ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY MAY 29, 2017 High of 90 Low of 78 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ‘PREMIER FOR A DAY’: WHO’S NEXT? WORLD & REGIONAL | PAGE 11 BRITISH AIRWAYS OUTAGE CREATES LONDON TRAVEL CHAOS 6 $11.95 CHILI CHEESE $9.95 CLASSIC WHITE OPTION FOR Elected members struggle to form new gov’t and name premier JAMES WHITTAKER AND BRENT FULLER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com; bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Discussions over the fu- ture of Cayman’s govern- ment remained mired in uncertainty Sunday after- noon following a weekend in which Progressives party leader Alden McLaughlin, and then Cayman Demo- cratic Party leader McKeeva Bush, declared themselves as the territory’s premier only for the deals to fall apart within hours. At press time Sunday, the 19 elected politicians from all sides were deep in discus- sions, with numerous poten- tial coalitions being weighed. Amid the turmoil, Mr. McLaughlin remained con- fident that he could form a government. “I expect to have a gov- ernment in place and to meet with the Governor [Monday],” he told the Cayman Compass Sunday afternoon, though he said it was too early to give details. When asked about the progress of the talks Sunday afternoon, Mr. Bush opined they were “a mess.” “There have been so many attempts [to form a gov- ernment] that it’s now ri- diculous,” he said. “The country will suffer for these mistakes.” One proposal being dis- cussed Sunday, according to multiple sources familiar with the talks, was a deal in which Mr. McLaughlin stepped down as leader of the Progressives to facili- tate a coalition with a group of independents. Under that scenario, either Progressives deputy leader Moses Kirk- connell or East End MLA Arden McLean had been named as potential leaders. However, the situation re- mained fluid with new al- liances forming and falling apart almost as quickly. If no agreement is reached before the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly, anticipated some time this week, the country’s next leader could be deter- mined by a secret ballot of all 19 members. Mr. Bush accepted Sunday that his coalition with the in- dependents, announced just before midnight on Friday, had fallen apart. It is understood that Mr. McLean and North Side MLA Ezzard Miller, who had de- clined to take Cabinet posi- tions in the alliance, defected from the group and were involved in talks over the weekend with some Progres- sives members over an alter- native coalition. Mr. Bush, who flew to Florida Saturday morning, had announced he was forming a government of “na- tional unity” with Newlands MLA Alva Suckoo as deputy premier and political veteran Gilbert McLean drafted in as Speaker of the House. The Cabinet posts would have been filled by a mix of inde- pendent and CDP legislators. Mr. Bush told the Com- pass, Friday night, that he had written to the Gov- ernor to rescind an agree- ment signed only hours earlier to unite with the Commissioner ‘alarmed’ after two cops beaten BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Royal Cayman Islands Police officer is in danger of losing sight in one eye after being attacked by a suspect late last week. According to the RCIPS account of the incident, two police officers responding to a burglary report in George Town Thursday were vio- lently attacked by a suspect they were attempting to ar- rest in connection with the crime, police said. “All of us … are thinking of our colleagues and are a bit stunned by the vicious- ness of the assault against them,” Police Commissioner Derek Byrne said. Police said residents at a Mangrove Avenue home reported a break in around noon Thursday, where the suspect fled after being spotted in the house by residents. The suspect initially got away from the burglary scene, but officers found a man nearby matching the description of the bur- glar, according to a police press release. The officers attempted to make the arrest on Dogwood Close, informing the man he was under arrest on suspi- cion of burglary. “As one officer was ap- plying handcuffs to the man, he suddenly became com- bative and violently resisted arrest, punching the ar- resting officer, knocking him to the ground, and kicking him repeatedly in the face, chest and head,” a police statement on the incident read. “The second officer in- tervened and was also kicked PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » Police Commissioner Derek Byrne Around 4 p.m. Friday, CDP leader McKeeva Bush, left, signs an agreement to form the government with Progressives leader Alden McLaughlin. By 11 p.m. Friday, CDP leader McKeeva Bush and a coalition of independent lawmakers had formed a separate government. By Sunday, it appeared that deal would not hold up. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 REGIONAL NEWS MONDAY MAY 29, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 BAYWATCH (R) 12:55 I 3:40 I 7:20 I 10:00 EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING (PG13) 12:30 I 2:50 I 5:10 I 7:40 I 10:15 ALIEN: COVENANT (R) 12:55 I 4:00 VIP I 6:45 I 9:50 VIP GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 3D (PG13) 12:30 2D I 3:30 I 6:30 2D I 9:45 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES 3D (PG13) 1:00 2D VIP I 3:40 I 7:00 2D VIP 9:35 2D DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE LONG HAUL (PG) 12:35 I 2:50 I 5:05 I 6:25 I 8:40 - MONDAY - 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) GUATEMALA CITY (AP) – A Guatemalan judge has ruled that the brother and son of President Jimmy Morales must stand trial in a case of al- leged corruption. The judge ruled late Friday the president’s son Jose Manuel Mo- rales Marroquin and brother Samuel will stand trial for fraud. They allegedly sub- mitted about $23,000 worth of false receipts in an alleged tax fraud scheme that occurred in 2013, before Mo- rales took office. The two have said they are innocent. Both spent about a month in jail be- fore being released on a form of bail while the trial continues. Guatemalan prosecu- tors backed by the U.N. commission have brought a string of anti-corrup- tion cases, most notably against former President Otto Perez Molina. The president’s son, Jose Manuel Morales Marroquin, and brother Samuel will stand trial for fraud. SON, BROTHER OF GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT TO STAND TRIAL ON FRAUD PANAMA CITY (AP) – Panama says it’s halving the maximum time for tourism visits by people from Colombia, Venezuela and Nicaragua to 90 days. President Juan Carlos Varela’s announcement of the plan Friday comes amid concerns that many visitors have been staying on in Panama after coming as tourists. Panama will also seek to verify that people seeking to enter as tourists have sufficient funds. While there has long been immigration from neighboring Colombia, many people are now arriving from crisis- wracked Venezuela. Many of the migrants stay and work under the table. Some have been linked to crimes, angering some Panamanians. There are no figures on illegal immigration, but about a quarter mil- lion people from the three countries gained residency in Panama since 2010. Panama cuts stays for three countries FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Drug en- forcement officials say traffickers are bringing more cocaine into South Florida than at any time in the past decade. Officials with the Drug Enforce- ment Administration say Colombia has been producing more cocaine than at the height of the notorious 1980s. Back then, South Florida was the main con- duit for cocaine shipments headed to the United States in an era famous for “co- caine cowboys.” The Sun Sentinel of South Florida reported Sunday that 90 percent of the cocaine seized in the United States can be traced back to Colombia, and Co- lombia has tripled its production in the past few years. “There is a mountain of cocaine, much of it is likely headed our way,” said Justin Miller, intelligence chief for the DEA’s Miami field division. “But we are already seeing these drug combinations, and cocaine deaths are already going up significantly.” Customs and Border Protection of- ficials in Florida said they confis- cated 61 percent more cocaine last year over the prior year, amounting to 9,500 pounds of cocaine. Because there is a lag time between production and distribution, the full im- pact of the increase has yet to hit South Florida, authorities said. Experts trace the boom in produc- tion to when the Colombia govern- ment stopped aerial spraying of her- bicides over cocoa fields used to make cocaine in the fall of 2015 because of health concerns. “The aerial spraying worked quite well,” said Richard Mangan, a former DEA agent and Florida Atlantic Univer- sity criminal justice professor. “But there was a lot of pushback after a while to the damage it was doing to legitimate crops, the damage it was doing to people.” Meanwhile, the state Medical Exam- iner Commission reports that overdose deaths from cocaine are at their highest level in Florida since 2007. From 2012 to 2015, cocaine deaths in Florida went from 1,318 fatalities to 1,834 fatalities. Only the synthetic painkiller fentanyl surpassed cocaine for contributing to Florida overdose deaths in Florida for the first half of last year, according to medical examiner records. The increase in production in Co- lombia already is driving down prices in South Florida. One kilo, or about 2.2 pounds, of pure cocaine was worth between $28,000 and $35,000 two to three years ago. Today, the same amount is worth $26,000 to $28,000, Miller said. Authorities: Cocaine makes a comeback in Florida Members of the media gather around pallets of seized cocaine on May 18 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - PHOTO: U.S. COAST GUARD VIA AP BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – With a shot to the chest, Alejandro Caro fell from his motorbike while on patrol in a small town in northern Colombia, another victim of criminal gangs who have killed 11 officers over the past month, mostly in gang-dominated regions. Caro’s mother, Consolacion Jabe, is still stunned by his death. She said the youth had always dreamed of being a policeman and even after being injured earlier, he “survived and kept fighting for his country …. Now he is def- initely gone.” Colombia’s largest illegal organiza- tion, the Gulf Clan, has distributed leaf- lets that call for killing police, and po- lice intelligence officials say the gang members are offering would-be assas- sins up to $600 per death – nearly triple the nation’s monthly minimum wage. Authorities compare the killings to Pablo Escobar’s “pistol plan,” a strategy the drug kingpin devised in his final years to target officers. Hundreds of po- licemen were killed in the city of Me- dellin alone before Escobar was gunned down there in 1993 Some see the killings as a response to a crackdown that has reduced the Gulf Clan’s ranks to about 1,500 mem- bers – half the number it had in 2010, according to the Defense Ministry. Au- thorities say they have captured 500 Gulf Clan members this year alone, though the group’s leader, Dairo An- tonio Usuga, remains at large. “In Colombia, every time a crim- inal group turns to killing police, they do it as a desperate measure,” said Vice President Oscar Naranjo, who battled the nation’s drug cartels as national police chief. The rash of shootings has taken place in pockets around the nation but is concentrated largely in the north and along the border with Panama, a region with a long history of drug trafficking. Most of the 11 were shot while on patrol. In response, the military is sending troops to accompany police. Officers are also being encouraged to arrive to work in plainclothes, wear bulletproof vests and travel in pairs. The killings come at a time of flux in Colombia’s drug war. Coca production in the country surged 18 percent last year to levels un- seen in nearly two decades of U.S. erad- ication efforts, according to a White House report. Authorities have set a goal of destroying 100,000 hectares of coca crops this year through a combi- nation of manual eradication and vol- untary crop substitution agreements with farmers. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the nation’s largest rebel group, is abandoning territories it long controlled, a withdrawal that is part of a peace accord reached with the government last year. Criminal gangs and some break- away guerrillas are now battling for control over those territories and the drug routes they once dominated. The Gulf Clan has extended its reach into 70 towns previously controlled by the FARC, according to Jorge Restrepo, di- rector of the Conflict Analysis Resource Center, a Bogota-based think tank. Restrepo said the Gulf Clan may well be targeting officers to intimidate authorities, ensure the smooth passage of coca out of the country and create an escape route for drug kingpins. “Unlike what we have seen in the past, these groups don’t have defined political objectives,” Restrepo said. Drug gangs take aim at police amid Colombia coca crackdown3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MAY 29, 2017 Premier Health BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town.Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, Cayman BracTel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life British Caymanian Insurance Agencies Limited acts solely as an agent on behalf of Colonial Medical Insurance Company Limited and it does not act as an insurance broker on behalf of its customers. The world is smaller when you have a bigger health plan. cgigrp Overseas college, business trips and vacation travel are all easier with Premier Health. No other health plan matches the number and geographic spread of network providers throughout North America. Your Premier Health ID card is accepted by over 1.1 million US providers, offers worldwide travel assistance and pharmacy benefits as easy to use in North America as they are at home. CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky NOAA sees ‘above average’ hurricane season TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Maryland’s National Oce- anic and Atmospheric Ad- ministration predicts an above-average hurricane season this year – starting June 1 – with between 11 and 17 named storms, five to nine hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes. In a formal statement, lead seasonal forecaster Gerry Bell said “the outlook reflects our expectation of a weak or non-existent El Niño, near- or above-average sea- surface temperatures across the Atlantic, and average or weaker-than-average ver- tical wind shear.” Thursday’s NOAA report contrasted with an April 6 Colorado State University forecast of “slightly below- average activity,” pegging storm action at the lower end of Maryland’s predictions, calling for 11 named storms, four hurricanes and two major hurricanes. “We anticipate a below- average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the United States coastline and in the Caribbean,” CSU authors Philip Klotzbach and Mi- chael Bell wrote in their 41- page statement. In an average season, the Atlantic spins off 12 storm systems. In 2016, U.S. weather services pre- dicted 10 to 16 would form, and the season eventually saw 15 storms. CSU will release fresh predictions on June 1. “As is the case with all hurricane seasons, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them. They should prepare the same for every season,” the authors wrote in April. Hazard Management Cayman Islands Awareness and Communications Of- ficer Simon Boxall echoed the CSU authors’ warnings that it takes only one storm to create massive disrup- tion. HMCI, he said, did not underwrite any particular prediction, but tended to place greater weight on “gov- ernment-type forecasting” such as the NOAA and the Cayman Islands National Weather Service. John Tibbetts, director general and chief meteo- rologist at the CINWS, said the NOAA and CSU pre- dicted different North Atlantic temperatures and El Nino strengths, “and there is a degree of subjectivity to it as well.” The NWS, he said, “comes down somewhere in the middle.” El Nino, the “little boy,” refers to complex climate changes every few years, often in late December, producing warmer-than- normal water near northern Peru and Ecuador. Notoriously difficult to predict, El Nino generally suppresses hurricane devel- opment, causing increased wind shear in the trop- ical Atlantic. Wind shear, normally the scourge of airline pilots and airports, reduces storms be- cause it “blows the top off hurricanes,” Mr. Boxall said, and “makes us less likely to be affected.” The CSU team has fore- cast a “weak to moderate” El Niño in 2017 and a 42 per- cent chance of a major hur- ricane making landfall in the U.S. The average risk is 52 percent. The last hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. was 2005’s Hurricane Wilma, Mr. Klotzbach said. “The odds of going 11 years without a major hurricane landfall in the U.S. is around 1 in 2,000. We have had 31 major hur- ricanes since Wilma … The odds of having 31 major hurricanes form in the At- lantic with zero landfalls would be around 1 in 7,500.” The CSU-affiliated Bar- celona Computing Centre, which aggregates nearly 20 major Atlantic forecasts, ac- knowledged “significant un- certainty” about El Nino as the mid-August peak approaches in 2017’s storm season, saying “significant alterations in seasonal fore- casts are possible.” The center launched its www.seasonalhurricanepre- dictions.org website last year. CSU has issued annual fore- casts since 1984, however. Thursday reports quoted acting NOAA administrator Ben Friedman predicting “a potential for a lot of Atlantic storm activity this year.” He said between five and nine of the 2017 storms would reach hurricane strength – winds of at least 74 miles per hour. Two to four may reach Category 3 or more. The 21 names selected for 2017 storms are Ar- lene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irma, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince and Whitney. The first was applied to a late-April North Atlantic post-tropical cyclone. “We are going to get something here in the Cayman Islands. It takes only one storm to make an active season.” JOHN TIBBETTS, director general, chief meteorologist, National Weather Service Hazard Management Cayman Islands led an all-day exercise in crisis assessment on May 2 in the National Emergency Operations Centre, as repair crews raced around Grand Cayman to simulate preparing buildings for a potential storm. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Storm trackers visited Grand Cayman April 25 as part of a public awareness tour ahead of the Caribbean hurricane season, which starts June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an above-average hurricane season. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” MAC MARGOLIS In most countries, panic buttons are devices used by elderly folk who may need emergency care, or par- ents who want to keep tabs on wandering children and pets. But in Mexico, they are part of the survival toolkit for journalists cov- ering the drug war, corrup- tion and other man-made miseries, enabling them to send a silent distress signal to authorities. Such is the state of news gathering in Latin Ameri- ca’s second largest nation, which has overtaken Co- lombia – now emerging from half a century of guerrilla insurgency – to become the Western Hemisphere’s dead- liest place to be a journalist. None of this was news to Javier Valdez, the prize- winning investigative jour- nalist gunned down in his car on May 15 in Culiacan, a regional capital in Mexi- co’s wild northwest. Perhaps on the hunch that official caretakers and an electronic gadget were frail guarantees for his beat, Valdez was not among the 405 journalists and activists filing for fed- eral protection in the last 5 years under Mexico’s Mech- anism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists. At Riodoce, the in- dependent magazine he co-founded in Sinaloa state, home to the coun- ty’s most notorious crim- inal cartel and its erstwhile crime kingpin, Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, his job was reporting on Mexi- co’s underworld. Valdez’s death has since prompted a national com- motion, revolt among the country’s media, emergency meetings by federal and local authorities, plus heart- felt official pledges to over- haul the justice system and safeguard the free press. But unless public authori- ties can back up the enco- miums with enforcement, and bring media predators to justice, the sanctimony will ring hollow. Valdez was the sixth Mexican reporter gunned down this year and the 41st to die since 1992 while in- vestigating nefarious activ- ities; another 50 have died in reportedly murky cir- cumstances, according to a recent report by the Com- mittee to Project Journal- ists (CPJ). And killing is only the most extreme form of payback doled out to media members, who routinely face intimidation, death threats and kidnappings. Attacks on journalists have increased 29 percent since President Enrique Pena Nieto took office in 2012, and 163 percent since 2010, at the height of his predecessor Felipe Calde- ron’s heavy-handed cam- paign against drug cartels. “This is one of the blood- iest times for journalism in Mexico,” Jan-Albert Hootsen, the CPJ’s Mexico correspon- dent, told me. This surge in violence collides with the prom- ises that Pena Nieto rode into office. Following the Calderon government’s failed war on drugs, which claimed some 120,000 lives in six years, Pena Nieto hoped to bolster transpar- ency and public safety. In one important early initia- tive, he sponsored enabling laws to empower the pros- ecution of crimes against journalists. Before that due to a surrealist legal rabbit hole that only Octavio Paz could appreciate, the coun- try’s Special Prosecutor for Crimes against Freedom of Expression had no juris- diction to take most such cases to trial. Critics say that the gov- ernment’s efforts to keep journalists from harm have been hampered by under- funding and mission drift. In a May 2 report, the CPJ found that Mexico’s mea- sures to increase security measures for endangered re- porters were insufficient. “More than combating vi- olence, Peña Nieto fought to change public optics, on the argument that perception of violence was worse than the reality,” said Rosental Calmon Alves, head of the Knight Center for Jour- nalism, which trains jour- nalists throughout the Amer- icas. “That strategy hasn’t worked,” Alves told me. Even more sinister, ac- cording to the Ministry of the Interior, under Pena Ni- eto’s watch public officials were likely suspects in more than one in three attacks on journalists. Under pres- sure, the Mexican attorney general fired a special pros- ecutor, whose efforts to prosecute crimes against journalists had fallen short. Five days later, Valdez was fatally shot. Promiscuousness be- tween bandits and authori- ties may be one reason why so many crimes against re- porters go unpunished in Mexico, which rated as the sixth worst country on CPJ’s annual impunity index and 147th out of 180 countries on the Reporters Without Borders ranking for world press freedom. Valdez knew something about impunity and how few of the nomi- nally democratic country’s institutions were untouched by crime and corruption – including the news media. Journalists learned to watch their words, quietly pocket hush money or “chayote,” or face the consequences. Valdez refused to watch his words. Margolis writes about Latin America for Bloomberg View. He was a reporter for Newsweek and is the author of ‘The Last New World: The Conquest of the Amazon Frontier.’ © 2017, Bloomberg View Ever since the election results were finalized Wednesday night, our email inboxes, messaging accounts and telephone lines have been inundated with gossip, tips and “insider observations” about the jockeying for leadership of the Cayman Islands gov- ernment. Much of it is less than accurate, some of it is true, and all of it is subject to change. As soon as our journalists are able to vet, confirm or debunk one statement, the situation has already evolved into something slightly (or completely) different. The reality is that nobody – not us at the Compass, not the public, not even the lawmakers themselves – will know for sure who will emerge as premier, and the makeup of the Cabinet he will lead. Nothing will be certain until the majority of the Legislative Assembly arrives at a final decision and the governor makes her official appointments … possibly (but we doubt) as early as Wednesday. Amidst all this uncertainty, what our readers can be certain of, however, is that when they read something in the Compass or on our website, the information will have been verified by reliable sources and, when it exists, documentary proof. Our reporters and editors deal in evidence-based facts, not rumors or speculation. Publisher David R. Legge has set out the news and editorial guidelines which govern all stories which appear in the Cayman Compass and other Pinnacle Media publications: Said Mr. Legge: “We want to be ‘fast,’ we’d like to be ‘first,’ but neither ‘fast’ nor ‘first’ will drive our pub- lication schedule nor influence our news judgments. Put another way, even on a ‘breaking story,’ accuracy trumps speed. Our standards and journalistic princi- ples are not temporal or situational. They will never be influenced or compromised by potential newsstand sales, web traffic, or online ‘page views.’ “Whatever we publish, and whenever we publish it, our readers must be confident that our content is reliable, fact-based and founded on thorough reporting and, always, questioning ‘skeptical editing.’” (One example: On election night, Elections Super- visor Wesley Howell was making periodic appearances before television cameras, declaring “winners” in various districts. However, he wasn’t offering numbers – vote totals – to substantiate his pronouncements. As tempting as it was to update our website (www. caymancompass.com) with Mr. Howell’s latest “news” (as other media houses were doing), we chose not to. We declared electoral winners only after we had official vote totals. Were we “first” with reporting the results? No. Were we 100 percent accurate when we did publish because we had the discipline to wait an additional few minutes? Yes.) Turning to the topic at hand, the political develop- ments that have taken place since Friday have been remarkable, astonishing and probably unprecedented. Late Friday afternoon, the leaders of Cayman’s two political parties – Mr. Alden McLaughlin and his Pro- gressives, and Mr. McKeeva Bush and his Cayman Democratic Party – announced they were joining forces to form a government. A few hours later, Mr. Bush rescinded that earlier statement and announced he had reached an alternative deal with the indepen- dents. At about midnight, the Compass updated its website and broke the “new news.” As of our press time today (see story on Page One), Mr. Bush’s coalition of independent members appar- ently is realigning. The perceived “fractures” in Cayman’s body politic, though, are less substantial than might be supposed given the deep divisions between some of our law- makers. As we’ve seen during the campaign and throughout the modern history of our country, our populace is broadly united on issues, general ideolo- gies, cultural and societal norms, and governmental priorities (education, employment, public safety, etc.). In Cayman, political differences are, in the main, personality-based rather than policy-based. That paradigm makes for interesting arguments around the dining table, but it also makes us confident that, when a government finally coalesces, our country will continue to move forward together …. ‘Premier for a Day’: Who’s Next? MONDAY MAY 29, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS In Mexico, journalism is the most dangerous profession Valdez was the sixth Mexican reporter gunned down this year and the 41st to die since 1992 while investigating nefarious activities.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MAY 29, 2017 *Applies to KYD lending only. Limited time offer. Conditions Apply. ®Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia, used under licence. With a Scotiabank mortgage you could benefit from: • Fixed mortgage rates as low as 4.5% • Scotiabank Insurance (Home, Health and Life Insurance) • Home Equity Loans for home renovations or purchase of a new vehicle Limited time offer! Visit a Scotiabank branch or call 949 7666 AS LOW AS VARIABLE INTEREST RATE* .25 4 Observers: Voters ‘disenfranchised’ by rules BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Hundreds of Caymanian voters are likely being disenfranchised by rules that require them to live in the territory for two out of four years before the last registration date for a general election, a team of interna- tional observers said Friday. Although the six Commonwealth elections observers gave Cayman the highest possible marks for the conduct of the May 24 general elec- tion, they suggested that some local laws governing elections need to be updated. “[The two year residency period] appears to us to be overly restric- tive and may operate to exclude oth- erwise eligible Caymanians from exercising their right to vote,” said Steve Rodan, the head of mission for the observers. Mr. Rodan, the President of Tyn- wald in the British dependency the Isle of Man, said similar rules in his own country would prevent a cit- izen returning to the island from voting for up to a year. As far as he was aware, he said the two-year residence requirement Cayman maintains is unique in the Commonwealth. Mr. Rodan said the residency issue should be considered sepa- rately from whether Cayman Is- lands nationals have an “enduring right to vote” if they live abroad. However, once those individuals have returned home, it’s a different story, he said. “Should you have to wait two years before you put your name in the [voting] register again? Person- ally, I don’t think so,” he said. The residency issue for voters was highlighted in a 2013 report from another group of Common- wealth elections observers, but Mr. Rodan said it appears no progress had been made in the last four years toward changing it. “For people not to be unreason- ably disenfranchised, this really must be looked at by the authori- ties,” he said. In addition to voting rights, the right of a Caymanian cit- izen to stand for election is “diffi- cult to predict” at the moment, the observers said. Mr. Rodan said there have been some judgments from the Cayman courts in recent years concerning whether holders of dual citizenship can seek public office. However, he said the court decisions only address those spe- cific cases and individuals seeking election here are often uncer- tain about whether they are eli- gible candidates. Three legal challenges to can- didates’ eligibility came before the courts during this election season and in two of the instances, those candidates were disqualified after they had already been nominated. Similar to the voter registration situation, local laws also impose a requirement for residence in the ter- ritory for candidates. Those residency rules “appear to impose unreasonable limits on the right to stand for public office,” the elections observers noted. Elections observers noted that voting and candidate residency rules are a constitutional legal issue in Cayman and “may not be able to be addressed overnight.” Fair election As far as the conduct of the May 24 election itself, the Cayman Is- lands “amply met the international standard” for democratic and trans- parent elections, the Commonwealth observers said. “The results truly do reflect the will of the people,” said Mr. Rodan. “Cayman can feel confident in its processes … whether or not they are pleased with the results.” The six observers spent the week in Cayman checking everything from elections advertising, to news coverage, to ballot counting and voter registration. Mr. Rodan said legal principles of freedom of expression, freedom of movement and freedom of as- sembly were all respected. He also commended the Elec- tions Office staff and Supervisor Wesley Howell for their “meticulous attention to detail.” Equality of voting principles were met by the adoption of the “one man, one vote” procedure during the 2017 general election, according to elections observers. However, Mr. Rodan did note that two voting districts on Grand Cayman “depart from the norm” when it comes to the size of the voting districts. The districts of East End and North Side, both with about 700 voters apiece, are significantly smaller than 1,186 average voters in the remainder of Grand Cayman’s other 15 voting districts. “Should you have to wait two years before you put your name in the register again? Personally, I don’t think so.” STEVE RODAN, head of mission for the Commonwealth elections observers The Rotary Club of Grand Cayman presented a cheque for more than US$150,000 to Have a Heart Cayman Is- lands this month, thanks to fundraising through the Mountains and Mara- thons challenge. To raise the funds, ath- lete Derek Haines, 68, ran the 50K ultramarathon Off the Beaten Track, ascended three Bolivian mountain peaks and ran two marathons. Mr. Haines received support from Governor Helen Kilpatrick, Shane Delaney and the Ro- tary Club, including fellow Rotarian athlete Chris Bailey. Travel costs and registra- tion fees were covered by Mr. Haines, so all funds raised went directly to Have a Heart. Mr. Haines reflected on Cayman’s generosity and support through years of fun- draising. “This was an ex- citing challenge that certainly pushed me to the limits, but the result made it most worthwhile,” he said. “This is another huge fun- draiser for a fairly small pop- ulation but the generosity of the Cayman community has shone through year after year and I am very grateful for the continued support both from the public arena and the membership of our Rotary Club.” Have a Heart Manager Jennifer McCarthy said the donation will go toward pedi- atric services. “Have a Heart and I are very grateful for this won- derful donation and the efforts of Derek and his team. We intend to en- hance our program with goals of constructing a pur- pose-built pediatric facility and of serving one child a day,” she said. Athlete Derek Haines ran the 50K ultramarathon Off the Beaten Track, ascended three Bolivian mountain peaks and ran two marathons. Haines raises US$156,000 for Have a Heart Cayman Athlete Derek Haines, left, presents a check for more than US$150,000 to Have a Heart. Voters line up outside the West Bay Central polling station on Election Day. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days George Town MONDAY MAY 29, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS PROUD OF THEM Brittany Mobley and Jessica Moore Two young women from George Town are among this year’s Proud of Them recipients. Brittany Mobley and Jessica Moore will be featured on large bill- boards throughout Grand Cayman to honor their achievements in sports and career, respectively. Brittany Mobley Ms. Mobley, 23, is a member of two national sports teams and has represented the Cayman Islands in 10 different countries, in both foot- ball and netball. Her ability to excel at sports, and be a key player in both areas, shows her high level of commitment, according to a press release announcing her inclusion among the Proud of Them achievers. She got her start in football as a defender for Elite Football Club where she worked hard to de- velop her skills. In addition to playing for the National Team for four years, she was also part of the pioneer U-17 Girls Team, which made their mark at the CONCACAF Championships. Ms. Mobley’s dedication has earned her the role of captain for several of the teams she has played for. Even when she did not hold that title, she remained a guiding force for her team. Her time on the netball court started in high school, where the avid player took on the position of center. In addition to playing on the National Netball Team, Brittany was also a member of All Stars, a cham- pion team well known for their win- ning abilities. She also served as captain for this team. She is sharing her skills in net- ball with young players at Red Bay Primary School as a volunteer coach. She achieved success in both netball and football while working part-time and attending classes at the University College of the Cayman Islands, from which she graduated in 2015 with an Asso- ciate of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. During her time at UCCI, she was on the President’s List and graduated top of her class with a GPA of 3.83. She is also committed to serving the community. She attended the Word of Life Bible Institute for one year. Following her completion of the course, she served as a summer counsellor with the institute’s summer camp. She has also par- ticipated in mission trips both lo- cally and internationally, and serves as a Sunday school teacher at her church. Ms. Mobley is currently an honor student at the Univer- sity of South Florida. She is main- taining high grades in her Bachelor of Science degree course in Indus- trial Engineering and is expected to graduate in 2018. When she completes her degree, her desire is to continue to play sports, as well as coach and guide young athletes. Jessica Moore Ms. Moore, 24, is a self-pro- claimed food enthusiast and is set to be a major influence in the Cayman Islands’ food industry, ac- cording to the release. Her passion for the culinary arts started after high school. Her desire to explore her pas- sion led her to shadow local chefs, to learn the tricks of the trade, all while performing her day job as a property manager. After a year of learning, Ms. Moore decided to share her knowl- edge and passion with the world, when, in 2016, she launched a blog and catering company, Taste This Life. In the blog, and on social media, she shares her recipes and tips, highlights local farmers, ven- dors and cottage industry entre- preneurs, and features trends that pique her interest. She has a special interest in the farm-to-table movement, which pro- motes the serving of locally grown food and creating relationships with the farmers who grow produce. The self-taught chef loves to use local ingredients in her culinary creations, and is more than happy to share with anyone who would have a seat at her table. Her food chronicles helped her win a blogging competition, where the main prize was a chance to cover one of Cayman Islands’ pre- mier foodie events – the Cayman Cookout. Taking place every Jan- uary at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, the event is hosted by ce- lebrity chef Eric Ripert, with reg- ular appearances from other famed culinary masters such as Anthony Bourdain and Jose Andres. Ms. Moore also covered Taste of Cayman, the national drink and food festival, where she hosted a cooking class. Food is not the only arena where she has found success. In high school, she served as a peer coun- sellor, participated in sports, and was involved in community events. She graduated with honors and full house colors. She also participated in the Global Young Leaders’ Con- ference, where she was selected as an International Scholar Laureate. Jessica Moore IMAGE TIME FORGOT Seven Mile Beach in the late ‘50s Were you lucky enough to walk Seven Mile Beach in the late ‘50s to ‘60s, when Cayman was truly the “Islands Time Forgot?” There were no roundabouts, traffic, condos or stress. Pictured in the background of the beach is the former Galleon Beach Hotel. – Photo: G. NOWAK Brittany MobleyDistrict Days George Town DISTRICT DAYS 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MAY 29, 2017 Child Month wraps up at Adventist Church A Children’s Convention on May 20 was among the highlights of the Adventist Church’s eight-week Child Month activities, staged in conjunc- tion with the Department of Children and Family Services. The gathering at the Family Life Centre was the culmination of the Adventist Church’s child preachers program on the theme of “change my heart, O God.” The roster included KC Gordon, 14, a student at the Seventh-day Ad- ventist Cayman Academy, and Javon Lewison, 13, in Year 9 at Clifton Hunter High School. Following the child preachers, a choir from the Kings and Maranatha churches performed “This Little Light of Mine,” featuring lead singer Luke Hamilton, 4. The Williams Chil- dren offered “I Know Who Holds my Hand,” while teenage performers The Bells accompanied the presentations for an audience of children, adoles- cents, parents and youth leaders, an Adventist press release states. The Department of Children and Family Services aims to make “the Cayman Islands a better place for children through a “holistic ap- proach [to] social, academic, emo- tional, spiritual and physical in- teraction,” a press release from the department states. The gathering also included lunch and an afternoon youth-led program. The church’s annual Child Month celebrations also included Child Evangelism Week, which began on May 7 at four locations in Grand Cayman. The Savannah Church center extended the activities for an additional seven days, accommo- dating a series of addresses by Roshe Riley, 14, focusing on Bible heroes, the Adventist press release states. On May 13, local and interna- tional business and child-services experts spoke about protecting chil- dren from the dangers of the internet and various forms of abuse. Child Month observances end on Sunday, May 28, with a Fun Day at the Lower Valley Agricul- tural Grounds, drawing families for games, entertainment and lunch ca- tered by church members. Child Month observances end on Sunday, May 28, with a Fun Day at the Lower Valley Agricultural Grounds. Among graduates from the child preachers training regime, this group was among child preachers who delivered sermons during Child Month at Grand Cayman’s Adventist churches. Triple C celebration continues with 5K As Triple C School con- tinues to celebrate its 75th anniversary, a large number of Triple C supporters, par- ents, staff, students and alumni walked and ran on Saturday, May 13 for the school’s 5K walk/run event. With walkers and run- ners of all ages, it was truly a family affair, the school said in a press release. Even the youngest enjoyed the “Little Sprinters Race.” After finishing their races, each participant received a 75th anniversary 5K walk/ run medal and a goodie bag. All proceeds raised from this event will go toward beautifying of the Early Childhood Education (Pre- School through Kindergarten) and Elementary playgrounds, as well as the Ena Merren Memorial Scholarship Fund. Mable Richardson, prin- cipal & CAO, said, “Our 5K walk/run gained momentum with the highest number of participants and we are expecting to build upon this success. “I would like to thank ev- eryone who attended the event for joining with us in this endeavor to underwrite some of the cost for students to attend Triple C School through the Ena Merren Me- morial Scholarship and to help beautify our ECE & El- ementary playground.” A first place trophy was presented to the overall fe- male, male, and boy (18 and under) runners who achieved the best race time. Participant medals were also given to the “Little Sprinters” and children 11 and under who ran. As the event con- cluded, many of the partici- pants went home with gift certificates. Male 1. Greg Gayle 2. Darryn Monaghan 3. Marco Miranda Female 1. Gina Argenzio 2. Carol McKenzie 3. Vanessa Allard Boy (18 & Under) 1. Liam Monaghan 2. Danjae Blake 3. Andrew McLaughlin Little sprinters take off. Greg Gayle, the overall fastest male runner, crosses the finish line. Many participants walked the course.8 LOCAL NEWS Check out these photos and others by visiting caymancompass.com or on facebook.com/caycompass The 13th annual Cayman Islands Society of Human Resources Professionals conference took place May 26 at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. The 2016 conference was attended by members, non-mem- bers and international delegates, who networked with fellow HR professionals, as well as notable local and in- ternational HR experts. MONDAY MAY 29, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Grace (Gealey) Byers with Miss Cayman Islands Anika Conolly Levi Allen and Cara Anderson-LinwoodLois Kellyman and Sheena Conolly Actress Grace (Gealey) Byers of “Empire” fame delivers the keynote speech at this year’s HR conference. – PHOTOS: MAGGIE JACKSON Pamela Small and Leona Gerald-Okoli Anna Periera Johnson, Colleen Williams and Heather-Ann Cahill Louise Reed, Jennifer Skinner and Raymond SwartsSamantha Bennett, Pat Bell, Yolita Parchment and Michele AubertThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY MAY 29, 2017 Dr. Wayne R. Porter MD F.A.A.D. Dermatologist call : 946-9020 between 9am to 5pm Dees Plaza #282 on Crewe Road, GT He will be in office from May 31st, - June 2nd, 2017 in her stomach repeatedly while trying to subdue him.” The 21-year-old George Town man ran, but was caught by other police offi- cers who were responding to the scene. The suspect was taken into custody Thursday. He has since been charged with assault causing greivous bodily harm, assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal trespass. The suspect is due to appear in court Monday. Both officers were taken to hospital. The male officer suffered a serious injury to his eye and was taken to Miami for emergency surgery. The female officer suffered a sprained wrist and bruises to her stomach. The incident is one of a number of recent as- saults on local police of- ficers which have raised significant concern, Commis- sioner Byrne said. “We accept that the na- ture of our job entails danger at times, but this should never be allowed to become a regular occurrence or to escalate to such a level,” he said. “I am alarmed by this incident and the ones that have preceded it.” Mr. Byrne’s comments were in relation to a spate of incidents that occurred ear- lier this year and late last year involving serious as- saults or retaliations against police officers. There were at least two attacks against officers in May, including the ap- parent attempt to retaliate against an East End officer following a quadruple fatal car crash on May 2. The fol- lowing night the police offi- cer’s vehicle was vandalized – causing about $3,000 worth of damage – outside his fam- ily’s home, the officer appar- ently having been blamed by one of the car crash victims for causing the fatal wreck. Mr. Byrne said there was no evidence the officer had even been chasing the car. Also, during a drug raid on May 22 on Marina Drive in George Town, a man at the residence being searched at- tacked a customs officer and a police detective. The sus- pect was never arrested. A report compiled by the RCIPS in February noted “several incidents” in which police officers have been attacked “simply trying to execute their duties.” Three incidents occurred over one weekend in January in which police officers were attacked or suffered injury while making arrests. The as- saults followed a December attack on the head of the RCIPS traffic unit at a road- block. Two of the police in- spector’s teeth were broken in the attack. Progressives. Under that ar- rangement, Mr. Bush would have been Speaker, with Mr. McLaughlin retaining the premiership. A joint press statement was issued along with a pho- tograph of the two longtime political rivals signing the agreement at the Caribbean Club Friday afternoon. Later discussions be- tween Mr. Bush and the in- dependents, at private offices in Grand Pavilion, facilitated by Dr. Steve Tomlinson, led to the CDP leader reversing his decision and announcing the new coalition. Mr. McLaughlin, in a statement to the Compass early Saturday morning, gave his views on the situ- ation as it existed at that time: “I am going to stand back and watch this train wreck happen. “I have done my best to form a good stable govern- ment but the unelected Pre- mier Dr. Tomlinson has bro- kered another deal that serves McKeeva’s ambi- tion but will also allow the good doctor to stand out- side Cabinet and dictate policy. It is going to be one hell of a ride. We should not expect this government to last very long.” Those words appeared to be prophetic, with the deal apparently falling apart within 24 hours, sparking a new set of talks between the various factions which were still continuing at press time Sunday. If no agreement on a gov- ernment formation can be reached by the first meeting of the Legislative Assembly, a Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House must be elected by a majority vote of the as- sembly members at that meeting. The first meeting for the swearing in of Leg- islative Assembly members is expected to occur some- time this week. Once the Speaker is in place, if no coalition is formed, the Cayman Islands Constitution Order (2009) states: “If no political party gains such a majority or if no recommendation is made [by the governor for the pre- mier’s appointment by a ma- jority of legislative members], the Speaker shall cause a ballot to be held among the elected members of the Leg- islative Assembly to deter- mine which elected member commands the support of the majority of … members.” The Constitution requires the elected member who re- ceives a majority of votes (10) to be appointed premier. Four days of turmoil Negotiations to form the government began Thursday morning, just hours after general election results were declared. The Progres- sives party huddled in its own meeting while eight independent candidates – minus West Bay South MLA Tara Rivers – started talks among themselves. Nothing was heard from the three-person Cayman Democratic Party con- tingent all day. By the end of Thursday, a proposal emerged: The Pro- gressives would lead a coali- tion with longtime rivals the CDP and someone other than Mr. McLaughlin – possibly Cayman Brac West/Little Cayman MLA Mr. Kirkcon- nell – would take the helm. The arrangement proposed to make CDP leader McKeeva Bush Speaker of the House. According to sources within the Progressives and elsewhere, Mr. McLaughlin balked at the deal and it was initially not accepted. The eight independent candidates, meanwhile, were discussing options to form their own coalition with Mr. Bush, potentially making him Minister of Tourism, in a government led by East End MLA Arden McLean. How- ever, it was understood that some independent mem- bers did not support the move, leading to an internal disagreement. According to sources, the independents had set a meeting with Mr. Bush to discuss the matter Friday morning, but he did not attend. On Friday afternoon, Pro- gressives party sources con- firmed that Mr. Bush had agreed to accept the Speak- er’s position and that CDP deputy leader Bernie Bush would be given deputy speaker and a minister’s role in a coalition govern- ment – this time with Mr. McLaughlin as its head. That proposal was agreed in a signed “joint state- ment” by McKeeva Bush and Mr. McLaughlin at around 4 p.m. Friday. “The leadership of the Progressives and the CDP has met and has agreed to work together in the in- terest of national unity,” the statement read. At this stage, the Progres- sives were not certain whom their ministers would be, but indicated Mr. McLaughlin would be premier and Mr. Kirkconnell would be deputy premier of an 11-member government bench. Less than four hours after inking that agreement, Mr. Bush was in talks with the independents coalition about forming an entirely dif- ferent government. The instigator of these discussions was Dr. Steve Tomlinson, who had sup- ported a number of inde- pendent candidates during the 2017 campaign and who had funded an “anti-political party” campaign largely out of his own pocket. Following Dr. Tomlinson’s intervention, CDP candidates and the independents group, after meeting for a few hours, agreed late Friday to form a new 11-person coalition gov- ernment with Mr. Bush as premier and several newly elected independent mem- bers serving as ministers. As dawn broke on Sat- urday, discussions were al- ready swirling within po- litical circles that the agreement reached Friday night would not hold up. The Progressives party met with certain indepen- dent candidates to discuss the possibility of forming a coalition government in the wake of Mr. Bush’s move. One such discussion oc- curring late Saturday eve- ning appeared to be bearing fruit, a coalition between certain members of the in- dependents’ group and cer- tain members of the Pro- gressives party. As of Sunday afternoon, the coalition make-up was still under discussion. “I expect to have a government in place and to meet with the Governor [Monday].” ALDEN MCLAUGHLIN, Progressives party leader CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Commissioner ‘alarmed’ after two cops beaten CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Elected members struggle to form new gov’t and name premier Merkel: Europe must stay united BERLIN (AP) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday urged European Union nations to stick to- gether in the face of emerging policy divisions with the U.S., Britain’s decision to leave the bloc and other challenges. Speaking at a campaign event held in a Bavarian beer tent, Merkel suggested that the G-7 summit in Italy that ended Saturday had served as something of a wakeup call. G-7 leaders were unable to reach unanimous agree- ment on climate change after U.S. President Donald Trump said he needed more time to decide whether to back a key climate accord. “The times in which we can fully count on others are somewhat over, as I have ex- perienced in the past few days,” Merkel told the crowd of some 2,500 that gathered to hear her and Bavarian governor Horst Seehofer. “And so all I can say is that we Europeans must really take our des- tiny into our own hands,” she said, according to the dpa news agency. Merkel emphasized the need for continued friendly relations with the U.S. and Britain and also stressed the importance of being good neighbors “wherever that is possible, including with Russia, but also with others.” “But we need to know we must fight for our own fu- ture, as Europeans, for our destiny,” she said. Despite the Trump ad- ministration’s talk of an “America first” policy and on- going criticism of Germany for its massive trade surplus, the G-7 leaders in Sicily did vow to fight protectionism, reiterating “a commitment to keep our markets open.” They also agreed to step up pressure on North Korea, to forge closer coopera- tion in the fight against ter- rorism, on the possibility of imposing more sanc- tions on Russia over role in the conflict in Ukraine. But while six of the seven G-7 nations agreed to stick with their commitment to implement the 2015 Paris Agreement that aims to slow global warming, Trump said he needed more time to decide if the U.S. would abandon the accord. His administration has argued that U.S. emissions standards are tougher than those set by China, India and others, and therefore have put American businesses at a disadvantage. After the summit, Merkel called the climate talks “very difficult, if not to say, very unsatisfactory.” German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech during an election campaign of her Christian Democratic Union, in Munich, Sunday. – PHOTO: AP “And so all I can say is that we Europeans must really take our destiny into our own hands.” GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKELNext >