WHAT’S HOT WEEKLY WHAT’S HOT WEEKLEY Machel Montano LOCAL | PAGE 9 UPDATED CURRICULUM LAUNCHED FOR CAYMAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOLS High of 90 Low of 80 Smooth with wave heights of less than 2 feet. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY, 23 AUGUST 2019 Stroke and Stride finishes Swimmers get ready to take part in the third and final leg of this year’s Stroke and Stride on Wednesday evening. The fastest male finisher was Marius Acker and the fastest female finisher was Kyra Rabess. The three-race series, held over three consecutive Wednesdays this month, raised funds for young triathletes and the Special Needs Foundation. For more on this story, see page 27. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Royal visit cost Cayman more than $300,000 Largest cost incurred by police service KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Prince Charles and Camil‑ la’s 29‑hour visit to the Cayman Islands in March cost the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service $132,148.58 in over‑ time expenses. Between spending by the Governor’s Office, Cabinet and police, the visit cost the Cayman Islands government a total of $335,152.84. More than half of the spending, $192,680.48, was incurred by the police service. Charles and Camilla’s 11‑day trip to the Caribbean previously came under scrutiny for its cost to British taxpayers. The UK gov‑ ernment revealed in June that the Caribbean trip cumulatively cost £416,576, equivalent to around $420,000. Other locations visited on their trip included St. Lucia, PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » JUSTICES HEAR APPEALS ON MURDER AND RAPE CASES MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky Convicted murderer Brian Borden and rapist Jeffrey Barnes appeared before the Court of Appeal on Thursday morning to ap‑ peal for lighter sentences. Lawyers representing the two men argued for reduced sentences before a three‑judge ap‑ peals court panel. Borden is serving 34 years for a 2011 gang‑ related murder in West Bay. Barnes was con‑ victed of rape in 2013 for a third time and is serving a 35‑year sentence. The appeals were the result of re‑sentenc‑ ings that took place beginning in 2016. Those re‑sentencings were necessary because the 2009 Constitution eliminated life sentences. Both Borden and Barnes were initially given life terms. The two men are part of a five‑prisoner group who are all appealing the length of the sentences they received in the wake of the change in the law. Arguments on the cases of the other three are due to be heard Friday. Attorney Guy Dilliway‑Parry told the jus‑ tices that the additional four years Borden was given on top of the 30‑year mandatory sentence for the murder of Robert Bush were unwarranted. His argument was primarily based on the idea that murder is already a serious crime. The added years his client re‑ ceived for the aspects of the crime that were “exceptional in nature”, did not rise to that PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » Prince Charles and Camilla’s whirlwind tour of the Cayman Islands ended with a reception at Pedro St. James. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY, 23 AUGUST 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 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. - FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) POISON ROSE (R) 12:30 | 2:55 | 7:40 | 10:05 THE ANGRY BIRDS (PG) MOVIES 2 10:05 (SAT ONLY) | 1:20 | 6:45 SUN: 2:15 | 4:15 VIP | 4:40 | 7:05 | 9:30 47 METERS DOWN: (PG13) UNCAGED 12:30 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:45 | 10:00 SUN: 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:45 | 9:45 VIP | 10:00 KIDS CLUB (G) FREE WILLY 10:00 (SAT ONLY) ANGEL HAS FALLEN (R) 12:45 VIP | 3:40 VIP | 4:30 | 7:00 VIP | 9:45 DORA AND THE LOST (PG) CITY OF GOLD 10:35 (SAT ONLY) SUN: 4:00 | 6:40 | 9:10 THE LION KING (2019) (PG) 10:25 (SAT ONLY) | 4:00 | 9:15 SUN: 3:45 | 6:30 | 9:20 F&F HOBBS & SHAW (PG13) 1:05 3D| 4:05 | 7:10 SUN: 4:25 | 6:40 VIP | 7:30 READY OR NOT (R) 1:35 | 5:20 | 7:25 | 9:50 VIP | 10:15 West Shore Center, Seven Mile Beach • 10am to 10pm Cayman Cookin’ Over a Wood Fire! Internati onal Award-Winning Caribbean Chicken! Dine-in! Take-out! Indulge on a feast for 2 to 4 or 6 or more! With an awesome selection of sides to choose from. 945-2290 STILL PAYING TO MUCH FOR A FEW TV CHANNELS? NOW WATCH HUNDREDS & Pay Less Than 28 Cents A Day Over 900 Channels, Sports, Movies On Demand & More For Only CI$100 Per Year (IPTV Box & Internet Required) Get Both Box & IT Support On-Sale For $299.00 Call: PC-Doctor 946-2222 E-Mail: sales@livetvworldwide.com Father and son sentenced over injured dog SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@compassmedia.ky Andrei James Challenger and James Rolin Challenger were convicted and sen- tenced Thursday for their roles in caring for a dog named Dora that suffered extensive burns in May 2017. Andrei Challenger, James’s son, pleaded guilty to failing to exercise proper care and supervision and was sentenced to a condi- tional discharge if he does not commit another offence within 12 months. James Rolin Challenger pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering and was also sentenced to a con- ditional discharge if he does not commit another offence within 12 months. James Challenger was also sen- tenced to compensate the Humane Society for $907.08 for the dog’s treatment. He was given six months to pay compensation and will serve a month in jail if he does not. The Crown and defence counsels agreed to a set of facts about the case. A neighbour alleged that An- drei Challenger said he had lit a fire for mosquitoes and suggested that Dora had wandered into it. The Chal- lengers initially treated Do- ra’s burns – which were sub- sequently described as “first and second degree burns to its right flank and ventral abdomen” – with cornstarch. James Challenger waited until the next day to bring Dora for treatment at Island Veterinary Services. The attending veteri- narian said the dog “was in great pain and shock” and “required emergency sur- gery and aggressive post- burn care. Without med- ical intervention, the dog would’ve died”. The veterinarian also provided the opinion that the extent of the dog’s suf- fering would have been ap- parent to anybody that saw her and that “dogs generally are not prone to walking into fires”. Dora was pregnant at the time and lost her pup- pies as a result of the in- juries. But she was nursed back to health by Island Vets and Humane Society staffers and later re-homed to a new family. Crown counsel Darlene Oko told the court Thursday that the Crown could not establish how the dog was burned. Oko told Magistrate Grace Donalds that although the social inquiry report suggested that no conviction might be recorded, it was vital for the court to send a message of deterrence. “There must be a mes- sage sent to the community,” said Oko as part of her sen- tencing submissions. “If that is your animal, it is your responsibility to pro- vide adequate treatment.” Oko requested that the Challengers be barred from owning animals for 10 years, but Magistrate Donalds said she could not make that ruling because the Crown did not prove malicious in- tent. Magistrate Donalds said it was “clearly a se- rious incident” when ex- plaining why she recorded a conviction. Defence counsel Richard Barton, who represented James Rolin Challenger, said that reference letters described him as a “caring, kind, trustworthy friend” and a “hard-working, jovial person”. Barton underlined that he was classified a low- level risk of reoffending, and had no previous convictions. “He is a simple man who made the unwise decision to take the dog the following morning,” said Barton. “Lit- erally, the only thing Mr. Challenger is guilty of is not acting sooner.” Dennis Brady, the defence counsel for Andrei Chal- lenger, said that his client was 16 at the time of the in- cident and that he aspires to have a career in the military. “I ask you to find he’s ex- pressed remorse sufficiently,” said Brady. Brady also said his cli- ent’s actions amounted to a “youthful indiscretion to an animal in distress”. Dora required emergency surgery for her burn injuries. Call for pepper spray to be legalised Miller wants self-defence weapons to be available JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com. Cayman Islands resi- dents should be allowed to carry pepper spray or similar weapons for self-defence, ac- cording to North Side legis- lator Ezzard Miller. The move appears to have bipartisan support with Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin also in favour. Miller wants to revive a private member’s motion, brought by McLaughlin when he was part of the official opposition in 2011, which called for the legalisation of such sprays for personal protection. The motion passed unani- mously at the time, but was never brought into effect. Miller said police reports of an indecent assault on a woman in North Side this month had again highlighted the need for people to be able to protect themselves. McLaughlin told the Com- pass he was “entirely in sup- port” of people having access to such defensive means. He said there were still concerns, however, about such weapons being used by the “wrong persons for the wrong reasons” and acknowl- edged the issue was not cur- rently top of the govern- ment’s legislative agenda. Miller accepted there were pros and cons to the debate, but said the advantages out- weighed the potential down- sides, and the current situa- tion put law abiding citizens, particularly women, at risk. He said people could be required to get police clear- ance or a letter of good char- acter before being licensed to carry such sprays. “It is impossible for police to be everywhere at all times and people need to be able to protect themselves,” he said. He added that he was not an advocate of legalising fire- arms in Cayman, but insisted people should have the right to defend themselves in their own homes. “At the moment people can break into your house and they know you can’t protect yourself. If a robber knows you have a Taser, he might think twice. “I prefer this alternative to opening up gun licensing. We don’t want to get the point where everyone has a gun, like the US.” He said many private members’ motions did not progress to become law – even when they attracted unanimous support. He said he understood that the day- to-day business of govern- ment often got in the way of pushing measures that were priorities in opposition, but he urged the Premier to pick up his previous motion and run with it. “I want to encourage the Premier to put in place this means for people to protect themselves.” During the initial debate in 2011, McLaughlin said he was aware of women who were already carrying pepper spray to protect themselves, and suggested it should be legalised. “You have ladies now car- rying around little canis- ters of pepper spray … if they are found to be doing so by the authorities, [they] could be subject to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for up to four years. So, we would clearly need to amend the legislation to remove as a prohibited weapon, things like pepper spray, mace and tear gas, if we are to give to ordinary persons these par- ticular means of protecting themselves in these times in which we are now living,” he said at the time. Ezzard MillerThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY, 23 AUGUST 2019 The choice is yours. Live beachfront year round, spend your holidays here or even choose to put your residence in a short-term rental programme managed by AAA Five Diamond award-winning Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa. One- to five-bedroom residences starting from US$1.4 million. Contact the Seafire Sales Specialists for more information about owning at Seafire and the benefits of the rental programme. +1.345.640.7000 | seafireresidencescayman.com Wake up to a great investment. Your eligibility for purchase will depend upon your state of residency. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate and/or securities to residents of any jurisdiction unless exemptions from registration are available in the applicable jurisdiction. TURNKEY FURNITURE PACKAGES AVAILABLE NOW DESIGN STUDIOFRIDAY, 23 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 Opinion & Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@compassmedia.ky, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Invoke Litter Law for trash offenders The letter by Deirdre Billes in a recent issue of your newspaper (‘Keep litter “pigs” at bay’, 19 Aug.) is excellent and airs one of my pet peeves. However, I think the time has come to consider ‘eradica- tion’ rather than simply ‘keep at bay’. To do so would be an act of ‘Cayman Kind’ to the majority of residents, visitors and the environment. One suggested method to eliminate the infestation of ‘litter pigs’ was for good Cay- manians to set the example by picking up garbage when seen and place in a bin. This suggestion, from my own ex- perience and observation, has not worked very well or fast enough. For example, on Beach Bay Road and Sea Spray Drive, two good Cay- manian ladies frequently walk the full length of the roads and pick up all gar- bage on both sides, placing them in bags to be collected shortly after. This open and glaring act of civic pride has not gone unnoticed by passersby and has been commented on pos- itively to me. Yet that action has not been followed by many other residents on their close by streets. On the same road, while driving I have seen lunch boxes and wrappers tossed out of driving cars. There have been instances of pails and other large debris left on the road shoulder literally the day after being cleaned by the two ladies. Ineffective force of example! Another of the writer’s suggestions was to confront the culprit in the act of lit- tering and attempt to educate the person of the importance of cleanliness and how not to litter. This calling out does have the effect of shaming and embarrassment to the guilty party and may result in education as to why lit- tering is bad. My view is that such an approach is not al- ways practical and may have limited positive results. The writer’s third point is the one to adopt. Invoke the existing Litter Law. Hitting the offender’s pocket book will get attention and teach a LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Tourists can help clean up sargassum BEWARE: YOU MIGHT BE GIVING A 32% TIP SAILING CLUB NEEDS SPONSORSHIP I am a long-time, long- term visitor to Grand Cayman, where my wife and I spend about six weeks each year. Noting the problem of sargassum on the beaches, I’d be happy to spend a couple of days cleaning up, and giving back to the island which has given us so much. Has anyone ever thought of a small pro- gramme utilising tourist volunteer services? Perhaps it’s not an op- tion for the one-week vis- itor, but I am sure there would be a number of people such as I who would be happy to contribute. If something like this already exists, I’d love to learn about it. Ron Southerland Have you noticed that at most restaurants, etc., when you pay using a credit card an automatic 15% gra- tuity is added to your bill? Then, when the credit card slip is brought back to you to be signed, there is a line for a tip on the amount that already includes the gra- tuity. If you then tip 15%, you tipped over 32%. When I have queried this with managers, I usu- ally get the answer that it is the banks that design the credit card slips. One even argued that there was a dif- ference between a gratuity and a tip, because a gratuity is compulsory and a tip is voluntary. In my dictionary, a tip can be defined as a gra- tuity and a gratuity as a tip. Now, having paid a 15% gratuity on my bill, I write “Already included” on my credit card slip in the space for a tip. George Tustin The Cayman Islands have a young and strong Optimist Sailing Team. They are successfully competing Internationally, flying the flag for the Cayman Islands. Please could a very kind person or company help them with sponsorship? It would be so much ap- preciated. They really are a splendid group of young people who are trained at the Cayman Islands Sailing Club, and they are a credit to the island. Thank you for reading this letter. If you know anyone who can help, please contact Raph at the sailing club. Chris Reed The letter writer is calling for more enforcement of the Litter Law in the Cayman Islands. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Cayman Compass Ltd. Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town, Cayman Islands SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman, KY1-1108 Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@compassmedia.ky ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@compassmedia.ky Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHER KATHLEEN CAPETTA EDITOR CATHERINE MACGILLIVRAY A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” lesson effectively. I have seen at least one sign advertising a $500 fine for littering prom- inently posted, with gar- bage strewn below. I am yet to hear of one person being fined. It is time! It is time to allow Service Clubs and other civic minded organisations spend their time on other worthwhile projects rather than con- stantly collecting litter from beaches and public places. It is routine news to read re- ports of the number of filled garbage bags collected or to see pictures of mountains of piled bags resulting from cleanup drives. The authorities should be persuaded to consider acti- vating the littering law. The police and other authority figures should be empowered to issue tickets and fine indi- viduals after using their dis- cretion in given situations. A few fines and related publicity in your newspaper will hasten the eradication of the undeniable infestation to result in a cleaner country for the good of all. One way your readers could start is to raise the matter with their neighbourhood MLAs. Lee MaraghThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY, 23 AUGUST 2019 Cruise passenger spending onshore will benefit Caymanians www.SupportOurTourism.com Join the conversation 3 Cruise passengers spend US$200 million each year in Grand Cayman. 3 The cruise berthing facility will have NO upland development 3 This means no retail or commercial space will be operated by the cruise lines 3 All passenger spending onshore will continue to be in Caymanian businesses, providing maximum benefit to OUR local economy 3 The Port Authority will continue managing ALL commercial space in the cruise terminal The cruise berthing facility promotes local businesses and sustains jobs and growth SUPPORT THE PORT .The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 FRIDAY, 23 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Congratulations Jada Andrade From your grandmother; Beverly Duhahey The University of Manchester - LLB (Hons) Law with Politics - Bachelor of Laws - Law with Politics Congratulations Demi! We are so very proud of you and wish you all the best in your new career as an Attorney. Love, Your family and friends. T: 949-7400 E: drschambers@caymanclinic.ky E: administration@caymanclinic.ky Dr. Sharon Chambers Rheumatologist level, he said. While Dilliway-Parry touched on several fac- tors that Judge Alex Hen- derson had noted in adding the additional time – use of a firearm, previous convic- tions and his gang affiliation – he spent most of his time trying to convince the judges that whatever premeditation and planning Borden may have committed, it was not exceptional. Witnesses testified that Borden had threatened to kill Bush on multiple occa- sions and there was evidence he had stalked Bush. Borden and an accomplice were both wearing masks and carrying guns when they shot Bush as he sat in a car. President of the Court of Appeal Sir John Goldring laid out the planning at one point. “He said in prison he in- tended to kill Mr. Bush,” Gol- dring said. “He boasted he was the leader of the Birch Tree Hill Gang and said he wanted to kill Mr. Bush. He asked where Mr. Bush was sleeping. He went to the house and asked if Mr. Bush and been there. Would the judge be entitled to conclude there was a significant de- gree of premeditation?” Dilliway-Parry said Bor- den’s threats might be seen as the “bluster and bravado” of a gang member or someone who was trying to impress his girlfriend, who was one of the witnesses who testified about his threats. She was also reportedly involved with Bush, which led Dilliway- Parry to suggest at one point that the murder Borden com- mitted was on par with that of one committed during a domestic dispute. “Are you seriously sug- gesting that a shooting in a gangland context is not more serious than a murder in the context of a domestic situa- tion?” Goldring asked. Dilliway-Parry admitted they were comparing “de- grees of awfulness” but that his client’s sentence was greater than other compa- rable cases of murder. “The court will want to ensure consistency,” he said. Goldring suggested Bor- den’s sentence was less than it might be, and noted new sentencing rules that were implemented earlier this year, which do allow for a whole- life term. “Under the guidelines of 2019,” he said, Borden’s sen- tence “would have been life”. The argument by attorney Nicholas Dixey, representing Barnes, turned on the idea that while minimum rape sentences in the Cayman Is- lands are more than twice that of the UK, that ratio should not necessarily be carried through for more lengthy sentences. “Because we’ve doubled the starting point, we’ve dou- bled the ending point,” Dixey said. An increase in sentence for his client was appro- priate, he said, adding, “what we mustn’t do is apply a rote approach. You end up with a draconian sentence, as in this case”. Justice Sir Jack Beatson asked Dixon, “If you don’t take a mathematical ap- proach, then what do you do?” He later referred to a set of guidelines which stated that an expected increase of “some 60%” in rape sentences compared to those in the UK, which could result in “a sen- tence of 15 years or more”. Andrew Radcliffe, arguing for the Crown, said Barnes’s sentence was just. “Whereas it may not be there is to be a strict dou- bling, this very substantial uplift in the Cayman Islands is intended to take place,” Radcliffe said. More stringent guide- lines were put into place due to the prevalence of rape in the Cayman Islands, he said, and were meant “to meet the needs of the local society”. Decisions on the ap- peals are expected in the coming months. Grenada, Barbados and Cuba. Travel costs released by the UK govern- ment were not broken down by indi- vidual island. The Caribbean trip was the most expensive for the UK public in a long list of royal trips between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019 that cost a total of £2.75 million, or approximately $2.8 million. Among the expenses incurred by the Cayman Islands Cabinet office during the royal visit were $48,732.81 on enter- tainment, $34,787.76 on reception, and $25,159.83 on food and drink. Overall, Cabinet spent $138,669.42 on the royal visitors. Other costs taken on by the police included $21,474.03 on official travel, $11,830 on building maintenance, $7,586.66 on dietary supplements and $6,851.16 on aircraft maintenance. The Governor’s Office spent $3,802.94 on the visit. Those costs included $875 on flowers, $892.79 on food for the royals and their entourage, and $790.05 on re- freshments, catered by Lighthouse Res- taurant, for a financial services meeting with the prince at Queen Elizabeth II Bo- tanic Park. Government House also installed a dedicated landline for the royals for $167. That landline has now been removed. Bed linens costing $386 are still in use at Government House. The costs of the royal trip were dis- closed through three Freedom of Infor- mation requests submitted to the Cab- inet Office, the Governor’s Office and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service by the Cayman Compass. Government officials requested that requests regarding the royal visit be handled separately by each department, so it is not clear if additional expenses were incurred by other government di- visions. The Portfolio of the Civil Service responded that it was not involved in the royal visit and therefore did not have costs to declare. The royal trip to Cayman included stops on all three islands. Events in- cluded a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the partially remodelled Owen Roberts International Airport, travel by Prince Charles to both Sister Islands, visits by the duchess to schools and charities in Grand Cayman, and a farewell reception at Pedro St. James. ROYAL VISIT EXPENSES (KYD) Government House Flowers 875.00 Mirror (guest room)142.00 Clothes rails rentals375.00 Bed linen386.00 Toiletries38.00 Phone line (now removed)167.00 Food (royals and entourage)892.79 Drinks (royals and entourage)137.10 Lighthouse Restaurant790.05 $3,802.94 Cabinet Entertainment48,732.81 Reception34,787.76 Food and drinks25,159.83 Transportation12,807.13 Media/public relations8,516.25 Security6,170.00 Accommodation1,695.64 Miscellaneous800.00 $138,669.42 RCIPS Official travel expenses21,474.03 Training160.66 Dietary supplements7,586.66 Vehicle fuel and oil36.00 Printing1,367.50 Professional fees7,560.00 Hospitality262.59 Maintenance - building11,830.00 Maintenance - aircraft6,851.16 Removal of vehicles270.00 Transportation156.80 Welfare funds/social376.50 Police band2,600.00 Overtime132,148.58 $192,680.48 TOTAL$335,152.84 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Royal visit cost Cayman more than $300,000 Prince Charles and Camilla walk through Owen Roberts International Airport after their arrival in Grand Cayman on 27 March. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Justices hear appeals on murder and rape cases This week, the Court of Appeal is hearing appeals from five prisoners over the length of their sentences.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY, 23 AUGUST 2019 SATURDAY, 24 AUGUST FROM 19:00 TO 23:00 HRS | 80 CI* Only few more days until the fourth edition of our popular A&D Sessions! Make sure to grab your tickets for the hottest end-of-summer event on the island! If you haven’t heard about it already, A&D Sessions is our unique twist on brunch in the dark. We will be transforming our space into the ultimate foodie experience with good grub, live tunes and community vibes. This awesome culinary event is all about enjoying delicious food and drinks while hanging out with good friends and making new ones. We will be featuring a variety of delicious dishes from around the world including Aegean and Middle Eastern cuisines showcased in our signature ARGO night, Ramen and Dumplings, fresh sushi from our Raw Bar, an interactive Chocolate Station, a Donuts Galore Corner plus irresistible drinks and cocktails from our Gin-ius Bar (celebrating the launch of the second edition of our A&D Gin Booklet!), Oysters and Bubbles Counter, a selection of amazing wines at our Grab & Go fridge, and so much more! For entertainment, we are flying in DJ Nuny Love from Miami as well as featuring live performances by Riaan Smit. Tickets include unlimited food and drinks all evening long! The ambience is free-flowing, relaxed and social; therefore, no table reservations are needed. * Plus Service charge. Tickets are mandatory upon entrance of the event and are non-refundable. Get your tickets at www.eventpro.ky | 389 West Bay Road, Seven Mile Beach | www.anchorandden.com8 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY, 23 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. TrellaMarie McRae, who passed away on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. Details of a Thanksgiving Service will be announced at a later date. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Emmanuel Ezekiel Brown “Manny”, who passed away on Monday, August 12, 2019. Details of a Thanksgiving Service will be announced at a later date. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Elvis Presley EbanksAKA “Bob Marley”, who passed away on Tuesday, August 13, 2019. A Graveside Service will be held at Boatswain Bay Cemetery, West Bay, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands on Sunday, August 25, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Viewing: 2:00 –3:00 p.m. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Joseph Woods, who passed away on Monday, August 12, 2019. A Thanksgiving service will be held at the Bodden Town Seventh Day Adventist Church, 153 Cumber Ave, Bodden Town, Grand Cayman on Thursday August 29, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Viewing: 2:00 –3:00 p.m. Interment at: Family Cemetery (Pease Bay) Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com unram f h Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Virgil Morgan Bush, who passed away on Monday, August 5, 2019 A Thanksgiving Service will be held at the Wesleyan Holiness Church, 150 NW Point Rd, West Bay,Grand Cayman on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Viewing: Closed Casket Interment at: Boatswain Bay Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com He is dearly missed by his wife and daughters. We were so blessed to have been able to share his life and we will raise a glass of single malt on 26 August to celebrate his 63rd birthday IN LOVING MEMORY OF Jeff Hodkin who passed in May of this year after his courageous battle with cancer. Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Malachi Richards, who passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. Details of a Thanksgiving Service will be Announced at a later date. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. John William Turner, who passed away on Monday, August 12, 2019. Remembrance gathering at Star Fish Point on Sunday, September 01, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. to remember and share stories. Please bring a drink to toast him and please, please, please come in your everyday clothes, the clothes he saw you in. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com Opposition criticises government’s handling of cruise port petition KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.com Opposition members on Wednesday described the government’s efforts to allow people to “unverify” their names on a petition calling for a referendum on the pro- posed cruise port as “das- tardly” and undemocratic. The politicians aired a series of their concerns at a press conference on Wednesday, addressing, among other issues, the cruise port referendum and constitutional changes. Member Alva Suckoo called the handling of the cruise port petition “a real slap in the face to democ- racy”, adding, “What I have seen them do is spending government funds, fighting not a referendum but a peti- tion to initiate a people’s ref- erendum. That is crossing the line as far as I am concerned.” Opposition leader Arden McLean added, “To go as far as to encouraging people to unverify their names is the most dastardly act I have ever seen in my 30-plus years in politics.” While the opposition members did not speak out against the concept of a cruise port, they said they were disturbed by the way government had managed the topic. With a people’s initiated referendum now apparently imminent, as more than 90% of signatures on the peti- tion have been verified by the Elections Office, opposition member Chris Saunders said government is entering un- charted territory because no law has been implemented to handle referendums. “That itself is an indict- ment, not just on this gov- ernment but on previous gov- ernments, for not putting in a law in which to prop- erly govern the people of this country,” Saunders said. For George Town Cen- tral MLA Kenneth Bryan, the issue comes down to the precedent government sets through its handling of the project. “I want to [assure my constituents] that the main reason we are focussing so much on this is not particu- larly the project itself but the [manner in] which the government is behaving be- cause it sets precedent for other national important things,” he said. Regarding constitutional reform talks held in De- cember 2018, McLean said government has not pro- vided a proper briefing since that time. “When the Cayman Is- lands members of the con- stitutional talks returned to Cayman, I requested of the [then] leader of the opposition [Ezzard Miller], an update. He produced a document which was generic, to say the least. I insisted then that we have a detailed briefing on that doc- ument,” McLean said. “We had discussions with the leader of the opposition, along with the premier, and we made it very clear that there were certain aspects of it that we did not agree with.” In particular, McLean said, he did not agree with adding an additional member to Cabinet without making other changes, such as low- ering the parliamentary vote threshold to remove a pre- mier from a two-thirds ma- jority to a simple majority. He also took issue with acting ministers serving on the Public Accounts Committee. “Public Accounts Commit- tees are scrutineers. Public Accounts Committees hold governments to account for all of the funds being spent on behalf of the people. And you can’t have someone who is part and parcel of that pro- cess of spending scrutinising what they spend. So I did not support that. There were other issues,” McLean said. Governor’s powers McLean expressed support for a proposed provision to remove the governor’s power to introduce legislation. “However, it appears like we have acquiesced to al- lowing the governor to come and address parlia- ment whenever he or she so chooses. That is not going to happen whilst I am a member of parliament,” he said. At the same time, Saun- ders said it is important the governor’s powers not be eroded. He said the governor provides an important role in situations where the gov- ernment falls into disarray. He pointed to the arrest of former Premier McKeeva Bush in 2012 as an example. “The Cabinet at the time did not have the fortitude [with] which to deal with it. It took the governor at the time to put his foot down,” Saun- ders said. “We need to worry about what happens when there is a rogue government.” Regarding the governor’s veto power, Bryan said this authority has found public support because the gov- ernment has failed to im- plement other checks and balances, such as district councils and the Standards in Public Life law. “If the appropriate legisla- tions, as per our constitution, were in place, people wouldn’t feel that way because the checks and balances would keep the government in line. The reason people are calling the governor now is because the government won’t put those checks and balances in place and they are behaving in particular ways, like how you see them behaving with the PAC,” Bryan said. A spokesperson for Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin said he would not be responding to the opposition press con- ference, as he is off island “for some R&R”. Opposition MLAs Kenneth Bryan, Alva Suckoo, Arden McLean and Chris Saunders during Wednesday’s press conference - PHOTO: KAYLA YOUNG9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY, 23 AUGUST 2019 Churchill’s Funeral Home We are pleased to provide to families who are considering cremation. In your most difficult time, we are here for you & now offering cremation at $1,999.00 , also selective urns are included. We are pleased to be the first to have in place at the Garden of Reflections Cemetery our own Columbarium Niches for your loved one. As always we are aware of the growing hardship to families and we are committed to offer our traditional funeral starting at $1,999.00 that includes the following: Embalming & dressing, casket, radio announcement, newspaper announcement, floral arrangements, programs, guest book, hearse transportation, cemetery set up, tent, chairs, umbrellas & water. We would be more than glad to book an appointment for you. Churchill’s Funeral Home serving God in all we do, as our family serves you. For more information please contact us at +1-345-943-4663 or churchills@candw.ky churchills2@candw.ky Updated curriculum launched for Cayman’s primary schools JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky A new curriculum with a greater focus on science and technology is being intro- duced in Cayman’s primary schools this year. The changes are mod- elled on England’s new na- tional curriculum introduced in 2014. A local ‘implemen- tation team’ has worked for the last several years to adapt that document for Cay- man’s students. The curriculum includes a localised ‘social studies’ pro- gramme with a focus on Cay- manian culture, history and citizenship. Details were unveiled at the annual educator’s wel- come for the entire teaching body of the Cayman Islands held at John Gray High School on Monday. With the exception of gov- ernment’s own television channel, media were not in- vited to the event, but a press release was issued Thursday by public relations firm Mas- sive Media. According to the release, Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly said at the event that government had spent around $1 million on tools associated with imple- menting the new curriculum, including “power maths”, a learning tool for teachers that aims to make maths fun. She is quoted as saying, “We have also conducted ad- ditional training for all our teachers. We are truly excited about the implementation of the new curriculum for the upcoming school year.” The minister said there had also been investment in resources, including com- puters for teachers and more textbooks. She said she was also working to secure funding for science coaches in primary schools. Tammy Hopkins, acting director in the Department of Education Services, described the drafting of the new cur- riculum as an “intense journey” that had involved extensive collaboration be- tween officials and teachers. She said it had been derived from the English schools curriculum. “We reviewed the Eng- lish National Curriculum for suitability for the Cayman Islands to include local ele- ments, alignment, additions or amendments,” she said. Hopkins also welcomed 80 new teachers to the public school system at the event, attended by some 700 local educators. The press release includes few specifics, but indicates that the new curriculum has a “forward-thinking STEM and computer science focus, as well as an enhanced, localized social studies curriculum”. It adds that the new cur- riculum includes English, mathematics, science, art and design, computing, design and technology, Spanish, life skills, music, physical educa- tion and religious education. Changes in England The 2014 changes to the curriculum for Eng- lish schools, on which the Cayman document is based, were presented with an aim to intensify the focus on core subjects such as English, maths and science. According to a BBC re- port at the time, “The gov- ernment says the new cur- riculum does not tell teachers how to teach, but concen- trates on the essential knowl- edge and skills every child should have, so that teachers have the freedom to shape the curriculum to their pu- pils’ needs.” According to the BBC, the curriculum includes more ambitious learning targets in maths, including, for ex- ample, the specific goal that all children should know their 12 times table by age 9. The new UK computing curriculum also requires pupils to learn how to write code. It’s not clear at this point if those targets were car- ried over to the Cayman curriculum. The curriculum includes a localised ‘social studies’ programme with a focus on Caymanian culture, history and citizenship. Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly addresses Cayman’s teachers at the annual educators’ welcome on Monday. - PHOTO: SUBMITTEDNext >