ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY, 11 JUNE 2019 SHIPS HEAD TO CAYMAN AMID CUBA CRUISE BAN Cayman celebrates Queen’s Birthday Governor Martyn Roper inspects the uniformed services on Saturday during the Queen’s Birthday celebrations in downtown George Town. The event was marked with a parade, an awards ceremony and a 21-gun salute, followed by a garden party at the governor’s residence on Seven Mile Beach. For more on this story, see page 6 . - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Cayman mourns passing of Justice Charles Quin Governor keeping tabs on referendum process Air travel unlikely to be impacted JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cuba’s loss could be Cayman’s gain, fol- lowing US President Donald Trump’s decision to ban cruise ships from travelling to the com- munist island. The decision, effective immediately, put an abrupt end to a burgeoning, if short-lived, Cuban cruise industry, and impacts around 800,000 passengers. The knock-on effect is likely to mean more cruise ships diverting to the Cayman Islands. The territory’s port director Joey Woods told the Cayman Compass he had been fielding calls since the decision was announced, in- cluding requests for ships destined for Cuban ports to re-route to Cayman. Cruise lines plan their routes up to two years in advance and the Cayman Islands, along with Mexico, the Bahamas and Ja- maica, has been earmarked as a reserve port for cruise lines forced to cancel calls to Cuba. At the end of last week, Cayman had picked up around 40 new bookings for cruise calls over the next two years as a result of the decision. On the flip side, 23 ships cancelled visits to Cayman as cruise lines reshuffled their fleets and itineraries. Woods said the long-term impact for Cayman would depend on the decisions of the cruise companies. “Cruise assets are movable,” he said, “so while in the short term the deployment remains in this area [Cayman], it doesn’t mean that it will remain that way in the long term. It all depends on where the best revenue opportunities present themselves.” Carnival Cruise Lines, which along with Royal Caribbean is responsible for the bulk of passengers coming into Cayman, expects the decision to be positive for Cayman. Roger Frizzell, the cruise line’s chief communications officer, told the Compass in an email, that at least one Cuba-bound ship was already being diverted to Cayman. SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Justice Charles Quin, a Grand Court judge and an integral member of Cayman’s law com- munity for more than 30 years, passed away at his home in the company of family and friends on Friday evening. He was 68. Justice Quin first came to Cayman as an attorney in 1985 and practised with Bruce Camp- bell and Company before serving as a senior partner for Quin and Hampson from 1992 to 2007. He became an acting magis- trate of the Summary Court in 1993 and served intermittently for many years before being named as a judge of the Grand Court in May of 2008. Justice Quin is survived by his wife Diana and his sons Nich- olas, Thomas and William, and daughter-in-law Jessica. Jus- tice Quin was remembered as a proud member of the Kingston Cricket Club in Jamaica, and he followed the Ulster and Ire- land rugby teams, as well as the West Indies cricket team with “complete devotion”, according to family members. “We have lost a very special JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Governor Martyn Roper said he would work closely with the Elections Office during the process to verify the authenticity of more than 5,300 signatures on a petition calling for a referendum on the controversial cruise port project. Speaking after a meeting with the refer- endum campaign group Friday, Roper em- phasised the Elections Office is independent of government and reports directly to him. “I was pleased to meet with the cruise port referendum petitioners to talk about the progress they have made in collecting over 5,300 signatures, which is an important achievement,” Roper said in a voice message sent to the Cayman Compass. He said he recognised there were strong views on both sides of the issue and had re- assured the Cruise Port Referendum Cayman campaign group that the Elections Office, which will be responsible for ensuring every signature on the petition is legitimate, is po- litically neutral. “In terms of the process from here on- wards, I underlined I would work very closely with the Elections Office, who report directly to me, and I will attach the highest importance to good governance, due process, the rule of law and upholding our constitu- tion,” he said. The campaign group announced last month that it had collected signatures PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Justice Charles Quin, 21 Nov. 1950 - 7 June 20192 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY, 11 JUNE 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Representatives from the US Regional Federal Benefits Unit will visit the Cayman Islands this week to speak with people about US Social Security and other benefits. The US Embassy in Ja- maica announced the up- coming visit and stated that no appointment was nec- essary for individuals who wanted to meet with the representatives. They will be available from 1-4:30pm on Thursday, 13 June, and from 8am to 2pm on Friday, June 14, at the US Consular Agency Cayman Islands at 202B Smith Road Centre in George Town. The consular staff ad- vises people who wish to apply for Social Security ser- vices to bring legible copies of all documents to be sub- mitted, including proof of identification, such as a passport or driver’s license. Those applying for Social Security benefits should also bring originals and copies of the following for all appli- cants: birth certificate, pass- port – if applying for auxil- iary benefits or survivor’s benefits, marriage and/or death certificates. Individuals whose ben- efits have been suspended are asked to bring a copy of their passport and a com- pleted SSA-7162. In relation to this, in 2018, the Social Se- curity Administration mailed a Social Security Proof of Life Study questionnaire to beneficiaries receiving their own benefits whose social security number ended in 00-49 and beneficiaries over the age of 90. Those applying for So- cial Security Number cards should bring a copy of their valid US passport, Certificate of Birth Abroad or original birth certificate and com- pleted form SS-5FS. To register a change of address for Social Security, bring a current passport. To enrol in Medicare Part B, complete and sign a CMS- 40B form. To cancel it, com- plete and sign CMS-2690. Contact the Regional Federal Benefits Unit online at http:// cr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen- services/social-security/fbu- inquiry-form/. To learn more, visit: https:// cr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/ social-security/. 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(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 KIDS CLUB: OVER THE HEDGE (PG) 10:00 (SAT ONLY) CULTURE AT THE CINEMA: THE TRAGEDY OF KIND RICHARD THE SECOND(R18) SAT ONLY: 8:00 • 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. - TUESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) ALADDIN (PG) 12:45 I 3:45 3D I 6:45 | 9:50 3D GODZILLA: KING OF MONSTERS (PG13) 1:15 3D I 4:00 VIP | 7:00 | 9:45 VIP | 10:00 3D MA (R) 12:35 I 3:00 I 5:25 | 7:50 | 10:15 JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM (R) 1:05 | 9:45 ROCKTMAN (R) 4:05 I 6:55 AVENGERS: END GAME (PG13) 12:30 I 7:45 CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA SCROOGED (1988) (PG13) 7:00 VIP SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 (PG) 12:30 | 4:15 3D | 5:30 3D | 7:45 X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX (PG13) 1:00 VIP | 2:45 | 10:00 Visiting Specialist will be available for consultation at Novo Clinic, Britcay House 236 Eastern Avenue from 4 June - 24 June, 2019 For appointments please call +1 (345) 746-6082 clinic@novocayman.com Gynecology, Urogynecology, Cosmeti c Gynecology Customs and Border Control outlines plan to address audit KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Customs and Border Con- trol expressed “unequivocal commitment to implement the recommendations” made by an auditor general report released Thursday that out- lined extensive deficiencies in the agency. While CBC’s follow-up outlines responses to most of the recommendations made, it does come with some caveats. The response points out that the audit came at a dif- ficult, transitory time for the agency. Analysis for the report was conducted in 2018 be- fore Customs began the pro- cess of merging with the Department of Immigra- tion to create the joint Cus- toms and Border Control. At that time, Customs was part of the Ministry of Fi- nance and Economic Devel- opment, which oversees rev- enue concessions. “It would be unfair to the department and the Cus- toms Senior Management Team that was in place at the time of this audit to con- sider these audit findings in the absence of context. At the time of this audit, the then Customs Senior Management Team had been in place for just over one year,” the CBC response states. Before the current col- lector of customs, Charles Clifford, took up his role in August 2015, the response says, the department had op- erated without a permanent collector for three and a half years. In that time, four dif- ferent acting collectors had stepped into the role. Since 2015, Customs says Clifford has prioritised three areas: increasing revenue by closing revenue gaps, im- proving relationships with law enforcement for national security purposes, and suc- cession planning. Management of revenue collection is one major area where progress has been lacking, according to Au- ditor General Sue Winspear. While revenue from Cus- toms consistently surpasses projections, Winspear said it is unknown how much rev- enue has been forgone due to policy deficiencies. “It is disappointing that there has been very little pro- gress made to improve the process for revenue conces- sions,” Winspear said. “More than three years after making recommen- dations,” she said, “there is still no revenue conces- sions policy, nor is there any systematic monitoring of the revenue concessions awarded, and so it is not known how much money has been foregone or whether the things promised in return for the concession awarded have been being delivered.” CBC indicated that in the 2015-16 fiscal year, Customs surpassed its revenue target by $10.4 million. In 2017, that number was reported as $15 million and in 2018, $22 million. To improve concessions procedures, CBC indicated that it will continue to work with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to establish a comprehen- sive policy. Regarding other recom- mendations made by the au- ditor general, CBC outlined an implementation timeline ranging from 2019 to 2022. The agency accepted the suggestion that a strategic plan be established and indi- cated it aimed to have one in place by the end of 2019. Establishment of perfor- mance measurements to de- termine if strategic goals are being met were projected for implementation between 2020 and 2021. “Unfortunately, this problem is not unique to the Customs Department and work is under way across government to improve our systems for measuring per- formance and therefore im- prove planning and business decisions,” CBC stated. To establish a work- force plan and a human re- sources database, CBC said it is looking to the Carib- bean Customs Law Enforce- ment Council for guidance. That council is reportedly working to develop an IT- based human resources man- agement system that could be implemented by member countries, including the Cayman Islands. “This new programme will be reviewed and hopefully adopted by member coun- tries at our annual confer- ence in Havana, Cuba in May this year,” CBC said. The agency added that it will continue its transi- tion from a traditional gate- keep approach to one of an intelligence-led organisation, stating, “it will continually refine its business processes, intelligence and risk-based strategies using a variety of techniques, technology, training and development in order to provide the best means of identifying and ad- dressing threats at the ear- liest possible point”. “ It would be unfair to the department and the Customs Senior Management Team that was in place at the time of this audit to consider these audit findings in the absence of context.” CUSTOMS AND BORDER PATROL The Customs and Border Control Agency says an internal audit that was critical of its work came at a difficult, transitory time for the agency. US Social Security reps to visit Cayman Those applying for Social Security benefits should also bring originals and copies of the following for all applicants: birth certificate, passport – if applying for auxiliary benefits or survivor’s benefits, marriage and/or death certificates.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 11 JUNE 2019 Carter’s ‘golden handshake’ remains under wraps Compass open records request rejected JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Details of the pay-out to the former head of a dysfunc- tional government depart- ment can remain secret, the Ombudsman has ruled. Government included a confidentiality clause in its golden handshake agree- ment with Roydell Carter, the former head of the De- partment of Environ- mental Health. After a nine-month pro- cess following a Freedom of Information request from the Cayman Compass, the Om- budsman decided the details of the publicly funded retire- ment package do not need to be disclosed under the law. Sandy Hermiston ac- cepted government’s argu- ment that releasing the in- formation would expose it to potential court action. Though she accepted sub- missions from the Compass that non-disclosure agree- ments should not be used to sidestep the Freedom of In- formation Law in issues of genuine public interest, she ruled that disclosure of the requested records in this case would constitute an “action- able breach of confidence”. Carter was said to have re- tired from the civil service in September last year, after nine months on leave for unspeci- fied reasons. An internal audit report, later released under the Freedom of Information Law, blamed “substantial mis- management and widespread abuse” of the system within the department for an 800% overspend on overtime. The report, which high- lighted $2 million in over- spending on overtime payments, mostly to trash col- lectors and landfill workers, said Carter, as director, had “substantially failed” to manage the approved budget, to avoid cost overruns and to bring concerns to the ministry. The Compass submitted an open records request seeking details of “salary, pension, healthcare and any other fi- nancial settlement” made with the former director. The re- quest was denied by the Min- istry of Health and ultimately went to the Ombudsman for determination. After a hearing earlier this year, the Ombudsman accepted that the record was exempt from disclosure on the basis of an explicit confi- dentiality clause signed with Carter following negotia- tions for his departure from the civil service. Though she acknowl- edged the Compass’s argu- ment that there was signif- icant public interest in the information, Hermiston ruled Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Law, which can be used to prevent disclo- sure of records that may lead to an “actionable breach of confidence”, is absolute and applies regardless of any public-interest concerns. In its submission to the Ombudsman, the Compass argued that the use of confi- dentiality clauses to exempt information from release under the FOI Law risked rendering the law ineffective. Hermiston accepted this argument but said the agree- ment with Carter prevented potential litigation which could have involved the as- sertion of blame by one party against the other and the ex- pense of litigation. “In those circumstances, it is permissible public policy to end the dispute and impose a condition of confidentiality as part of the finality of the compromise,” she wrote. In general, she said, confi- dentiality clauses should only be used in “good faith and appropriate circumstances”. She added, “There is a risk that public authorities may be tempted to use contrac- tual agreements containing confidentiality clauses in order to remove controversial or embarrassing information from public scrutiny. “The marking of a docu- ment as ‘confidential’ by a public authority, or the ad- dition of a confidentiality clause in a contractual agree- ment, does not place it out- side the reach of the FOI Law, or automatically mean that it is exempt from disclosure. “The strong public policy interest in openness, trans- parency and accountability expressed in the FOI Law re- quires a review of whether the expression of confiden- tiality is appropriate and in good faith. Public authori- ties should carefully con- sider whether confidentiality is necessary and appropriate before agreeing to sign an agreement containing a confi- dentiality clause, and should not use such clauses unless absolutely necessary, such as may be the case in the course of litigation.” Roydell Carter MISSION HOUSE TO HOST FATHER’S DAY BARBECUE Residents and visitors are invited to a Father’s Day bar- becue at the Bodden Town Mission House on Saturday, 15 June, from 11am to 4pm. The event, hosted by the National Trust Bodden Town District Committee, is in- tended to help raise $25,000 to carry out repairs to Mis- sion House’s boardwalk. “We welcome all fathers and their families to at- tend this hidden jewel in the heart of Bodden Town, and to enjoy some local food and be reminded of how far the Cayman Islands have come since the Mission House was first built in the 1700s,” said Jennifer Martinez, Mission House historic coordinator. The event will feature a craft area, face painting, bouncy castle and a vintage photo booth; barbecue food and swanky will be available for purchase. Entrance to the event is free. A selection of Father’s Day gifts will also avail- able for sale.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 As government works on a long-term strategy for managing unsightly (and awfully smelly) mounds of beached sargassum, it makes sense to call on the National Community Enhancement programme, known as NiCE, for assistance, as has been proposed. After all, removing the sodden lumps of stinky seaweed requires a gentle touch – using removal strategies that are mindful of turtle nests and avoid causing unnecessary damage to the beach. Properly done, sargassum removal is time-sensitive and labour-intensive work, but the alternative – leaving it to rot in foul-smelling and unattractive mounds potentially interfering with turtle nesting and unques- tionably deterring the peaceful use of this precious natural resource – should be unthinkable. We have no doubt that NiCE crews would be up to the challenge. Their stellar track record of cleaning up, repairing and beautifying our public spaces has been a stalwart example, and longtime source of, national pride. So much so, in fact, that this editorial board has even suggested expanding the annual cleanup project to a full-time endeavour. As we have written, with the number of visitors we welcome to our shores each year, and the vital importance of tourism to our economy, keeping our islands beautiful and in good repair is not only a year-round challenge, it should be a national priority. Putting our best foot forward helps to preserve our international reputation as a safe, idyllic and relaxing vacation destination. Failing to do so jeop- ardises the very same. Here, at home, the NiCE programme fills an impor- tant need in our community, as has been clearly evident in the overwhelming interest spurred by every recruitment drive. Each time the programme is announced, hundreds of unemployed Caymanians turn out to participate – eager to earn decent wages for a week or two of work. Last August, about 500 people – one-third of the estimated number of unemployed Caymanians at the time – signed up for an off-season NiCE clean-up. We expect an early summer programme would attract a similar crowd, willing and able to quickly and efficiently restore our beaches to pristine stretches of inviting white sand. As we have argued, the NiCE programme is a highly efficient use of public money, offering willing participants the dignity of work while reducing reliance on social services. The money spent on wages stays on island, recirculating through local businesses and helping families purchase life’s necessities. By deploying NiCE crews to tackle nuisance sar- gassum, government would put much-needed money in the pockets of unemployed Caymanians, giving them another opportunity to prove themselves and a possible leg-up in their search for full-time or regular employment. Perhaps some on these crews will even be inspired to explore entrepreneurial uses for the vegetation, which we hear can be turned into an excel- lent landfill or garden compost. For nearly a decade, sargassum invasions have been part of Cayman’s ‘new normal’ – a trend which is only expected to continue, given environmental factors including a warming sea. An army of NiCE crews could be ready and able to mobilise whenever these flotillas of floating seaweed wash up upon our shores. – EDITORIAL – A NiCE way to manage sargassum 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” TUESDAY, 11 JUNE 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS DAVID JESSOP The moment is fast ar- riving when Caribbean Gov- ernments and business will have to consider the conse- quences of the tariff wars and sanctions that Wash- ington is now pursuing. Far from reducing its ‘America First’ rhetoric and seeking compromise, the Trump Administration has become committed to weap- onising its trade policy to achieve its broader political objectives. If sustained this will reshape global markets, making an equitable rules- based global trading system no longer possible. So serious has the matter become that the Chinese gov- ernment recently issued a white paper on its trade dis- pute with the US. The doc- ument, which has much broader relevance, sets out clearly how since President Trump took office in 2017 the US administration has threatened its major trading partners with new tariffs and introduced measures pro- voking frequent economic and trade friction. The paper sets out the pa- rameters of how the Trump administration has devel- oped a strategy which seeks to change the exercise of eco- nomic relations and the struc- ture of global trade. It argues that Washington’s approach is damaging to economic inte- gration, will not result in the delivery of benefits to US citi- zens, and harms development. It warns that while China does not want a trade war, it “is not afraid of one and it will fight one if necessary”. Its publication comes as many nations in the Amer- icas are trying to determine how best to respond to a US strategy that links its do- mestic political objectives to its hemispheric and foreign trade policy on the grounds of national security. Evidence of Washington’s thinking in this respect was apparent at the 8th Carib- bean-US Security Coopera- tion Dialogue. In opening remarks, Kim- berly Breier, the US Assistant Secretary of State in the Bu- reau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, spoke about a new focus on closer ties with the Caribbean. After addressing shared concerns about secu- rity cooperation, she made clear that maximising US trade and investment, iso- lating Venezuela, and encour- aging the economic exclusion of China, are now compo- nents in realising this. In an implied criticism of the Caribbean’s desire for po- litical dialogue between the opposing factions in Vene- zuela, she told participants from the region “the only truly non-interventionist path is to join the critical mass of countries in the hemisphere”. “A truly non-interventionist view,” she said, “cries foul when foreign powers like Russia and Cuba stake their claim by overtly landing mil- itary forces on South Amer- ican territory.” “The United States, and all freedom-loving countries, should be deeply concerned, to the point of action, closer cooperation, and support to our neighbours in need,” she observed. Breier was also critical of China’s economic role in the region, encouraging the Car- ibbean to look to the US for technical expertise, transpar- ency and business acumen, and to see US companies as resources and as partners to help the region resolve the problems it has with ageing infrastructure, ports, high- ways and telecommunica- tions systems. The US and the Caribbean, she said, “need to be pre- pared to expand cooperation to counter future threats”, ob- serving that when it came to the transformational nature of 5G telecommunication’s technology, the region needed to fully factor security into its procurement and cyberse- curity decisions. In a further indication of Washington’s willingness to use trade and investment to deliver its domestic agenda, it is threatening to impose tariffs, rising to 25%, on all Mexican imports. President Trump has said that this will happen unless Presi- dent López Obrador manages in some so far unspecified way to halt the flow of eco- nomic migrants and refugees crossing Mexico in the hope of reaching the US. The outcome is far from certain and could, as the Mexican government points out, seriously damage both the US and Mexican economy, result in an additional quarter of a million people trying to migrate north, and relates anyway to long- standing and unresolved so- cial and economic problems in Central America. At the same time, Wash- ington is also ratcheting up sanctions and tightening its embargo on Cuba; a process, US officials say, which is not yet at an end. In the last few days, the Trump administration has announced that it will no longer licence US citizens to travel in groups to Cuba for people-to-people educational purposes. The effect is to end all new cruise ships calls. The details of the new measures came shortly after a raft of other Cuba related sanctions were announced, creating un- certainty for investors, travel- lers and traders everywhere, adding to the damage al- ready caused to the Cuban economy and development of the country’s non-state small enterprises. Announcing the latest sanctions, the US Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said that the decision was strategic and justified on the grounds of national security. Cuba, he said, “continues to play a destabilising role in the Western Hemisphere, pro- viding a communist foothold in the region and propping up US adversaries in places like Venezuela and Nicaragua by fomenting instability, un- dermining the rule of law, and suppressing democratic processes”. Where all this will end remains to be seen, but the signs are that the US has begun to consolidate a policy that seeks to divide the world by deploying economic pres- sure on governments to ac- cept that the US is the only global rule maker and that its domestic economic and polit- ical interests are paramount. The apparent short- term success Washington is having in deploying punitive tariffs, sanctions and execu- tive orders in pursuit of its political objectives may well embolden it. Regrettably, it is a policy that will divide from the many friends and allies that valued greatly its past commitment to consensus building, global institutions, order, and multilateralism. In a likely indication of what comes next, the presi- dents of China and Russia agreed on 6 May to estab- lish a ‘comprehensive stra- tegic partnership’ and issued a joint statement which en- dorsed multilateralism and rejected hegemonic trade practices and sanctions. For the Caribbean the dan- gers are obvious. To quote the recent words of Jamaica’s former Prime Minister PJ Pat- terson, they are of “reverting to a time we thought we had passed long ago; to the days of subservience and being sub- ject to the dictates of others based on their interest”. David Jessop is a consultant to the Caribbean Council and can be contacted at david.jessop@Caribbean-council.org. © 2019, David Jessop. Tariff wars and sanctions: Is this the new normal?5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 11 JUNE 2019 Miller remains as PAC chairman Former Leader of the Opposi- tion Ezzard Miller is returning as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee following an afternoon of political wrangling in the Legis- lative Assembly on Friday, during which the Opposition accused the government of attempting to stack the PAC with its members. Miller agreed to resume his role after his proposed replacement as chairman, Opposition member Chris Saunders, refused the post, claiming that the government’s ef- forts to fill the majority of seats on the PAC with government members, and making him the sole Opposition representative on the five-person body, would make his chairmanship of the committee ineffective. Premier Alden McLaughlin had proposed a motion to appoint Saun- ders as chairman, with existing members West Bay North MLA Bernie Bush, George Town South MLA Barbara Conolly and Pros- pect MLA Austin Harris remaining on the committee, and George Town North MLA David Wight filling the seat made vacant if Saunders took on the role of chairman. The premier said Leader of the Opposition Arden McLean had written to him last week, suggesting that Saunders be chairman and that Opposition MLA Kenneth Bryan re- place him as a PAC member. Under that proposal, the PAC would con- sist of two members from the Oppo- sition, and three from the Unity gov- ernment – the same make-up of the committee that had existed under Miller’s chairmanship before he re- signed from the position last month. Instead, the government pro- posed that Wight, a Progressives member and government coun- cillor, should take the position in- stead of Bryan. The government argued that since Bush, a Cayman Democratic Party member who sits on the Unity coalition government side of the house, votes his mind and is not bound by collective responsibility, he is effectively an independent member and therefore would not be sitting on the PAC as a government representative. Bryan appealed to the govern- ment that if the proposal to replace him was personally aimed at him, that it should choose another Oppo- sition member to sit on the PAC. McLean described the PAC as “by far the most important committee” in the Legislative Assembly because it examines auditor general reports to determine if government is get- ting value for money when spending public funds, especially in light of a number of major capital pro- jects that are proposed or already are under way, such as the airport expansion, the waste management project and the cruise/cargo port. The opposition leader pointed out that only members of the PAC, not its chairman, can produce what he called “minority reports”, which offer a dissenting view to the rest of the committee on individual auditor general reports. “What this govern- ment is proposing will erase that in one fell swoop,” McLean said. He added that if all PAC mem- bers, other than the chairman, were government representatives, it would mean that the govern- ment would be scrutinising its own spending and accounts. Deputy Leader of the Opposition Alva Suckoo also appealed to the government to reconsider its pro- posal, pointing out that, as govern- ment councillors temporarily act as ministers when the government ministers are unavailable, the gov- ernment was “stacking the Public Accounts Committee with mem- bers of the government who serve as ministers”. Wight, Conolly and Harris all act as councillors in var- ious government ministries. At the meeting, McLaughlin praised the Miller and the “exem- plary way” he had chaired the PAC over the years. Miller resigned as chairman of the PAC last month, about a week after resigning as leader of the Opposition. His resig- nation as PAC chairman was to have become effective Friday’s meeting. After Saunders told legisla- tors that he would not be willing to accept the position of chairman, McLaughlin called for a suspension of the House and, following some discussions behind closed doors, he returned to the chamber to an- nounce that Miller had agreed to remain as chairman, and that the membership of the PAC would re- main as it currently is. Arguments on committee mem- bership did not end there, though. The next business before the House dealt with a motion by the Opposi- tion to remove Miller as a member of the Standing Business Committee, which selects the matters that will be placed on the order papers that the Legislative Assembly considers. The motion called for McLean to re- place Miller on the committee. The premier said the government would not support the motion be- cause Miller had not resigned from the committee and he would not be represented on the committee if he were removed. McLean argued that when he and Miller were independent Op- position members during the last administration, they had not been represented on the Business Com- mittee. He also queried how a single member of the Legislative Assembly, which consists of 19 elected rep- resentatives, could be proportion- ately represented on a committee of five people. The motion was defeated. Ezzard Miller Man pleads guilty in driving death of cyclist SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Wilfred Ellington Myles pleaded guilty in Grand Court Friday to causing death by dangerous driving and a host of other charges in rela- tion to the death of cyclist Ig- nacio ‘Nacho’ Kirzner in April. Myles, 29, also pleaded guilty to driving while dis- qualified, taking and driving a vehicle without the own- er’s consent and driving a car without insurance or a certif- icate of roadworthiness. He pleaded not guilty to causing death while driving under the influence of alcohol. The maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving in Cayman is 10 years. Myles could get as much as a one-third reduction on his sentence by virtue of pleading guilty early in the process. The court heard Friday that Myles was operating a GMC Yukon on the wrong side of North Church Street in George Town on 15 April when he struck and killed Kirzner, who had been cy- cling to work. Kirzner was riding along the left-hand edge of the northbound lane when he was struck. Images of the incident were cap- tured on CCTV. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright said that acci- dent reconstructionists esti- mate that Myles was driving 41 miles an hour in a 25-mph zone, but he also noted that the car’s instruments indicate he could have been driving as fast as 48 mph. Myles, who was driving his partner’s car without her permission, did not stop at the scene of the accident. He drove home and called his father, telling him that he needed help. The defendant’s partner overheard his conversation and called police, and Myles was arrested shortly there- after. Police indicated that he smelled of liquor and had slurred speech. Myles took a blood-alcohol test that indi- cated a 0.256 reading, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.10. Some of Kirzner’s family were in the courtroom on Friday, and Wainwright read excerpts from a victim im- pact letter they had written on his behalf. Kirzner, who had turned 22 just nine days before his death, was said to be a hard worker who wanted to bring his family and girl- friend to live in Cayman. “His brother misses him dearly,” said Wainwright while summarising the de- tails of the family’s letter to the court. “His mother and fa- ther are broken at heart.” Wainwright also summa- rised the defendant’s crim- inal history. Myles had been con- victed of 26 previous of- fences, including multiple cases of driving under the in- fluence and one of failure to provide a specimen. Myles had his driving licence sus- pended twice previously and breached a curfew ordered by the court on the night of the accident. Myles was living under a suspended sentence of six months’ imprisonment at the time of his offence. Defence counsel Prathna Bodden said that many of the facts of the case were agreed. Myles had very little recollec- tion of the accident, she said, and did not immediately re- alise he had hit somebody. Bodden stressed that he immediately told the re- sponding officers that he had been driving the car that night and that he later indicated he would plead guilty at the earliest pos- sible moment. Myles was in the early stages of undergoing rehabil- itation for an addiction to al- cohol before the accident, she said, and he had provided a negative test of alcohol to the court in March. Bodden also said that Myles had written a letter to the victim’s family on his own initiative. “If he could swap places with their son, he would do it in a heartbeat,” said Bodden of the letter from Myles. “The letter is true. It is genuine.” Justice Roger Chapple said that imposing sentence on a charge of causing death by dangerous driving is one of the most difficult exer- cises that a judge can un- dertake. The judge acknowl- edged the presence of the victim’s family and said he would try to have the sen- tencing process finished within two weeks. “I bear in mind the pub- lic’s understandable outrage,” said Justice Chapple.6 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY, 11 JUNE 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman celebrates Queen’s Birthday SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman rolled out the red carpet for royalty Saturday morning, when it celebrated the official 93rd birthday of Queen Elizabeth II with warmth and symbolic pomp and circumstance. The day began with a dress parade in front of the Legislative Assembly and later continued with a garden party at Government House complete with a surprise mu- sical guest. Governor Martyn Roper, celebrating the Queen’s and also his own birthday, showed off his newfound skills on the steel pan thanks to an assist from renowned master Earl La Pierre. “I think it’s been won- derful,” said Governor Roper of the day’s events. “I was so pleased this morning, be- cause it’s the first time I’ve seen that ceremony. I thought it was a fantastic cere- mony and to see everybody marching from all our ser- vices was just wonderful. I was delighted with it.” Representatives from Cay- man’s police, fire and prison services all took part in the parade, as did a detachment of Cayman’s scouts, cadets and a group from the Girls’ Brigade. The parade went down Fort Street and back to the Legislative Assembly, and Gov- ernor Roper walked up and down each row and spoke to members of each contingent. Restmin ‘Nellie’ Elaine McCoy was awarded the Cayman Islands Certifi- cate and Badge of Honour for her decades of dedicated service to the Mosquito Re- search and Control Unit, and three Caymanians – Shanice Kelly, Chauntae Martinez and Syrena Powell – were granted the Duke of Edinburgh’s In- ternational Award. The day then continued with a garden party at Gov- ernment House, and Gov- ernor Roper stepped forward to speak to the assembled guests and say a few words about Queen Elizabeth II. “She really is such a re- markable woman,” he said. “This week, not only has she hosted a state visit by Pres- ident [Donald] Trump, who may not be the easiest head of state to receive on a state visit, she’s also had the 75th anni- versary of the D-Day landings. And today she had her own Trooping the Colour celebration for her birthday. She really is a remarkable lady and I know we all want to recognise that.” Governor Roper went on to speak about the recent visit to Cayman of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who were briefly his house guests at Gov- ernment House. “I was so pleased with that visit. It was a huge success,” said Governor Roper. “I know that it really strengthened the bonds between the Cayman Islands and the UK. The Royal Highnesses stayed at Govern- ment House. They really loved Government House. Both of them managed to swim in the sea. We allowed them about 10 minutes because the pro- gramme was really busy.” The assembled guests also celebrated Governor Roper’s birthday on Saturday, and he stepped behind the steel pans to perform versions of ‘Yellow Bird’ and ‘Chariots of Fire’ with La Pierre’s Pan- demix band. La Pierre came to visit Governor Roper at Government House about a month ago to teach him the steel pans, and the governor practised twice with the full band at University College of the Cayman Islands. “The governor did excel- lent,” said La Pierre. “He’s one of those students that you want to come and teach because he was willing. He was never like, ‘Oh, this is too hard.’ I had fun, and he had fun too. And that makes my job so easy when your stu- dent or the governor is inter- ested and having fun.” Governor Martyn Roper hands the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award to Shanice Kelly. Governor Martyn Roper awards Restmin ‘Nellie’ Elaine McCoy the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour for her decades of dedicated service to the Mosquito Research and Control Unit. Young scouts stand for inspection at the parade on Fort Street in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. The Cayman Islands Girls’ Brigade proudly march as part of Saturday’s parade. Members of the Cayman Islands Fire Service march into position at Saturday’s parade. Governor Martyn Roper and steel pan master Earl La Pierre perform at Saturday’s garden party at Government House. – PHOTO: SPENCER FORDIN Governor Martyn Roper awards the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award to Syrena Powell. - PHOTO: SPENCER FORDIN Governor Martyn Roper and Elisabeth Roper toast the Queen while Earl La Pierre leads the Pandemix steel pan band in the background. – PHOTOS: STEPHEN CLARKE The police band takes up position facing the Legislative Assembly and plays ‘God Save the Queen’ of Saturday’s ceremony.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 11 JUNE 2019 CAYMAN ISLANDS DIGITAL ECONOMY CONFERENCE 2019 TOPICS INCLUDE: • So...what's blockchain doing now? • Cryptocurrencies market – boom, bust and its future • Regulators Fireside Chat • The future of education • Cayman’s Robotics • Panel discussion: Technology and us Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa June 20 th , 2019 | CI $350 Global trends. Groundbreaking ideas. Technological advancements. REGISTER NOW WWW.CYDEC.KY MINISTRY OF FINANCIAL SERVICES & HOME AFFAIRS MINISTRY OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, TOURISM & TRANSPORT MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, PLANNING & INFRASTRUCTURE Government will examine free childhood healthcare MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Legislative As- sembly has unanimously approved a motion that di- rects the government to consider how it might pro- vide free healthcare for Cayman’s children. Assembly member Chris Saunders, of Bodden Town West constituency, said he introduced the motion to push the idea that govern- ment has an obligation to make sure the country’s children get the health- care they need. “At the end of the day, this is more of a matter of principle,” Saunders said, rather than a ques- tion about cost and how to pay for such services. “I brought this motion for one simple reason, it was the right thing to do.” He said the motion was purposely generic in order to avoid any polit- ical friction. “Every one of us in this room benefited from free healthcare when we were growing up,” Saunders said. “I think it is time for us to return back to our basic fundamental principle of investing in our people.” He admitted he did not know how that might be done. “None of us in this house has the knowledge, the expertise nor the skill set to find a solution,” he said. “The only thing this House can provide is the will to get it done. It will require us, the govern- ment, bringing together the necessary experts and necessary people with the knowledge and expertise to deal with this issue.” Health Minister Dwayne Seymour said his people have been stud- ying the issue. “We do have a team and the ministry looking at these proposals already,” Seymour said, “and also the possibility of a na- tional healthcare plan.” Laying out the options for such programmes, he said, “is something I in- tend to achieve during these four years.” Several members cau- tioned that such a pro- gramme would likely be expensive and that govern- ment should be cautious. “We have to bear in mind how the government is going to fund this, not just now but in the long term,” said Premier Alden McLaughlin. “I urge us all to continue working to pre- serve and improve upon the model we have so that we are able to broaden the social programs the gov- ernment is able to offer.” He said the Cayman Is- lands is better positioned than most countries to take on free healthcare for children, but also warned against veering from what he said has been a suc- cessful economic model for the island. That model, he said, makes considering such a programme possible. In an apparent refer- ence to the current cruise port controversy, he said the assembly members needed to “make sure we don’t do rush things that discourage investment, that have the effect of re- ducing the amount of vis- itors who come here …. It is only through that con- tinued growth of revenue that we are able to provide those social programmes and make concessions that help our people.” Others focussed on the human impact. Deputy Opposition Leader Alva Suckoo la- mented that such a discus- sion was necessary. “It is unfortunate that [Saunders] had to actu- ally bring this motion,” Suckoo said. “It says some- thing for what some of our people are going through. I don‘t think any of us are a stranger to that reality. I see it quite often where entire families some- times don’t have access to healthcare” because they cannot afford it. “Everybody should get the best care available,” he added, “and we can’t let fi- nances be an obstacle in achieving that”. Saunders said the mo- ment was right for deter- mining what might be pos- sible and suggested such a healthcare programme might be rolled out gradu- ally in phases. “It’s time now for the Cayman Islands to step up and see what we can do for our young people,” he said. “ Every one of us in this room benefited from free healthcare when we were growing up. I think it is time for us to return back to our basic fundamental principle of investing in our people.” CHRIS SAUNDERS, Bodden Town West MLA Legislators approve $1.6M for housing repairs The government has ap- proved more than $1.6 mil- lion in additional funding for its Housing Repairs Assis- tance Programme. Under the programme, repairs are made to homes of eligible elderly or disa- bled Caymanians, as well as those of families with young children that are in need of financial assis- tance, as determined by the Needs Assessment Unit and the Housing Repairs Assis- tance Committee. Premier Alden McLaughlin, in response to a question raised by George Town Central leg- islator Kenneth Bryan, told the Finance Committee in the Legislative Assembly on Friday that there were 22 “priority” projects out- standing this year because of insufficient funding. He said, so far this year, seven repair projects had been completed. After some discussion with the chairman of the Housing Repairs Assistance Committee, Andre Ebanks, who is deputy chief officer in the Ministry of Commu- nity Affairs, the Finance Committee agreed to in- crease an initial request for $1.2 million to $1,620,000. The additional money will be spent on another 14 homes that are also urgently in need of repairs. The premier said that re- pairs of these homes needed to be done as a priority be- cause if funding for repairs is approved in a “piecemeal manner”, homes that need repairs will deteriorate fur- ther and it will be more ex- pensive to carry out the re- pairs later. He said the existing cri- teria limits the amount of money budgeted for each in- dividual project to $25,000, unless a higher amount is approved by the minister of community affairs, a role the premier also holds. “The vast majority of these projects are well in excess of $25,000,” he said. “In fact, they are gen- erally between $40,000 and $70,000,” adding, “That’s why the money has disap- peared so quickly.” He delivered a break- down on the number of re- pair projects that had been carried out in each district since the inception of the programme – seven in West Bay, 12 in George Town, seven in Bodden Town, six in North Side and four in East End. A separate programme exists for Cayman Brac. The Finance Committee approved the supplemental appropriation of $1,620,000 for the Housing Repairs As- sistance Programme. Finance Minister Roy McTaggart told legislators that approving supplemen- tary spending would not have a major impact on govern- ment finances, as projections up to the end of this financial year, 31 Dec. 2019, show there will be an operating surplus of $66 million for central gov- ernment, with a cash balance of $362 million. The Finance Committee agreed to increase an initial request for $1.2 million to $1,620,000. The additional money will be spent on another 14 homes that are also urgently in need of repairs. Chris Saunders brought a motion for the government to consider free healthcare for children in the Cayman Islands.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Opposition leader Arden McLean has joined calls for the cruise port project to be put on hold until a petition calling for a referendum on the development has been verified. McLean said government’s decision to press on with nego- tiations was a “sucker punch” for democracy. And he warned that signing a contract, with the threat of a referendum looming, could expose government to the risk of financial penalties if the public ultimately rejects cruise berthing. McLean said, “I have added the voice of the Opposition to calls for the Government to immedi- ately halt undertaking any further contractual obligations in rela- tion to the Cruise Berthing Facility Project. It is the only responsible course of action to take,” he said. He said both he and the pre- mier had pushed for and sup- ported the provision for people- initiated referendums to be triggered through a petition signed by 25% of the electorate. The newly appointed leader of the Opposition added, “It is therefore deeply disappointing that instead of welcoming the participatory involvement of the electorate, the Government is further entrenching its posi- tion to press on. For the Govern- ment to so wilfully disregard the hard work and dedication of our fellow Caymanians is a sucker punch to the most basic princi- ples of democracy and the spirit of good governance.” He added that the Cayman Is- lands had already been forced to pay financial penalties over a previous cruise project deal that was later terminated. “The Government’s continued actions also potentially expose … the public purse to financial penalties. We have already been down that road with the GLF fi- asco and don’t need a repeat. The Caymanian people have already paid the price and seen firsthand what happens when decisions are rushed without the proper governance structure in place.” Premier Alden McLaughlin has stated that government is taking legal advice on how to proceed and has been informed it need not be concerned about the petition until and unless it is verified by the Elections Office and submitted to Cabinet. from 25% of the electorate – the required threshold to trigger a people-initiated referendum. Following the meeting with the governor on Friday, the group issued a press re- lease saying the list of names would be submitted to the Elections Office next week. Supervisor of Elections Wesley Howell has already confirmed that the office will seek to verify every single name on the list. Despite con- cerns that this process could be onerous and subject to political influence, Howell said he would be answer- able to the governor to con- duct the process in a fair and timely manner. Premier Alden McLaughlin said Wednesday that govern- ment would proceed with the final steps in the pro- curement process on the port and has taken legal ad- vice that it should not be concerned by the petition until and unless it is sub- mitted to Cabinet with every signature verified by the Elections Office. He added, “Ten months after the petition was launched, there is still not even a list yet submitted to the Elections Office for verification.” Cruise Port Referendum Cayman explained the delays in presenting the petition in its press statement, saying it had always been the in- tention of the group to seek guidance and reassurance over the verification pro- cess from the governor and the Elections Office before handing over the petition. “All parties have acknowl- edged that they are navi- gating uncharted waters to- gether in what will be the first People Initiated Refer- endum in the Cayman Is- lands, and possibly the first in any Overseas Ter- ritory,” the group said in a statement. Even if a verified petition is submitted to Cabinet, the premier has made no guar- antees that a referendum will take place. He said his Cab- inet would take the “appro- priate and advised” course of action recommended by its legal team once the verified petition is submitted. Speaking in the Legis- lative Assembly last week, he said government was not yet taking a position on whether the issue of the dock meets the definition of ‘na- tional importance’ – required by the Constitution before people-initiated referenda can be held. Johann Moxam, one of the leaders of the campaign group, said Friday it would be very difficult for Cabinet to seek to avoid a referendum by claiming the cruise port was not an issue of national importance. He said government had spent six years and more than $8 million dollars of public money on the pro- ject and, more recently, had splashed out on a mar- keting campaign touting its importance. “Ironically, the premier now refuses to confirm if this a matter of ‘national im- portance’, yet the govern- ment has used public funds and senior civil servants and public officials in a marketing campaign to convince the public that the proposed pro- ject is of vital importance,” he said in a statement Friday. “The Premier and Deputy Premier are on record stating how important the project is for a variety of reasons.” TUESDAY, 11 JUNE 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Ships head to Cayman amid Cuba cruise ban Governor keeping tabs on referendum process In the longer term, he said, the change, “will not have any negative impact and may ultimately provide some upside”. It is not clear what impact, if any, the potential influx of new passengers will have on plans for cruise berthing facilities in Grand Cayman. Both sides in the debate agree it will likely mean more passengers and, at least temporarily, neutralise the threat posed by an emerging cruise industry in Cuba. Chris Kirkconnell, of Kirk Free- port and a member of the pro-port campaign group, said he believed the decision was good for Cayman. Though he expects the decision to be softened or reversed in the longer term, he said the uncertainty would have a slowing effect on Cuba’s emergence as a rival to Cayman. “If anything, it is a bonus for us as a destination because it slows port development and invest- ment in Cuba. It gives us a couple more years to get the berthing fa- cility in place so that we are solid- ified on the western route and any new Cuban berthing facilities will open after us, increasing the likeli- hood that we will be a mainstay on any Cuban itineraries coming on western runs,” said Kirkconnell, who is also president of the Cayman Is- lands Chamber of Commerce. “Long term, it’s anyone’s guess as to where the policies will lead during the next administration but in my opinion Cuba will continue to open up in the next 5-10 years,” he added. Johann Moxam, one of the leaders of a campaign for a refer- endum on the port development project, said the decision would mean more ships and more passen- gers for Cayman and poured cold water on government’s claims that cruise travel to George Town would decline without a dock. He said, “This will likely result in more ships and passengers calling into the Cayman Islands without the cruise berthing project, which will help the country surpass the 2018 record-high numbers of 1.92 million cruise passengers. “The sense of urgency and scare tactics that the current unity gov- ernment and the pro-port lobbyists have used for several years that ‘we must build the dock by any means necessary’ now loses its impetus.” The announcement from the US government last week rolls back former President Barack Obama’s decision to relax travel restric- tions to Cuba. Obama’s decision also enabled US airlines to establish routes to Cuba, something that took its toll on Cayman Airways. The airline has cut the number of flights to Havana from a high of nine per week to three a week Fabian Whorms, CEO of Cayman Airways, said in 2018 that the entry of US airlines into the market had “changed the landscape completely”, and had cost the airline between $5 million and $6 million a year. Though the full impact of the Trump administration’s new travel restrictions remains to be seen, it is not expected to affect com- mercial air travel and Whorms said this week that there would likely be no material impact for Cayman Airways. “ In terms of the process from here onwards, I underlined I would work very closely with the Elections Office, who report directly to me, and I will attach the highest importance to good governance, due process, the rule of law and upholding our constitution.” GOVERNOR MARTYN ROPER A woman waves goodbye as another takes pictures of the Empress of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean vessel, as it navigates out of the harbour in Havana, Cuba, last week. Major cruise lines on Wednesday immediately began dropping stops in Cuba from their itineraries and rerouting ships to other destinations, including Cayman, after the Trump administration’s announced new restrictions on travel to Cuba. - PHOTO: AP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 McLean calls for port negotiations to halt Leader of the Opposition Arden McLean Governor Martyn Roper, fourth from left, offered some reassurance to the cruise port referendum campaigners at a meeting Friday.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 11 JUNE 2019 EXPERT CANCER CAREFOR CAYMAN ISLANDS PATIENTS © 2019 IPB CAYMAN ISLANDS PATIENTS Pamela R. Breast Cancer Patient At Cancer Treatment Centers of America © (CTCA), we guide you and your family every step of the way, starting with a 3-5 day initial evaluation to develop your personalized cancer treatment plan. A team of clinicians will work together to provide treatments combined with supportive care therapies designed to help manage side effects, boost your energy and keep you strong during treatment. man,” said his family in a statement. “He was a great husband, father and friend. We will remember him as a great man who loved these Islands and was proud to call Cayman his home. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and we have been extremely moved by the messages of love and support that we are re- ceiving. They mean the world to us. “We hope that everyone will re- member his big smile, loud voice and wonderful laugh that he shared with so many people. “ Justice Quin was born in Magh- eralin, a village in County Down in Northern Ireland, in November 1950 to Reverend George Alderson Quin and Dr. Norah Quin. His father was later named the Bishop of Down and Dromore. The Quin family moved to Bel- fast and lived there until 1959, when they relocated to Bangor, County Down. Quin obtained a history de- gree from Southampton University in England in 1971. He moved to Kenya and taught English as part of Voluntary Service Overseas. He re- turned to Northern Ireland in 1973 and enrolled at Queen’s University to do his Bar exams. He was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 1978, which is also the year he married Diana Elizabeth Robinson in Newcastle. In 1981 he took up a role as Crown counsel in Bermuda, and his sons Nicholas and Thomas were born there in 1982 and 1984. In Jan- uary 1985, he moved to Cayman. Premier Alden McLaughlin said Monday that he had known Justice Quin for decades and that his wife, Kim, got her start in the legal field when she was hired to be a secre- tary by Quin at Campbell and Com- pany in 1988. Kim McLaughlin con- tinued working with Quin at Quin and Hampson in 1992 and remained at the firm until 2005, and years later, she became an attorney in her own right. “Kim regarded [Justice Quin] as another father, and he encouraged her to go to law school and men- tored her throughout the years,” said Premier McLaughlin on Monday. “He was incredibly proud to be the judge who admitted her to prac- tice at the Cayman bar in 2012,” he said, “and then also to admit our son Daegan, whom he had known since birth, to practice in 2017. “Charlie was one of the finest lawyers I have known and over the years of my practice at the bar, I ap- peared against him in many cases. He always argued his case vigor- ously but was unfailingly polite and fair. He upheld the noblest traditions of the bar; he was compassionate, charitable and honest to a fault. He was truly the rarest of human be- ings, and one that can truly be de- scribed as a gentleman. He was dearly loved by many and respected by all who knew him. He shall be greatly missed by Kim and I.” Justice Quin moved to his home on Selkirk Drive in Red Bay shortly after moving to Cayman, and his son William was born in 1987. He later became president of the Cayman Islands Law Society and was ap- pointed Queen’s Counsel in 2004. He also served as Cayman’s representa- tive of the Royal Commonwealth So- ciety for a decade and was the at- torney general of Montserrat for four months in 2006. Justice Quin officially retired on 31 May 2019. Chief Justice Anthony Smellie recognised him for his service at the ceremonial opening of the Grand Court in January this year, saying, “We, his colleagues, are bracing our- selves for the eventuality of Justice Quin’s formal retirement in June of this year, an event which we – like the rest of the court staff, the pro- fession and very many members of the wider community – would wish to postpone indefinitely.” The chief justice issued an of- ficial statement of condolences re- garding Justice Quin on Sunday. “Justice Quin served the Cayman Islands very admirably as a Judge of the Grand Court for more than 10 years, prior to which he practised at the Bar of the Cayman Islands and in other regional jurisdictions for more than 25 years,” he said. “Justice Quin was very greatly ad- mired and respected within the Ju- dicial Administration, the Cayman Islands legal fraternity and the wider Cayman community, as well as in other jurisdictions around the Commonwealth. “He will be greatly missed and the jurisdiction will always be grateful for his service.” A memorial service for Justice Quin will be held at 3pm on Friday, 14 June, at St. George’s Anglican Church. His family asked that donations be made to the Cayman Islands National Trust and Jasmine hospice in lieu of flowers. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Ten in race to become UK leader LONDON (AP) – Leading law- makers from Britain’s gov- erning party battled over Brexit as the contest to be- come the next Conserva- tive prime minister officially kicked off Monday, when nominations closed. Following the 5pm dead- line to submit nomination papers, 10 challengers had stepped forward to replace Prime Minister Theresa May. Her successor will be chosen by members of the Conserv- ative Party. The winner will face the challenge of breaking Brit- ain’s impasse over Brexit, an issue that has bedev- illed politicians for three years and ultimately defeated Theresa May. May stepped down as Conservative leader after failing to secure Parliament’s backing for her EU with- drawal deal. She will remain caretaker prime minister until the party picks its new leader, a process expected to take until late July. Among the 10 contenders are: Boris Johnson, 54, the former London major and foreign secretary, who is cur- rently the bookies’ favourite to replace May; Jeremy Hunt, 52, who has been foreign secretary since Johnson re- signed over Brexit; and Mi- chael Gove, 51, the current environment secretary who helped lead the campaign to leave the European Union and who is facing pressure after acknowledging that he took cocaine more than once before entering politics. Also in the running are Dominic Raab, 45, who held the post of Brexit Secretary from July to November be- fore resigning in opposition to the divorce deal that May struck with the European Union; Home Secretary Sajid David, 48, a former banker who was elected to Parlia- ment in 2010; Health Secre- tary Matt Hancock, 40, who pitches himself as the face of a younger, modernising generation in the Conserva- tive Party; and Andrea Lead- some, 56, who campaigned in 2016 to leave the EU and who quit as leader of the House of Commons last month over opposition to May’s Brexit deal. The remaining candi- dates are International De- velopment Secretary Rory Steward, 46, who describes himself as the “anti-Boris” candidate; Esther McVey, 51, a former TV presenter and Cabinet minister; and Mark Harper, 49, a former Conservative whip in Parliament. The candidates divide into those, including Hunt and Gove, who say they will prioritise finding a divorce deal that is acceptable both to the EU and to Parlia- ment, and hard-core Brexit backers such as Johnson who say the UK must leave on the scheduled date of 31 Oct. – with or without a deal. The contest’s winner will be chosen in a two-stage pro- cess. First, the 313 Conserv- ative lawmakers will vote in a series of rounds starting Thursday, with the worst per- formers dropping out until only two candidates remain. The final two will be put to a postal vote among the 160,000 Conservative Party members in the country. The favourite on betting markets is Johnson, a former foreign secretary with an in- stantly recognisable mop of blond hair and a knack for entertaining the public. He says he will take Britain out of the bloc without a deal if necessary, and on Monday promised a tax cut for millions of middle- and high-income Britons. Unlike the other candi- dates, Johnson has not given television interviews or held any public events, as his campaign team tries to avoid gaffes that could spoil his frontrunner status. May stepped down as Conservative leader after failing to secure Parliament’s backing for her EU withdrawal deal. Cayman mourns passing of Justice Charles Quin Justice Charles Quin retired on 31 May this year. Justice Charles Quin, right, with, from left, Premier Alden McLaughlin, his son Daegan McLaughlin, and wife Kim McLaughlin, after Justice Quin admitted Daegan McLaughlin to the Bar in April 2017. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE A police officer stands guard Friday outside the door of 10 Downing Street in London. – PHOTO: APNext >