Issue 188
Kirkconnell, CAL and Ritz win tourism awards December) after he was named Caribbean Tourlown away.” ism Minister of the Year This was 2015 in the second annual Deput y Pre- Caribbean Travel Awards mier and Min- hosted by the Caribbean ister of Tourism Hon Journal. Moses K irkconnell ’s reaction on Tuesday (1 ÜCONTINUED ON PG.8
° Reshma Ragoonath
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Deputy Premier Hon Moses Kirkconnell has been named Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year 2015 in the second annual Caribbean Travel Awards hosted by the Caribbean Journal. Cayman Airways captured Caribbean Airline of the Year and The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman was named Caribbean Hotel of the Year.
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
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Panton seeks Cayman’s removal from non-cooperative tax list ° Reshma Ragoonath
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s the Joint Ministerial Council meeting continues in London this week Financial Services Minister Hon Wayne Panton says he intends to meet with European States in a bid to have Cayman removed from their lists of third-country, Non-cooperative Tax Jurisdictions. The minister, speaking at the last sitting of the Legislative Assembly for 2015 last Thursday (26 November), said the inclusion of Cayman on such lists as a non-cooperative jurisdiction for transparency and information purposes is “inaccurate and unfair” since this country has robust mechanisms in place to address those issues. “We should rightly have every expectation that we will be removed from this latest list. I only hope that historical experiences of shifting goal posts are not brought back into focus yet again. We will not accept that and we will continue to demand recognition for the efforts of the Cayman Islands to protect our good reputation as a cooperative jurisdiction,” he contended.
Financial Services Minister Hon Wayne Panton intends to meet with European States during the Joint Ministerial Council to have Cayman removed from their lists of third-country, Non-cooperative Tax Jurisdictions. Cayman, he said, recognises its international obligations , engages and participates at the highest levels to ensure the stability of the global financial system. Mr Panton, in his statement to the House on the issue, said that Cayman
is being placed in a situation that is difficult to change as this country has opted for a consumption-based tax framework, rather than a directtax regime. ÜCONTINUED ON PG.8
Aunt Julia Hydes passes away at 106
Aunt Julia passed away on Monday 30 November at 106 years old.
Julia Almeria Hydes, who was formerly the oldest living Caymanian and a cultural icon, passed away on Monday 30 November at 106 years old. Aunt Julia, as she is affectionately known, was born the youngest of 12 children on 25 January 1909 in West Bay, Grand Cayman, where she lived all her life. She received many awards for her contributions to music and culture in the Cayman Islands, including the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour in 1996. Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin paid tribute on Monday to Aunt Julia, who he recognised as a “national treasure” and “national icon”. Opposition Leader Hon McKeeva Bush, who knew Aunt Julia all his life and was a relative of hers, said, “This icon, one of the last of her kind, is already missed in our community.” Mr Bush recalled Aunt Julia as an “awesome woman.” See full story on Page 3.
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THE CAYMAN REPORTER
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Issue 188
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
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Drowned teen was Bonaventure resident ° Monique Spence
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he Ministry of Community Affairs, Youth and Sports confirmed on Tuesday 1 December that the teenager who drowned on Sunday 29 November was a resident of Bonaventure Boys Home. The boy has been identified as 14-year-old Risco Batten, who attended Clifton Hunter High School (CHHS). On 29 November the teen was participating in a group activity organised by the residential boys’ home when he got into difficulties in the sea behind South Sound Cemetery. In a statement released the same day, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) stated that they responded to an emergency call at approximately 12 noon. The ministry noted that the police were the first responders on the scene.
Referring to the teen, police said, “He was pulled from the water, but CPR efforts proved unsuccessful. He was transported to the GT Hospital by ambulance, but later pronounced dead.” The police have commenced investigations into the death. “To ensure the integrity of the RCIPS investigation, the ministry and the home are fully cooperating with the RCIPS and will refrain from making any further official statements until the conclusion of the investigation,” stated a release from the ministry. The young man’s family has been notified of his death. Minister of Community Affairs Hon Osbourne Bodden extended his deep condolences to the teen’s family. The Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs and the Department of Education Services also offered their sincere condolences to the family and friends of Risco.
“This is of course a very difficult time for the CHHS community and as a result, a counselling team is providing support to the staff and students of the school,” the statement read. The ministry and department of education explained that they, like the ministry of community affairs, is limited in what they can say at this time due to the ongoing investigation into the death. The CAYS Foundation also expressed its condolences to the boy’s family. “On behalf of the Board of Directors of the CAYS Foundation, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the family of Risco Batten on this tragic and heart-rending news. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the staff of the Bonaventure Boys Home during this most difficult time,” said Garth Arch, chairman of CAYS Tributes poured in from friends and schoolmates of Risco Batten Foundation. on his Facebook page.
Marine Parks comment period closing soon
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he National Conservation Council is reminding the public that the consultation period on an enhanced Marine Parks system for the Cayman Islands is set to end this week. Any Caymanian interested in the shape of Cayman’s future Marine Parks system is urged to review the proposal and maps at www.doe.ky/marine/marine-parks-review or by emailing DoE@gov.ky. Hard copies of the proposals are also available for inspection at the DoE office, all district libraries and the Little Cayman District Office. The deadline to submit comments is 4 December. The council stated that many people have spoken to them at the district
meetings. “We want to ensure that everyone understands that even if they do not have a direct relationship with the health of our marine environment, say through fishing or diving, that Marine Parks provide them with many indirect benefits, including economically and socially,” the council stated in a press release. Schools and colleges, the Tourism Association, Chamber of Commerce, sports and outdoor users groups, and those interested in sustainable development, or climate change adaptation are encouraged to examine the proposals. The National Conservation Council has suggested comments respond to this fundamental question: “Sustainable management and use of Cayman’s marine
resources are important to me because...” All written submissions received will be included in the review by the Conservation Council. The Council’s role in the process is to evaluate the proposal taking into account the extensive scientific research available and public input, particularly which is received in writing. Upon evaluation the Council will advise the Cabinet, which makes the final decision on designation of protected areas. Comments should be received by 4 December 2015. Comments can be emailed to ConservationCouncil@gov.ky or delivered in person or vial mail to: Department of Environment, 580 North Sound Road, P.O. Box 10202, KY1-1002, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
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THE CAYMAN REPORTER
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Issue 188
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
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Cultural icon Aunt Julia passes away at 106 ° Monique Spence
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ondolences and tributes poured in following the passing of Julia Almeria Hydes, who was formerly the oldest living Caymanian and a cultural icon, on Monday, 30 November. She was 106 years old. Aunt Julia, as she is affectionately known, was born the youngest of 12 children on 25 January 1909 in West Bay, Grand Cayman, where she lived all her life. She received many awards for her contributions to music and culture in the Cayman Islands, including the Cayman National Cultural Foundation (CNCF) Award for pioneering work in cultural heritage as well as the Cayman Islands Certificate and Badge of Honour in 1996. People throughout the Cayman Islands gave their condolences and paid their tributes to Aunt Julia, who was well remembered for her exceptional talent with the drums. An avid drummer, Aunt Julia was encouraged to play a home-made drum by her cousin, master fiddler, Leighton “Duxie” Ebanks. She said she “felt a great sense of joy” and even though she did not receive any lessons, she watched, learned and eventually developed her own style of drumming. Marketing and Development M a nager of CNCF Rita Estevanovich recalled, “Aunt Julia is a fine example of a strong, Cay ma n ia n woma n – tough as ironwood and full of love and life!” “I understand she worked hard and played with such vigor that you could not deny her greatness. She lived simply and honestly, always happy to see people gathered together. Aunt Julia had such passion for storytelling through song. I am so fortunate to have met her and to have seen her sing and beat (in her own unique style) her drum live, because every moment with her is an experience,” she said. “Her language, mannerisms and her big, bold laughs along with her ability to entertain generally, always captured my attention. My grandfather Erskin Ebanks beat drum with her also (Loosy Toot she called him) but that was before I was born, or when I was just a baby. I enjoyed the time I spent with her and will treasure the moments forever. My sincere condolences to her family – she is resting now but we all know she will never die,” she added. Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin also paid tribute on Monday to Aunt Julia, who he recognised as a “national treasure” and “national icon”.
“It is with deep regret and sadness that I mark the passing of Aunt Julia Almeria Hydes this morning,” he said. “I fondly recall her 106th birthday party at the Harquail Theatre earlier this year when friends, family members and well-wishers gathered to help her celebrate. I was so hoping to help her celebrate her 107th birthday in a few weeks,” he continued. “With the passing of Aunt Julia we have lost the last living member of the traditional Caymanian music fraternity. I am sure she is now in heaven joining in a Kitchen Band and playing her drums and singing with Duxie, Boyd Hydes, Radley Gourzong, Cleveland Ebanks, Montgomery Albert and Reid Green,” he added. As Acting Governor, Hon Franz Manderson also issued tribute to Aunt Julia saying it was with great sadness that he heard of her death. He said that she became one of Cayman’s most beloved icons. “The contribution she has made to Caymanian culture and history cannot be overstated. It is this cultural heritage which forms the foundations of Caymanian society today and we must not forget that, or those who built it,” he said. He described her as a singer, a songwriter, a famous drummer and a pioneer of Caymanian folk music who was duly recognised in the National Heroes Day celebrations in 2014 with an Early Pioneers Award. “Aunt Julia’s music continues to provide inspiration to our young musicians and artists and I know that the Cayman Islands folk singers will continue to take forward her legacy, through performing her much loved songs. I offer my condolences to Aunt Julia’s family. Our thoughts are with you all,” he added. Opposition Leader Hon McKeeva Bush also paid his respects to the centenarian who he said he has known for practically all his life and who is the cousin of his mother. “This icon, one of the last of her kind, is already missed in our community,” said Mr Bush. He described her as a “historian” and “musician extraordinaire” who would watch out for him and his friends when they were younger and visited the Boggy Sand area, where she used to live. “She was our protector and would not allow anyone to take advantage of us. She saw to it if there were any arguments, there were no fights. She knew everything. We couldn’t hide anything. She was the policeman, the judge and the jury too. She was serious!” said Mr Bush.
The Cayman Islands flag flying at half mast at the Government Administration Building in Aunt Julia’s honour. He recalled that she would tell him about old songs and what some of them meant, for each one had “real life” meaning. “As I grew older, and got involved in politics she became my supporter on my second try. W hen I became the Minister of Culture in 1992 I was encouraged and supported by her. I have a great interest in music and she supported the idea of our national children’s choir and a national orchestra. In her few short words it was ‘good for them children’. She was an awesome woman. And I appreciated the way her family cared for her,” he said. Mr Bush extended his condolences to Aunt Julia’s children Edmond, Ray B, Francine, LewieCeto and Edroy and their families. He a f fec t ionately recalled the time when Aunt Julia first met the Her Majesty the Queen, whom she “greatly respected”. “Aunt Julia wanted to meet her and we got her to the Government House reception and got her in the front line. Sure enough, the Queen stopped and had a chat,” said Mr Bush. He explained it was during the Queen’s second visit, shortly after Her Majesty fell from her horse and broke an arm. Aunt Julia asked her what happened to her arm, and the Queen told her of her fall in reply. When Aunt Julia said it must have hurt the Queen replied, “It sure did,” said Mr Bush. He mentioned that Aunt Julia asked the Queen the same question on the same trip at the opening of the Ed Bush Sports field in West Bay.
The Queen laughed and took note of it saying with a smile that “that lady” had asked her the same question at the Government House. M r Bu sh f u r t her recalled, “In 2010 I was in London and Her Majesty
invited the OTs [Overseas Territories] leaders down to Windsor Castle on the occasion of Prince W i l l iam’s engagement. On talk ing to me she said, ‘Is that bold lady still around?’ I answered, ‘She certainly is and at
age 101.’ The Queen just smiled and said ‘A grand age!’” Cabinet ordered that the Cayman Islands flag be flown at half-mast on Monday 30 November and Tuesday 1 December in Aunt Julia’s honour.
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Issue 188
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
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Budget approved to address Civil Servant pay
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ivil Service employees will have pay stagnation issues addressed, following Government’s approval of a bespoke budget for Fiscal Year 2016-17 to mitigate these concerns. According to a government press release, this programme will allow the Civil Service to address the internal pay inequities that have crept into the system due to prolonged austerity policies that froze pay for existing staff. This pay freeze impacted employees who earned additional qualifications and proved themselves to be excellent employees, the press release noted. “I take great comfort in knowing that our Civil Service has a proven track record for meeting challenges head on, and delivering favourable results on behalf of the Country,” said Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin. The programme will be rolled out in phases.“While Government wishes it could do more to reward its staff, it is important to recognise that programmes have been deployed in a consistent, sensible and sustainable manner. We cannot fix everything in this term,” Mr McLaughlin said. The Civil Service has been credited with responding to the call to “do more with less” over
the past several years. The number of Civil Service personnel has gradually declined, and as a result of numerous austerity measures aimed at reducing personnel costs, each year human resources costs have come in below the approved budget. This has contributed millions of dollars toward the Government’s achievement of annual budgetary surpluses. According to the press release, the government recognises these achievements and the sacrifices that have made them possible. While keeping a steady control of expenses, government has endeavoured to reward good stewardship. In June 2014, the government awarded a one-off 2.5 per cent honorarium to the Civil Service. This was followed in July 2015, by the Government awarding a four per cent cost of living adjustment to all civil servants. In 2013-2014, the Immigration Department undertook a process of job evaluations, which resulted in pay increases for Immigration Officers. In the current financial year 2014-2015, other uniformed positions have also been evaluated. As a result of favourable job evaluations, Customs Officers have received pay increases.
experienced employees may now be earning less than persons who are newly hired to the same roles, because new employees may have been able to negotiate higher salaries; while the pay for long-serving staff has been frozen. This has resulted in sometimes pronounced disparities been existing staff and new hires. “I’m happy to say that steps are finally being taken to address these issues as well. The Government has commenced a phased approach to this problem. Starting in the current financial year, teachers will be the first to see pay increases to remedy pay stagnation,” said Mr McLaughlin. Teachers whose pay has not increased for three or more years and who have received favourable performance evaluations, will receive between one to three increments, based upon how long their salaries have been frozen. “In the coming financial year, Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin said, “I take great comfort in knowing that our Civil Service has a proven track record for we will continue to support the meeting challenges head on, and delivering favourable results on Civil Service while still holding behalf of the Country.” it accountable to achieve favourable results on behalf of the peoSimilar increases are currently stagnation, not seeing an increase ple of the Cayman Islands,” Mr being made to Police Officers. in their pay points for seven or McLaughlin continued. “The The press release noted that more years. This number increas- Government has taken a responcivil servants’ pay has been con- es to almost 50 per cent of the Civil sible approach to restoring the trolled by strict policies for many Service who have experienced pay fiscal health of the country and it years. As of 30 June, 2015, approx- stagnation for five or more years. has shared the fruits of this sucimately 35 per cent of the CivAccording to the press release, cess with those who have helped il Service haveexperienced pay because of this pay stagnation, highly to make it possible.”
CAL says Saab to begin Brac flights this week ° Reshma Ragoonath
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ayman Airways $3m Saab 34B+ will be ready to begin its Cayman Brac route this week. So said CAL Marketing & Public Relations Manager Olivia Scott Ramirez on Tuesday (1 December) as she assured that all systems are go and the plane will be ready for passenger flights. She said, “The Saab aircraft has been completing its trial and proving f lights and has not yet been placed into passenger service. It is on target for some time this week.” Her assurance comes on the heels of an issue with the plane’s landing gear on Saturday (28 November) which prompted emergency personnel to be placed on standby when the plane completed a trial run on its route between Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. “Alternate procedures confirmed that the gears were extended and locked for a landing, but the Captain requested the emergency services to be on stand-by as a procedurally required pre-cautionary measure,” she explained as she responded to queries from The Cayman Reporter on the issue. Ms Scott Ramirez explained that on Saturday two “demonstration/proving f lights” were conducted with CAL’s Saab aircraft between Grand Cayman and
well, with the exception of a non-normal operating event on the final approach for the landing of f light KX4556 from Cayman Brac to Grand Cayman,” she said. The non-normal operating event, she said, occurred on final approach of flight KX4556 to Owen Roberts International Airport. “An indication issue was encountered when the landing gears were selected by the flight deck crew to the down position (for landing,) she said. The aircraft, she said, landed safely and was taken to Cayman Airways Maintenance for rectification work in order to be ready for further operations during this week. Last month CA L formally christened the $3M 34-seater Saab which will replace the 30-seat Embraer E120 service. The new plane brings with it wider space, larger overhead compartments and better seating. Deputy Premier Hon Moses Kirkconnell, who formally commissioned the new plane last month, said finding the right aircraft for Cayman Brac has been a long road, but he was extremely proud to have delivered a better Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Hon Moses Kirkconnell pours Champagne on the nose option for his constituents as one of the Brac’s MLAs. of CAL’s $3 million Saab 34B+ when the new plane was commissioned in Cayman Brac on 16 November. He said the addition of the new plane to the Cayman Brac Cayman Brac, under the observa“These flights were conducted operating the aircraft with passen- route, as well as CAL’s expandtion of personnel from the Civil with airline personnel on board gers on board. Both of these trial/ ed route to Miami and Holguin, Aviation Authority of the Cayman as passengers, to confirm the demonstration f lights (KX4555 Cuba from the Brac, resulted in adequacy of our procedures for and K X4556) went extremely the creation of some 21 new jobs. Islands (CAACI).
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THE CAYMAN REPORTER
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Issue 188
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
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Finance Minister questions OAG adverse opinion ° Reshma Ragoonath
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inance and Economic Development Minister Hon Marco Archer has come to the defence of government’s financial and performance reporting as he says the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) adverse opinion on the 2013/14 Entire Public Sector (EPS) deserves further explanation. Mr Archer, addressing the Legislative Assembly last Thursday, questioned the OAG’s adverse opinion when 37 of the 42 Public Sector Entities received “unqualified (or clean) and qualified audit opinions on their 2013/14 financial statements.” “This deserves explanation because the public will not readily understand how an adverse opinion is issued on the EPS consolidated financial statements when 37 of the 42 public sector entities have received either an unqualified (or clean) and qualified audit opinions,” the minister said. While Mr Archer acknowledged that there is room for improvement in the public sector when it comes to financial and performance reporting he said significant improvement has been achieved in the last fiscal period. “For the financial year ended 30th June 2015, the Acting Auditor General provided an update on the status of the 2014/15
audits and reported that as of 24 November 2015, of the 42 Public Sector Entities whose audits have been completed 19 received unqualified or “clean” opinions; and 5 received qualified opinions,” he said. He pointed out that audit opinions on the 2014/15 financial statements as of 24 November 2015 eight Central Government Agencies received unqualified (clean) audit opinions, two Central Government Agencies received qualified opinions and the audits of six Central Government Agencies were ongoing. An adverse opinion has not been issued with respect to any of the 2014/15 audits completed as at 24 November 2015. The 2014/15 audits for 18 Public Sector Entities have not been completed as at 24 November 2015, the minister stated. Mr Archer said that the factors that led to an adverse opinion on the EPS “will be addressed effectively and decisively.” The introduction of a Public Finance Manual, coupled with, legislative adjustments are among key initiatives mapped out by the Finance Ministry to address the Auditor General’s adverse opinion, Mr Archer said. Mr Archer said his ministry intends to present a bill to the LA next year to permit the use of a “modified version” of
the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) 25. In October the OAG reported that government’s consolidated financial statements were not reliable after the first fully auditable set of consolidated government accounts received an adverse opinion from the OAG. The year ending 30 June 2014 was the first year that the OAG was able to obtain enough information to audit the Government’s financial statements. In prior years, the OAG has issued disclaimers of opinion on public accounts because the Office was not provided with sufficient information to proceed with an actual audit. The minister explained, in his statement to the LA, that the reasons for the “adverse opinions are not due to audit issues occurring in the underlying financial statements of Public Sector Entities (PSE.)” Instead, he said, it is due to “the accounting treatment and decisions of ‘macro’ issues that impact the EPS consolidated financial statements and not the underlying financial statements of individual PSE.” Those macro issues include material omissions, property plant and equipment valuation and completeness, erroneous opening and closing balances, revenue and related receivables completeness and consolidation integrity issues.
Finance Minister Hon Marco Archer questions the Auditor General’s adverse opinion on the 2013/14 Entire Public Sector (EPS) accounts. He said government is exploring options to reduce the pension and post-retirement healthcare obligations such increasing the retirement age to 65, a health insurance premium co-pay for civil servants and reducing the $5 million cap on maximum lifetime medical benefits for civil servants. Any change to pension and post-retirement healthcare obligations, he said, will not occur until 2018 and “not for political expedience as speculated by some media outlets.” He said government intends to review the Public Sector Pensions law “with the view of segregating the assets of Public Service
Pensions Board and those of the Plans and mandating separate reporting for each.” A roads inventory list, he said, will be completed by early 2016. The minister also reported that an inter-agency module, Advance Global Inter-Company System (AGIS,) will be implements in government’s financial reporting system by 30 June, 2016. “The use of AGIS will reduce inter-agency transaction mismatches as these transactions will require agreement by both counterparties prior to recognition in their respective ledgers,” he explained.
University students meet with Premier in London
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ay m a n i a n u n i v e r sit y st udent s were recent ly i nv ited to t he a n nua l Cay ma n Isla nds St udents R ecept ion held at t he Cay ma n Isla nds Gover n ment London Of f ice, a n event hosted by Prem ier Hon A lden McLaugh l i n. P re m ie r Mc L au g h l i n’s 2 8 November reception marked t he beg i n n i ng of a n ac t iv it y-f i l led week in London for the Overseas Territories Joint M inisterial Council ( JMC). Students f rom across the U K took t i me out of t hei r st ud ies to joi n t he Prem ier, w ho w a s ac c ompa n ie d by Hon Way ne Panton, M inister for Financia l Ser v ices, Commerce and Env ironment. “Being in a room surrounded by the f uture of the Cayma n Isla nds is a poig na nt reminder of why we are here and the impor tance of what we a re st r iv i ng to ach ieve during this week at the JMC,” said Premier McLaughlin. He also took the opportunit y to encourage st udents to ta ke f u l l adva ntage of potent ia l apprenticeship and training opportunities while in the UK. On 30 November, the Prem ier attended t he U K O verseas Territories A ssociation’s Politica l Counci l meeting at T he Roya l O verseas Leag ue, Over-Seas House, Park Place w h e r e O v e r s e a s Te r r i t o r y (OT) leaders had a f i na l oppor tunit y to discuss items on t he agenda for t he J MC . Prem ier McLaugh l i n led d isc u ssions w it h ot her OT
leaders on the issue of benef icial ow nership. “It is critical going into the JMC t hat, wherever feasible, we a s O versea s Ter r itor ies speak w ith one voice especially on areas of mutual interest, so this meeting is in essence ou r f i na l t u ne up before we sit w ith the U K Government,” Premier McLaugh lin stated. T he JMC Plenar y meeting , wh ich is hosted by M in ister for t he O ver se a s Ter r ito r ies Ja mes Duddr idge began on 1 December at Lancaster Caymanian students in the UK were given the opportunity to meet with Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin at a reception on 28 November. House.
Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin, head of table, speaks at the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association in London. Joining him were Minister of Financial Services Hon Wayne Panton, his Chief Officer Dax Basdeo, Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose, Sherpa Jason Webster and Andre Ebanks of Mr Panton’s Ministry.
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t was yet another example of the marginalisation of a Caymanian job seeker. The ongoing dance of deceit by some employers and recruiters to shunt local workers aside and bring in work permit holders. In this instance, a recruitment company representing an employer seeking a management-level employee committed several “mistakes” in the process.
The marginalisation mambo An issue was brought to our attention that we felt was worthy of note. Sadly, it is something that happens every day in the Cayman Islands. First, the recruiter submitted the work permit application for the chosen candidate prior to the closing date advertised for applications. Second, the recruiter informed the Work Permit Board that no Caymanian applicant had applied for the post, when in fact one had. Third, the recruiter did not count on the Caymanian candidate raising an objection to the Work Permit Board. However, beyond mistakes in process and judgment, it appears the recruiter went beyond the gray area of a potentially honest mistake by seeking to discredit the Caymanian applicant, who is objectively qualified for the position. This happened when the Work Permit Board rightfully questioned the recruiter on why they had not noted that a Caymanian had applied. It is our understanding, the recruiter replied with self-serving excuses and an apology they judged suitably humble in order for the Board to overlook the mishaps. But on top of this, because the client obviously had a candidate in mind before mounting the farce of the job ad in the first place, the recruiter went the extra mile to show why they judged the Caymanian candidate to be “unsuitable.” This involved a background check including financial records, medical information and also the judgment of the recruiter that the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) would not approve the Caymanian candidate as a director of the client financial institution due to this background. However, apparently the recruiter did not check with CIMA first, and the rejected Caymanian candidate got
confirmation from CIMA that there was nothing in the Caymanian’s record that would preclude approval by CIMA. Unfortunately, all of this came to light too late to prevent the work permit being granted to the candidate the recruiter decided upon in the first place. An unfortunate occurrence, but one that happens all the time. So should we just accept this? No. The answer is an emphatic denial. There must be a level playing field for Caymanian applicants. Employers and recruiters
It was yet another example of the marginalisation of a Caymanian job seeker. The ongoing dance of deceit by some employers and recruiters to shunt local workvers aside and bring in work permit holders. must act according to the law, or be sanctioned for it. We hear all the time that there is no systematic discrimination against Caymanians on the job market. We are told that those who do discriminate are in the minority and are merely “rogue employers.” If that is so, then why does almost every Caymanian job seeker have at least one similar story? If Caymanians are not being discriminated against on the job market, then why are professional Caymanians leaving the country to find work elsewhere after a frustrating years-long job hunt? Why are over
1,500 people unemployed? Why is the Needs Assessment Unit (NAU) being stretched to breaking point by more and more people in need, largely due to job loss and being unable to find employment? We are aware of several cases of outright fraud and deception with regard to work permit applications – all of which were successful, by the way. In most cases, a job advertisement was drafted with a specific candidate in mind, who was usually someone’s friend, relative or former co-worker (or all three) in the proposed organization for employment. When a Caymanian applied for the attractive salaries listed in the job ads (which did not include the additional perks actually given to the expat employees which included paid international phone bills, airline tickets back home once a year, a company car and rent paid by the company) they were interviewed and made to jump through the hoops, with absolutely no intention of employing them as the manager’s friend from back home had already been offered the job. Yet, it is said by the powers that be that there is no discrimination against Caymanians. We were told by the Premier of these Islands on the f loor of the Legislative Assembly that to defend the interests of Caymanians in employment is seen as “anti-business” and “anti-expat.” But why is it that these businesses are allowed to operate outside the law? Isn’t that “anti-Caymanian?” We have mentioned before the unfairness involved in one of the clearance mechanisms for overseas employees – the police record. Overseas applicants merely have to submit a clean police record for the previous six
months from wherever they have been living. We have been told by a former high-ranking immigration employee that these police clearances are basically worthless. We have all heard the anecdotes of criminals deported from the USA to Jamaica, Honduras, and other places and then ending up working in Cayman with a supposedly “clean” record. We have also been told of the corruption in some of the countries where many of our resident workers originate from, allowing some people to “buy” clean police certificates. And in cases where there is not bribery or corruption involved, it is still easy to get around the system in countries that do not have country wide police records, but only by parish or district. Yet, Caymanians have no choice but to submit a full police record – whereby every minor offence can be held against them on the job hunt. And apparently, from the case we were made aware of today, potential employers can also search your financial records and also your medical history in order to find reasons why they cannot offer you the job? Isn’t this discrimination? If this is true, why is it allowed? We are pretty sure that this doesn’t happen with overseas applicants coming to Cayman. Otherwise, would we see the many high profile cases of employees on work permit stealing large sums of money and defrauding their employers? We have eyes, we have ears and we have minds. Please stop telling us that there is no discrimination against Caymanians, because we know it’s plainly not true. Before we can do anything collectively to address the situation, those in leadership positions need first to acknowledge that it exists.
LE T T ER T O THE EDIT OR
RE: The importance of recognizing & respecting Core Values and Beliefs November 30 th 2015 n view of the ongoing discourse on the divergent views on a number of sensitive social issues, I take the liberty to exercise my democratic right of Free Speech and contribute this Opinion. Core Values and Beliefs are the “guiding principles” of a Nation, a Corporation, a Family, an Association, and an Individual, etc. Similarly, the Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009 embodies those Values and Beliefs, and is therefore our “Bible” as an Overseas Territory....and an emerging nation. In this instance I do not want readers to be confused by the difference of the “Constitutional Bible” and the “Holy Bible”, although in our context there is a strong connection, but just read on. Core Values and Beliefs are also normally the strategic pillars or bulwark which supports the Vision and Mission of an organization or a country etc. Some people may be criticizing the views and values expressed by MLA Mr. Anthony Eden of Bodden
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Town as “hate speech” and calling him all sorts of names, in respect to his opposition to “same-sex marriages” and other incompatible liberal ideologies. But let us step back and look at the genesis of his sentiments as a long standing, passionate and conservative representative of the Caymanian people. I stand shoulder to shoulder with him on his just and fearless stance, for the avoidance of doubt. Have you read the Constitution Order 2009? Many readers seem to focus alot on the Bill of Rights, Freedoms, and Responsibilities, which is very important too. But how many people actually read, recognize, and respect the “Core Values and Beliefs” in our Constitution which is enshrined in the “Preamble” to our Constitution, shown on page 8 of the Constitution Order 2009? Let’s look at 3 of these Values/Beliefs of the Caymanian people, and we may appreciate Mr. Eden’s views: 1) “A God-fearing country based on traditional Christian values, tolerant of other religions and beliefs”
2) A country in which religion finds its expression in moral living and social justice” 3) A community protective of traditional Caymanian heritage and the family unit”. Friends and fellow citizens and residents, our Values and Beliefs are our DNA as a country. We must resist all efforts to impose contrary values on us without unanimous consent. We must stand for something, or we will fall for anything....and we must draw a line in the sand. In the books “Built to Last” and “Good to Great” there is a doctrine which I love, it is called “Preserve the Core, and Stimulate progress”. We can do this, and preserve a great legacy for future generations, without becoming another Sodom & Gomorrah. I herald Mr. Eden for daring to be a “Daniel”.... daring to stand alone. In the current debate, some outside forces and special interests (hiding in a “Trojan Horse” to disguise for a time) seem to be oblivious to the fact that the Caymanian people (including many Status Holders and long-term
Residents) have “Rights” too. What about the Human Rights of the Caymanian people? Don’t we have rights too? Should the powerful G-20 countries and geopolitical and economic Blocs such as the EU be able to impose their style, values and ideologies on us without opposition? If so then why were international conventions invented? Why was the United Nations established? Why was the International Court of Justice constituted? Those who do not read history are condemned to repeat it. As a Dependent Territory, and an emerging Nation, we must begin to chart our own destiny…the writing is on the wall. However, to start with we must have a clear vision and a strong conviction, otherwise we will leave the harbour and soon be adrift in the treacherous waters and the gale force winds. By having such conviction and purpose, and having a keen moral navigational compass, we will reach safe harbour. With such focus and purpose, even though the “ship” gets battered, the “anchor” will hold; even though its
“sails” may get tattered…the “anchor” will hold. At a time such as this when our Values are under attack, we cannot afford, as an emerging nation, to adopt a Chamberlain-style appeasement strategy, nor can we miscalculate and forfeit our true allies through neglect and end in a proverbial “Bay of Pigs” ThelateU.S.PresidentAbrahamLincoln once said, “It is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upontheoverrulingpowerofGod…and torecognizethesublimetruthannounced in the Holy Scriptures and proved by all history, that those nations only are blest whose God is the Lord” Ifyouarestillnotconvinced,readthe Preamble to the Cayman Islands Constitution Order 2009. As a Caymanian I am committed to exercising my Right of free speech on this important matter, and look forward to a healthy and helpful discourse on what truly constitutes our Valuesand Beliefs asa country, and how do we align these with our daily living and societal norms. Sincerely, Mario E. Ebanks
THE CAYMAN REPORTER
COMMENTARY
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Issue 188
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
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Page 7
Things happen… ° By Thomas Johnson
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y father used to have an expression he used when something curious or coincidental happened to him. Gently shaking his head he would say softly, “Well I never…”. I suppose it was short for “I never expected this to happen…” You may have heard a similar expression, “Fish happens”, or another somewhat less polite version. Forty years’ ago Bob Dylan wrote a song with a recurring line and title ‘a simple twist of fate’. We have all had things turn out differently than we had thought or hoped. Such is life. Twists and turns of life have prompted two phenomena, ‘Conspiracy Theories’ and the “What If Brigade’. Conspiracy has an
enticing appeal. ‘Ah, they don’t want the truth to come out’. I suppose the popular conspiracy claims stem from the JFK Assassination. Gallup polls consistently show most Americans are convinced that there was more than the lone gunman, Oswald, that killed the President. If so, the arguments go, there must have been a cover up. “They know don’t want us to know the truth”. Another plot concerns the Moon landings. For a while even sensible people were convinced that the Apollo 11 mission was ‘staged’. The television coverage and the photos were all bogus. Conspiracy-theorists spend hours racking their brains to come up with the ‘truth’ about such diverse events as 9/11, Princess Diana’s death, climate change, you name it.
Then there is the ‘What if ’ scenario. A happy example such is the perennial Holiday-time movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Frank Capra’s cheerful fairy-tale celebrates the joy of life. George Bailey wishes he hadn’t been born. An angel shows him the terrible things that would have happened if he never existed and, of course, Happy Ending. So-called serious examples of the genre exist. With the centenary of the Great War’s beginning there were articles written speculating about what would have happened if the bullets missed the Arch-Duke Franz Ferdinand and his assassination did not trigger the Great War. What if, in that war a young Austrian had actually that was gassed had died and did not live to become the German
leader in the Second World War launching Blitzkrieg and the Holocaust. Incredibly, Holocaust Deniers claim that the wholesale slaughter of European jews did not take place. ‘What ifs’ are pointless. Just as pointless as thinking to yourself, ‘I wonder what would have happened if I had asked out that incredibly good-looking girl that sat opposite me at the’ or what would have happened if I had said, ’Yes’ to that cute plumber who asked me out for a date?’ We’ve all done it. What if I had applied for that job… you didn’t, so move on. Another kind of pointless is imagining the future… like the movie series “Back to the Future” did. ‘Futurologists’ (I looked it up, this IS a word) are just plain wrong most of the time. I could
not believe the fuss people made of the fact that we had reached the 21st October 2015 when the time machine sent the two time-travellers. Column inches were devoted to what did they get right or (big time) wrong. Fantasies about the future are mostly 100% wrong. As an example of futile futurology, how about the story ‘Futility’ published in 1898? It’s all about a huge ocean liner that would sink after hitting an iceberg. Half of the people on board drowned because there were not enough lifeboats… it was deemed practically unsinkable. The ship was called the ‘Titan’. Come on, who is going to believe such a farfetched story? So much for fantasy, in real life, 1912, the ‘Titanic’ sank. I can hear my father softly saying, “Well I never….”
GEORGE’S POSITION
We need a Human Resources Authority as a matter of great urgency! George R. Ebanks
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f the Cayman Islands are to maintain the social harmony that has so far existed between the Caymanian and non-Caymanian community it urgently needs a blueprint for its future. Especially, as it relates to the actual or perceived inequality between Caymanians and non-Caymanians in the workplace. To this end, my mind hastens back to the Vision 2008 document that gave an oversight in action plan number seven (7) for the creation of a Human Resources Authority. In my view, we need such a body today. With some 2,000 Cay ma n ia n s eit her u nemployed or under-employed, it is of vital importance that there is a clear vision in place to protect Caymanians from further exploitation; which is happening daily, in the workplace. There currently exists a total
disconnect between the various stakeholders that are now charged w ith labour related matters. It is long past the time for our Immigration Department to be in charge of issuing work permits and ran by politically appointed boards. W hat is urgently needed is the creation of a new public authority called the Human Resources Authority which will merge and make more efficient the functions of the Immigration Boards (Work Permit and Business Staffing Plan) and its various underlying politically appointed boards as well as the functions of the Department of Trade & Labour. It is high time that we have a cohesive and effective body that can identify and manage A LL of our various labour related issues. There is currently very little or no effective communication between the Labour Dept; the National Workforce Development Agency (NWDA) and the various Immigration Boards charged with the ultimate decision of issuing work permits. There needs to be ONE SINGLE body that has within its control and cite, ALL of the names and qualifications of EACH and EVERY U N EM PLOY ED/ U N DEREMPLOY ED CAYM A NI A N and can, at a glance; know this existing data and be able to identify when an application is made for a work permit for an EXPAT worker that a suitable CAYMANIAN is available and that the work permit should not be granted.
I had the unfortunate occurrence recently to be witness to an application for a work permit being submitted to Immigration with a total falsehood and a deliberate lie being told by the employer and had it not been for the CAY M A NI A N qualified employee advising the relevant Board that they had applied for the position, the permit would have been issued in its first attempt. The matter was deferred by the Board but due to lack of time by the Board to do its due diligence, in the end, even after being deferred, the work permit was granted and the CAY M A NI A N was once ma rg i na l i z ed a nd e x ploited. A nother expatriate worker was allowed in to further compound the a lready too high number of unemployed Cay manians. This is course comes against the backdrop of the Hon. Premier of our Islands recently lamenting that he was “very concerned” about the high levels of Caymanians being on the unemployed register with our N W DA. One of the reasons given to assure the Work Permit Board to grant the per m it for the foreig n worker was that the qualified Cay manian applicant would not be suitable as they would not be able to obtain approval from our financial regulators, Cay man Islands Monetar y Authorit y (CI M A) for the advertised position. This notwithstanding that the qualif ied Cay manian had, themselves, sought and obtained a
letter from CIM A confirming that they would be suitable and that there existed nothing at CIM A that would “preclude the Caymanian from holding a position of ba n k ma nager/ director or senior officer” within the local banking financial organizations. That is why it is of utmost urgency that the present functions of the present Dept. of Labour, Dept. of Immigration and its underlying Immigration Boards (Work Permit and Business Staffing Plan) be merged in one unit; constituted by Legislative Assembly authority, to be known as the Human Resources Authority (HR A). Immigration will be the responsible agency to monitor and control border security and Homeland safety and screening. T he Human Resources Authority will be ran by an “empowered” Executive Director; appointed by Cabinet and who MUST be a Caymanian. This director will be supported by sufficient and adequate staff who will advise him/her on more controversial issues. Even an Advisory Board; comprised of Caymanians and those with status, might be useful and more effective than what currently exist to solely advise the Executive Director but will have no executive powers given to them. What MUST be the overriding objective of the HRA is to be charged with the effective placement of Caymanians into suitable and available employment and to ensure that our employment numbers are kept to a minimum.
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To put muscle into the new HR A and further empower the Executive Director and at the same time add a layer of oversight and accountability it should be a requirement that the HR A provide an annual detailed report to a Standing Labour and Employment Committee of the Legislative Assembly. This will then enable the PEOPLE’S REPRESENTATIVES to be able to better gauge the actual levels of CAYMANIAN unemployment and to seek answers and solutions to the problem[s] causing the numbers revealed from time to time. Certainly, the present modus operandi where there is absolutely no effective communication between the NWDA and the various Immigration Boards who are charged with the ultimate decision to either issue or refuse a work permit while operating in the “dark ” about any suitable and available local labour that might exist can not longer be allowed to continue. We need a holistic blueprint for the continued social harmony that exists between Caymanians and non-Caymanians and the actual or perceived inequality between Caymanians and non-Caymanians in the workplace. The creation and implementation, as a matter of urgency; of an effective and new Human Resources Authority with adequate resources for policing and enforcement of ALL labour related issues is a matter of great urgency. And that’s my position on the matter.
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THE CAYMAN REPORTER
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Issue 188
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
LOCAL
Panton seeks Cayman’s removal from non-cooperative tax list ÛCONTINUED FROM PG.1
“Consumption-based models are recognised as viable, stable regimes by many economists, and indeed the US operated on a consumption tax until its needs to fund World War I forced it to adopt the coercive, direct-tax approach,” he explained. He said it is “absolutely prejudicial and wrong” that Cayman is included on the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions when the mechanism used for evaluation in the compilation of that list is based on
direct-tax system rather than consumption-based. Mr Panton said that he sent letters to EU states registering Cayman’s concern about the publication of the EC list in its Comprehensive Action Plan for Fair and Efficient Corporate Taxation in the EU in which Cayman appeared in 11th place. The minister said he informed the EU states that the list was a “regressive step in global efforts to improve international tax cooperation, in that it threatened to undermine G20 and Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) objectives.” He lamented that it “depreciated” the important work accomplished through the OECD’s Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes. T he m i n ister i nd icated that on 29 June a joint letter signed by Cayman, A nguilla, British Virgin Islands (BV I,) Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) was sent to European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici expressing concerns about the list.
Mr Panton said he also sent letters to all the EU member states that listed Cayman on their national lists reiterating the steps Cayman has taken on tax transparency and seeking expeditious removal of this country from those lists. He said following advocacy efforts only eight of the 11 member states have kept Cayman on their lists. The minister tabled his letter to the Mr Moscovici and The European Commissioner’s letter in reply in the LA. He said that he was hopeful that with the Foreign
Commonwealth Office (FCO)’s support he will finally execute a tax information exchange agreement with Spain. “Although we completed negotiations with Spain some years ago, the signing of the Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) was delayed because of bilateral issues between UK and Spain, which now have been resolved. Upon entry into force of the TIEA, Cayman will be removed from Spain’s list further reducing our appearance of EU member states’ list to seven,” Mr Panton said.
Kirkconnell, CAL and Ritz win tourism awards ÛCONTINUED FROM PG.1
The Caribbean Journal, a leading regional travel site, announced the awards on its site on Tuesday. Cayman Airways Ltd was also honoured as the Caribbean Airline of the Year and The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman was the named the Caribbean Hotel of the Year. Mr Kirkconnell, in a brief comment to The Cayman Reporter on the award, said, it was an honour to be recognised for the
“tremendous strides that are being made in our tourism industry on behalf of the people of the Cayman Islands.” He said as Minister for Tourism he was particularly pleased that the hard work that has gone into steadily increasing visitor arrivals and enhancing airport infrastructure both in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac has been acknowledged beyond our shores. However the minister hastened to add that the award was not his alone as it was a concerted
effort by all involved to improve Cayman’s tourism product. “The recognition for these achievements should be shared with the dedicated individuals within my Ministry and in the private sector that are committed to ensuring our tourism industry offers the very best visitor experience possible. This award is therefore not only for me, but is also for the tremendous team effort by all of the hard working support staff in the tourism and hospitality industry,” Minister Kirkconnell said.
The Caribbean Journal, in announcing the award in an article on its site, said, “Much of the tourism infrastructure in the Cayman Islands is so good that you could be fooled into thinking it’s easy. But it’s thanks to sound management, and a genuine concern for the visitor experience. Cayman Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell, our Caribbean Tourism Minister of the Year for 2015, has provided just that — from stewarding another very strong year of arrival growth to, more
importantly, helping to launch the long-awaited redevelopment of Grand Cayman’s main airport.” The online publication said it launched the awards in 2014 to honour the hotels, destinations and people who help make Caribbean travel better. “The annual ‘best-of-the-best’ roundup looks at the region both from the perspective of the people who travel to the Caribbean and the impact the tourism industry has on this beautiful part of the world,” the article stated.
THE CAYMAN REPORTER
REGIONAL
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Issue 188
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
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Page 9
Cuba to raise immigration concerns at talks with US
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A SH I NGTON, Un ited States (C A R I BBE AN360) – The United States and Cuba will hold a new round of migration talks today, to review the progress made on migration agreements between the countries and discuss cooperation to combat irregular immigration. But Cuba has signaled it has concerns about the agreements, which it intends to raise. Ahead of the meeting at the US Department of State, the Cuban Embassy said the delegation from Havana planned to reiterate its concern about the US “wet-foot, dry-foot” policy which it said “encourages illegal immigration . . . and violates the spirit and norms of current accords”. Under that policy, Cubans who make it to the United States can remain legally and obtain permanent residency after a year and a day.
Also of concern to the Cuban government is the Cuban Parole Programme for Medical Professionals that allows Cuban medical personnel conscripted to study or work in a third country under the direction of the Cuban government to enter the United States – which it says deprives Cuba of vital resources and affects cooperation efforts with other countries – as well as the Cuban Adjustment Act which provides for a special procedure under which Cuban natives or citizens and their accompanying spouses and children may get a green card (permanent residence). “The Cuban delegation will highlight its concern over the rise, a result of the aforementioned policies, of illegal, unsafe and disorderly emigration of citizens who legally leave Cuba and arrive in a first destination country, from where they continue to travel in an irregular fashion to the
Cuba is not happy with the “wet-foot, dry-foot” policy which allows Cubans who make it to the US, illegally or not, to remain legally and obtain permanent residency after a year and a day. United States, becoming victims of trafficking networks and organized crime, and creating situations such as that facing Cubans currently
amassed in Costa Rica and other countries of the region,” the Cuban Embassy in Washington said in a statement.
Washington, on the other hand, says the US-Cuba migration accords provide for the “safe, orderly, and legal migration of Cubans to the United States”. The last migration talks were held in Havana in January. A planned July session was postponed due to the re-opening of the US and Cuban embassies in July and August. The reestablishment of diplomatic relations, the re-opening of embassies, and the process of normalizing relations with Cuba have not changed US policy on Cuban migration. Meantime, officials from both governments will meet for the second Counter-Narcotics Dialogue tomorrow to discuss ways to stop the illegal f low of narcotics to and from Cuba and the United States, and explore ways the two countries can cooperate on this issue.
Stakes high for Caribbean at climate change conference
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EORGETOWN, Guyana (CARIBBEAN360) – As the highly anticipated climate change conference begins in Paris, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) lead head on climate change and sustainable development is issuing a grave warning. St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony says that “unless we can get the countries that are the major emitters of greenhouse gases to commit to more ambitious reductions, the Caribbean will be confronted with more extreme storms and hurricanes, more frequent and prolonged droughts, dangerous sea-level rise that will wash away roads, homes, hotels, and ports in every island; greater food insecurity and more acidic oceans that will kill our corals, damage our fish stock and negatively impact our tourism industries.” Heads of State and Government, Ministers responsible for the environment, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, scientists and other stakeholders are coming together in Paris for the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCC) to negotiate a new global climate change agreement. CARICOM negotiators have been working assiduously in several meetings leading up to the Paris conference, which will run until December 11, to emphasize that temperature increase below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is still inadequate for protecting ecosystems in Small Island and Low-Lying Developing States, (SIDS) from the adverse impact of climate change. They will continue this advocacy in Paris to advance the position that the goal for average long-term global temperature increase should be no more than 1.5 degrees, a level necessary for the mere survival of SIDS. Dr. Anthony said CARICOM Heads of Government are anticipating a robust, comprehensive legally binding Paris Agreement that commits all countries to limiting the long temperature increase to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. He said CARICOM will also advocate for: the retention of the principal of special circumstances and unique vulnerability of SIDS; five-year
REDD+ (efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the sustainable management of forests); adequate provisions for adaptation to help Caribbean countries reduce their vulnerability to effects of climate change and develop great climate resilience where possible; and comSt. Lucia’s Prime Minismitment by developed countries to ter Dr. Kenny Anthony says take the lead in scaling up the prothat unless we can get the vision of adequate, predictable and countries that are the major new sources of financing for mitiemitters of greenhouse gases gation, adaptation, loss and damage, to commit to more ambitious and for technology support. reductions, the Caribbean will Importantly, Dr. Anthony said, face serious and potentially CARICOM would seek to ensure deadly consequences. that there is no reneging on the commitment to provide US$100 review cycles of greenhouse gas billion from 2020 to assist vulneremission reduction targets with able countries to cope with the the first review to take place prior to impact of climate change. 2020, to allow for the adjustments CARICOM Member States necessary to achieve the goal of 1.5 are part of a group of Small Island degrees; Developing and low-lying coastal recognition of loss and damage States (SIDS) that are extremely (the irreversible, slow onset impacts vulnerable to the impacts of cliof climate change to which it is not mate change. Recognizing the possible to adapt, example sea-lev- importance of the issue, CARIel rise and ocean acidification) as COM established a Task Force on a critical issue for SIDS and the Sustainable Development in 2013 development of a mechanism to led by Dr James Fletcher Minister address this element, treated sepa- with responsibility for Public Serrately from adaptation; support for vice, Information, Broadcasting,
Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology of St. Lucia. This Task Force guided the involvement of the Community through briefs along with the formulation and reviewing of the region’s negotiating positions. Scientific information, including the most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), indicates that the high levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are causing the temperature of the planet to increase to dangerous levels. At the current levels, the planet is on track for an almost 4 degrees Celsius increase by the end of the year 2100. This is regarded as extremely alarming to SIDS since the science confirms that the window of opportunity to hold temperature increase below two degrees centigrade or below one point five degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels is rapidly closing. The IPCC report also indicates that there may be only six years to go before either goal is overrun. This would limit the capacity of SIDS to adapt to climate change. Some may even lose adaptation options altogether.
UK provides millions to aid fishing in the Caribbean
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Caribbean fishing is getting a US$8.4 million boost from the UK
ON DON, England (CARIBBEAN360) – British Prime Minister David Cameron has set aside £5.6 million (US$8.4 million) of its overseas aid budget to go towards improving fishing in the Caribbean and other small island states. Among the 25 Commonwealth small island nations set to benefit are: Barbados, Bermuda, Jamaica, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago. Cameron said the money will be provided from next year to target developing maritime economy plans, with additional funding on offer for future years to help these countries implement their plans. The funding will provide for: technical experts from the UK Hydrographic Office to locate
valuable marine resources and mitigate the hazards to shipping that would otherwise make the exploitation of those resources uneconomical; the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science to work with the countries to strengthen their capacity to manage their local fisheries, tackle pollution and develop coastal infrastructure; and assistance from the National Oceanographic Centre to map maritime zones, producing vital data to identify new investment and growth opportunities and helping to preserve biodiversity Cameron said the package would support small island countries to preserve their marine environments – often a primary source of income for these countries – and tap into maritime resources to catalyze
economic development in a sustainable way across Commonwealth countries. The funds are part of a wider £26 million (US$39 million) package – that will address climate change issues – which the UK leader announced at the just ended Commonwealth Summit in Malta, ahead of the climate change summit in Paris which begins today and runs until December 11. It includes £15 million (US$22.5 million) to fund disaster insurance for Pacific islands to help countries get quick access to funding aid if they suffer a natural catastrophe; £5 million (US$7.5 million) will assist poor states with natural disaster prevention plans; and £1 million (US$1.5 million) to help raise money for infrastructure projects.
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THE CAYMAN REPORTER
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Issue 188
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
INTERNATIONAL
Obama urges Turkey to reduce tensions with Russia Putin supports Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Obama and Erdogan want him to go. The downed plane incident has been further exacerbated by the strong personalities of the Russian and Turkish leaders. Obama’s relationship with Putin is tense but direct. His relationship with Erdogan, whom he referred to by first name, is also not close, though the two men are in contact frequently.
REUTERS/KEVIN LAMARQUE
U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) at the U.S. ambassador’s residence during the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21) in Paris, France December 1, 2015. international climate summit, a week after Turkish jets shot down ARIS (Reuters) - U.S. a Russian warplane along the SyrPresident Barack Obama ian border. urged Turkey on Tuesday “The United States supports to reduce tensions with Turkey’s right to defend itself and Russia that are hampering efforts its airspace and its territory,” Obato fight Islamic State militants in ma said. “We discussed how Turkey Syria and stressed that U.S. sup- and Russia can work together to port for its NATO ally’s security de-escalate tensions and find a diplomatic path to resolve this issue.” remained steadfast. Obama told Erdogan that the Obama met Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Paris, where Islamic State militant group, also they have been attending an known as ISIL, was the entity that
° By Jeff Mason
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all sides needed to pursue, echoing a message he delivered to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Paris on Monday. “We all have a common enemy, and that is ISIL, and I want to make sure that we focus on that threat,” Obama said. Tensions between Russia and Turkey have complicated U.S. efforts to prod Moscow into steering its military might towards Islamic State rather than the moderate Syrian opposition.
COMMUNICATIONS CHANNELS Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called for the opening of communication channels between Turkey and Russia to prevent further incidents like the downing of the warplane. Putin, who has signed a decree imposing economic sanctions on Turkey over the incident, has said Turkey shot down the jet because it wanted to protect supplies of oil from Islamic State militants. Erdogan says claims that Turkey buys oil from Islamic State are “slander”. W hile both Erdogan and Davutoglu have said they do not want an escalation in tensions with Russia, they have also indicated they have no intention of issuing an apology for the downing of the jet, as Moscow has demanded. Both Putin and Erdogan are strong-willed leaders ill-disposed
to being challenged and playing to domestic audiences who like their pugnacity. Neither wants to be seen to back down first. “Putin and Erdogan are two peas in a pod. They’re very similar characters,” said one top European diplomat. Erdogan said following the meeting with Obama that tension with Russia was harming both countries. “The tensions in the region sadden us. It is causing harm to both sides,” he said. “Our concern is to not come out badly from this, but on the contrary to turn this into peace and contribute to the peace in the region,” Erdogan said. Obama said the U.S. was eager to accelerate work on its military-to-military relationship with Turkey to ensure its NATO ally was safe and to help resolve the conflict in Syria. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said similar ties between Russia and Turkey had failed. “Military channels existed and were meant to not allow such tragedies. These channels didn’t work and not through the fault of the Russian side,” he said. (Additional reporting by Daren Butler in Istanbul, Darya Korsunskaya in Moscow, Noah Barkin in Berlin; Editing by James Regan and Giles Elgood)
Prisoner swap deal frees Lebanese soldiers and IS leader’s ex-wife ° By Tom Perry
and Laila Bassam
B
EIRUT (Reuters) - Al Qaeda’s Syrian wing, the Nusra Front, released 16 Lebanese soldiers and policemen held captive since August, 2014 on Tuesday in a Qatari-mediated deal that also secured freedom for a jailed ex-wife of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The Nusra Front seized the Lebanese during an attack on the border town of A rsal mounted together w ith the Islamic State jihadist group which is still believed to be holding nine soldiers captured in the incursion. Live TV footage from the border area between Lebanon and Syria showed the Lebanese captives in vehicles accompanied by masked men armed with assault rifles and waving the Nusra Front flag before they were released to the Red Cross. Thirteen Islamists in Lebanese jails, including Saja al-Dulaimi, the ex-wife of Baghdadi, were also released. Dulaimi, fully veiled, was shown in live TV footage from the area with her three children who were with her in prison.
REUTERS/JAMAL SAIDI
The daughter of Druze policeman Wael Hamzeh Homs, who was captured in Arsal by the al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front, kisses his picture as relatives react in celebration for his release, outside a tent that was erected last year during an open-ended sit-in near the government palace in downtown Beirut, December 1, 2015. Nusra Front fighters were shown authorities a year ago. Speaking to Al kissing and hugging the sons of Dulai- Jazeera, she said her wish was to return mi, who was arrested by the Lebanese to Beirut and then to leave to Turkey.
“We accomplished the entire agreement with Nusra. We received our heroic soldiers
and we are on our way back to Beirut,” top Lebanese security official Abbas Ibrahim, who oversaw the swap, told Reuters by telephone. “This joy not complete until the return of those kidnapped by Daesh. We are ready to negotiate with Daesh if we find someone to negotiate with,” he said. Daesh is an Arabic name for Islamic State. The Nusra Front fighters chanted “God is great” as they arrived with the captives in preparation for the swap. One of the captives, interviewed by Al Jazeera, said the group had treated them well. Nusra has killed four of the captives. “Praise be to God. The joy cannot be described,” another of the captives told Al Jazeera. The exchange began with the Nusra Front releasing the body of one of the Lebanese soldiers it had killed in captivity, Mohamed Hamieh. Qatar has been involved in efforts to mediate the release of the captives for a year or more. A previous effort to secure their release broke down a year ago after one of the captives was killed. (Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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Issue 188
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
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Number of migrants reaching Europe dips but 1 million in sight for year: U.N. ° By Stephanie Nebehay
G
ENEVA (Reuters) - An estimated 140,000 refugees and migrants reached Europe by sea in November, a big drop from October, although the numbers crossing remain very high and could reach 1 million for the year, the U.N. refugee agency said on 1 December. After a brief lull due to rough seas, the numbers have picked up again, with approximately 5,201 landing on the Greek islands on Monday, it said. “The monthly figure for November is the first one this year that actually shows a decrease compared to the previous one,” William Spindler of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told a news briefing. Some 220,000 were recorded in October. “The reasons for the slowdown in the number of arrivals have to do with f luctuating climate conditions in the Aegean but also a crackdown on smuggling by Turkish authorities.” So far, 886,662 people seeking safety have reached European shores this year, about four times the total in 2014, he said. Half of
those arriving are Syrians fleeing war. The vast majority reaching Europe arrive by sea. “It is not unrealistic to say we could reach 1 million by the end of the year,” Spindler said. Women and children now form just over half of the refugees and migrants on the move, or 52 percent, the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Organization for Migration said. On Saturday, police in Macedonia fired teargas and stun grenades at desperate migrants stranded for days at the Greek border and who are demanding passage to western Europe, as soldiers began erecting a metal fence to keep them out. Only Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans are allowed through. Hundreds of children are among those trapped, including nationals of Lebanon, Pakistan, Iran and Bangladesh, UNICEF spokesman Christopher Tidey, on a tour of the region, said by telephone. Children are highly vulnerable to respiratory infections as winter bites, he said. “What I’m seeing basically throughout the course of the journey is that children on the move are spending far too much time in the open without enough rest,” he said.
REUTERS/OGNEN TEOFILOVSKI
A young migrant girl holds up a drawing in a makeshift camp on the Macedonian-Greek border, near Gevgelija, Macedonia, November 30, 2015. Referring to the people stranded on the Greek border with Macedonia, Tidey said: “They are living in extremely poor conditions with inadequate
shelter, people are sleeping sometimes 30 to 40 inside of a tent to keep warm.” “A lot of families that we spoke with had been there seven to 10
days and that includes families with children.” (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Alison Williams)
Tiny Cape Verde picks big fight with drug gangs
REUTERS/CAPE VERDE JUDICIAL POLICE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS/FILES
Cape Verde’s judicial police arrange drugs seized during their raid on targets in the Flying Boat case are seen before being burnt in Praia, Cape Verde, in this October 26, 2011 handout.
° By David Lewis
and Julio Rodrigues
P
RAIA (Reuters) - When Cape Verde police dismantled a drugs network preparing to smuggle tens of millions of dollars of cocaine to Europe in 2011, the operation was hailed as a rare victory against international crime by one of Africa’s smallest states. Within two years it had yielded a series of convictions as well as further seizures of cash and real estate. Soon after that, however, senior officials began receiving threats. Then, in September last year, a gunman shot dead the 56-year-old mother of Katia Tavares, Cape Verde’s top antidrugs investigator, at her yellow two-storey house in the capital, Praia. The son of Prime Minister Jose Maria Neves was wounded in a separate shooting months later.
Both attacks have been linked to the drugs probe, testing the tiny country’s determination to crack down on powerful smuggling gangs ahead of elections early in 2016. A cluster of 10 volcanic islands 570 km (350 miles) off Senegal, Cape Verde stands out both as a pocket of relative stability in West Africa and for its firm action against the networks channeling Latin American cocaine to Europe. European and U.S. law enforcement officials engaged in the same struggle view Cape Verde’s efforts as a model for the region. “They are much better than on the mainland,” said one. But the violence unleashed in the wake of the so-called Flying Boat case - a reference to the smugglers’ high-powered motor launch - has pushed security concerns to the forefront of public debate. “They’re trying to threaten the authorities and the state as
it fights organized crime,” said Patricio Varela, head of the country’s Judicial Police. The Tavares killing sent shockwaves through the former Portuguese colony’s population of 500,000. Prosecutor Oscar Tavares - no relation - described it as an attack on democracy. Although accustomed to occasional bloodshed among traffickers, the state had never seen such a direct challenge to its authority. Cape Verde has suffered no coups or civil conf lict in the four decades since independence, despite its scant resources and punishing drought cycles. Several Western countries sent teams to support local police in the wake of the shootings, and a suspect was killed resisting arrest. SLAVERY TO COCAINE By the 1990s, Cape Verde had become a hub for fast-growing narcotics traffic, echoing its past importance as a trans-Atlantic staging post for the slave trade, ocean-going steamers and early commercial aviation. Its jagged coastlines and 300,000 squaremile maritime zone resemble a smugglers’ paradise. Wea k law-en forcement resources, lax financial controls and a degree of official complicity allowed the drugs trade to flourish almost unchecked, with local proceeds laundered through a construction boom supported by expanding tourism. In the past decade, however, Cape Verde has turned its Judicial Police into one of West Africa’s strongest organized crime squads. Anti-money laundering laws were introduced in 2002, improved in 2009 and are being tightened again. The postal service scans packages with state-ofthe art equipment, and airline passengers are greeted by sniffer dogs.
Radar and satellites are used to track suspect boats from an operations center funded by the United States - which used the archipelago to launch its own 2013 drugs sting against senior military officials in Guinea Bissau. http://reut.rs/1MIn66q In the Flying Boat case, months of investigation led to the seizure of 1.5 tonnes of cocaine in the heart of Praia, as smugglers attempted to stash it in a basement near the state television building. Among nine people jailed were the former head of the local stock exchange, VerissimoMonteira Pinto, and prominent real estate investor Paulo Ivone Pereira. Police confiscated cash, vehicles and property worth tens of millions of dollars, including a glass-fronted office building that now serves as Cape Verde’s armed forces headquarters. OUTMATCHED Last November, authorities seized another 500 kg (1,100 pounds) of cocaine in an operation that led to the jailing of six people including Swiss, Spanish and Cuban nationals. Although they have won some key battles, the 160-strong Judicial Police remain far outmatched in the war against traffickers. Cape Verde has five patrol boats, only one of which can operate beyond coastal waters, and its sole surveillance plane has been out of action for years, diplomats said. Few believe the flow of narcotics has been seriously curtailed. Low drug prices suggest a significant trade is continuing, another Western security official said. Cocaine sells for $10,00015,000/kg in Cape Verde, compared with $20,000 or more on the mainland - a sign that traffickers are getting shipments through to European ports such as Lisbon and Rotterdam.
“They took a hit from the authorities but have shown they are determined to continue their activities,” said Pedro Pires, Cape Verde’s last president. Pires, a member of the West African Commission on Drugs established by former United Nations chief Kofi Annan, told Reuters the violent response to the Flying Boat drugs bust was “an attempt to intimidate the state”. The control now exerted by drug gangs over large parts of Mexico offers a cautionary tale, he added. “The Mexicans lost vast swathes of territory to the criminals. We have to fight the groups swiftly, before they get installed.” In a pre-election year, the shootings have fueled anxiety about a broader crime wave often blamed on U.S.-style gang culture, imported by young citizens returning from Cape Verde’s large diaspora. Questions were asked about whether convicted criminals had been able to operate and order reprisals from jail. Judicial Police officers, already well paid by regional standards, have been striking to press for higher wages to ref lect the increased dangers they face. For the government of President Jorge Carlos Fonseca, who is expected to run again, the security worries add to problems including the knock-on effects of European austerity, faltering rains and debt amounting to almost a year of economic output. While the government’s handling of the organized crime crackdown is a subject of nervous discussion, those on its front line know they still command overwhelming public support. “We don’t feel intimidated,” police chief Varela said. “The struggle continues.” (Editing by Joe Bavier and Laurence Frost)
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We are looking to recruit a qualified and experienced candidate to join our team in the capacity of:
Front Desk Manager The Front Desk Manager manages all operational activities of the hotel's front desk to provide the highest standards of courteous service while meeting and exceeding profit levels. Communicates effectively in writing and verbally to provide direction to staff. Observes performance and encourages improvement. Interviews, selects, trains, supervises, evaluates, counsels, and administers progressive disciplinary procedures for front desk staff. Interacts positively with guests and takes action to resolve issues to the satisfaction of guest/Resort. Responsibilities include (but are not limited to): Ensure that Sunshine Suites Resort (SSR) guest service standards are being applied consistently and all hotel and departmental policies and procedures are followed Must remedy all guest complaints or issues as well as intercept all guest issues and respond directly with guest and GM on behalf of the property Must review all site tours, resumes, arrivals and departures daily Responsible for payroll. Must create and cost out weekly schedules for all front office staff and be within budgeted and forecasted CPOR Must approve/ monitor all payroll. Must sit down and review with General Manager and must explain any discrepancies using the Payroll Forecast Tool. Must keep checkbook for expenses Review the current day's expected arrivals and checks all VIP and owners special request reservations to ensure that they are pre-registered Conduct interviews as well as organize and administer on-the-job training for new employees Follow proper cash handling procedures outlined in the bank contract and the training manual Develop strong working relationships with all departments Assist the accounting department in resolving various billing issues on guest folios Attend hotel and financial meetings and represent the Front desk in pre-con meetings Conduct daily pre-shift meeting to include SSR and PHG standards of the day and safety topic of the day Delegating, mentoring, and coaching the staff as well as developing and training employees for career advancement Acting MOD on weekends and nights when applicable Ensuring all policies and procedures are met and executed on a consistent basis Daily review of applicable paperwork Responsible for attending all company training classes. Attend all meeting, including Stand up – staff, etc. Work with GM to achieve budgeted and forecasted rooms profit Qualifications 2+ years of front desk supervisory/managerial experience preferably in a 4 diamond hotel property. Previous independent hotel/boutique and resort experience preferred but not required ; 2+ years front desk agent experience, including handling large group arrivals ; Previous experience with scheduling, ordering/managing supply inventory ; Excellent command of the English language is essential, both written and verbal. ; A service excellence and relationship management role model with strong leadership ; Able to work under pressure and stressful situations while handling multiple tasks ; Attentive to details and have excellent organizational skills ; Excellent interpersonal skills with a positive attitude and be guest focused ; Neat, professional, and well-groomed at all times ; Work flexible shifts - days, evenings, weekend and holidays ; Solid knowledge of Microsoft Office and general computer applications ; Knowledge of property management system (Opera) & reservations management preferred ; Be able to stand for prolonged periods of time Salary - CI$35K to $40K per annum plus bonus and benefits To apply and for a more thorough and comprehensive Job Description please visit http://www.besthotelcareers.com/
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By Ray Billingsley
THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN
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SPORTS
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Issue 188
Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
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Page 15
Cayman Prep and Savannah Primary top groups going into Playoffs
T
he 2015/2016 CUC Primary Football League (PFL) and CUC Girls’ Pr i ma r y Footba l l League (GPFL) regular seasons concluded this past Saturday 28 November with Cayman Prep, Savannah Primary and Cayman International School topping the Under 9, Under 11 and GPFL standings going into the Playoffs. Savannah Primary secured top spot in Group A in the PFL Under 9 Division following an exciting 0-0 draw with St. Ignatius Prep in a ‘top of the table’ clash. Savannah Primary had stand-in goalkeeper Jerry Allen to thank for the clean sheet as he was superb between the posts, making some excellent saves throughout the game and keeping the active St. Ignatius forwards at bay In Group A in the PFL Under 11 Division, Savannah Primary secured a first place finish following a convincing 4-0 victory over St. Ignatius Prep. Goals from Joshua Gardner, Daniel Gayle, Jerry Allen and Jayden Whittaker sealed the victory. In other Group A games it was Sir John A. Cumber Primary 0 vs. Cayman International School 4 (Under 9 – Mercy Rule) and Sir John A. Cumber Primary 2 vs. Cayman International School 1 (Under 11). On Thursday, November 26, Cayman Academy defeated George Town Primary 1-0. In Group B, Cayman Prep finished undefeated in the Under 9 and Under 11 Divisions following a 3-1 victory (Under 9) and a 2-2 draw (Under 11) with Red Bay
Primary. With the draw, reigning Under 11 champions Red Bay Primary also finished the season undefeated and were tied on points with Cayman Prep but possessed an inferior goal difference. In other Group B games it was Prospect Primary 4 vs. NorthEast Schools 0 (Under 9); Prospect Primary 4 vs. NorthEast Schools 0 (Under 11); South Sound Schools 0 vs. Triple C 2 (Under 9); South Sound Schools 0 vs. Triple C 2 (Under 11); and Bodden Town Primary 0 vs. Cayman Brac 4 (Under 11 – Mercy Rule). In Group A in the GPFL, Cayman International School completed their undefeated season following a 2-2 draw with reign- Savannah Primary and St. Ignatius Prep battled to a 0-0 draw in ing champions Sir John A. Cum- the Under 9 encounter ber Primary. The young ladies from Sir John A. Cumber Primary finished with an identical record to Cayman International School but possessed an inferior goal difference. In other GPFL Group A action, it was St. Ignatius Prep 1 vs. Savannah Primary 0 with Ashlyn Evans scoring the all important winner in the 4 th minute of the game. In Group B of the GPFL, Cayman Prep enjoyed a day off this past weekend but had already completed their regular season with a perfect record of five wins out of five. In Group B games played this past Saturday, it was Prospect Primary 4 vs. NorthEast Schools 0 and Triple C 3 vs. Sir John A. Cumber Primary ‘B’ 0. The PFL and GPFL PlaySavannah Primary defeated St. Ignatius 4-0 in the Under 11 offs begin this coming Saturday, matchup. December 5 with a full day of
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games starting at 9:00 a.m. at the Annex Field. Schools competing in the PFL Under 9 Champions Cup include Savannah Primary, St. Ignatius Prep, Cayman International School, Sir John A. Cumber Primary, Cayman Prep (reigning champions), NorthEast Schools, Prospect Primary and Red Bay Primary. In the Under 9 Consolation Cup, it will be George Town Primary, Triple C, South Sound Schools and Bodden Town Primary. In the Under 11 Champions Cup, it will be Savannah Primary, Truth For Youth, Cayman International School, Sir John A. Cumber Primary, Cayman Prep, Red Bay Primary (reigning champions), Prospect Primary and Cayman Brac. In the Under 11 Consolation Cup, schools competing include St. Ignatius Prep, George Town Primary, NorthEast Schools, South Sound Schools, Triple C and Bodden Town Primary. In the GPFL Champions Cup, reigning Champions Sir John A. Cumber Primary will defend their title against Cayman International School, St. Ignatius Prep, Savannah Primary, Cayman Prep, Triple C, Bodden Town Primary and NorthEast Schools. In the GPFL Consolation Cup, it will be George Town Primary, Prospect Primary and Sir John A. Cumber Primary ‘B’. The PFL and GPFL Playoffs continue on Saturday, December 12, January 9, 16, 23 (semi finals) and 30 (finals and third-place games). All Playoff games take place at the Annex Field.
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Wednesday, 2 December, 2015
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