High of 89 Low of 76 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ANOTHER EARLY INTRODUCTION TO HURRICANE SEASON WORLD | PAGE 9 SIX DIE IN INDONESIA RIOTS ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2019 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. Investing in the Women of Tomorrow. Wishing Rianna Rankin the Best of Luck in the Baytaf Track and Field Championship! www.generali-healthcare.com Riding the waves Some of Cayman’s young sailors battle the elements last week during a training session with the Cayman Islands Sailing Club. Four of the club’s members have qualified to compete in the World Championships in Antigua on 6-16 July. For more on this story, see Sport, pages 14 and 15 . - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Jamaica’s top cop urges regional cooperation SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Caribbean encapsu- lates many nations of dif- ferent sizes and cultures, but when their police com- missioners get together, they can count on a common language and a shared set of goals. For Antony Anderson, the commissioner of police for the Jamaica Constabu- lary Force, there are only positives to be gained from speaking with his counter- parts from disparate places like Cayman, Bermuda and the Bahamas. Crime, said Anderson, takes a consistent shape across jurisdictions, and the Association of Car- ibbean Commissioners of Police exists to minimise its impact. “It’s interesting,” he said Thursday at the Associa- tion of Caribbean Commis- sioners of Police conference hosted at Cayman’s Marriott Beach Resort. “In one of the earlier presentations we had, somebody said ‘A cop is a cop is a cop.’ There are dif- ferences, but it’s scaling dif- ferences. The problems tend to be the same.” Anderson spent more than 30 years in the Jamaica Defence Force and earned the rank of major general be- fore beginning his police ca- reer, and he’s been Jamaica’s top cop for less than a year. He served as chief of defence staff and later as national security adviser to Jamaica’s prime minister and Cabinet. Now, in his new role, An- derson finds himself at the forefront of the war on drugs. The International Narcotics Control Strategy Report of 2018, a report issued by the PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Hurley’s drops plastic bags SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Hurley’s has taken a step towards making its shop- ping experience more envi- ronmentally friendly. The supermarket an- nounced Tuesday that it will no longer distribute single-use plastic bags at its checkout counters. The plastic has been replaced by paper bags with handles and large reusable Earth- wise shopping bags. Hurley’s said it made the move after prompting from customers. “We have listened to our customers’ comments and agree with their growing environmental concerns,” said Hurley’s Director Shanna Merren in an offi- cial statement. “So today at Hurley’s, we begin the transition to greener options. We were distributing about 15,000 single-use bags per week, but now we are done with plastic and will now only offer reusable bags.” The elimination of single- use plastics has become a cause célèbre in Cayman and around the world. Plastic Free Cayman has been staging monthly beach clean-ups, and Pirates Week elected to eliminate single- use plastic containers and cutlery from its festival food courts last year. Single-use plastic bags take many years to biode- grade, whereas Hurley’s new paper bags will biodegrade in as little as a month. Hur- ley’s cited a study by the US Environmental Protection Major General Antony Anderson, the commissioner of police for the Jamaica Constabulary Force, at the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police conference at the Marriott Beach Resort on Wednesday. - PHOTO: SPENCER FORDIN PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS BREAKTHROUGH (PG) 1:25 I 4:10 I 7:15 I 10:00 SUN: 4:10 I 7:15 I 10:00 KALANK (PG) 3:10 I 9:00 (SAT ONLY) I 9:30 (NO SAT) SUN: 3:10 I 9:20 LITTLE (PG13) 12:30 I 3:25 (SAT ONLY) I 3:50 (NO SAT) 6:50 I 9:45 SUN: 3:50 I 6:50 I 9:35 DUMBO(PG) 10:30 (SAT ONLY) I 4:35 I 7:15 (NO SAT) SUN: 4:35 I 7:15 CAPTAIN MARVEL(PG13) 1:40 I 10:00 (NO SAT) SUN: 6:30 I 10:00 THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (R) 1:10 VIP I 4:35 I 7:00 VIP I 10:15 HELLBOY (R) 12:35 (SAT ONLY) I 1:00 I 6:10 (SAT ONLY) I 6:45 SHAZAM! (PG13) 1:30 I 3:40 VIP I 7:15 I 9:30 VIP SUN: 3:40 VIP I 4:40 I 6:40 VIP 8:00 I 9:40 VIP (PG) (R18) 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) THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR (PG13) 1:25 I 4:30 I 9:50 A DOG’S JOURNEY (PG) 12:30 I 3:10 I 6:50 I 9:30 POKEMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU (PG) 1:30 I 4:05 3D I 7:15 THE HUSTLE (PG13) 1:00 I 7:30 I 10:00 JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM (R) 1:00 I 4:00 I 6:45 I 9:00 VIP I 9:45 AVENGERS: END GAME (PG13) 1:10 VIP I 3:35 I 5:00 VIP I 8:00 STRONG WEEKLY PERFORMANCE BOOSTS IGUANA CULL ABOVE 638,000 Following a brief dip, Grand Cayman’s green iguana cullers posted strong results again last week, removing nearly 27,000 of the invasive lizards from the island. Last week’s total of 26,973 iguanas was the highest weekly figure since cullers removed 30,271 iguanas the week of 3-8 Dec. As of 18 May, the total number of iguanas culled during the first 29 weeks of the Department of Environ- ment’s programme stands at 638,688. Two weeks ago (6-11 May), cullers removed 15,773 iguanas from Grand Cayman, a decline from the two weeks prior when cullers removed 22,499 and 24,930 iguanas respectively. Cullers are still above the pace needed to reach the target number of culling 1.3 million green iguanas by the end of 2019. The programme began in late October 2018. Cullers are being paid $4.50 a head, rising to $5 if they meet monthly and an- nual targets, in an effort to wipe out the invasive species in Grand Cayman. 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000 Green iguana cull update Week 1 (Oct. 29-Nov. 3) 2345678910111213141516181719202122252423Week 29 (May 13-18) 262728 Iguanas culledTotal culled Visitor turns loss into love for Cayman KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Life has a way, from time to time, of destroying our comfort zones and up- ending our plans. On 16 May 2018, Roger Read, 66, received one of those painful reminders. After more than a decade fre- quenting Cayman’s warm wa- ters with his wife, Philippa Thomas, a snorkelling trip turned to tragedy. At 61, Thomas had never had problems in the water before. The couple had re- ceived their Open Water PADI certification with Don Fos- ter’s Dive around 2007 and became regulars at Cayman’s popular dive spots. The sunshine and warm waters offered an escape from life in East Sussex, Eng- land, and after Read’s early retirement, the couple of 28 years were able to spend more time travelling together. While Thomas appeared to be in good health, she suf- fered from an undetected heart condition that would prove fatal. Thomas had snor- kelled on the surface above the Kittiwake that day, and after she exited the water, she began feeling symptoms of fatigue and experienced trouble breathing. On the ride home, Thomas succumbed to long-standing, chronic heart disease. “She died in my arms be- fore the paramedics got there,” Read said during a me- morial event Friday evening. Rather than abandon Cayman, Read has instead decided to channel his energy into benefitting Cayman’s local businesses, from cafes to dive shops. “It’s learning to adjust to all of that unfairness that happens to all of us some- times in life,” he said. On Friday evening, he hosted a night of poetry, dancing and art in downtown George Town. The idea brought to- gether several of the things Read and his wife loved, in- cluding poetry and music. As a member of literary group Floetry, Read invited local poets to share their work at one of downtown’s newest establishments, Carib Café. The café’s founder, Kirk Rowe, also participated, put- ting on a dance performance on the outdoor stage. “To have live performance poetry, to have dance here, it brings the whole Carib- bean effect to life very much so. That’s what it’s all about: it’s about people coming to- gether, sharing poetry, loves and losses of life, also dance and movement – and hope- fully having a good time at the same time,” Read said. The night of performance art was a testament to Thom- as’s “rock and roll” life, as Read described it. In the 1970s, she worked at one of Britain’s most iconic inde- pendent record labels, Stiff Records, home to punk leg- ends such as the Damned, the Pogues and the Voidoids. Her brother, Pete Thomas, played drums for the label’s act Elvis Costello and the Attractions. She had a lifelong love of music, books and travel. “We were quite happy,” Read said. “We wanted to spend another 28 years together.” The coroner’s inquest into her death, on 13 May, came back with a unanimous ver- dict, that Thomas died of nat- ural causes, due to heart dis- ease. While Read suspects the strain of snorkelling may have provoked her condition, he cannot be sure. Now, Read is putting his full energy into creating po- etry and art, and has even re- turned to the water. Despite the tragedy he suffered, he has also taken on coral restoration work with Cayman Eco Divers. Owner Aaron Hunt said Read is one of the few visitors who has completed his coral conser- vation programme, and since he has been dedicated to vis- iting coral nursery sites. The ability to be out in the water is one of the things that Read says has given him a new purpose. “I signed up about three weeks ago to get certi- fied with Aaron in order to do the reef regeneration work,” he said. “It is all done by like- minded, certified volunteer divers,” he said. “[I’m] keen to preserve the reefs in a healthy condition for the fu- ture well-being of the ma- rine life, tourism and the is- land’s future.” From diving to art, it’s all about learning to reconnect with and enjoy life, Read says. “I’ve definitely learned a lot about myself. I try to live every day for the now moment.” Philippa Thomas and Roger ReadRoger Read recites a poem at Caribe Cafe during a memorial for his wife, Philippa Thomas. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY Philippa Thomas sits on the boat during her snorkelling trip in Cayman on the day she died.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2019 A WEEKEND OF FASHION, ART & MUSIC JUNE 28 29 INSTYLECAYMAN.COM THE RITZ CARLTON, GRAND CAYMAN A portion of the proceeds to bene t the Alex Panton Foundation www.alexpantonfoundation.kyThe 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” Subtropical storm Andrea came and went with little fanfare this week, providing a low-key, if early, kick-off to the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season. As the Compass reported on Wednesday, the storm, west southwest of Bermuda, never threatened our islands, nor did it offer any real cause for alarm anywhere in our region. Indeed, it was quickly down- graded to a subtropical depression before fading away. Even so, Andrea’s brief appearance came on the heels of our National Day of Preparedness, making this the fifth consecutive year that a named storm appeared before the season’s official 1 June start – offering a timely reminder for us all to get down to the business of preparation for the months ahead. As cyclone researcher Brian McNoldy wrote for the Washington Post this week, “Clearly, nothing is magical about the official June 1 start of hurricane season. The official start and end dates were never intended to contain all of the activity, just the vast majority of it.” In fact, he points out, when the official ‘season’ was laid out 85 years ago, it ran from 15 June to 31 October. Since then, it has been adjusted several times and could certainly be adjusted again to reflect the recent trend of named storms ‘jumping the gun.’ But the important issue, from our perspective, is not the season’s official starting date. Rather, it is making sure all residents are prepared well in advance of any threatening weather. As Home Affairs Minister Tara Rivers reminded in a statement issued for National Day of Preparedness, “planning ahead can save lives!” Readers who have not already done so this spring should review preparedness plans and share those plans with family, friends and neighbours to be sure everyone knows what to expect if extreme weather does come our way. Newer residents from outside our region should familiarise themselves with the basics of hurricane preparation and response. That includes: deciding where to take shelter; stocking up on plenty of water, non-perishable food and other necessary supplies; collecting vital paperwork; creating a plan for pets and taking steps to protect homes and personal property; and various other considerations. The time to prepare is when the sun still is shining, not when a storm is heading our way. We would also strongly encourage readers to consider how they might assist the larger commu- nity in the event of threatening weather this season, particularly by becoming a member of a Community Emergency Response Team or signing up to become a trained shelter volunteer or manager. For more infor- mation about those resources, or about hurricane pre- paredness in general, visit www.caymanprepared.ky or pick up a copy of Friday’s Compass, which will include our annual Hurricane Survival Guide. There is no way to know exactly what weather the next few months will bring to our little islands, so we must prepare, and be ready to respond to whatever the season brings. Another early introduction to hurricane season THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS For whom are we developing? J.A. ROY BODDEN While I can see how the information in two recent articles [‘Number of for- eign workers hits all-time high’ and ‘The changing face of Cayman’s workforce’, 17 May] may lead some persons to awe and glorification, se- rious observers of Cayma- nian society such as myself find the articles cause for some concern. As one of the foremost in- tellectual commentators on Caymanian society, I have from as early as 1978 posed the question, “For whom are we developing?” Reading the above-men- tioned articles reinforces the relevance and timeliness of my question, which still begs an answer. I wrote at that time and reiterate now that we are “measuring our progress on a faulty Report Card”. This observation is based on some obvious and in- convenient truths. For ex- ample, there is no scientific evidence to show that in the face of competition from ex- patriate workers, Cayman- ians are not deprived of op- portunities for employment. One has only to listen to the radio talk shows to hear the litany of complaints from Caymanians who complain of discrimination and un- fairness in the workplace. Such a practice would be alarming enough were it confined to the private sector. When the behaviour creeps into the civil service, however, the matter becomes at once more serious. I wish to be placed on record as stating that the pace and scope of develop- ment which your articles describe are unsustainable and bring no long-term benefits to the proverbial ‘little man’ in Caymanian society. There can be no more obvious example of this than the observation of a source quoted in one of your articles with re- gards to housing. This is one area in which there is a glaring lack of opportunity for Caymanians, especially young married couples who desire to share in the so- called ‘Caymanian miracle’. Inflation, an increasingly high cost of living and ‘de- mand loans’ which banks pass as mortgages leave no room for impreciseness. This is especially sobering when it is realized that the Cayman Islands have, per capita, one of the highest mortgage foreclosure rates in the world. Andrew Morris Gerrard, Commissioner (Governor) of these islands from 1953 to 1957, warned us of the pre- dicament in which we now find ourselves: “The growth on a large-scale, of the De- pendency as a tourist re- sort, will make some Cay- manians very rich indeed, and it will certainly make all Caymanians a good deal better off, in the material sense, than they are now. But unless we watch our step, I doubt if it will make anyone any happier. The way to watch one’s step, if I may put it so inelegantly, is to accept that controlled de- velopment is necessary … I put it to you therefore, Gen- tlemen, that if you are not to sell your birthright for a mess of pottage, now is the time to do something about it – to go in for planned de- velopment, to strengthen the legislation with regard to immigration and aliens, to strengthen the adminis- tration of the Dependency which in its personnel each year is growing more over- burdened, older, more tired and more discouraged.” Gerrard, it seems, foresaw what would happen when Caymanians sold ab- solute titles to their land to outsiders (or ‘aliens’) as he described them, who had a different notion of private property from Caymanians. Later (in 1974), an- other commentator, the Swedish anthropologist Ulf Hannerz, posed the fol- lowing questions: “What happens in the long run to a successful tourist economy? When Caymanians have sold all that land which is attractive to outsiders and when their men have built the houses which the new owners want, what will they do next? What jobs will be open to Caymanians in the long run? Will they become a proletariat of beach hus- tlers, bartenders and hotel maids, with a few entrepre- neurs in those crevasses in the local economy left unat- tended by foreign business and foreign capital?” I have added my own more modern observations on the existing state of af- fairs. Writing in my most recent publication I have posited that: “National sal- vation it seems, regrettably emanates from superhigh- ways, five-star hotels in which Caymanians are nei- ther guests nor employees, an increasing number of motorcars and the develop- ment of exclusive and ex- otic enclaves, none of which bring any lasting economic advantage to the common man or any hope for our youth, especially black youth whom it seems are in- creasingly hooked on drugs, guns and violence.” The situation reminds me of a passage from James Baldwin’s 1963 best-seller ‘The Fire Next Time’. In the passage, Baldwin related a conversation in which the informant stated that “the most dangerous creation in any society is those persons who have nothing to lose”. Too many Caymanians appear to fall in the category of having nothing to lose. Given this situation, it is sound practice, while there is time, for us to adjust our development model to one which is more inclusive. It seems patently falla- cious to measure prosperity on rising work permit num- bers when daily Cayman- ians are falling through the cracks, largely caused by in- come inequality, disenfran- chisement and discrimi- nation in the workplace. One has only to review the growing numbers regis- tering at the NAU to re- alise that our development model is flawed. And so, as I asked in 1978, I ask again, “For whom are we developing?” J.A. Roy Bodden is president emeritus of the University College of the Cayman Islands and the author of six books. I wish to be placed on record as stating that the pace and scope of development which your articles describe are unsustainable and bring no long-term benefits to the proverbial ‘little man’ in Caymanian society.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2019 Youngsters cook up traditional foods JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Local youngsters discov- ered some unique flavours of Caymanian dishes after taking part in a cookery lesson at Cayman Academy School on Sunday. The Department of Chil- dren and Family Services, with the Seventh-day Ad- ventist community team and seniors in the districts, hosted the inter-generational cook-off to celebrate Child Month in May. The theme is ‘Be Strong! Be Brave.’ “We wanted to teach young children how to pre- pare Caymanian dishes but also learn to value the wisdom and teaching of our older persons,” said Cassandra Fearon of De- partment of Children and Family Services. “I never tried bread- fruit salad before,” said Ga- briel Piercy as he assisted West Bay senior Marie Rivers with dicing bread- fruit to make a salad. Piercy said he joined the group be- cause he watched his par- ents cook Caymanian dishes at home, he liked it and wanted to try it. The seniors assisted the youngsters in preparing some relatively easy Caymanians dishes. There was breadfruit salad, porridge, and custard- top corn bread prepared in the school’s lunchroom. Rivers said her grandma taught her how to cook. “We had a kerosene stove in the house, but granny cooked on her caboose outside,” she said. Adrian Tibbetts said he knew how to cook most of the dishes because his mother made them at home. “We make lots of Cayma- nian dishes around Christ- mastime and other holidays,” Tibbetts said. Food has always played a major role in the culture of the Caymanian people. They grew their own fruit and veg- etables and fished the seas. While the men tended the plantations, the women grew vegetables along the house sides. The children searched the bushes for wild fruits, berries and nuts, such as naseberry, guineps, mangoes and almonds. Cooking in those days was mainly done on cabooses, open boxes made from wood in which white sand was placed at the bottom, and metal rods kept the cooking pot in place. Cabooses con- tinued to be in common use well into the 1970s and some people still use them today. Cabooses were kept outside, near the side of the house, and sometimes in an small shed with a roof. The kids at Cayman Academy also tasted and heard about swanky, a drink made from seasonal tamarind, and the uses of local bush teas. Swanky is prepared by collecting ripe tamarinds from the trees. After shelling the tamarinds, the pulp is placed in a container with brown sugar and water and rubbed together until the pulp is separated from the seeds. More water is added, and the mixture strained and enjoyed with most meals, es- pecially fritters and fried fish. Sometimes a lime or baking soda was added to give a dif- ferent taste. Marie Rivers teaches young cooks Gabriel Piercy and Yiriah and Yishay Rivers how to make breadfruit salad. - PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY Gabriel Piercy and Yiriah Rivers cut breadfruit for salad. Carol Rankine, left, and Tatianna Quinland combine ingredients to make custard-top corn bread.Elmie Ramoon shows Zanai Bush and Yiriah Rivers how to peel ingredients for ‘bottler’ porridge.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or non-profit organisations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Road or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, MAY 23 WATER WORKS: Water Authority – Cayman advises its customers and the motoring public of restricted access to Maclendon Drive, off Dorcy Drive, through to Friday, 31 May. Access will be restricted from 9am to 4pm on weekdays, and from 6am to 4pm on Sunday, 26 May, while workers carry out system improvements. During these times, local access will be available only to businesses and residences in the area, and representatives of the Authority will be on hand to direct traffic. BRAC COURT: Summary Court at the Aston Rutty Centre today and tomorrow from 10am. FRIDAY, 24 MAY BUILDING SAFETY MONTH: Information Booth, A.L. Thompson’s, today and tomorrow. CHILD MONTH: Trivia Game Night, John A. Cumber Primary School, 6-9:30pm. SATURDAY, 25 MAY CHILD MONTH: Wellness and cooking demo, Feed Our Future, Family Life Centre, 10am to 2pm; Community fun day, Neil Godfrey Park, 4-7pm; Real life superhero movie night, Camana Bay, 6-9:30pm; Teen disco, Cayman Brac Youth Centre, 6-10pm. SUNDAY, 26 MAY CHILD MONTH: SDA Fun Day, Cayman Academy, 2-5pm. Special Church Service, Cayman Brac, Stake Bay Baptist Church, 11am to noon. TUESDAY, 28 MAY MUSEUM SPEAKER SERIES: Alvin McLaughlin discusses Collecting and Caring for East End’s Historical Objects. 6pm at the museum on Harbour Drive. General admission, $10. Members, $6. Includes refreshments and entrance to all exhibits. RSVP to 949-8368 or shenicemcfield@museum.ky. CHILD MONTH: Snuggle & Read, Prospect Primary School, 6:30-9pm. WEDNESDAY, 29 MAY COMMERCE AND INVESTMENT: The Department of Commerce and Investment advises that their office will be closed to facilitate staff training. DCI will resume normal business hours on Thursday, 30 May. BUILDING SAFETY MONTH: Information Booth, Kirk Home Centre, 10am to 1pm. THURSDAY, 30 MAY CRUISE PORT REFERENDUM MEETING: George Town Town Hall. 6-8pm. The public are invited to attend for the latest updates on the petition for a people’s initiated referendum on the proposed cruise port. Email CPRCayman@gmail.com for more details or visit the Facebook page @CPRCayman, or call or WhatsApp 328-8187. CHILD MONTH: Snuggle & Read, Cayman Academy, 6-8pm. Trivia Game Night, Cayman Brac, Aston Rutty Civic Centre, 6-9pm. FRIDAY, 31 MAY CHILD MONTH: Trivia Game Night, George Town Town Hall, 6-9:30pm. SATURDAY, 1 JUNE CHILD MONTH: Cupcake Wars, Ritz-Carlton hotel, 10am to noon. For further information, contact Dept. of Children and Family Services, 949-0290. THURSDAY, 6 JUNE HIGH SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY: All former students of St. Ignatius High School are invited to our 25th anniversary social 5:30-7pm in Loyola Hall. Admission is free. RSVP to sicaymanalumni@gmail.com. SATURDAY, 8 JUNE OCEAN DAY, ENVIRONMENT DAY: World Ocean Day Clean Up and Girl Guides Environment Day. All are invited to join the Girl Guides, Plastic Free Cayman and Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation at South Sound Community Centre for a beach cleanup and Environment Fair. Beach cleanup, 8-9:30am. Bring a reusable water bottle, gloves and a hat. Bring a mug/plate or bowl for refreshments at the fair, 9:30-11am. In the spirit of being waste free, no plates or cups provided. GENERAL INTEREST COUNSELLING SERVICES: The Family Resource Centre and the Counselling Centre have moved. They are now with the Department of Counselling Services at their new home on Mary Street, at 87 West Apollo House. Hours are Mondays and Fridays from 9am to 1pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am to 7pm, and Wednesdays 9am to 4pm. PIRATES WEEK VENDORS: Food and craft vendors interested in participating in the upcoming Pirates Week Festival can reserve stalls starting Monday, 3 June. Food Festival dates are 8, 9 and 11 Nov. A valid DEH Food Handling Certificate must accompany completed application forms. All food vendors must use biodegradable containers and utensils (available from Pirates Week Festival office – limited supply). Space is limited, please register early. Download the application form at www. piratesweekfestival.com/ participate. To learn more call 949-5078 or info@ piratesweekfestival.com. LOCAL HARVEST MARKET: Local farmers sell their produce and farmed goods at Camana Bay on Wednesdays from 10am to 3pm in Heliconia Court (located next to Scotiabank). COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8pm, 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 7-11pm. Artists of all levels are welcome to come and enjoy painting and socialising with other artists. Includes use of easels, lights, space and a 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, 9am till noon. Thursdays Adults and Youth, 10am 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: Cayman Islands Humane Society Thrift Shop. Located in Venetia Plaza, next to China Village. The Thrift shop is open Tuesday – Saturday 9am to 2pm. Closed on Sunday and Monday. The phone number is 945-5596 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 Saturdays 8am to 5pm and Wednesdays 10am to 2pm. Variety of items available, including men’s, women’s, children’s and baby clothes, shoes, household, electrical items, CDs, DVDs, books, home furnishings, toys, baby cribs, car seats, dog beds and more. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5:30pm at 68 Mary Street. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4pm; Tuesday-Friday, 9:30am to 4pm; Saturday 9:30am to 4:30pm. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. For more information, email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards, etc., in good condition needed. CLUBS, ORGANISATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. Call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail.com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centred 12-step recovery group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Tuesdays, 7:15pm. For details, contact Vanessa Gilman at 946-2422, or visit www.overcomersoutreach.org. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at ADACI’s office, 4th floor, Cardinall Plaza, 30 Cardinall Ave., George Town. Call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman.com. GRAND CAYMAN TOASTMASTERS: Club meets each Thursday 6-7:15pm on 3rd Floor, George Town Public Library. Visitors and guests welcome. Contact George R. Ebanks at 322-9369 or Grand Cayman Toastmasters club on Facebook. Email info@ toastmastersclub2686.org. EMINENT ORATORS TOASTMASTERS: Want to be a better speaker or leader? Join a Toastmasters Club. The Eminent Orators Toastmasters Club meets every second and fourth Monday at Cayman Academy Canteen, Walkers Road, 6-7:30pm. Contact Sashoy Duncan at 939-8847 or email eminentorator stoastmasters@gmail. com. Visitors and guests welcome. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30pm at the Lions Community Centre. Email lionsclubgcm@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30pm at Elizabethan Square (corner unit). Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7am every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. Visit www.rotarysunrise.ky or info@rotarysunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30pm, at The Wharf Restaurant. Projects include promoting well- being of children in the community and schools. Email president@kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis.ky. RELIGIOUS SERVICES EL MINISTERIO HISPANO: de la Iglesia Bautista Cayman Islands te hace una cordial invitación a nuestro culto en español cada Domingo, 6:30pm, Pedro Castle Road, Savannah. Para transporte, llamar al teléfono no. 946-2422, email: cibaptist@candw.ky. SPANISH WORSHIP SERVICE: First Baptist Church, Crewe Road, 6:30-8:30pm. Third Sunday of each month. HARBOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH: Meets for Divine Worship and Fellowship at South Sound Community Centre, South Sound, Sundays at 10am www.safeharbourlc.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. On Saturday, 1 June, as part of the ongoing Child Month activities, the Department of Children and Family Services will host Cupcake Wars, at the Ritz-Carlton hotel from 10am to noon.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2019 Read all about fabulous Cayman homes, great gardens, local design and flavours of Cayman. See what our shops and businesses are offering on-island. Cayman’s Home & Garden Magazine T: 949-5111 E: magazinesales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s Home & Garden Magazine ROOMS WITH A VIEW OVERLOOKING THE HARBOUR MODERN ENGLISH DESIGN ELEGANT FAMILY HOME PRETTY IN POTS GARDENING MADE EASY RUNDOWN A TASTE OF TRADITION Spring-Summer 2019 issue out now InsideOut is available at stores and condo lobbies + hand-delivered to more than 5,000 homes.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS US Department of State, stated that Jamaican authorities had eradicated 186 hectares of can- nabis plants and seized more than 20.2 metric tons (44,533 pounds) of cured marijuana in the first nine months of 2018. Cayman, a much smaller ju- risdiction than Jamaica, seized 2,489 pounds of ganja last year, a 150% increase over the year before. Anderson said that in- creased seizures mean that the system is working and that im- proved communications be- tween jurisdictions can only benefit society at large. “Our criminal networks cross boundaries,” said An- derson of cooperating with other police forces. “They do their activities in all sorts of ju- risdictions, not only inside the Caribbean but outside the Car- ibbean. Therefore, we have to collaborate in a similar way to deal with the problems. “It’s about networks, and those networks – once they’re established – will do what- ever illicit activity that makes money, including the move- ment of money, the proceeds of crime and trafficking of any- thing that is of value.” Anderson said that Ja- maica deals with ganja pro- duction at the source, and the police have increased interdic- tion exercises on the roads be- fore they can get to the open seas. There’s also a robust ef- fort to monitor the maritime space between Cayman and Jamaica, and Anderson said Jamaica has a liaison officer in Florida who tracks the move- ment of narcotics and guns in the region. Jamaica, a nation of nearly three million people, comes to the Association of Caribbean Commissioners of Police con- ference with a higher profile than some of its regional coun- terparts. Anderson said that every nation that attends the conference can pick up some- thing from their peers that they have not considered before. “What we do is share ex- periences, best practices,” he said. “Also, it’s an opportunity to see some of the technolo- gies that are out there that can assist us to dismantle these networks, or certainly to infil- trate them and to know what they’re doing and what they’re going to be doing next. These networks are very agile. Some- times, when you’re dealing with national government sov- ereignty and regional issues, you’re not quite as agile. These [conferences], on a technical level, allow us to coordinate very rapidly.” There is no magic formula, of course, and police officers of all nations will have setbacks and challenges as criminal networks adapt and impro- vise around their enforcement strategies. Anderson, who took his post last September, sees curbing the scourge of international drug trade as a challenge. “Crime has been with us for a while and is likely to re- main,” he said. “What we really need to do is minimise its ef- fects and disrupt it as best as possible to make the region safer for our citizens. That’s what we’re doing. “One of the things is how we invest in technology [indi- vidually] and collectively. How we share information is crit- ical. How responsive we are to each other’s concerns, that’s very important. We have done tremendous work with the Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice on the sharing of infor- mation. We’ve been able to progress cases that are being pursued here through activi- ties in Jamaica.” Agency that indicates there will be more plastics by weight in our oceans than fish by the year 2050. “We all love and enjoy our Cayman waters,” said Merren. “It is estimated that five or six million single-use bags are dis- tributed annually in the Cayman Islands. If Hur- ley’s alone can cut this number by 800,000 bags a year, we are pleased to take that first step in pro- tecting our greatest nat- ural resource.” Paper bags will be sold at the register at Hurley’s for 10 cents each, and the eco-friendly reusable bags are available for $1.59. Hurley’s is also replacing plastic straws, Styrofoam deli containers and plastic salad containers with alter- natives that are more envi- ronmentally friendly. “We are so thankful to Hurley’s for taking this monumental step,” said Claire Hughes, founder of Plastic Free Cayman, in an official statement. “Single- use plastic bags continue to litter our beautiful is- land and surrounding wa- ters. With other countries making bans on single-use plastics, this shows we don’t have to wait for gov- ernment to make changes, we can simply stop using them, as it’s the right thing to do. We hope to see other stores in Cayman follow suit in the near future.” Camille Humphreys, marketing manager for Kirk Market, said Wednesday that Kirk supports green initiatives at the checkout counter and beyond. Hum- phreys said that the store gave away 6,000 Kirk Market tote bags to shop- pers last Earth Day in an ef- fort to be more eco-friendly. “We have also been en- couraging our customers to switch from plastic to reus- able bags at the checkout and as a result, have seen a 115% increase year-on-year in the use of our reusable bags,” said Humphreys. “Additionally, five years ago, we replaced 98% of petroleum-based plastics with recyclable and com- postable, plant-based op- tions. We are constantly testing and researching en- vironmentally friendly op- tions and are working to- wards eliminating as much single-use plastic as possible.” Public demonstration Meanwhile, the Na- tional Trust and Plastic Free Cayman are planning on staging a public demon- stration on Friday to high- light the growing problem of plastic pollution and climate change in the Cayman Islands. That demonstration, which will be held at 12:20pm on the steps of the Government Admin- istration Building, will signal the second consecu- tive year the National Trust and Plastic Free Cayman have teamed up. Last year, a group of students from several local schools joined the pro- test by conducting a letter- writing campaign to the respective government representatives. Hurley’s drops plastic bags CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Jamaica’s top cop urges regional cooperation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Migrant population grows at East End civic centre KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Four more Cuban mi- grants were moved Tuesday evening to Gun Bay’s Elliott Conolly Civic Centre, the latest government housing option for asylum-seekers awaiting a years-long appli- cation process. The men join a group of 10 other Cuban migrants and one Nicaraguan at the facility. All 14 Cubans at the centre have been pro- vided with ankle monitors and must check in periodi- cally with immigration offi- cials as part of a supervised release programme, estab- lished last year as an alterna- tive to detention. Three of the men who moved to the facility Tuesday have been in the Cayman Is- lands for more than three years, as their asylum ap- plications trickle through the appeals process. The El- liott Conolly Civic Centre is their latest stop in a series of housing options that gov- ernment has explored during their time in Cayman. All migrants at the East End facility were, at some point, housed in George Town’s Immigration Deten- tion Centre. That facility, managed by the Prison Ser- vice, has been a point of con- tention for some time. The detention centre was officially transformed, in part, into a low-security, men’s prison facility in Feb- ruary, to alleviate capacity is- sues at Northward Prison. A divider fence was erected to separate asylum applicants and migrants from prisoners. While Prison Service of- ficials had previously com- mented that the centre was not considered a prison, mi- grants complained that the facility was more like a jail to them than an immigration facility. One female detainee previously housed at the fa- cility said, “It was a prison. There’s no other name for it. It’s not a detention centre.” The last of the mi- grants held at the facility were transferred to the East End civic centre earlier this month. While the George Town fa- cility was intended for tem- porary use, in recent years, asylum applicants have found themselves detained there for months to years at a time. The long detention pe- riods resulted in two group hunger strikes at the facility in the past year. The first strike, in July 2018, ended in the release of nine migrants to commu- nity housing, under govern- ment supervision. The four men transferred to East End on Tuesday were part of that group and had previously been housed in a rental prop- erty in Newlands, paid for by government. The men say they had trouble with their rental, however, and were forced to relocate to the civic centre. Several other asylum ap- plicants continue to be housed in private homes. Meanwhile, those staying at the civic centre say they were advised to search for rental housing and that government will pro- vide up to $750 monthly per person for payment. One man said it has been difficult to find a rental property, however, because owners are hesitant to rent to government, and have ex- pressed concern about re- ceiving late payments. Customs and Border Pa- trol and the Prison Service have not responded to re- quests for comment from the Cayman Compass. The Compass does not publish the names of asylum- seekers during their applica- tion process, given the sensi- tive nature of their cases. POLICE NAME MAN FOUND DEAD IN CAR Police named the man who was found dead in his vehicle on 17 May in a com- plex off the Esterley Tibbetts Highway as 56-year-old Ca- nadian Graham Heron. Heron had been living and working in the Cayman Islands. He was found non-re- sponsive inside his vehicle in George Town and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. Mixed verdicts in prostitution trial Sentencing set for 27 June CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com In Grand Court on Wednesday, Justice Mar- lene Carter found Wayne Carlos Myles guilty of six charges relating to prosti- tution and not guilty to five other charges. The Crown’s case was based on incidents that oc- curred between November 2014 and February 2016. Four of the charges were for living on the earnings of prostitution – that is, within specified dates he “knowingly lived wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution”. Seven charges were for at- tempting to live on the earn- ings of prostitution within other specified dates. The case for the prose- cution, conducted by Crown counsel Eleanor Fargin, was that Myles acted as a “pimp” for 32 females. He exercised control, direction or influence over the movements of pros- titutes in such a manner as to show that he was “aiding, abetting or compelling their prostitution with an- other person”. Evidence included docu- mented conversations and phone messages about the prices of “female services” and locations for the prosti- tutes to work, and he took a cut of their pay. Trial began on 25 March after Myles, represented by attorney Alex Davies, elected to be tried by judge alone. Sentencing was set for 27 June. PUBLIC OFFICER ARRESTED IN BRIBERY CASE Anti-Corruption Com- mission investigators, sup- ported by officers from the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service, ar- rested a 31-year-old man Wednesday in connec- tion with an ongoing investigation. The investigators ar- rested the man, whom they described as a public of- ficer who lives in the Pros- pect area, on suspicion of bribery of a public officer, fraud on the government and breach of trust by a public officer. The Anti-Corruption Commission, in a brief statement, said the man was initially detained for questioning. No charges had been laid by press time.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, 23 MAY 2019 At least 3 dead in central US storms Oklahoma braced Wednesday for more rain, with parts of the state already flooded following days of severe weather that’s blamed for at least three deaths. More than 8 inches of rain has fallen in parts of the state since Sunday, along with strong winds and tornados. Widodo says he will not allow unrest JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) – In- donesian President Joko Widodo said authorities have the volatile situation in the country’s capital under con- trol after six people died Wednesday in riots by sup- porters of his losing rival in last month’s presiden- tial election. The clashes began Tuesday night when supporters of former Gen. Prabowo Sub- ianto tried to force their way into the downtown of- fices of the election supervi- sory agency and continued unabated until ebbing on Wednesday evening. More than two dozen vehicles were burned as rioters took over neighbourhoods in cen- tral Jakarta, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at po- lice who responded with tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. Flanked by the military chief and other top leaders, a grim-looking Widodo said, “I will work together with an- yone to advance this country, but I will not tolerate anyone who disrupts the security, democratic processes and unity of our beloved nation.” Subianto, an ultra-na- tionalist politician, has re- fused to accept the official re- sults of the 17 April election and instead declared him- self the winner. The Election Commission on Tuesday said Widodo, the first Indonesian president from outside the Jakarta elite, had won 55.5% of the vote, securing the mod- erate technocrat a second term as leader of the world’s most populous Muslim-ma- jority nation. Subianto, an elite figure from a wealthy family con- nected to former dictator Su- harto, also lost to Widodo in 2014. He has made four un- successful bids for the pres- idency since Suharto was ousted in 1998. “The bottom line is the people who are protesting and rioting in the past 24 hours represent a small mi- nority of Indonesian voters and a small minority of In- donesian Muslims,” said Al- exander Arifanto, an Indo- nesian politics expert at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. “The vast majority of both clearly accepted the election results. By tacitly backing the protesters, Prabowo has lost any remaining legitimacy he had left and clearly shows his true colors as a narcis- sistic New Order-era relic,” Arifanto said, referring to the Suharto era. Rudiantara, the commu- nications and information technology minister, said so- cial media including Face- book, Twitter and WhatsApp will be restricted on a tem- porary basis to prevent the spread of hoaxes and in- flammatory content. He said messaging systems will still work for text and audio but photos and videos will be blocked or slowed. National police chief Tito Karnavian said the people who died in the rioting were hit by gunshots or blunt de- vices. Authorities are still in- vestigating the causes of death and are not ruling out the involvement of third par- ties acting as provocateurs. “There are attempts to create martyrs, blaming se- curity officials for building public anger,” he said. The rioting in the capital was planned and not sponta- neous and many of those ar- rested had come from outside Jakarta, according to police. Officers found an ambulance filled with stones, and some of more than 250 people ar- rested had envelopes con- taining 250,000-500,000 ru- piah ($17-$34), said Jakarta police chief Argo Yuwono. The minimum wage in Jakarta is about $9 a day. The government had de- ployed some 50,000 police and soldiers in Jakarta in anticipation of protests fol- lowing the official elec- tion results. Many residents have left the city and parts of the downtown are closed to traffic, with the election supervisory agency and Election Commission barri- caded with razor wire. Fighting rages after Syria rebels retake northwest village BEIRUT (AP) – Syrian opposi- tion fighters said Wednesday they recaptured a village on the edge of their stronghold in northwestern Syria that had been seized two weeks earlier by government forces in an offensive that wrecked a months-old cease-fire in the densely populated area. State TV Al-Ikhbariya later reported that govern- ment troops were in intense clashes with the insurgents inside the village, in what ap- peared to be an attempt by the Syrian army to wrestle control of Kfar Nabuda. The capture of Kfar Nabuda by government forces on 8 May was the most serious challenge to the cease-fire in Idlib province and surrounding areas nego- tiated by Russia and Turkey in September. It was the first ground advance by gov- ernment forces on the rebel stronghold, home to 3 million people, since the cease-fire averted an earlier offensive. The area is among the last outside President Bashar As- sad’s control – and the last area still held by anti-govern- ment rebels in the country’s eight-year civil war. Naji al-Mustafa, a spokesman for the opposi- tion fighters, said they re- gained control of the village on Wednesday following an overnight counteroffensive. He said they aim to regain control of all the areas seized by the government over the last two weeks. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed government forces were repelled from Kfar Nabuda, adding there were clashes on the outskirts. The rebel advance was met with intense govern- ment and Russian airstrikes on the enclave. The Obser- vatory said at least 18 were killed since late Tuesday in strikes on four villages and towns, including 12 in an air- strike on a market in Maaret al-Numan. Syrian first re- sponders, the White Hel- mets, put the death toll in the market airstrike at nine. Smoke rises Tuesday after Syrian government forces targeted the town of al-Habeet, in Idlib province, Syria. – PHOTO: AP Riot police take position Wednesday outside the building that houses the Election Supervision Board in Jakarta, Indonesia. – PHOTO: AP 6 die in Indonesia riots More than two dozen vehicles were burned as rioters took over neighbourhoods in central Jakarta, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at police who responded with tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets.Next >