WHAT’S HOT WEEKLY WHAT’S HOT WEEKLY Into the Woods LOCAL | PAGE 6 7‑STOREY HOTEL APPROVED FOR SEVEN MILE BEACH High of 90 Low of 78 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2019 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY SANDWICHES N E W Final broadcast for Cayman 27 After being on television screens for 27 years, Cayman’s only local TV news station will close down Friday, 30 Aug., with the loss of 13 jobs. Hurley’s TV Ltd., which runs Cayman 27, will cease operations and the station will broadcast its last show, Cayman 27 News, at 6pm. Randy Merren, managing director of Hur- ley’s TV Ltd., said the station had been strug- gling for the better part of a decade and cited a lack of cooperation from regulator OfReg as the reason behind the closure. The company owes more than $100,000 in unpaid regulatory and licence fees to OfReg. The regulator issued an enforcement notice to Hurley’s TV Ltd. on 31 July, followed by a notice of suspension that informed the com- pany that it would be suspending its licence on 1 Sept. Merren said his company had had repeated discussions with the regulator on how to make the station financially viable, including the possibility of the introduction of subscrip- tion fees, but no steps were taken. Of the 13 staff members who are losing their jobs, 10 are Caymanian, two are per- manent residents and one is a work permit holder. Seven of the staff are full-time, and the others are part time, Television Station Manager Tammi Sulliman said. Merren also owns a number of local radio stations, including BOB FM, Rooster and Z99. Sulliman said the radio stations were not af- fected by the decision to close Hurley’s TV Ltd. She said Hurley’s Media was working with SteppingStones recruitment agency to help find positions for staffers who are losing their jobs. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 21 » SAME-SEX MARRIAGE APPEAL CONTINUES ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Arguments into the appeal of Chief Jus- tice Anthony Smellie’s ruling to legalise same- sex marriage in the Cayman Islands en- tered day two of the three-day hearing on Thursday, when attorneys for Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden Bush addressed Court of Appeal judges. Representing the couple was Edward Fitzgerald, QC, who argued that Chief Justice Smellie was correct to have changed the defi- nition of Cayman’s Marriage Law from a union a between a man and a woman, to a union be- tween two people. The landmark ruling, which was handed down in March, is now being ap- pealed by the Cayman Islands government. The government is appealing the decision on seven grounds, including that Chief Justice Smellie erred in concluding that the Marriage Law was based on religious grounds; the chief justice gave insufficient weight to the nego- tiations that resulted in the Constitution; the chief justice gave undue weight to judicial de- cisions from other common law jurisdictions; and that the chief justice exceeded the scope of his powers of modification under section 5(1) of the Constitution Order. Dinah Rose, QC, representing the govern- ment, argued that after ruling the Marriage Law was incompatible with the Cayman Is- lands’ 2009 Constitution’s Bill of Rights, the chief justice should have ordered the matter be returned to the Legislative Assembly for Cayman’s legislators to correct it. Fitzgerald said, “Leaving the matter in the hands of the legislature would be tantamount to leaving Day and Bodden Bush in a no man’s land with no legal protection, as they would be denied the most basic of rights, which are Humane Society is too full to accept new animals SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@compassmedia.ky Every space and every cage is occupied at the Cayman Islands Humane Society. The animal relief agency is currently far over its normal capacity and posted Wednesday on Facebook that it cannot open its doors to even one more wayward animal. Saskia Salden, the director of the Hu- mane Society, told the Cayman Compass on Thursday that there are currently 95 dogs at the facility, 45 of which are puppies. The normal capacity for dogs is 65. Salden said that there are also 48 cats in the cat room, plus another 10 in quarantine. “We need help,” said Salden. “We can’t do it on our own any more.” The Humane Society’s post on Facebook said that nine new dogs have come in during the last three days, overstressing the relief agency’s ability to house and feed more ani- mals. The Humane Society has more than 30 cats that are currently being fostered, but it needs more help from the community. “We go from crisis to crisis,” said Salden about the difficulties of running the shelter. “First, we had the parvovirus outbreak. Then we had a flood. Now we have an Volunteer Verity Radford, left, holds shelter dog Athena, while volunteer Ayala Felner handles the curious canine Scarlet. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 20 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 20 »2 LOCAL®IONAL FRIDAY, 30 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) ONCE UPON A TIME (R) IN HOLLYWOOD 12:30 | 3:50 | 6:35 VIP | 9:10 THE ANGRY BIRDS (PG) MOVIE 2 1:30 | 4:00 | 6:45 SUN: 2:40 VIP | 5:05 VIP | 7:30 | 9:55 47 METERS DOWN: (PG13) UNCAGED 4:15 | 7:25 | 10:15 SUN: 4:00 | 7:30 VIP | 10:15 KIDS CLUB (G) CARS 10:00 (SAT ONLY) BLINDED BY THE LIGHT (PG13) 1:05 | 4:15 | 7:20 | 10:00 SUN: 4:15 | 7:20 | 10:00 ANGEL HAS FALLEN (R) 1:00 | 3:45 VIP | 7:00 | 9:50 | 10:05 VIP THE LION KING (2019) (PG) SUN: 7:00 | 9:45 F&F HOBBS & SHAW (PG13) 1:15 | 4:20 | 9:45 SUN: 3:10 | 6:20 | 9:50 VIP DORA AND THE (PG) LOST CITY OF GOLD SUN: 2:30 | 5:00 SAAHO (PG) 12:30 | 6:35 SUN: 3:40 | 6:35 | 9:25 Casual indoor & outdoor dining with a local flair. Family friendly & affordable. 94-PASTA [ 947.2782 ] • Marquee Plaza Enjoy Dinner Tonight at Try One of Our Signature Dishes B anana W rap S napper T: 949-7400 E: drschambers@caymanclinic.ky E: administration@caymanclinic.ky Dr. Sharon Chambers Rheumatologist STILL PAYING TOO 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 Maduro says settlement talks could soon resume CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says his representa- tives could return to negotia- tions with the opposition in talks he abruptly halted ear- lier this month. Maduro said in an in- terview released Thursday that “good news” could come in the next few days about settlement talks hosted by Norway. He’s under pressure to leave power from opposi- tion leader Juan Guaidó, who has backing from the United States and more than 50 other nations. “Contacts with Vene- zuelan opposition delegates have resumed,” Maduro said in an interview with the Chi- nese state-run Xinhua News Agency. “The next few days will bring good news about the dialogue.” Maduro ended the talks this month when the Trump administration hit his gov- ernment with a new round of punishing economic sanc- tions. The measures froze all Venezuela’s US assets and blocks companies and indi- viduals from doing business with Maduro’s government. The socialist Maduro said in the interview that his representatives are in con- tact with the opposition as well as Norwegian officials who have overseen the talks held on the Caribbean island of Barbados. Maduro, who often calls Guaidó a puppet of the US capitalist empire, remains in power with backing from the Venezuelan military and international allies in- cluding Cuba, Russia, China and Turkey. Venezuela’s opposition has not commented, but Guaidó has said that he ex- pected Maduro’s repre- sentatives to return to the talks because they have no other options. The possibility of re- sumed dialogue comes amid a historic economic and po- litical crisis in Venezuela that has driven more than 4 mil- lion people to flee the country in recent years. COX LUMBER INTERN HEADING TO UK COLLEGE Young Caymanian Janelle Thomas has joined Cox Lumber in Bodden Town this summer as an intern. A recent graduate of St. Ignatius High School, Thomas is planning on at- tending Solent University in Southampton, UK, this fall where she will major in accounting. For the past few weeks, Thomas has been gaining knowledge in areas such as assisting with spread- sheets, inventory and of- fice support. Her support and friendly attitude has made her popular with cus- tomers and co-workers, said Doug Dodds, a con- sultant at Cox Lumber. He said the company wishes the best for Janelle this fall, adding that the Cox Lumber internship programme provides “val- uable work and life ex- perience for Caymanians looking to build their re- sume, improve skills and learn responsibility”. For more information on Cox Lumber’s internship program contact joe.shetler@coxlumberltd.com. HOSPITAL OVERFLOW CAR PARK TO CLOSE NEXT WEEK The Seventh-day Ad- ventist Church parking lot on Smith Road, which is used for overflow parking for the Cayman Islands Hospital, will be closed to all vehicle and foot traffic from Sunday, 1 Sept., through Friday, 6 Sept. The Health Services Authority, which runs the hospital, said in a state- ment that during this time, people can still use the other parking areas in front of the main hospital entrance and the back parking lot, off Pines Drive. “We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause during this time, however we are grateful to the church for offering the use of their parking lot and look forward to the completed work which will improve parking, the flow of traffic and the overall patient experience,” the HSA said. Cayman Airways waives change fees for Dorian Due to the projected path of Hurricane Dorian, Cayman Airways will be waiving change fees and fare differences for pas- sengers who cancel or postpone their flight res- ervations for travel be- tween the Cayman Islands and Miami and Tampa, Florida, Cayman Airways announced in a statement issued Wednesday. The waiver applies to those passengers who are holding ticketed reserva- tions made on or before 28 Aug. 2019 for travel be- tween 30 Aug. and 3 Sept. Travel for changed flight segments may be rebooked by 3 Sept. 2019 for travel no later than 16 Sept. The airline said refunds are not allowed on non-re- fundable tickets. Customers can call Cayman Airways Reservations on (345) 949‑2311 or 1‑800‑422‑9626 (toll‑free within the US). They may also refer to the Hurricane Protection Policy on the Cayman Airways website: www.caymanairways.com/ hurricane‑protection‑policy. Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro Janelle Thomas Deadline looms for new Truman Bodden degrees The deadline for Truman Bodden Law School’s LLM- master of laws and post- graduate diploma in in- ternational finance is Friday, 30 Aug. The two-year old pro- gramme had previously been offered only on a part- time basis. Caymanians, residents and international students are welcome to apply. Prospective students can choose between pro- grammes: an LLM including a summer dissertation on an agreed, relevant topic of the student’s choice; or a postgraduate diploma for straight coursework. The LLM is offered in partnership with the Univer- sity of Liverpool. Upon grad- uation, students will have the benefit of graduating from a UK higher education institution.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. FULL DESIGN SERVICES AVAILABLE FROM AWARD-WINNING INTERIOR DESIGNER MARTYN LAWRENCE BULLARDThe islands’ most-trusted news source 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. FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Readers weigh in on ‘iconic tower’ discussion Brazil and world need to strike a balance to save the Amazon JAMES BOVELL Further to my article pub- lished in July on the pros and cons of the prospect of an ‘iconic tower’ to be built on Grand Cayman, I felt the need to write a follow-up article because so many of you took the trouble to write to me on the subject, reaching out via letter, Facebook, via other so- cial media or speaking with me in person. The subject has obviously elicited deep feelings from readers, almost all of whom are emphatically against the idea of a tower with similar enormous proportions to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai being built somewhere in the heart of Grand Cayman. Some of the readers who got in touch with me were long-term visitors who had been coming to Cayman on va- cation for many decades. One person wrote that they felt the tower would be totally un- necessary and could not un- derstand why Cayman would want to build something that would completely change the character of the island. Infrastructure worries Another potential in- vestor in Cayman implored their voice to be heard, even though they were not citizens of Cayman but, as they put it, “mere regular visitors with absolutely no right to influ- ence the building of a tower”. They queried whether Grand Cayman had the medical/ emergency/security infrastruc- ture to support such an un- dertaking. They also said that despite all the positives that business/tourism executives tout, one major fire in a struc- ture of great stature, which was mishandled by an under- trained or under-equipped emergency capability, would totally erase/ruin ALL of the publicity, advantages and business advertising that the structure might engender. The idea also stoked up a passionate response from local people, many of whom wrote of their dismay at even the idea of such a project being entertained. One called the idea “totally crazy” and advised that high net worth individuals visited Caribbean islands such as Cayman be- cause they have retained their quaintness. As with the com- ments from one visitor above, they also raised an important point, in that the infrastruc- ture of Grand Cayman would need to be massively over- hauled to make way for the huge jump in the numbers of visitors and residents that a project of such magnitude would obviously attract. “The new airport looks pretty but it has LESS seating in the departure lounges than the old one. What were the ar- chitects thinking? Capacity needs to be doubled, even to cope with the current number of visitors,” they worried, adding, “Enough is enough.” Aesthetics have been an- other major concern for local residents. One wrote: “I am strongly against the iconic tower idea. I believe that the majority of Caymanians agree with me. That should not be what Cayman is all about – let Dubai do such things. Investors do not want to come to a pleasant tropical island and see a Dubai type of skyscraper!” Another wrote of the burden such a creation could place on the natural re- sources of the island. “Government’s solution to increased expenses is to in- crease population, resulting in a snowball effect without end. But it must end … it’s an island after all. Our his- torically rampant population increase is the root cause of our greatest social and envi- ronmental problems. Google ‘rat population density studies’ to see how this ends. Over-consumption of natural resources has stripped our reefs of fish needed for food and tourism. These problems will only continue to increase until we curb our growth rate or design a well-considered cap on our population.” The general theme running through all the comments was that Cayman did not need such a tower, and the islands would be worse off as a re- sult. A building of such mag- nitude would be totally out of character with Cayman and ultimately destroy Cayman’s unique characteristics that have made it such a beacon for locals and visitors alike. James Bovell is broker/owner at RE/MAX Cayman Islands. WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL President Donald Trump was not the only populist conservative leader who drew criticism at the Group of Seven meetings last weekend in France. In between discus- sions of Trump’s trade wars and historically bad idea to readmit Russia to the G-7 was concern that Brazil’s new president, Jair Bolsonaro, is presiding over an environ- mental catastrophe, as fires burn in the irreplaceable eco- logical wonder that is the Amazon River basin. The Am- azon rainforest is a crucial resource for all of humanity; the trick will be to persuade the current Brazilian govern- ment to act without crossing Bolsonaro’s extreme sensi- tivity to any perceived insult to Brazil’s sovereignty. NASA reported last week that satellites have con- firmed an uptick in fires in the Brazilian Amazon, re- sulting in the most vigorous fire season since 2010. “Au- gust 2019 stands out because it has brought a noticeable increase in large, intense, and persistent fires burning along major roads in the central Brazilian Amazon,” the NASA statement explained. “While drought has played a large role in exacerbating fires in the past, the timing and loca- tion of fire detections early in the 2019 dry season are more consistent with land clearing than with regional drought.” This indicates that defor- estation, not preparing al- ready cleared land for meat or soybean production, is a major culprit. This is no surprise. Of- ficial Brazilian government figures suggest that defor- estation is rising under Bol- sonaro, who prioritises devel- opment of the Amazon over environmental protection. Bolsonaro dismissed those numbers as “a lie”, igniting a fight with experts within and without Brazil. A recent New York Times analysis found that enforcement actions from the country’s primary environmental authority have dropped 20 percent during the first six months of this year, compared with the first half of 2018. The good news, if one can call it that, is that deforesta- tion does not yet appear to have hit the breakneck levels of the 1990s and early 2000s. But that is little reason for comfort. Amazon deforesta- tion must be stopped. Ex- perts worry that the rain- forest is getting ever closer to a tipping point at which the water recycling that under- lies the ecosystem will break down, transforming the re- gion from rainforest to sa- vanna or some other land- scape. This “forest dieback” scenario would see massive amounts of heat-trapping carbon dioxide, stored within the Amazon’s vast amount of flora, released into the atmos- phere. The rainforest will face increasing stress as global warming progresses, making the region more vulnerable to forest fires. It needs no fur- ther challenge from humans. Yet Bolsonaro has held up a $22.2 million emer- gency aid package that the G-7 nations pledged to help fight the current fires, as he fights with French President Emmanuel Macron. The Bra- zilian president often accuses those worried about the fate of the Amazon of colonialism. Unfortunately, Macron played into Bolsonaro’s hysterics as he stressed the interest other nations have in the Ama- zon’s future. Readers say they don’t want to see Cayman turn into Dubai, with its towering skyscrapers. - PHOTO: STOCK 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” PROPERTY Perspective JAMES BOVELLwww.SupportOurTourism.com Join the conversation ✓ Verdant Isle is a trusted group of companies who know our islands well and bring local, technical and international expertise. ✓ Verdant Isle will design the cruise berthing facility, fund its construction AND take care of any maintenance required for 25 years. ✓ The project costs less than $200 million and that includes enhancing and expanding our cargo port to meet the needs of our growing population. ✓ All of the financial risk including any cost overruns falls on Verdant Isle - not the people of the Cayman Islands. ✓ Government has provided no loans, bonds or guarantees for this project. World class infrastructure safeguarding our cruise tourism industry - paid for by the passengers who use it. SUPPORT THE PORT The cruise berthing facility will be built by a trusted local developer and our cruise industry partners7‑storey hotel approved for Seven Mile Beach The Central Planning Au- thority has approved an appli- cation for a $20 million, seven- storey hotel on the northern end of Seven Mile Beach. The four-star hotel, which will be called The Shores, is being developed by Libanon Corporation. The company origi- nally submitted a plan for a 10-storey hotel, but that was rejected by the CPA in March, which at the time determined that the size and scale of the initial plan was not in keeping with the character of the area. The latest plans, how- ever, have won the approval of the authority. The developers say the 140,000 square feet, 129-bedroom building will be a business hotel, ca- tering for a niche market that they say is not ade- quately served in Cayman. The Department of Tourism endorsed the cre- ation of the hotel, stating in response to the applica- tion, “The addition of a busi- ness hotel is a welcomed con- cept to join the world-class tourism and hospitality sector that currently exists across all three of the Cayman Islands.” According to the plans, the hotel would stand 97 feet high, some 33 feet below the maximum zoning height. It will be located next to the Paul Howard Commu- nity Tennis Courts, north of the Renaissance condos on West Bay Road. More than 70 people, many of whom were ob- jectors, attended a meeting of the CPA on Wednesday when the revised applica- tion was heard. MISS WORLD CAYMAN MOTORCADE TO SET OUT ON SATURDAY Defibrillator donated to boxers The Miss World Cayman Islands motorcade will take place on Sat- urday, 31 Aug. The motorcade will set off at 9am from Andy’s Rent-A-Car, off Roberts Drive in George Town, and travel to East End via Shamrock Road, then onto North Side, and re- turn to George Town via Frank Sound Road and Shamrock Road. The procession will make a stop for lunch at Lucky Slice on South Church Street, before proceeding to West Bay via West Bay Road. They will then return to Andy’s by 5pm. Police are advising mo- torists to exercise caution and to expect slight delays if travelling behind the motorcade. The Cayman Heart Fund has donated a defi- brillator to the Cayman Is- lands Boxing Association. The association re- ceived a HeartSine 360P AED unit from the Cayman Heart Fund last week. Tristan Wesenhagen, the boxing association’s vice president, said in a press release, “CIBA is de- lighted with the CHF’s do- nation, which allows them to further prioritise the health and safety of their members and the public generally. Our youth pro- grammes have grown rap- idly, and now the Truman Bodden Sports Com- plex has two AEDs at its disposal.” Cayman Heart Fund plans to hold a health-fo- cussed day, called Know Your Numbers, with the association at the end of October. Members of the public will be invited to the boxing gym for the family event which will include free health screenings and providing information to raise awareness and have fun at the same time. Maureen Cubbon, a Cayman Heart Fund board member, said, “We are pleased to be part- nering with CIBA to offer a fun-filled, health-fo- cused day for the commu- nity. Knowing your num- bers is crucial to overall wellness and the Cayman Heart Fund happily sup- ports this through our many free community health screening events throughout the year.” Dr. Bella Beraha, vice president of the Cayman Heart Fund, said, “The boxing association does admirable work with our youth, and we are pleased we can assist them in pro- viding a safe environment where people can exercise.” Developers of The Shores hotel have been granted approval to build the seven-storey business hotel on Seven Mile Beach. - IMAGE: ARTIST’S RENDERING Tristan Wesenhagen, vice president of the Cayman Islands Boxing Association, and his son Oliver Gabriel Wesenhagen, receive an AED from Cayman Heart Fund’s Dr. Bella Beraha, left, and Maureen Cubbon. Theological centre offers wellness book Government marks ‘Recovery Month’ JEWEL LEVY jlevy@compassmedia.ky A book written by Indian cancer survivor and theo- logian Ken Gnanakan has been reprinted in Cayman by the Theological Leadership Training Centre. The centre has reprinted 1,000 copies of ‘Wellness and Wellbeing’, with the help of a $1,500 grant from the Min- istry of Health. Health Minister Dwayne Seymour, who authorised the grant, was presented with a copy of the book when its local release took place during a worship service at the Victory Tabernacle, Church of God of Prophecy earlier this month. The book explores ap- proaches to treating cancer and other conditions and ill- nesses in a holistic manner. P.J. Lawrence, director of the theological centre said the book was in demand after author Gnanakan, 75, delivered a seminar during his visit to the Cayman Is- lands to deliver a graduation address for the theological leadership programme. Lawrence said they were given permission and copy- right waiver by the author to reprint his book. He said Gnanakan has authored more than a dozen books published by the Theological Book Trust. “His approach to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, human well being and the whole of creation is holistic,” said Lawrence. The Department of Counselling Ser- vices is marking ‘Recovery Month’, this September, with several awareness- raising activities and events. “The annual observance is an impor- tant part of the department’s outreach work with people recovering from mental health and substance use disorders, their families and the broader community,” DCS Director Judith Seymour said. “We have a clear mandate to help sup- port families and individuals actively bat- tling these issues. Along with therapies available at our community-based clinic, The Counselling Centre, and Caribbean Haven Residential Centre, we are using a joined up strategy for targeting recovery by providing a series of educational op- portunities throughout September.” “Recovery is a long and often diffi- cult undertaking which requires under- standing and support, not only by health professionals but also by the community, so as not to stigmatise and further isolate those who have chosen to try and over- come their challenges,” Seymour said. As well as a series of Table Talk re- covery roundtable sessions with local radio stations, department representa- tives will also be hosting community workshops in West Bay, George Town and East End. Further, a free Family Fun Day will be held at the Turtle Centre at the close of Recovery Month. “Mental health and substance use disorders are global concerns that we take seriously on a local level,” Health Minister Dwayne Seymour said. “These are equal opportunity dis- eases found in all strata of our commu- nity. Their detrimental effects on families and individuals are such that we ignore addiction and mental health challenges and their ramifications at our peril.” Nancy Barnard, acting chief officer for the Ministry of Health, said, “The more people who learn about mental health and substance use disorders the better. I encourage teenagers and adults to tune in and call into the shows that will be discussing these issues. At- tending workshops will also really help knowledge about recovery and the ser- vices available on our islands.” For more information about upcoming activities, call DCS at 949-8789 or visit www.dcs.gov.ky. P.J. Lawrence, left, director of the Theological Leadership Training Centre, presents Health Minister Dwayne Seymour with a copy of ‘Wellness and Wellbeing’.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 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. Malachi Richards, who passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at West Bay Seventh Day Adventist Church on Sunday, September 01, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Viewing: 10:00 –11:00 a.m. Mr. Richards will be repatriated to Jamaica few days after the Thanksgiving Service. 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. A candle light Vigil is set for Sunday, September 01, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. at Starfish Point Northside for John & Emanuel.Somecandles will be provided, but you are highly encourage to bring your own if possible. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com The Family of the Late Marguerite McDaniel regret to announce her passing on Sunday, 25 August 2019. A Service of Thanksgiving will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, 7 September 2019 at St. George’s Anglican Church. Interment will follow at the Prospect Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please make dona�ons to Jasmine. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page The Family of Mr. Oliver Winton Rivers regrets to announce his passing on Thursday, 22 August 2019 at the Faith Hospital, Cayman Brac after a short illness. A service of Celebration will take place on Saturday, 31 August 2019 at 10:00 a.m. At The Ebenezer Baptist Church, Creek. Interment immediately following at the Creek Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that monetary donations be made to the Veteran’s & Seaman’s Society of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page OECD tax chief uses Cayman to illustrate minimum tax rate MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is going to release a proposal for global corporate tax reform before the next meeting of G-20 finance ministers and central bankers set for 17 Oct. in Washington, DC. In an interview with Agence France-Press news agency, the OECD’s head of tax policy, Pascal Saint-Amans, said a political push was needed to relaunch the discussions. In June, the 129 members of the OECD/G-20 Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting agreed to devise a new global agreement for taxing multinational enterprises by the end of 2020. The OECD is pursuing two av- enues to target the issue that cer- tain businesses, digital companies in particular, can have significant market share in a country where they do not have a physical pres- ence, and as a result escape corpo- rate taxation there. “The first concerns how we tax companies that aren’t taxed cur- rently, and how to reallocate tax assessment rights,” Saint-Amans said. “The other involves the crea- tion of a minimum tax on profits.” Asked how such a minimum global tax on profits would work, the OECD head of tax policy said, “The idea is if a company operates abroad, and this activity is taxed in a country with a rate below the minimum, the country where the firm is based could recover the difference.” This would work in a similar way to the new category of for- eign income, global intangible low-tax income (GILTI), intro- duced for US multinationals by the 2017 US tax reform. GILTI effec- tively sets a floor of between 10.5% and 13.125% on the average for- eign tax rate paid by US multina- tionals. It was conceived with the aim of reducing incentives to shift corporate profits to low or no-tax jurisdictions by using intellec- tual property. While this framework is based on an average global rate, Saint- Amans said the OECD is working on a country-by-country basis. “Basically, if a French company earns half its profits in the US, taxed at 25%, and the other half in the Cayman Islands, with zero tax, that gives you an average of 12.5%. If you apply it country by country, you recover taxes on half the Cayman profits,” Saint Amans said. Some have argued that this would infringe on the fiscal sover- eignty of countries. “Not at all,” Saint-Amans said. “Each state would remain sov- ereign and would watch what’s going on abroad so they could re- cover the difference. There wouldn’t be any international agency taking the place of national tax administrations.” He concedes that getting this in place will not be easy and require a multinational agreement. “But this was already done in 2015 with the deal on domestic tax base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS). And with the political sup- port given at the G-7, there’s a good chance things will move forward.” There are still plenty of out- standing questions, he noted, re- garding the tax rate for companies, which activities to tax and how to distribute the proceeds fairly. “It’s a real negotiation. When European officials say, ‘We want to tax digital companies, even if they pay their taxes in the US’, it’s more or less what Indian officials are telling French, German or other companies. That’s to say: ‘These companies operate on our territory, but not enough of their profits are staying here, so we want the right to tax them.’” France agrees tax deal with US Unwilling to wait until an inter- national consensus is found, France earlier this year became the first country to introduce 3% tax on dig- ital businesses. This step drew the ire of US President Donald Trump, who regarded it as deliberate tar- geting of US tech companies and threatened to retaliate with tariffs on French goods. At the meeting of G-7 govern- ment leaders in Biarritz, France, last week, French president Em- manuel Macron agreed with Pres- ident Trump that, from the date the OECD framework is in force, “France will do away with its na- tional tax” and “everything that has already been paid under the French tax system will be reimbursed, as soon as international tax exists on digital services”. According to the country’s Min- istry of Finance, France will reim- burse companies the difference between its tax and the future tax- ation currently under discussion at the OECD. “For example, if this solution comes into force in 2021, France will calculate the amount that Facebook or Google would have paid in 2019 and 2020, and if the result is less than 3% of the turnover required by the French tax, the groups will receive a tax credit,” the ministry told news- paper Le Monde. Pascal Saint-Amans, OECD head of tax policy Aborted takeoff closes Brac airport runway Cayman Brac’s Charles Kirkconnell International Airport’s runway was closed Thursday after a private air- craft aborted its takeoff. The Cayman Island Air- port Authority reported that the incident involving the de- parting private aircraft oc- curred at 11:40am. The authority, which owns and operates the air- port, said the aircraft aborted its takeoff safely and there were no reported injuries. Airport personnel were on scene and the CIAA said it was working to re- solve the issues surrounding the incident. The runway operations at the airport remained suspended by press time Thursday afternoon. Charles Kirkconnell International Airport’s runway operations were suspended Thursday following an aborted takeoff by a private plane. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKENext >