ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY MARCH 21, 2019 High of 87 Low of 72 Smooth to slight with wave heights of less than 2 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR SPECIAL OLYMPIANS LOCAL | PAGE 7 STUDENTS TO CREATE MURALS FROM COLLECTED BOTTLE CAPS 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. To learn more about how we can help your business contact donovon.kellyman@ihs.ky. Your health means the world to us. www.generali-healthcare.com CAYMAN SPARKLES ON FINAL DAY OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS 11 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze medals for Cayman SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman punctuated the final day of the Special Olympics World Games with a slam dunk. The athletics team took home three golds and a silver Wednesday, and the swimming team won two bronze. Cayman won gold in its division of unified doubles bocce, and the unified basketball team topped their bronze medal from four years ago by prevailing in the gold medal game against India. Fareed Hosein, coach of the basket- ball team, spoke briefly about the victory on Wednesday. “We had bronze in Los Angeles,” he said, “But this was quite a step up to gold.” Cayman won 11 golds, 10 silvers and 11 bronze medals over the course of the World Games. The basketball team dedicated its win to one of its members, Albert Bodden, who died last year, and the entire delegation was competing in honour of the late swim coach Penny McDowall. The basketball team was shorthanded and exhausted after playing its run of games over the last week, but was pushed to overtime by a skilled team from India on Wednesday. “It was quite a journey. The guys were very excited,” said Hosein. “We played India in the finals, and they were a big, strong team. Our athletes played an almost flawless game to win in overtime.” Business hotel opens on West Bay Road JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s newest hotel an- nounces itself in giant red letters on the side of West Bay Road. Locale, a boutique business hotel on the southern end of the tourist strip, opened Friday. The derelict three-story prop- erty at the intersection with Lawrence Boulevard has been renovated and transformed into a 42-room hotel with a ground- floor restaurant. It has opened initially with 20 rooms, as work continues on the upper floor. Manager Tyler Welton said it was a “soft opening” to allow the first guests to give feed- back as the hotel fine-tunes its operations. “It’s a new brand and we only have one shot to make a lasting impression,” she said. The hotel, aimed primarily at business visitors and millen- nials, is priced in the $300-$400 per night range. It features the Bonfire Urban Italian Kitchen restaurant, as well as a bar and ‘hang out’ area on the ground floor. There is a swimming pool Airport project will not be finished for opening ceremony KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Government is holding an opening ceremony featuring Prince Charles next Wednesday for the redeveloped Owen Rob- erts International Airport terminal, but the project will not be finished by then. This information was conveyed to the Compass in response to a records request made more than a year ago, seeking an es- timated final cost for the terminal redevel- opment. Cayman Islands Airports Authority officials have maintained that they cannot say what the project will cost because con- struction is still ongoing. The CIAA said last June that the pro- ject’s final cost will be made public once re- development is finalised, which will likely be during the first quarter of 2019. Given that government is holding an opening cer- emony for the project next week, the Com- pass followed up to see whether a final cost can now be released. However, the Office of the Ombudsman said, “The CIAA advised that they are un- able to comply with the agreed date of de- ferral, as the re-development project is still ongoing … the project is envisaged to be Sales manager Aliya Dunstan and hotel manager Tyler Welton at the new Locale hotel. – PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER Work continues at Owen Roberts International Airport on Wednesday, which is scheduled to be officially opened by Prince Charles after he lands there on Wednesday, March 27. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY MARCH 21, 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) FIVE FEET APART (PG13) 12:55 I 4:40 I 6:30 I 9:50 WONDER PARK (PG) 12:45 I 3:00 3D I 5:15 I 7:30 3D 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 WE DIE YOUNG (R) 2:20 I 7:30 I 10:00 A MADEA FAMILY FUNERAL (PG13) 3:45 I 6:45 I 9:20 HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD (PG) 1:20 I 3:55 3D I 9:15 3D Three in court for 900 pounds of ganja Defendants remanded in custody until March 29 CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three men appeared in Summary Court on Wednesday, all charged with importing about 900 pounds of ganja following an en- counter with police approx- imately 11 miles off East End on Monday. The defendants, all from Jamaica, were identified as Dalton Alphonso Wright, 44, of St. James; Xavier Shane Watson, 43, of St. Mary; and Malson Campbell, 66, from St. Ann. As a result of the same incident, Wright by himself is charged with possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an offence, namely importation of ganja. He is further charged with committing a reckless and negligent act – navigating a vessel in a manner so rash as to endanger human life or safety. Watson is charged with making a threat to kill an officer. No details were di- vulged during the brief court hearing. Defence attorneys Dennis Brady, Prathna Bodden and Oliver Grimwood told Magis- trate Valdis Foldats they were not making any bail applica- tion at this time because they had not received any papers in the case. The magistrate asked Crown counsel Darlene Oko to serve charge sheets and a summary of facts to the at- torneys by Friday, March 22. He told the defendants that their attorneys would be getting more information about the case. He said it was early in the investigation and more information would be- come available as matters progressed. He remanded them in cus- tody until Friday, March 29. A police press release about the incident indi- cated that officers of the Joint Marine Unit were on patrol when they spotted a suspicious vessel around 6:30 a.m. on Monday. The vessel refused to stop when challenged and there was an extended pursuit in open waters. The suspects were alleg- edly seen throwing pack- ages overboard and one of them was said to have threatened an officer with a firearm. Officers discharged a service weapon in response and the vessel was disa- bled and detained. A large number of packages that had been thrown overboard were recovered. The press release said po- lice had observed other fire- arms on board, including some that were thrown over- board during the pursuit, but this was not referred to in court. Drug packages are seen inside a Joint Marine Unit vessel on Monday after they were recovered following a pursuit at sea. - PHOTO: RCIPS The suspects were allegedly seen throwing packages overboard and one of them was said to have threatened an officer with a firearm. Fishing tournament postponed due to rough seas Family fishing clinic to go ahead as scheduled Organisers of the Burger King Big Fish tournament, scheduled for this weekend, announced Wednesday that the event has been post- poned because of unfavour- able weather. A new date for the three-day event, which offers more than $55,000 in cash prizes and giveaways, will be announced soon, the organisers said. According to Cayman’s National Weather Service, sea conditions for Friday, the first scheduled day of the tourna- ment, will be “moderate to rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet” and small craft are advised to exercise caution over open waters. Northerly winds that day are expected to reach 15 to 20 knots. Waves of 3 to 5 feet are expected on Saturday and Sunday. Family fishing clinic Despite the expected in- clement weather, a two-day, family-oriented fishing clinic at the Barcadere Marina, by the George Town Yacht Club, will proceed as planned on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The BK Big Fish organ- isers partnered with the In- ternational Game Fish Asso- ciation in its second Cayman Outreach Programme, sup- ported by the Cayman Islands Angling Club, the Department of Environment and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. The programme is offering the free fishing clinic for an- yone wanting to try the sport or get back into it. The family-oriented fishing clinic, which is free to all, is being held to help edu- cate young people on conser- vation, as well as the basics of fishing, including basic tackle description, knot tying, fish handling, de-hooking, fishing safety and environ- mental stewardship. The camp will conclude with a Family Fishing Derby. Participants do not need to bring anything with them because all the equipment and bait will be provided during the class, said Frank Thompson, a Cayman repre- sentative of the International Game Fishing Association. “Some of my best mem- ories as a kid growing up were going fishing with my parents and grandparents,” Thompson said, adding that his parents showed him how to fish from age 3. “It was a rewarding feeling when I caught my first fish and I just couldn’t wait to catch an- other one,” he said. The biggest fish he ever caught was a 465-pound blue marlin during the Cayman Is- lands International Fishing Tournament in 2004, he said. During the weekend fishing clinic, partici- pants will receive a ‘pass- port’ book when they sign up. Those passports will be used at each station to collect stamps, which can be used to borrow fishing reels. Thompson said partici- pants are welcome to bring along their own lucky fishing poles. Rod and reels will also be available for borrowing. A mini kids fishing tour- nament will be held at the end of each day for partici- pants to try out their newly acquired skills. “Catching a fish for the first time, for any child, gives them an experience where their face lights up,” Thompson said. “If they don’t catch a fish, they get to spend some time outside in nature, getting some fresh air and away from all the electronics.” He added that the children also would get to learn about the ocean and the environ- ment, and perhaps building some lasting friendships. Adults are also welcome. “We encourage the par- ents to stay to keep an eye on the children,” he said. Thompson said it will be a free-flowing formation and children do not necessarily have to be there at 10 a.m. They can come at any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and be accommodated. There will be food on sale and the day will conclude with prize giveaways. According to Thompson, this is the second year the Angling Club has run the fishing clinic in the Cayman Islands, and last year was the first time the International Game Fishing Association in Florida offered the clinic out- side the U.S. Last year, he said, more than 200 children took part in the fishing clinic. This year, organisers are looking to double that number. The angling club is hoping to offer more of the clinics, and to include Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Cayman Health winner Congratulations to Tanya Gordon for winning a Fitbit Charge 3 from the Cayman Compass sister publication, Cayman Health, at the Cayman Heart Fund’s International Symposium. Gordon, pictured with Pinnacle Media’s newly appointed publisher, Kathleen Capetta, right, exclaimed she had ‘never won anything before’. To find available contests, frequently visit www.caymancompass.com/ contests.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY MARCH 21, 2019 ROYAL VISIT PRINCE CHARLES & THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL CELEBRATING THE ARRIVAL OF PRINCE CHARLES & THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL CELEBRATING THE ARRIVAL OF PRINCE CHARLES & THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL Friday, March 29 Monday, March 25 For more information call 949-5111 or email sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Please be advised that the Cayman Compass will not be published on Thursday, March 28 EDITION: DEADLINE: PUBLIC HOLIDAY Lunds unveil plans for healing domes Aiming for 2020 opening JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A unique ‘healing resort’ featuring dome-shaped bun- galows on the site of the hurricane-hit Mariners Cove complex in Grand Cayman is aiming to open by De- cember 2020, according to the developer. Kim and Ashleigh Lund are planning an 8-acre desti- nation spa and resort on the site of the old condo com- plex in Prospect that was de- molished by Hurricane Ivan. The Lunds purchased the land in 2015 through their company Revive Cayman and had plans approved in late 2017 for the spa. Now, HjS Architecture has produced detailed designs and artist’s impressions of how the resort will look. Ashleigh Lund said the aim was to go back to the Central Planning Au- thority with some design amendments this month and to begin construction later this year. She said the designs were part of a package that was going out to investors and potential brands. The aim is to create a “destination healing re- sort and spa” that will bring a new kind of tourist to Cayman. She said the resort would feature a dedicated wa- terfront yoga pavilion and meditation centre, as well as a restaurant focussing on healthy and vegan foods. There will also be “integra- tive healing” options using naturopathy, natural medi- cine and energy healing. She said it could host people long term who were recovering from illness or serve as a relaxation get- away for people with busy lifestyles. “The resort will be all natural and organic with sustainable growing and solar powered facilities. We will have walking trails and greenhouses throughout the property, as well as a spa that celebrates the sea and the surrounding iron- shore,” she said. “All plants will be indig- enous or endemic to pro- mote our natural vegetation and we will protect our iron- shore and mangroves for all to enjoy and explore. Our aim is to provide a beau- tiful, organic and natural location where people can go to achieve balance and generate long-term healing and wellness.” An architect’s drawing shows how the dome-shaped bungalows would look. US STATE DEPARTMENT PICKS UCCI PROFESSOR FOR PROGRAMME University College of the Cayman Islands assis- tant professor of arts and humanities Ivan Eubanks has been chosen as one of about 80 U.S. citizens to spend a month working as an English-language spe- cialist for the U.S. State Department in Pakistan this summer. The state department project is focussed on ac- ademic writing for pub- lication with the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. Eubanks, who is di- rector of UCCI TV, has a background in media production. He served for eight years as editor-in-chief of the Pushkin Review, an in- ternational, bilingual, peer- reviewed journal. He has also served in an editorial capacity for Educational Studies, WR magazine, and other publications. In Pakistan, Eubanks will work with early-career faculty from around the country in their endeavours to prepare their research for publication in interna- tional, English-language, peer-reviewed journals. English-language spe- cialists in the programme work directly with local teacher trainers, educa- tional leaders and min- istry of education officials to exchange knowledge, build capacity and estab- lish partnerships ben- efiting participants, institutions and commu- nities in the United States and overseas. UCCI professor Ivan Eubanks The Lunds purchased the land in 2015 through their company Revive Cayman and had plans approved in late 2017 for the spa. Cayman asked to ‘Rock Your Socks’ Thursday Down Syndrome Cayman Islands and the Special Needs Foundation Cayman are inviting the public to ‘Rock Your Socks’ on Thursday, March 21, which is World Down Syndrome Day. The charities want youngsters and adults to pull on their coolest and most colourful socks, take a selfie, and post it to the Down Syndrome Cayman Islands Facebook page or on other social media at #RYSCAYMAN. Eubanks, who is director of UCCI TV, has a background in media production.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 PUBLISHER KATHLEEN CAPETTA EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” “If I can get one athlete to grow, which might mean to do a stroke correctly without being disqualified in a race, to introduce themselves to other athletes from another country or sometimes to just even show up and participate, or have a family member come to realise that their athlete can accomplish feats that they never dreamed they could, I feel like I have achieved something. If you can ever be part of something that is so simple that brings that feeling to someone, you will never forget it.” – Penny McDowall Cayman’s Special Olympians will come home with a lot of hardware: 11 gold, 10 silver and 11 bronze medals, all won in this week’s World Games in Abu Dhabi. Together, the team vaulted to an impressive finish, with many athletes achieving personal bests. Cayman’s delegation joined approximately 7,500 athletes from more than 190 nations in the competi- tion, which began last Friday. With broad smiles and arms raised in victory, they collected medals and cel- ebrated their achievements. We celebrated with them, shared their joy and offer our heartiest congratulations. They made our islands proud. They won gold medals in bocce, swimming and ath- letics; as teams and individuals. Our unified basket- ball team, wearing black stripes on their uniforms in remembrance of their late teammate Albert Bodden, earned gold in a hard-fought final game. We offer our thanks to the coaches and volunteers who supported our World Game delegation and who help our more than 100 athletes and unified partners train throughout the year in furtherance of the organi- sation’s mission: to enrich the lives of people with intellectual disabilities through sport. Since the Cayman Islands’ organisation was founded in 1988, our Special Olympians have competed around the world: from Puerto Rico to Dublin, Ireland: from Minnesota, USA, to Shanghai, China, and now, the Middle East. More than an athletic contest, it offers a transformative experience – an opportunity for our athletes to show their skills in a global arena, to meet athletes and supporters from other nations and see a new part of the world. Through training in aquatics and open water swimming, athletics, football, basketball and bocce, the programme helps build athletes’ skills and confidence, nurtures friendships and promotes healthy lifestyles. It builds relationships and understanding of intellectual disability – dismantling prejudices and dispelling igno- rance in the community at large. Cayman’s Special Olympics athletes have long been blessed with committed, compassionate and com- petent allies. This year’s delegation played in honour of former swim coach Penny McDowall, the beloved founder of our islands’ Special Olympics swimming programme who passed away in January after a six-year battle with cancer. It takes a strong commitment and considerable resources to keep the training going, and to send del- egation after delegation to participate in the World Olympics. Effusive thanks are due to the organisation’s volunteers and stalwart supporters. We hope others join their ranks and participate in this worthy endeavour. Congratulations to our Special Olympians THURSDAY MARCH 21, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS LETTER TO THE EDITOR Reasons to oppose voting rights for UK citizens A permanent resident of Cayman is not allowed to own a business in full or in part unless they get certain exemptions. Other- wise, they have to work for someone else. And whether or not they have a job, they must pay work permit fees or lose their permanent residence. I have a friend who lost his PR after he had lived in Cayman for about 16 years. He had to leave, splitting a blended family he had established with a generational Cayma- nian. His son, who came to Cayman as a toddler and is now in university, is also in danger of being jettisoned. I will not be overly crit- ical about the laws that allow this to happen. We have to understand that generational Caymanians are now a minority in their own country. Further, they do not meaningfully con- trol the policies of govern- ment and often jobs they are qualified for are given to work permit holders. In such circumstances, it is not fair to expect genera- tional Caymanians to be sympathetic to such cases. Overall, it must be very painful for generational Caymanians to see that they are being socially, eco- nomically and culturally displaced. Further, such political control as remains is becoming increasingly nominal as the incomers have taken control behind the scenes and hold great sway over the political directorate. As if that was not enough, the Foreign Af- fairs Committee of the U.K. House of Commons has rec- ommended that U.K. citi- zens should be afforded the right to vote and stand for elections in Cayman. This means that any such person may vote without holding Caymanian status or even permanent residency. In the absence of any resi- dency requirements, such a person can come to Cayman for the first time, register as a voter, go back to the U.K., return to Cayman to vote and go back to the U.K. It is not likely to happen often, but would be le- gally possible. Indeed, such a person would have the right to vote while a PR holder cannot vote. The poor Cayma- nian who, out of desper- ation rather than cyni- cism, might find solace in the revocation of perma- nent residency for the re- calcitrant PR holder, may now have to contend with people from the U.K. who could soon be allowed to vote and stand for elected office without any real con- nection to the country. And the former unemployed PR holder who may have lived in comfortable Cayman for many years but lost his hard-earned immigration status after failing to pay the work permit fees has to return to a place like rural Jamaica, for example, knowing that a person who never even lived in Cayman before has taken his or her place. This is bad not just for generational Cayman- ians but for every person, regardless of original na- tionality, who has lived in Cayman for a long time and has gained PR or Cayma- nian status. Consider also that those who lose their status due to failure to pay work permit fees are likely to be pre- dominantly black and brown, and that the people who would come to Cayman under the proposed new measure will likely be mostly white. Some Cayma- nian friends of mine have expressed the fear that this proposal will just accel- erate the whitening of the community, which is likely to result in more intense discrimination against black and brown people. And to be sure, Caymanian whites are not generally considered or treated as white by some whites who have come to Cayman more recently. So those Cayma- nians will not escape this discrimination either. For these and other rea- sons, probably for the first time ever, there is what ap- pears to be serious discus- sion about independence in Cayman. But are there major risks with independ- ence? Not really. I agree with those leaders who have said that Cayman is not in this enviable posi- tion today just because of association with the U.K. That may have been so a long time ago but not now. And as some leaders have pointed out, certain inde- pendent countries like Sin- gapore have a history sim- ilar to that of Cayman. That country was the back- water of Malaysia but broke away and became what it is today. Also, people need to un- derstand that where inde- pendence seemed to fail, it was because of social, eco- nomic, geographical and other disadvantages which Cayman does not have or have to the same degree. Indeed, many of those countries have since made great strides towards eco- nomic and social develop- ment. Thus people of every colour or creed who have made Cayman their home must work together not just to fight this new rec- ommendation but to work towards independence at some point, a point which may now be nearer than many would have imagined only months ago. Even if this recommendation is not ultimately adopted now, it may return in future. Even if it does not, there will be other unacceptable pre- scriptions over time. De- spite certain appearances sometimes, this partner- ship has always been, and will continue to be, similar to that of the rider and the horse, until the relationship is fundamentally changed. Bilika Simamba Even if this recommendation is not ultimately adopted now, it may return in future. Even if it does not, there will be other unacceptable prescriptions over time.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 21, 2019 PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE Planning director: CPA board interests will be public KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com In response to an audit report calling for more transparency, the Cen- tral Planning Authority is making public a registry of business, property, fi- nancial and other inter- ests for its board members and employees. Speaking at a Public Ac- counts Committee hearing on Wednesday, Planning Di- rector Haroon Pandohie said his department is in the process of updating its registry of interests, which is available on the depart- ment’s website. As of Wednesday morning, filings were avail- able online for Planning Au- thority board members A.L. Thompson, Edgar Ashton Bodden, Tommie Bodden, Kris Bergstrom, Eldon Rankin, Selvin Richardson, Trent McCoy and Rex Miller, as well as Pandohie and his deputy, Ron Sanderson. Fil- ings were also available for electrical board of ex- aminers member Carlos Powell, building inspector Alan Renald, and Develop- ment Control Board – the Sister Islands’ version of the Planning Authority – mem- bers Zanda McLean and An- drea Stevens. Filings were not posted for Planning Authority members Peterkin Berry, Ray Hydes, Fred Whit- taker, Joseph Coe, or Robert Watler Jr. But while the Planning Authority has expressed a commitment to regularly update its register of in- terests, there may not be a legal requirement for it to do so. Public Accounts Com- mittee Chairman Ezzard Miller asked Pandohie what measures he could take if a board member does not de- clare his interests. “Outside of continuing to ask them to comply – and seeking assistance from the chairman and ministry – I would be limited as to what action I can take ultimately to enforce that,” Pandohie replied, adding that he has no auditing mechanism for making sure the register is accurate and adhered to during planning meetings. Pandohie also said the Public Authorities Law, which establishes good-gov- ernance measures for public authorities, does not apply to the Central Planning Au- thority. He said his depart- ment is trying to follow the “spirit” of that law, even though it is not technically required to do so. The Standards in Public Life Law would require the Central Planning Authority to have its members declare their interests, but that law has been dormant for some five years. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said at a Jan- uary Public Accounts Com- mittee hearing on the same subject that concerns per- sist about the Standards in Public Life Law. He said board members are pri- marily concerned about dis- closing their financial inter- ests to the public. “They’re not concerned that they have to report a conflict; they’re concerned that they have to make their entire holdings public,” Manderson said in January. “We’re still working to have this addressed.” Manderson said at the time that he does not have a timeline for when a new Standards of Public Life Law would be presented in the Legislative Assembly, but that doing so is a pri- ority for government. Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose made sim- ilar statements at the Jan- uary hearing, saying Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin has plans to review the law and is discussing this with the attorney general. The public can expect an announce- ment on this in the “not too distant future”, he said at the time. Haroon Pandohie Miller: Central Planning Authority should vote in public Chairman says issue a matter of public confidence KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Deliberations and votes by the Central Planning Authority should be held in public, Public Accounts Committee Chairman Ez- zard Miller said at a meeting of his committee on Wednesday. The Central Planning Authority currently allows members of the public to attend the portions of its meetings where devel- opers present their plans and any potential objec- tors can air concerns. These meetings have been public since 2017, and stem from a 2015 audit report that criticised the planning board for holding closed meetings. However, the portion of the meetings where Cen- tral Planning Authority members deliberate and vote on development ap- plications is still held be- hind closed doors. He asked Planning Au- thority Director Haroon Pandohie why the delib- erations and votes are not public, and Pandohie re- sponded that it’s so board members can have “open and frank discussion”. Miller said this state of affairs is unacceptable. “If the application is open to the public, and the presentation and objectors are open to the public, why would it be neces- sary to have the delib- erations of evidence pre- sented to the board?” the chairman asked. He added, “It’s the ac- tual act of voting that the public needs to know if we’re going to demon- strate that acts of cor- ruption aren’t occurring and people aren’t being influenced.” “You’re point is taken,” Pandohie told Miller. The planning director said his department will work with the board to help them move towards all aspects of the meetings being held in the public. Ezzard Miller MAN ADMITS IMPORTING CONTROLLED DRUG Crown to review supply charge CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A George Town resident pleaded guilty in Sum- mary Court on Tuesday to a charge of importing 204 tablets of the con- trolled drug Alprazolam, sold under the trade name Xanax, without lawful excuse or authorisa- tion to do so. Akinyele Jawanza Logan admitted com- mitting the offence on July 19, 2018. Logan, represented by attorney Dennis Brady, was further charged in connection with 52.5 tab- lets of the same drug found at his residence the same day. He pleaded guilty to simple pos- session, but not guilty to possession with in- tent to supply. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright said charges relating to the drug found in Logan’s home would be reviewed. The defendant also pleaded guilty to charges of possessing 1 gram and 1.2 grams of ganja, con- sumption of ganja and possession of a grinder, a utensil used in the prepa- ration of a controlled drug. Magistrate Valdis Foldats set the matter for mention again on Tuesday, April 2. In the March 20, 1969 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, a front page story, headlined ‘Big ganja haul’, detailed a sei- zure of £1,000 worth of drugs. It read: “A large quantity of what was believed to be ganja was seized by police aboard the ‘Kirk Chief’ last Thursday night (March 13) when she ar- rived from Kingston, Jamaica. “Police under the direction of Inspector Roy Archer and Sgt. Vernon Ebanks searched the ship from about 8.45 p.m. for four and a half hours re- sulting in the biggest haul at one time ever to have been seized in the Cayman Islands. “The estimated value ex- ceeds £1,000. “Acting on a report re- ceived, members of the Po- lice Force searched the ship, finding the suspected ganja made up in bundles wrapped in newspaper and paper bags. “The captain of the vessel is U.K. Hurlstone of Cayman Brac and of the crew of 12, the majority are Caymanians. “Police investigations continue but no arrests have been made. “A check was also made at the airport the same evening when four people were searched but no ar- rest was made.” In the same edition, an- other front page story ti- tled “Airport fire cause un- known” read: “Up to the present, the cause of the fire at the airport on Sunday, March 2, has not been determined. “The building was insured but due to it being a prefab- ricated structure, it cannot be replaced as it was originally. The insurance company has, therefore, agreed to the erec- tion of an office and store at the Fire Station and other small buildings for storage purposes at the airport. “The firemen who got the fire appliance in action was Mr. Martin Bodden, who should be commended for his swift action.” An earlier report on the fire stated that two sections of a prefabricated building erected by Hadsphaltic as offices when the company was working on the airport runway was totally destroyed by fire. The burned-out sec- tions were the office of the Chief Fire Officer, which was also used to store uniforms, spare parts for fire engines, general fire equipment and office records, as well as a storeroom for airline BWIA. 50 YEARS AGO Big ganja haul; airport fire Another front page story detailed a seizure of £1,000 worth of ganja. Logan, represented by attorney Dennis Brady, was further charged in connection with 52.5 tablets of the same drug found at his residence the same day.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 THURSDAY MARCH 21, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS completed by the end of the second quarter of 2019.” Among the work needed to be completed is the opening of the 17 conces- sion slots at the revamped airport. When a Compass re- porter was in the terminal on March 6, there were fewer than four stores open and work was still being conducted on the side of the terminal facing the runway. The CIAA did not im- mediately respond to Com- pass enquiries about how many concession slots will be open and what work will remain to be done when Prince Charles visits for the opening ceremony next Wednesday. While the CIAA has de- clined to release a cost es- timate for the project, the upgrade was around $64 million as of last August, an overrun of some $10.5 mil- lion from original contract prices, according to a report on the project from the Of- fice of the Auditor General. The audit report attrib- uted the cost overruns to additional features added to the development, as well as project delays. According to the report, the Airports Authority made multiple changes to the project after it started, in- cluding upgrading the hur- ricane-impact windows, adding canopies to protect passengers and baggage from the weather, upgrading banners on the roof, land- scaping around the airport, and adding other designs, such as the duty-free mall and the CIAA offices. The report, completed in August last year, but re- leased in January, estimated that these changes added nearly $5 million to the re- development price. “Almost $5 million of these cost increases are as a result of additions in scope made to the project after contracts were signed, including hurricane rated glass and canopies,” stated Auditor General Sue Win- spear in the report, adding, “Making changes to the scope of a project after a contract has been signed is not good practice.” Other cost overruns were attributed to project delays. For example, flaws in the designs of the elec- trical works led to an eight- week delay in construc- tion starting on Phase 2 of the project, according to the report. Awarding the contract for the baggage-handling system was also 10 months late due to poor quality of tender materials, the re- port states. “These delays have re- sulted in the project being rescheduled on more than one occasion and have con- tributed to increased costs,” the report states. and a public beach access to the side of the property. Aliya Dunstan, sales and marketing manager, said the first guests had been impressed with the hotel. She said every de- tail, from the right kind of phone chargers in the room to ensuring the walls were well insulated enough to block out the sound of passing traffic, had been taken care of. She said it would pro- vide a more affordable op- tion to some of the resorts on Seven Mile Beach, while maintaining high stand- ards of service. She said it was exciting to be part of the opening. “For so long we have been dreaming of this and talking through every de- tail, and now we get to see it all come together,” she said. The hotel and res- taurant collectively em- ploy 42 people. The project was de- veloped by the Howard Hospitality Group, which was initially involved in the Margaritaville de- velopment, and is now part of a plan to bring a Grand Hyatt hotel back to Grand Cayman. Matthew Ebanks, Jaheim Ebanks and Beaver ‘Ju- lius’ Smith won gold medals in their respective divi- sions of the 800-metre dash on Wednesday, and Cayman earned silver in the 4x100 relay. Anechell Newman took home a bronze medal in the 50-metre backstroke, and Alec Brice Cox, Dayana Powery, Keanu McKenzie and Matthew Morta Javier swam to a bronze in the 4x50 mixed relay. Khalid Arana and Nadesha Kelly prevailed on Wednesday to take gold in bocce. For Hosein, the ruling emotion on Wednesday was exhilaration and pride. His talented team had encoun- tered adversity and exhaus- tion along the way to the fi- nals and had overcome it to become champions of the World Games. “We dedicated the win to Albert Bodden and Penny McDowall,” he said. “It’s a big deal for us to come away with gold, and we were wearing black stripes on our uniforms in their honour.” The closing ceremonies for the Special Olympics World Games will take place Thursday, and Cayman’s delegation is scheduled to land at Owen Roberts Inter- national Airport Saturday at 5:50 p.m. Airport project will not be finished for opening ceremony Construction work is under way at Owen Roberts International Airport Wednesday morning. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY Cayman sparkles on final day of Special Olympics CAYMAN’S MEDALLISTS ATHLETICS Jaheim Ebanks 400m run – Gold 4X100m relay – Silver 800m run – Gold Matthew Ebanks 400m run – Gold 4X100m relay – Silver 800M run – Gold Chelsea Frederick Mini javelin – Silver Shot put – Silver Jordan McLean 100m run – Bronze 200m run – 7th 4X100m relay – Silver Beaver ‘Julius’ Smith 1500m run – Bronze 4X100m – Silver 800m run – Gold Lewin Solomon Jr. 400m run – Bronze 800m run – 5th Tessa Terry 100m run – Gold 200m run – Gold SWIMMING Alec Brice Cox 800m freestyle – Gold Medley relay – Bronze Open water one-mile freestyle – 4th Kanza Bodden Open water one-mile freestyle – Silver 800m freestyle – 7th Matthew Javier Medley relay – Bronze 200m breaststroke – 4th 200m freestyle – 4th 200m individual medley – Technical DQ Keanu McKenzie 200m individual medley – Bronze 100m individual medley – Silver 200m breaststroke – Gold Medley relay – Bronze Anechell Newman 50m backstroke – Bronze 50m freestyle – 7th Dayana Powery 200m freestyle – Bronze 100m freestyle – Silver 100m individual medley – Silver Medley relay – Bronze Lawrence Rasheed Open water one-mile freestyle – Bronze Open water 800m freestyle – 5th BOCCE Khalid Arana Bocce doubles – Gold Bocce singles – 4th Nadesha Kelly Bocce doubles – Gold BASKETBALL Shaun Ebanks – Gold Albis Amaya Garmendia – Gold Jharran Greenidge – Gold Trevor Powell – Gold Andrew Smilley – Gold Rhomar Williams – Gold J amel Winton – Gold “ The CIAA advised that they are unable to comply with the agreed date of deferral, as the re- development project is still ongoing … the project is envisaged to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2019.” OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN STATEMENT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cayman’s basketball team overcame adversity and exhaustion on its way to a gold medal. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Business hotel opens on West Bay Road CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 NATIONAL TRUST TO HOLD BIRDING TOUR The National Trust for the Cayman Islands is inviting families to take part in an ‘in- timate birding tour’ through the Queen Elizabeth II Bo- tanic Park this weekend. Families in the Wild is a National Trust programme devoted to encouraging fam- ilies to explore the great outdoors. “Activities foster fun and learning through exploration and help chil- dren to develop an appreci- ation for all that is unique to our beautiful islands,” the National Trust said in a press release. Adults and children are welcome to take part in the tour, which will be held from 8:30-10 a.m. on Sat- urday. It costs $15 for adults and $5 for children. The tour is recommended for children aged 10 and older. Pre-registration is required as spaces are limited. Contact community@nationaltrust.org.ky for more information and to register. The West Indian woodpecker is among the birds that can be found in the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. - PHOTO: NATIONAL TRUST OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 21, 2019 Students to create murals from collected bottle caps Local student aces Cayman Water World Water Day poetry contest CCMI TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR YOUTH PROGRAM SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Water is not just a building block of life and a precious natural resource. In this case, it has also served as an inspiration for Cayman’s best students. Rhea Swaminathan, a fifth-grade stu- dent at Cayman International School, was recently chosen as the winner of Cayman Water’s World Water Day Stu- dent Poetry Competition. That contest – built to recognise both World Water Day (March 22) and World Poetry Day (March 21) – invited West Bay students to wax poetic about the impor- tance of water. Swaminathan’s poem, entitled ‘Water,’ was chosen from 15 entries by a panel of three judges that included a Cayman Water representative, an Eng- lish teacher from First Baptist Chris- tian School and an emissary from Cayman’s Literacy Is For Everyone (LIFE) programme. ‘Water From the Pond’ by Kylah Murphy, a 10-year-old student at CIS, and ‘Water – A Blessing’ by Dezira Tatum, a 10-year-old at Wesleyan Christian Academy, were chosen as runners-up. World Water Day, an annual United Nations observance day, is centred on people in developing countries this year, and the theme for this year is ‘Leaving no one behind.’ The World Health Organisation and UNICEF have noted that 2.1 billion people live without safe water at home, and UNICEF data suggests that more than 700 children age five or younger die each day due to diarrhoea linked to un- safe water and poor sanitation. Swaminathan’s winning entry touched on biology, noting that “65% water you are” as part of your body composition. Her poem also noted the distinct difficulty that people in im- poverished environments have in lo- cating clean water, and the importance of working together to conserve the water table. Cayman Water will donate CI$500 to CIS for the winning effort and will pro- vide a plant tour to Swaminathan’s class. The winning poem will be published in a Cayman Water advertisement in the Cayman Compass on Friday, and will be featured in the Consolidated Water 2019 annual report. “We believe our mission to engage the community in thinking more about their water supply and especially about others in need of a clean supply, has been accomplished,” said Karlene Singh, a project engineer in business develop- ment for Cayman Water. “We believe that if our children grow up with an understanding and appreci- ation of these things, they will be more conservation-minded as well as compas- sionate to their neighbours in need.” Applications for the Central Caribbean Ma- rine Institute’s Young En- vironmentalist Leadership Course are due April 1. Now entering its eighth year, the course is a six- month intensive experi- ence that teaches students about marine science and trains them as scuba di- vers. Enrollment is limited to 10 students. Over the course of the spring, summer and fall se- mesters, participants com- plete their PADI open water, advanced open water, and rescue diver certifications with Go Pro Diving Cayman. They also attend two sep- arate week-long courses with the institute’s educa- tion specialists on Grand Cayman and Little Cayman. Students are required to work on field projects and learn to use scientific in- struments and equipment to broaden their skill sets and experiences, which help them land future employment. The education team leading the programme also guides the students with writing their CVs and conducts mock job inter- views to help students pre- pare for the next steps to employment. Students must submit an application then partic- ipate in an interview pro- cess to be considered for one of the coveted spots in the YELC programme. The application can be found on the institute’s website: www.reefresearch.org. Interested students should also contact the institute directly at education@reefresearch.org. MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com There is a day, it seems, for everything. We had Pi Day on March 14. Wednesday was the first day of spring, but, according to the National Day Cal- endar, it was also Ravioli Day. Friday is Puppy Day. And Sat- urday is Bottle Cap Day. That last one is not yet on the National Day Calendar, but who knows? It’s the first year for the event and it’s being held at the Cayman International School’s Arts and Recrea- tion Centre. Unlike some of the sillier days, like Open an Umbrella Indoors Day or Talk Like a Pirate Day, this one has an earnest mission. Volunteers will be sorting by colour more than 400,000 bottle caps that have been collected – mostly from Cayman beaches – so they can be used in cre- ating murals. Jessica Mittelman, an art teacher in the primary grades at CIS, is the artist behind the project. The ef- fort, which involves most of the Cayman schools, started with Mittelman wanting to do something with all the plastic bottle caps she saw while waking the beach. She thought about doing a mural at First Baptist Chris- tian School, where she was once a student. “I just emailed First Bap- tist to see if they wanted to do an art project using bottle caps,” she said. Word about the idea cir- culated, she said, and other schools asked to participate. Before long, nearly every school was involved. Over a five-month period, stu- dents collected bottle caps from home use and cleanups in open lands, soccer fields and beaches. Mittelman had worked with recycled mate- rial in her artwork before and said she knew plastics were a problem, but she was sur- prised that the students col- lected nearly half a million bottle caps from September to February. “That’s the magnitude of it,” Mittelman said. “It’s astounding.” Not only does she plan to create an ocean scene for Ca- mana Bay and First Baptist, but each school that partici- pated in collecting caps will get a mural kit and help with creating a piece of its own. Other agencies have joined in. Mittelman is getting help from the National Gal- lery of the Cayman Islands, the National Trust, Art Nest, Stoak’d and Andrew Bodden at JUNK. The Marriott Beach Resort also helped collect caps, she said. Mittelman said she has no idea how many people will show up for the 9 a.m. to noon event on Saturday, but many of her students will be there. “They’re so excited”, she said, “but they’re also tired of making posters about it”. She said Bottle Cap Day is a singular event, but she sees it as part of a growing aware- ness in Cayman about the impact plastic is having on the environment. “Everywhere I go, I hear about the movement,” she said. “It really does feel like a proper movement.” Artists at Stoak’d created this mural depicting Jimi Hendrix from bottle caps. They will be among the artists who on Saturday will be helping students create artwork from half a million bottle caps collected by local school children. Students in the Young Environmentalist Leadership Program spend time underwater studying marine science. Rhea Swaminathan, winner of Cayman Water’s poetry contest, shakes hands with Manuel Thomaz, the general manager of Cayman Water. WATER Water is important to all To people short and tall 65% water you are. Yet in some rural parts They travel miles with hand carts In the hope to find just a quart. On women and girls the task befells To fetch water they cannot rebel Even as impurities makes them unwell. Benevolent people kind and good Dug wells for they understood The part of clean water in livelihood. Water is important to all Do your part to conserve it, y’all 65% water you are. Rhea Swaminathan Grade 5 – Cayman International SchoolThe 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 21, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, MARCH 21 ROCK YOUR SOCKS: Observe World Down Syndrome Day. Post selfies of coolest socks to #RYSCAYMAN Visit www. specialneedsfoundation.ky. 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. 5:30-7:30 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 COMMERCE AND INVESTMENT: The Department of Commerce & Investment advises the public that their office will close at midday to facilitate a staff function. The DCI resumes normal business hours on Monday, March 25. 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 CATBOAT CLUB: Annual David Foster Memorial Race. Launching of Catboats at 9 a.m. Captains’ meeting at 10 a.m. with race starting 10.30-11 a.m. Garvin Park dock ramp public recreational facility off Batabano, Morgan’s Harbour Road (Turn right on Garvin Road, then turn left past Dolphin Cove to Garvin Park.) BOTTLE CAP DAY: 9 a.m. till noon at Art and Recreation Centre (CIS/Camana Bay). Sort caps by colour, make ecobricks. Learn and shop at local booths. FREE FAMILY FISHING CLINIC: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Barcadere Marina. Free use of rods and reels. Food and drinks available for purchase. Organised by Cayman Islands Angling Club. Contact Frank Thompson at 916-6940 or frank@fishcayman.com. BIRDING TOUR: The National Trust invites families for an intimate birding tour through the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. Families in the Wild is devoted to encouraging families to explore the great outdoors. 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. $15 for adults, $5 for children (recommended for children 10+ years old) Pre-registration and payment are required as space is limited. Contact community@nationaltrust. org.ky for more information and to register. CHANGE FOR CHANGE: Volunteers will be collecting coins for Meals on Wheels. 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 5:30-6 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. FRIDAY, MARCH 29 LOOKY YA! AT MUSEUM: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring the District of North Side. Venue is the National Museum Courtyard on the Waterfront. There will be local food by Marcia’s Kitchen, desserts and smoothies by Ms. Zelmalee and traditional artisans displaying crafts. SATURDAY, MARCH 30 BOOK LAUNCH: J. A. Roy Bodden invites all to the launch of his latest book, ‘From Guard House to the Glass House, One Man’s Journey through the Maze of Caymanian Politics.’ 6 p.m. Sir Vassel Johnson Hall at UCCI campus. TUESDAY, APRIL 2 MUSEUM SPEAKERS SERIES: Hear about Pioneers of Our National Airline. 6 p.m. at National Museum, Harbour Drive. $10 general admission, $6 members. Complimentary refreshments and admission to all exhibits. 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 FRIDAY FISH FRY: Fridays during Lent until April 12. St. Ignatius School Canteen. Dine in or carry out, 5-8 p.m. Fried or baked fish and trimmings, $7 to $12. Proceeds in aid of parish religious education and youth ministry. 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’s, master’s and law degree programmes 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 socialising 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. SEAFARERS HALL: The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association wishes to inform the community that the hall is now available for rent every day of the week, including Saturdays. THRIFT SHOP: One Dog at a Time’s New To U shop is now located at JJT Warehouses, Row 2, Unit 2 on Industrial Way. Open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Variety of items available, including men’s, women’s, children’s and baby clothes, shoes, household, electrical items, CDs, DVDs, books, home furnishings, toys, games, furniture, baby cribs, car seats, dog beds and more. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Catboats take to the water at a Catboat Club event last year. The club will hold its annual David Foster Memorial Race on Saturday, March 23, launching from the Garvin Park dock ramp in West Bay.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY MARCH 21, 2019 Third suspect arrested in Brazil school shooting Authorities arrested a teenager Tuesday for allegedly being involved in planning a school shooting in which eight people and two attackers died. The police officer in charge of the investigation told Globo TV that he believed the teen was one of the masterminds of the bloodshed. Father, son buried as New Zealand mosque attack funerals begin CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) – A father and son who fled the civil war in Syria for “the safest country in the world” were buried before hundreds of mourners Wednesday, the first funerals for victims of shootings at two mosques in New Zealand that horrified a nation known for being wel- coming and diverse. The funerals of Khalid Mustafa, 44, and Hamza Mustafa, 15, came five days after a white suprema- cist methodically gunned down 50 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch – a massacre that he broadcast live on Facebook. Hamza’s high school prin- cipal described the student as compassionate and hard- working, and said he was an excellent horse rider who as- pired to be a veterinarian. Those present included Hamza’s younger brother, 13-year-old Zaed, who was wounded in an arm and a leg during the attack. The boy tried to stand during the ceremony but had to sit back in his wheelchair, one mourner said. “We tried to not shake his hand, and not touch his hand or his foot, but he refused, he wanted to shake everybody’s hand, he wanted to show eve- ryone that he appreciated them. And that’s amazing,” said Jamil El-Biza, who trav- elled from Australia to attend the funeral. The Mustafas had moved to New Zealand last year, after spending six years as refugees in Jordan. Musta- fa’s wife, Salwa, told Radio New Zealand that when the family asked about New Zea- land they were told “it’s the safest country in the world, the most wonderful country you can go … you will start a very wonderful life there”. She added, “But it wasn’t.” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the family should have been safe. “I cannot tell you how gutting it is to know that a family came here for safety and for refuge,” she said. Families of those killed had been anxiously awaiting word on when they could bury their loved ones. Police Commissioner Mike Bush said police have now for- mally identified and released the remains of 21 of those killed. Islamic tradition calls for bodies to be cleansed and buried as soon as possible. Four other burials were under way on Wednesday evening. Those victims in- cluded Junaid Ismail, Ashraf Ali and Lilik Abdul Hamid. The fourth victim’s name was suppressed by court order. The burials began soon after Ardern renewed her call for people to speak of the victims rather than the man who killed them. Also on Wednesday, a man accused of sharing video footage of Friday’s massacre was jailed by a judge until his next court appearance in mid-April. And Bush said he believes police officers stopped the gunman on his way to a third attack. Ardern’s plea against giving the accused gunman notoriety followed his move to represent himself in court, raising concerns he would attempt to use the trial as a platform for airing his racist views. During a visit Wednesday to the high school Hamza and another victim attended, Ardern revisited that thought and asked students not to say the attacker’s name or dwell on him. “Look after one another, but also let New Zealand be a place where there is no tol- erance for racism,” she told students at Cashmere High School. “That’s something we can all do.” Another Cashmere stu- dent, 14-year-old Sayyad Milne, also died in the attack. About 30 people wounded in the attacks remained hospitalised as of Tuesday evening. Around 10 of them were in critical condition, in- cluding a 4-year-old girl. Brenton Harrison Tar- rant, a 28-year-old Australian man, has been charged with murder and is next scheduled to appear in court on April 5. Police have said they are certain Tarrant was the only gunman but are still investi- gating whether he had sup- port from others. Ardern previously has said reforms of New Zea- land’s gun laws would be announced next week and she said an inquiry would be convened to look into the intelligence and security services’ failures to detect the risk from the attacker or his plans. New Zealand’s interna- tional spy agency, the Gov- ernment Communications Se- curity Bureau, confirmed it had not received any relevant information or intelligence before the shootings. Philip Arps, 44, appeared in a Christchurch court Wednesday on two charges of distributing the killer’s livestream video of the at- tack on the Al Noor mosque, the first mosque that was attacked, a violation of the country’s objectionable publi- cations law. Each charge car- ries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. Arps, heavily tattooed and dressed in a T-shirt and sweatpants, has not entered a plea. He remained expres- sionless during the hearing, his hands clasped behind his back. Mourners carry the bodies of father and son Khaled and Hamza Mustafa, victims of the March 15 mosque shootings, for burial at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Christchurch, New Zealand, Wednesday. - PHOTO: AP Zaed Mustafa, in wheelchair, brother of Hamza and son of Khalid Mustafa killed in the Friday March 15 mosque shootings, reacts during the burial at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Christchurch, New Zealand. Turkey’s Erdogan sparks spat with Australia, New Zealand ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Er- dogan, campaigning for votes in local elections this month, has sparked a diplo- matic spat with New Zealand and Australia by portraying the Christchurch mosque shooting and a World War I battle as targeting Islam. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison summoned Turkey’s ambassador on Wednesday and demanded that Erdogan take back com- ments suggesting that Aus- tralians and New Zealanders had sent troops to fight Turkey in the WWI Gallipoli campaign motivated by an opposition to Islam. In more inflammatory comments, Erdogan also said that Australians and New Zea- landers travelling to Turkey with anti-Muslim sentiments would be sent back in coffins, “like their grandfathers” were in the Gallipoli campaign. Morrison’s government issued a travel advisory warning people visiting the Gallipoli battlefields for re- membrance ceremonies during the anniversary of the campaign next month to ex- ercise caution. Morrison said “all op- tions are on the table” if Er- dogan does not withdraw his comments. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu later held a telephone conversation with his Australian counter- part, Marise Payne, Turkish Foreign Ministry officials said. They did not provide further details about the call. Ignoring widespread crit- icism, Erdogan has been screening at his campaign rallies excerpts of a video taken by the gunman who killed 50 people in mosques in Christchurch, to denounce what he calls rising ha- tred and prejudice against Islam. Three Turkish citizens were among the wounded in the attack. Erdogan, whose party has roots in Turkey’s Islamic movement, has also been showing parts of a manifesto said to have been left by the gunman in which he threatens Turks and Erdogan himself. New Zealand has been trying to prevent the use of the videos. New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Pe- ters, who is due in Istanbul this week to attend a meeting of the Organisation for Is- lamic Cooperation to discuss the mosque shootings, was expected to take up the issue during the visit. On Wednesday, Erdogan – inaugurating a theme park in Ankara as part of his cam- paign for the March 31 elec- tions – called for votes for his ruling party candidates as a response to “occupiers who attempt to threaten our na- tion from tens of thousands of kilometres away”. In Australia, Turkish am- bassador Korhan Karakoc said he had a “frank” con- versation with Morrison when the envoy was sum- moned to Parliament House on Wednesday. “Remarks have been made by the Turkish President Er- dogan that I consider highly offensive to Australians and highly reckless in this very sensitive environment,” Mor- rison told reporters in Can- berra, Australia’s capital. “They are offensive be- cause they insult the memory of our Anzacs and they vi- olate the pledge that is etched in the stone at Gal- lipoli,” he said, referring to a promise made by the founder of modern Turkey, Kemal Ataturk, that those who are buried rest on friendly soil. “I do not accept the ex- cuses that have been of- fered for those comments,” Morrison said. In an opinion piece pub- lished in The Washington Post on Wednesday, Erdogan said the attacker on the New Zea- land mosques is no different from the Islamic State group. In the piece, Erdogan also called on Western leaders to learn from “the courage, lead- ership and sincerity” of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and “embrace Muslims living in their re- spective countries”. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses the supporters of his ruling Justice and Development Party, AKP, at a rally in Istanbul, late Tuesday. - PHOTO: APNext >