic Site and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park will be closed to the public on Wednesday and Thursday, March 27 and 28, to facilitate the Royal Visit. Both attractions will reopen for business as usual on Friday, March 29. BPW AGM: The Annual General Meeting and Annual Candle Lighting Ceremony for the Business and Professional Women’s Club takes place upstairs at the George Town Yacht Club restaurant. Dinner is $50. Email info@bpwgcm.org for details. SATURDAY, APRIL 6 ORCHID SHOW: Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park today and tomorrow (Sunday), 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. TUESDAY, APRIL 9 BULLYING: The Ministry of Community Affairs and the Alex Panton Foundation hosts a presentation on bullying at John Gray Memorial Church in West Bay. 6:30-8 p.m. All are invited. GENERAL INTEREST LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS: Applications are being accepted for the Ministry of Education’s local scholarships. Eligible Caymanian students and adults are invited to apply until April 30. Funding is available for Year 12 students to pursue studies in A-level and BTEC Level 3 Extended for two years, and Year 13 students to pursue studies in Advanced Placement, CAPE and International Baccalaureate courses. Government will also award scholarships for certificate, associate, bachelor, master and law degree programs at ICCI, UCCI, UWI Open Campus, St. Matthew’s University and the Cayman Islands Law School. The online application for local scholarships may be accessed at www.education. gov.ky/scholarships. For more information, contact the Scholarship Secretariat at 244-2482 or email scholarships@gov.ky. LOCAL HARVEST MARKET: Local farmers sell their produce and farmed goods at Camana Bay on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Heliconia Court (located next to Scotiabank). SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Be a volunteer for athlete training at Truman Bodden Sports Complex. Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. for track, bocce and football, and Thursdays, 5:30 p.m. for basketball. Swimming on Wednesdays at the Lions Pool 10-11 a.m. or on Saturdays at the Cayman International School pool, 9:30 a.m. Email soci@candw.ky or call 916-2600. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. ART OPEN CANVAS: At KARoo Restaurant in Camana Bay, Wednesdays 7-11 p.m. Artists of all levels are welcome to come and enjoy painting and socializing with other artists. Includes use of easels, lights, space, beverage ticket. No fee. For more information, contact info@visualartcayman.com or jar.was@gmail.com. VISUAL ARTS SOCIETY: Adult Open Studio available to those who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere. Wednesdays for adults, 9 a.m. till noon. Thursdays Adults and Youth, 10 a.m. till noon. Watler House Art Studio, Pedro St. James. Fee is $5/$15 pp for ceramics. $15/$25 pp non-members. Includes use of studio, glazes and ceramic tools. Clay available $30 per bag/fee for kiln usage. To register, call 546-9422 or email info@visualartcayman.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The Cayman Arts Festival will showcase young Caymanian pianists at a piano recital/competition at the George Town Public Library on the evening of Thursday, March 14.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2019 Unfavourable fishing conditions this Friday, could postpone the start of the annual Cayman Swordfish Challenge by one day. Scheduled to begin at 10am on Friday 15 March, rough seas and high winds may force organizers to delay the two-day competition until 10am on Saturday 16 March for safety reasons. A decision will be made and announced at the Registration evening starting at 6:30pm at The Barcadere Marina, George Town Yacht Club. For more information or updates email info@caymanswordfish.ky or visit www.caymanswordfish.ky Anthony Ritch, chairman of the board of governors, said he was looking forward to “an exciting new chapter in the history of UCCI.” The new strategic plan changes the role of the pres- ident from campus centered to more community oriented. The president is expected to devote more time to finding additional revenue sources for the school and to building better connections with busi- nesses and organizations on the islands. Mr. Ritch said Ms. McAfee was chosen with that in mind. “We knew we had to find an exceptional leader,” Mr. Ritch said. “It is really impor- tant that we cultivate strong relationships with our ex- ternal stakeholders. She’s off to a strong start in this role.” Glenda McTaggart, edu- cation program manager for Dart Enterprises, said she and other members of the business community have been impressed with Ms. McAfee’s early outreach. “She’s getting into the community and meeting with all the businesses, under- standing what the needs are,” Ms. McTaggart said. “We’re very excited with all the plans that she has.” Ms. McAfee holds a doc- torate in educational lead- ership and management. She first taught, then moved into administrative roles, working at several col- leges and universities in the United States. Most recently, she was an associate vice president at the University of the Pacific, near Sacra- mento, California. Pamela Eibeck, Univer- sity of the Pacific president, was one of Tuesday eve- ning’s speakers. “This is an exciting time as UCCI charts a course for- ward,” Ms. Eibeck told the crowd. “I cannot imagine a better or more appropriate person to move your uni- versity forward than Dr. Stacy McAfee.” She lauded Ms. McAfee’s ability to create a clear vi- sion and recruit others to follow her. “Everybody who was any- body knew Stacy, loved Stacy and wanted to be a part of where the University of the Pacific was going,” Ms. Eibeck said. “She describes what the future will look like and ev- eryone wants to be a part of what she’s creating.” After being sworn into of- fice by Mr. Ritch, Ms. McAfee told the crowd what she planned to create at UCCI. “As our nation has changed, so too has the role of tertiary education,” she said. “Now, more than ever, the UCCI is an important engine for prosperity.” She then asked the au- dience to imagine a future UCCI with some of the fol- lowing features: ■■ An expanded Brac campus. ■■ More online offerings. ■■ “Cutting-edge” classrooms. ■■ A new coding academy. ■■ The addition of a tech- nical and vocational edu- cation and training center. ■■ Increased ties to busi- ness and industry. ■■ Establishment of a alumni foundation for scholarships. ■■ “Reinvention” of the civil service college. “It is a bright and com- pelling vision that illumi- nates the possibilities for the Cayman Islands,” she said, and a chance for UCCI to be “seen as a cornerstone for prosperity.” She also recog- nized the challenges. “Building world-class stu- dent-centered education is expensive,” she said. “But the cost is a bargain.” It’s important for Cayman to recognize “that tertiary ed- ucation is the priority of this nation,” she said. The ceremony began with a performance by the UCCI Pandemix Band, which played the somber, threatening tones of “Phantom of the Opera” during a processional of stu- dent and faculty represen- tatives, administrators and public officials. Education Minister Ju- liana O’Connor-Connolly gave the shortest speech of the night. “I have been asked to pro- vide greetings,” the min- ister said. “And so I go. Good evening.” Ms. O’Connor-Connolly later said her unusually brief remarks were not meant as a snub and that she is behind Ms. McAfee’s efforts. “I like to dream big,” she said. “I’m very supportive.” For her part, Ms. McAfee emphasized that the dream outlined in the strategic vi- sion was largely distilled from the ideas of faculty and staff on the campus. She said she has so far been impressed at the passion she sees in those that work for UCCI. “My biggest hope tonight,” she said, “is that I can en- capsulate that passion, so [community] people can feel they’re a part of that vision.” Six of its 12 time-share units continued to operate. However, after 2008’s Hur- ricane Paloma badly damaged the resort, the corporation ended all operations, although the group loaned the facility to government to house Brac reconstruction workers in the wake of the storm. Since then, the site has deteriorated even more, and government has issued mul- tiple orders over the years to the owners requiring them to clean up or face potential fines. Mr. Scott said it is his un- derstanding that there is still interest in constructing a new hotel there. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Demolition of Divi Tiara planned 2012 as part of an effort to revitalize Coe Wood Beach, were intended to be part of a public facility where ven- dors could showcase tradi- tional foods, arts and crafts to the public. The plans for the beach initiative in- cluded the construction of a boat ramp, sidewalk and parking areas, and a story- telling arena. In a statement from his MLA office, in re- sponse to questions from the Compass about the construction work, Dwayne Seymour, govern- ment minister and Bodden Town East MLA, said, “We are grateful for any- thing that is constructed in Bodden Town to ad- vance the quality of life of our people, whilst cre- ating opportunities for entrepreneurs.” His office de- scribed the building as a “mini pavilion.” Early this week, local residents told the Compass they had received no in- formation about what was being built on the site. District historian Mary Lawrence and former Bodden Town MLA and government minister Os- bourne Bodden both said they were in the dark as to what was being built on the beach. Mr. Bodden said he knew that there were plans to redevelop all public beaches and standardize facilities and operations to some extent, but he said he did not know if that was what was happening at Coe Wood Beach. Resident Neville McCoy said he figured some- thing like George Town’s Farmers Market was being built on the beach, so that people could sell goods there, but he added, “It is strange that this is being done and no one in the community had any knowledge of what was taking place.” Twyla Vargas, a dis- trict spokesperson, said she had heard government was building back sim- ilar huts/kiosks that had been there before, only on a bigger scale. Ms. Vargas said Coe Wood Beach had been a political football over the years, with each politician pulling down and erecting facilities when it suited their political agenda. After the huts were built in 2012, tensions flared over their use and, unable to decide what to do, gov- ernment had them pad- locked. Former MLA Mr. Bodden said the huts were “rushed, and ended up being poorly designed and unusable, so in 2017 they were torn down.” Coe Wood Beach has basic facilities, a play- ground and cabanas to es- cape the sun. Despite its beauty, it often seems de- serted except for a few lo- cals who can be found there throughout the day. The structural framework of a building is being erected on the beach. The Public Works Department said the building will be an open-air market. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY UCCI swears in first female president CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Divi Tiara resort is set to be demolished soon. Coe Wood Beach getting $200k craft market CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mark Scotland, deputy chairman of the UCCI board of governors, presents the university’s charter document to new president Stacy McAfee, as board chairman Anthony Ritch speaks at the podium Tuesday night. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSSNext >