ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MAY 2, 2017 184523-Ad-Strip-SandCastles.indd 14/10/17 6:59 PM ‘Surplus’ does not count debt payment BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands government will achieve a much smaller budget surplus during 2017 than it has in each of the last three fi- nancial years. Government’s Finance Ministry is pro- jecting a $48.1 million “operating surplus” when its current 18-month spending plan ends on Dec. 31, 2017. That surplus is de- rived from the fact that government rev- enues are expected to come in that much higher than its expenses for the period. However, the operating surplus figure does not include some $30.3 million the govern- ment has budgeted to pay off debts during the period. That amount will go toward repayment of principal amounts on the debt and, because of accounting rules government uses, is not counted in the operating budget. If the government pays that $30 million out of its surplus figure at year’s end, the cash left over would be around $18 million. “There is not anything wrong with debt principal repayment being excluded from the calculation of surplus,” Financial Secretary Ken Jefferson said Monday. “The accrual basis of accounting that government and private sector entities choose to have as their basis of financial statement preparation precludes debt repayments being taken into consider- ation when calculating surplus.” Accountant General Matthew Tibbetts put it another way: “Since principal repayments are not classified as expenses they are not fac- tored in to the surplus.” Cayman’s government recorded oper- ating surpluses in excess of $100 million for each of the previous three budget years. Finance Minister Marco Archer ex- plained last summer that with government’s change to multi-year budgeting, the interim 18-month budget period would necessarily lead to a reduction in the annual operating surplus amounts. Mr. Archer said this was due to the 18- month budget encompassing two lower rev- enue-earning periods during tourism slow season – typically between August and De- cember – and only one “higher earning” period MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com The owner of Offshore Alert, David Marchant, used his annual conference in Miami on Monday to criticize Cayman’s Chief Justice Anthony Smellie over a change in court policy that re- stricted the photocopying of public records. “[Chief] Justice Smellie basically needs to get his act in order because his actions, or the ac- tions of the court, over the last three weeks have been disgraceful, indefensible and contempt- ible,” Mr. Marchant told 250 delegates at the event for financial services professionals, regu- lators and investigators concerned with offshore financial centers. In a policy change, the Cayman court system, headed by the chief justice, limited access to court records to include only the taking of notes, in the absence of permission from the clerk of court. The move aimed to prevent the wholesale reproduction of court records for commercial purposes by organizations like Offshore Alert, which maintains a website that regularly pub- lishes writs filed in the British Virgin Islands High Court, the Bermuda Supreme Court and the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands Judicial Administra- tion claimed the new measures were rectifying “unintentional departures in practice over time” and alleged that the commercial use of photo- copied records would infringe the copyright of the Crown, in the case of rulings, as well as the copyright of the parties that file writs and other originating documentation with the court. Mr. Marchant said he does not see how copy- right issues could apply to public documents. He said his conference is not “anti-offshore” and he had never received any complaints from the chief justice or the Cayman courts about the publica- tion of articles or other information on Offshore Alert’s website. OFFSHORE ALERT: CHIEF JUSTICE ‘NEEDS TO GET ACT IN ORDER’ OVER COPY BAN JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com When an American tank plunged from a bridge into the Euphrates River after the driver was shot in combat, Reconnaissance Marine Rudy Reyes was one of the divers given the grim task of bringing up the bodies. As a scout swimmer, he also led stealth incursions into enemy territory during the invasion of Iraq, using the water as his cover. A combat diver and special operations forces veteran of wars in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan, Sgt. Reyes’s experience of the underwater universe is vastly dif- ferent than that of most visitors to the Cayman Islands. Surfacing after a dive on a picturesque reef off East End last week, he said it felt good to feel only the sun on his face and the sound of the waves. Sgt. Reyes and his dive buddies, all elite combat veterans, are used to diving in extreme conditions to destroy enemy targets or rescue injured colleagues. Now they are finding a new outlet for their skills and beginning a new mission as the first members of Force Blue, a new pro- gram that sends highly trained military vet- erans to help the marine environment. Founded by Sgt. Reyes along with Sunset House manager Keith Sahm and their friend Jim Ritterhoff, Force Blue aims to help vet- erans, many of whom have seen extreme ac- tion in the line of duty, to deal with post traumatic stress. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, roughly 20 veterans commit suicide in America every day. The rate for elite special forces operators is “These are highly trained men that have proven themselves to be the best of us. Why not re- purpose that to help the planet?” JIM RITTERHOFF Fighting for the oceans: Rudy Reyes strikes a pose during a dive off East End. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER Veterans find new mission on Cayman’s coral reefs PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 2 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 13 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 12 »2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY MAY 2, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 CHIPS (R) 1:10 I 4:15 I 7:10 VIP I 10:10 UNFORGETTABLE (R) 1:00 I 7:30 SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE 3D (PG) 12:35 2D I 3:45 I 7:00 2D I 9:55 GIFTED (PG13) 1:15 I 4:00 I 7:15 GOING IN STYLE (PG13) 3:55 I 10:00 THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS 3D (PG13) 12:30 VIP I 3:40 VIP I 6:50 2D 9:40 I 9:50 VIP BOSS BABY 3D (PG) 12:45 2D I 3:50 I 6:50 2D I 9:45 - TUESDAY - 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. *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 640-FILM (640-3456) believed to be even higher. For many of them it is not echoes of gunfire or memo- ries of bloodshed that make the adjustment so difficult; it’s the relative banality of civilian life. “If your whole identity was the gun and life and death, and you come back home and it’s all about freaking shop- ping and the Kardashians? You got to be kidding me? No wonder we lose it a little bit. No wonder we are a little bit heartbroken,” Sgt. Reyes told the Cayman Compass in an interview. Force Blue seeks to give the veterans a new mission and a new sense of purpose. Among the inaugural group are Roger Sparks, a former Marine reconnais- sance diver and U.S. Air Force pararescueman, who received the Silver Star for para- chuting into a firefight in Af- ghanistan’s Watapur Valley to rescue four wounded soldiers. There is Geoff Reeves, a Navy SEAL officer turned actor, who helped write the stan- dard operating procedures for nuclear submarine rescue missions. Also on board are former Recon Marine Will Hinkson, U.S. Army Special Forces veteran Sean Moore and Jon Slayer, a British Ma- rine commando turned un- derwater filmmaker. All six, in different ways, have struggled with the tran- sition from war zones to everyday life. “You don’t have to see anything tough on the battle- field to suffer from post-trau- matic stress,” says Slayer. “For someone who has been a part of that commu- nity and had that brother- hood and that purpose in their lives, suddenly you leave the forces and there is just an absence of that. It is that absence of something to wake up for each morning.” Fast-talking and charis- matic, Sgt. Reyes has had a colorful life outside the armed forces. He played himself in the HBO series “Generation Kill” about a U.S. Marine re- connaissance battalion during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Despite his success, he ad- mits he has found the transi- tion to civilian life difficult. “Special ops sounds sexy because it is sexy and it sounds bad-ass because it is bad-ass, but that comes with a price. In some ways we are more delicate because we are used to operating at such a precipice of excellence.” Many Marines, says Sgt. Reyes, hide their struggles be- hind an aura of invincibility. “I never really adjusted. I was so talented and had such aptitude. I could still achieve. I’ve been in a general malaise, but I still made it look good. “I was like that Z28 Ca- maro – bad-ass body, bitching paint job, but I was going in first gear with the emergency brake on, no clutch. I was not moving fast and I was burning out – you get it?” Geoff Reeves gets it. As an officer in Navy SEAL Team 10 he took part in operations across the globe. Leaving that life felt like losing his family and moving from a world where every action could mean life or death and everyone had each other’s back, to an environment that seemed defined by selfish- ness and consumerism. “When you were in, you had a mission. You watched FOX and CNN be- cause this, what’s happening today, is affecting what you do at work tomorrow. “You get out of that and you think, “OK, what is my mission now, to go work for some company? It is frus- trating because you have all these skills and you don’t have the opportunity to use them.” For some, the transi- tion is too much. “I just lost a Recon brother a few weeks ago,” says Sgt. Reyes. “I have lost four of my Recon brothers to suicide.” For Sgt. Reyes, it was in- tervention from close friends Keith Sahm and Jim Ritter- hoff, that pulled him back from the brink and set the whole Force Blue project in motion. “They invited me here to Cayman for a dive expedi- tion because they were con- cerned about me losing my way. They wanted their friend to come back to life.” Diving on Cayman’s coral reefs and learning about the threats that marine ecosys- tems everywhere face from overfishing, global warming and a myriad of social and environmental issues, was a transformative experience for the former Marine. “I came down here and dived on these beautiful reefs and it changed my life. When I found out about what is going on with our oceans, the threats to our reefs … when I found out 73 million sharks were killed last year for their fins alone, I got angry, then I got sad and I said, ‘nah, not on my watch.’” The experience gave Sgt. Reyes a new mission, and a new metaphor. “Special ops guys, we’re like sharks – we have to keep moving to survive. We need that mission,” he said. An alliance between warriors and the ocean Inspired by his own expe- rience, Sgt. Reyes combined with Sahm and Ritterhoff to create Force Blue, which they hope will develop into a force for good all over the planet. Ritterhoff, formerly a mar- keter who helped promote Cayman tourism in the U.S., says they saw a perfect al- liance between the warriors in need of a mission and the ocean in need of protection. Force Blue, he says, is very different from the kind of “wounded warrior” dive proj- ects that facilitate physically disabled veterans to dive for the first time. “This is not therapy diving for veterans who have never been diving. This is mission therapy for the best divers in the world.” Over the past week the veterans have dived with Ca- ribbean reef sharks off East End, learned to cull lionfish and visited the grouper aggre- gation site in Little Cayman. They will also learn about Cayman’s coral nurseries and assist with a project to re- plant coral on damaged reefs in the islands’ waters. They have received in- struction from marine experts and lectures from some of Cayman’s conservation figure- heads, including Guy Harvey, as part of a military-style training program. Ritterhoff sees Force Blue evolving into a cadre of re- trained Marine veterans who can form a rapid response team to help after environ- mental incidents. “These are highly trained men that have proven themselves to be the best of us. Why not re-purpose that to help the planet?” he asked. For all the divers involved, Force Blue is providing a new sense of mission, and a chance to meet the ocean on different terms. “You can really achieve healing in yourself by helping something else and turning your skills away from the battlefield and all that trauma to something dif- ferent,” says Slayer. For Reeves, it is another opportunity to show a dif- ferent side of special ops vet- erans and reach a new audi- ence with a message about marine conservation. “We have been labeled as killing machine[s], as robots, but that is not correct. We joined the military to serve and protect because we care. We care about the world and the environment we live in.” He sees potential for the Marines to be ambassadors for the underwater world that will help communicate an im- portant message to those who need to hear it most. Coming from respected special operations veterans, the Force Blue team be- lieve the message will res- onate more with an audi- ence who may be turned off by what is sometimes seen as left-wing preaching about global warming. For Reyes, the co-founder and figurehead of the Force Blue organization, the mis- sion is nothing less than saving the planet. “I’m passionate about this. I earned my name in the Ma- rine Corps,” adding, “This is my mission now, this is my life’s work. I don’t know how to do much else but to do stuff all the way.” Veterans find new mission on Cayman’s coral reefs ‘We’re like sharks,’ says Rudy Reyes, U.S. Reconnaissance Marine. ‘We have to keep moving to survive. We need a mission.’ Reyes and other veterans have made saving sharks, like the Caribbean reef shark seen here in a dive off East End last week, part of their mission. - PHOTOS: JAMES WHITTAKER Will Hinkson and Rudy Reyes, who served in the U.S. Marines, are part of the first Force Blue team. “I came down here and dived on these beautiful reefs and it changed my life. When I found out 73 million sharks were killed last year for their fins alone, I got angry, then I got sad and I said, ‘nah, not on my watch.’” RUDY REYES, Force Blue co-founder CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 2, 2017 18402_HR-Ad-JrPage-Compass-YachtPage 1 4/10/17 12:34:04 PM A story titled “Cayman to face Mexico for Big Game 8 rugby match” on page 9 of Monday’s Cayman Compass incorrectly attributed a quote. The quote is from Dr. Chandy Abraham: “I know that both our orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Alwin and Dr. Niranjan, have actually treated many sports injuries which have come out of sports here in Cayman, but also a big part of it is actu- ally injury prevention, and we have a physiotherapy depart- ment and we open that up to anyone who wants to come and learn and has specific enquiries on ways to pre- vent injuries.” CORRECTION Boat captain fined for coral displacement Defendant did voluntary beach clean-up, court hears CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A boat captain who pleaded guilty to displace- ment of coral was fined $1,000 on Monday and thanked for his volun- tary work in cleaning up a George Town beach. Wade Walton Webster, 60, pleaded guilty to dis- placing the coral at a spec- ified latitude and longi- tude in Cayman waters on Tuesday, April 25. Crown counsel Eleanor Fargin told Magistrate Philippa McFarlane that a sailing vessel anchored in coral in a marine park outside the George Town anchorage around 3 a.m. Harbor pa- trol officers asked the people on board if they had sought clearance from Port Security. They said they had not. The officers told them not to move and subsequently contacted the Department of Environment to assess pos- sible damage. When checked, it was seen that the an- chor was in sand, but had caused damage on the way down and the chain was still causing damage. Ms. Fargin said the people on board told the officers they did not think anyone would be in the port offices. In fact, she ad- vised, the Port Authority is open 24 hours a day and the vessel could have an- chored elsewhere. Webster indicated that he had consulted a chart on a website, but he accepted all responsibility. An officer from the De- partment of Environment told the magistrate that Webster had done some “self-imposed beach clean- up.” She described an area near the Lobster Pot plus an adjacent empty lot where people congregate. The magistrate said she would consider Webster’s early guilty plea and the work he had performed, which he had not been asked to do. The defendant replied that he had come into a country that was absolutely beau- tiful, but he had not known it until he woke up that morning. When he moved his vessel where he was in- structed, he passed the beach referred to and it was enough to make him cry because it was so littered. He said he worked on the area for three or four days and also used his dinghy to pick up debris in the water. The magistrate told him, “I see you are passionate about the environment and you care about our envi- ronment, and I thank you for that. I am pleased you have taken it on yourself to clean up the beach.” She asked about any prec- edent cases and Ms. Fargin cited a 2015 case involving 11.19 square meters. The charge against Web- ster involved 1.5 square me- ters. A proportionate assess- ment based on the 2015 case would be $1,730.79, she said. The magistrate consid- ered the correct starting point to be $1,500 and gave Webster credit for his early guilty plea. He will get his passport back after payment. “I see you are passionate about the environment and you care about our environment, and I thank you for that. I am pleased you have taken it on yourself to clean up the beach.” PHILIPPA MCFARLANE, magistrate Four underage boys were arrested at a West Bay play field Saturday morning on suspicion of ganja possession. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service took the four boys, ages 7-12, into custody following a report of ganja smoking at Ed Bush play field after 10 a.m. that day. According to police, two of the boys were released into the custody of their parents. Two others were arrested and booked into police cus- tody on suspicion of posses- sion of and consuming ganja. They were also returned to their parents’ custody. Typically, the RCIPS does not record the arrests of ju- veniles under age 10 in its crime statistics. Boys ages 7-12 caught smoking ganja An attack at a private res- idence on Cayman Brac sent two men to hospital over the weekend, one with se- rious injuries. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service ar- rested one man on suspicion of wounding in connection with the incident on Dilbert Avenue overnight Saturday. Police said the man struck two other men with a hammer and also stabbed them. Police recovered the weapons that were used in the attack and arrested the suspect, who was still in custody as of Monday. One of the men was flown to Grand Cayman for medical treatment over the weekend. The second victim was treated at Cayman Brac’s Faith Hospital and released. TWO INJURED IN ATTACK ON CAYMAN BRACThe 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. TUESDAY MAY 2, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Hear that train whistle off in the distance? A $1.7 billion locomotive – representing the Cayman Islands government’s healthcare liability – is approaching, slowly but inexorably. The alarm has been sounding for years, but our officials, it seems, continue to snooze in the middle of the tracks. A similar valuation exercise completed in mid-2014 estimated the government’s 20-year healthcare liability (the amount of money the government expects to pay out for healthcare coverage for retired civil servants, veterans and seamen) to be $1.18 billion. The newly released valuation pegs that figure at $1.7 billion as of the end of June 2016. That means that over the span of two years, the already-astounding liability grew by an eye- popping, jaw-dropping $500 million. Note that the annual revenue of Cayman’s entire public sector is less than $900 million. Also note the following from the government’s recent report, “For all intents and purposes, the government is on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ plan in respect of post-retirement healthcare liabilities. Currently, no long term assets have been established to start offset- ting the government’s post-retirement healthcare liability.” (Gulp!) The $250 million-per-year explosion in healthcare lia- bilities should provide some perspective for the Progres- sives’ recent boasts of “achieving” a $48.1 million central government operating “surplus” by the end of 2017. Even before deductions for principal debt payments, compared to the astronomically-accumulating mountain of long- term liabilities, those figures amount to little more than a rounding error. But with civil servants digging in their heels on possible changes to their generous compensation packages, and elected officials paralyzed by an absence of political will, our layman’s forecast is that the $1.7 billion healthcare liability is more likely to grow in the future, than to recede. Meanwhile, government officials haven’t set up any sort of savings plan to draw upon when it is eventually, and inevitably, time to pay the piper. (On the other side of the civil service retirement coin, remember that the unfunded portion of the government’s public pensions plans increased to about $220 million in 2016, up from $191 million in 2015.) Our government’s perpetual “never saw it coming” attitude isn’t restricted to healthcare liabilities. As it relates to managing future catastrophes, our government could be caught off-guard by an advancing glacier. Consider the significant changes to private pension legislation, which restricts work permit holders’ ability to “cash out” of their private pension plans when they leave the country. Since last year, companies have been warning officials that the changes would encourage an “exodus” of workers, which the Chamber of Commerce estimates could be as high as 2,500 people, about 10 percent of our foreign workforce and nearly 5 percent of Cayman’s total population. So far, government officials such as Employment Minister Tara Rivers have responded with a shrug, a few cold-blooded phrases about the affected workers (basi- cally amounting to “Good riddance to non-voters”) and, in response to advice that the government better be prepared to process thousands of new work permit appli- cations before tourism high season, no indication that the government is planning to be prepared at all. Then there’s the three-and-a-half years of Progres- sives’ thumb-twiddling on the obvious need for immi- gration reform while nearly 1,000 people lined up for permanent residence, despite the apparent exposure of Cayman’s public treasury to potentially costly legal liability. There’s the decades-long procession of young people through Cayman government schools into the local employment pool, without standards in place to ensure that each graduate is armed with a quality educa- tion as well as a diploma. And, of course, there’s the George Town Landfill, which (as opposed to the mountain of public health- care debt) is an actual, physical mountain – a visible (and smellable) reminder to neighbors, motorists and cruise ship visitors of our government’s incapacity, inability or unwillingness to address serious problems. In the instances listed above, and for many other examples we don’t have the space here to address, the lack of solutions cannot be attributed to a lack of foresight. We all know about the $1.7 billion in public healthcare liabili- ties, the impending departure of thousands of workers, the lengthening PR backlog, the growing dump, etc. But what we don’t know is what, exactly, Cayman’s government is going to do about it all – apart from the prevailing strategy … that is, not much. $1.7 billion health debt: The public sector crisis everyone saw coming 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” Populism on pause WASHINGTON – Yester- day’s conventional wisdom: A wave of insurgent popu- lism is sweeping the West, threatening its foundational institutions – the European Union, the Western alliance, even liberal democracy itself. Today’s conventional wisdom (post-first-round French presidential elec- tion): The populist wave has crested, soon to abate. Chances are that both ver- dicts are wrong. The anti-es- tablishment sentiment that gave us Brexit, then Donald Trump, then seemed poised to give us Marine Le Pen, has indeed plateaued. But al- though she will likely be de- feated in the second round, victory by the leading cen- trist, Emmanuel Macron, would hardly constitute an establishment triumph. Macron barely edged out a Cro-Magnon commu- nist (Jean-Luc Melenchon), a blood-and-soil nationalist (Le Pen) and a center-right candidate brought low by charges of nepotism and cor- ruption (Francois Fillon). And the ruling Socialist candidate came in fifth, garnering a pa- thetic 6 percent of the vote. On the other hand, the populists can hardly be en- couraged by what has fol- lowed Brexit and Trump: Dutch elections, where the nationalist Geert Wilders faded toward the end and came nowhere near power; Austrian elections, where another nationalist chal- lenge was turned back; and upcoming German elec- tions, where polls indi- cate that the far-right na- tionalists are at barely 10 percent and slipping. And, of course, France. In retrospect, the populist panic may have been over- blown. Regarding Brexit, for example, the shock exagger- ated its meaning. Because it was so unexpected, it be- came a sensation. But in the longer view, Britain has always been deeply ambivalent about Eu- rope, going back at least to Henry VIII and his break with Rome. In the inter- vening 500 years, Britain has generally seen itself as less a part of Europe than an off- shore island. The true his- torical anomaly was Brit- ain’s EU membership with all the attendant transfer of sovereignty from Westmin- ster to Brussels. Brexit was a rather brutal return to the extra-European norm, but the norm it is. The other notable popu- list victory, the triumph of Trump, has also turned out to be less than meets the eye. He certainly ran as a populist and won as a populist but, a mere 100 days in, he is gov- erning as a traditionalist. The Obamacare replace- ment proposals are tradi- tional small-government fixes. His tax reform is a follow-on to Reagan’s from 1986. His Supreme Court pick is a straight-laced, consti- tutional conservative out of central casting. And his more notable executive orders read as a wish list of traditional business-oriented conserva- tism from regulatory reform to the Keystone XL and Da- kota Access pipelines. I happen to support all of these moves, but they don’t qualify as insurrectionist populism. The one exception may be trade policy. As of now, however, it remains ad hoc and idiosyncratic. Trump has made ges- tures and threats to those cunning Mexicans, Chinese and now Canadians. But it’s not yet clear if he is serious about, say, withdrawing from NAFTA or just engaging in a series of opening negoti- ating gambits. The softwood timber dispute with Canada is hardly new. It dates back 35 years. Every intervening administration has con- tested the terms of trade in various forums. A full-scale trade war with our leading trading partner would indeed break new ground. Anything short of that, however, is the art of the deal. The normalization of Trump is one indicator that there may be less to the pop- ulist insurrection than imag- ined. The key, however, is Eu- rope, where the stakes are infinitely higher. There the issue is the fu- ture of the nation state itself, as centuries of sovereignty dissolve within an expanding superstate. It influences every aspect of daily life – from the ethnic makeup of neighbor- hoods to the currency that changes hands at the grocery. The news from France, where Macron is openly, in- deed ostentatiously, pro-Eu- ropean (his campaign head- quarters flies the EU flag) is that France is not quite pre- pared to give up on the great experiment. But the Europe- anist elites had better not imagine this to be an en- during verdict. The populist revolt was a reaction to their reckless and anti-democratic push for even greater integration. The task today is to address the sources of Europe’s eco- nomic stagnation and social alienation rather than blindly pursue the very drive that led to this precarious moment. If the populist threat turns out to have frightened the existing powers out of their arrogant complacency, it should be deemed a suc- cess. But make no mistake: The French election wasn’t a victory for the status quo. It was a reprieve. For now, the populist wave is not in re- treat. It’s on pause. Charles Krauthammer’s email address is letters@charleskrauthammer.com. © 2017, Washington Post Writers Group Charles KrauthammerKrauthammer The anti-establishment sentiment that gave us Brexit, then Donald Trump, then seemed poised to give us Marine Le Pen, has indeed plateaued. A supporter holds EU and French flags during a campaign event for French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron. – PHOTO: CHRISTOPHE MORIN/BLOOMBERG5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 2, 2017 Shipping industry braces for uncertainty KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com An uncertain global trade environment set the tone for the fifth annual Cayman Is- lands Shipping and Yachting Summit at the Grand Cayman Marriott Resort on Monday. Cayman Islands Shipping Registry CEO Joel Walton turned morning discussion to U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he described as spe- cializing more in the art of chaos than the art of the deal. For the shipping industry, he expressed concern about contradictory messages on China, NAFTA, Russia, the Philippines and NATO, among other global players. Despite backlash to glo- balization, he expects the shipping industry to adapt. “I would still expect deeper globalization, deeper integra- tion of supply chains and more global trade,” Mr. Walton said. Karatzas Marine Advi- sors & Co. President Basil Karatzas said in the face of change, the industry must find the new line of order to overcome uncertainty and in- dustry unknowns. He encouraged the in- dustry to consider three fac- tors when it comes to pre- dicting President Trump’s actions: what he wants to accomplish, what he says he wants to accomplish and what he can accomplish. U.S. law firm Blank Rome partner Jeanne Grasso said she expects Presi- dent Trump to have an indi- rect rather than a direct im- pact on shipping through trade and sanction policies. “He’s a president to be taken seriously but maybe not literally,” she said. Despite the complexity of global regulations, she said the industry must push for standardized operations. “It’s imperative we strive for consistency within the countries. That can be chal- lenging but it has to be an overriding goal,” she said. Frank Coles, CEO of Transas, a developer and sup- plier of a wide range of IT solutions for the marine in- dustry, warned about the in- evitable impact of automa- tion and the move toward unmanned ships. Just as taxi companies have felt the im- pact of Uber, he said, the shipping industry must be prepared to respond to the in- fluence of industry outsiders. Cayman Islands Finan- cial Services Minister Wayne Panton focused on interna- tional shipping accomplish- ments for the islands. He highlighted resolving ambi- guity with shipping status in China, as well as Cayman being named to the Tokyo MOU white list. “Maritime is our history and our future,” he told the crowd. The conference continues Tuesday morning at the Mar- riott with discussion of im- plementing MARPOL, the in- ternational convention for reducing ship pollution, in the Caribbean. “Maritime is our history and our future.” WAYNE PANTON, financial services minister How to cast a ballot if you do not get your voter ID card BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Although they are not nec- essary, voter identification cards for more than 21,000 electors were being dis- tributed by the Cayman Is- lands Elections Office last week. The law requires the Elections Office to issue ID cards. The cards are used at the polling station to vote, but other forms of ID can be used instead. Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell said the office prefers that everyone receive an ID, but if that does not happen, the law allows for individuals to vote with other forms of ID. A passport or a driver’s license can be used if the name on the ID matches the name on the voter list. “For the infrequent in- stances where persons have no ID, the elections law does allow them to be able to vote after taking an oath of identity,” Mr. Howell said. If all else fails, Mr. Howell said, it’s very likely the ex- perienced polling staff will know many district voters. “The polling station will also have candidates and agents present who are able to identify most voters by sight,” he said. The voter ID cards, which take into account Cayman’s new 19 voting districts, will continue to be distributed until May 19. The cards list the person’s full name, address, voting district [single-member con- stituency] and have a photo of the voter. The new cards will replace previously is- sued voter IDs. Anyone who picks up the new voter ID will have to show a valid ID, including driver’s license, passport or work identification. See www.caymancompass.com for card pickup locations. Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton speaks at the summit on Monday. - PHOTO: KAYLA YOUNGThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 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 MAY 2, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS POLITICAL MEETINGS AND FORUMS TUESDAY, MAY 2 CHAMBER FORUM: George Town West candidates, 7-9 p.m. CI Further Education Centre auditorium. KENNETH BRYAN: George Town Central. 71 Crown Square, Eastern Ave. 7 p.m. EZZARD MILLER: North Side. Chisholm’s Supermarket, 8 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3 CHAMBER FORUM: West Bay Central candidates, 7-9 p.m. Church of God, Capt. Reginald Parsons Drive. THURSDAY, MAY 4 CHAMBER FORUM: West Bay North candidates, 7-9 p.m., West Bay Assembly of God, Finch Drive. FRIDAY, MAY 5 CHAMBER FORUM: Newlands candidates, 7-9 p.m., Savannah Primary School. MONDAY, MAY 8 CHAMBER FORUM: George Town East candidates, 7-9 p.m. First Baptist Church Hall. ARDEN MCLEAN: East End. Anthony Frederick’s yard, John McLean Drive. 8 p.m. TUESDAY, MAY 9 CHAMBER FORUM: George Town North candidates, 7-9 p.m. Arts and Recreation Centre, Camana Bay. EZZARD MILLER: North Side. Stepping Stones. 8 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10 NATIONAL DEBATE: Candidates from various districts at Arts and Recreation Centre, Camana Bay. 7-9 p.m. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3 CONSERVATION COUNCIL: The National Conservation Council will hold a special general meeting from 2 p.m. in the National Trust Clubhouse Conference Room, Grand Cayman. The agenda will be posted on the DoE website (www.doe.ky). This meeting is open to observers from the public. If anyone wishes to submit comments or questions to the Council in advance of the meeting they may do so via email to conservationcouncil@gov.ky. SUNDAY, MAY 7 SERVICE FOR CANDIDATES: Service for all candidates in the May 24 elections. 6 p.m. Elmslie Memorial Church. This is an ecumenical service that includes the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and the Cayman Ministers Association. All candidates are invited to attend. MONDAY, MAY 8 ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY: Annual general meeting at 7 p.m. at the William Hrudey Observatory at the North End of the UCCI Campus, 168 Olympic Way (turn left at the main entrance into UCCI). Call Richard, 925-4917 for more details. SUNDAY, MAY 21 CIMA CHARITY 5K & 10K WALK/RUN: As part of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority’s 20th anniversary, the public is invited to the 5K & 10K Walk/Run, 6 a.m., starting at Elizabethan Square. Cost is $20 for adults, $10 for children under 12. Proceeds benefit the literacy and numeracy programs of various government primary schools. To register, or for more information, visit www.cima.ky. GENERAL INTEREST VOTER ID CARDS: The Elections Office is issuing new voter registration cards. Cards may be collected from the Elections Office at the Smith Road Centre, 150 Smith Road, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The new cards will replace all previously issued voter identification. Officials will stop issuing cards on Friday, May 19. To receive a card, people must show a valid form of official identification, such as a driver’s license, passport or work ID. Those with questions should contact 949-8047, office@elections.ky or www.elections.ky. POSTAL VOTING: The Elections Office reminds registered voters that the period during which they may request postal ballots or mobile voting will continue until close of business on Friday, May 12. People who will be away from Cayman on Election Day may request a postal ballot by filling out Form B, available on www.elections.ky, at portal. elections.ky/files/downloads/ forms/2016/FORMB.pdf. The completed form and proof of travel may be emailed to office@elections.ky. MOBILE VOTING: Voters who will be in Cayman, but unable to physically attend the polls, may apply for mobile voting using Form C, available from www.elections.ky at portal. elections.ky/files/downloads/ forms/2016/FORMC.pdf. Elections Office polling staff will either visit successful applicants in person, or facilitate their vote before polling day at an early voting station. ADULT ACTING CLASSES: Offered through the Cayman Drama Society. May 7, method acting. June 4, the actor’s voice. $40 per class. Contact training@cds.ky. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-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.-2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Friday hours are 9 a.m.-2 p.m. and closed evenings. Saturday 7:30 a.m.-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. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Center is owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. ARTISANS MARKET: Camana Bay every Wednesday, noon till 8 p.m. Visual Arts Society artists display arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand-crafted jewelry and ceramics for sale. Email info@visualartcayman.com. OPEN CANVAS: Wednesdays. Visual Arts Society supports this event at KARoo Restaurant in Camana Bay. 7-11 p.m. No fee, easels provided. Contact info@ongart.com or jar.was@gmail.com. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@museum.ky. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. For more information, call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail.com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-Step Recovery Group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Mondays, 7 p.m. For details, contact Virginia Castillo at 946-2422, or visit www.overcomersoutreach.org. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at the Catboat Club clubhouse, North Church Street. All are invited to attend. For more information, call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman.com. TOASTMASTERS CLUB: Cayman has three chapters of Toastmasters International, geared toward development of public speaking and leadership skills. Grand Cayman club meets at George Town Public Library, 3rd floor, 6-7:15 p.m. every Thursday. Eloquent Speaker club meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday 6:30–7:45 p.m. at Savannah United Church Hall. Eminent Orators club meets 2nd and 4th Monday 6–7:30 p.m. at Cayman Academy Canteen. Contact George R. Ebanks at 916-0687/322-9369 or georger.ebanks@gmail.com. ROTARACT BLUE OF CAYMAN: Meets Wednesdays 6 p.m., at Royal Palms Beach Club, West Bay Road. Contact rotaractblue@gmail.com or check www.rotaractblue.org. LEO CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, contact Secretary Letisha Allen 924-2819. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, email LionsClubGCM@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabethan Square (corner unit next to the MLA’s office). Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7 a.m. every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. For more information, check website at www.rotarysunrise.ky or contact info@rotarysunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30 p.m., at Britannia Golf Course Restaurant. Projects include promoting well- being of children in the community and schools. For more information, email president@kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis.ky. OPTIMIST CLUB: Meets first and third Thursdays at the Hibiscus Conference Room, George Town Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Email optimistcayman@yahoo.com. THE MODEL AIRPLANE FLYING CLUB: Meets Sundays 2 p.m. at the J. Bodden Marlpit/Old Raceway. Call 916–2327 for more information. PARENT AND TODDLER PLAY GROUP: For children from 2 weeks to 4 years. Meets Mondays 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the South Sound Community Centre. Children must be accompanied by parent or helper. Toys, activities, light refreshments provided. $6 per session per family. For information, email sspg@foxwood.ky. HEARTS THROUGH HANDS: Meets Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to noon at The Family Life Centre, Room 10, Academy Way. Women make crafts for charity and missions. For information, call 946–3067 or 947–1863. THE WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE: Breastfeeding Clinics every Thursday 10 a.m.-noon in the Women’s Health Centre. No appointments, no fees. Phone 244–2649. CAYMAN BRIDGE CLUB: Meets Tuesdays 7 p.m. at Comfort Suites, West Bay Road; Fridays, 9 a.m. at the Rugby Club. For further information, contact Helen Haines at 947-3217 or Alex Wood at 947-3693. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events.DISTRICT DAYS 7 District Days West Bay CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 2, 2017 50 YEARS AGO Boatswain Bay Presbyterian church welcomes new pastor In the May 3, 1966 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, West Bay correspondent Leila Yates wrote: “Mr. and Mrs. John S. Smith have returned from Miami. Mr. Smith went there to seek medical aid. We regret to say he did not obtain any help, and is now confined to his bed. “Arrivals recently have been Mr. and Mrs. Amady Hurlston from Tampa. Mrs. Hurlston received medical aid and is much improved. Mr. Osley Ebanks arrived the same day from his job in Miami. “Mr. Conwell Ebanks arrived home on April 26 from S.S. Corco, National Bulk Carriers. Mr. Word- sworth Powery is home on a short vacation from the Texaco Florida. “P.F.C. Eddington Ebanks arrived on April 23 to visit his relatives before being assigned to Vietnam in the Armed Forces. He left on April 28. “Capt. Allie O. Ebanks re- turned from Jamaica where he has had major surgery at Nuttall Hospital. He reports feeling fine. His daughter Mrs. Iva Richardson who lives in Miami met him to the airport here and ac- companied him to Jamaica. She returned with him and left for Miami on April 29. Capt. Allie thinks the May- fair Hotel is the ideal place to recuperate. “A welcoming meeting was held on April 29 at 7:30 p.m. at the Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church to wel- come their new pastor Rev. H. Williamson, his wife and two children. Included in the programme were a duet by Mrs. Nell Ebanks and Mrs. Lillias Glidden. A se- lection by the choir, and a trumpet solo by Mr. Johnny Williamson. In return Rev. and Mrs. Williamson thanked them for the warm welcome extended. “Mrs. Williamson will be the speaker for the women’s meeting which will be held at the church at 7:45 p.m. on Thursday the 4th. All women are welcome. “Messrs. Arnold and Richard Vanorden were guests of Miss Betsy Jackson of Batabano. They visited here last summer and like the place very much. They think Cayman food is wonderful and hope to return again. Miss Susan Shore left the same day for Miami. “Miss Sheila Carter from Cayman Brac is here as a guest of Mrs. June Borden for a few days before going to the U.S. “Mrs. Samuel Banks re- turned on April 29 from Miami having visited her children in the U.S. “We regret to report the death of Mrs. Ella Laureen Jackson which occurred at her home on April 29. She was the widow of the late Herman Jackson who pre- ceded her in death three years ago. She had been a shut-in for many years, but her condition became worse one week ago. She was 77 years of age. She is survived by three brothers, Randal, McNeil and Harley Jackson and one sister, Annie Roanie Yates. “Funeral service was conducted by Rev. R. Coke in the United Church of which she was a member for many years. Interment was in the West Bay cemetery.” Lions lend a hand to Hope Foundation The Lions Club of Grand Cayman’s Restoration Com- mittee had the chance to col- laborate with residents of the Hope Foundation in West Bay to build a storage shed. The Foundation had con- tacted the Lions Club seeking assistance with erecting a storeroom at their Birch Tree Hill property. Over the course of a week, the shed was constructed in sections at the Lions Centre before being transported to its final location for assembly on March 19. Local retailers and mem- bers of Lions provided dis- counts and material dona- tions. Building expertise was also offered, as well as assis- tance with materials. “It is projects such as these that the club is seeking to partner in within the com- munity,” said committee chairman Michael Troop. “I am so proud that the com- mittee was able to pro- vide assistance with such a worthy project.” The residents at the Foun- dation also assisted with building the shed, as one of its goals is for partici- pants to learn to become self-sufficient. Hope Foundation founder and manager Brent Hydes thanked the Lions and guests for their donation and assis- tance and it is hoped that participants will be able to join Lions in their community projects in the future. The committee was estab- lished to carry out various hands-on community service projects such as small reno- vation and building projects. The Foundation, which provides educational, chari- table and social welfare activ- ities connected with the ha- bilitation and rehabilitation of men and women suffering from chemical dependency. The Lions Club of Grand Cayman meet on the first and third Thursday of the month at the Lions Community Centre. Persons wishing to attend can reach out to a Lion for an invitation. “I am so proud that the committee was able to provide assistance with such a worthy project.” MICHAEL TROOP, chairman, Lions Club of Grand Cayman Restoration Committee Lions assemble the shed frame at the Lions Centre. Lions and members of the Hope Foundation pose in front of a storage shed they built.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY MAY 2, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS NOTICE TO THE MEMBERS OF CAYMAN NATIONAL PENSION FUND LTD. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting of Members of the Cayman National Pension Fund Ltd. to be held Thursday 4th May, 2017, in the Cayman National Building, 4th Floor Board Room, Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman at 4pm. The Agenda is set out below: - AGENDA 1. Review the Minutes of the last Members Meeting held on the 5th May, 2016 and any matters arising. 2. Receive Audited Financial Statements for the period ended 30th September 2016. 3. Report from Investment Committee. 4. Trustee Elections: Ian Phillips retires by rotation and is eligible for re- election. 5. Any other competent business. Swedish police investigate mosque fire A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson in an attack against a mosque near Stockholm that caused major damage, Swedish police said. No one was injured in the blaze late Sunday, as only a handful were in the the Shiite mosque, one of the largest in the country, at the time. French police use tear gas on protesters at May Day rallies Demonstrators carry signs referring to upcoming election PARIS (AP) – With just six days until a French presi- dential runoff that could de- fine Europe’s future, far- right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Ma- cron held high-stakes rallies Monday that overlapped with May Day marches and under- scored the fact that jobs are voters’ No. 1 concern. France votes for a new president on Sunday, a ballot being watched closely by fi- nancial markets and France’s neighbors as a test of the global populist wave. While Le Pen got an endorsement from her father on Monday, Macron held an emotional meeting with a Moroccan man whose father died years ago when he was thrown off a Paris bridge by far- right skinheads. A May Day march at- tended by thousands of people in Paris was disrupted as scores of hooded youths threw gasoline bombs at riot police in full gear, who re- sponded with tear gas and truncheons. One police officer was seen spraying a trouble- maker in the face. While supporters from fringe movements often dis- rupt protest marches in the French capital, they usually do not carry signs. Some of the violent protesters at the May Day event had signs referring to the presidential election and expressing dissatisfaction with both candidates in Sun- day’s runoff election. “Not one or the other; in- stead it’s the people’s self- defense” read one sign. “Macron=Louis XVI, Le Pen=Le Pen,” read another. Workers in the union-or- ganized march want to block Le Pen from getting into power, but offered differing methods on Monday. Some urged French workers to vote for Macron. Others refused to support the centrist, including far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who was eliminated in the first- round vote on April 23. Wanted or not, Le Pen was praised by her 88-year-old father Jean-Marie, the co- founder of her National Front party. She expelled him from the party in 2015 after he reiterated anti-Se- mitic comments. In a speech before a gilded Paris statue of his heroine, Joan of Arc, Jean- Marie Le Pen urged French voters to back his daughter in Sunday’s runoff. “She is not Joan of Arc, but she accepts the same mission … France,” Jean- Marie Le Pen said. He denounced Macron as a “masked Socialist” backed by the highly unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande. Macron once served as Hol- lande’s economy minister. “He wants to dynamize the economy, but he is among those who dynamited it,” the elder Le Pen said, refer- ring to France’s stagnant economy and jobless rate of around 10 percent. Marine Le Pen, speaking in a hall north of Paris, also skewered Macron, a former investment banker, calling him a “puppet” of the world of finance and Islamic fun- damentalists. Cheers of “Ma- rine President!” and anti-im- migrant chants rose up in the crowd of thousands for Le Pen’s rally. Le Pen, who hopes to mimic Donald Trump’s elec- tion victory, compared Ma- cron to Hillary Clinton. She also sought repeatedly to puncture Macron’s argument that he represents change, calling him Hollande’s lapdog, the candidate of “the caviar left.” Princess Charlotte turns 2 LONDON (AP) – It’s nearly party time for Britain’s Princess Charlotte, who celebrates her second birthday on Tuesday. Her parents marked the occasion Monday by distrib- uting a snapshot of Char- lotte taken by her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge. Prince William and his wife, Kate, want to protect their daughter’s privacy, but it’s not surprising that Kate took the official photo to mark Charlotte’s birthday on the protected grounds of the family’s country estate. The royal couple has tried to keep Charlotte mostly out of the limelight and away from the paparazzi that often follow senior royals at events in London. An important exception was an official trip to Canada in the fall. Wil- liam and Kate brought Char- lotte and her older brother, Prince George, on the trip and Charlotte even attended a children’s party. Don’t be surprised if there’s a run on fluffy yellow cardigans with cute sheep decorations in British stores catering to kids – that is what Charlotte is wearing in the official photo. It’s pos- sible the outfit was chosen by the clothes-conscious Kate. Earlier outfits worn by Prince George in public have be- come extremely popular with British consumers charmed by the young royals. Charlotte is officially named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, in tribute to her late grandmother Diana, Prin- cess of Wales, and her great- grandmother, Queen Eliza- beth II. She is also known as Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. She is fourth in line for the throne, behind Prince Charles (her grand- father), Prince William and Prince George. Youths runs through tear gas during clashes at the May Day demonstration in Paris on Monday. - PHOTO: AP/THIBAULT CAMUS Princess Charlotte CIA CHIEF VISITS SOUTH KOREA SEOUL, South Korea (AP) – America’s CIA director is making an unannounced visit to South Korea, the U.S. Em- bassy in Seoul confirmed Monday, amid heightened ten- sions on the Korean Peninsula. An embassy official said Mike Pompeo and his wife were in the South Ko- rean capital on Monday, but would not say for how long. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. South Korean media re- ports said the CIA chief ar- rived in South Korea over the weekend for meetings with the head of South Korea’s National Intelligence Ser- vice and high-level officials in the presidential office. The U.S. official, however, would not confirm any meetings beyond ones with officials at U.S. Forces in Korea and the U.S. Embassy. The visit comes after North Korea conducted an- other missile test on Sat- urday, and a U.S. aircraft carrier group was in nearby waters. A Japanese destroyer left port Monday, reportedly to escort U.S. naval ships as Japan increases its military role in the region.9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 2, 2017 Acknowledgements and Sincere Thanks Ramon, Michael, Charles & Mary Alberga, Ruth Still and Cathy Ameline and all the other members of the family of the late Patsy Alberga wish to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to all those who have so kindly conveyed their condolences and sympathy to us following the passing of Patsy on Monday, 20 March 2017. We appreciate your support in various ways including visits, cards, personal letters, phone calls, magni cent baskets of owers and pots of beautiful plants and in many other numerous and thoughtful acts of kindness and friendship which you showed to us. This support and sympathy has meant much to us. Your extremely kind words have certainly served to strengthen and console us at this time of our great loss. We would also like to convey our special thanks to all those who attended the Memorial and Thanksgiving Service for Patsy’s life on Sunday, 9 April 2017 at the George Town Church of Christ and to everyone who very kindly made donations in lieu of owers to one of the four charitable organizations (The Foster Care Home, the Cancer Society, the Humane Society and Paws) all of which were dear to Patsy’s heart and which she supported and assisted during her lifetime. Your many gestures of kindness and thoughtfulness for which we again thank all of you will always be remembered. Duterte gets pass on brutal drug war at Southeast Asia summit JAKARTA, Indonesia – Things went very well for Presi- dent Rodrigo Duterte as the Philippines put on the 30th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which ended early Sunday morning in Manila. None of the other nine members of the regional bloc chose to press the host on a brutal drug war that has led to thousands of deaths, as Amnesty International urged them to do this week. On the contrary, he was able to bask in the spotlight as he hosted a press conference late Sat- urday, cracking jokes and posing for selfies as he casu- ally bragged that he expected a call from President Donald Trump after dinner. On the thorny issue of Chi- nese expansion in the South China Sea, ASEAN released a statement with no reference to a 2016 U.N. ruling against Beijing, signaling many of Southeast Asia’s leaders agree with Duterte’s warmer approach to China. Then, the White House it- self delivered the pièce de ré- sistance in Duterte’s show of power and influence, con- firming Trump had spoken with Duterte and invited him to the White House. Rather than mention the estimated 8,000 dead in the drug war since Duterte took office or widespread accusations of extra-judicial killings, the White House said in a state- ment that the two leaders discussed “the fact that the Philippine government is fighting very hard to rid its country of drugs, a scourge that affects many countries around the world.” Analysts said that many of Duterte’s neighbors are willing to go along with his approach because they put the economic benefits Bei- jing can offer above geopo- litical concerns, and it’s still not clear to many leaders how the Trump’s govern- ment will actually interact with the region. On a recent visit to Indo- nesia, the largest country in Southeast Asia, Vice President Mike Pence announced that Trump will attend an ASEAN meeting in November, which the Philippines will also host in its role as rotating chair. “Given the structure of ASEAN, it was never likely that other members would publicly take a stand on Duterte’s alleged abuses,” said Lucio Blanco Pitlo III, a professor at Ateneo de Manila university studying regional geopolitics, pointing out that respect for human rights and democracy was far from uni- versal in the Southeast Asia. “But the South China Sea issue is a fundamental issue for ASEAN, and Duterte’s more conciliatory tone reso- nates with a number of coun- tries. First, there are obvious economic benefits to working with China, while we don’t know which of Trump’s rhet- oric will lead to real policy here. At the same time, di- rect confrontation and even a successful (U.N.) arbitration process did not actually stop China from expanding just as they intended, and there’s some loss of confidence in the capability of the U.S. to provide regional security.” It is unlikely there was unanimous support for soft-pedaling Chinese land reclamation and militariza- tion, however. Agence France- Press reported Saturday that Duterte was facing pushback on the final statement, which was released much later than planned. “It can’t be seen that ASEAN has totally given in to Chinese pressure,” one dip- lomat reportedly told AFP. © 2017, The Washington PostPhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte Last summer, Ruslan So- kolovsky entered the im- posing Church of All Saints in Yekaterinburg, a city about 1,000 miles east of Moscow. The Russian Orthodox church holds special meaning for some, because it was suppos- edly built on the site where the last czar of Russia, Nich- olas II, was murdered along with his family. But Sokolovsky was not there to worship or pay tribute to Russian history. In- stead, the blogger wandered through the gilded rooms of the church, his eyes and fin- gers glued to his smartphone. He was playing “Pokémon Go,” the app that allows users to “catch ‘em all” using aug- mented reality. “But, you know, I didn’t catch the rarest Pokémon that you could find there – Jesus,” Sokolovsky, an out- spoken atheist, said at the end of a video he recorded that day. “They said it doesn’t even exist, so I’m not re- ally surprised.” At the time, Pokémon Go was experiencing an unprec- edented craze that would ultimately die down in a matter of weeks. However, the consequences for Sokolovsky would last long after he fired up the app on his phone last summer – and posted the video of his Pokémon Go- playing venture inside the church to YouTube. After Russian officials dis- covered the footage, Soko- lovsky was detained last fall and charged with inciting re- ligious hatred. On Friday, the last day of the trial, prose- cutors in Russia requested a sentence of 3 ½ years in prison for Sokolovsky. Sokolovsky, now 22, pro- tested that his potential pun- ishment outweighed the crime. “I may be an idiot, but I am by no means an ex- tremist,” said Sokolovsky in a statement, according to the Russian news site Me- duza. He compared his sug- gested prison sentence, for joking about the Orthodox Church, to those who had been imprisoned for decades under Joseph Stalin for joking about communism. © 2017, The Washington Post PLAYING ‘POKÉMON GO’ IN RUSSIAN CHURCH MAY LEAD TO PRISONNext >