MIAMI – The fierce eye of Hurricane Irma roared ashore in Florida on Sunday morning, bringing the full intensity of the storm to bear on the lower Florida Keys before begin- ning what forecasters say could be a painful journey up the state’s western coastline. After days of alarming warnings forced millions from their homes and shut down daily life across a wide swath of the south- eastern United States, Irma breached the Florida coast on Sunday morning, making landfall just after 9 a.m. at Cudjoe Key. Irma had already made its presence known across South Florida, causing more than a million power outages and lashing major population centers with rain and wind. The danger is only just beginning, forecasters warn, because the storm will grind along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Sunday and could make a second landfall later in the day. “Today is going to the be the long day,” said Mark DeMaria, deputy acting director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The hurricane center warns that Irma, which has restrengthened into a Category 4 storm, has created an “imminent danger of life-threatening storm surge flooding along much of the Florida west coast.” While Ir- ma’s path is now likely to hew to Florida’s Gulf Coast, the storm’s sheer size and reach – hurricane-force winds extend about 80 miles from the center, and tropical storm winds extend out 220 miles – means that those who remain in southeast Florida are still imperiled by its winds and dan- gerous storm surge. Irma is forecast to remain a major hur- ricane as it approaches the densely popu- lated Tampa Bay area, which experts say is woefully ill-equipped to confront a storm of this size. Many people from Florida’s eastern coast had sought refuge around Tampa in recent days before the storm’s path shifted westward. “It could make landfall anywhere along the west coast,” Michael Brennan, a se- nior hurricane specialist at the National ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY JUICY. TENDER. SEASONED. PRESELL + INSERT PRESELL + INSERT PRESELL + INSERT Hurricane Irma: A devastating blow to Florida’s Gulf Coast A ragged American flag flies as Hurricane Irma passes through Naples, Florida, Sunday. – PHOTO: AP PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 11 » Interstate 95 Northbound is deserted as Hurricane Irma passes by Sunday in Miami. – PHOTOS: AP The entrance to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, is empty as the theme park closed due to Hurricane Irma, Sunday. Other tourist attractions including Universal Studios and Sea World were also closed, but planned to reopen Tuesday. CAYMAN AIDS IRMA RECOVERY The territory is stepping in to as- sist Caribbean jurisdictions battered by Hurricane Irma, sending help in the form of law enforcement, re- building assistance, insurance pay- outs and other monetary support. See full story on page 11.2 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS I 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. - MONDAY - IT (R) 1:15 VIP I 2:25 I 3:25 I 6:30 I 7:00 VIP 9:10 I 9:40 THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD (R) 12:50 I 3:40 I 7:10 I 10:00 ANNABELLE CREATION (R) 12:30 I 4:20 VIP I 6:35 I 10:05 VIP GIRLS TRIP (R) 1:40 I 6:55 DARK TOWER (PG13) 4:30 I 9:45 THE NUT JOB 2 3D (PG) 12:30 2D I 2:50 I 5:10 2D I 7:30 2D I 9:50 The Cayman Islands Veterans Association Will be having its Annual General Meeting on Thursday 14th September 2017 At the Seafarers Association Hall, Victory Ave, Prospect at 6pm All members are asked to make every effort to attend in order for the selection of officers and to address other matters. Light refreshment will be provided, and spouses are welcome. BY ORDER: Andrew McLaughlin Vice President, CIVA RSVP: Graham Walker, Hon. Secretary gwalker@candw.ky or 926-2501 National Trust: Cause of blue iguana deaths still unknown KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com National Trust for the Cayman Islands Executive Director Christina Pineda called for an end to specu- lation over blue iguana ill- nesses Friday, clarifying that researchers do not know the cause of 14 untimely deaths of the endangered species. While no iguanas have fallen ill during the past six months to a year, Ms. Pineda said the myste- rious ailment has kept re- searchers too busy to make the issue public, since it first struck in May 2015. “We only lost 14 in the midst of what could have been catastrophic.… This could have been much worse, guys. I don’t think we re- alize that” Ms. Pineda said, praising staff members for their quick response time. “Honestly, at the time, we were so busy trying to save these iguanas, we didn’t think to put pen to paper, like, ‘oh, let’s tell ev- erybody.’ No, we wanted to save these guys first and find out what the heck was hap- pening. So that’s the biggest clarification. Sometimes sci- entists are busy in the field doing the work.” Ms. Pineda clarified that while news reports on the issue have been accurate, she took issue with the specula- tive nature of public debate and a recent editorial column on the issue. Seventeen blue iguanas have fallen ill in total, showing signs of leth- argy, lack of appetite, weak hindquarters, collapse and sudden death. Whatever the cause of the deaths may be, environ- mental field officer Karen Ford said the illness is not highly contagious. Otherwise, it would have killed many more iguanas. She said quarantine measures implemented at the Queen Elizabeth II Bo- tanic Park, where all of the illnesses have been de- tected, have been highly suc- cessful in protecting the iguana population. The Blue Iguana Recovery Program estimates there are around 200 wild and captive iguanas in the park, in addi- tion to around 1,000 in the wild at Colliers and Salinas. Bacterial link under investigation While the National Trust implored the press time and again Friday not the specu- late on the cause of illness, staff identified a reptilian strain of Helicobacter bac- teria as a possible cause. “The first investiga- tion that we’re looking into is whether green iguanas carry it or not. Obviously, they might not carry it,” Ms. Ford said. “It’s just a hypothesis be- cause the green iguanas are still new to the island and the green iguanas are making their way from West Bay, and now they’re up in East End. So the interaction between the blues and the greens is more full on now. That’s why we’re speculating they’re green iguanas because their relationship is becoming more intimate.” Around half of the dead blue iguanas tested positive for Helicobacter. No other signs of disease were de- tected by researchers. “It took a while to figure out what was going on. It took partnerships with the Wildlife Conservation So- ciety, St. Matthews Univer- sity and their partners as well to figure out that it was the Helicobacter bacteria,” Ms. Ford said. Speed of testing has been limited by the facili- ties available in the Cayman Islands. All tested iguanas must be sent off the islands for examination. Around 50 green iguanas have already been culled in the botanic park for testing at the Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology. Re- searchers aim to test at least 100 green iguanas for the He- licobacter study. Iguanas affected early on were not tested for the bac- teria because workers were not yet aware of its pos- sible presence. National Trust acting en- vironmental programs man- ager Stuart Mailer said it is an overstatement at this point to attribute the deaths to the bacteria. “It’s the main suspect right now. It has been de- tected in a number but not all of the dead iguanas. Other possibilities should not be ruled out,” he said. Ms. Ford said while dogs pose a threat to iguanas at the park, they are not the carriers of this Helico- bacter strain, which only af- fects reptiles. She did think there could be a link between the bacteria and heavy rains, however. “It seems to be that when- ever we do find a sick iguana, it’s been during or after heavy rainfall, which in that case, it might just be that in rains, iguanas are not in the sun. “They are not high energy producing at that time. They’re taking it easy, which would give the Helicobacter or what- ever is making the iguanas sick a better chance to infect them at that time. So that’s why we think there might be a link between the rains and the Helicobacter,” she said. Blue iguanas hatched in 2014 and 2015 were re- leased from captivity into the park in August. Since these iguanas grew up in an envi- ronment with the bacteria, Ms. Ford did not think they would be at risk of falling ill in the wild. “They were exposed from day one. So there is no differ- ence if we have them in cap- tivity or not,” she said. “Tourists are enjoying them now. They are seeing them run around. Natural instincts kick in within a matter of days, so they are able to thrive on their own.” Fundraising confusion While the National Trust team described blue iguana recovery efforts highly suc- cessful, Ms. Pineda said the species will always need support. “This is an ongoing project. It will always be on- going. The blue iguanas will always have to have some sort of management. That’s why we need the continued funding because the threats will never go away. The threats are just increasing. There are always going to be vet bills. There are always going to be these things we have to deal with,” she said. “We really need support more than anything, rather than criticism.” She said recent confusion over fundraising was sparked by the impatience of project partner, the International Reptile Conservation Society. Fundraising for the blue iguana research began this year in Florida, before the issue had been made public in the Cayman Is- lands. Ms. Pineda said there has been more support for the effort by donors in Florida than Cayman. “[The campaign] was sup- posed to be in tandem. But they were chomping at the bit to get their press release out first. We were supposed to release our press release here first and anyway, they had donors who wanted to give money and they couldn’t hold back anymore. They had more ready donors than we did here, so we gave them the go-ahead to release it there,” Ms. Pineda said. “We do have a wide, inter- national support base. If they want to give money, who are we to say, ‘no, wait’?” Mr. Mailer added, “Unlike the dog situation, we didn’t know what was going on and there wasn’t much we thought would be achieved by going public with it.” The Helicobacter research was estimated in a project proposal to cost US$3,800. The ICRF announced in July that this funding had been secured through fund- raising in May 2017 at Igua- naFest in Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, Florida. A fundraising campaign was launched in Cayman in September. Ms. Pineda said these funds will go toward ongoing blue iguana needs. Throughout September, donations can also be made through the #blueiguanarecovery challenge by shopping at Beyond Basics Medical Spa, Touch of Thai, The Salon La Femme and Renaissance Salon & Spa. “The first investigation that we’re looking into is whether green iguanas carry it or not. Obviously, they might not carry it.” KAREN FORD, National Trust environmental field officer National Trust Environmental Field Officer Karen Ford, Acting Environmental Programs Manager Stuart Mailer and Executive Director Christina Pineda say they don’t know yet what has killed 14 blue iguanas in the past two-and-a-half years. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY CORRECTION In the story that ran on Sept. 8 titled “American facing firearm charges allowed to travel because of Irma,” the subhead incorrectly stated a plea by the defendant. The defendant pleaded not guilty to possession of a BB gun.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 World class neurology and cancer care in South Florida. Our center offers leading expertise and the most advanced treatments. +1.954.659.5080 l flgps@ccf.org clevelandclinic.org/flgps CNB worker killed in Honduras Woman was celebrating mother’s birthday BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman National Bank projects manager was killed last week in Honduras, where she had traveled to cele- brate her elderly mother’s birthday, according to bank officials and reports in the Honduran press. Ana Adriano, 49, and her mother, a 76-year-old retired teacher, were found dead Friday in a home in the Los Laureles area. The killing appeared to have occurred during a robbery at the res- idence where the women stayed, according to reports in the Tiempo online news. Police told the news- paper that they were in- formed the two women had not responded to earlier mes- sages and entered the home Friday to check on their well- being. The investigating offi- cers found both women dead, both had been shot three times, police said. Tiempo reported that the crime had likely been com- mitted “by someone close” to the victims. According to police re- ports, the women were killed by a suspect or suspects who had come to the home looking for a safe. A safe was taken from the home, as well as some jewelry, police said. No arrests in the killings had been reported as of Saturday. CNB President Ormond Williams said bank officials were informed of the tragic incident Friday by Ms. Adri- ano’s husband, who lives here in Cayman. “I advised all staff,” Mr. Williams said. “She was very well-liked in the organization. She had spent a total of just under nine years with us.” Mr. Williams said Ms. Adriano had just returned to Cayman National since No- vember 2015. She had worked an earlier seven-year stint there, before leaving for an- other job. She was currently running the bank’s debit and credit card implemen- tation project through the IT department. He described Ms. Adriano as a “rare combination of academic skills and real- world experience” and that for all intents and purposes, Cayman had become her permanent home. “It’s a very tragic loss, a serious loss for her family and for Cayman National Bank,” Mr. Williams said. Man charged for firearm, dangerous driving No application made for bail on Friday afternoon CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Allen Ronald McLean, 50, appeared in Summary Court on Friday afternoon facing charges laid after he allegedly fled from police two days earlier. McLean is charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm – a .38 Sterling semi-automatic pistol with one magazine containing two live rounds. He is fur- ther charged with dan- gerous driving – driving a white Mercedes-Benz on North Sound Way [sic] in a manner dangerous to the public, having regard to all the circumstances including the nature, condition and use of the road and the amount of traffic actually on the road at the time or the amount of traffic that might reasonably be ex- pected at the time. McLean did not enter any pleas and defense at- torney Jonathon Hughes did not make an applica- tion for bail, explaining that he had not received any papers about the case from the Crown. He and Crown counsel Daniel O’Donoghue agreed that the matter should be brought back on Tuesday, Sept. 19. Until then, Magistrate Valdis Foldats remanded McLean in custody. Police press releases is- sued last week said the inci- dent began just past 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6, when officers had cause to begin following a man in a white Mercedes-Benz in Central George Town. They acti- vated emergency lights and siren, but the man did not stop. He collided with two vehicles before his vehicle was blocked and he was ar- rested off Smith Road. The press releases also mentioned possession of cocaine, but no such charge was brought to court on Friday. A female passenger in the vehicle was reportedly on police bail. She was not mentioned during McLean’s brief court appearance. “It’s a very tragic loss, a serious loss for her family and for Cayman National Bank.” ORMOND WILLIAMS, CNB President McLean did not enter any pleas and defense attorney Jonathon Hughes did not make an application for bail. Wesleyan Christian Academy will celebrate its 40th anniversary this coming weekend. All are invited to attend events at the campus on North West Point Road on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., as well as special services at the West Bay Wesleyan Ho- liness Church on Sunday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, call 949-1121. Wesleyan Christian marks 40 yearsThe 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. MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS It’s time to update the appointments calendar — again. Police bail for Jimel McLean (linked to the smuggling of a “sugar glider” and other exotic animals) and Ronald “Foots” Kynes (linked to possible “obscene publications”) has been extended for yet another month. Normally, such administrative details would not warrant mention in these pages. But in both these arrests, “no news” has become the news. Last week’s extensions marked the fourth time police bail has been extended for Mr. McLean (this time until Oct. 4) and the second extension for Mr. Kynes (this time until Oct. 16). To date, neither has been charged with any wrongdoing. Until a court finds oth- erwise, both must be considered innocent. But what can be taking so long? There is little reason to believe that either case is exceptionally complex. Three months ago, Mr. McLean and a 26-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of animal smug- gling, after a small exotic “sugar glider” was discov- ered on a Cayman Airways jet. Police and customs officials say the animal escaped the suspects’ pos- session and a subsequent property search in Cayman revealed several other exotic animals. Nearly two months ago, police arrested Mr. Kynes, Cayman Brac’s most notorious artist, for allegedly vio- lating laws forbidding obscene publications, after he refused to remove or move several suggestive sculp- tures, installed on his property, from public view. Mr. Kynes does not dispute the fact that he put the statues there. In fact, he has adamantly defended his right to do so. The central question is whether the instal- lation crosses the legal threshold of “obscene.” That question cannot be answered by further police investi- gation – obscenity is an issue decided by the courts. Nevertheless, we have two salient questions: • Have the matters of Mr. McLean and Mr. Kynes been turned over to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ms. Cheryll Richards? • Are the files on prosecutors’ desks? Inbox? Outbox? Dustbin? These are only two examples of cases dragging on – and on, ad infinitum – in Cayman. (Will we ever see a rogue motorbiker charged, tried, and then acquitted or convicted?) Such extended use of pre-charge bail undermines our criminal justice system. It casts a cloud of suspi- cion while denying suspects the chance to prove their innocence. It delays (or even denies) adjudication and punishment for those found guilty of their crimes. The use of pre-charge bail has been severely limited by England since it is viewed as an unwarranted restric- tion on people’s rights. There, too, high profile cases had been dragging on without charge or adjudica- tion. Suspects on police bail were forced to check in with police at predetermined times, or face arrest. They sometimes had to relinquish their passport, avoid certain people or places or meet other conditions set by police. New policing rules adopted in England and Wales this spring allow the imposition of police bail for no more than 28 days. By that time, a suspect must either be formally charged or released from bail. In Cayman, as weeks and months pass without formal charges, one wonders whether cases are being seriously investigated or ever will be prosecuted. Multiple police commissioners (not to mention indi- vidual RCIPS officers) have complained bitterly (albeit privately) about cases languishing in the DPP’s office. Why are charges in so many cases so slow in coming? Is it because the department is woefully under- staffed? Or are the cases forwarded by law enforcement incomplete or inadequate and, therefore, not ready to move forward? Or are certain cases being “slow- walked” or “no walked” for other inexplicable reasons? Frankly, we don’t know, but we do know that the public, and law enforcement officials, deserve far more transparency out of the DPP’s office, which is, after all, a critical cog in the Cayman justice system. ‘Snail bail’ justice: ‘Foots’ and the sugar glider Upgrading infrastructure to match storm threats By the time all the mea- suring and calculating is done, Hurricane Harvey will prove an era-defining storm. Federal and state officials performed admirably to limit the suffering and loss of life, but the whole mess is far worse than it needed to be. Federal and state agencies have become remarkably pro- ficient at responding to emer- gencies but they continue to come up short on preventative measures to safeguard lives, property and the economy for the inevitable day the forces of nature strike. Harvey as measured by the National Oceanic and At- mospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center rated a 4 on a scale of 5. Wind damage to framed homes, for example, should not tally as high as for a Category 5 hur- ricane like Katrina in 2005. However, in terms of rainfall, Harvey tops them all – 50 inches is the largest accumu- lation recorded for the con- tiguous 48 states. After the confused and dis- organized response to Katrina, federal and state relief infra- structure was substantially improved and lines of respon- sibility more clearly defined. Governors are in charge of crisis management, whereas the federal government de- livers resources the individual states cannot reasonably be expected to have on hand. In this regard, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and President Trump have been at the top of their games. Nevertheless, the prop- erty and incomes losses will prove devastating. Moody’s Analytics initially estimated property losses at $75 bil- lion and lost business from shutdowns at $25 billion, but I expect those figures to ulti- mately be at least $110 and $50 billion – flood damage can appear deceptively lim- ited at first glance and re- building will be slow. Everyone is aware of rising gasoline prices, as oil shipments from the Texas Eagle Ford field and refin- eries operations in the Gulf region are curtailed. The Co- lonial Pipeline, which de- livers gasoline, jet fuel and heating oil to the Northeast – including metropolitan New York – is particularly vul- nerable to flooding. Overall, shortages, greater reliance on more expensive imports from Europe and generally higher prices will likely be with us through the end of the year. We can’t change that geog- raphy – the location of Eagle Ford – but the refinery in- dustry is unnecessarily con- centrated along the western Gulf Coast and particularly vulnerable to tropical storms. Environmental regulations have made difficult building and operating refineries in other parts of the country. Whereas 30 years ago the in- dustry had 220 operating fa- cilities, it now has only 141, and about one-quarter of its capacity is down thanks to the storm. Facilities in other parts of the country are al- ready operating near full-tilt and are hard-pressed to make up the shortfall. Houston and the sur- rounding region are unnec- essarily vulnerable to storms because building codes and zoning have not kept up with climate change. Flooding has increased as storms have be- come more severe – what was once a 250-year storm is now likely a 100-year storm, and the latter now a 25-year storm. Whereas codes require building foundations to be 12 to 18 inches above the outdated 100-year standard, those should be upgraded, but haven’t. The spread of concrete and asphalt sur- faces makes drainage impos- sible, and more emphasis on high-rise development cou- pled with green spaces would considerably aid water ab- sorption during severe rains. Regional drainage sys- tems – the first line of de- fense – built around the turn of the 20th century can hardly handle a 10-year flood, but municipalities strained by other fiscal demands have been slow to upgrade those adequately. Private flood insurance is very difficult to obtain, and federal insurance has cov- erage limits set 50 years ago and that doesn’t compensate businesses for lost commerce resulting from storm closures. More than half the home- owners and businesses hit by Harvey are outside of feder- ally designated flood areas. All this will slow re- building and is simply un- necessary. Congress has been bickering over privatizing the National Flood Insurance Program, which has been losing money for years and has inadequate reserves to deal with Harvey and what- ever comes next. In recent years, so much attention at both the state and federal level has been focused on health care, miti- gating income inequality and expanding entitlements that the essential functions of gov- ernment – such as drainage pipe adequate to safeguard communities from the inevi- table forces of nature – have been shortchanged. The rescue vehicles ar- rive on time, but the damage is unnecessarily large and cleanup simply too slow and incomplete. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2017, The Washington Times. 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” PETER MORICI5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 Custodian BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, Cayman Brac Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky Colonial Pension Services Ltd. Jardine House, 33-35 Reid Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda NOTE: British Caymanian Insurance Agencies Limited acts solely as an agent on behalf of Colonial Pension Services Ltd. and it does not act as a broker on behalf of its customers. Colonial Pension Services Ltd. is licenced to conduct Investment Business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority and holds a restricted trust licence with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Please visit www.britcay.ky for our General Information and Disclosures. A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. insurance, health, pensions, life cgigrp How well are my investment funds doing? Your pension is your long-term plan for financial security in retirement. It’s important that your pension fund delivers on this expectation. Custodian is a pension plan from Colonial Pension Services Ltd. It offers a wide selection of investment options that deliver long-term gross of fees returns which are competitive with major benchmark indices. You call it proactive investment fund selection and management. We call it doing our job. Why not check for yourself? How easy is it to access accurate, up-to-date information when I need it? It’s your pension plan! Your money is paid in each month to perform a task and whether you are an employer or employee, you should expect to access information about your plan from contributions to investment schedules, the moment you need it. Each calendar month, all member investments, accounts and statements are updated and available for employers and employees to check online. How about one more question? If your pension plan isn’t delivering on long-term investment objectives in the way you would wish, why not talk to BritCay? Call 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky If you really want to know if your pension plan is working for you, ask two questions. RCIPS tries again with new recruits Police service plans for 75 new officers by 2020 BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Although its last two police cadet graduating classes fell well short of the numbers the service would like to see for new hires, the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service lead- ership is bidding again for Caymanians to join local law enforcement. Police Commissioner Derek Byrne said the RCIPS looks to begin training a class of at least 10 local cadets by January 2018. “We are asking young Caymanians to answer this call to serve,” Mr. Byrne said Friday. “Your local knowl- edge, talents and passion to protect your country are wanted and needed. We are in the process of building the modern, progressive, 21st century police service the islands need and de- serve, and you can be a cen- tral part of this important and fascinating project.” The RCIPS plans to un- dertake significant hiring over the next three years, based on budget docu- ments that have planned for 75 new officers to join up by 2020. The police force already hired about 20 new po- lice officers earlier this year from a foreign recruitment effort, but Mr. Byrne said he’s keenly aware of the need to get more local officers into the service. Including the new hires this year, the RCIPS now has 167 Caymanian police of- ficers and 212 non-Cayma- nians, meaning uniformed officers are 44 percent Cay- manian at present. All candidates for po- lice constable posts must hold Caymanian citizenship and be between 18 and 40 years old, Physical fitness is a must, as is a high school or equivalent diploma. Perma- nent residents with the right to work may also apply. “There are many more paths that can be taken and expertise that can be devel- oped in a police career now than when I first joined, thanks to technology and in- creasing collaboration with international law enforce- ment,” said Deputy Commis- sioner Kurt Walton. Aside from ‘Caymanizing’ the police service, the RCIPS does have concerns about the difficulties it faces get- ting younger police officers of any nationality into the organization. According to a review done by the Cayman Com- pass a year ago, two-thirds of the officers employed in the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service were age 40 or above, while fewer than 5 percent of officers wearing the RCIPS uniform were aged 28 years or younger. The relative proportion of older RCIPS officers is not of great concern to the force’s senior commanders, but the spare few younger officers is a worry, according to officials, especially as the department considers who will be leading it in years to come. “As has been the case in most jurisdictions, recruit- ment can be a challenging process as young people now have more options, often lucrative ones, avail- able to them than ever be- fore,” Deputy RCIPS Com- missioner Anthony Ennis said at the time. “[Those options] present less risks and favorable rewards or incentives.” “It takes a very unique person to become a police officer and commit to it for the long haul,” the senior of- ficer continued. “Selfless ser- vice is required, even in the face of danger and an anti- police climate.” The last two recruit classes, in 2017 and 2015, have graduated six and seven local probationary of- ficers, respectively. Those of- ficers are ‘probationary’ for the first two years of service and afterward will automat- ically become a full-fledged RCIPS officer. Typically, RCIPS recruit classes have between 12 and 15 members, although not all will make it through the four- month training course. In the latest recruit class, which graduated in May, three individuals who had expressed interest in joining the RCIPS turned down their offers “due to the salary level.” The candi- dates not accepting the po- sitions include a teacher and two accountants. The five men and one woman who accepted offers to join the training course ranged in age between 18 and 35, and are from pro- fessional backgrounds that include banking and hospitality, as well as criminal justice. “Recruiting local offi- cers is a primary goal for the RCIPS,” Commissioner Byrne said. “While we would have liked a larger local recruit class this year, I am encour- aged by the enthusiasm and intelligence evident in our new recruits.” The members of the 2017 RCIPS recruit class included two auxiliary constables who were already on the force. Only six new local officers donned the uniform this year. – PHOTO: RCIPS “We are asking young Caymanians to answer this call to serve.” DEREK BYRNE, police commissionerDISTRICT DAYS 6 District Days George Town MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS George Town Primary dresses up for literacy BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Spider-Man, Flash Gordon and Supergirl were among the superheros who made an appearance at George Town Primary School Friday. Principal Marie Martin organized a general assembly for Literacy Month, asking all students to dress up as their favorite storybook character and bring along their books. “Every Friday, we will have a planned literacy ac- tivity for classes to partici- pate in,” Deputy Principal Danielle Duran said. “[On Sept. 15] we will have some of our community leaders as reading role models here at the school reading to spe- cific classes.” Anyone interested in par- ticipating for the event next Friday is asked to contact ei- ther Principal Martin or Ms. Duran at the school. “Our goal is certainly to get our students more excited about reading, sharing books, storytelling and creative writing,” Ms. Duran said. “We had an amazing response from the students today and we have to thank our parents as well for ensuring their participation in this event.” George Town Primary students spend quite a bit of time reading stories about princesses, judging from this gathering. A number of superheroes showed up for literacy day at George Town Primary School. Nasaria Suckoo-Chollette turns art into community with ‘Just Long Celia’ KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Drums sound. Bodies sway to the rhythm. The typi- cally quiet upstairs space of the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands in George Town seems to come to life with color and sound. Up front, Cayman Islands artist Nasaria Suckoo-Chol- lette reads “Just Long Celia,” her telling of a woman en- slaved in the Cayman Is- lands who learned freedom had come but the news had been kept quiet. A piece that Ms. Suckoo- Chollette has performed many times, she presents “Just Long Celia” as an op- portunity for Caymanians to interact with their history and heritage. As she steps back from other professional projects, she hopes to tap further into the community potential of art and to invite others to collaborate with her. “It just feels tribal to me in that in Africa, all of the arts are not separated. They are one and it feels like com- munity. We want to create more of that,” she said. She met with the Cayman Compass team at the Na- tional Gallery of the Cayman Islands to perform and dis- cuss “Just Long Celia,” joined by her husband Randy Chol- lette on drums, and Brooklyn Dreamwolf dancers Jendog Lonewolf and YaliniDream. Cayman Compass: Tell us about the performance of “Long Celia” that readers will be able to view online. Nasaria Suckoo-Chol- lette: I worked at the Na- tional Museum before sev- eral other positions. One of the things we were doing was research for exhibitions. We were doing a short film. That is the first time I heard about Long Celia, was reading it in one of the history books. It tells the story about an actual woman in our history who was enslaved and heard that freedom had come, asked questions about it be- cause the slave masters were trying to keep that quite. They did not want to lose their free labor. Because she asked, they accused her of things she had not done in court. Ob- viously, she lost and she was taken to the waterfront in George Town, stripped naked and lashed 50 times on her bare back. (I have) al- ways been trying to bring forth this story that slavery did exist because if it did not, then my whole family could not be here. How did we get here then? It was im- portant to make sure every- body knows about this story so we cannot deny that part of our history because it is important. It’s important to know where you are coming from so you can make moves to go forward. CC: Why highlight this part of Cayman’s history? NSC: First of all, it’s a link. The rest of the Caribbean has always documented, shared and talked about this his- tory, has drawn on that his- tory. We were always out of that loop. This gives us a way to understand that we are all one. It is an idea of being able to look at ourselves as a collective, but also to identify the things within our culture that are from that history. Why should it be denied? It’s not something to be ashamed of. You were not born a slave; you were made a slave. Even the word ‘unna,’ we say it all the time.… It comes from an actual African word, which means “you people.” So it’s not just that we’re making up words and we can’t speak English properly. It is an- other language that is a part of our history. CC: Would you say this is a part of Cayman’s history that has been overlooked? NSC: I would say people did not want to know about it. When we were in school, we were actually taught that this history didn’t exist. So it’s necessary, as a bringer of truth. Everything exists. So I am African, Indian, Scot- tish, Irish. So I’m not going to deny any part of any of that. People cannot live in this sort of idea that things didn’t happen. It was there. Deal with it. Then we would have common ground to work together. CC: Tell me about the de- cision to open it to this piece to collaboration. NSC: Any collaboration is making yourself vulner- able because you are asking somebody else to come into your piece. A lot of times your work is like your baby.… It may not end up being what you had in your head be- fore. But it’s also beautiful because it allows you to see your work 360 degrees, that you can see from other peo- ple’s perspectives.… The one thing about art- ists, there is that language you speak that you get. The more people that are in on that conversation, it’s a more peaceful world you are building. CC: Why incorpo- rate drums and dance into the piece? NSC: The piece has the drums in it intrinsically be- cause it says, “unna lick them drums.” There is a drummer in our history, Aunt Julia, who actually, this was the drum she made, sort of es- tablished in this country. In fact, the original line in the poem is “lick them drums, Julia. Lick them drums.” … It was an obvious choice to use her drum. This is the tradi- tional Cayman drum. When you have rhythm, you have to have move- ment. Then you add the ele- ment in. If I could have an artist painting a piece be- hind me while I’m doing this, I’m all for it. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Video of the piece can be viewed on www.caymancompass.com. Artist Nasaria Suckoo-Chollette reads her work ‘Just Long Celia’ at the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, with her husband Randy Chollette on drums. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 Youth gets eight years for two armed robberies of same store Dysfunctional home, learning disabilities cited in mitigation CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A teenager convicted of two armed robberies at the same store was sentenced last week to eight years imprisonment. Justice Charles Quin said he could not ignore the violent nature of the rob- beries and the traumatic ef- fect the robberies had on the victims. The sentencing range would ordinarily be between 12 and 20 years, with a starting point of 16 years, for adults, he indi- cated. Sentencing authori- ties suggest an adjustment of one-half to two-thirds for a young person. The judge took into ac- count the defendant’s age, noting that the emotional age of a child was as im- portant as the chronolog- ical age. He said he was also persuaded by defense at- torney Keva Reid’s submis- sion that the lack of mental health treatment at various crucial stages of the boy’s life may have exacerbated his situation, which in- cluded a dysfunctional home environment. The defendant was 15 when he robbed a West Bay mini-mart in March and April of 2016. He turned 16 a few months later. By last Wednesday, when he was sentenced, he was 17. Crown counsel Greg Wal- colm summarized the evi- dence from the youth’s trial earlier this year. The youth had gone to the store, which was in his neighborhood, at night. He had watched it from across the street be- fore going in. He wore a mask and beckoned to the clerk, showing her what ap- peared to be a firearm. She was in fear and handed over the money and cell phones he demanded. When he left, the clerk called the store owner, who called police. The cash and five phones had a total value of $1,805. Fortunately, the store owner had a record of the serial numbers of the stolen phones. The defendant was on bail for another matter and wore an electronic monitor at the time of the robbery. It showed his movements, but he claimed to have gone to the area to buy ganja. In April, again at night and when the clerk was alone, the youth entered with a firearm and this time pointed it at the clerk. He carried a zebra-design back- pack with pink zippers. By use of force or fear of force, he stole $450 and five fla- vored cigarette papers. The CCTV in the store had not been working the first time, but it was working this time and im- ages were produced. Police received cer- tain information and ob- tained a search warrant for the youth’s home. His mother was present when it was executed. Officers re- covered one phone and two phone boxes: their serial numbers matched the num- bers from the store. Officers also found a zebra-pattern backpack with pink zippers and a small black imita- tion firearm. Mr. Walcolm said the clerk could not continue working at the store after the robbery and continued to have nightmares. The store owner, a young entre- preneur, quit her job to work at the store; she suffered se- vere financial loss and had to close the store two months after the second robbery. Justice Quin commented that the small store was helping the community, but the defendant had seen fit to plan armed robberies. If anything, the second rob- bery was worse than the first because the youth had not only produced the gun, he had pointed it at the lady. “She must have been scared out of her wits,” he observed. “You cannot imagine the psychological harm, as well as the loss of her job.” Mr. Walcolm said a psy- chological report showed that the youth suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperac- tivity Disorder, “something far too common among young offenders,” he com- mented. The youth also had very little monitoring, if any, as he came from a broken home. He associated with “the wrong kind of people,” used drugs occasionally and had partaken in the use of alcohol. Justice Quin also re- ferred to the pre-sentencing report and added that the boy’s father had abandoned the family when the boy was young -- “something you see far too often.” Mr. Walcolm agreed and summarized that, as a result of all that had happened, the youth has experienced sig- nificant depression and pe- riods of unhappiness. Great effort had gone into seeking an off-island facility for him, but it was while agen- cies were trying to arrange something that the rob- beries occurred. Ms. Reid provided fur- ther background, revealing that the defendant had been in the judicial system or re- ferred for assistance since he was eight or nine. Things were put in place for him, but never followed through, she asserted. He was pos- sibly neglected in his early life and definitely left without guidance in his ado- lescent years, she said. When his mother real- ized what was happening and tried to cooperate with various agencies offering as- sistance, she was met with resistance from another adult in the home, Ms. Reid told the court. Efforts to get the defendant into a proper treatment center had been disheartening, she said: he was not a U.S. citizen, so he needed a visa, which was denied; attempts to place him in Canada were not successful; then they tried England because he was a British citizen. That didn’t work out, either. In terms of the offending, Ms. Reid urged the court to consider that, although the youth had produced a weapon and threatened the clerk with it, in fact no harm had been inflicted. She suggested that the owner of the store could have hired someone else in- stead of quitting her job to work in the store. Justice Quin remarked that there wasn’t a queue of persons wanting to go to work in a place that was robbed on a regular basis. He agreed that the de- fendant had had a deeply sad and tragic life. “But [he] cannot go around with an imitation firearm rob- bing small businesses, par- ticularly when they are neighbors who are actu- ally helping the commu- nity,” he said. Justice Quin said eight years was half the starting point for offenses of this se- riousness and was “really the most lenient sentence I can possibly impose in all the circumstances.” The defendant was on bail for another matter and wore an electronic monitor at the time of the robbery. It showed his movements, but he claimed to have gone to the area to buy ganja. The George Town Courthouse Building8 LOCAL NEWS The third annual PAWS On Wheels event drew 86 cy- clists on Sunday, Sept. 3, to raise money for the nonprofit group Protection of Animal Welfare Society. The mission of PAWS is to alleviate the suffering of animals in need, particularly in the eastern districts of Grand Cayman. The 10-mile ride started at 7 a.m. at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Breakers. The Cayman Islands Cycling As- sociation supported the ride by ensuring the safety of the riders at intersections, and placing traffic cones and signs along the route. In ad- dition, the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service provided an escort for the convoy of riders as they made their way around the East End loop. PAWS was founded in 2010 by Giuseppe and Su- sanna Gatta, Alex Stewart and Marleine Gagnon. “We are so grateful for the continued support of the local cycling community, and all the businesses who lend their financial support to this event and our organiza- tion,” Mr. Gatta said. “With the number of animal abuse cases seemingly on the rise, the work of PAWS, and other charities like it, is more im- portant than ever.” The funds raised by the PAWS On Wheels fundraiser will go to support the non- profit’s varied community ef- forts, which include: finan- cial assistance to families whose animals are in need of veterinary care or pet sup- plies; a spay and neuter pro- gram; free community dog washes; and boarding for injured, abused, and/or ne- glected animals while they await adoption. MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Visiting Gynecologist will be available for consultation at Dr. Vivek's o ce at Smith Road Plaza from 14-29 September, 2017 For appointments please call (345)746-6082 www.drbarryrichter.com 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 September 16th, - September 23rd, 2017 Are you between 18 and 40 years? Do you have what it takes to help keep the Cayman Islands a safe place to work, live and visit? If so, the RCIPS wants to hear from you! The RCIPS have a range of specialist and patrol functions, including: Neighbourhood Policing, Traffic, Drugs and Serious Crime, Criminal Investigations, Financial Crimes, Armed Response, Joint Marine Unit, Air Support, Joint Intelligence Unit, Family Support Unit and the recent Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). All short-listed candidates must pass each stage of the selection process: Stage One: Initial Employment Application Stage Two: Entrance Examination: Written test Stage Three: Physical Test Stage Four: Structured Interview Stage Five: Medical Test Stage Six: Invitation to join New recruits will have 17 weeks of initial training before deployment under the direction of a tutor. All recruits must successfully complete a two-year probationary period. Applicants should be Caymanian (as defined under the Immigration Law) or Permanent Resident (with the right to work without restrictions); be physically fit, computer literate and have a sound educational background. Applicants must have no criminal convictions in any jurisdiction and truthfully declare all information requested on the application form. It is important that potential recruits have sound social awareness and an interest in law enforcement and public service. Police Constable (Recruit) Salary range: CI$32,532 – $43,788 per annum (increased after successful completion of 2 years’ probation to $39,732 – 53,436), plus an additional $200 monthly allowance. Allowances and benefits will be determined in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations. (Pension and health benefits are non-contributory). Follow our social media feeds for more details about the RCIPS and news updates. For more information, including the application form and job description, visit our website: www.rcips.ky email: localRecruits@rcips.ky CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS 11 OCTOBER 2017 For more information, including the Do YOU have what it takes? ANSWER THE CALL TO SERVE Are you between 18 and 40 years? Do you have what it takes to help keep the Cayman Islands a safe Applicants must have no criminal convictions in any jurisdiction and truthfully declare all information Do YOU have what it takes?Do YOU have what it takes? Former PR board chair ‘not a proponent’ of residency system BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The former head of the Cayman Islands government board tasked with approving Caymanian status and per- manent residence applica- tions said in a statement last week that he was “not a pro- ponent” of the 2013 system that granted residence to non-Caymanian applicants. According to a so- cial media post by at- torney Waide DaCosta, that was one of many issues he sought to raise with admin- istration officials that went unaddressed during the past four years. Mr. DaCosta has been contacted numerous times by the Cayman Compass, in- cluding last week before his replacement on the board by new chairman John Meghoo, but he did not respond. On Friday, a two-page statement he wrote appeared on various social media sites. “For avoidance of doubt, I was not a proponent of the new permanent residence system and have noted many issues with it,” Mr. DaCosta wrote. “However, once en- acted it had to be enforced. It is my view that notwith- standing the cumbersome PR application process, it is easier to obtain PR under the 2013 PR system.” The last comment refers to changes in the Immigra- tion Law that took effect in late October 2013, which in- cluded significant amend- ments to the ‘points system’ government uses to deter- mine whether a non-Cayma- nian person may remain in Cayman for the rest of their lives. That points system, among other things, re- quires that successful ap- plicants obtain at least 110 points and submit hundreds of pages of documentation to support their bids. The pre- vious PR system required only 100 points and required much less paperwork. Mr. DaCosta said it was his belief that the perma- nent residence system was amended in October 2013 to allow people staying in Cayman on temporary ‘term limit exemption permits’ which existed at the time to apply for residence. “[The legal changes] opened the category to any and everyone to apply for PR, regardless of contribu- tion to Cayman or ability to provide for themselves whilst residing in Cayman,” Mr. DaCosta said. According to Immigra- tion Department statistics, far fewer people have ap- plied for permanent resi- dence since the law changed in 2013, largely because ap- plicants now must pay their full fees, which can often cost tens of thousands of dollars, “up front” – prior to the ap- plication being heard. Mr. DaCosta also noted that a “directive” was given by government that the Cay- manian Status and Per- manent Residency Board “would no longer deal with PR,” instead allowing the chief immigration officer and her subordinates to do so. The board was reappointed for a two-year term that ended in 2016. “It was clear that it was intended the board would be phased out by 2016,” Mr. DaCosta wrote. That did not happen. In- stead, board members were reappointed again in 2016 for a term expiring on Aug. 31, 2017. It was shortly after the expiry of the term that Mr. DaCosta and several other members of the board were replaced. Mr. DaCosta wrote on Friday that he had stated to senior government officials earlier in the year that he would be leaving the board on Aug. 31. Mr. DaCosta said, once the decision was made to go ahead with the application processing, the board worked as hard as it could to get through the backlog. “Ten-hour meetings be- came the norm,” he said. I have always been committed to reducing the backlog of the PR applications in a fair and considered manner. The board had nothing to do with the backlog. “I have been vilified in the press with respect to the PR issue and, frankly, it is time to set the record straight,” Mr. DaCosta wrote. “I served the Cayman Islands faith- fully for eight years and to be treated in this manner is unworthy.” ‘Ghost’ Caymanians Also on Friday, Mr. DaCosta raised the issue of what are sometimes referred to as ‘ghost Caymanians’ ex- isting within local society. “This requires urgent attention by legislators,” he wrote. These individuals are younger people who, for whatever reason, needed to get their Caymanian status regularized with immigration authorities but did not do so by the time they reached age 18. Noted local immigra- tion attorney Nicolas Joseph has estimated there could be as many as a few thousand younger Caymanians now in that position. Mr. DaCosta said if the matter is not addressed, these younger people could end up in a legal “no man’s land.” “I was informed by the crafters of the 2013 Immi- gration amendment that in early 2014, immigration re- form would be made to ad- dress the Caymanian chil- dren that were unable to prove they are Caymanian,” he wrote. “This continues to be a major problem.” Mr. Joseph has suggested that a “large number of status grants” may be needed to re- solve the matter to ensure the younger adults can continue to live and work in the only home they’ve ever known. “I was not a proponent of the new permanent residence system and have noted many issues with it.” WAIDE DACOSTA, former CSPR board chairman Waide DaCosta Cyclists ride for PAWS ? A jellyfish is 95% water! The 10-mile ride started at 7 a.m. at the Lighthouse Restaurant in Breakers.9 HURRICANE IRMA CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 Cuba sees devastation as Hurricane Irma veers toward Florida CAIBARIEN, Cuba (AP) – Hur- ricane Irma ripped roofs off houses, collapsed buildings and flooded hundreds of miles of coastline as it raked Cuba after cutting a trail of destruc- tion across the Caribbean. It has killed at least 22 people and has officials scrambling to bring aid on Sunday. As Irma left Cuba and di- rected its 130 mph (215 kph) winds toward Florida, au- thorities on the island were warning of staggering damage to keys along the northern coast studded with all-inclu- sive resorts and cities, as well as farmland in central Cuba. There were no immediate reports of deaths in Cuba – a country that prides itself on its disaster preparedness – but authorities were trying to re- store power, clear roads and warning that people should stay off the streets of Havana because flooding could con- tinue into Monday. Residents of “the capital should know that the flooding is going to last more than 36 hours, in other words, it is going to persist,” Civil Defense Col. Luis Angel Macareno said late Saturday, adding that the waters had reach at about 2,000 feet (600 meters) into parts of Havana. As Irma rolled in, Cuban soldiers went through coastal towns to force residents to evacuate, taking people to shel- ters at government buildings and schools – and even caves. Video images from northern and eastern Cuba showed up- rooted utility poles and signs, many downed trees and ex- tensive damage to roofs. Wit- nesses said a provincial mu- seum near the eye of the storm was in ruins. And authorities in the city of Santa Clara said 39 buildings collapsed. More than 5,000 tour- ists were evacuated from the keys off Cuba’s north-central coast, where the government has built dozens of resorts in recent years. Civil Defense official Gre- gorio Torres said authorities were trying to tally the ex- tent of the damage in eastern Cuba, home to hundreds of rural communities. In Caibarien, a small coastal city about 200 miles (320 kilometers) east of Ha- vana, winds downed power lines and a three-block area was under water. Many resi- dents had stayed put, hoping to ride out the storm. Before slamming into Cuba, Irma had caused havoc in lush Caribbean resorts such as St. Martin, St. Barts, St. Thomas, Barbuda and Anguilla, where many residents said they felt abandoned by officials. Authorities were trying to restore power, clear roads and warning that people should stay off the streets of Havana. Irma turns Caribbean island paradises into nightmares ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (AP) – Strung like beads along the northeast edge of the Carib- bean, the Leeward Islands are tiny, remote and beau- tiful, with azure waters and ocean breezes drawing tour- ists from around the world. The wild isolation that made St. Barts, St. Martin, Anguilla and the Virgin Is- lands vacation paradises has turned them into cutoff, cha- otic nightmares in the wake of Hurricane Irma, which left 22 people dead, mostly in the Leeward Islands. Looting and lawlessness were reported Saturday by both French and Dutch authorities, who were sending in extra troops to restore order. The Category 5 storm snapped the islands’ fragile links to the outside world with a direct hit early Wednesday, pounding their small airports, decapitating cellphone towers, filling harbors with overturned, crushed boats and leaving thousands of tourists and lo- cals desperate to escape. The situation worsened Saturday with the passage of Category 4 Hurricane Jose, which shuttered airports and halted emergency boat traffic through the weekend. Looting, gunshots and a lack of clean drinking water were reported on the French Caribbean territory of St. Martin, home to five-star re- sorts and a multimillion es- tate owned by President Donald Trump. Federal officials deployed C-130s to evacuate U.S. cit- izens from the French Ca- ribbean island of St. Martin to Puerto Rico. Nearly 160 were evacuated on Friday and approximately 700 more on Saturday. The amphibious as- sault USS Wasp evacuated hospital patients from St. Thomas in the Virgin Is- lands to St. Croix and Puerto Rico. The Norwegian Cruise Line turned a cruise ship into an ad hoc rescue boat, sending a ship with 10 res- taurants, a spa and a casino to evacuate 2,000 tourists from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Norwe- gian Sky cruise ship was due to arrive Tuesday and take its charges to Miami. More than 1,100 police, military officials and others were deployed to St. Martin and the nearby French Ca- ribbean territory of St. Barts, where they used helicop- ters to identify the cars of people looting stores and homes. French Prime Min- ister Edouard Philippe an- nounced Saturday night that France would be sending more Foreign Legion troops, paratroopers and other re- inforcements to St. Martin starting Sunday. Philippe said the several hundred gendarmes, soldiers and other security forces there were working in “difficult con- ditions” and needed help. The government told all residents to stay inside and put the island and St. Barts on its highest alert level as Hurricane Jose rolled through the area. The island is divided be- tween French St. Martin and Dutch St. Maarten, where the Dutch government estimated Saturday that 70 percent of houses were badly dam- aged or destroyed, leaving much of the 40,000 popula- tion in public shelters as they braced for the arrival of Jose. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the situation remained “grim” on the island where widespread looting had broken out and a state of emergency was in force. Rutte said some 230 Dutch troops and police were patrolling St. Maarten to maintain order and de- liver aid and a further 200 would arrive in coming days. The government evacuated 65 dialysis patients from St. Maarten’s hospital, which also was hard hit by Irma. The islands’ woes in- creased as the airport on St. Barts was closed, and those in Anguilla and St. Martin were open only to the mili- tary, rescue crews and aid or- ganizations. Others, including St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, banned flyovers. Late Saturday, St. Maarten Prime Minister William Marlin said about 1,600 tour- ists had been evacuated and efforts are being made to move 1,200 more. Marlin said many coun- tries and people have offered help to St. Maarten, but au- thorities are waiting on the weather conditions to see how this can be coordinated. Before the hurricanes, St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport was one of the former Dutch colony’s major tourist draws thanks to a runway that ended just a few meters (yards) from the sandy crescent of Maho Beach, where people could stand and watch as ar- riving jets skimmed low over their heads. After Irma, aerial footage shot by Dutch marines showed that Maho Beach’s sands had washed away and the airport was badly damaged. The Dutch mili- tary are using the runway, which was inundated by high tides during the hur- ricane, to ferry in aid sup- plies but say it’s not yet open to civilian flights as there are no runway lights or air traffic control. The Ca- nadian low-cost airline and tour agency Sunwing evacu- ated some Canadian tourists from St. Maarten to Punta Cana in the Dominican Re- public on Saturday. Ports in St. John, St. Thomas and elsewhere re- mained closed. As Jose neared, the last airplane flew in to St. Mar- tin’s battered Grande-Case airport Friday carrying workers to help re-establish the island’s water supply and electricity. French authori- ties said some 1,105 recovery workers were deployed on St. Martin and St. Barts. A tanker with 350 tons of fresh water was also on its way. By Saturday, damage was estimated to have already reached 1.2 billion euros ($1.44 billion). France said it hoped to allow commercial boats to go to and from St. Martin and nearby Guadeloupe on Monday, when waters are ex- pected to calm. French President Em- manuel Macron came under criticism for his government’s handling of the crisis. Once known for pink sandy beaches that attracted celebrities and royalty, the is- land of Barbuda is now a di- saster zone. Virtually all of its 1,500 residents left for the sister island of Antigua, a 1.5- hour boat ride away, ahead of Jose with assistance from “The biggest problem in Barbuda now is the fact that you have so many dead ani- mals in the water and so on, that there is a threat of disease. You could put all the people back in Bar- buda today … but then you’ll have a medical crisis on your hand,” Foreign Affairs Min- ister Charles Fernandez said. U.K. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson announced a package of 42 million pounds (about $55 million) for the re- lief effort in the British over- seas territories of Anguilla, British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos “The UK government is doing everything it possibly can to help those affected by the hurricane,” he said. But Anguilla’s former at- torney general, Rupert Jones, criticized Britain’s response to the disaster. “It is an insufficient drop in the Caribbean ocean for is- lands subject to devastation and inhabited by its own cit- izens,” he wrote in an email. “The rebuilding effort is bound to cost a vast amount more and it is hard to see this making a real difference to the three islands.” The wild isolation that made St. Barts, St. Martin, Anguilla and the Virgin Islands vacation paradises has turned them into cutoff, chaotic nightmares in the wake of Hurricane Irma. This photo provided by the Dutch Defense Ministry shows storm damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, in St. Maarten. Irma cut a path of devastation across the northern Caribbean, leaving thousands homeless after destroying buildings and uprooting trees. – PHOTO: APNext >