ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY MAY 3, 2017 High of 86 Low of 76 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS ENTER THE HOME STRETCH ‘Pirates Week’ shortened to five days Heritage Days events condensed into one BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The annual Pirates Week festival, held in Cayman since 1977, is getting a face-lift as it marks its 40th iteration this year. Major changes were announced to the schedule Tuesday, which will condense the festival, formerly spanning two weekends, into five days. According to a tentative schedule released by the Pirates Week Festival, the entire event will take place on Grand Cayman between Thursday, Nov. 9, and Monday, Nov. 13, this year. Pirates Week festivities will be held in Cayman Brac between Nov. 3 and 5 and in Little Cayman between Nov. 17 and 19. The Heritage Day events, which had been held in each of Grand Cayman’s five districts, will be winnowed down into one all-day event in George Town on Nov. 13, the last day of the festival. “Spectators will have the opportunity to wander from West Bay to East End in just a few steps, while stopping off in George Town, Bodden Town and North Side along the way,” according to a statement from Pirates Week Executive Director Melanie McField. Meanwhile, all of the major Pirates Week events will be held during one long weekend, with Nov. 13 being a holiday Monday. For in- stance, the popular cardboard boat races are set to be held starting at 11 a.m. in Hog Sty Bay. They will end around 2 p.m., about an hour before the pirates landing and float pa- rade at 3 p.m. The “Trial of the Pirates” – the traditional end of the festival – will take place around 7 p.m. Monday, following the end of the George Town Heritage Day event. CITA ELECTS NEW PRESIDENT, BOARD SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands Tourism Association has elected Theresa Leacock-Broderick as its new president. Ms. Leacock-Broderick, who previously served as vice president, succeeds Kenneth Hydes of Dart Real Estate. “I’m thrilled and honored. I’ve been preparing for it,” Ms. Leacock-Broderick said of her new posting. “I think we have our work cut out for us as tourism is truly a dynamic and globally impacted in- dustry. The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism always does an incredible job, particularly with its limited resources, but the synergy between the private and public sectors is key to Cayman’s past and con- tinued successes.” Ms. Leacock-Broderick, general man- ager at Plantana Condominiums, said that working to improve visitor experiences and to help members navigate through challenges remains on the forefront for CITA. “We will continue to monitor the expan- sion of Owen Roberts International Airport to ensure it continues to be a priority for the government. With the upcoming elec- tions, there may be significant changes in the government, and it is important for tourism that infrastructural work con- tinues,” she said. “The CITA leadership understands the im- pact that legislation and policy has on our industry and, as always, we will work to- gether with government to represent the best interests of Cayman’s tourism.” The other new members of the Executive Committee are: vice president, David Carmi- chael, Caribbean Marine Services; secretary, Joanna Boxall, Acorn Publishing; and trea- surer, Gaetan Babin, Wyndham Reef Resort. Premier focuses attacks on candidate Bryan BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin is not run- ning against his former polit- ical assistant Kenneth Bryan in the May election, but you would not know it from the recent po- litical rhetoric. Premier McLaughlin, who is running in Red Bay, alleged Saturday that Mr. Bryan, run- ning as an independent candi- date in George Town Central, was “arrested more than once” during the time he served as Mr. McLaughlin’s political assistant between 2013-2016. Mr. Bryan denied the al- legation of another arrest when told about the premier’s comments Monday. “That never happened,” Mr. Bryan said. “If [the Progressives] are attacking me, that means I must be doing something well. Politicians don’t go after weak candidates. “What the Progressives are trying to do is derail my focus. I’m going to stick to the issues and do what I need to do.” Mr. McLaughlin has spent a significant amount of time in his speeches during recent political meetings on Cayman Brac and in Prospect, George Town criti- cizing Mr. Bryan, but he made new allegations on Saturday during the Progressives polit- ical meeting in Prospect. The al- legations were made to a crowd Child Month in full swing Volunteer readers Donald Aitken and Jenni Bradwell assist George Town Primary students Rayonju Swire and Caleb Brett with their reading skills. Under the banner of Child Month, May is pegged as a month to encourage people to rededicate their lives to the care of children. For the full story, see page 7. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 TITLE OF EDITORIAL MA Y 2 0 17 • W WW . CA YJO U RNA L. C OM 175 THIS ISSUE: SPECIAL REPORT Human Resources & Succession Planning >>PAGE 12 MARKETS Brexit: Article 50 triggers start of long, hard journey >>PAGE 2STOCKS Israeli tech stocks Definitely worth a look >>PAGE 4REAL ESTATE RE/MAX Cayman Islands Agency marks 25 years and some ‘firsts’ >>PAGE 6 PAGE 12 SPECIA L REPORT May 2017 Journal Special Report Human Resources & Success ion Planning Cinemas embrace VIP perks to meet industry challenges Impact17 looks at human side of digital marketing ■■ MICHAEL KLEIN The history of the movie indus-try is filled with challenges and doomsayers predicting the de-mise of Hollywood. From the introduc-tion of sound to the advent of television, the motion picture industry has always been forced to evolve to stay relevant. Now the industry is facing flat ticket sales, strong competition from streaming services, and a heavy economic reliance on blockbusters and so-called franchises that are producing an inordinate num- ber of superhero movies and sequels. Movie fans are consuming films in new ways, including as streamed or downloaded content that is accessible on smartphones and tablets. Industry data shows that younger cinema-goers will still flock to the movie theater for the biggest blockbusters from “Star Wars” to “Deadpool,” but increasingly prefer the small screen for other types of film. And while watching movies on a mo- bile phone is not the same as seeing it in a cinema, home theater systems, video game consoles and the internet make visiting a movie theater far from the only entertainment option. This has had a marked effect on at-tendance figures. According to the National Asso-ciation of Theater Owners, there were about 41,000 movie screens in the U.S. and Canada in 2016, nearly twice as many as 30 years ago. North American box office reached a record high of $11.4 billion last year, while global box office also set a record of $38.6 billion. But attendance has been flat for more than a decade. In North Amer-ica, a 49 percent increase in ticket prices since 2002 simply masked the 16 percent decline in ticket sales dur-ing the same period. Trend in Cayman Cayman is not immune to the trend. “The world is changing, so we have to change to,” says Simon Watson, the op-erations manager for Active Capital Ltd., a subsidiary of the Dart group, which runs the local six-screen Regal Cinemas.He says that clearly the quality of films is vastly degraded when people stream movies, but it still constitutes competition for cinema operators all over the world.The movie industry answer is to em-phasize the experience. “Our view is that if you want to watch the latest movies in the best way possible, the only place to do that is the cinema,” Watson says. “You can never get that experience any-where else apart from the big screen. But we have to continue to upgrade.” This includes Regal Cinemas’ latest VIP Auditorium theater, which offers luxury leather recliner seats, state-of-the-art surround-sound and a 4K ultra-high-resolution digital projection system.The theater’s Dolby Atmos sound sys-tem delivers seamless, crystal clear sur- round-sound through speakers installed on each of the four walls and the ceiling. It is so cutting edge that it has been rolled out only in a few high-end U.S. cinemas.The extra-large recliner seats with double arm rests and small tables for drinks, food and other concessions pro-vide a maximum of comfort and space. Regal cinema had to convert one of its theaters from 150 to only 56 seats to en-hance the viewing experience. To make up for the likely decline in attendance, tickets are priced $10 higher than for movies that are shown on other screens, making it $21.50 per movie. Customer feedback has been posi- tive as cinema-goers realize that they pay for quality, says Watson. “As we go forward, we hope that the VIP [facilities] will be so popular that we look at eventually upgrading a second theater.” The VIP auditorium also helps the ■■ KAYLA YOUNG In an age dominated by digital de-vices, entrepreneurs at Cayman’s third annual Impact conference sought to take a step back from smart-phones and reconnect with the human element of marketing. A packed schedule of local and inter-national speakers engaged a full ballroom at the Kimpton Seafire Resort late last month, as part of a three-day conference centered around digital innovation.The Impact17 program, put on by the Internet Marketing Association and Cayman Enterprise City, featured more than 20 speakers. IMA Chairman Sinan Kanatsiz encour- aged attendees to open up and consider a wide range of possibilities to address busi-ness challenges in the digital age.“Some of the best innovation in the world is going to happen on our stage and we don’t know yet what is going to hap-pen,” he said at the forum on April 27.While the day’s lineup hailed from across the digital realm, the day’s major takeaway was on building human bonds and moving focus to the offline world. Speakers expressed a need to gain control over the digital world and give consumers power to direct their experiences. Evite CEO Victor Cho opened after-noon discussion with a challenge for the audience: to turn and look each other di-rectly in the eyes. While the experience may have made some feel uncomfortable, he said such interactions promote oxy-tocin, the so-called “love chemical,” and encourages long-lasting bonds.“Face-to-face interaction makes a huge difference in your life in terms of health,” he said. His company promotes the hashtag #devicefreedinner as a way to encourage people to put their phones away and focus on their friends and family. He said leaving a phone on the table during dinner is the equivalent of setting out a loaded gun.“If you’re boring, I’ll just shoot you in Mercer Chief Marketing Officer Jeanniey Mullen, Kiip founder Brian Wong and IMA Chairman Sinan Kanatsiz were among the presenters at Impact17. - PHOTO: KAYLA YOUNG PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Regal Cinemas has a new VIP Auditorium theater, which offers luxury leather recliner seats, state-of-the-art surround-sound and a 4K ultra-high- resolution digital projection system. THE CAYMAN ISLANDS JOURNAL Cinemas embrace VIP perks to meet industry challenges PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY MAY 3, 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 - WEDNESDAY - 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) KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com In a world of data breaches and po- litical unrest, the concept of confiden- tiality faces a certain death, warned British Virgin Islands lawyer Tim Prudhoe on Tuesday. Rather than fear the future, the Kobre & Kim partner advised offshore tax ju- risdictions to embrace transparency and find benefit in a turbulent world. “There are lots of people wanting to plan their assets. We are just as well placed as others to take advan- tage of that heightened anxiety,” Mr. Prudhoe said during the 2017 STEP Caribbean Conference at the Kimpton Seafire Resort. The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners event gathered busi- ness professionals from across the re- gion for three days of discussion on tax policy, asset protection and informa- tion exchange. On day two of the event, Mr. Prudhoe described a “veritable crusade for trans- parency,” muddled by misinformation and public perception. Despite headline-grabbing leaks like the Panama Papers, Mr. Prudhoe ar- gued that public relations disasters are the least of the financial indus- try’s worries. He pointed out that while the leak captured public attention, it resulted in very little litigation. The case did, however, indi- cate significant public interest in tax transparency. To stay competitive in the market- place, he encouraged offshore jurisdic- tions to embrace the push toward open- ness. Given the global abundance of tax options, he warned that non-trans- parent jurisdictions risk losing their competitive edge. He said privacy in an absolute sense can no longer be expected and is no longer a selling point. He pointed to a recent survey in which 77 percent of those polled expected a network of tax information exchange agreements to be established by 2020. “One way or another, there is going to be information exchange,” he said. He also warned that clever lawyers will not be the ones to save the day. Ju- risdictions that rely on such individuals risk perpetuating the image created by John Grisham’s legal thriller, “The Firm,” he said. Sophisticated legal frameworks should instead serve as backup for above-board policies. For those who embrace change, he said opportunity awaits. “There is a great deal to be opti- mistic about as long as we don’t spend too much of our time worrying about people picking on us,” he said. For attendees who may have been unsettled by Mr. Prudhoe’s outlook, speaker Conrad Griffiths of Griffiths & Partners focused his presentation on balancing information exchange with privacy rights. He outlined legal ave- nues to protect client confidentially and to challenge possible violations. Other topics covered during the three-day event included global banking issues, the rights of foreign trustees in U.S. courts, and regional consid- erations for Latin America, Asia and the Caribbean. Wednesday is the final day of the conference and will include breakout sessions on dispute arbitration, Brexit, and investment funds. The STEP Caribbean Conference has been held for 20 years in coun- tries across the region. Upcoming STEP conferences will be held in California, Canada, Israel, Scotland and Australia, among other locations. “There are lots of people wanting to plan their assets. We are just as well placed as others to take advantage of that heightened anxiety.” TIM PRUDHOE, British Virgin Islands lawyer Offshore jurisdictions asked to embrace transparency Tim Prudhoe of Kobre & Kim presents on transparency in offshore jurisdictions at the STEP Caribbean Conference at the Kimpton Seafire Resort. CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Caracas residents blocked streets with broken con- crete and twisted metal and flaming piles of trash Tuesday to protest the so- cialist president’s bid to re- write the constitution amid a deepening political crisis. President Nicolas Maduro signed a decree Monday to begin the pro- cess of rewriting the coun- try’s charter. Opposition leaders called the planned constitutional assembly a ploy to put off regional elections scheduled for this year and a presiden- tial election that was to be held in 2018. Polling suggests the so- cialists would lose both those elections badly at a time of widespread anger over triple-digit infla- tion and shortages of food and other goods. Speaking hours after yet another big anti-gov- ernment march ended in rock throwing and tear gas, Maduro said a new con- stitution was needed to restore peace. “This will be a citi- zens’ assembly made up of workers,” the president said Monday. “The day has come brothers. Don’t fail me now.” “I am no Musso- lini,” he added. The president was vague about how members of the constitutional as- sembly would be chosen. He hinted some would se- lected by voters, but many observers expect the se- lection process to favor the socialists. If the constitutional process goes forward, op- position leaders will need to focus on getting at least some sympathetic fig- ures included in the as- sembly. That could distract them from organizing the near-daily street protests that have kept up for four weeks, political analyst Luis Vicente Leon said. “It’s a way of calling elections that uses up en- ergy but does not carry risk, because it’s not a uni- versal, direct and secret vote,” Leon said. “And it has the effect of pushing out the possibility of elec- tions this year and prob- ably next year as well.” Venezuela’s constitu- tion was last rewritten in 1999, early in the 14-year presidency of the late Hugo Chavez, who launched a so- cialist revolution in the oil- exporting nation. Chavez called his new constitu- tion the best in the world, and promised it would last centuries. He carried around a blue pocket-sized version of the document, and would often whip it out and say, “This is our Bible. After the Bible, this.” At the height of his popu- larity, people would mob him to ask that he sign their copies. Venezuelans protest call to rewrite constitution RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Several public buses were torched in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday in what Brazilian military po- lice said was likely gang retaliation for a large anti-drug operation. Images on Globo News showed buses burning alongside a highway in the northern part of the city. Traffic was snarled for a few hours and black smoke filled the air. Local media reported that eight buses and two cargo trucks were set ablaze, though those numbers could not be independently confirmed. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The burning vehicles appeared empty. Calls and emails to military police in Rio were not immediately returned. Military police spokesman Maj. Ivan Blaz told Globo that a group of ski- masked bandits were suspected of ig- niting the buses Tuesday, possibly in re- taliation for a police operation. On Twitter, Rio’s military police posted updates and photos from the op- eration, which began early Tuesday. By the afternoon, 26 men had been arrested and 17 automatic rifles had been recov- ered, according to police. Rio has frequent bursts of vio- lence. Heavily armed gangs run drug businesses from many of the hun- dreds of slums in the city. They fre- quently have shootouts with rival gangs over territory and with military police during operations. Several other buses were torched during a protest over pension re- form on Friday. Several buses torched in Rio; police see gang retaliationThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 3, 2017 George Town South: Different Issues, But Common To All (Part 1 of 2) Prior to the recent Chamber of Commerce Debate for George Town South candidates (the “Debate”) held at the South Sound Community Centre, I was asked what I thought were some of the issues facing Windsor Park. During the Debate, I was also asked about issues related to the South Sound area. I would now like to share some of the concerns of residents of George Town South with the general public. The sharing of this information is important because other people in Cayman may have similar, unaddressed, issues that are plaguing their daily lives. Some of these issues are set out below and further matters will be discussed in future articles. Windsor Park Flooding Having grown up in Windsor Park (my first house being between the homes of grandma Selma Thompson and “Aunt” Ruth and the second house being almost across from Mr. Blemo and next to Lee and Bobby), I know that flooding is a problem. It is an issue because it only takes about 20 minutes of rainfall for flooding to occur in a particular area. Inherent dangers are infections from the dirty water and damage to homes. Damage is caused to homes because they may sit at low levels in comparison to the road. Because of the low level of some homes, flood waters could run off from the streets and into the home, causing damage to property. Such damage to property is significant for residents who worked hard to obtain it and cannot easily replace it. An initial step in tackling the flooding problem is to survey all of the areas of Windsor Park in order to determine the hardest hit areas and other areas which are prone to flood risk. The reason we consider other potential areas is that they will be in great danger should a hurricane or other storm come to our shores. Once the areas have been properly examined, one solution might be to dig deeper drain wells. They must be installed in affected areas to relieve residents from the possible damage from the high water levels and also to keep kids safe from infected waters. We should also explore whether insurance companies would be willing to offer insurance policies in order to protect residents’ property from this kind of flood damage. This will provide some financial and emotional relief. Windsor Park and South Sound Traffic When it comes to traffic relief, Windsor Park and South Sound have something in common- they are both used by commuters for short cuts at one time or the other. This often results in traffic congestion along South Sound road and Oakmill Street to the junction of Pasadora Place. In order to resolve such congestion, it has been suggested that neighbours create carpooling arrangements (instead of each family member driving a separate car to work or to school) or a reliable bus route be created to serve George Town South residents. Looking at the options, carpooling seems to be a good choice. Community members could agree which groups of persons who would carpool for a particular area each day. The main drivers would also have backup drivers in the event that they are unable to be the designated carpool driver for a specific day. Another solution which complements this idea is an efficient, reliable bus service. This could help in two ways: (1) existing bus and taxi owners within George Town South would have the benefit of serving an additional, dedicated route where construction workers, maids and other professionals would arrive on time to work and (2) a smaller number of cars would be utilised, resulting in less traffic jams, less air pollution and possibly less risk of injury to joggers, families walking their dogs or children riding their bikes. Regarding the safety concerns for people walking along these roads, I suggest that a caution light be set up on the roads where residents walk and exercise. This is similar to the light which appears in school zones. I also suggest that reflective gear or bright clothing be worn while walking or jogging in these areas, which should become known to, and accepted by, drivers as “family friendly” zones. A low speed limit would also apply to these areas. We must institute a fine for drivers who exceed the speed limit and where joggers, cyclists and children are present at the time of speeding, the relevant fine should be multiplied, perhaps five to ten times. To complement this, a stand-alone camera which detects speed and takes pictures of speeding vehicles should be used in these areas. This may encourage people to think carefully and resist the speeding and dangerous driving which puts residents in danger. The consequence for causing an accident in these zones should also lead to a forfeiture of drivers’ licences or suspension for a period if minor injury is involved. It has also been suggested that the road lanes be widened or sidewalks be erected along one or both sides of the road. Assuming that land owners and the government agreed and assuming that there is sufficient space available in certain area, the streets could be expanded and sidewalks added. I accept though, that this could be quite difficult to achieve because the current spaces considered for expansion are small and are situated on properties where land owners may not wish to have an increased flow of traffic. What Can We Do Now? As a community, we must continue to bring these issues to the attention of the government and the general public. If left unaddressed, then families will be put in danger and communities will suffer. As a representative for George Town South, I would be happy to work as a team member with other government representatives (taking advice from the community) to take steps to resolve these issues. While they may not all be resolved overnight, we must at least try. Such a small step may go a long way in achieving the prosperity we desire.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. WEDNESDAY MAY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS In three short weeks, Cayman Islands voters will stream to the country’s polling stations for Cayman’s quadrennial exercise in democracy. So far, the political campaign season has lived up (and, sometimes, “down”) to expectations, as a broad field of 61 candidates compete for ballots in 19 freshly minted single- member districts. It’s good that we don’t make our living on prognosticating because in this year’s “brave new world” of “one man, one vote,” just who will eventually emerge victo- rious on Election Day, May 24, is anybody’s guess. While the candidates limber up for the home stretch, we’ll review some themes and highlights that have emerged over the past months, then take a quick peek ahead – not at what we predict will happen during the next three weeks – but at what we hope will set the tone for the remainder of the campaign. There’s a phrase we’re sure our readers are familiar with: “All politics is local.” That seems apt in a country divided into districts ranging in size from 484 voters (Cayman Brac East) to 1,513 voters (Bodden Town East). In public statements, candidates have certainly delved into minutiae about things they would do, if elected, to benefit their specific districts. That includes things such as improved sidewalks and street lighting, remedies for neighborhood-level flooding, and increased foot patrols for police officers. While those types of projects are necessary and, to individual districts, important – the danger of having 19 “mini-districts” arises if such promises become the sole focus of elected officials whose primary duty, let us not forget, is to run the entire country. That being said, so far in the campaign, you could equally say that, “All politics is national.” In other words, candidates seem to recognize, correctly, that the most important issues facing their districts are identical to the most important issues facing Cayman as a whole. Regard- less of where particular facilities happen to be located, national issues such as education, employment, the economy, government spending, healthcare, immigration, infrastructure and public safety are the issues that matter in the minds of voters, across all districts. Whether or not our politicians, when discussing these national issues, can refrain from populist grandstanding by bashing foreign workers, permanent residents and, in general, Cayman’s non-voting population, is a separate topic altogether. We must never forget that approximately half of our resident population consists of expatriates and their dependents who cannot vote (much less stand for office). There’s another truism in campaign circles: “Politics ain’t beanbag.” Former candidates Nickolas DaCosta and Mario Rankine can attest to that. We say “former” because Messrs. DaCosta and Rankine were removed from the ballot fol- lowing challenges to their qualifications as candidates, on legal grounds that – until the rulings by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie – were untested and rather murky. One of the most compelling side narratives in the 2017 campaign saga has been the conflict between Premier Alden McLaughlin and – no, not Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush, nor the premier’s opponents in Red Bay – but between the premier and his former political assistant Kenneth Bryan, who is running as an independent in George Town Central. Before Nomination Day, talk on the street was that the premier might square off against Mr. Bryan directly … instead, after a daylong bout of “hide and seek” with the press, the premier popped up to register in Red Bay (where, on another interesting personal note, one opponent is the Cayman Democratic Party’s Denniston Tibbetts, who is the brother of Mr. McLaughlin’s political mentor, Kurt Tibbetts). In George Town Central, Mr. Bryan has found himself targeted on two fronts: by his opponent on the ballot, the Progressives’ Finance Minister Marco Archer, and also by Premier McLaughlin, who as we describe in a story in today’s Compass, has waged a sort of “proxy war” against Mr. Bryan during his own speeches and statements. Although that sort of stuff makes for good newspaper stories and lively conversation, our hope going forward is that the campaigns attempt to distinguish themselves with big, outward-facing ideas for the country as a whole, rather than with small, inward-facing promises for individual dis- tricts, and certainly not with the airing of petty grievances against individual rivals. When candidates behave with dignity, it enables voters to make clear-eyed decisions for the betterment of the country. The reverse is also true. Political campaigns enter the home stretch Late night driving, right-hand thinking All last week I got to drive around Minne- sota late at night, drifting through the little towns, just me and the truckers out on the road and Merle and George and Emmylou on the radio. I was doing a little dog-and-pony show around my home state and I like driving at night. Less traffic, more romance. You look ahead down the open road and you’re no longer an old retired guy in a suit and tie, you’re a Woody Guthrie song, you’re a man on the run, you’re the perpetrator of the big- gest art heist in years, with Hopper’s “Night- hawks” under a blanket in the backseat along with “American Gothic” and six Jackson Pollocks. It’s a big backseat. The yard lights of farms sweep by, some well-kept farms, some ragged ones, and fields waiting for planting, and scraggly woods and old mobile homes half hidden in woods. You feel the contours of the hills and valleys, the creeks and rivers, you watch the ditches for suicidal deer. There used to be late- night DJs who would send out dedications from lis- teners – “This is for you, Wayne, and she says she still cares about you” and he’d play “I Fall to Pieces” – but the stations all seem automated now, waiting to be sold at a loss for tax purposes. Meanwhile, you stop at the gas station/mall for coffee and are stunned by the sheer number of po- tato chip varieties: bacon, B-B-Q, blue cheese, green onion, balsamic, jalapeno, mesquite, garlic, guaca- mole, dill pickle, rockin’ picante, spicy Cajun, three cheese, Szechuan, sour cream, wavy mango, wasabi, BLT, plus “natural” and “old-fashioned” and “40% less fat” chips. A po- tato chip is a potato chip. Do we really need all this? There is news on the radio: a new tax plan, a government shutdown (no? yes?), the chance of a “major major” conflict with North Korea, a big harangue against the press, but it’s meaningless. Out here on the ribbon of highway, the land goes on and on and on, and there is a new life waiting out ahead. At home I am an old lib- eral but out here at 2 a.m., I am all about freedom. All I need from the government is a good road – I don’t need the government to put up signs warning me to fasten my seat belt and drive care- fully and dim my head- lights for oncoming traffic. On some straightaways, headlights on high beam, I hit 80 and 90. Let Bambi’s mother look out for me. At home I try to be kind, but out here, to the dis- gruntled voter who feels ig- nored by Washington, I say, “Put away the 12-pack and the three-cheese chips, lose the gut, stop smoking, turn off the TV. Papa is not re- sponsible for your sad life. Go back to school, arise at dawn, take brisk walks, think big, show your kids how it’s done.” That’s me talking at 70 mph. Out west of Detroit Lakes, tuned to classic country, Emmylou’s fragile voice drifts in with “I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham, I would hold my life in his saving grace,” from an album I lis- tened to over and over back in the ‘70s sitting in a base- ment working on a novel that even then I knew was going nowhere. I admire that guy. He was young and naive, un- cowed, indomitable. Now I’m old and cautious and on Social Security, a burden on the rest of you, but it ain’t over yet. I could still make my mark in the world. It’s a great country. Nuts to the guy writing the executive orders. He is a lightning bug in the marsh. I could shuck him and head west and get me a job bartending in Bismarck and listen to the scuttlebutt of the drifters and bar- flies, weave their b.s. into a musical called “Beautiful Losers” and earn 45 million bucks and buy an island in the Caribbean. I was kidding about the paintings in the back- seat. That was fake news. At 2 a.m. going 75 mph just east of Fargo, I think I am on the verge of doing something really good. You watch and see if I don’t. Garrison Keillor is an author and radio personality. © Garrison Keillor, distributed by The Washington Post News Service with Bloomberg News. GARRISON KEILLOR GARRISON KEILLOR At home I am an old liberal but out here at 2 a.m., I am all about freedom. All I need from the government is a good road. 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 3, 2017 For more ways to celebrate Mom, visit CAMANABAY.COM Spend TIME MOM with at CAMANA BAY Spend MOTHER’S DAY PORTRAITS GARDENIA COURT THURSDAY 4 MAY | 5-7PM SATURDAY 6 MAY | 10AM-12PM Free family portrait sessions with Picture This Studios on a first-come, first-served basis. Print packages available for purchase. Candidates clash at national debate TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Five candidates discussed work permits, employment and education, among other topics, at another in a series of national debates Monday night at the Arts and Recre- ation Centre in Camana Bay. On the stage were two Progressives candidates, Joey Hew in George Town North and Roy McTaggart in George Town East; George Town West independents Ellio Solomon and Dennie Warren; and George Town North independent, attorney Karin Thompson. The candidates spent nearly two hours an- swering nearly a dozen questions from moderator Tammi Sulliman. MLAs Mr. Hew and Mr. McTaggart defended the Pro- gressives’ four years under Premier Alden McLaughlin. Mr. Warren kicked the gathering into gear early, re- iterating his controversial proposal to launch a med- ical-marijuana industry – producing cannabis oil both for pain-relief and ex- port, while helping to reduce unemployment. “We need to diversify the economy,” he told the audi- ence. “We need the growth of cannabis to produce oil for medicinal purposes and export. It won’t supply 1,200 jobs, but it’s a very large market.” He further claimed, “It generates $20 bil- lion in Israel.” Mr. Warren, answering a question regarding jobs and education, said the private sector bears little formal re- sponsibility for employee training, but suggested more such programs could boost the economy. Mr. McTaggart said the 1,200-unemployed figure was higher at the start of the Pro- gressives’ tenure, and had “come down quite nicely.” “You’ve got to have growth to diversify the economy, even in industries that al- ready exist,” to boost job cre- ation,” he said. Mr. Solomon, who served as George Town MLA be- tween 2009 and 2013 under Mr. Bush, advocated both short- and longer-term mea- sures to address unemploy- ment, including temporary nursing, medical research and importing equipment, aiding both skilled and un- skilled unemployed. Ms. Thompson said ed- ucation and training, while working “hand-in-hand,” were insufficient to reduce unemployment. Turning to questions of work permits and “ready- to-work” programs, she la- mented the disenfran- chisement of Caymanian job-seekers: “I don’t have to rely on work-permit statis- tics, all I need to do is walk through my neighborhood. I see a lot of young – and older – Caymanians who are all capable, but have slipped through the cracks, and not been given the opportunities that others have had.” Mr. Hew pointed to gov- ernment-sponsored efforts to boost employment through the hospitality, nursing and legal/secretarial schools at the University College of the Cayman Islands, and said Progressives were looking to- ward long-term gains after “spending a lot of time trying to collect work-permit data,” gathering research on “which Caymanians are unemployed, who they are, where are the areas they are most affected,” and boosting “external training” to qualify them for permanent positions. The candidates sup- ported reintegration of public schools, segregated into Cay- manian and expatriate since the mid-’90s, although Ms. Thompson used the ques- tion to call for less expen- diture on “buildings and gyms, and more on teachers and academics.” All agreed on the peren- nial election-year call to re- move issues of work permits and imported labor from the Immigration Department, instead creating an “em- ployment bureau” to adju- dicate applications and in- spect every business in the Cayman Islands. Mr. Solomon accused gov- ernment of a “lack of intes- tinal fortitude” to enforce al- ready extant job-protection legislation, and renewed his 2009-2013 calls to designate “Caymanian-only” jobs, la- menting the failure of the Progressives to move on his proposal. Mr. Hew explained the “failure,” saying “you cannot designate janitors, gardeners and lawyers, saying one is Caymanian and [there can be] no others.” Mr. Warren called for “a cap” on permanent residence and status applications, while Ms. Thompson, re- jecting resurrection of the old “Cayman Protection Board,” nonetheless appeared to sup- port subjective judgements regarding job-seekers. “I have spent inordinate time defining who is Cay- manian,” she said. “How do we know who we are? We don’t need laws to tell us who we are. Like an ele- phant, I know a Caymanian when I see one.” Ms. Thompson agreed with Messrs. Solomon and Warren that government was too dependent on work- permit fees to limit labor im- ports, claims that were firmly rejected by Mr. Hew and Mr. McTaggart, who pointed out that tourism – especially in the wake of 2016’s 75,000 in- crease in arrivals – and finan- cial services contributed far more to government coffers than work permits. Former KPMG Managing Partner Mr. McTaggart cat- egorically denied govern- ment dependence on the fees. “We are not reliant on work-permit fees,” he said. “They are a fraction of [the] revenues we get from the fi- nancial services industry. More than 2,000 Cayma- nians have found work in the last four years.” All supported the long- debated “revitalization” of George Town and construc- tion of cruise berthing. Mr. Hew claimed designs were under way to realign cen- tral George Town roads and resolve issues of “parking, traffic congestion, lighting and security,” but offered no time frame. Finally, there was some discussion of the George Town Landfill and the Inte- grated Solid Waste Manage- ment Scheme, under develop- ment for at least three years. Contractors started shredding an estimated half million discarded tires on March 21, while selec- tion of a project manager for the multimillion-dollar scheme is imminent. “We are not doing enough,” Ms. Thompson said. “I do not believe we have even touched the surface.” Mr. McTaggart disputed the claim: “We certainly have made headway. Since 2015, we have had ISWMS [the Integrated Solid Waste Management Scheme].” De- partment of Environment of- ficials are in the latter stages of selecting a “waste-to-en- ergy plant that will operate at the landfill, and “once it is contracted,” Mr. McTaggart said, landfill deposits will drop sharply “with a goal of reducing them by 95 percent.” Candidates also discussed the George Town Landfill and the Integrated Solid Waste Management Scheme. DISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Sister Islands WEDNESDAY MAY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Art hits the road in Little Cayman Youngsters in Little Cayman got an up-close encounter with the National Gallery’s permanent collection in early April, thanks to a new program that takes art- work on the road. The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands’ Art on the Road campaign, which started in Feb- ruary, brings works of art from the gallery’s permanent collection to the community, specifically to pri- mary schoolchildren, according to a press release. Educators and cura- tors from the National Gallery have been visiting schools to make a pre- sentation on the importance of art and how it has the power to tell sto- ries and depict the culture and heri- tage of the Cayman Islands. On April 3, gallery director and curator Natalie Urquhart visited Little Cayman’s school, officially known as the Little Cayman Edu- cation Services facility, bringing with her images and engaging art activities about the islands’ mari- time culture and heritage. “Art on the Road is an initiative designed to reach every school in Cayman, and to date we’ve traveled to 19 schools and reached 510 stu- dents, with support from Digicel,” said Ms. Urquhart. “It was a real pleasure to visit Brandon, Jhade, Brady and James at the Little Cayman school. We shared stories about Cayman’s strong mar- itime traditions and created some maritime-inspired artwork to add to their already vibrant classroom display. We hope to continue vis- iting Little Cayman over the next month and sharing National Gal- lery resources.” The visit was well received by the Little Cayman school’s staff and students. “The National Gallery’s visit to Little Cayman Education Services inspired students to learn more about our culture and heritage,” said Veronica Khan, one of the school’s educators. “The hands-on art activity to- gether with the Art on the Road pre- sentation highlighted Cayman’s rich history told through the [gallery’s] permanent art collection. I look forward to welcoming Ms. Natalie Urquhart back soon.” For more information on how to get involved in Art on the Road, email education@nationalgallery.org.ky or call 945-8111. Brady Ebanks and Jhade Thompson work on their art activities.National Gallery director Natalie Urquhart with the Little Cayman students. 50 YEARS AGO Seamen enjoy the chance to visit In the May 3, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, Cayman Brac correspondent Lilian Ritch wrote: “Visiting home recently we have welcomed the fol- lowing: Burke Ryan of Tampa, Florida who came to see his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Ryan of Stake Bay and family. Mr. Ryan who is a proprietor of a motor car repair and ser- vice station is in touch with the Caymanian commu- nity of Tampa and reports on their enthusiasm for the newspaper. “E. Berkley and Se- lina Foster of New Orleans were in to visit with their families, Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Foster, the District Commis- sioner and Capt. R.C. Foster. Berkley is a building con- tractor. Mrs. Selina tells us: ‘We look forward to the Caymanian each Friday like we do a letter from home.’ “With our seamen – good sailing to our boys who have gone away over the last month including: Ash- burn Dilbert, Ernest Ebanks, Freddie Foster, Peter San- ford, Clifford Christian, Raymond Foster, Japheth Walton, Margarito Chanti- loupe, and welcome, happy vacation, to Davy Lee Tib- betts. Davy Lee is second engineer on the Richard. “Constable Rudolph Evans arrived last week to be police officer for the is- land. Cons. Wm. McLaughlin is being transferred to Grand Cayman. “Good sailing to more of our seamen recently re- turned to National Bulk Carrier Ships. To the Ore Convey: Bentley McLean and Evelyn (Prince) Scott, to the Commonwealth: Dario Borden, and to the Ore Transport: Charles (Glen) McLaughlin. Welcome home to O’Neil Hurlstone, Clinton Lewis of Spot Bay, and Shervia Scott of Creek. Good sailing to Raymond Foster, son of Mr. W. Taylor Foster of North East Bay, who is a member of the crew of the new oil carrier Imperial Ottawa of Esso, out of Canada. “Welcome also Mr. Elmer Tibbetts and family Alma (wife), Stevie, Brenda and Dave of West Bay who have come to the Brac to reside.” CAYMAN BRAC IGUANA CULL UNDER WAY In the latest issue of the Depart- ment of Environment’s Flicker news- letter, Research Officer Jane Haakons- son’s update on the fight against green iguanas on the Brac sheds light on the growing problem the island faces from this invasive species. On Little Cayman, the Green Iguana be Gonna program has responded to all known sightings of greens, with more than 90 percent of re- ports leading to their capture and dis- posal. For now, there is no similar pro- gram on the Brac. In an effort to involve the Brac community, a meeting was held in- troducing residents to the poten- tial problem these reptiles pose. At- tendees were taught effective search and catch techniques, humane culling methods, proper disposal procedures, and known sighting locations. This was followed by a cull from April 8-13 by the department’s Terres- trial Resources Unit, with participa- tion from the local community, during which 10 greens were caught, the fe- males carrying a total of 36 eggs. “We are particularly concerned with the negative impacts green iguanas have on our native ecosystems and their biodiversity,” writes Ms. Haa- konsson, citing the need to enforce bi- osecurity on all three islands using re- sponse measures. “Thus establishing a continuous and sustainable control operation on both of the Sister Isles is an essential part of the overall strategy to prevent this highly invasive species from get- ting a stronghold on Little Cayman and Cayman Brac as we have seen it on Grand Cayman.” A presentation on biosecurity and eradication methods was also held at the Brac port for eight port staff, since a continuous stream of green iguanas are arriving via container traffic from Grand Cayman. Jane Haakonsson holds a green iguana captured at the Brac port.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 3, 2017 william.forsythe@caymancaptive.ky Applications should be submitted by pdf only, no later than 19th of May 2017 to: The above Foundation is currently offering a scholarship for a maximum of four years to a Caymanian High School graduate. Preference will be given to those candidates who intend to pursue a career in the nancial services industry upon graduation from university. However applications from all disciplines will be accepted. Candidates should be prepared to begin their university degree programme in the 2017 school year. The choice of university must be approved by the Foundation. Applicants should possess a minimum of ve good passes at CXC or ICGSE or equivalent. Evidence of educational achievements and, if possible university acceptance should accompany the application. In addition, a brief biography and a narrative as to the reason for the choice of University/Course should be included. Additional details and an application form can be obtained at www.caymancaptive.ky “A scholarship from IMAC has been a tremendous opportunity of which I will always be grateful for. It has enabled me to pursue a degree at a top university to compete against some of the most intelligent students in the UK. Similarly, becoming a doctor means so much to me and this journey would have been a nancial burden without the generosity of the IMAC scholarship. Through IMAC I have embarked on a path where I can offer so much more to the people of the Cayman Islands than I would if I had not had this opportunity. Name: Whitney General Degree: Medicine (MB ChB) and BSc in Health Sciences at the University of Bristol S C H O L A R S H I P CURRENT RECIPIENTCURRENT RECIPIENT Whitney GENERAL INSURANCE MANAGERS ASSOCIATION OF CAYMAN EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION Attempted murder charge sent to Grand Court CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Ronald Truman Bodden of a Cayman Brac address appeared in Summary Court in Grand Cayman on Tuesday afternoon, charged with at- tempted murder. He is accused of unlawfully at- tempting to cause the death of a named male on April 29. An alternative charge laid against him was wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Bodden was also charged with simple wounding and refusing to provide a urine specimen for testing. He was not represented by an at- torney, so Magistrate Valdis Fol- dats appointed John Furniss as duty counsel to assist. Senior Crown counsel Candia James objected to bail because of the serious- ness of the charges. Mr. Furniss queried whether Bodden might be bailed to an ad- dress in Grand Cayman, since the in- cident leading to the charges had oc- curred on the Brac. The magistrate referred to another file, which indicated that Bodden owed an $800 fine which had been imposed in January and had not been paid. The alternative to paying was serving 46 days in default. On that basis, Mr. Furniss said he would not apply for bail at this time, but would check further about the fine situation. The magistrate transmitted the at- tempted murder and wounding with in- tent charges to the Grand Court, where they are to be mentioned on Friday, May 12, along with the wounding. The refusing charge will be mentioned in Summary Court. Bodden was told of his right to apply for bail in the Grand Court. JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com The month of May is being used as an occasion to encourage people to re- dedicate their lives to the care of children. Under the theme “Our Children, Today and To- morrow,” Child Month ac- tivities are taking place at preschool centers, el- ementary schools, high schools and businesses throughout the islands. A church service at Cayman Islands Baptist Church on Pedro Castle Road officially kicked off Child Month on April 30. Minister for Commu- nity Affairs, Youth and Sports Osbourne Bodden said his ministry aims to focus its resources and proj- ects on teenagers and the is- sues they face. “Let’s all do our utmost to support these initiatives and make this the best Child Month we can,” he said. A Youth Empowerment Conference called #IAM2017 is planned, and the min- istry, in partnership with the Family Resource Centre, will host a “teen maze” to chal- lenge youngsters to tackle real situations they may face in their lives. A teen panel discussion and a public education forum for high school students are also being planned. The topic of the forum is healthy relationships. The other focus of this year’s Child Month is to encourage families to ac- tively engage in quality family time by planning regular “tech-free” nights. The ministry will main- tain an objective to recruit foster parents this month. There are 22 child- center events scheduled throughout May. On every Friday, Year 6 George Town Primary School students will deliver meals to the elderly for Meals On Wheels. Other activities are also being planned at the school, such as art and sci- ence exhibitions, an awards night on May 10, “Muffins for Mom” on May 12, and choir performances at the Pines retirement home and Vic- tory Tabernacle. Other activities such as family fun events will take place in the Brac and Little Cayman on the weekend of May 12-15. On May 27, the “Circle of Love Children’s Breakfast” will take place at the Mar- riott Resort, and on the fol- lowing day a Family Fun Day will be held at the Agricul- ture Pavilion in Lower Valley. On June 3, students put- ting their twist on cupcakes at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, from 10 a.m. Cayman Brac’s Layman E. Scott Sr. High School kicked off the Cupcake War compe- tition April 22, challenging bakers to create two cup- cakes – one using fruit in the recipe and one showing stu- dents’ take on a Cayman pre- mier cup cake to mark Cay- man’s general election on May 24, James Myles of the Youth Services Unit, said. For a list of events, call the Department of Children and Family Services at 949-0290. Child Month events set for May Elizabeth MacDonald assists Shayce Bush with reading. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY MAY 3, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS In Loving Memory of Donley Woods 14th February 1945 – 3rd May 2005 In Loving Memory of Donley Woods 14th February 1945 – 3rd May 2005 In Loving Memory of Donley Woods Those we love don’t go away They walk beside us every day, Unseen unheard but always near Still loved, still missed and very dear. …. Love Always, Your wife Kinsey & Family of dozens of people and re- broadcast on Cayman Life TV. Mr. Bryan was arrested in October 2014 on suspicion of assaulting a police officer following an incident outside a George Town nightclub. Mr. McLaughlin said he subse- quently learned that it was not the first time police had taken his then-political as- sistant into custody. “They had arrested him previously for obstructing police in the course of their duty,” Mr. McLaughlin said Saturday night, speaking of the earlier incident. “They warned him more than once not to interfere … and when he wouldn’t stop they arrested him.” When asked for clarifi- cation about his Saturday night comments, Premier McLaughlin said that former Police Commissioner David Baines informed him of the first incident shortly after Mr. Bryan was arrested in October 2014. He said Mr. Ba- ines did not provide specifics of the earlier incident, but on Saturday Mr. McLaughlin said that officers involved in the earlier arrest incident “gave [Mr. Bryan] a talking to,” and released him without taking any further action. “The officer in charge understood full well the implications of charging the political assistant to the premier … and so he gave him a talking to,” Mr. McLaughlin said. The Cayman Compass asked the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service about the other alleged arrest. A spokesperson indicated, generally speaking, that the public would usually not be informed of any incident if criminal charges did not re- sult from an arrest. The Compass filed an open records request Monday seeking more information. The enmity between Mr. McLaughlin and his former political assistant is gener- ally known. Mr. McLaughlin fired Mr. Bryan after a judge found in February 2016 that he had committed the of- fenses of disorderly conduct and assaulting police from October 2014, When contacted Monday by the Cayman Compass about the premier’s state- ments, Mr. Bryan said they were not true and no such “second arrest” had occurred. Mr. Bryan said he had long expected the Progressives po- litical campaign to come after him hardest among all the independent candidates on the ballot for May 24. “I am the one candidate in this race that knows the truth about … what he’s done to the people in this country,” Mr. Bryan said, re- ferring to the premier. “Hence the reason that [the premier] is going to attack me. This is a person who is willing to use anybody that is con- venient for him to stay in power. When they’re no longer of any use to him, they’re discarded.” Mr. Bryan said he was trying to “do his best” not to fight with his former polit- ical party-mates and keep the campaign about the issues in George Town Central. How- ever, he has noted previously that Mr. McLaughlin changed his narrative since the 2013 general election, when Mr. Bryan was supported as a Progressives party candidate for George Town. Mr. Bryan is running against Finance Minister Marco Archer, widely thought to be one of the Progressives party’s most popular candi- dates. Mr. McLaughlin had said he would contest the seat in central, but switched at the last moment to Red Bay, leaving Mr. Archer to face Mr. Bryan, who has been campaigning in the district since last year. On Saturday night in Prospect, Premier McLaughlin told the audi- ence he had no choice but to terminate Mr. Bryan’s em- ployment from the premier’s office following the court’s finding against Mr. Bryan in early 2016. Although the judge in the case found Mr. Bryan had committed certain offenses relating to a dis- pute outside a George Town nightclub, no conviction was recorded against him and so nothing remained on his per- manent record. “I gave Kenneth every op- portunity I possibly could,” Mr. McLaughlin said. Events on Friday, Sat- urday and Monday nights feature various street dances. A number of other events, including a swim meet, a 5K sea swim, the Pirate Pooch Parade, two Harbour Drive fireworks displays and the children’s fun day on Sunday, will be packed into a tight Friday-Monday schedule. The start of the festival on Thursday, Nov. 9, will feature a Pirates Week happy hour, the steel pan competition and a kick-off party downtown from 9 p.m. that night until 2 a.m. Friday. Festival organizers this week said they were not con- tent to “stand still and regur- gitate the same winning for- mula” from previous years. One issue in past years was that the previous 10-day festival, which started on one weekend in October or No- vember and ended during the next, made it difficult for tourists from overseas to at- tend both weekends. Also, some of the daily district day/heritage day events were poorly attended and were not known to visi- tors to the islands. Festival organizers are banking on support from the local community, asking at least 40 individuals and pri- vate sector businesses to con- tribute at least $1,000 sponsor- ship each to finance the event. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ‘Pirates Week’ shortened to five days The Pirates Week festival draws thousands of scalawags from across the globe, but they will have fewer days to raid George Town harbor this year. – PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE Kenneth Bryan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Premier focuses attacks on candidate Bryan Trump, Putin signal new effort to cooperate on Syria WASHINGTON (AP) – Pres- ident Donald Trump and Russian President Vlad- imir Putin signaled im- proving prospects for coop- eration in Syria Tuesday in what the White House called a “very good” phone discus- sion that included a focus on setting up safe zones in the war-torn nation. The White House said the leaders also agreed to try to set up their first in-person meeting in July, on the side- lines of an international summit in Germany. Tuesday’s call marked the first time Trump and Putin have spoken since the U.S. launched missiles against an air base in Syria, an at- tack that outraged Russia, one of the Syrian govern- ment’s strongest backers. The U.S. military action sparked new tensions between Wash- ington and Moscow, with top U.S. officials sharply con- demning Putin’s continued support for embattled Syrian leader Bashar Assad. But the leaders appeared to again be edging toward closer cooperation following Tuesday’s call. The Kremlin said Trump and Putin agreed to bolster diplomatic efforts to resolve the Syrian civil war, which has left hundreds of thousands dead and mil- lions more displaced. The White House announced it would send a top State De- partment official to Russian- led talks on Syria that begin Wednesday in Kazakhstan. “President Trump and President Putin agreed that the suffering in Syria has gone on for far too long and that all parties must do all they can to end the violence,” the White House said. “The conversation was a very good one, and included the dis- cussion of safe, or de-escala- tion, zones to achieve lasting peace for humanitarian and many other reasons.” The Kremlin characterized the call as “business-like” and “constructive.” It made no mention of safe zones. Since taking office, Trump has been raising the pros- pect of safe zones in Syria with world leaders. The zones would be aimed at protecting civilians – and dissuading Syrian refugees from trying to come to the United States, one of Trump’s goals. But military leaders have warned that significant American re- sources would be required to safeguard the regions. Whether the U.S. and Russia can find a way for- ward is deeply uncertain. The U.S. has long sought Moscow’s help in Syria, where the civil war has created a vacuum for the Islamic State and other ex- tremist groups. But Russia’s ongoing support for Assad has been a persistent roadblock. As a candidate, Trump argued that the U.S. focus in Syria should be on ter- rorism, not seeking Assad’s removal from power. And he vowed to work with any country – particularly Russia – that wanted to play a role in that effort. Premier Alden McLaughlinThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 3, 2017 Five held in French anti-terrorism raids Five men were detained and weapons seized in anti-terrorist operations in France on Tuesday as the country prepares for a tense presidential runoff, the Paris prosecutor’s office said. The suspects were picked up in three locations across France. Brexit gets nasty as EU accuses Britain of unrealistic aims LONDON (AP) – In public, Britain and the Euro- pean Union say they want an amicable divorce. Be- hind the scenes, things are getting nasty. Prime Minister Theresa May acknowledged Tuesday that Brexit “will not be easy,” after EU officials accused the U.K. of failing to grasp the complexity of the task ahead. In a comment aimed squarely at Britain, Euro- pean Parliament Brexit co- ordinator Guy Verhofstadt tweeted: “Any Brexit deal re- quires a strong & stable un- derstanding of the complex issues involved. The clock is ticking – it’s time to get real.” Verhofstadt chose his words carefully: “Strong and stable” is May’s cam- paign slogan as she seeks to win a bigger parliamen- tary majority in Britain’s June 8 election. Formal Brexit negotia- tions will not start until after the U.K. election next month. But already warm words from London and Brus- sels about partnership and friendship have given way to a steady drip of leaks, spin and barbed comments – evi- dence that the two sides’ ex- pectations are poles apart. Last week, May met Eu- ropean Commission Presi- dent Jean-Claude Juncker for a working dinner, greeting him with a kiss at the door of 10 Downing St. May’s office said after- ward that the meeting had been constructive. Juncker called it “excellent,” though he noted: “I have the im- pression sometimes that our British friends … underesti- mate the technical difficulties we have to face.” A far less diplomatic ac- count was published by Ger- many’s Frankfurter Allge- meine Sonntagszeitung newspaper. Its report on the meeting, credited to anonymous Commission sources, quoted Juncker as saying he left the dinner “10 times more skeptical than I was before” that negotiations will succeed. Downing Street said it “does not recognize” the pa- per’s description of the meeting, and May dis- missed the report as “Brussels gossip.” But it drew a furious flurry of reaction from both sides of Britain’s EU divide. “May’s outrage at EU’s dirty tricks,” said the Euroskeptic tabloid Daily Express. “Brus- sels twists knife on Brexit,” was the front-page headline on London’s more pro-EU Evening Standard. Whether the leak is ac- curate or exaggerated, it’s a sign the EU wants to let Britain know who is in the Brexit driving seat. “What makes the leak so powerful is that it confirms what a lot of people have been thinking,” said Fredrik Erixon, director of Brussels-based think tank the European Centre for Political Economy. He said that many in Brussels believe Britain has an unrealistic expecta- tion that it can retain much of its current access to the EU’s single market once it leaves the bloc. “The type of agreement many people in London think is possible is simply not going to be possible,” Erixon said. He said British politicians “are telling a story about what they want to happen which may politically go down well in the U.K. but does not fit with the alterna- tives that are there.” In a pointed show of unity, on Saturday, the 27 EU leaders adopted common negotiating principles for Brexit. They stressed that there will be no discussion of a future trade deal with Britain until major progress has been made on key is- sues, including the rights of EU citizens living in Britain (and Britons living elsewhere in the bloc), and the bill that Britain must pay to settle its commitments to the EU. Britain has long in- sisted that talks on the di- vorce agreement and the fu- ture relationship can run side by side. Prime Minister Theresa May, with chips and a beverage, while on a walkabout during an election campaign stop in Mevagissey, Cornwall, on Tuesday. - PHOTO: DYLAN MARTINEZ/PA WIRE VIA APNext >