1 SPECIALFEATURE CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 2017 SPECIAL FEATURE Welcome back to school 2017 High of 91 Low of 82 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 FUEL TANK FIRE: SOL SOARS IN THE AFTERMATH ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 2017 Home Options Be insured and be prepared ! Save on your buildings cover and claim a free storm kit or $250gift certificate! The storm kit is free to all new home insurance policy holders. It contains all the essentials, tarpaulin, lantern, first aid kit, 5 gallon bucket and games to see you through if the weather gets rough. Ask for a home insurance quote! Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life Government orders auditor to probe liquor board actions JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Government has ordered an independent inquiry into the liquor board’s handling of an application from a gas station to serve al- cohol on Sundays. The inquiry, to be carried out by the In- ternal Audit Unit, follows reports and an ed- itorial in the Cayman Compass highlighting concerns over an application from Peanuts convenience store at the Red Bay gas station for a “retail license.” Peanuts was first advised in a list of deci- sions, sent to the media and to the Department of Commerce and Investment, that its applica- tion had been approved at the Liquor Board’s March quarterly meeting. This appeared to be confirmed by an official Department of Com- merce and Investment list of license holders published in April, May and June. However, when the official minutes to the March meeting were published, in June, they indicated that the application had been re- jected and a new policy created restricting businesses to one type of liquor license per premises. Liquor Board chairman Woody DaCosta claimed, in a written response to questions from the Compass, that the original decision, indicating that the license had been granted, had been sent out in error. He attributed this to an “untimely and un- authorized release” by a member of Depart- ment of Commerce and Investment staff. He claimed the decision had been postponed and later rejected following a separate meeting later in the quarter. He later clarified that this was an “electronic meeting.” Joey Hew, Minister for Commerce, Planning and Investment, and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson announced in a joint statement Wednesday that they had asked the SOL TO COMPENSATE FIRE EVACUEES JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Sol Petroleum has confirmed that it will pay compensation to business owners and residents who were forced to pay for hotel stays after being evacuated in the wake of a fire at the Jackson Point fuel depot. Homes and businesses within a mile ra- dius of the fuel terminal were evacuated as firefighters battled a blaze in a diesel tank for more than eight hours on June 23. Some res- idents were unable to return to their homes until 3 a.m. June 24. Amid uncertainty over how long the fire- fighting operation would last, many opted to book hotel rooms for the night. Until now, Sol had made no public state- ment on whether residents would be re- funded for those expenses. Following ques- tions from some residents and from the ‘INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE’ FOUND AGAINST BUSH The Florida battery case against Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush was dropped last week due to insufficient evidence, according to government records obtained by the Cayman Compass. See page 2 for the full story. Cayman to see 55 percent of solar eclipse Public invited to viewing at UCCI NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@pinnaclemedialtd.com On Monday, Aug. 21, millions of people across America will turn their eyes toward the sun to experience a potentially once-in- a-lifetime experience – a total solar eclipse. Although Cayman is not in the path of the full eclipse, a partial one will be visible from here. In Cayman, viewers will be able to see the moon block out 55 percent of the sun. Bill Hrudey, who runs the observatory named after him at the University College of the Cayman Islands, has teamed up with the Cayman Islands Astronomical Society and Dart charity Minds Inspired to host an eclipse viewing event at the university. Minds Inspired has bought 500 pairs of viewing glasses to ensure that those who gaze at the sun can do so safely. Staring directly at the sun, even if it is partially blocked by the moon, can be extremely harmful to the eyes. The Astronomical Society will be erecting a solar telescope in the parking lot of the university. Richard McLeod of the Astronomical Society said, “Our members will be there helping with giving out the glasses and we will have one solar telescope outside so people can look safely through a telescope.” Meanwhile, inside the observatory, Dr. Hrudey’s two solar telescopes will PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 5 » Dr. Bill Hrudey, at his observatory at UCCI, examines one of the solar telescopes through which he will record the partial solar eclipse in the Cayman Islands on Aug. 21. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 640-FILM (640-3456) 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. - THURSDAY - EMOJI MOVIE 3D (PG) 1:30 2D I 3:00 2D VIP I 4:15 I 6:30 2D I 8:45 ATOMIC BLONDE (R) 12:20 VIP I 4:30 I 7:10 I 9:55 VIP SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING 3D (PG13) 12:45 2D I 3:45 I 6:45 2D I 9:40 KIDNAP (R) 2:20 I 5:30 I 7:45 VIP I 9:50 GIRLS TRIP (R) 1:20 I 4:10 I 7:00 I 9:45 DUNKIRK (PG13) 12:30 I 3:00 I 5:15 VIP I 7:35 I 10:05 BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Florida battery case against Cayman Islands Speaker of the House McK- eeva Bush was dropped last week due to insufficient ev- idence, according to docu- ments obtained through the state’s open records law. Mr. Bush, 62, was ar- rested following a July 17 incident at the Seminole Co- conut Creek Casino in South Florida. The battery allega- tion against him was dis- missed before it went to court, state prosecutors con- firmed last Friday, although they did not state why. The allegation was made by a casino waitress who said Mr. Bush inappropri- ately touched her while she was serving him. After state prosecutors in Broward County reviewed the allegation based on the wait- ress’ statement and surveil- lance video from inside the casino, they concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge Mr. Bush. “The surveillance video does not show a touch of the victim’s buttocks, but rather, Bush reaching over and placing his right arm around her,” an Aug. 7 memo from the state attorney’s of- fice states. “The state made a determination that the touching, as depicted in the video, does not show the criminal intent necessary to file a charge of battery.” According to Florida law, the state would have to prove the victim was struck or touched “against their will.” It also requires the state to prove the defendant knew the touching was unwanted. In the matter involving Mr. Bush, prosecutors found there was no reasonable like- lihood of conviction “due to the conflict in the evidence arising out of the victim’s recitation of the facts and what is depicted on the sur- veillance footage.” The memo from prosecu- tors further states: “After re- view of the evidence, it is the determination of the Broward State Attorney’s Office that while there was a touching that was not welcome, there is insufficient evidence it was done with the requi- site criminal intent. There- fore, the criminal charge was declined.” In a statement released late Friday, Mr. Bush said he believed Florida prosecu- tors had worked “diligently” on the matter. “I have protested my inno- cence and repeatedly stated that I committed no crime,” Mr. Bush said. “I have ex- pected and anticipated that a thorough review of the allega- tion would prove [the] same.” Some members of the Cayman Islands political op- position had called for an ethics review against Mr. Bush following his arrest, while others noted in a pre- pared statement that gov- ernment should take “the necessary action” – without specifying the nature of that action. However, not all mem- bers of the opposition agreed. George Town Central MLA Kenneth Bryan said he did not wish for there to be a rush to judgment against Mr. Bush and also expressed concern that his removal as House Speaker might threaten the stability of the government. Premier Alden McLaughlin has declined to make any statement on the matter. Florida prosecutors: ‘Insufficient evidence’ against Speaker Bush “The state made a determination that the touching, as depicted in the video, does not show the criminal intent necessary to file a charge of battery.” STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Broward County, Florida Stickups, dirty fuel mean airlines hate flying to Venezuela Airlines are continuing to pull out of Venezuela, and this time it’s not just about trapped cash but a whole series of grievances in- cluding staff held up at gun point, luggage theft, poor runway maintenance and low quality jet fuel. United Airlines, Avianca and Delta Air Lines have ei- ther stopped flying to Ven- ezuela or said they would leave the country, while three others canceled flights on specific days as the nation descends into chaos. Colom- bia’s pilots’ association says its members who have flown to Venezuela have had to deal with contaminated fuel and hours-long delays as the Na- tional Guard pulls suitcases off flights to loot them. This week, videos showed an ap- parent assassination of a man at the check-in desk of a local airline at the airport. “Everything that’s part of the airport’s infrastructure started to get degraded,” Ju- lian Pinzon, the head of se- curity and technical is- sues at Colombian pilot association Acdac, said. “We started seeing problems in the runway, problems in the aircraft taxiway, problems with the airport’s electricity supply, in the fuel distri- bution trucks.” The current round of car- rier defections comes after routes had stabilized from the previous exodus trig- gered by the government’s halt of dollar payments, and leaves Venezuelans increas- ingly cut off from the rest of the world. A flight to Miami in coach class can cost about $1,000, in a country where the monthly minimum wage is about $20 at the black market rate. The nation’s social and economic implosion has turned tasks as simple as busing flight crew to hotels into logistical challenges. Staff who once stayed over- night in Caracas, which is about a 45-minute drive away, took to sleeping in ho- tels near the airport to avoid the bandit-ridden highway. Even then, they’d get at- tacked, minutes outside the airport perimeter. Some car- riers took to flying crew to spend the night in neigh- boring countries. Avianca hired bodyguards after shots were fired during a robbery of a bus carrying its crew. Although no one was injured, it was not enough to calm nerves, and the over- night route was eventually canceled, according to Acdac. Traffic in and out of Ca- racas dropped 40 percent in 2014 after cash piled up from local sales that could not be repatriated – there’s still $3.8 billion that never made it out, according to in- ternational airline associa- tion IATA. The airlines that stuck it out were able to pay off local costs and fuel with bolivars – until Venezuela changed that rule, requiring payment in dollars. Some carriers are refusing to throw in the towel. Amer- ican Airlines, which still flies to Caracas and Maracaibo, said in a reply to emailed questions that it would not operate at any airport that did not meet the highest standards safety and secu- rity. Panama’s Copa Airlines, which flies to Caracas and two other Venezuelan cities, said it’s been able to over- come operational challenges and continues to monitor conditions in the country. Venezuela’s aviation au- thority Inac said it did not have an official spokesperson who could talk about the sector. The U.N.’s Interna- tional Civil Aviation Organi- zation said that when it last visited Venezuela four years ago, the country delivered “exemplary results.” Flights have found Ven- ezuelan jet fuel to be con- taminated due to poor con- ditions in distribution trucks and storage tanks, ac- cording to the Acdac. Planes that fill their tanks with the fuel sometimes require lengthy maintenance, the as- sociation said. “You don’t have the guar- antee anymore that the fuel they’re putting on board isn’t contaminated,” Pinzon, the head of safety and tech- nical issues at Acdac, said. “The engines that are getting that gas aren’t going to stop, but the internal system will start to degrade and the fil- ters will start getting blocked up, or damaged.” The official reasons for leaving have been varied. United said its Venezuela route was not meeting finan- cial expectations, while Avi- anca cited operational issues without providing too many details. Aerolineas Argentinas said it wants to continue flying to Caracas, but first needs reassurance that it would be viable and secure. After dropping off passen- gers from its weekly Buenos Aires to Caracas flight, the airline takes its crew on to Bogota, rather than have them spend the night in Ca- racas. They return to Vene- zuela for the return leg the following morning. Complaints about op- erational issues to Venezu- elan authorities have been falling on deaf ears, ac- cording to Peter Cerda, IATA’s regional vice president for the Americas. “It’s quite unfortunate; the airlines have done everything possible to maintain Venezu- ela’s connection to the rest of the world,” he said. “It’s more of a challenge every day.” © 2017, Bloomberg United Airlines, Avianca and Delta Air Lines have either stopped flying to Venezuela or said they would leave the country, while three others canceled flights on specific days as the nation descends into chaos. Franklin upgraded to hurricane MEXICO CITY (AP) — Franklin has become the first At- lantic hurricane of the season as it moves toward Mexi- co’s Gulf coast. The National Hurricane Center in Miami upgraded the storm to a hurricane late Wednesday afternoon. At 5 p.m. local time Wednesday, Franklin had maximum sus- tained winds of 75 mph. The storm was about 105 miles northeast of Veracruz, Mexico, and moving west at 12 mph. A hurricane warning was in effect for the coast of Mexico from Puerto de Vera- cruz to Cabo Rojo, and a hur- ricane watch extended north of Cabo Rojo to Rio Panuco. Forecasters expected the hurricane to continue strengthening until it made landfall in the state of Vera- cruz late Wednesday or early Thursday. The hurricane center said storm surge would raise water levels by as much as 4 to 6 feet above normal tide levels along the coast. Forecasters say rain- fall of 4 to 8 inches is pos- sible, with some areas getting as much as 15 inches of rain.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 2017 Cayman teen footballer signs deal with Portuguese team Sebastian Martinez joins Leixoes SC SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman teen Sebastian Martinez has taken the next step up the ladder in the world of professional football. Martinez, 18, has signed a two-year professional deal with Portuguese team Leixoes Sports Club after graduating from a develop- ment contract with English League club Swindon Town. Leixoes plays in LigaPro, the second division in Por- tugal, and survived a rel- egation playoff last season after finishing 18th in the 22-team league. LigaPro dropped to just 20 teams this season, and Leixoes dropped its season debut by a 4-1 score to Real Sport Clube De Queluz last Sunday. Martinez was not in the lineup for that game. A press release was issued on Tuesday announcing his ad- dition to the Leixoes roster. Martinez signed a de- velopment contract with Swindon Town as a 13-year- old in 2011, and in 2015 he accepted a two-year appren- ticeship with the same team. Martinez is represented by former Jamaica national team player Fitzroy Simpson, who played for Swindon Town, Manchester City and Portsmouth during his pro- fessional career. In the press statement, Martinez said, “I want to thank all those that have supported me on my journey over the past six years, par- ticularly Swindon Town Foot- ball Club, [Academy manager] Jeremy Newton, [U-18 man- ager] Alan McLoughlin and Fitzroy Simpson for the mag- nificent opportunities and rigorous preparations; my parents and sisters for their support and unwavering be- lief in me; the rest of my family and friends; and the Government of the Cayman Islands, who have supported me since 2011. “I am very excited and look forward to the chal- lenges that lie ahead as I em- bark on the next leg of my journey in Portugal.” Lee Ramoon, president of the Cayman Islands Foot- ball Association and a former member of the Cayman na- tional team who played part of his career in England, said in a statement: “This is great news. Sebastian’s name will be forever enshrined in Cay- man’s football history books. It proves that if our young- sters stick to the task at hand, remain committed and work hard, then success can be attained. Members of CI- FA’s Executive Committee congratulate Sebastian on his achievement and wish him every success in Portugal.” Barbara Connolly, a coun- cilor in Cayman’s Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture and Lands, con- gratulated Martinez on his achievement. “It is not surprising that Sebastian has earned a pro- fessional contract to play football,” she said. “It was a dream of his years ago under the tutelage of coach Win- ston Chung. Unlike most with similar dreams, however, Se- bastian demonstrated a dis- ciplined approach to his fu- ture and continued to achieve excellent grades in school while he steadily developed his football skills. The government is pleased to have been able to play a role in his development and we congratulate Sebastian on this achievement.” Martinez’s new club, Leixoes, is in Matosinhos, a city in the northern Porto district of Portugal, and it was founded in 1907. Its football club plays at Estadio do Mar, which has a listed capacity of 9,730. Another Cayman young- ster, Michael Martin of Cayman Brac, is playing for Harbour View Football Club in Jamaica’s Red Stripe Premier League. “I am very excited and look forward to the challenges that lie ahead as I embark on the next leg of my journey in Portugal.” SEBASTIAN MARTINEZ Sebastian Martinez, center, celebrates his signing with Leixoes SC President Paolo Lopez, left, and player representative Fitzroy Simpson. CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former real estate broker Antonio Paolini told a court Wednesday that he paid his rent and other expenses from money a client had paid to purchase land in 2013. He said he had done so without the client’s per- mission, but “At the time, it seemed a good idea.” Paolini, 77, has pleaded not guilty to stealing $51,600 from the client on or about Feb. 25, 2013. Trial began on Monday with jury selection, and Crown counsel Toyin Salako began presenting evi- dence on Tuesday. The defendant began his evidence on Wednesday, an- swering questions from at- torney Amelia Fosuhene. He explained that the client had paid cash for a piece of land, but the purchase could not go through immediately because there was a restriction on the title. He put her money in a savings account his business – Cayman Real Estate Com- pany – had for client funds. Then he used some of the money to pay the rent on the business office. He said the landlord was going to come and change the locks at 3 p.m. that day. He had some money coming in a few days later and thought he could put it back. Ms. Fosuhene asked why he thought that was a good idea. He accepted that it was not something he was supposed to do as a real estate agent, but by doing so, he could save the company and save 11 jobs. He explained that he had signed a contract for a house in Canal Point for US$4.5 mil- lion and he would get 5 per- cent. That commission would pay rent and other overheads and would have paid for the client’s land purchase. Paolini said the money was sup- posed to come from Panama. Then the sale did not happen. He agreed that he had not asked the client’s permis- sion to use the money. He said he held several meetings with the client and the her agent. In July 2013, he had an agreement drawn up that converted her $51,600 into a loan. In that agreement, he said he would pay 5 per- cent interest each month and repay the principal amount no later than December 2013. He ended up not paying any of the principal by the end of the year. He then asked for a new agreement in which he would pay her $2,000 plus interest per month. That did not get signed, and a few days later he was arrested. He was never able to pay the principal because he did not have the money and the client did not get the land she wanted. He said he was expelled from the Cayman Islands Real Estate Brokers Association and that impacted his work. When his name went to the news- paper, everybody withdrew their listings from him. “I lost $64 million in listings in 48 hours,” he told Justice Marva McDonald-Bishop and the jury of four women and three men. He said his company made a little bit of money but lasted only another six months. He tried to find other work, but was not able to. He was asked if he ever thought he would not be able to pay the client back. “I always have the hope, even till today, to pay it back, but every day it gets more difficult,” he replied. He denied stealing the money. “I borrowed it for a few days and everything went sour,” he said. “I made a mistake and I’m being treated like a thief.” Ms. Salako’s cross-ex- amination was continuing at press time. Real estate broker denies theft from clientThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 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. “Crisis doesn’t create character, it reveals it.” — American comedian Dennis Leary No one welcomes a crisis. But when “things happen,” responsible leaders deal with the conse- quences. They resist the urge to hide, to obfuscate or to shift the blame. The landscape is littered with business leaders who failed to rise to the challenge. Take Uber founder Travis Kalanick’s unwillingness to take control of the narrative about his company’s toxic culture. Or United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz’ belated non-apology after a viral video showed law enforcement officers dragging a bloodied passenger from one of United’s planes. Contrast those inept crisis-management responses with Sol Petroleum’s behavior following the July 23 fire at the Jackson Point Fuel Terminal, which forced hundreds of people from their homes and ignited fears of what might have happened if fire officials had not been able to contain the blaze. Immediately after the incident, Sol management issued a statement apologizing for the inconvenience, praising the emergency responders, vowing to review safety procedures and promising to work closely with inspectors to determine the cause of the fire. When an initial investigation yielded inconclusive results, Sol officials shared the information with the public and explained exactly why a more exhaustive investigation may take weeks to conduct (requiring internal inspection of the sealed tank, which first must be completely drained and ventilated). Weeks later, they continue to be responsive and responsible. As we report in today’s Compass, Sol officials confirmed that the company will compensate any evacuees who incurred hotel expenses as a result of the fire. It can be easy (too easy) for activists, critics and politicians to target large companies such as Sol in order to promote their own platforms, to use the term “multinational” as shorthand for a faceless, soulless, unreachable entity that cares only about the bottom line. Sol’s post-fire actions remind us that even the largest and most “multinational” firms rely ultimately on local workforces in local markets. Sol, its competitor Rubis and their predeces- sors (including Esso and Texaco) have been part of the South Church Street area since 1960, when the Jackson Point fuel terminal first was constructed. It is important to remember that Sol and Rubis did not choose the current location for the fuel terminal. We are certain that they, like almost everyone else, would prefer to have the fuel tanks in a less residen- tial and populated area. The truth is the neighborhood grew up (and continues to grow) around the facility which was built more than a half-century ago. We should also recognize the good constituent work of freshman George Town MLA Barbara Conolly, who arranged a public forum that drew 60 concerned area residents and gave them a chance to air their grievances and concerns. Wesley Howell, chief officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs, deserves special mention for his comportment at that event. He listened to residents’ concerns and accepted responsibility on behalf of government offi- cials for poor communications on the night of the fire. Such a concession is the first, and in some ways the most difficult, step toward accountability. While the immediate crisis of the Jackson Point fire is behind us, a far longer road lies ahead, namely resolving the fuel terminal’s existence and placement. Devising long-term solutions to potential problems will require cooperation and communication among Sol, Rubis, government officials and others. If Sol’s recent performance is indicative of the com- pany’s good-faith efforts to conduct business in a responsible and accountable fashion, we have reason to be optimistic about the prospect of positive outcomes. – EDITORIAL – Fuel tank fire: Sol soars in the aftermath THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS North Korea is a ‘hinge’ moment for US and China DAVID IGNATIUS WASHINGTON – The North Korean nuclear threat is a “hinge” moment for the U.S. and China, and for the new international order both na- tions say they want. If Washington and Bei- jing manage to stay together in dealing with Pyongyang, the door opens on a new era in which China will play a larger and more responsible role in global affairs, com- mensurate with its economic power. If the great powers can’t cooperate, the door will slam shut – possibly trig- gering a catastrophic mil- itary conflict on the Ko- rean peninsula. President Trump’s bul- lying style, even in dealing with trivial matters of do- mestic politics, obscures the extent to which he has tried to marry U.S. policy on North Korea with that of China. For the most part, he has been surprisingly successful. Bei- jing and Washington have mostly been aligned, as in last weekend’s unanimous U.N. Security Council vote in favor of additional sanctions against Pyongyang to punish its continued missile tests. Washington’s diplomatic goal, although it hasn’t been stated publicly this way, is to encourage China to inter- pose itself between the U.S. and North Korea and orga- nize negotiations to de-nu- clearize the Korean Penin- sula. The U.S. threat is that if China doesn’t help the U.S. find such a diplomatic settle- ment, America will pursue its own solution – by military means, if necessary. Trump amped up the rhetoric Tuesday, telling re- porters: “They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.” The U.S. threat may be a bluff, but with Trump, you never know. Top U.S. officials understand that a pre-emp- tive war against North Korea could result in horrendous loss of life and a post-conflict outcome that would be worse for all parties. But when na- tional security adviser H.R. McMaster says that a nu- clear-armed North Korea is “intolerable” to Trump, one should assume he means it – and that he is preparing a menu of military options. Now comes the moment of nuclear brinkmanship. North Korea’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho said Monday, in reac- tion to the U.N. vote and Chi- nese-American calls for talks: “We will under no circum- stances put the nukes and ballistic rockets on the nego- tiating table.” Is he bluffing? Again, we don’t know. Some diplomats saw am- biguity in the vagueness of Ri’s conditions for any talks. But many leading analysts believe that North Korea, rather than stepping away from the edge, is racing to- ward having an operational nuclear-missile capability that can strike the U.S, as a matter of self-protection. Two intelligence assess- ments disclosed Tuesday added increased urgency to the crisis. The Defense In- telligence Agency concluded late last month that North Korea has mastered the tech- nology for a miniaturized nu- clear warhead that could sit atop a missile that could hit America, according to The Washington Post. A white paper by Japan’s defense ministry reached a similar conclusion and warned that the nuclear threat was now an imminent problem. North Korea’s rhetoric blasts the United States. But in a deeper way, it’s China that’s being put in an intoler- able position by Pyongyang. China has been flashing red lights about the North Ko- rean program for more than a year. President Kim Jong Un’s regime responded by conducting its fifth nuclear test last September and con- tinuing its missile tests, de- spite urgent Chinese warn- ings. Kim’s slap to Beijing even included assassinating his half-brother, Kim Jong Nam, who was under Chi- nese protection. North Korea’s defiance of the U.S. and China is rooted in its ideology of “juche,” or militant self-reliance. The official North Korean web- site sums up the philosophy as: “independence in poli- tics, self-sufficiency in the economy and self-reliance in national defense” – a creed that promotes go-it-alone confrontation. What’s at stake in this confrontation was under- scored by discussions last weekend at an annual gath- ering of the foreign policy es- tablishment called the Aspen Strategy Group. This year’s meeting included five Trump administration officials, as well as a collection of former top officials from previous Republican and Democratic administrations. Among the clearest points of consensus was that the North Korea crisis provides what one participant called a “catalytic” moment. If China and the U.S. can find a common path and resolve the crisis peacefully, they will succeed in “modernizing the global order,” which was the broad topic of the Aspen discussions. And if they fail? If Trump’s fiery rhetoric alienates Bei- jing rather than motivating it? If Pyongyang decides to test its doctrine of self-suf- ficiency with a roll of the nuclear dice? If Trump becomes the first president since John Ken- nedy to truly find himself at the nuclear brink? One way or another, the coming months will shape global se- curity for many years ahead. David Ignatius’ email address is davidignatius@washpost.com. © 2017 The Washington Post 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” North Korea’s rhetoric blasts the United States. But in a deeper way, it’s China that’s being put in an intolerable position by Pyongyang. The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 2017 be in position to cap- ture the eclipse. “We’ll have two different telescopes [in the observa- tory] with different wave- lengths, so you can see the sun from two different an- gles,” Dr. Hrudey said. One of those telescopes will use a hydrogen 1 alpha spec- trum filter, through which flares and flames on the sun can be viewed. The other tele- scope will be using white light, a very dark neutral density filter, through which sun spots on the surface of the sun can be seen. Simultaneous projec- tions from the telescopes will be transmitted to the screens in classrooms at the university. Dr. Hrudey said if there are high-standard real-time views available on the internet, those may also be screened. The eclipse viewing event coincides with a three- day STEM summer camp for high school students at the university. Even though he spends much of his time these days studying the sun from his second-floor observatory at UCCI, Dr. Hrudey has seen only one total eclipse, and a few partials. “If you get a chance to see an eclipse, es- pecially a total eclipse, that’s good stuff,” he said. In Cayman, the partial eclipse will be visible from 12:38 p.m. until 3:26 p.m., with the maximum of 55 percent obscuration occur- ring at 2:07 p.m. Experts are warning people not to attempt to view the eclipse without protective eye wear, as doing so can cause serious harm to eyes. Dr. Hrudey said that warning applies to people who are planning to use binoculars and telescopes – “Cameras too, if you’re looking through the view- finder,” he said. “Don’t do it. There’s a lot of energy in the sun and you can really damage your eyes.” He points out three safe options to view the sun – through protective glasses; through the highest standard of welding glass; or through projection techniques, for example, the pinhole in a shoebox method. Glenda McTaggart of Minds Inspired said the glasses her organization bought can be used by anyone who goes to the observatory to view the celestial phenom- enon safely. Minds Inspired is also donating glasses to students from Clifton Hunt- er’s Astronomy Club, who will be traveling to the U.S. to witness the total eclipse. “Our Minds Inspired pro- gram, at the high school level, is focused on pro- moting math and science and therefore we had no hes- itation in assisting this event by sponsoring glasses. We also have a connection with the CI Astronomical Society and have assisted them with events in the past,” said Ms. McTaggart, who will be trav- eling to the U.S. to see the total eclipse for herself. She will be among the millions to experience the “Great American Eclipse,” touted as one of the big- gest celestial events of the century, in part because the total eclipse will be visible across the width of America, over large populated areas. Dr. Hrudey and the Astro- nomical Society, at this point, are not sure how much in- terest there is locally in the partial eclipse, but they are preparing for however many show up on the day. In June 5, 2012, the team hosted a viewing of the “Transit of Venus” at a rooftop at Camana Bay. They were expecting a handful of enthusiasts, but hundreds turned up to get a look at the planet via telescopes and video screens as it passed in front of the sun. “It’s anyone’s guess,” Dr. Hrudey said of the number of people who will attend UCCI during the eclipse. SOLAR ECLIPSE, Monday, Aug. 21 Total duration: 2 hours, 47 minutes Eclipse starts: 12:38 p.m. Eclipse at max.: 2:07 p.m. Eclipse ends: 3:26 p.m. Maximum obscuration: 55% CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cayman to see 55 percent of solar eclipse A journey to see the Great American Solar Eclipse CHRIS COOKE Much has already been said in the U.S. media about the total solar eclipse happening on Aug. 21 this year, and much more, I’m sure, will be said as we get closer to the day. It is estimated that 12.2 million people will have the opportunity to see the event from their house or place of work, and 88 mil- lion people are within a day’s driving distance. Add to this that the last time the eclipse was seen throughout the U.S. was in 1918, and coupled with today’s live media coverage, the event is called “The Great American Solar Eclipse.” Already there are stories of predicted traffic gridlock, empty gas stations, forest fires, bad drivers on poor remote roads, extortionate hotel and car hire prices, aircraft con- trails “spoiling” the sky and many more Hollywood-style predicted disaster stories. What’s so special? So what is the fuss about? Why are so many people trav- eling to the U.S. specifically to see something that, to be honest, is only a few minutes long? It’s been described as a “once in a lifetime event,” but in fact they occur approxi- mately every 18 months. The reason is accessibility – North America is a lot easier to get to than Antarctica, for example. So what is it that makes a total solar eclipse so special? It is a unique moment certainly reported in history (often in- accurately to fit in with the prophecies of doom at the time) but it does have huge sci- entific importance and I have to say, to see one is a spectac- ular and emotional event. A total solar eclipse occurs when on specific occasions the new moon “gets in the way” of the sun. For a few brief mo- ments, this alignment causes the sun to cast a shadow of the moon onto the Earth’s surface. As the Earth spins on its axis, that small area of shadow will then appear to travel across the surface of the Earth. The eclipse starts in Oregon and travels across the U.S. to South Carolina in a narrow band approximately 70 miles wide. So the total solar eclipse is a moving target – and for the few minutes indicated is the only time it is safe to look at the sun directly without any kind of recommended filter or solar viewers. Everyone else across the whole path of the eclipse will see only a partial eclipse. In this region Looking at the sun with unprotected eyes even when 90 percent covered is still dan- gerous to the eyes. The sun emits deadly radiation which is painless, yet staring at the sun for too long will cause permanent damage to the eyes. The eclipse will be vis- ible from Cayman, but as the map shows, it will not be total. Plans have been made to view the eclipse safely at the Dr. William Hrudey Observatory at the University College of the Cayman Islands, along with members of the Cayman Is- lands Astronomical Society. It’s often said by people, “Oh, yes, I saw that eclipse,” but the truth is, they saw a partial eclipse that day and not the total solar eclipse. There is an important distinc- tion. It’s a bit like going to a huge football stadium to see your favorite team (or music artist) and trying to see or ex- perience it from the outside. Heading to St. Louis, Missouri This is why I will be joining members from the Cayman Is- lands Astronomical Society in St. Louis, Missouri, where we will meet up with fellow Ca- ribbean astronomers from Trinidad, from the Caribbean Institute of Astronomy CA- RINA. The two societies have had close connections since 2012 when a rare astronom- ical event called the “Transit of Venus” was observed from a rooftop in Camana Bay. This will be our first meeting out- side of the Caribbean. This is my sixth solar eclipse. They are very addic- tive – the most common ques- tion after an eclipse has gone is simple enough: “When is the next one?” The group has been invited to a solar eclipse viewing event in Festus, Missouri, by the St. Louis Astronomical Society. Festus is even closer to the middle line of the total eclipse – where it is predicted we will see the eclipse for a total of 2 minutes and 37 seconds. So what will we actually see on the day to justify that long journey? Simply said, they are literally like nothing on Earth. We are all used to the normal pace of everyday life – the motion of the sun and moon across the sky and na- ture’s pace and behavior fits around this in well defined pat- terns. Not so at a solar eclipse. Behind it all is one strange co- incidence or act of God – de- pending on your belief. Just why does the moon (compar- atively close to the Earth at only 240,000 miles away) have the same angular diameter as the sun, which is more than 90 million miles distant? It is a huge cosmic coincidence, and hard to understand. Finally, let me try to ex- plain what will happen. Imagine the day – the weather is good and the eclipse is ap- proaching from the west. For some time now, the sun, seen through solar viewers, has an increasing black segment edging across the sun’s disk. It’s getting close, almost there. Suddenly, the sky darkens with each blink of the eye and trees cast strange crescent-shaped shadows on the ground. Wild- life for a few minutes get fooled by the false twilight; street lights come on and it gets colder. The eclipse brings with it its own micro climate. In the final few seconds, the glasses can be removed to see the famous “Baileys Beads” effects caused by the last rays of the sun shining through the mountains on the lunar sur- face. And then, totality has arrived. It is dark. At some eclipses, it is so dark, stars ap- pear. If you are lucky, small colored flames can be seen coming from the sun, which is now completely covered by the moon, like an enormous black punch hole, and surrounding this image is a golden halo of shimmering white light called the corona. This is now the total solar eclipse and is a spec- tacular moment. And then it’s over. A bright- ening limb on one side of the moon suddenly erupts with more Baileys Beads and a spectacular diamond ring. It’s time to put those solar glasses back on and think about the next one. There are no total solar eclipses next year, but in 2020 you need to travel to South America to see one. The next total solar eclipse is back in the U.S. in 2024. Chris Cooke is the former president of the Cayman Islands Astronomical Society. He lived in the Cayman Islands for 12 years, until 2016. Chris Cooke, former president of the Cayman Islands Astronomical Society, in his garden in the U.K. with two of the telescopes that he plans to bring with him to view the total solar eclipse over America on Aug. 21. GRAPHIC: CAYMAN COMPASSDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days Bodden Town THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Drum practice ends day with a bang JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Drum roll, please … The young drummers of the Sev- enth-day Adventist Gideon Pathfinders Drum Corps are beating a path to success. The Cayman Compass visited one of their prac- tice sessions last week, when the drummers, ages 10 to 15, were gathered at the Sa- vannah Seventh-day Adven- tist Church yard. The group is part of the church’s youth program, aimed at keeping youngsters together and out of trouble; to do something positive and wholesome; and to prepare them for upcoming events, said Merle Watkins, director of the Pathfinders Club. There are currently 22 members in the band. Its membership changes every few years as some go off to college, Ms. Watkins said. Students completing uni- versity often return to the band and assist in teaching others. “It’s a program of each one teach one,” Ms. Watkins said. During their practice, drummers dip low to display some fancy drumstick tapping to the occasional clap of cym- bals – there is a lack of an au- dience in the church yard but the honking of passing cars is enough. The enthusiastic teens play in rhythm a series of tra- ditional beats, producing some soul-stirring Christian songs that get the feet stomping. “Play a church song for the lady,” said Ms. Watkins. “Which one?” they asked, be- fore kicking up a rhythm of beats from “Amazing Grace,” “Valerie” and “Carry Your Candle.” “The teens built their own beats and learn from each other,” Ms. Watkins said. She explained that the group mostly plays songs that are sung at church, during Path- finder program events and occasional church marches. The sun is setting as the group winds down. For 15 minutes, they gave it their all, with lead drummer Tevin McLeod keeping the group going. After practice, the young- sters rush to remove the drums and place them in the back of the church. They re- turn quickly to gather and discuss the band’s progress. The Pathfinder Club is a worldwide program organized and directed by the Youth De- partment of the General Con- ference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, often com- pared to a Seventh-day Adven- tist coed Scout program. In the Aug. 9, 1967 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, “Bodden Town Report” correspon- dent Floris McCoy wrote: “Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Hunter and youngest son George arrived home. The friends of Mr. Jimmy Hunter will be pleased to hear that he has joined the Government service of Ot- tawa as an economist. “Mr. Alfred Solomon is home for his vaca- tion; he is an employee of NBC Company. “After spending his vacation, Mr. Samuel Foster returned to his job with NBC. “Mrs. Berman Watler and daughters spent a few weeks here at home. They have now returned to Freeport, Bahamas where they reside. “Leaving on Thursday from the United Church here were the represen- tatives to Fort Myers, Florida. They were Misses Joy Jackson and Madge Anderson and Mr. Verdon Terry. They were accom- panied by the Rev. and Mrs. Lewin Williams and Mrs. Harry McCoy. “Mr. and Mrs. Haig Bodden left for vacation; they are expected to go to the U.S.A. and Canada. “Misses Pat Richardson and Marsha FreirMood of Anderson, Indiana, were special guests here this week. They conducted a one-week Vacation Bible School at the Church of God Chapel. “The school was very successful and average at- tendance was 60. The week ended with a closing pro- gramme on Saturday night, a display of handwork, songs learned and a spe- cial skit. We want to ex- press our thanks and ap- preciation to the girls for the good work they did. “Leaving on Monday for Jamaica on vacation were the Rev. and Mrs. Compton Williams.” 50 years ago: Bodden Towner hired as economist in Canada The installation of new water pipe along Condor Road will affect traffic in the area on Sunday, Aug. 13. Eastbound traffic will be diverted around Bodden Town via Condor Road and Anton Bodden Drive from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. in order to accommodate work by the Water Authority-Cayman, Westbound traffic will still be able to travel through Bodden Town via the main road for the ma- jority of the day. However, while the work is being done, the excavation will re- quire the Authority to close the road completely for a short period of time. The excavation will occur at the intersection of Condor and Shamrock roads, adjacent to the pedestrian crossing. Traffic signs will be posted in the vicinity of the work area, and all motor- ists are asked to drive with caution to ensure their own safety as well as that of the Water Authority staff. The Authority stated that it will try to com- plete the excavation as quickly as possible. Work planned along Condor Road BO DD EN TOW N BYP ASS BOD DEN TOW N RD . CO ND OR RD . SHAMROC K RD. N Bodden Town Jessicia Stewart gets the rhythm. Pathfinders director Merle Watkins with drum members Davin Graham, Tevin McLeod, Jessicia Stewart, KC Gordon, Samuel Munroe and Ruth Ann Douglas.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 2017 FRIDAY, AUGUST 11 IMMIGRATION CLOSED: The Department of Immigration headquarters, including Passport and Corporate Services, Visa Office, Enforcement and front counter will be closed to the public today for all but essential services. Only work permit and permanent residence applications, including applications for permission to continue to work that must be submitted on Aug. 11 in order to allow continued employment, will be accepted. Time sensitive applications for visitor extensions will also be accepted. The Department resumes normal operations on Monday, Aug. 14. COUNCIL OF OLDER PERSONS: Today is the deadline for people to apply to be on the Council of Older Persons. Applicant must be active, have a track record in advocating for older persons locally and be able to attend the council’s once-monthly meetings. Send an outline of advocacy and work experience with older people, including board memberships and voluntary work. Include name, date of birth, address, contact details and reasons to be considered for appointment. Email the information to Deborah. Webb-Sibblies@gov.ky or hand deliver it to the Government Administration Building’s reception, c/o Council of Older Persons, Deborah Webb-Sibblies, Cabinet Office. SATURDAY, AUGUST 12 ANNIVERSARY DINNER: Tickets for Wesleyan Christian Academy’s 40th anniversary dinner buffet go on sale today in the school’s office from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The dinner will be at Schooner’s restaurant at the Cayman Turtle Centre on Sept. 17. Tickets are available to all past/present attendees of WCA and their families, $20 adults, $15 children. Inquiries may be made to 949-3394 or 949-1121. FUNDRAISING BREAKFAST: The Youth Services Unit is hosting breakfast to send a culinary team of four young chefs to compete at CARIFESTA. The public is invited to attend at the Market@Cricket Grounds, George Town, from 6-11 a.m. Breakfasts will be prepared on site by the team. Menu includes omelettes, porridge or fritters. Each is available for a voluntary donation. Fixed price offerings are stewed turtle, $15, and Cayman- style beef, $12. Proceeds benefit the National Youth Culinary team competing in Barbados, Aug. 23–27. NCVO SALE: Sale of household items, clothing including lightly used school uniforms, baby supplies, furniture. 6-10 a.m. in parking lot outside National Council of Social Services, 90A Anthony Drive, off Smith Road (behind The Pines). SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 ROAD WORK: Water Authority-Cayman will carry out excavation work to install a new pipeline along Condor Road. The work will affect traffic from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the intersection of Condor and Shamrock roads, adjacent to the pedestrian crossing. Eastbound traffic will be diverted around Bodden Town via Condor Road and Anton Bodden Drive. Westbound traffic will be able to travel through Bodden Town for the majority of the day, but the road will be closed completely for a short period. MONDAY, AUGUST 14 NON-PROFIT LAW: An information session on the new Non-Profit Organizations Law will be held 10:30 a.m. to noon in Room 1038, Government Administration Building. Presented by the Ministry of Financial Services. TUESDAY, AUGUST 15 SEAFARERS ASSOCIATION: A general meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in the Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Ave., Prospect. Buses will be provided from West Bay Town Hall at 6 p.m. A bus route has been added in George Town, leaving the public library parking area at 7 p.m., stopping at Cayman Compass building and the Airport Foster’s. The blue bus is marked Bobo $1 Public transport. There is no charge. MOONLIGHT & MOVIES: “The Secret Life of Pets” (2016, PG) shows at Camana Bay’s Gardenia Court. Free. 7 p.m. THURSDAY, AUGUST 17 QUIZ NIGHT: 7 p.m. at Fidel’s. Jonny Kern will host. Proceeds benefit the Cayman Islands Humane Society. CHAMBER COURSE: Providing Exceptional Customer Service; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $150 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 CHARITY DEADLINE: SMP Partners invites applicants for their Charity of the Year initiative. Applicants should describe the work of the charity, number of volunteers involved and why it should be chosen. Email smpgives@smppartners.ky by end of business today. LIQUOR LICENCES: Today is the deadline to submit applications for liquor license renewals, including music and dancing licenses. Application forms can be downloaded from the Department of Commerce and Investment’s website www.dci.gov.ky. For more information, contact Shelise Jeffery on 244-2202. For Sister Islands operations, contact Lolita Bodden at 948-2400 or Dave Tatum at 244-4401. SATURDAY, AUGUST 19 STUFF THE BUS: Deadline to collect school supplies for families with children needing assistance. Drop off new items at boxes inside Cost-U-Less or Caribbean Alliance Insurance Office at 203 Alissta Towers. Supplies needed include pencil pouches, pencil erasers, No. 2 pencils, blue or black pens, 24-packs of crayons, wide-rule single subject notebooks and 150-page packs of wide-rule loose leaf paper. DARKNESS TO LIGHT: Free training program, 9-11:30 a.m., for parents, teachers and others who work with or provide services to young people. Cost is free. Gain knowledge and skills to prevent child sexual abuse, recognize signs of abuse and learn how to react responsibly. Pre-registration is required. Contact vrm@redcross.org.ky. TUESDAY, AUGUST 29 PERTINACITY, PAGEANTS & POLITICS: Former Miss Cayman and attorney Theresa Lewis Pitcairn discusses “A purposeful life beyond the crown.” 6 p.m. Part of the speaker series at the National Museum on Harbour Drive. $10 general admission, $6 members, includes entry to exhibits. Wine and refreshments follow. Reserve a seat by contacting shenicemcfield@museum.ky CHAMBER COURSE: Dealing with “Problem People.” 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $150 for members, $225 for future members. www.caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, AUGUST 31 CHAMBER COURSE: Business Master class – Strata Management. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $175 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. BRAC WORKSHOP: The Family Resource Centre holds a three-day domestic violence intervention workshop at the Brac Reef hotel. The free training is Aug. 29-31, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The workshop is for front-line professionals who interact with domestic violence victims and their families. Contact FRC at 949-0006 or email frc@gov.ky for further information or to register. SUMMER CAMPS, VBS BRAC CHOIR CAMP: Aug. 14-18. Primary students, 9 a.m.–noon; secondary students, 1–4 p.m., $50. Contact Janelle@sparkcayman.com or 946-0137. SUMMER OF ART: The National Gallery offers this series every Tuesday and Thursday from 2-4 p.m. in the Susan A. Olde Art Studio until Aug. 17. Space is limited to 20 students per session on a first-come, first-served basis (no pre-registration necessary). Sessions are free and all materials are provided. Summer camps and large groups can book art sessions and tours separately. For more information, visit www.nationalgallery.org.ky or email education@ nationalgallery.org.ky. GENERAL INTEREST FIRE OFFICERS TRAINING: New recruits with the Cayman Islands Fire Service are conducting exercises at the training grounds behind Owen Roberts International Airport. The exercises are causing large clouds of smoke. The public should not be alarmed as these are controlled burns and part of the recruitment training. Exercises continue for the next three weeks. LAW SCHOOL PROGRAMS: Applications are being accepted for one of the new postgraduate programs offered by the Truman Bodden Law School – the Master of Laws in international finance, law and regulation, and the postgraduate diploma in international finance, law and regulation. Full details on the admissions procedure are available at www.lawschool.gov.ky. NATIONAL GALLERY: All are invited to view the new temporary exhibition “Mediating Self,” a display of works from the Cayman Islands National Collection that illustrates the ways in which our bodies are used to create and navigate our personal and collective identities. Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. HUMANE SOCIETY THRIFT SHOP: The shop has moved to Venetia Plaza, next to China Village. The thrift shop is open Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed on Sunday and Monday. Phone 945-5596. DVDL REPLACES TEMP PLATES: The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing is replacing all Temporary Registration Plates. Customers who have been contacted by the department are asked to collect their new registration plates. They are reminded to bring the temporary registration plates, windshield coupon (if not expired) and log book. CONTRACTORS REGISTRATION: The deadline for residential and building contractors was June 30; trade contractors’ deadline is Aug. 31. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc., in good condition always needed. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. ‘The Secret Life of Pets’ is the featured movie on Tuesday, Aug. 15, at Camana Bay’s Gardenia Court. The free screening starts at 7 p.m. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Internal Audit Unit to look into the matter. Mr. Hew, who took on the minister’s role after the May 24 election, said he was un- familiar with the history of the application and had re- quested an inquiry. The statement added, “In light of the concerns ex- pressed and the seriousness of matter, he [Mr. Hew] has decided to request an inde- pendent investigation by the Internal Audit Unit to iden- tify exactly what transpired.” Deputy Governor Franz Manderson supported the call for the investigation into the decision. He clarified, in the statement, that a deci- sion to move a member of DCI staff – long-time liquor board secretary Marva Scott – to another department was unconnected to the issue. “In fact, the officer was moved to accommodate her prior request to be reas- signed,” Mr. Manderson said. Cline Glidden, the at- torney who represented Pea- nuts in the application, wel- comed the inquiry. He said, “We received a notification through official channels that the license was granted. We also saw it in the press and on the govern- ment website. Of course, we were surprised then to see the minutes of the meeting saying it was not granted. “We have now seen state- ments to the effect that the notification and the informa- tion provided to the press and the public was in error. Apparently it was one person that made the mistake and nobody thought it prudent to correct that error. We hope that the inquiry will clarify this position and shed some light on the matter.” There are a number of outstanding questions over the board’s handling of the Peanuts application. Mr. DaCosta has told the Compass that the offi- cial minutes from the March meeting, published in June, accurately reflect the board’s decision to formulate a new policy and reject Peanuts’ ap- plication. He acknowledged, however, that this discus- sion and decision had not taken place in March, as suggested by the published minutes, which make no mention of any separate elec- tronic meeting. He told the Compass that no decision was taken on Peanuts’ application at the March meeting. He said it was adjourned and a later “electronic meeting” took place to discuss a number of issues, including that application. The Compass sent a number of additional ques- tions to Mr. DaCosta, in- cluding when this electronic meeting took place; who at- tended; who was notified that the meeting was taking place or of its findings; and why there was no mention of it in the official minutes. Mr. DaCosta did not re- spond to the Compass in- quiries nor to follow up calls and emails on the matter this week. The Compass also sought confirmation from other board members, including Wayne Kirkconnell, Phillip Tatum, Noel Williams and Magalyn Robinson-Clark, on the electronic meeting, asking if they attended and when and how it took place. Only Mr. Kirkconnell re- sponded and only then to redirect questions to Mr. DaCosta and Ryan Rajku- marsingh, the director of DCI. The Compass also sent questions to Mr. Rajkumars- ingh about the preparation of the minutes and the com- munication of the board’s de- cision. He responded to say he was out of office sick and had referred questions to the ministry. Cayman Compass, com- pany representatives con- firmed this week that it would process claims for reimbursement. Residents who were af- fected are asked to submit receipts for the night along with proof of residence in the exclusion zone. “Sol recognizes that some residents of the South Church Street area were not allowed to return to their homes on the evening of July 23, due to evacua- tion orders issued by police and fire Services. “Sol has already re- ceived compensation claims from affected resi- dents and those have been processed. Sol confirms that it will process claims for reimbursement of alter- nate accommodation costs from residents,” the com- pany said in a statement to the Compass. Sol said in its state- ment, “Sol sincerely regrets the inconvenience caused and remains committed to the safety of our commu- nity. Sol reiterates its gen- uine gratitude to the Emer- gency Response Teams, the community and our neigh- bors for their patience and understanding.” Keith Sahm, manager of Sunset House, which was closed and taken over by emergency services as a command center for the night, said he was happy to see Sol doing the right thing. He said he had paid for meals for all guests at Sunset House on the night and had submitted a claim for reimburse- ment from Sol. “We’re just claiming our actual costs for the night for the 25 guests,” he said. “It would be hard to put a numerical value on the cost of shutting down the bar and restaurant for the night and we are not trying to claim for that.” He said he was not sure if all affected resi- dents were aware that Sol was prepared to reim- burse them, and encour- aged anyone affected to get in touch with the company. Tootie Eldemire, owner of Eldemire’s Trop- ical Island Inn, said she had to pay for a night at the Holiday Inn for her- self and her family and one of the guests. She is also seeking reimburse- ment from Sol. “I’m happy they have said they will pay it, but I think it is the least they can do in the circumstances,” she said. “I am 73 years old and it was a very emotional situation. I hardly slept on that night.” Other residents raised the issue of compensation at a public meeting last week. No one from Sol was at the meeting, and emer- gency services and MLA Barbara Connolly, who or- ganized the event, were un- aware of that issue. Two investigations are under way to determine the cause of the fire, one by the fire service and another by OfReg, which has re- sponsibility for fuel safety and inspections. “In light of the concerns expressed and the seriousness of matter, he [Mr. Hew] has decided to request an independent investigation by the Internal Audit Unit to identify exactly what transpired.” JOINT STATEMENT FROM MINISTER JOEY HEW AND DEPUTY GOVERNOR FRANZ MANDERSON CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Gov’t orders auditor to probe liquor board actions CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Brazil ponders fixing its politics After years of crisis that saw some of Brazil’s highest elected officials ousted, im- prisoned or charged, the country’s Congress is now discussing ways to fix a deeply discredited po- litical system. So far, one of the few pro- posals most lawmakers agree upon is the need for more public money to fund elec- tion campaigns. Indeed, a congressional committee on Wednesday begins debating an election fund worth 3.6 billion reais (US$1.2 billion) in taxpayer money, a sizable amount in a country strug- gling to pay school lunches. Other ideas include re- vamping electoral districts and prohibiting party coali- tions in legislative elections. Whether or not legisla- tors agree on new rules to heighten transparency, ac- countability and representa- tion may have far-reaching implications for their own political survival and for the 2018 presidential race. Just 3 percent of Brazil- ians have much confidence in Congress and the ap- proval of President Michel Temer’s administration ranks just two percentage points higher. The armed forces are the most-trusted institu- tion, and former Army Cap- tain Jair Bolsonaro is tied for second place in voter in- tention for the country’s top job. Unsurprisingly, skepti- cism abounds as to whether that same discredited polit- ical class can lay the founda- tions for renewal. “The electoral and political reform needs to be deep,” said Silvana Batini, a professor of electoral law at FGV in Rio de Janeiro. “But it needs to be done by a Congress with greater legitimacy.” Brazil’s politics is expen- sive, messy and seen as self- serving by most of its citizens, who are obliged to vote on pain of a fine. The steady drip of horror stories of kickbacks lining politicians’ pockets that was revealed by the three-year corruption probe Operation Carwash only reinforced deep disaffection. Support for de- mocracy among Brazilians fell 22 percentage points between 2015 and 2016, according to a poll published last September by Latinobarometro. And yet the country’s pol- iticians receive some of the highest salaries in the world, according to a 2013 ranking by The Economist. Similarly costly election campaigns do not necessarily produce ef- ficiency: 26 parties are rep- resented in the lower house of Congress alone, massively complicating the process of legislation. The proposed election fund is a matter of some urgency for politicians after a 2015 Su- preme Court ruling banned corporate donations. Many welcome the decision but the inadvertent impact has been mixed. Those who did partic- ularly well in last year’s mu- nicipal elections, the first to be held since the ruling, were millionaires and candidates backed by wealthy tax-exempt evangelical groups. Also likely to be approved is a minimum threshold for parties to enter Congress, thereby simplifying coalition negotiations. “This exaggerated number of parties is no good for anyone,” said Luiz Felipe Baleia Rossi, leader of the Bra- zilian Democratic Movement Party, or PMDB, the country’s largest political group. “It’s not good for democracy or for parliament.” Smaller parties, unsurpris- ingly, tend to disagree. Sol to compensate fire evacuees Brazil’s President Michel Temer MIGRANTS ‘DELIBERATELY DROWNED’ OFF YEMEN JOHANNESBURG (AP) – Up to 50 migrants from So- malia and Ethiopia were “deliberately drowned” when a smuggler forced them into the sea off Ye- men’s coast, the U.N. mi- gration agency said Wednesday, calling the drownings “shocking and inhumane.” International Organiza- tion for Migration staffers found the shallow graves of 29 migrants on a beach in Shabwa during a pa- trol, the agency said. The dead were buried by those who survived. At least 22 migrants re- mained missing. The pas- sengers’ average age was around 16, the agency said. The smuggler forced more than 120 migrants into the sea Wednesday morning as they ap- proached Yemen’s coast, the IOM statement said. “The survivors told our colleagues on the beach that the smuggler pushed them to the sea when he saw some ‘authority types’ near the coast,” said Lau- rent de Boeck, the IOM’s chief of mission in Yemen. “They also told us that the smuggler has already re- turned to Somalia to con- tinue his business and pick up more migrants to bring to Yemen on the same route.” “Sol has already received compensation claims from affected residents and those have been processed.” SOL PETROLEUM Whether or not legislators agree on new rules to heighten transparency, accountability and representation may have far-reaching implications for their own political survival and for the 2018 presidential race. The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 10, 2017 Fossil named after heavy metal icon Scientists have named a prehistoric crocodile described as ‘one of the nastiest sea creatures to have ever inhabited the earth’ after late British heavy metal icon Lemmy Kilmister. The fossil, named Lemmysuchus obtusidens, was dug up in England in the early 20th century. Trump touts nuke strength; Tillerson urges calm on N. Korea FBI agents searched former Trump campaign chair’s home WASHINGTON (AP) – FBI agents have searched one of the homes of President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, whose past for- eign political work has been swept into the investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. A Manafort spokesman confirmed the search Wednesday. Manafort spokesman Jason Maloni said in a state- ment that FBI agents had obtained a warrant and searched one of Manafort’s homes, but he would not say when the search oc- curred. The Washington Post, which first reported the raid, said agents working for Special Counsel Robert Mueller conducted the search the morning of July 26 at Manafort’s home in Alexandria, Va. “Mr. Manafort has con- sistently cooperated with law enforcement and other serious inquiries and did so on this occasion as well,” Maloni said. Manafort has been a sub- ject of a long-standing FBI investigation into his deal- ings in Ukraine and work for the country’s former presi- dent, Viktor Yanukovych. That investigation has been in- corporated into the probe led by Mueller, who is also scrutinizing Manafort’s role in the Trump campaign as he looks into Russia’s med- dling in the 2016 election and any possible collusion with Trump associates. Manafort, who led the Trump campaign for sev- eral months, has denied any wrongdoing. The use of a search war- rant shows law enforcement officials have convinced a judge there is probable cause to believe a crime may have been committed. Manafort has recently co- operated with congressional committees investigating the election interference. He sat for a private interview with staff of the Senate intelli- gence committee the day be- fore the FBI raid. The topic of the panel’s interview was confined to a June 2016 meeting Manafort attended with Trump’s son- in-law, Jared Kushner, and Donald Trump Jr. That meeting, held at Trump Tower in New York, was described to Trump Jr. in emails as part of a Russian government effort to help the Trump campaign by passing along information that could be used against Democrat Hillary Clinton. During the Senate com- mittee interview, Manafort provided his recollection of the Trump Tower meeting and turned over contempo- raneous notes he took during the gathering. Manafort has also turned over other documents to the Senate intelligence committee as well as about 400 pages of records to the Senate Judi- ciary Committee. Meanwhile, the Judiciary Committee said Wednesday it has also received about 250 pages of documents from Trump Jr. and about 20,000 pages from the Trump campaign. The content of the docu- ments was not immediately clear. The committee said it received the Manafort and Trump campaign documents on Aug. 2 and the records from Trump Jr. on Aug. 4. Judiciary committee leaders have also been in talks with Trump Jr. and Manafort about private interviews. The committee initially called for them to testify publicly, but lawmakers have since said they were negotiating the terms of their appearances. WASHINGTON (AP) – Presi- dent Donald Trump declared the U.S. nuclear arsenal “far stronger and more powerful than ever before,” even as his top diplomat was working to calm the North Korea crisis and insisting there wasn’t “any imminent threat.” In a series of early morning tweets Wednesday, Trump reaffirmed his threat from a day earlier by re-posting video of him warning that Pyongyang would be “met with fire and fury like the world has never seen” if it made more threats to the U.S. Then he said that his first order as presi- dent had been to “renovate and modernize” the U.S. nu- clear arsenal. “Hopefully we will never have to use this power, but there will never be a time that we are not the most powerful nation in the world!” Trump tweeted. It was not immediately clear what evidence the pres- ident had, if any, to sup- port his claim about the nuclear force. Trump did issue an execu- tive order in his first days in office calling for a review to ensure the U.S. nuclear deter- rent is “modern, robust, flex- ible, resilient, ready” and ap- propriately tailored for 21st century threats. The White House has not detailed any findings from that evalu- ation. A modernization ef- fort started by former Presi- dent Barack Obama is in the early stages, but the force is essentially unchanged from the way Trump inherited it on Jan. 20. Stephen Schwartz, an in- dependent analyst of nuclear weapons issues, called the boast “patently absurd.” He wrote on Twitter that “liter- ally nothing has happened in the last 201 days to increase the overall power of the US nuclear arsenal.” Only hours before Trump’s tweets, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged calm and said Americans should have “no concerns” despite the ex- change of threats between the president and North Korea. Aboard his plane as he flew home from Asia, Til- lerson insisted the devel- opments didn’t suggest the U.S. was moving closer to a military option to dealing with the crisis. “Americans should sleep well at night,” Tillerson said. He added: “Nothing that I have seen and nothing that I know of would indicate that the situation has dra- matically changed in the last 24 hours.” The mixed messages from Tillerson and Trump put the onus on the North Koreans to decide how to interpret the latest missives from the U.S. In more tranquil terms than Trump, Tillerson sought to explain the thinking be- hind Trump’s warning. He said the president was trying to send a strong and clear message to North Korea’s leader so that there would not be “any miscalculation.” “What the president is doing is sending a strong message to North Korea in language that Kim Jong Un can understand, because he doesn’t seem to understand diplomatic language,” Til- lerson said. “I think the presi- dent just wanted to be clear to the North Korean regime on the U.S. unquestionable ability to defend itself.” He said the U.S. “will defend it- self and its allies.” The comments put Til- lerson once again in the role of translating the pres- ident’s aggressive rhetoric into more diplomatic terms, and of working to mini- mize the chances of public panic. In fact, Tillerson ar- gued that North Korea’s es- calating threats indicated it was feeling the pressure from a successful U.S. strategy. Tillerson spoke to re- porters as he returned from Malaysia to Washington, stopping along the way in Guam. Hours earlier, North Korea’s army had said in a statement it was exploring plans for attacking the tiny U.S. territory, which houses U.S. military bases and is a common refueling stop for U.S. government aircraft tra- versing the Pacific Ocean. Tillerson said he never considered re-routing his trip from Malaysia so as to avoid stopping in Guam. Though he insisted there was no imminent threat, he noted that even if there were, “the North Korean missile capability can point in many directions, so Guam is not the only place that would be under threat.” Though it’s extremely un- likely the North would risk annihilation by preemp- tively attacking American citizens, the escalating rhet- oric has heightened con- cern that a miscalculation could spiral out of control and lead to military conflict – a concern especially acute in Guam, residents of the territory said. At least one prominent lawmaker felt Trump was not bluffing with his threat. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Re- publican on the Armed Ser- vices Committee, told CBS’ “This Morning” that Trump had “basically drawn a red line” by saying Pyongyang can’t ever have a nuclear- tipped intercontinental bal- listic missile capable of striking the U.S. “He’s not going to let that happen,” Graham said. “He’s not going to contain the threat. He’s going to stop the threat.” Tillerson, who spent the past days in Asia working the North Korea conflict, said he did not believe a new diplomatic strategy was needed. To the con- trary, he said the latest threat from the North sug- gested the current strategy was working. After months of frustration over Chi- na’s reluctance to pressure Pyongyang economically, the U.S. on Saturday secured a unanimous U.N. Secu- rity Council vote to autho- rize sweeping new sanctions that target one-third of the North’s exports. Trump reaffirmed his threat from a day earlier by re-posting video of him warning that Pyongyang would be “met with fire and fury like the world has never seen” if it made more threats to the U.S. Manafort has been a subject of a long-standing FBI investigation into his dealings in Ukraine and work for the country’s former president, Viktor Yanukovych. Paul Manafort Secretary of State Rex TillersonPresident Donald TrumpNext >