ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2017 183119_PRINT-Ad-Strip-IrishJog-1Page 1 2/9/17 4:56:21 PM Cayman observes Commonwealth Day JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands marked Commonwealth Day with a flag- raising ceremony at the Govern- ment Administration Building and a sitting of the Youth Par- liament at the Legislative As- sembly on Monday. Government leaders and ser- vice groups gathered for the brief ceremony, which is part of a “Fly the Flag for the Com- monwealth” initiative that was marked in the 52 countries of the Commonwealth worldwide. The theme of this year’s Com- monwealth Day is “A Peace- Building Commonwealth.” Lemuel Hurlston, honorary representative of the Royal Commonwealth Society in the Cayman Islands, announced the Commonwealth theme and read a message from Common- wealth Secretary-General Pa- tricia Scotland. “‘Fly the Flag for the Com- monwealth’ provides a splendid opportunity every year for people from all walks of life to join with others in their local community to celebrate Com- monwealth Day in association with fellow citizens throughout our worldwide family. “People from nations and ter- ritories in every continent and Fire vehicle, bicycle in West Bay crash BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A cyclist was hospital- ized Monday morning with serious injuries following a collision with a fire service ve- hicle in West Bay. According to a government statement on the crash: “An of- ficer with the Cayman Islands Fire Service was the driver of the fire rescue vehicle that crashed into a utility pole. A cyclist was also involved in the incident.” The truck driver, its pas- senger and the cyclist were taken to hospital. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said the bicycle rider was in serious con- dition but his injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. The two individuals in the truck were treated and released. Police and emergency per- sonnel closed off a section of Birch Tree Hill Road due to MLA: ‘COMMISSION OF INQUIRY’ NEEDED FOR LAWYERS’ CONCERNS BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com George Town MLA Winston Connolly asked Monday for a full commission of inquiry into allegations made by a number of Caymanian attorneys concerning the lack of enforcement of local Immigration Law and “discrimination” within the legal profession. Mr. Connolly’s request was made the same day lawmakers were due to go into a private meeting to discuss a raft of changes to the Legal Practitioners Bill, which has been the subject of almost continuous public debate since last fall when it was proposed. The independent MLA said he had heard of no meetings as reported in the press and had no meetings with the Progressives on the matter. “We have presented overwhelming evi- dence from brave Caymanian lawyers who have spoken about their plight and discrimi- nation in the industry,” Mr. Connolly wrote on his Facebook page. “The government now has to investigate the content of all the letters ta- bled that every MLA now has, answer the Cay- manian lawyers and deal with these issues. “A commission of inquiry is what is needed on the allegations. Nothing else will suffice.” Premier Alden McLaughlin’s office indi- cated that both opposition party members and independent opposition members were consulted about the “in camera” (in chambers, meaning privately held) meeting of the as- sembly Monday afternoon and that all mem- bers agreed to it late Friday. Last week, opposition Legislative Assembly members quoted from a number of documents written by Caymanian attorneys, dating back to a January 2013 presentation to the Grand Court opening given by Law Reform Commis- sion Chairman Ian Paget-Brown. “The evidence shows that Caymanians are deliberately being marginalized in the workplace, denied fair opportunities to ad- vance, have been instructed on occasions about how to vote at Caymanian Bar Associa- tion elections, told that to be a ‘team player’ they must allow the status quo to continue PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » The scene of Monday’s crash on Birch Tree Hill Road in West Bay, where a fire services vehicle and bicycle collided. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Bodden Town MLA Alva Suckoo addresses members of the Youth Parliament in the Legislative Assembly on Monday as, back row against the wall, from left, Leader of the Opposition McKeeva Bush, Premier Alden McLaughlin and Speaker of the House Juliana O’Connor-Connolly look on. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Lance Corporal Jeremy Fedrick and Vivian Worrell of the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps raise the Commonwealth flag at the Government Administration Building in the company of leaders and other service groups. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » VOTERS CHALLENGES TO BE HELD NEXT WEEK Six hearings to address formal ob- jections to the Cayman Islands voters list will be held throughout the dis- tricts next week. Chief Magistrate Nova Hall will hear the public’s objections to individ- uals who they believe should not be on the voters lists. For more, see page 3. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2017 • 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. SATURDAY, MARCH 18TH, 8PM Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 640-FILM (640-3456) - TUESDAY - KONG: SKULL ISLAND 3D (PG13) 12:30 | 3:30 2D I 6:45 | 9:35 2D THE GREAT WALL 3D (PG13) 1:00 | 4:30 | 7:00 | 9:55 THE SHACK (PG13) 4:10 | 9:45 LOGAN (R) 12:30 | 3:35 | 6:40 | 9:40 JOHN WICK CHAPTER 2 (R) 12:55 | 3:50 | 7:05 | 9:50 BEFORE I FALL (PG13) 1:00 | 7:10 Life Extension Gym and Sauna 949-3753 “You are here for the experience ” Cayman farmers reach sky high to meet local vegetable demand KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Grand Cayman farmers are looking up to create a vegetable supply that needs little land, water and soil. With limited space and feasibility for row crops, farmer Davy Ebanks started experimenting with ver- tical farming four years ago. Through a tower system cre- ated by U.S.-based company Verti-Gro, he now cultivates 22 plants in the space typi- cally needed for just one. On a three-and-a-half- acre property in Bodden Town, Mr. Ebanks runs four shaded growing houses where stacks of Styrofoam pots hold lettuce, cilantro, arugula, bok choy, Swiss chard and beets. Much of this produce will reach customers the same day of harvest, selling at Kirk Market, Hurley’s and local restaurants. “People are getting more health conscious and price conscious. There is absolutely no comparison between the locally grown stuff and the stuff that’s imported,” Mr. Ebanks said. “Most of my customers say that the arugula that they import, they lose up to 30 percent of it because in transit it spoils. So there’s a lot of waste. Whereas with this, it’s harvested the same morning.” The growing house de- sign allows Mr. Ebanks to minimize his electric and water use. He said his elec- tric bill for the entire farm is about $28 a month. A timed drip-irrigation system filters water and nu- trients down through co- conut fiber, used as a substi- tute for soil. Overhead shade cloth protects crops from sun, wind and rain. Mr. Ebanks estimated the Verti-Gro houses use about a third of the water and a third of the land he would otherwise need. Verti-Gro president Tim Carpenter explained that tra- ditional greenhouses cost too much to operate in a hot, humid place like the Cayman Islands. By allowing tropical growers to control space and inputs, he has found a major market for vertical farming in the Caribbean. “It works very well in cold climates but extremely well in hot climates,” Mr. Carpenter said. “We have close to 100 sys- tems in the islands, all the way from Grand Cayman to Puerto Rico and all the way down through there, because it can be an outside system or an indoor system.” He estimated that Mr. Ebanks uses one-tenth of the space he would need for field crops. An open-air vent system keeps the houses cool without electricity and Styrofoam pots control root tempera- ture, Mr. Carpenter added. In cases of extreme weather, he is able to fold up the houses within minutes and transfer the rows to a shipping container. “A shade house like Davy has really protects them from rain, sun and wind. That gives him an added advantage over trying to predict what’s going to happen from the weather,” Mr. Carpenter said. While Mr. Ebanks doubts Cayman could ever create a fully local food supply, he said local crops can play an important role in the case of disaster. “You could cover the whole of the Cayman Is- lands in shade cloth and you wouldn’t be able to grow enough stuff to supply the demand,” he said. “But going forward, I see it becoming increasingly more important. Where that stands out even stronger is in the case of a natural disaster, during an extended period of time that ships can’t get in the port. You have the local market here to supply the stuff so people don’t starve.” Mr. Ebanks recently sold the system to another begin- ning farmer, Cayman Airways pilot Olson Anderson. Mr. Anderson began ver- tical growing with a back- yard system and started a commercial house in Jan- uary. After raising cattle with his wife in the U.S., he had dreamed of getting back to agriculture. “The island is so small and the soil isn’t plentiful like it is in Kansas. It’s good soil. It’s just not a lot of it,” Mr. Anderson said. “The Verti-Gro system, in a nutshell, gave us an op- portunity to grow more in less space.” Like Mr. Ebanks, he hopes to start selling to supermar- kets. He also envisions home delivery of fresh vegetables to individual customers. Mr. Ebanks sees a strong future for vertical farming in Cayman, bolstered by growing demand for local products. “The demand is good. The market is here. You can get rid of your stuff,” he said. “This is the future, without a doubt.” Yellow fever outbreak in Brazil worries US officials Top infectious disease ex- perts are warning about a rapidly spreading outbreak of deadly yellow fever in Brazil that could hit parts of the United States. The danger would be most acute if the virus starts spreading by the same mosquito that transmits Zika. The outbreak in Brazil has been under way since De- cember, mostly in rural areas in the southeastern part of the country. It’s taking place primarily in jungle areas, where forest-dwelling mos- quitoes are spreading the virus mainly to monkeys. But an increasing number of people have also been in- fected, making it Brazil’s worst yellow fever outbreak among humans in decades. There have been at least 326 confirmed cases, including 220 deaths, with hundreds of additional cases under investigation, according to the Pan American Health Organization. Writing Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, Anthony Fauci, director of the National In- stitute of Allergy and In- fectious Diseases, said ex- perts are concerned because the number of yellow fever cases is much higher than what’s reported in a typical year in this part of Brazil. Of- ficials are also worried be- cause these areas are also close to major urban centers like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo, where tens of millions of people live and where city- dwelling Aedes aegypti mos- quitoes could start spreading the disease in a human- to-human cycle. Although there is a highly effective vaccine for yellow fever, it is not routinely given in Brazil’s major urban cen- ters, they said. But millions of Brazilians have since been vaccinated this year as health authorities scramble to prevent the outbreak from turning into an epidemic. Aedes aegypti are the same mosquito species that transmit Zika, dengue and chikungunya, viruses that are all related to yellow fever. “The concern now is that there are a considerable number of these jungle cases, and there’s always the possi- bility – although it’s very un- likely – that some of these in- fected people in the jungle” will travel to an urban area and spread the infection to the city- dwelling Aedes aegypti mos- quitoes, Fauci said in an inter- view Wednesday, rather than the jungle-dwelling species that are transmitting it now. “This proximity raises concern that, for the first time in decades, urban trans- mission of yellow fever will occur in Brazil,” wrote Fauci and Catharine Paules, a col- league at NIAID. “In light of the serious na- ture of this historically devas- tating disease, public health awareness and preparedness are critical, even for critical cases,” the authors said. Farmer Davy Ebanks grows beds of microgreens to complement his vertical growing houses. On a three-and-a-half-acre property in Bodden Town, Mr. Ebanks runs four shaded growing houses where stacks of Styrofoam pots hold lettuce, cilantro, arugula, bok choy, Swiss chard and beets. Stacked pots maximize land efficiency on Davy Ebanks’ property in Bodden Town.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2017 Voters challenges, nomination day locations announced BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Formal objections to the Cayman Islands voters list are set to occur next week, with six hearings taking place in five days. Meanwhile, the Elections Office has decided it will host 19 venues for candidate nominations, one in each of the 19 single-member con- stituencies formed by the 2015 Electoral Boundary Commission. Candidate nomination day is March 29. Chief Magistrate Nova Hall, who is also Cayman’s Elections Revising Officer, will conduct the hearing of the public’s claims and ob- jections to individuals who they believe should not be on the voters lists. More than 21,000 names are cur- rently on the list, and the claims hearings are the last check for accuracy before the finalized voters list is pub- lished on April 1. The hearings ■■ Challenges in West Bay’s four constituencies will be heard on March 20, starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Ed Bush Sports Centre conference room ■■ Cayman Brac and Little Cayman challenges will be heard on March 21, starting at 10 a.m. at the District Admin- istration Building in the conference room ■■ Challenges in Bodden Town’s four single- member districts will be heard on March 22, starting at 10 a.m. in the Bodden Town Civic Centre ■■ East End and North Side voter challenges will be heard on the same date, March 23, with hear- ings in North Side be- ginning at 10 a.m. in the Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre. In East End, the hearings are set for 2 p.m. at the William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre ■■ Challenges in all seven single-member constit- uencies within George Town will be heard on March 24, starting at 10 a.m. in the George Town Town Hall. Nomination day Returning officers will hear candidate nomina- tions between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on March 29. Nineteen locations have been iden- tified, so nominations can occur within the constitu- ency where the candidate is seeking election. The candidate does not have to reside in the con- stituency where he or she is seeking office, however, the two individuals nominating that person must be regis- tered electors of that constit- uency. Candidates must file a $1,000 deposit, which will be returned to them unless they receive less than 10 per- cent of the total votes in the constituency. In new requirements for the 2017 general election, candidates must also pro- vide a 2-inch-by-2-inch color photo (passport size) which will be used next to their name on the ballot. Polit- ical party logos will also be listed on the ballot. If the candidate is an indepen- dent, “IND” will appear next to their name. Disqualification Although the Cayman Is- lands Constitution Order [2009] already states who can and cannot be a candi- date in a general election, the amendments approved by the legislature last Oc- tober to the Elections Law set out a process whereby el- igible candidates are deter- mined if questions arise. The process allows the elections supervisor to apply to the Grand Court for a determination as to the qualification or dis- qualification of the partic- ular candidate. Candidate qualifications are determined in section 61 of the constitution, while disqualifying factors are set out in section 62. The bill allows the Grand Court to make the final, un- challenged decision on a candidate’s eligibility. Nomination locations ■■ West Bay North – First Assembly of God Church Hall, 100 Finch Drive ■■ West Bay West – West Bay Public Library, 204 Rev. Blackman Road ■■ West Bay Central – Ed Bush Field Conference Room, 90 Stadium Drive ■■ West Bay South – John Gray Memorial United Church Hall, 26 West Church Street ■■ George Town North – St. George’s Anglican Church Hall, 66 Courts Road ■■ George Town Central – George Town Town Hall, 43 Fort Street ■■ George Town West – Smith Road Centre, 150 Smith Road ■■ George Town South – South Sound Com- munity Centre, 1012 South Church Street ■■ George Town East – Agape Family Wor- ship Centre, 50B Fair- banks Road ■■ Red Bay – Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Avenue ■■ Prospect – Mora- vian Church Hall, 497 Poindexter Road ■■ Savannah – Savannah United Church Hall, 17 Astral Way ■■ Newlands – International College of the Cayman Islands, 595 Hirst Road ■■ Bodden Town West – Ag- ricultural Grounds Pa- vilion, 199 Lottery Road ■■ Bodden Town East – Webster Memorial United Church Hall, 266 Bodden Town Road ■■ North Side – Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre, 923 North Side Road ■■ East End – William Allen McLaughlin Civic Centre, 80 John McLean Drive ■■ Cayman Brac West & Little Cayman – Aston Rutty Centre, 264 Ashton Reid Drive ■■ Cayman Brac East – Veteran’s and Sea- man’s Center, 205 Ashton Reid Drive. More than 21,000 names are currently on the voters list, and the claims hearings are the last check for accuracy before the finalized voters list is published on April 1.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. 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 findtheirownway” We have reached the 50th full day of the Trump Presidency. In that span of time, we’ve had lots of political wran- gling between Donald Trump and the media. We’ve been in- troduced to the concept of the “Deep State” (yes, there is a permanent bureaucracy that acts to protect its own inter- ests, but it’s silly to call it a conspiracy). There have been some controversial executive orders. And Trump made his big speech to Congress. Lots of noise, though, does not mean lots of action. The President hasn’t signed any big legislation to repeal Obamacare, or even any leg- islation to tinker with Obam- acare. There haven’t been any big changes on fiscal policy, either with regards to spending or taxes. Heck, Trump hasn’t even told us what he really thinks on some of these issues. ■■ What does he really want to do on tax cuts and tax reform? His original plan is off the table, but oth- erwise we don’t know. ■■ Is he going to kill the border-adjustable tax, for instance? I hope so, but I have no idea. ■■ Will there be a plan to address the entitlement crisis? I alternate be- tween complete pessi- mism and mild optimism. ■■ Is his infrastructure plan going to be wasteful “bridges to nowhere” or genuine reform? Your guess is as good as mine. ■■ What about trade? We’ll presumably move in the wrong direc- tion, but it’s unclear how far or how fast. ■■ And regulation? I’m guessing a shift in the right direction, but this is another example where we don’t know how far or how fast. In other words, the big- gest takeaway after 50 days is that we still don’t know whether Trump is going to make government bigger or smaller. I addressed some of these issues in two recent inter- views. In a discussion on the day of Trump’s joint address to Congress, I focused mostly on the need for entitlement re- form and explain how Trump could do the right thing for America … if he wants to. In a second interview, which occurred a couple of days later, I started the con- versation by fretting about how the border-adjustable tax could kill the chances of getting good tax policy. The discussion shifted to infrastructure, and I made the rare point that we should copy Europe and get the pri- vate sector more involved. (It’s generally a good idea to do the opposite of Europe, to be sure, but there are a small handful of other areas – in- cluding corporate tax rates, Social Security, and priva- tized postal services – where various European countries are ahead of us.) The bottom line is that we didn’t know before the elec- tion whether Trump wants to limit the burden of govern- ment, and we still don’t know today. My guess last year was that we’ll get the wrong an- swer, though I confess that the jury is still out. Daniel J. Mitchell, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and chairman of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, is on the Editorial Board of the Cayman Financial Review. TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Grand Cayman’s waters are celebrated for their crys- talline clarity, enabling boaters and snorkelers to enjoy the beauty of our country’s coral reefs from fathoms away. But when those magnificent reefs are damaged or destroyed by visiting vessels, and when the Cayman Islands Port Authority is involved, the situation inevitably seems to become murky. (We can’t help but be reminded of sea-dwelling cepha- lopods, such as octopi, squid and cuttlefish, that, when frightened, release clouds of ink in order to confuse and elude predators.) Case in point: As we reported on the front page of Monday’s Compass, the owners of a cargo ship that struck a reef near the Eden Rock dive site last November are now suing the Port Authority, claiming it was partly responsible for the accident. According to the writ, the owners of the 328-foot MV Saga claim that the Port Authority did not properly mark the location of the reef, and that Port Authority actions taken after the “initial incident” exacerbated the damage to the reef. (Specifically, the writ alleges the Port Authority instructed the ship to stop its engines, causing it to be blown further into the reef, and alleges the Port Authority directed tugboats to tug the ship sideways across an area of the reef that had not been damaged initially.) In December, the Saga owners accepted liability for the reef damage and began to undertake the restoration work, according to the Department of Environment. Now, apparently, the company wants the Port Authority to help shoulder some of the financial (and reputational) burden. We’ll leave it to the courts to sort out the particulars of the Saga situation. Even in the absence of a court case, as a rule there is little use in querying the Port Authority when accidents are involved. When the Saga slammed into the coral reef in November, the Compass published three news stories over a four-day span. Here is what the Port Authority had to say to us at the time: Story One: “Port Authority officials were not available for comment over the weekend.” Story Two: “The Port Authority would not comment on the accident, directing all questions to the Department of Environment.” Story Three: After the DOE said the Port Authority was responsible for installing and maintaining naviga- tional markers in the harbor, “The Port Authority did not respond to phone and email requests for a response to the DOE statement.” In case the pattern isn’t evident, consider this sentence from an October 2016 story about a British couple whose Range Rover suffered nearly $50,000 in damage after the Port Authority dropped the shipping container the vehicle was in: “The Port Authority did not respond to requests for comment on the accident, but has denied responsibility or liability for the damage.” Going back to the destruction of reef by the mega- yacht Tatoosh in January 2016 and, earlier, by the Carnival Magic cruise ship in August 2014, the Port Authority’s remarks (when they are forthcoming) have been limited to denials of responsibility or liability. The Port Authority may have a strong legal point. What all of the above situations have in common, apart from the Port Authority’s non-acceptance of blame, is the immunity provision in the Port Authority Law that shields it from liability unless there is “willful neglect or default.” (It’s the “Section 12” problem – the immunity clauses in various statutes that protect a number of Cayman government agencies when they have harmed people or property.) Again, we’ll leave any particulars up to judges and magistrates, but even if the Port Authority is not answer- able to the courts, it – along with all of our public officials – should be answerable to the public. When ships damage reefs, the Port Authority must find its voice Trump presidency: An economic report card FROM CAYMANCOMPASS.COM DANIEL J. MITCHELL DANIEL J. MITCHELL “Pines’ first manager moves into the retirement home,” March 13 Describing Mrs. Olive Miller as “the Mother Te- resa of Cayman” is apt. She is indeed a national trea- sure and truly deserves “hero” status, in a trend of granting such status rather liber- ally. To describe her works in Cayman as “good” is an understatement. Mrs. Olive’s presence in our community has been significant throughout my whole lifetime and her contributions have been selfless. I once saw an inter- view of her explaining that she left her family in Eng- land in her very early 20s, to answer God’s call. After her early missionary work in Jamaica, Cayman has been her home ever since. This sacrifice is deeply im- pressive. One can hardly even imagine such a com- mitment in today’s age. Also impressive is Mrs. Olive’s humility regarding her contributions. I saw her at a funeral recently and thanked her for all she has given to Cayman and she seemed almost oblivious to the value and impact her own contributions. May God continue to bless Mrs. Olive richly as she con- tinues to enjoy life. Deep ap- preciation also to Mrs. Eliz- abeth Hurlston. These two dear ladies are examples why human cloning would be a positive. Meanwhile, I trust that the “powers that be” are taking note of the selfless lives of these ladies. Kerith McCoy President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress on Feb. 28 as Vice President Mike Pence, left, and House Speaker Paul Ryan applaud. – PHOTO: AP5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2017 2016 LONG SERVICE AWARD WINNERS EMPLOYEE SERVICE AWARDS BERMUDA BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS CAYMAN ISLANDS DUBAI HONG KONG LONDON MAURITIUS SINGAPORE conyersdill.com Yasmane Beauchene Tex Whitelocke Carol Yochim 5 YEARS Marc Thomas Sangeetha Prabhakar Tracy Jefferson Laurie Jackson 10 YEARS Keisha Syms 15 YEARS Pictured Left To Right: Marteca Soler-Bodden, Reena Medina, Evana Martinez and Sheila Lea 2016 EMPLOYEE OF THE QUARTER WINNERS Marteca Soler-Bodden Sheila Lea Evana Martinez Reena Medina Q1Q2 Q3Q4 Congratulations to the following Conyers employees for their outstanding dedication and commitment to service. 2017_02_CAY_CAYMANCOMPASS_EMPLOYEE_SERVICE_AWARDS_AD_FINAL_10.333x7.8975.indd 13/9/2017 3:59:13 PM Former boxing champ Bowe to work with Cayman fighters JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former heavyweight boxing champion and Hall of Famer Rid- dick Bowe will work with young Caymanian fighters during a visit to the island this month. Bowe is the guest of honor at the Cayman Islands Boxing Asso- ciation’s latest Fight Night event, featuring local fighters against a team from Panama. He will also host “An evening with Riddick Bowe” on March 31 at the Marriott resort, where he will share stories of his career. Bowe, of the United States, was one of the major figures in the world boxing scene throughout the 1990s, beating Evander Holy- field in 1992 to become the un- disputed heavyweight champion. He was later stripped of the title, famously dumping his belt in a trash can after negotiations to fight the No. 1 contender Lennox Lewis broke down. Bowe has led a colorful life, and spent 17 months in prison after being convicted in 1998 of kidnap- ping his estranged wife and their children, before making a come- back to the ring. Mark Woollard, commercial manager for the Cayman Islands Boxing Association and one of the principals of Silverlight Sales which organizes the Fight Night events, said the visit promises to be an en- tertaining experience and a valuable learning opportunity for the island’s young boxers. He said, “He has had an eventful life and I’m sure it is going to be very entertaining to hear some of his stories and for people to have the chance to ask him some questions.” He said Bowe would visit the boxing gym before the event to work out with Cayman’s young fighters. “They are going to have the op- portunity to get up close and per- sonal with a true world cham- pion. Not many young boxers get that kind of opportunity. He will be very accessible to the boxers during the visit.” The event comes on the heels of multiple world champion Manny Pacquiao’s visit to the Cayman Is- lands earlier this year. The boxing event, Elite Marble and Granite Fight Night 4, takes place April 1 at the Lions Centre and will feature some of Cay- man’s top boxers, including Dariel Ebanks, Hopkin Ebanks and Cham- bria Dalhouse against oppo- nents from Panama. Panama’s current female 75kg world champion Atheyna Bylon will also compete against Dominican boxer Maria Moronta in an action- packed night for the sport. Mr. Woollard said boxing is growing in Cayman, with more than 100 youngsters now part of the after-school program and a core of dedicated young fighters training regularly. Promising young fighters emerging from the program will be featured on the undercard at the event. “One of our mandates is to try and work with at-risk youth,” Mr. Woollard said. “We take kids from dif- ferent backgrounds and try and teach them discipline and team- work and respect through the sport of boxing.” Bowe is the guest of honor at the Cayman Islands Boxing Association’s latest Fight Night event, featuring local fighters against a team from Panama. In this June 17, 1995 photo, Riddick Bowe displays the championship belt after his bout with Jorge Luis Gonzalez. Bowe won the fight with a knockout in the sixth round. - PHOTO: APDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days West Bay TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS West Bay’s Vivo restaurant giving back to kids in need A West Bay restaurant has introduced a new spe- cial that will support needy children in the commu- nity, in association with Feed our Future. Vivo restaurant’s Two for One special, which kicked off last week, will provide one meal for a child going hungry in the district for every “Feed our Future Spe- cial Meal” purchased as part of the promotion. According to the char- ity’s website, Feed our Fu- ture’s primary mission is to solve childhood hunger and support intellectual nour- ishment in the Cayman Is- lands. The organization funds a nutritionally bal- anced school lunch pro- gram to provide low cost or free school meals to chil- dren in need in public and private schools, with the goal of enriching partici- pating children’s learning potential and health while reducing the burden on the community. “Vivo is one of our newer restaurant partners, and we were brainstorming on how we could do something to- gether that was a bit dif- ferent, allowing them to support us more than they already do. We came up with this initiative as a way to link Vivo to the children we support in the West Bay community, and introduce them to the principles of sustainable eating that Vivo is promoting,” said Feed our Future Chairwoman Stacey VanDevelde. “We work with Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay, and this new special as it is still in its infancy, we currently en- vision the promotion pro- viding a meal that goes home with the kids, since we already sponsor the lunch for over 30 kids at the school,” she said. “Our initial thought was to give the children the same meal that is served at the restaurant, as that would allow us to best reflect the efforts of Vivo to promote sustainability and also pass along the knowledge to the children’s families as well.” Vivo owner Michele Zama said he is pleased that the restaurant and Feed Our Fu- ture were able to come up with the concept. “We wanted to do some- thing that was not just do- nating money to the orga- nization, as I really want the kids taking part in their programs to try our food, which is sustainable, vegan, local and made with love,” he said. “It’s an opportu- nity for the kids to taste something new.” Mr. Zama says that each week the special will likely be something different, as daily menu items at the res- taurant depend on what is delivered fresh each morning from local suppliers. “We will see what we get fresh from the market, and will create a special dish,” said Mr. Zama. “We hope to provide a lot of meals for kids, and maybe have them come to the res- taurant even. Otherwise, we will send boxed meals over to them to take home.” He said for Vivo it is very important to be in contact with the community and to contribute in the way they best are able. Mr. Zama says last Tues- day’s inaugural special was Pad Thai, and the restaurant sold 13 two-for-one meals. “Each week we hope we will sell more and more, and though the promotion is set to run for March we would like to expand it so that we can keep it going for at least the next few months.” 50 years ago: Ham operator helps urgent international search In the March 15, 1967 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay news included: “A U.S. Air Force radio operator in Ecuador sent out an emergency radio call for aid in the location of the father of a 12-year-old leu- kemia victim stricken in Ra- leigh, North Carolina. “‘Diver’ Delps, who has a powerful radio station at his home on West Bay Beach, in- tercepted the call and prom- ised aid from the world fra- ternity of ‘hams’ (amateur radio operators). “He marshalled operators together from Illinois, Ken- tucky, Florida, Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Texas, Ecuador, Colombia and sev- eral ships at sea. Through the combination of efforts by hams from these locali- ties, the father was traced at a mountain resort in Ec- uador where a ham operator rattled the father’s door at 2 a.m. with news of his daugh- ter’s illness. “The final message from Ecuador to West Bay was that the Air Force would pick up the father at 6 a.m. for connection with a jet liner at Quito. “Mercy missions such as this are commonplace among amateur radio oper- ators. We are pleased that ZFICF of West Bay, Grand Cayman, shared in this par- ticular mission.” In the same issue, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “Mr. Jadon Ebanks and baby, who live in New York, left on the 10th after spending four months here. “Mr. Carl Powell has re- turned to Tampa. He has bought a home here and was busy working on it in his vacation time. “Miss Elerey Bodden ar- rived on the 6th from Ja- maica where she accom- panied her sister Brindell for medical aid. “Mr. Leith Ebanks has re- turned to his job in the U.S. having spent a long vacation at home. His mother went along with him to visit his children in the U.S. “We regret to warn the people of this district of the daring thieves around. Clothes and other articles were stolen from a line in Mr. Stafford Ebanks’ yard a few nights ago. Chickens have also been stolen recently. “Arrivals within the past few days have been Messrs. Lee Ebanks and Stanley Orrett, and Mrs. Mack Ebanks from Jamaica, where she received medical aid and feels much better. “Their sixth child and third son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Georgie Ebanks of Boatswains Bay on the 9th, weighing 6 pounds. “Mr. Solomon Ebanks returned from Jamaica on the 11th. He has ob- tained his visa for per- manent residence in the U.S. Elwart Ebanks of Na- tional Bulk Carriers has ar- rived on vacation. “After spending six months in the U.S. with her children, Mrs. Panton Hydes arrived on the 12th and re- ports an enjoyable visit.” Last week’s inaugural ‘Two for One’ special was Pad Thai. The outdoor dining area at Vivo in West Bay.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2017 VISIT www.specialneedsfoundation.ky for more info #RYSCayman Post your selfies to CaymanIslandsWorldDownSyndromeDay Celebrate with the rest of the world by rocking your coolest socks. WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY MARCH 21, 2017 YOUR Cayman’s Down Syndrome Day Sponsored byThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 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. TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, MARCH 14 GEORGE TOWN CLINIC CLOSURES: The George Town general practice clinic is undergoing repairs through March 26. As a result, there will be no appointments. Acute care services (walk-in clinic) continue as usual. There is no change to the process for registration. Admission to the entrance of the clinic also remains unchanged. During construction, patients are encouraged to make appointments at the district clinics. The Accident and Emergency services are open as usual, 24 hours every day. CITA ELECTIONS: The Cayman Islands Tourism Association has set 4 p.m. today as the deadline for written nominations for its board of directors election. Visit the web page for updated information and the official AGM elections nomination form. The AGM takes place on Wednesday, April 19. THURSDAY, MARCH 16 CIHS QUIZ NIGHT: The Humane Society monthly quiz night takes place at Fidel’s, from 7 p.m. and Nicola Walsh will be hosting. Register by contacting sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. DEPT. COMMERCE, INVESTMENT: The Department of Commerce and Investment in Grand Cayman, including its Business Licensing Counter on the first floor of the Government Administration Building, will close at 3 p.m. for a staff meeting. DCI’s main office will reopen tomorrow at 8:30 a.m., and the counter will reopen at 9 a.m. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUMS: The National Museum partners with the National Gallery and Cayman Catboat Club Museum to present “A Night at the Museums.” Start at the National Museum on Harbour Drive at 5:30 p.m. with cocktail reception and the exhibition, “Legends of Scuba Diving.” At 7 p.m., head to the Catboat Club for fish fry and tour. Learn about maritime history and culture. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, email info@museum.ky. FRIDAY, MARCH 17 BRAC THRIFT SHOP: The Red Cross Thrift Shop will have a sale in the Brac from 12 noon till 6 p.m. and Saturday, March 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The location is on the Bluff, across from the Civic Centre. Items available include clothing, handbags, shoes, toys, books and more. 5K IRISH JOG: The annual St. Patrick’s Day run takes place at 5:30 p.m. at Britannia. The 5K (3.1 mile) course follows the cart path around the Britannia course and villas. Entry fee is $10 per person and all proceeds will be donated to the Special Needs Foundation Cayman. Registration forms can be downloaded from www. butterfieldgroup.com. BRAC CONTRACTORS: The Department of Planning hosts a public meeting on the topic of contractor registration 10 a.m. to noon at the Aston Rutty Centre. During the first hour presenters will discuss the Builders’ Law; the second hour will be dedicated to questions and answers. SUNDAY, MARCH 19 SPANISH WORSHIP SERVICE: First Baptist Church, Crewe Road, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Continuing the third Sunday of each month. MONDAY, MARCH 20 PROUD OF THEM: Today is the deadline to recognize excellence among young people by submitting nominations to the Proud of Them award scheme. Individuals ages 10-25 who are reaching new heights of achievement in academics, sports, their career, culture, business or community service can be nominated. Forms can be found at www.mcays.gov.ky. TUESDAY, MARCH 21 SEAFARERS SOCIAL: The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association informs all members that there will be the March Social at 7 p.m. in the Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Ave. Prospect. Buses will be provided from West Bay Town Hall at 6 p.m. FRIDAY, MARCH 24 BRAC VOTER ID: Issuance of voter IDs starts today at 10 a.m., District Administration Conference Room. SATURDAY, MARCH 25 DIVA CLOSET: Fine dresses, shoes and accessories for ladies and girls. John Gray Church Hall, near the four-way stop in West Bay. 6 a.m. till noon. Organized by the Women’s Fellowship. BRAC AGRICULTURAL SHOW: The annual show takes place 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Agriculture Show Grounds on the Bluff. Entry $10. Contact Chevala Burke at chevala.burke@gov.ky or 345-916-4874. LOGWOOD CLEARING: The National Trust seeks volunteers to assist clearing logwood from the Mission House property in Bodden Town at the end of Gun Square Road. 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Bring hat, gloves, water bottle and sunscreen. Light snacks, water and Gatorade will be provided. Some tools will be provided, but volunteers are encouraged to bring their own (clippers, machete, lopper etc.) Contact community@nationaltrust. org.ky. EARTH HOUR PICNIC: Dart Park amphitheatre, 6 p.m. Adults $10; children (3 to 12), $5. Open air screening of “Moana” and a drum circle. Families are encouraged to bring picnic essentials and participate in Earth Hour by pledging to turn off all nonessential lights between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. For more information, email community@nationaltrust. org.ky. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29 NOMINATION DAY: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in each constituency. A candidate for election shall be nominated on a nomination paper by at least two persons who, at the time of signing the nomination paper, are registered electors of the electoral district for which the candidate seeks election. A candidate for election must deposit the sum of one thousand dollars in legal tender to the returning officer. BRAC BIRTHDAYS: Senior citizens quarterly birthday party. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Aston Rutty Centre. FRIDAY, MARCH 31 WATER AUTHORITY SCHOLARSHIP: Today is the deadline to apply for the Water Authority – Cayman’s $30,000 annual scholarship. The offer is to a suitably qualified Caymanian to obtain an undergraduate academic or technical/ vocational degree or diploma in a field of study relevant to the Authority’s work, including environmental science and information technology. For more information, visit www.waterauthority.ky/ community-connect- scholarships. GENERAL INTEREST DG 5K CHALLENGE: Registration for the 2017 Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge is open on the CaymanActive website www.caymanactive.com/dg5K. Led by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, the event aims to raise $60,000 for the YMCA of the Cayman Islands. The DG’s 5K Challenge will be held on Cayman Brac on Sunday, April 23; on Grand Cayman, Sunday, April 30. The charity event is open to all ages and fitness levels. Full details on the website. LABOR FORCE SURVEY: The Economics and Statistics Office is collecting data on employed and unemployed persons in Cayman, as well as people not in the labour force. The public is asked to cooperate and provide information. Interviews are confidential. For more information contact the Economics and Statistics Office at 516-3329, 949- 0940 or visit www.eso.ky. FISH FRY: St. Ignatius School Canteen. Snapper or cod, plus sides, $7 to $12. 5-8 p.m. Dine in or carry out. Proceeds support religious education and youth programs. LOBSTER SEASON: The Department of Environment reminds the public that lobster season is closed as of March 1. DoE urges people not to support poaching. Persons who suspect poaching of lobsters can call 911, or DoE enforcement officers directly. Grand Cayman, 916-4271. Cayman Brac, 926-0136. Little Cayman, 916-7021. ADULT ACTING CLASSES: Offered through the Cayman Drama Society. April 9, sketch workshop. May 7, method acting. June 4, the actor’s voice. $40 per class. Contact training@cds.ky. SINGLE-MEMBER CONSTITUENCIES: The Elections Office invites voters, potential candidates and their agents to learn more about recent changes to the Elections Law that have created 19 single- member electoral districts. Email office@elections.ky to ask questions or request short presentations for groups. PRESCHOOL FUNDING: Government funding to assist with preschool attendance is available for eligible Caymanian children who will be between 3 and 4 years old before Sept. 1. Email ecap@gov.ky or call 244-5724 for more information. Collect application forms from Government Administration Building, Department of Education, early childhood centers, District Health Centres or the Public Health Department at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Deadline to apply is April 28. VOTER ID CARDS: Elections officials will start issuing voter ID cards from April 1. The revised voters’ list is scheduled to be out on March 31 with all the verified changes and new registrations. This will be formalized in the final list of voters on April 1. MARITIME CULTURE: The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands offers a new exhibit that celebrates Cayman’s maritime heritage and identity. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Admission is free. Families can download a free copy of the Upon the Seas exhibition guide at www.nationalgallery.org.ky. Guides include information about the artists, exhibition themes, discussion points and art activities. Guides available on arrival. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc., in good condition always needed. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: The Thrift Shop opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed evenings. Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers are needed. Tuesdays at the Truman Bodden Complex at 5:30 p.m. for track/field, football and bocce. No experience necessary, just a smile and patience. Wednesdays at Lions Pool 10:15–11 a.m. You do not have to swim, just be able to walk in water chest-deep. Thursdays at First Baptist Church for basketball, 5:30–7 p.m. Saturdays, volunteers needed for Adult Special Olympic swim conditioning at CIS pool 9:30–10:30 a.m. Deck support and in-water swimming assistance needed. For more information, contact Penny McDowall at 516-2578 or pjmcdowall@gmail.com. OPEN STUDIO: Every Thursday 10 a.m. till noon and every Monday 1-4 p.m. at Watler House Studio on grounds of Pedro Castle. Offered by Visual Arts Society to adults/youth who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere. Contact info@visualartcayman.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The St. Patrick’s Day Irish Jog takes place at Britannia golf course on Friday, March 17. - PHOTO: GUY WALLERThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2017 ocean cherish the rich diversity of our membership, the deep sense of affinity and kinship we share, and the Common- wealth values and principles that unite us,” Mr. Hurlston read from the statement. The reading of the Com- monwealth Affirmation was carried out by Cayman Girl- guiding, and the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps raised the flag. Youth Parliament The Cayman Islands branch of the Common- wealth Parliamentary Asso- ciation hosted its 10th an- nual Youth Parliament in the chamber of the Legislative Assembly building following the ceremony. Twenty five students par- ticipated in the assembly, which included motions on educational skills gaps and child pornography. Meanwhile, students at George Town Primary School dressed in national costumes for a parade of Common- wealth nations on the school field to mark the day and to start off the school’s Culture Week. the crash, which occurred around 8:20 a.m. According to Carib- bean Utilities Company, the accident damaged the power pole on Stadium Drive near Ed Bush field in West Bay, knocking out power to nearly 250 cus- tomers. By midday Monday, only 85 customers were without power and the pole was in the process of being replaced. CUC officials could not immediately get into the scene to fix the damage because of the police investigation. The road was blocked to traffic to Apple Blossom Road, inclusive of Stadium Drive, according to a state- ment from Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. uninterrupted, and used as pawns to secure status grants and permanent resi- dence and once the Cayma- nian has outlived his or her usefulness in securing those grants they are unfairly or constructively dismissed,” Mr. Paget-Brown’s 2013 statement read. Mr. Paget-Brown made further allegations that some firms had “misled” the Trade and Business Licensing Board and potentially misled immigration authorities as to the experience of their job applicants and in the filing of job advertisements. Mr. Connolly noted during his debate on the Legal Practitioners Bill that no one had publicly dis- puted those claims, and that “nothing happened” after the claims were made. Similar allegations were made by Mr. Connolly and East End MLA Arden McLean in a private members’ mo- tion filed in late February, although that motion did not request a commission of inquiry. Rather, the motion sought prosecuting authori- ties to investigate the matter. It has not been heard before the assembly. Financial Services Min- ister Wayne Panton called the motion an “attack” on Cayman’s financial ser- vices industry. “These two MLAs are not only wrong in law, but wrong in principle as well,” Mr. Panton said. “Their actions are grossly irresponsible when international percep- tion is critical to our con- tinued success as a country.” The Cayman Islands Law Society noted in a statement to the Cayman Compass that its members “strongly ob- ject to the allegations of any breaches of the laws of the Cayman Islands. “We are concerned that this motion is simply a means of diverting atten- tion from the merits of the Legal Practitioners Bill,” the statement read. The Caymanian Bar Asso- ciation has not responded to the motion’s allegations. Mr. Connolly’s request was made the same day lawmakers were due to go into a private meeting to discuss a raft of changes to the Legal Practitioners Bill. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 MLA: ‘Commission of inquiry’ needed for lawyers’ concerns CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 George Town Primary students march around the school field in celebration of Commonwealth Day. Cayman observes Commonwealth Day CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Fire vehicle, bicycle in West Bay crash UK lawmakers reject bid to guarantee rights of EU citizens LONDON (AP) – Britain’s House of Commons on Monday rejected an attempt to make the government promise, before the start of European Union exit talks, that it will guarantee the right of EU citizens living in the U.K. to remain. By a vote of 335 to 287, lawmakers overturned an amendment to the govern- ment’s Brexit bill inserted by the unelected House of Lords. They also rejected, by 331 to 286, a demand that Parlia- ment get a “meaningful” vote on the final deal between Britain and the other 27 na- tions of the bloc. Members of the House of Lords now have to decide whether to accept the Com- mons vote or resist, delaying the bill’s passage. If they back down, the bill could be approved by late Monday. That would leave Prime Minister Theresa May free to invoke Article 50 of the EU’s key treaty – the trigger for two years of exit negotiations – by March 31, as planned. May needs Parliament’s approval before she can start the talks. The House of Com- mons and House of Lords have been battling over the bill’s contents. Brexit Secretary David Davis urged Parliament to approve the bill without amendment or delay, “so the prime minister can get to work on the negotiations.” Davis said the govern- ment had a “moral respon- sibility” to the 3 million EU citizens living in Britain and the 1 million Britons in other member states, and intends to guarantee their rights as soon as possible after exit talks start. “That is why we must pass this straightforward bill without further delay so the prime minister can get to work on the negotiations and we can secure a quick deal that secures the status of both European Union cit- izens in the U.K. and also U.K. nationals living in the EU,” he said. Pro-EU lawmakers ac- cused the government of run- ning roughshod over the con- cerns of the 48 percent of Britons who voted to stay in the EU by rejecting the Lords amendments. Conservative legislator Dominic Grieve called the government’s opposition of handing Parliament a final vote on Brexit “deranged,” and the Green Party’s Caro- line Lucas said lawmakers should not just hand minis- ters a blank check. “We were not elected to be lemmings,” she said. Euroskeptics accused pro- EU legislators of trying to frustrate the will of voters, who decided in a June refer- endum to leave the EU. “The simple truth is this – deal or no deal, vote or no vote, positive vote or negative vote, this process is irrevers- ible,” said Conservative leg- islator Edward Leigh. “We’re leaving the EU and that’s what the people want.” Once the bill is passed by both houses of Parliament, the bill becomes law once it has received royal approval – a quick formality. Amid speculation she could trigger Article 50 as early as Tuesday, May spokesman James Slack re- peated the government’s po- sition that it would happen by the end of March. “I’ve said ‘end’ many times but it would seem I didn’t put it in capital letters strongly enough,” he said. The government says voters have spoken and Britons should unite be- hind the decision to leave. But May’s government got a shock rebuff Monday from Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who an- nounced she would seek au- thority to hold an indepen- dence referendum in the next two years because Britain is dragging Scotland out of the EU against its will. While Britons overall voted to leave the EU, Scot- tish voters backed remaining by 62 to 38 percent. Sturgeon said she would seek to hold a referendum between the fall of 2018 and the spring of 2019 so that Scotland will not be “taken down a path that we do not want to go down without a choice.” By a vote of 335 to 287, lawmakers overturned an amendment to the government’s Brexit bill inserted by the unelected House of Lords. POLAND REPUDIATES LE PEN’S OFFER TO HELP IT DISMANTLE EU Poland’s government, rushing to reassure voters that it’s not seeking to leave the European Union after suffering isolation at last week’s summit, received unwelcome support for the “dismantling” of the bloc from French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. The EU’s 27 other mem- bers ignored objections from Poland by approving a new term for former Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk as president of the European Council. The vote further soured Warsaw’s relations within Europe after the bloc’s ex- ecutive accused the ruling Law & Justice party of backsliding on demo- cratic norms. The con- flict escalated on Monday, when the prosecutor’s of- fice summoned Tusk as a witness in a case probing collaboration between the Polish and Russian spy agencies. Le Pen, who has prom- ised a referendum on taking France out of the euro if she wins elections in May, was cited as saying by daily Rzeczpospolita on Monday that, as president, she would seek cooperation with Poland on weakening the EU. The comments added fuel to the Polish op- position’s view that Prime Minister Beata Szydlo is seeking to pull the formerly communist country of 38 million people out of the trading union. “Law & Justice is not interested in dismantling the EU,” Beata Mazurek, the party’s spokeswoman, said on her Twitter ac- count on Monday. © 2017, BloombergNext >