caymannational.com More branches. More ATMs. More smiles. cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism | Wednesday, 22 January 2020 LIVING ‘The Illusion’ opens Cayman Drama Society’s 2020 season Page 9 BUSINESS Ex-con, Cayman company charged with ICO fraud Page 10 Missing landfill worker declared dead Page 2 Objections grow over Smith Cove project Page 3 Garden on public road must be removed Page 4 Port moves one step closer to new EIA Page 5Matinees (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00 (Mon-Fri before 6pm) Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets 640-FILM (640-3456) 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. BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (R) 1:00 VIP | 3:30 | 3:55 VIP | 7:00 VIP | 9:25 | 9:55 VIP DOLITTLE (PG) 12:45 | 4:30 | 6:40 | 9:30 JUMANGI: THE NEXT LEVEL (PG13) 12:40 | 3:40 | 6:40 JUST MERCY (PG13) 12:35 | 3:45 | 7:00 | 9:30 UNDERWATER (PG13) 2:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LIKE A BOSS (R) 7:15 | 10:05 SPIES IN DISGUISE (PG) 1:30 | 4:20 WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22 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: T: (345) 949-5111 E: sales@compassmedia.ky W: caymancompass.com PUBLISHER KATHLEEN CAPETTA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KEVIN MORALES Partly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 85°F 74°F HIGH LOW WINDS Easterly 15 to 20 knots. SEA STATE Rough with wave heights of 6 to 8 feet. A small craft warning is in effect. FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass Court order could pave way for legal action JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Nine years after she was last seen alive, missing landfill worker Anna Evans has been declared legally dead. The decision is a bittersweet milestone for Evans’ five children and her sister Noreen Dixon. Though it is confirmation of the sad fact of her death, it means they can begin the process of administering her estate. “The papers have come up now saying she is certified as dead and we have no choice but to accept it,” said Dixon, who raised Evans’ five children after her disappearance. It still hurts that she may never find out how her sister died. “We would like to know that. Somebody knows, but they haven’t come forward before, and I don’t think they will now. Let God judge them,” she said. The declaration of death means Dixon can apply for probate to administer her sister’s estate. Evans’ possessions and finances – frozen since she went missing – could then go to her children. It also opens up the potential for a lawsuit against government. Evans, 37, was working at the landfill when she was last seen and is presumed to have died on the job. Whether her death was an accident or something more sinister remains a mystery. Dixon filed a ‘protective writ’ against the Department of Environmental Health in 2017, which preserved the right to bring legal action once ‘letters of administration’ for Evans’ estate were obtained. The writ includes a claim for damages as a result of the “loss/ death of Anna Evans caused by a wrongful act, neglect or default of the defendant”. Shelley White, a partner with Walkers law firm, which has helped the family through the process of having Evans declared legally deceased, said the option of pursuing the writ remained open to the family. Dixon said she would leave it to Evans’ children to decide. “It is up to them and I will support them whatever they do,” she said. A sad development White said the declaration of death was a “sad development” but one that the family had sought in order to help achieve closure. “This is what we have been working towards,” she said. “We now have an order from the Grand Court saying that Anna is deemed to have died on or around 27 Jan. 2011.” She said the main impact of that would be to allow Evans’ children access to their mother’s bank accounts, pension and savings. Walkers attorneys Sarah Gavin, Lucy Diggle and Thea Maitland began working with Dixon and Evans’ family on a pro-bono basis after reading their story in the Cayman Compass. Obtaining a death certificate has been a long and complex process. White said Walkers would continue to help the family as they apply for letters of administration over Evans’ estate. Dixon said she was happy to have reached this point. “It has been a long, rough road, but we have had a lot of help from a lot of good people,” she added. She said she had accepted that her sister was dead, despite the mystery surrounding her disappearance, but it had been more difficult for other members of the family. “The kids don’t talk about it much, but they were traumatised,” she said. “My mother is still in denial, that she may come back. My father pined away and died thinking about my sister and what happened to her.” Missing landfill worker declared dead The family of Anna Evans will hold a memorial at Public Beach Monday, 27 Jan., to mark the ninth anniversary of her disappearance. The event has been organised by Evans’ children. “We want to keep her in our hearts and minds,” said Chelsea Evans, who was just 12 when her mother disappeared after a shift at the George Town landfill site on 27 Jan. 2011. The memorial coincides with the recent decision of the Grand Court to declare Anna Evans as legally deceased. Though the timing of the declaration was a coincidence, Chelsea hopes the decision and the event will help the family gain closure. She said it had been a long struggle since her mother’s disappearance. “It took a piece of me,” she said. “I did not have the opportunity to have that mother-daughter time. I was robbed of that. I still feel that part of me will never be filled.” Evans’ five children, Christopher, Celena, Chelsea, Cody and Cruz, were aged between 7 and 19 at the time of her disappearance. Chelsea said it had been a few years since they had held any memorial for their mother and she decided to organise Monday’s event. Three cabanas at Seven Mile Public Beach have been reserved for the memorial, which starts at 5pm. Guests are asked to wear purple, which was Evans’ favourite colour, and bring a candle. There will be speeches and refreshments, plus a display of balloons as part of the event. Memorial planned for Anna Evans Anna Evans was last seen on 27 Jan. 2011. Anna Evans' sister Noreen Dixon, left, and Shelley White, a partner at Walkers law firm, worked to get a declaration that Evans is deceased. cayman compass 2 news N news WEDNESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2020Public Holiday Publication Deadlines Hero’s Day Monday, 27 January PLEASE BE ADVISED There will be no newspaper on Monday, 27 January 2020 and our office will be closed (public holiday). EDITION Monday, 27 January Tuesday, 28 January Wednesday, 29 January Thursday, 30 January BOOKING DEADLINE NO PUBLICATION Wednesday, 22 January Thursday, 23 January Friday, 24 January Win a trip to Tokyo with your VISA ® Debit ScotiaCard . KY Call for public meeting to discuss project RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Artist renderings of enhancements at Smith Barcadere have been making the rounds on social media and drawing widespread objections from the public. Based on the circulated images, which were included in tender documents issued by government for phase one of the project, the enhancements for the popular beach site include a new 45-space carpark, new restroom facilities, six deck platforms, walking pathways, accessibility ramps and mat, lighting, and two timber cabanas. Taura Ebanks, beach-access advocate and Save the Cove founding member, pointed to the lack of information on the project from government officials. “As the people of these islands continue to express growing concern with the redevelopment of Smith Barcadere, it seems only through the media’s diligence are we made aware of the movement on projects like this. It’s disappointing to experience ongoing uncertainty when it comes to the lack of proactive meetings and political representation from those we elect,” she told the Cayman Compass in a written statement. The project, which had been dormant for some time, resurfaced when government issued the tender for phase one a few weeks ago. The tender was highlighted last week in the Compass. It invites proposals for construction of a retaining wall, carpark, office and restroom facility. It is unclear how many phases the project includes nor the overall cost for the redevelopment, as Compass queries on the project have yet to be answered. Ebanks called for a public meeting on the project. “The people spoke up with over 3,000 signatures in three days to stop developers. The government responded by taking millions from the EPF [Environmental Protection Fund] and now Smith Barcadere is once again in danger from development the people have not even asked for,” she said. The redevelopment project currently under tender relates to the land adjacent to the cove. That land was purchased by the government in 2016 following a public campaign by the group Save the Cove, which secured more than 3,000 signatures in a petition urging government to protect the cove from development. It came as local developer Bronte submitted a planning application to build two blocks of condos on the northern part of the property. Government stepped in and negotiated a deal to buy the property from owner TFG Cayman and the application was withdrawn. Government withdrew $5 million from the Environmental Protection Fund to buy the land. Morne Botes, beach-access advocate and fellow Save the Cove member, said he, like Ebanks, is unhappy with the lack of consultation with the public on the plans, especially since they includes cabanas. “The public also made their feelings heard loud and clear at the last meeting, NO cabanas,” Botes said in an email to the Compass following the publication of the project’s plans. Botes lamented the lack of public consultation on the project. “I do wish MLA Barbara [Conolly] would have consulted with the public as she promised she would in person at the previous public meeting. Smith Cove is near and dear to our hearts and the public would like an input into what is planned at the public beach,” he said. Commenting on the plans, Botes said he liked some of the elements depicted, once the impact on the existing landscape was minimised. “From this current plan, I do like the planned sidewalk and extra bathroom if it does not interfere with the current trees on site. We go to the beach to enjoy the sand under our feet, so spending money on walkways is not necessary,” he added. Check out the plans online at caymancompass.com or our Facebook page and leave a comment. Objections grow over Smith Cove project Objections regarding the redevelopment of Smith Barcadere are piling up. cayman compass 3 news N news WEDNESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2020late last year. They claimed the home, at the corner of Mary Mollie Hydes Road and West Bay Road, beside Alfresco restaurant, was spilling over its boundaries and onto the public road. The planning department investigated the claims and agreed that landscaping features, including rocks and palm trees, had been built on the road. Ron Sanderson, deputy director of planning, confirmed, “The owner’s representative has been advised that a Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued until the landscaping and rocks have been removed from the public road reserve.” Ezmie Smith, a member of the group, said the landscaping had reduced access to Mary Mollie Hydes Road for tour buses and others. She said the historic road was one of the last routes on the island where one could drive or walk and have an unobstructed view of the beach and the ocean. Smith said she was happy that the planning department had ordered the rock garden be removed and urged it and the National Roads Authority to get on with the job. “They should have them moved immediately,” she said. “If not, we have enough people who would be willing to come and assist them. I would be happy to drive a bulldozer myself.” She added, “I am happy that planning has taken this on. It shows we are not just complaining for the sake of it.” Alice Mae Coe, another member of the group, speaking at the site in late December, said she recognised it may seem like a small issue, but she said the group was committed to fighting to preserve public spaces from pri vate development, particularly where beach access and ocean views were involved. YesterdaY's sOLUtIONs 1234567 8 910 1112 131415 1617 18192021 2223 2425 1234567 8 910 1112 131415 1617 18192021 2223 2425 Puzzle 16280 ACROSS: 1 Bestial, 5 Bogus, 8 By all accounts, 9 Ledge, 10 Samurai, 11 Drowsy, 12 Fallen, 15 Freesia, 17 Aisle, 19 Cost-effective, 20 Tenor, 21 Anybody. DOWN: 1 Babel, 2 Stand to reason, 3 Illness, 4 Locust, 5 Broom, 6 Generalissimo, 7 Session, 11 Deficit, 13 Anarchy, 14 Raffia, 16 Smear, 18 Enemy. aCrOss 1 Formal discussion (6) 4 Paradise (6) 9 A sort (7) 10 Memento (5) 11 Examination of accounts (5) 12 Across (7) 13 Relevant example (4,2,5) 18 Dominant medieval weapon (7) 20 Fictitious account (5) 22 An advantage (5) 23 Generally (7) 24 Adage (6) 25 Substantial (6) dOWN 1 Consternation (6) 2 Mixture (5) 3 Emblem of Scotland (7) 5 A planet (5) 6 Scoundrel in a play (7) 7 Fine distinction (6) 8 English physicist, d.1727 (5,6) 14 General pardon (7) 15 Unconventional (7) 16 Invariably (6) 17 A miscellany (6) 19 Staff of office (5) 21 British PM 1997-2007 (5) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16281 The numbers in the black cells are clues. Numbers above the slash are across clues. Number below the slash are down clues. The goal is to enter digits 1 - 9 in the white cells to add up to the number clues. You cannot enter any digit more than once when adding up to clue. JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The owner of a new luxury home on the waterfront in West Bay will be required to move ornamental rocks and palm trees that encroach on the public road. The order from the Department of Planning follows public complaints – the latest scuffle over private development intruding on public space. The Concerned Citizens Group, which has led the fight to maintain and protect beach access for Cayman residents, highlighted concerns over the development Garden on public road must be removed The planning department investigated the claims and agreed that landscaping features, including rocks and palm trees, had been built on the road . The Department of Planning has ordered the owner of this new home on Mary Mollie Hydes Road to remove ornamental rocks and palm trees that encroach on the public road. cartoon Need a straw? - By Caymanman Members of the Concerned Citizens Group gather on a wall on Boggy Sand Road, near the home that they brought to the attention of the Department of Planning last year. 4Scoping update submitted on eve of judicial review RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Government and Verdant Isle Port Partners have submitted an environmental assessment scoping update on the $200 million cruise berthing and cargo project to the Environmental Advisory Board. It comes on the eve of the courtroom showdown between government and those opposed to the project. In a joint media statement issued Tuesday afternoon, government said, “The EIA Scoping Update takes into consideration the revised design of the proposed cruise berthing and cargo enhancement project submitted by Verdant after being announced as the preferred bidder in 2019, whereas the 2015 EIA was developed as part of the original RFP [request for proposals] process." It continued, "The submission of the Scoping Update represents the next stage in a series of agreed project phases that must occur before Verdant can apply for the Coastal Works Permits associated with the Construction Activities. This process is also subject to the outcome of the referendum. A number of additional studies are scheduled to take place under an ‘Early Works Agreement’ currently being finalised." The scoping document, the statement said, was authored by Baird who were contracted by the Ministry of District Administration, Tourism and Transport to carry out the initial 2015 environmental impact assessment. Royal HaskoningDHV was engaged by the government to conduct a peer review of the EIA scoping update. Dave Anglin, senior coastal engineer with Baird, in an interview with the Cayman Compass in October last year, described the scoping document as a systematic comparison of the new and old designs and a preliminary assessment on how the changes alter the environmental impacts. This latest development comes as government heads to Grand Court Wednesday morning where the judicial review action brought by leading Cruise Port Referendum Cayman member Shirley Roulstone is set to commence. The case has been set down for three days before Justice Tim Owen, QC. Last year, Roulstone made good on CPR’s threat to challenge the referendum when she filed the court action. The judicial review challenged government’s decision to hold the referendum on the cruise and cargo project on 19 Dec. 2019. In December, Justice Owen granted a stay, delaying the referendum to allow for the judicial review hearing. Among other issues, the review seeks to have the poll delayed until all relevant information, including an updated environmental impact assessment, is available. Revised question Last month, government revised its port question to be more in keeping with the request from Roulstone’s legal team, which had argued that the original question was biased. The initial question approved by legislators was: “Should the Cayman Islands continue to move forward with building the cruise berthing and enhanced cargo port facility?” The amended version reads: “Should the Cayman Islands continue to proceed with building the cruise berthing and enlarged and refurbished cargo port facility?” In January, Chief Justice Anthony Smellie granted a protective costs order shielding Roulstone from having to pay any legal fees incurred by government should her case against it fail. The National Trust for the Cayman Islands had also filed for a judicial review of the port and cargo project. That case was later linked with Roulstone’s because of the similarity of the environmental arguments. • Cabinet had pre-determined the question and date before the port referendum legislation had been passed. • Cabinet failed to consider important matters including having “due regard” to protection of the environment, as required by the Constitution. • The question Cabinet set for the referendum was neither fair nor neutral, as required by law. • The failure to provide any campaign-finance limits frustrated the intent of the Constitution that a free and fair vote should take place. Main grounds in Roulstone’s judicial review case: Shirley Roulstone, right, with her attorney Kate McClymont outside court in December after a judge granted her leave to file a judicial review on the port referendum. From left to right: Leider Viamonte, Omar López Paz, Lisa de Mercado-Crisp, Director/Head Teacher at Modern Language Institute, Yentel McGaw, Human Resources Manager of the Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre, Fanny Martin, Isleidif Garcia, Odielys Perdomo. Port moves one step closer to new EIA cayman compass 5 N WEDNESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2020 newsRESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Divorces continued to keep Family Court busy last year, with 297 new proceedings initiated. Though 18 applications short of the highest total of divorces filed (316 in 2018), for Chief Justice Anthony Smellie the hefty volume, coupled with the filing of a significant number of new applications with existing divorce proceedings, is a worrisome trend. “While these cases are being disposed of in a generally timely manner, there is a growing concern within the judiciary about the escalating costs of family proceedings, as well as the disproportionate amount of court time being taken for resolving matrimonial property and child custody issues – matters which reasonable parties should be able to agree upon between themselves,” Smellie said during the Grand Court opening last week. In an effort to reduce the strain, Smellie said, from the start of the year mediation procedures have been revised to provide more procedural consistency along with a dispute- resolution service. He said the free service will assist participants in settling their family disputes “in a cost-effective and non- adversarial manner, minimising the emotional damage caused to families in the breakdown of marriage”. Last October, a practice direction was issued requiring parties to file and exchange estimates of costs (legal fees) in all family proceedings in the Grand Court. The aim is to address what the chief justice called escalating costs of matrimonial proceedings. These estimates must include the costs incurred to date, along with likely future costs. “It is in the interests of the parties that each should be aware, throughout the proceedings, of their actual and potential liability for costs. This information should help those appearing before the courts to recognise the benefits of alternate dispute resolution, especially mediation, and it should concentrate their minds on what are the real issues to be determined in a proportional and more cost-effective manner,” he said. Criminal courts stretched In the criminal courts, the volume of work continued unabated, with 1,292 criminal charges and 6,108 traffic tickets being filed last year. “The statistics from the Summary Courts speak for themselves and again underscore the urgent need for dedicated courtrooms for those courts,” Smellie said. In 2018, government purchased the Scotiabank building in George Town to house additional courtrooms for the Summary Court. However, to date, the necessary modifications have not been made. Smellie said Judicial Administration “may not” undertake the courtroom project without the permission of the Department of Planning, and input from the Public Works Department and Lands and Survey, which hold the titles to all government buildings. He called upon those departments to recognise the urgent need for the courtrooms and asked them not to allow too much red tape to delay progress. “We now have the largest number of indictments ever awaiting trial,” he said as he called for the two courtrooms to be made available no later than May this year. “We will be engaging a project manager especially to work with the other agencies to have these courtrooms installed by May,” he added. Student started club at Cayman International School CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky Cayman International School student Zoe Sulisz, 17, who started the Gay Straight Alliance club at her school last year, has opened up membership to students from different schools along with any other interested youth. Sulisz explained she started the club to help create a safe space for gay students and to build connections between gay and straight people. “The reason for the naming of the club is because it’s not like an LGBTQ club only, it’s about LGBTQ issues. It’s about addressing those issues, opening dialogue and creating a safe space,” she said, adding she has always wanted to start a club like this on island. “I see how generally homophobic our community is and even though I’m Caymanian and I support the culture, I do believe that we need to be more open. We need to be more open-minded and we need to cut the homophobia out of this,” Sulisz said. She set out with the support of her school to create a safe space for everyone. She said this year she decided to expand club membership beyond CIS. “After meeting with [advocacy group] Colours Cayman, I’ve decided to open it up. I have about 20 kids from a bunch of different schools. We’re trying to work with Colours to make it almost like an official programme because, right now, it’s just almost like a social youth group,” she said. Sulisz, who is also part of the Alex Panton Foundation’s Youth Ambassadors Programme, said homophobia on the island is affecting young people. “I think a big point that should be stressed on island is that we need to work on being more inclusive, and we need to stop being so afraid. This has always been swept under the rug, no matter what,” Sulisz said. She noted that the Gay Straight Alliance club is open to both straight and gay people, adding that the biggest misconception about the club is that only gay people can join. “They hear the first word and then they completely neglect the second word. They don’t realise that you can be a part of the club and be straight; you could be an ally and just really want to make a difference on the island,” Sulisz said. Billie Bryan, president of Colours Cayman, said the two groups have already started working together and hope to collaborate on the development of an educational centre and shelter for youth. “We’re hoping to work with her and her group on developing more youth-oriented programming and provide resources to them, such as accommodation and refreshments for their regular social gatherings, collaborating with other like- minded organisations, such as [the Crisis Centre’s] TAYA Lounge and the Family Resource Centre, and bringing a wider variety of educational workshops to a broader audience,” Bryan said. She added that clubs and programmes that support LGBTQ youth are crucial. “Queer youth around the world are statistically at much higher risk of being victims of mental illness, bullying, domestic abuse, rape, suicide and far more. Anyone who has any concern for these issues should give even more consideration to the children, teens and adolescents who are disproportionately affected by them,” Bryan said. Gay Straight Alliance opens to all young people “The reason for the naming of the club is because it’s not like an LGBTQ club only, it’s about LGBTQ issues.” Zoe Sulisz , founder, Gay Straight Alliance Nearly 300 divorces in 2019 Zoe Sulisz started Cayman’s Gay Straight Alliance Club at Cayman International School in 2019. CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky Police are trying to identify a motorist caught on camera earlier this month overtaking traffic on the shoulder of oncoming traffic along Shamrock Road. Inspector Dwayne Jones of the RCIPS Traffic and Roads Policing Unit said overtaking in this manner will not be tolerated. “I am appalled to know that such a level of dangerous driving is being practiced on our streets. This cannot be condoned, and this is cause for motorists to appraise the way they maneuver vehicles on the roadways, as there is an inherent duty of care to other road users,” Jones said in an email to the Cayman Compass. He said that he commends the provider of the video, who captured the footage on a dash cam, for bringing such behaviour to the attention of the police and community. “Additionally, we will try to identify the driver and, where practicable, he/she will be prosecuted for the blatant offenses committed,” Jones said. Dangerous driving on Cayman’s roads is not unusual. In the four- day period of 17-20 Jan., 35 traffic collisions were reported to police, and in the month of December, just under 300 collisions were recorded and 1,300 tickets were issued for offences like speeding and use of mobile phones while driving. Reckless driving caught on camera Cayman's Family Court received nearly 300 divorce applications in 2019. 2019 court statistics Summary Court 1,292 criminal charges filed 6,108 traffic tickets Grand Court 110 new indictments filed 111 disposed of Court of Appeal 26 criminal appeals 37 civil/commercial appeals 2 Privy Council judgments delivered This screengrab from a dash-cam video shows the car on the right speeding down the shoulder of Shamrock Road on the wrong side of the road. WATCH THE VIDEO ONLINE CAYMANCOMPASS.COM 6what you think We need your feedback to help us deliver the newspaper that you want. Take part in a quick reader survey that will help us get to know you – our audience – better. Answer 13 quick multiple-choice questions and be entered for a chance to WIN $300 CASH The survey will take less than 5 minutes. Have your say – the survey is open until 31 January Reader Survey caymancompass tell us 2 WAYS TO PARTICIPATE > Go online to caymancompass.com/reader-survey-2020 >Visit reception at Compass Centre on Shedden Road to fill out the survey Compass Centre | 319 Shedden Road | George Town | 345 949 5111 y Answer 13 quick multiple-choice questions and be entered for a chance to WIN $300 CASH The survey will take less than 5 minutes. cayman compass 7 WEDNESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2020Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. Denise Augustine-Rios, who passed away on Thursday, January 9, 2020. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 771 Walkers Rd, George Town, Grand Cayman on Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Viewing: 12:00 –1:00 p.m. Interment at: Prospect Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com MARK KENNEDY There’s usually one film that tops lists whenever powerful legal thrillers are debated: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’, set in the 1930s. Now comes a film showing how little has changed since then, based on a murder in the same Alabama town where Harper Lee wrote her masterpiece. ‘Just Mercy’ is the real story of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson and his fight to keep an innocent black man from being executed. It is urgent, searing and powerful, led by a first-rate cast. Though it portrays events more than 25 years ago, it is very much a film of 2019. Michael B. Jordan portrays Stevenson, who founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal organisation that has successfully challenged the death row convictions of more than 130 inmates. Earlier this year, he was the subject of HBO’s film ‘True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality’. Stevenson has been a dogged fighter for justice, someone Archbishop Desmond Tutu once called ‘America’s Mandela’. When Starbucks was faced with a racially charged uproar over the arrest of two black men at one of its stores in Philadelphia, it turned to Stevenson for advice. The film follows one of his first cases, that of Walter McMillian, a black pulpwood worker sentenced to death for the 1986 fatal shooting of an 18-year-old white woman. Stevenson was able to prove that a key witness had lied and prosecutors withheld important evidence. McMillian is played by Jamie Foxx and it is his best work in years; raw, soulful and honest. Tim Blake Nelson, as the key witness, also turns in a stunning performance, as does Rob Morgan playing a death row inmate. Brie Larson as Stevenson’s assistant is unflashy and strong. Jordan is the calm, quiet anchor of the film, his kind eyes radiating pathos. In a pivotal scene, Foxx’s character asks Stevenson why a Harvard-trained attorney has come down to the South and risked violence to do this legal work. “I know what it’s like to be the shadows,” Stevenson responds. “That’s why I’m doing this.” Destin Daniel Cretton directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Andrew Lanham, based on Stevenson’s bestselling 2014 memoir. Stevenson is also an executive producer, and that ensures he’s illuminated in the best light. So, if there’s one weakness in the film, it’s that it sometimes veers into hagiography. The naturalism of the cinematography and acting sometimes clashes with dialogue that seems overly polished. “I just want to help people,” Jordan says at one point. “I just have to figure out how.” In another scene, Foxx declares to his attorney: “I got my truth back. You gave that to me.” The film at times follows other great courtroom dramas that build to an emotional conclusion such as ‘My Cousin Vinny’ and ‘A Few Good Men’, but ‘Just Mercy’ has larger and deeper social issues constantly swirling, including criminal justice reform, the death penalty and racial profiling. If ever there was an example of how film can slide from entertainment to advocacy, this is it. With the exception of Larson and a young corrections officer, no white characters come across as anything but venal and Alabama is portrayed as a place where African Americans are ‘guilty the moment you’re born’. While it ends on a happy note, you cry for all those generations of people railroaded into a cell. ‘Just Mercy’ is not always an easy film to watch, but it is necessary. © 2020, The Associated Press ‘Just Mercy’ at Camana Bay Cinema packs serious punch In a pivotal scene, Foxx’s character asks Stevenson why a Harvard-trained attorney has come down to the South and risked violence to do this legal work . Brie Larson in the role of Eva Ansley, Stevenson's assistant. Michael B. Jordan plays civil rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson and Jamie Foxx is his client, Walter McMillian, in 'Just Mercy', a critically- acclaimed film based on a true story. Come join us and celebrate cayman compass 8 L living WEDNESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2020To find out more about these highly regarded academic and professional programmes please contact Marjorie Corbridge at marjorie.corbridge@port.ac.uk HR PROGRAMMES TO BE DELIVERED IN CAYMAN ISLANDS IN 2020 THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH is delighted to be offering 2 CIPD accredited HR programmes in 2020 • Masters in HRM (MSc HRM) • Certificate in HR Practice (CHRP) These are fully taught on island by Faculty with substantial Cayman Islands experience. Master’s in HRM (MSc HRM) Starting 27 April 2020 Professional Certificate in HR Practice (CHRP) Starting 19 May 2020 This programme is perfect for HR profession- als and senior managers who want to enhance their people management knowledge and skills and gain a Master’s degree in HRM. The Master’s classes are delivered on island over 2 years with 5 daytime teaching blocks in each of years 1 and 2 plus a final research project The Master’s will develop your professional knowledge and understanding of HR to a high level and also your business skills: YEAR 1 SUBJECTS: 1. Resourcing and Talent Management 2. Skills for Business Leadership 3. Organisational Learning and Development 4. Leading Managing and Developing People YEAR 2 SUBJECTS: 1. Managing Employment relations 2. HR in Context 3. Issues and Debates in International HRM 4. Researching in HR FINAL YEAR: Supervised research project This Certificate in HR Practice is per- fect for those working in HR or aspiring to work in HR, team leaders, supervisors or managers looking to develop people management skills and knowledge. CHRP classes are delivered on-island in 6 daytime workshops – 20 days of teaching from May to November 2020 The Professional Certificate in HR Prac- tice will develop your HR knowledge and skills in: 1. The role of HR and the strategic business context: 4 days 2. Managing performance and rewarding employees: 4 days 3. Managing HR information: 2 days 4. Professional Development in HR: 2 days 5. Labour law, discipline, dismissal, gender equality: 4 days 6. Talent planning, recruitment, selection interviewing and on-boarding: 4 days VICKI WHEATON vwheaton@compassmedia.ky It is hard to believe that the Cayman Drama Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. What began as a small group of enthusiastic thespians has grown into a cast and crew of hundreds with their own brick- and-mortar theatre – The Prospect Playhouse. Over the years, the Cayman Drama Society has presented plays, one- person shows and musicals to the public, many of which have sold out. No doubt there will be special events on the 2020 calendar to celebrate this important anniversary and in the meantime, the first production to open the new season is ‘The Illusion’, starting on 20 Feb. Plot This is a play about a father, Pridamant, whose son ran away years ago because of the father’s attitude. Now the father is older and contrite, he wishes for reconciliation. Unable to find his son, he hires a magician, Alcandre, who, he is told, can reconnect him with his son. The magician conjures three episodes from the young man’s life. Inexplicably, each scene finds the boy in a slightly different world where names change and allegiances shift. Pridamant watches, but only as the strange tale reaches its conclusion does he learn the ultimate truth about his son. The play ends with a final twist and an unanswered question – who is the puppet, and who is the puppeteer? Tony Kushner (‘Angels in America’) wrote ‘The Illusion’ based on ‘L’Illusion Comique’ by Pierre Corneille, a 17th century French playwright. With a light, witty, and comedic touch the audience is taken through the illusions in this freely adapted version. Lovers of the art of theatre will find a home as shades of comedy, drama, poetry, Shakespearean prose and mystery entangle themselves within the plot. Parental guidance is recommended for young teenagers due to moderate adult themes. The running time of the show is approximately two hours and 15 minutes. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Buy tickets online at www.cds.ky. 'The Illusion' is set in the 17th century. ‘The Illusion’ opens Cayman Drama Society’s 2020 season Lovers of the art of theatre will find a home as shades of comedy, drama, poetry, Shakespearean prose and mystery entangle themselves within the plot . 9Next >