ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY AUGUST 16, 2016 180913_PRINT-Ad-Strip-BOTY-6colxPage 1 11/30/15 12:30:30 PM Jamaicans outrun world Bolt wins third consecutive Olympic 100m; Thompson sprints to gold RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – The nation that produced the once-in-a-lifetime sprinter in Usain Bolt also brought to the forefront Elaine Thompson, the sprinter who denied her friend and training partner, Shelly Ann Fra- ser-Pryce, a record third straight title in the 100 meters. As for Bolt, even a lumbering start could not slow down the world’s fastest man. He became the first person to win three straight Olympic 100-meter titles, finishing in 9.81 seconds at the Rio de Ja- neiro Olympics on Sunday. The Jamaican great defeated American rival Justin Gatlin by .08 of a second for his seventh Olympic gold medal. Donald McLean, president of the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee, was in the stands to see Bolt’s victory Sunday, as he was for the sprinter’s Olympic golds in Beijing and London. “It was a great moment for ath- letics and in particular the Carib- bean,” he said. “I always felt that he would win. He is by far the greatest track athlete of all time.” Bolt next runs in a 200m qualifying heat on Tuesday at 11:46 a.m. (Brazil time). The final is on Thursday. On Saturday, Jamaica’s newest female sprint cham- pion, Elaine Thompson, routed the field in 10.71 seconds, with Fraser-Pryce taking bronze. At 24, more than five years younger than the woman she un- seated, Thompson showed a changing of the guard does not have to mean a redrawing of the map. “Jamaica has so many talented sprinters,” Thompson said. “To be the second champion [at 100 meters], I’m really happy.” For more, see page 17.Elaine Thompson celebrates her gold medal for the women’s 100m sprint. Lightning Bolt: The signature gesture of the world’s fastest man. - PHOTOS: AP PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 5 » Full National Conservation Law now in force Planning and environmental impact provisions passed into law JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The final sections of the Na- tional Conservation Law, including a legal requirement for threats to the environment to be consid- ered in planning decisions, came into force Monday. The newly implemented legislation also includes provi- sion for the National Conservation Council to require developers to carry out an environmental impact assessment at their own expense for certain major projects. The implementation of sections 5 and 7 mean that nearly three years after its unanimous approval in the Legislative Assembly, the full National Conservation Law is now substantially in effect. Since the law passed the House, the Depart- ment of Environment and National Conservation Council have been working behind the scenes to put the infrastructure in place to ensure it can be carried out effectively. Environment Minister Wayne Panton said the milestone marks a significant step for Cayman after more than a decade of debate about conservation legislation. “We are a country that has no natural resources in the form of minerals or anything else,” he said. “Our environment is our na- tional asset and we are now pro- tecting it in the best and most responsible way we can.” Input on planning decisions The new sections of the law give additional weight to environ- mental considerations when gov- ernment agencies, including the Central Planning Authority, are making decisions. Mr. Panton said it “gives statu- tory legs to what was previously a gentleman’s agreement.” However, he acknowledged that planning officials frequently ap- prove applications despite advice from the Department of Environ- ment to the contrary. And while he believes the new law will compel more se- rious consideration of such ad- vice, he acknowledged that could continue. “Can we say the ad- vice won’t simply be ignored? No, we can’t,” he said. Gina Ebanks-Petrie, director of the Department of Environment, said the law is not a “panacea for all of our development related ills.” She added, “We still need proper planning and development legisla- tion and we must take steps to put 2 LOCAL&REGIONAL TUESDAY AUGUST 16, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY, AUGUST 20th, 8PM *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. - TUESDAY - BAD MOMS (R) 1:30 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 10:00 SUICIDE SQUAD (PG) 1:00 | 3:45 | 6:30 | 9:15 THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (PG) 1:10 | 3:30 | 7:10 | 9:30 NERVE (PG13) 12:30 | 3:00 | 5:20 I 7:40 | 10:00 JASON BOURNE (PG13) 1:20 | 4:15 | 7:15 | 10:00 LIGHTS OUT (PG13) 12:40 | 2:50 | 5:00 | 7:25 | 9:40 640-FILM (640-3456) Winding up sought for second Bateman company BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A court petition seeking to wind up a Cayman Islands- registered company once controlled by a man wanted locally on a grievous bodily harm charge was filed last week, after attempts to re- cover at least $4.8 million in the firm’s assets failed. The Aug. 10 winding up petition was filed by one firm that was controlled by Cana- dian national Ryan Bateman (B&C Capital Ltd.) against another, Bateman & Com- pany Ltd. B&C Capital Ltd. has already been wound up via court order and is under the direction of joint vol- untary liquidators, who are charged with overseeing the winding up process. The Grand Court petition alleges that the second firm, Bateman & Company, has failed to deliver any cash or securities held following de- mands from the liquidators. Bateman & Company acted as a custodian for B&C Cap- ital, an investment brokerage, according to the court re- cords. Bateman & Company has “no directors and no management” at present, ac- cording to the court records. “Both [B&C Capital] and [Bateman & Company] are members of a group of companies known as the ‘Bateman Financial Group’ controlled by Mr. Ryan Bateman,” the Aug. 10 peti- tion states. “The joint official liqui- dators of the petitioner have been unable to determine ex- actly what cash, securities or other assets were trans- ferred to [Bateman & Com- pany], but have established that … the company was holding cash amounting to at least $2,381,029.63 and securities to the value of at least $2,456,753.22 on be- half of customers of [B&C Capital Ltd.].” Securities are usually liquid assets such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds, but the term is sometimes used as a catch-all for numerous types of investments. The winding up peti- tion seeks a declaration that Bateman & Company is liable for “any shortfall in such cash and securities,” and must pay – via B&C Capital – restitu- tion to investors in the firm. The petition requests that Chris Johnson and Graham Robinson be appointed as joint voluntary liquidators for Bateman & Company. The two have already been appointed to that role for B&C Capital. According to a Grand Court order issued on July 22 by Justice Ingrid Man- gatal, B&C Capital Ltd. was ordered to be wound up fol- lowing a petition filed in June by a British Virgin Islands- based creditor of the com- pany. Winding up is the legal, court-supervised process by which assets of a business are sold to pay off creditors. The business is typically dis- solved following that process. The Cayman Compass has contacted B&C Capital Ltd.’s Ryan Bateman sev- eral times, including most recently on Monday, for com- ment regarding the winding up orders and petitions, but has received no response. Bateman left the Cayman Is- lands in late 2014, missing a court appearance on a crim- inal charge of grievous bodily harm in connection with a domestic dispute. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice has said Bateman will be arrested if he comes back to the islands. BVI-registered Lampten Corp. petitioned the Grand Court on June 2, stating it had established an invest- ment account with B&C Capital in February 2015. The petition further stated that the market value of the account was reported as US$1,689,764.18 as of Aug. 31, 2015. “To date, no proceeds from a wire transfer have ever been received from [B&C Capital Ltd.] … and the debt has not been repaid,” the pe- tition states. “In the circum- stances, it is just and eq- uitable that the company should be wound up.” Last month, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority canceled Bateman’s director registration. The decision by the financial regulator al- leged that Bateman carried on “business in a manner detrimental to the public in- terest, or to the interests of the covered entities for which you are appointed as a regis- tered director.” CIMA stated Bateman was “a person that is not a fit and proper person to hold a posi- tion as a registered director.” In an emailed statement to the Compass earlier this month regarding the CIMA order, Bateman said, “I am consulting professional ad- visers, will consider their ad- vice and take such action as I may be advised.” The Grand Court petition alleges that the second firm, Bateman & Company, has failed to deliver any cash or securities held following demands from the liquidators. HONDURAS: 8 DEAD IN GANG RIVALRY SHOOTINGS TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) – Killers wielding assault ri- fles shot eight men to death on the outskirts of the cap- ital before dawn Sunday, Honduran authorities said, blaming a territorial dispute between rival street gangs. Officials said the victims men were gathered in front of a local business when the gunmen arrived in a sport utility vehicle. The killers demanded to see the men’s identification, then opened fire, authorities said. The national forensics service said the victims ranged in age from 18 to 27. The Security Secretariat said in a statement Sunday night that the shooting re- sulted from a dispute be- tween gangs over territory. Honduras has seen waves of killings, many related to the country’s two main street gangs, the Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18. The Central American na- tion is one of the most vio- lent in the hemisphere, with a homicide rate in 2015 of 57 per 100,000 inhabitants. Most support GM mosquito initiative, says survey CHARLES DUNCAN cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new government survey found most people on Grand Cayman support the ongoing trial of genetically modified mosquitoes in West Bay. Oxitec, which developed the GM mosquitoes, and Cay- man’s Mosquito Research and Control Unit began releasing the mosquitoes last month after a lawsuit aiming to stop the project failed in the Grand Court. If the research trial is successful at reducing the number of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, responsible for spreading Zika, dengue and chikungunya, the mosqui- toes will be released across Grand Cayman. The Public Health De- partment confirmed two lo- cally transmitted cases of the Zika virus, a disease known to cause severe birth defects, last week. “The MRCU uses the best tools available in the fight against Aedes aegypti. The deployment of the most ad- vanced techniques available, including Oxitec’s Friendly Aedes aegypti, is firmly in the public health interest, as the traditionally used tools have proven to have limita- tions in effectiveness,” MRCU Director Bill Petrie said in a press release. “The subsequent wider expansion of this project throughout Grand Cayman is expected to benefit all res- idents and visitors. The ap- pearance of Zika virus in Grand Cayman adds to the need to implement this pro- gramme without delay,” he added. The poll involved 800 in- person interviews by an in- dependent polling company, according to government. The poll was commissioned just days before a lawsuit delayed the mosquito release. Oxitec’s Richard Adey, re- gional manager for the com- pany in the Caribbean, told the Cayman Compass by email that 239 of the house- holds in the poll were in West Bay. “We are really pleased to learn of the level of support as revealed by the survey. Aedes aegypti and the dis- eases it transmits are a concern to the people in Cayman, and the large ma- jority of people are happy that steps are being taken. The community engagement campaign will continue, to ensure we reach as many as possible,” he said. The survey found that al- most 70 percent of the people on Grand Cayman said they were either worried or very worries about dengue, chi- kungunya and Zika. Sixty-nine percent of people surveyed supported the Oxitec GM mosquito project, and 72 percent of West Bay respondents supported the project. On Grand Cayman, 13 percent said they opposed the project, though the survey did not ask about the reasons for their opposition. Forensic workers carry the body of one of eight people killed Sunday in what authorities are describing as a gang-related shooting on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. - PHOTO: AP Oxitec’s Heidi Groves releases genetically modified mosquitoes in West Bay last week. - PHOTO: CHARLES DUNCAN3 LOCAL&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY AUGUST 16, 2016 Court: 19 months ‘too long’ for citizenship application BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com An eastern Caribbean ap- pellate court has ruled that a 19-month delay in registering an application for citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda was too long and was “likely to be unlawful” when considering the applicant’s human rights, according to the judgment is- sued Aug. 2. The case involves a Guya- nese man who was seeking to become a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda by virtue of his marriage to a woman who had already obtained that status. The central question in the case, decided by the Court of Appeal of the Eastern Carib- bean Supreme Court (Antigua and Barbuda), was whether the period of 19 months be- tween the man’s application for citizenship and his subse- quent interview regarding that application, fell within locally acceptable and legally permis- sible time lines. In total, Clive Oliveira waited 27 months from the filing of his citizenship applica- tion until his grant of Antigua and Barbuda citizenship. How- ever, the court’s main concern centered on the length of time it took for his citizenship applica- tion to be registered and sched- uled for interview – 19 months. “We … conclude that a pe- riod of one year, from appli- cation to registration … is in general the outside limit of a reasonable time and that delay beyond that time, absent spe- cial considerations, is likely to be unlawful because a fetter on the legitimate applicant’s right to be registered,” the court ruled. In addition, the court noted, it was unclear that “the full gamut” of the information required for Mr. Oliveira’s citi- zenship application was actu- ally necessary. “The attorney general has accepted that at least 15 items listed to be reviewed and in- vestigated had no bearing on informing the state on the per- tinent issue of Mr. Oliveira’s marriage status or the length of his marriage,” the judgment stated. “The [trial] judge him- self commented that at least several of the issues which formed part of the process ap- peared to be irrelevant.” The Supreme Court sent the case back to the initial trial court in Antigua to as- sess damages owed to Mr. Oliveira, who was apparently left without the right to work while his application was being decided. In arguing that case be- fore the appeals court, An- tiguan lawyers noted that a delay of 19 months in hearing such a citizenship application was not unheard of, and that the earliest available date was given to Mr. Oliveira, consid- ering staffing and resources in the local government. “Absence of resources is not, in general, an excuse for maladministration,” the court found. “The [19-month] delay … was itself a breach of Mr. Oliveira’s constitutional rights, let alone any further inevitable delay post-interview.” The eastern Caribbean court is not used by the Cayman Islands to hear appel- late matters. In Cayman, those matters first go to the local Court of Appeal and then to the U.K. Privy Council. How- ever, one of the judges involved in the eastern Caribbean court’s decision – Sir Bernard Rix – currently serves on Cay- man’s Court of Appeal. “Absence of resources is not, in general, an excuse for maladministration.” COURT OF APPEAL, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Review of permanent residence system withheld BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A government-commis- sioned review of the Cayman Islands permanent residence approval system, which was completed earlier this year, has been withheld from release by the Office of the Premier. The report, done at the re- quest of government by out- side counsel, is sought by the Cayman Compass via an open records application on July 26. The premier’s office responded on Aug. 11, before the 30-day deadline set in the Freedom of Information Law, stating it believes the infor- mation is legally privileged. The records, the premier’s office argues, “would be priv- ileged from production in legal proceedings on the ground of legal professional privilege.” The report’s release would amount to “an action- able breach of confidence” if it were to be made public, the office stated. The Compass has filed an appeal of the premier’s office decision, asking that the matter be heard directly by Acting Information Com- missioner Jan Liebaers, by- passing the internal review process typically undertaken for open records requests. Premier Alden McLaughlin has already stated that, in his view, the report by local immigration attorney David Ritch is legally priv- ileged and was “never in- tended” for publication. Mr. McLaughlin said he was planning an announce- ment about what changes government would make to the process of permanent res- idence applications and ap- provals before the start of the next Legislative Assembly meeting, likely to begin in late September or early October. In September 2015, Mr. McLaughlin indicated that the Cayman Islands govern- ment would provide a full re- sponse on the issue, making changes if and where neces- sary to its immigration re- gime in the wake of an Aug. 28, 2015 court ruling that was critical of several as- pects of the permanent resi- dence system. Premier McLaughlin said in September 2015 that gov- ernment leaders were taking legal advice on what “has become a complex issue,” and that he expected to make announcements in re- sponse to the ruling in the next few weeks. “We are taking this issue very seriously,” Mr. McLaughlin said at the time, declining to discuss specifics. The premier also intended, at one stage, to make an an- nouncement regarding the res- idency system changes in the Legislative Assembly during the recent June budget meeting. However, that was also delayed, with Mr. McLaughlin stating that government “needed to get this right.” The issues identified in the Aug. 28, 2015 court judgment dealt with two major areas: First, the actions of the Im- migration Appeals Tribunal in judging two cases where non-Caymanians had applied for permanent residence – the right to remain in the terri- tory for the rest of their lives – in which the tribunal’s actions were determined to be a “mis- carriage of justice.” Those ap- plications were made under a former version of the Immigra- tion Law. The two applicants were recently granted perma- nent residence following a re- hearing of their case. The second matter in- volves the current perma- nent residence system and how points toward status are awarded to applicants. Currently, applicants are re- quired to secure 110 points out of 215 available in the ap- plication process. The ques- tions have basically arisen regarding how 15 of those 215 points are to be awarded via the process. Cayman Islands Chief Justice Anthony Smellie con- cluded in the judgment that there were “immediate and obvious concerns” about the current two-tiered system for awarding permanent res- idence applicants a total of 15 points for their occupa- tion and another 15 points if their job is considered a “pri- ority occupation” according to regulations attached to the Immigration Law. “It is difficult to imagine a policy that could be more opaque, uncertain and prone to arbitrariness than one by which points are to be allocated to occupations based upon merely subjec- tive assessments of their importance in the context of the local economy,” the chief justice wrote in his 40-page judgment. The judgment has served to place on hold all pending ap- plications for permanent res- idence – of which there are more than 750 – while the system is sorted out. A number of those applications were filed more than two years ago. Immigration Department headquarters on Elgin Avenue in George Town. – PHOTO: CHRIS COURT Applications open for FCO grad degree scholarships The United Kingdom government’s Chevening Scholarships program is ac- cepting applications for stu- dents who want to study for a master’s degree in the U.K. in the 2017-2018 year. Two people from Cayman won awards to study in the U.K. this year through the prestigious scholarships from the Foreign and Com- monwealth Office. The award includes tu- ition fees, a monthly sti- pend, travel costs and other benefits. In a press release, Gov- ernor Helen Kilpatrick said, “The U.K. is home to many of the world’s best universi- ties, and Chevening enables you to develop academi- cally, professionally, and personally whilst studying in the U.K.” She added that those selected for a Chevening Scholarship become rec- ognized “as leaders be- longing to a global network of influencers.” “They share the best their country has to offer with those they meet in the U.K., and then share the best the U.K. has to offer when they return home. For this reason, the role of Cheve- ning Scholars is important in building bridges between countries,” she said. The Chevening Secre- tariat offers more than 1,500 scholarships to people around the world who want to study in a master’s pro- gram in the U.K. Speaking of the opening of the new application window, the director of the Chevening Secretariat, Michael Scott-Kline, said: “Those who step for- ward to apply for a Cheve- ning Scholarship are al- ready demonstrating the kind of ambitious for- ward-thinking that typifies Chevening scholars. “The potential rewards for applying are unquanti- fiable. Not only do scholars receive a first-rate U.K. ed- ucation which can open doors in their respective ca- reers, they also join a strong global network — a net- work they will draw on and contribute to for the rest of their lives.” The application, avail- able at www.chevening.org, is due Nov. 8. For more information, contact Gill Skinner on 244-24341 or gillian.skinner@fco.gov.uk. SHALLOW QUAKE IN PERU KILLS AT LEAST 4 LIMA, Peru (AP) – A shallow magnitude 5.4 earthquake centered in southern Peru’s picturesque Colca Valley killed at least four people, including a 65-year-old U.S. tourist, and left some 30 injured as it top- pled adobe homes, authorities said Monday. The quake hit at 9:58 p.m. local time Sunday near the town of Chivay near the city of Arequipa, with an epicenter just 6 miles deep, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The U.S. man died at the Eco Inn Valle del Colca in Yanque, close to Chivay, when part of the hotel’s ceiling col- lapsed on him, said local Gov. Cipriano Llasa. “His body is inside the hotel because the highways are blocked and the prose- cutor has not arrived,” Llasa told The Associated Press by phone. The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. Cannabis oil – or political snake oil? TUESDAY AUGUST 16, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Premier Alden McLaughlin (who is an attorney) outlined the case against moving forward with the legal- ization of medical marijuana in the Cayman Islands. He then endorsed moving forward with the legalization of medical marijuana in the Cayman Islands. A statement released by the Office of the Premier noted the following: 1. “Cannabis oil” – a highly concentrated extract of marijuana (aka cannabis or ganja) – is not available legally in many jurisdictions, including Jamaica and in the U.S. under federal law. 2. There is no consensus among the medical com- munity that cannabis oil contains curative proper- ties for diseases such as cancer. Due to the lack of evidence and testing, there is no agreement on dosage amounts. In other words, if Cayman were to legalize cannabis oil, it’s unclear from where (or whom) pharmacists would obtain it, how doctors would prescribe it, or what the expected results might be. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of cannabis oil for medical purposes. And yet, the Progressives government is moving ahead with planned amendments to relevant laws and regulations, perhaps as soon as this fall. Hold on. While the FDA, like other evidence-driven organizations, can be slow-moving, even madden- ingly so, it is still a remarkably credible body. In regard to the approval of substances for medical treatment, the FDA – not Cayman’s Cabinet – should be looked to for guidance. Once the FDA (or an equivalent regulatory agency) green-lights the pre- scription of cannabis oil (or any substance), then, but only then, should Cabinet race to make it available in our pharmacies. What appears to be going on is that handful of influencers in the country, particularly people suffering from cancer (but also activists who want cannabis to be legalized period), have successfully pushed law- makers into the medical marijuana field. We have every sympathy for people combatting deadly diseases and feel they should have access to every proven treatment available, and recourse to as many experimental treatments as is feasible. We don’t want to take away people’s hope … but we also don’t desire to give them false hope (which approving the prescribed use of cannabis oil may very well turn out to be). In this instance, at this point in time, there are far too many unknowns for us to support legalizing cannabis oil in Cayman. Chief among them is the question of whether Cayman providers will be able to import the product successfully from – and this is important – legal sources. (This is an issue that plagues many jurisdictions that have legalized or decriminalized the use of ganja, for medicinal or rec- reational purposes; namely, it is grown and processed “illegally” and only at a certain point on the distribu- tion chain does it become “legal.”) We haven’t lost sight of the patients in Cayman who have exhausted all other legal treatment options, and for whom cannabis oil is a last resort. Here’s our proposal: The government can pay to send them to other jurisdictions (California, Colorado, Canada, etc.) where cannabis oil is legal, just as hundreds of local patients already travel overseas for specialty medical care every year. In the short term, it’s a faster and more elegant solution than attempting to make Cayman a cannabis oil (to use the premier’s word) “pioneer.” PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” Checkmate: To each his own Olympics WASHINGTON – You may be thrilled by the feats of Katie Ledecky, mesmerized by the grace of the women gym- nasts, startled by Rio spec- tators mocking U.S. soccer star Hope Solo with chants of “Zika! Zika!” (the first re- corded instance, noted one wit, of a stadium rocking to the invocation of a virus). Allow me, however, to in- terrupt the prepackaged, heart-tugging, tape-delayed Olympic coverage to bring you the real sporting news of the year. It has just been an- nounced that on November 11 in New York City the World Chess Championship will begin. You scoff, of course. For years, I’ve had to put up with amused puzzlement at my taste in entertainment. (Old joke: How do you do the wave at a chess match? With your eyebrows.) But I remain undaunted. True, chess is not an Olympic sport. But it should be. In 1984, when challenger Garry Kasparov forced that championship match into 17 draws in a row – each about five hours of unbearable, unrelenting concentration – world champion Anatoly Karpov was so physically and men- tally drained (he lost 22 pounds) that the Kremlin pressured the World Chess Federation to stop the match, thereby saving So- viet-favorite Karpov from forfeiting the title to the brash, free-thinking, half- Jewish Kasparov. My first tournament – the 2002 Atlantic Open, a weekend of all-day pres- sure so intense that I left in a near-catatonic Karpovian state – was also my last. I have stuck to casual five- minute “blitz” chess ever since. My winnings – a $150 check that remains framed and forever uncashed – hang as a reminder never to do that again. And while chess’ gov- erning body cannot match the International Olympic Committee for corruption, the World Chess Federa- tion more than makes up for that in weirdness. Its pres- ident, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, former president of Russia’s republic of Kalmykia, is not only a reliable Moscow toady (sanctioned by the Treasury Department in November 2015), but a nut- case who insists he’s been abducted by aliens. They wore yellow suits. So why am I so excited about the upcoming match in New York? Who goes to a chess game anyway? I do. Twice, in fact, in the early 1990s when the championship was also played in New York (the 1995 match on the observa- tion deck of the World Trade Center). I drove from Wash- ington both times with a couple of friends, to the con- sternation of the rest of our acquaintances, who thought we were certifiable. They didn’t understand that we don’t actually sit and watch the game. In- stead, we go to the grand- master room where the greatest chess minds in the world crowd around a few drop-down demonstra- tion boards, trading fu- rious in-game commentary on the boneheadedness of the latest move and the cosmic brilliance of their own proposed nine-move counterattack. My friends and I were barely hanging on trying to follow the dazzling riffs flung about by the immor- tals around us. Not to deni- grate the elegance of the bal- ance beam or the beauty of the pole vault, but that ex- perience was (as we used to say when the world was young) mind-blowing. Twenty-one years is a long time to wait to have your mind blown again. But there’s a more mun- dane reason for making the trip this time: a compelling storyline with a touch of the Cold War tension that made the 1972 Bobby Fischer- Boris Spassky match such an international sensation. The reigning world champion is Magnus Carlsen, a 25-year-old Nor- wegian who, unlike Fischer, is quite normal. He sports a winning personality and such good looks that he does commercials for a Eu- ropean clothing line. His challenger is the classic Russian heavy, Sergey Karjakin, who (re- ports The New York Times) is a fan of both Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Crimea and who knocked off two brilliant Americans to get to the title fight. Not exactly U.S.-USSR 1972. But Norway-Russia 2016 does have its charms, given Putin’s threats and intrusions into the Baltics and Scandinavia. Go Oslo! I do concede that since Fischer-Spassky, chess has lost much of its mystique. The fall can be dated to May 11, 1997, when IBM’s Deep Blue beat Kasparov, widely considered the greatest human ever to play the game. Today we don’t even bother with the man-ma- chine contest. No human can beat the best software. The ultimate world series is be- tween computer programs. And machines don’t sweat. Or strive, suffer or exult. Humans do. So I’ll join the fun and cheer the Olym- pians. It’ll help pass the time until the main event November 11. Charles Krauthammer’s email address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com. © 2016, The Washington Post Writers Group Charles KrauthammerKrauthammer [W]hile chess’ governing body cannot match the International Olympic Committee for corruption, the World Chess Federation more than makes up for that in weirdness.The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY AUGUST 16, 2016 181814_PRINT-IH-Notices-ClosingEPage 1 8/2/16 2:02:03 PM Full National Conservation Law now in force CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Zika shows little impact on tourism CHARLES DUNCAN, JAMES WHITTAKER cduncan@pinnaclemedialtd.com, jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Zika-related travel warnings for tourists, like the one issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show little impact on tourism, based on available data for other Caribbean Islands. Cayman’s Public Health De- partment last week confirmed two cases of Zika had been trans- mitted by mosquitoes in Cayman, leaving tourism officials concerned about potential impacts on the tourism economy in the Islands. Tourism industry leaders say they are monitoring the likely effect of the Zika virus on tourism num- bers in the wake of the CDC’s travel warning, but do not expect it to have a big impact. “Now more than ever, it is im- portant for residents and busi- nesses to adhere to the prevention practices outlined by the Public Health Department and the Mos- quito Research Control Unit,” the Department of Tourism said in a press release last week. Looking at some examples around the Caribbean, most islands did not see any significant impact after confirming local transmis- sion of Zika. In January, the CDC issued a Level 2 travel warning for the Dominican Republic, the same type of warning issued for Cayman. Despite the warning, air arrivals in the Dominican Republic continued to climb between 5 percent and more than 8 percent each month compared to the year before. As of May, cruise arrivals in the Dominican Republic were up by more than 20 percent. In the middle of February, the CDC issued a travel warning to Aruba, seen as one of Cayman’s di- rect competitors for high-end stay- over tourism. Stay-over tourism grew by more than 6 percent in March, but then leveled out in April and shrank by almost 8 percent in May compared to the year be- fore, according to the most recent data available. Aruba’s cruise passenger arrivals were up by 20 percent as of May. Barbados, which has had a CDC travel warning in place since late January, has seen year-over-year growth in every month except April, including a more than 9 percent jump in May over the year before. James Andrews, a tourism in- dustry watcher with Integra Realty Resources in Cayman, said seven of 26 jurisdictions in the Caribbean have reported declines in tourist arrivals this year. “Most declines were expected and part of a longer term trend,” he said, pointing to places like Trinidad, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Haiti, which have other problems contributing to slowing tourism numbers. “My overall feeling is that, so far, Zika has affected tourism from pregnant women, which is a tiny portion of the market,” he said, adding, “not enough to significantly impact tourism.” So far this month, the CDC has issued Level 2 travel warnings for several jurisdictions in the Carib- bean, including Cayman, Turks and Caicos, and Antigua and Barbuda. The warnings caution pregnant women about avoiding unneces- sary travel to places with local Zika transmission and advise travelers to avoid mosquito bites and prac- tice safe sex. When travelers return home, the CDC says, they should still avoid mosquitoes when they get home to prevent potentially transmitting the virus to local mos- quito populations. Markus Mueri, who runs NM Ventures, owner of several restau- rants in the Cayman Islands in- cluding Deckers and Abacus, said, “I don’t worry too much. I assume Rio was very concerned about it and it seems hundreds of thou- sands don’t really care. Every other year, we have a different kind of issue. People seem to have to talk about something.” John Cardona, director of sales and marketing at the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa, which is due to open in November, said the issue was not having an impact on the hotel’s pre-opening bookings. He said, “We, of course, are fol- lowing the Zika news and happy to report that our bookings have not been affected from the U.S. due to any recent ink.” in place development plans that actually mean some- thing for the country. “Without those tools, the National Conserva- tion Law will not be able to stop some of the more egre- gious decisions and actions that are being taken in terms of development.” She said the law puts the environment on an equal footing with other consid- erations but does not confer any extraordinary powers on the conservation council and would not necessarily stop decisions being taken that could be viewed as anti-environment. Protected zones One area where the Na- tional Conservation Council will have decision-making power is for applications on and around protected land. The law creates the legal framework for the creation of protected zones, which would fall under the jurisdic- tion of the council. Ms. Ebanks-Petrie re- buffed concerns that this could negatively impact the value of surrounding land, suggesting in most jurisdictions, proximity to green spaces increases land values. On the sometimes con- troversial topic of environ- mental impact assessments, she said the law gives the Na- tional Conservation Council new power to require that such studies are undertaken in some cases. She said this is a power that would be used spar- ingly and only for major de- velopment where the “base- line data” did not exist to assess the environmental impacts accurately. Under the law, developers will be required to fund such environmental impact as- sessments themselves. For example, the Iron- wood golf resort develop- ment, which was approved in June by the Central Plan- ning Authority despite a rec- ommendation from the DoE that an environmental im- pact assessment take place, could have been compelled to carry out the study if the law had been in place at the time. The National Conserva- tion Law is now fully imple- mented, with the exception of two clauses, which officials say are still being worked on and do not affect the sub- stance of the law. The Marine Conservation Law, which was in place to protect the marine environ- ment, has been repealed now that the provisions have been transferred to the National Conservation Law. Mr. Panton said the new law provides a guiding frame- work that is flexible enough to protect Cayman’s marine and terrestrial environment for generations to come. Spear licensing The new sections, im- plemented Monday, also in- clude a new licensing regime for spearfishermen, allowing them to import replacement parts for their spearguns, and moves the licensing of other activities, such as lion- fish culling, under the new legal framework. Tourism industry leaders say they are monitoring the likely effect of the Zika virus on tourism numbers in the wake of the CDC’s travel warning, but do not expect it to have a big impact. Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Public Beach was packed in mid-August. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLER The implementation of sections 5 and 7 mean that nearly three years after its unanimous approval in the Legislative Assembly, the full National Conservation Law is now substantially in effect.DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay TUESDAY AUGUST 16, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Happy couple weds in WB ALMA CHOLLETTE achollette@pinnaclemedialtd.com After almost six years to- gether, Priscilla Habib and Clem Scott tied the knot last month in West Bay. The couple were mar- ried by Joy Basdeo be- fore 100 invited guests on July 2 at the West Bay Wes- leyan Holiness Church. Priscilla and Clem met in Cayman Brac about six years ago when Priscilla was on a girls’ weekend trip to the Sister Island. Priscilla of North West Point, West Bay, and Clem of West End, Cayman Brac, were intro- duced by a mutual friend. The couple got engaged at midnight of New Year’s Eve 2015, at Camana Bay. According to Clem, an air traffic controller, he waited five years to propose because of his career obligations in the Brac. “[I] absolutely did not see the proposal coming,” said Priscilla, a compliance manager, “but was extremely surprised and emotional as my family and his family were there.” Priscilla chose an Oleg Cassini gown for her walk down the aisle, after she fell in love with the dress online. “And it fit perfectly when I went to Miami to try it on,” she said. With a bouquet of orchids, roses and hydrangeas in hand, she was escorted down the aisle and given away by her father Elias. She said her favorite part of her Sarah Parker-planned wedding was “when my dad walked me down the aisle to- wards my future husband in front of all our family and friends. As for Clem, “The recep- tion and being able to mingle and enjoy the evening with my wife and our guests,” was unforgettable. The reception was held at Morgan’s at the Yacht Club. Among the guests were maid of honor Ada Bennett, best man Arturo Ramirez, and the newlyweds’ 2-year-old daughter and flower girl, Kaelyn. The couple has delayed their honeymoon until next year and plan to go to Hawaii. “It was coincidental,” said Priscilla. “When we started dating, we asked each other where we would want to go on a honeymoon if we ever got married and the both of us said Hawaii.” Flowers girls Amie Ebanks and the couple’s 2-year-old daughter Kaelyn Scott walk down the aisle of the Wesleyan Holiness Church. Newlyweds Priscilla Habib of North West Point, West Bay, and Clem Scott of West End, Cayman Brac, with their daughter Kaelyn. Tishan Crowe, 24, is one of the re- cent young achievers selected for the Proud of Them recognition award. Ms. Crowe graduated summa cum laude this year from Johnson & Wales University in the United States. She maintained a 4.0 GPA every semester for her bachelor’s degree in busi- ness management, was on the Dean’s List each term (five times) and also maintained the highest GPA in the school of business. At university, she was inducted into the Alpha Beta Kappa National Honor Society, which selects its mem- bers based on integrity, excellence, and leadership. Additionally, for her hard work, professors nominated Ms. Crowe to deliver the Valedictorian’s Honors Speech at her commencement cere- mony. Although she was not selected, she was chosen to be the awards cer- emony speaker. At graduation, she received the Aca- demic Performance Award. Ms. Crowe, who became pregnant in high school, graduated with honors and supported her daughter by getting a job, and eventually working two jobs. Ms. Crowe, who is from West Bay, went on take evening classes until she earned her associate’s degree, which she also completed with honors while working full-time. She made the difficult decision to leave behind her then-4-year-old daughter to pursue her studies abroad. In addition to being separated from her daughter, Ms. Crowe has also faced difficulties in financing her education, but through her efforts and determina- tion, she was able to secure grants and loans to put her through school. Ms. Crowe, who worked for the summer with Decco Ltd., said of the Proud of Them recognition: “It felt good to be acknowledged.” The Proud of Them initiative rec- ognizes the achievements of young people ages 10 to 25. Through a public nomination process, individuals are honored in the categories of aca- demics, careers, business, sports, cul- ture or community service. Each young person selected is fea- tured for six months at a time on bill- boards across the Cayman Islands, and receives a certificate and $500. PROUD OF THEM Crowe honored for academics Tishan Crowe In the Aug. 17, 1966 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Com- pass, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “A quiet wedding was sol- emnized in Virginia, U.S., on July 29 when Mr. Lud- wick Ebanks, son of Mr. and Mrs. Garland Ebanks, took as his bride Irene Christian, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Errol Christian. “The couple spent their honeymoon in Baltimore. They are making their home in New York. “Mrs. Edward Bush and two children, accompanied by Mrs. Doris Anglin, arrived on the 11th from Jamaica where she went for medical attention. “Mr. and Mrs. Crawford Owens and their son Kern left on the 11th for a two-week holiday in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Mrs. Owens and Kern will return home. Mr. Owens will go on to Philadel- phia for his job. “Mr. Alberto Webster left on the 7th for Mobile, Alabama, to join S.S. Commonwealth as Ju- nior Engineer. “Mr. and Mrs. Hurley Man- derson became the happy par- ents of their fifth child and son on the 11th, weighing 8½ lbs. “Their fourth child and third daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Fellner (Sonny) on the 11th, weighing 6 lbs. “Mr. Theodore Fellner ar- rived on the 13th from Vietnam, via Jamaica, on S.S. Carpine. “Rev. Wingore Taylor, Pres. of the Pilgrim Holiness Bible School in Barbados, arrived on the 7th and conducted three nights of special services in that Church. Services were concluded by a rally which the members and friends from North Side attended. “After spending an enjoyable holiday home, Master Charles Glidden returned to Miami on the 13th, accompanied by his mother Violet to American Christian Academy. “The Christian Endeavour sponsored a social on the 8th to welcome the ‘Cayman Cru- saders’ as they have named themselves. The welcome ad- dress was given by Rev. Coke. “In response, the group in- troduced themselves. Games were organized by Miss Grace Ebanks. Refreshments were served. Choruses were sung and an enjoyable evening was spent in the United Church Hall. These visitors are here to help with the Vacation Bible School.” 50 YEARS AGO A wedding in Virginia; births and arrivals on islandThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY AUGUST 16, 2016 7 ENTERTAINMENT TUESDAY, AUG. 16 BOOK SALE: The Red Cross Thrift Shop is having a five-dollar bag book sale from today until Aug. 31. Customers can get all the books they can fit in a bag for only $5. THURSDAY, AUG. 18 VEHICLE, DRIVERS LICENSING: The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing will offer limited services at its Crewe Road location today and the West Bay office will be closed. Hours of operation will be 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Limited services will result in there being no written/driving examinations or vehicle inspections. Normal hours of operation resume on Friday, Aug. 19, for the Crewe Road office (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and for the West Bay Office (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). This closure is to facilitate a staff meeting and retreat. PROVIDING OPTIMUM CUSTOMER SERVICE: Chamber of Commerce course, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce offices, Governors Square. $150 for members, $225 for future members. Register at www.caymanchamber.ky. HUMANE SOCIETY QUIZ NIGHT: 7 p.m. Fidel Murphy’s. $10 per person, teams of up to six people. All proceeds go toward transferring dogs to their new homes in the U.S. Contact sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. FRIDAY, AUG. 19 LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWALS DEADLINE: Liquor license holders, including those with music and dancing licenses, are reminded of the deadline to apply for license renewals. Only complete renewal applications, with either inspection certificates or proof of inspection requests, that are submitted by the deadline will be heard at the Liquor Licensing Board’s annual session on Sept. 30. Applications can be downloaded from the Department of Commerce and Investment’s website, www.dci.gov.ky. For more information, contact Acting Secretary Gavin Dixon on 244-3167 or DCI’s Shelise Jeffery on 244-2202. SATURDAY, AUG. 20 DIABETES HEALTH FAIR: St. George’s Anglican Church, off Eastern Avenue, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free A1C testing, blood pressure and weight check. Education and information. Presented by the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens. KIDS’ CHALLENGE: Kids aged six to 12 can get in on the Olympic action with a complimentary sports day at Camana Bay. There will be a timed obstacle race filled with opportunities to run, jump, throw and more. Prizes include Olympic-branded shirts and water bottles. 2-5 p.m. The Crescent. CAR BOOT SALE: 6–9 a.m. Regatta Parking Lot, along Esterley Tibbetts Highway. The DMS Gives Back Committee is organizing a car boot sale to support the Humane Society. Register for a spot to sell goods or attend as a customer and browse the items for sale. Registration cost is $50 per car. This fee goes to the Humane Society; sellers keep whatever money they take in. The Humane Society will be on hand to accept any clothes or household items. Call or email Cara Hennessy at 749-2414 or chennessy@ dmsgovernance.com to reserve a spot. Also contact Cara to volunteer or to donate any items for the sale. MONDAY, AUG. 22 BIBLE REFLECTIONS: The East End United Church hosts a week of Bible Reflections under the theme More Prayers, More Power led by Rev. Alice Blair. Tonight thru Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Everyone is invited. STUDENT HEALTH SCREENING: All students entering government or private schools in Cayman for the first time are required to have health screenings, including students entering reception programs. Public Health Department staff will conduct the screenings, which are free. For those entering schools in West Bay and the eastern districts, screenings ended June 30. For all others, screenings will be at the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre Campus until Aug. 22. Appointments can be made at the school the child will be attending. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 24 CONSERVATION COUNCIL: The National Conservation Council holds a general meeting at 2-5 p.m. in the ground floor meeting room (1038) of the Government Administration Building in Grand Cayman. The agenda of the meeting will be available at the DoE website (www.doe. ky/conservation-council). This meeting is open to observers from the public. If anyone wishes to submit comments to the Council in advance of the meeting they may do so via email to ConservationCouncil@gov.ky. CERAMIC OPEN STUDIO: Offered by Visual Arts Society today and Aug. 31 to adults who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watler House Studio, Pedro Castle grounds. $15 pp/$25 pp non-members. Clay, materials, glazes and firing facilities are available. More information at info@visualartcayman.com. THURSDAY, AUG. 25 BRAC COURT: Summary Court in Cayman Brac, Aston Rutty Centre. Today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. A WALK THROUGH WATERCOLORS: Join art critic Emé Paschalides for a special discussion and walkthrough of the National Gallery’s watercolor exhibition, “A Legacy of Light.” This program is free. Refreshments will be available. Doors open at 5 p.m. Discussions begin at 5:30 p.m. For additional details or to RSVP, email education@nationalgallery. org.ky or call 945-8111. SME WORKSHOP: “Getting the Most Out of Media Solutions, IT and Telephony,” a Chamber of Commerce course. 5:30- 7:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. Free. Register at www.caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, AUG. 26 DANCE REGISTRATION: The Cayman Islands National Dance Company – Dance Unlimited holds registration to dance 2016- 2017. Returning dancers registration is today, 5:30- 6:30 p.m. New dancers registration is Saturday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Mirco Centre, unit #218. Dancers are from 3 years to adults. SATURDAY, AUG. 27 WATERCOLOR PLAY: Family Day at the National Gallery, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free family fun art activities based on the watercolor exhibition, “A Legacy of Light.” Activity sheets and art activities will be available for children of all ages in the National Gallery. Self-guided tour packs can be collected at reception for families to use as they explore the temporary exhibition. Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase in the Art Café. Admission is free and open to all ages. For more information, email education@nationalgallery. org.ky or call 945-8111. WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP: 10-11 a.m. at the National Gallery. Have fun with all kinds of water-based paints. Unlock creativity and discover new ways to apply paint to paper. Explore pattern, shape and color. All materials are provided and the event is open to children of all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult. This is a free drop-in event, but the workshop is limited to 20 students, so pre-registration is a must. Email education@ nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111. SUMMER CAMPS SHUTTERBUGS: Sessions for young photographers. Picture This Studios, Camana Bay. Ages 8 to 11, Mondays. Ages 11 to 16, Fridays. Each session is 9 a.m. till noon; $35. Contact bouke@picturethis.ky or 943-3686. STARFISH VILLAGE: Camana Bay. Enrichment activities for ages 3 to 12, divided by age groups. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. $80 per day, with other rates by the week or half-day. Contact info@starfish.ky. SPORTS CAMP: Camana Bay Sports Complex. Weekly, from 8 a.m. to noon for ages 6 to 14. Week starting July 25 is $150. Contact cbsc@camanabay.com or 640-2878. KIDS SUMMER ART & CRAFT CAMP: Visual Arts Society. Watler House Studio, Pedro Castle grounds. Wednesday and Thursday mornings until Aug. 18. For ages 5 to 12. $45 pp; fee includes materials and snack. Contact vascayman@gmail.com. KARATE KAMP: Purple Dragon Karate at Mirco Centre offers karate, crafts, field trips, indoor and outdoor activities 8:30 a.m. till 5:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays until Aug. 19. $75 per day; $40 half-day; $300 per week; $280 per week for two weeks; $250 per week for four weeks. Call 946-1241 or email purple@candw.ky. SAILING CAMP: Cayman Islands Sailing Club. Children ages 6 to 16 and beginners welcome. Each camp is two weeks, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Games, field trips and lots of sailing in North Sound. All safety equipment is provided. $650 for non- members; $550 for CISC members. Lunch option for two weeks is $80. One- week option available by request. To register, contact sailingcentre@sailing.ky or call 926-7915. CNCF SUMMER ARTS CAMP: Aug. 11-19, open to students ages 7–16. Children 6 years old are accepted if an older sibling is enrolled in the Cayman National Cultural Foundation camp. Students will engage in activities that focus on the visual, traditional and performing arts, with classes in drama, storytelling, dance and more. Students will also get to take part in field trips that highlight Cayman’s cultural and maritime heritage. Forms are online at www. artscayman.org/creative- kids. Cost is $150 per child for seven days. Snacks and lunch are included. For more information, email cncf@artscayman.org or call 949-5477. RETHINK TEEN LEADERSHIP CAMP: Aug. 15-19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Family Resource Centre. Participants will be engaged in fun, interactive, project-based learning, will learn about leadership, and will be introduced to the campaigns and select committees on various initiatives and how to present these initiatives to the Cayman community. Free. For more information, contact 949-0006 or frc@gov.ky or facebook. com/familyresourcecentre. GENERAL INTEREST VOLUNTEER TEACHERS SOUGHT: The CXC Education Programme, offering all interested adults a second chance at an education, invites volunteer teachers to apply. A variety of courses are offered at basic, intermediate and CXC exam levels. Also offered are skills-oriented subjects such as QuickBooks, cosmetology and dressmaking. Registration is Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2 p.m. at the John Gray High School Auditorium; classes begin on Sunday, Sept. 18. Students may register for as many courses as they can manage; registration fee is $100 to cover books and other supplies for the year. For more information, visit www.education. adventisteducation.org or call Dr. L. Smith, 325-6462, or Mrs. L. Wynter-Young, 938-3701. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The Red Cross Thrift Shop holds a book sale until Aug. 31. Customers can get all the books they can fit in a bag for only $5.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY AUGUST 16, 2016 • CAYMAN COMPASS Trump’s new test for admission to US Donald Trump is calling for a new ideological test for admission to the United States, vetting applicants on their stance on issues like religious freedom, gender equality and gay rights. The policy would represent a significant shift in how the U.S. now manages entry into the country. At least six die, thousands flee for higher ground in Louisiana flooding More than 20,000 evacuated BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Thou- sands of people in southern Louisiana hunkered down in shelters Monday, forced out of their homes by in- tense flooding that took many people by surprise. At least six people were killed. The weather had im- proved from the torren- tial downpours that began Friday but rivers and creeks in many areas were still way above flood stage, and people downstream eyed the deluge with concern. Across southern Louisiana, residents have been scram- bling to get to safety as rivers and creeks burst their banks, swollen from days of heavy rain that in some areas came close to 2 feet over a 48-hour period. Rescuers evacuated more than 20,000 people since the flooding started Friday and more than 10,000 people were in shelters as of late Sunday, according to Loui- siana Gov. John Bel Edwards. In high-water vehicles, boats and helicopters, emer- gency crews hurried to rescue scores of people and the gov- ernor warned it was not over. “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” said Barbara Manuel, 41, speaking on the side of the road as she was about to get in a National Guard vehicle. On Sunday, Manuel saw a little sun, giving her hope that the worst of the flooding was over. But then the skies ripped open, the lights in her house started to flicker and with 3 feet of water out- side threatening to come in, she knew it was time to get out with her two children – a 5-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son. “As long as my kids are safe, that’s all that matters,” she said. From the air, homes looked more like little is- lands surrounded by flooded fields. Farmland was cov- ered, streets descended into impassable pools of water, shopping centers were inun- dated with only roofs of cars peeking above the water. From the ground it was just as catastrophic. Drivers tried to navigate treacherous roads where the water lapped at the side or covered the asphalt in a running stream. Abandoned cars were pushed to the side of the road, lawn furniture and children’s toys floating through the waters. The low pressure system moved into Texas, but the National Weather Service warned that there’s still danger of fresh floods, as swollen rivers drain toward the Gulf of Mexico. Rivers in the Baton Rouge area have started to fall, but still remained above flood stage setting record levels over the weekend, the Na- tional Weather Service said Monday. “The rivers and streams north of Interstate 12 have crested and have started to drop, while those south of the interstate continue to rise,” meteorologist Mike Ef- ferson said. He said the Baton Rouge area could see up to a half-inch of rain Monday. The Comite River just east of Baton Rouge dropped nearly 2 feet by Monday from the 34-feet over the weekend. Flood stage is 20 feet. The Amite River at Denham Springs was at 43.5 feet Monday after reaching 46.2 feet. Flood stage is 29 feet. The federal government declared a major disaster, specifically in the parishes of Tangipahoa, St. Helena, East Baton Rouge and Liv- ingston. More parishes could be added as assessments are done, and officials are ad- vising residents to document all their damage. Gov. Edwards said Pres- ident Barack Obama called him and said the people of southern Louisiana were in his thoughts and prayers. Edwards called on people to refrain from going out to “sightsee” even as the weather gets better. Authorities worked throughout Sunday to rescue people from cars stranded on a miles-long stretch of Inter- state 12. The governor said on Twitter late in the day that everyone had been rescued. Hundreds of people were gathered at Celtic Media Centre in Baton Rouge, some coming in by bus and others by helicopter. Matthew and Rachel Fitz- patrick, from Brandon, Mis- sissippi, hopped off one of the choppers with her grandpar- ents. The couple had been vis- iting family in Baton Rouge when the flooding started. They found temporary refuge at Hebron Baptist Church but became trapped by floodwa- ters Saturday night. People at the church used boats and big trucks to rescue others and bring them to the church, where helicopters started picking them up and flying them to safety Sunday. The evacuees included the governor and his family, who were forced to leave the Governor’s Mansion when chest-high water filled the basement and electricity was shut off. UK ex-soccer player dies after police use Taser on him LONDON (AP) – The death of a former Premier League soccer player who was shot with a Taser by police is being investigated by Brit- ain’s Independent Police Complaints Commission. Dalian Atkinson died around 90 minutes after po- lice officers used a Taser on him. Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and Ipswich all paid their respects to the 48-year-old in posts on their websites. “The IPCC is conducting a full and thorough inves- tigation into all of the cir- cumstances surrounding his death including the use of force,” the commission said in a statement. England’s Football Association said it was “sad- dened to hear of the passing” of Atkinson, who represented England’s ‘B’ team. Forensic officers were at the property in question in Telford on Monday and the road remained cordoned off. Police said a man received medical attention after offi- cers used a Taser when they arrived in the early hours of Monday. “An ambulance was dis- patched and upon arrival found a man who had been Tasered,” said the West Midlands Ambulance Ser- vice, which added that the man’s condition deterio- rated as he was being taken to hospital and he went into cardiac arrest. “Despite the efforts of the crew and hospital staff, it was not possible to save him and he was confirmed dead at hospital, shortly after arrival.” Atkinson scored 20 Pre- mier League goals during his time at Aston Villa from 1991-95. He also played for Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday and Manchester City in Eng- land, and had spells with Real Sociedad in Spain, Fenerbahce in Turkey and also in South Korea. He represented Eng- land’s ‘B’ team. Atkinson was most famous for a scoring a goal for Villa against Wimbledon in Oc- tober 1992, when he ran from inside his own half, evaded a number of attempted chal- lenges before chipping the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net. It was voted as goal of the season in the 1992-93 Premier League. Atkinson also scored in the 1994 League Cup final when Villa beat Manchester United 3-1. “Aston Villa is saddened to hear of the death of our former striker Dalian At- kinson,” the second-tier club said in a statement. “Dalian undoubtedly provided real memorable moments during his time in claret and blue.” Wednesday said Atkinson was “widely regarded as one of the most exciting football talents to emerge during the mid-1980s to early 1990s.” In an era when English players seldom played abroad, Atkinson scored 12 goals in 29 league games during one season with Real Sociedad, before returning to England to play for Villa. He scored 10 goals in 21 league games for Istanbul-based Fenerbahce after leaving Villa. Motorists on Highway 190 drive through deep water in Holden, Louisiana. - PHOTOS: AP Members of the Louisiana Army National Guard rescue people from rising floodwaters near Walker, Louisiana. Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson, left, holds the English League Cup with former Aston Villa player Dalian Atkinson at Wembley Stadium in London in 1994. - PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY AUGUST 16, 2016 Republicans launch pro-Trump campaign – in Israel JERUSALEM (AP) – The Repub- lican Party launched its first election campaign in Israel on Monday, trying to convince skeptical American-Israeli dual citizens to cast their votes for Donald Trump. GOP activists campaigned in Israeli cities with high con- centrations of Americans, such as Jerusalem, Modiin and Raa- nana, handing out stickers and buttons with the slogan “Trump – in Israel’s interest” – in He- brew and in English. Marc Zell, co-chairman of Republicans Overseas Israel, said about 100,000 Israelis voted in the last presidential election, with some 85 percent going Republican. He said the goal was to tap into many more of the potential 300,000-400,000 voters in the country, partic- ularly those who have never voted before. “We want to convince them, through our campaign, that it is important for them to vote, that they are doing a service for Israel, kind of like doing (military) reserve duty from their own home by voting for the Republican candidate who’s really got Israel’s in- terest at heart,” he said. Trump remains a contro- versial candidate in Israel. He has suggested in the past that he would be more “neutral” re- garding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and that, as president, he may scale back foreign aid, of which Israel is a major recipient. He’s also been accused of failing to disavow anti-Se- mitic rhetoric among his sup- porters and espousing an anti-immigrant stance that is grating to many Jews. Trump has drawn criticism from some American Jews for comments last year to a gath- ering of Jewish donors. He was booed after refusing to endorse Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel – a key Israeli position. Some of his other comments were seen by some as promoting Jewish stereo- types. He was forced to cancel a planned trip to Israel late last year after an uproar over some of his comments. Zell insists the Israeli overseas vote is far more than symbolic. “In the year 2000, we had an election where the pres- ident of the United States was decided by 537 votes in southern Florida. In Israel we had 1,500 Republican votes for George Bush in that elec- tion from southern Florida,” he said. “So the impact that we could have in a close election could be very dramatic.” Obama interrupts vacation to campaign for Clinton EDGARTOWN, Mass. (AP) – Golf, afternoons at the beach and … political campaigning? President Barack Obama is interrupting what so far has been a leisurely vaca- tion to help raise money for Hillary Clinton, the Demo- cratic presidential nominee. Obama has said there’s never been anyone more quali- fied than Clinton, who was his rival in the 2008 presi- dential contest and his first- term secretary of state, to be president. Obama was slated to headline a Democratic Party fundraising dinner Monday evening on Martha’s Vine- yard, the island playground off the coast of Massachu- setts where he is in the midst of a two-week vaca- tion with his wife, Michelle, and their daughters Malia and Sasha. Democrats Hank Goldberg and his wife, Carol Brown Goldberg, are hosting the event at their home in Chil- mark, the same town where the president is renting a va- cation home. Obama will deliver re- marks, but the news media will not be permitted to hear his answers to ques- tions asked by some of the approximately 60 donors who are expected to attend. Tickets cost up to $33,400, party officials said, with the proceeds benefiting Clin- ton’s campaign, the Demo- cratic National Committee and state parties across the country. The White House said Obama is eager to hit the campaign trail and be as helpful as possible to fellow Democrats. After the sched- uling worked out, he agreed to interrupt his golf, beach and dinner outings to appear at the fundraiser and give Clinton a boost. Obama recently said Clinton’s opponent, Repub- lican presidential nominee Donald Trump, is “unfit to serve,” his harshest cri- tique yet of the New York businessman. Obama is expected to campaign aggressively for Clinton in the fall run-up to the Nov. 8 elections. He en- dorsed her right after the primaries and caucuses ended in June. At their first joint campaign appearance in Charlotte, North Caro- lina, in July, Obama said no one more qualified than Clinton has ever sought to become president. He repeated the assertion at the Democratic National Convention late last month, saying “there has never been a man or a woman – not me, not Bill (Clinton), nobody – more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as presi- dent of the United States of America.” Clinton is not expected to appear with Obama. She made her first cam- paign appearance with Vice President Joe Biden on Monday in his hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Obama arrived Aug. 6 on the Massachusetts is- land where he has vaca- tioned during all but one of his eight summers as presi- dent. So far, he has indulged in seven rounds of golf, five dinner outings, two after- noons at the beach and a couple of trail walks. The president is sched- uled to return to the White House on Sunday. German central bank suggests raising retirement age to 69 BERLIN (AP) – Germany’s central bank is arguing that the country’s retirement age should ultimately be lifted another two years to 69, a call that received a frosty re- sponse from the government. The government decided a decade ago to raise the retire- ment age from 65 to 67. The increase is being introduced gradually and will apply to all retirees by 2029. Since then, there have been periodic calls for people in Europe’s biggest economy to work even longer. In its monthly report Monday, the Bundesbank said consid- eration should be given to raising the retirement age to around 69 by 2060 to make sure the pension system is viable as the population ages. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said that the government “stands by retirement at 67.” The Bundesbank said that demographic trends are such that the average age in German society will continue to rise, which will put greater stress on the pension system, and that the government should be accounting for the antici- pated change now. “In order for pension plans to reflect long term trends, official projections should go past the year 2030,” the bank wrote in its report. Other countries in Eu- rope are also trying to grad- ually increase the retire- ment age as they struggle with an aging population. France recently lifted its threshold to 62 from 60 for people who have paid so- cial security contributions throughout their working life. For those who haven’t, the retirement age is 67. Italy, which is also strug- gling with high public debt, is gradually increasing its retirement thresholds, to 66 for both men and women by 2018. DOZENS INJURED AS FIREWORKS PROMPT PANIC ON FRENCH RIVIERA PARIS (AP) – Authorities say fireworks in a French Riviera resort town appear to have prompted a panic that led to dozens of injuries as people scrambled to flee. Residents are on edge around the country after a string of deadly attacks, including the Bastille Day truck rampage in Nice last month that killed 85 people after a fireworks show. About 12 miles down the coast from Nice, loud sounds that apparently came from small-scale fire- works sent restaurant-goers fleeing in alarm Sunday. The local administration reported Monday that about 40 people were injured in the melee. Nice-Matin newspaper quoted witnesses who de- scribed confusion and fears of a new attack. France has been under a state of emergency since Is- lamic extremist attacks in November killed 130 people. The local administration reported Monday that about 40 people were injured in the melee. Other countries in Europe are also trying to gradually increase the retirement age as they struggle with an aging population. President Barack Obama A banner in Hebrew reads ‘Trump - in Israel’s interest’ as the Republican Party launches its first-ever election campaign in Israel in Modiin, on Monday. - PHOTO: AP Tickets cost up to $33,400, party officials said, with the proceeds benefiting Clinton’s campaign, the Democratic National Committee and state parties across the country.Next >