ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2017 High of 90 Low of 78 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 2 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 MANDATORY WAGE SURVEY: FRANKLY, IT’S NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS LOCAL | PAGE 8 CAYMAN SENDS PRIVATE CONTESTANT TO MISS WORLD PAGEANT 8 Butterfly Shrimp, Reg Fries and Biscuit 805 $ Dart buys Ritz-Carlton hotel, targets growth in luxury tourism JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Dart Real Estate has added the luxury Ritz-Carlton resort to its extensive portfolio of properties in the Seven Mile Beach area. The developer, which opened the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa late last year, still plans to build another five-star hotel and be- lieves there is sufficient demand for Cayman to become the luxury travel destination of choice for the Caribbean region, according to company president Jackie Doak. The long rumored deal for Dart to buy The Ritz-Carlton from alter- native investment firm Five Mile Capital Partners LLC was final- ized on Friday. It will continue to be branded and operated as a Ritz-Carlton hotel under a long-term manage- ment contract. Ms. Doak said, “It is a great asset to add to our portfolio and sends a valuable message of Dart’s commitment and confidence in the Cayman Islands.” The purchase does not in- clude The Residences at The Ritz- Carlton, Grand Cayman, and Prov- enance Properties will continue to market and sell those real estate properties on behalf of Five Mile Capital Partners, LLC. In the last two years, Dart has acquired the Beach Suites re- sort, the old Hyatt hotel, the Bri- tannia golf course and the Royal Palms property, all along the Seven Mile Beach corridor. It has also confirmed the pur- chase of nearly 300 acres on the North Sound, known as the Dragon Bay lands, previously held on a long-term lease agreement from government. Ms. Doak said Dart was still developing its plans for those properties. She said there was the possi- bility of some “synergies” between The Ritz-Carlton and Dragon Bay operations. Ms. Doak said the company was committed to the Cayman Is- lands and has invested heavily in its future success. Plans to build another five- star hotel, rumored to be a Four SENIOR POLICE OFFICER ASSAULTED One of the Cayman Islands’ most senior police officers was assaulted at the scene of a traffic accident, Saturday. Detective Superintendent Peter Lansdown suffered what were described as “significant injuries” to his head and body in the incident. He was still being treated at the Cayman Is- lands Hospital at press time Sunday. Two men, aged 25 and 23, from Bodden Town, were arrested at the scene on suspi- cion of assault causing grievous bodily harm Maples celebrates golden anniversary From humble beginnings as a one-man show in the back of a Volk- swagen camper van, the law firm of Maples and Calder has grown, over five decades, into a global industry leader, employing hundreds of people across 15 countries. The firm celebrated its 50th anniversary Thursday at The Ritz- Carlton, Grand Cayman resort. Among the more than 200 people in attendance were former partners, financial services industry leaders and Cayman’s political leaders, including Premier Alden McLaughlin. Global managing partner Alasdair Robertson detailed the firm’s ex- traordinary journey to become the global legal and financial services Dart Real Estate confirmed Friday it had purchased The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman from alternative investment firm Five Mile Capital. - PHOTO: CHRIS COURT PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Premier Alden McLaughlin, left, and Maples and Calder Global Managing Partner Alasdair Robertson attend Maples and Calder’s 50th anniversary celebration Thursday night at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSON PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 »2 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 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. - MONDAY - STRONGER (R) 12:45 I 3:40 I 6:55 I 9:20 VIP MY LITTLE PONY (PG) 1:05 I 4:15 I 6:40 I 9:40 BLADE RUNNER 2049 3D (R) 12:50 I 3:10 2D VIP I 6:30 2D I 9:20 AMERICAN MADE (R) 1:00 I 4:00 I 7:05 I 9:55 THE MOUNTAIN BETWEEN US (PG13) 1:20 I 4:20 I 7:00 I 10:00 THE FOREIGNER (R) 12:30 VIP I 3:50 I 6:40 VIP I 9:45 Young inmates building their own basketball court in prison Juvenile offenders will be making appearances soon in a court of a different kind once they and prison ser- vice officers finish building a basketball court in the prison grounds. The group has already laid out the frame for the court and began laying the foundation by pouring the cement last week. The next steps will include preparing the area with rebar and in- stalling a pole for the hoop. Prison Director Neil Lavis said the young inmates re- cently had asked for a basket- ball court because they did not have one in their exercise yard at Northward Prison. “Although exercise is mandatory and built into their daily routine, specific sporting equipment and fa- cilities are not a necessity,” Mr. Lavis said in a press re- lease. “So, prison manage- ment agreed to fund the building material for the bas- ketball court, not only be- cause it would be a great way for the young men to occupy their time, and focus on fit- ness, but it would also create an opportunity for them to learn some valuable skills.” Once the staff and in- mates laid out the basket- ball court’s perimeter, they framed the area, “with the officers closely supervising the cutting and nailing of the wood framing. The teens also got some hands-on ex- perience digging a 3-foot hole with a jackhammer to an- chor the basketball hoop,” the press release stated. According to Her Majes- ty’s Cayman Islands Prison Service, Northward currently houses four teens under the age of 18 in a separate unit from adult prisoners. The Children’s Unit includes sep- arate living quarters, associ- ation areas, a classroom and an exercise area. Mr. Lavis said all the teens “got involved and put in the sweat, muscle and time to dig out the area for the court.” Deputy Director of Re- habilitation Aduke Joseph Caesar said the prison offi- cers helped teach the young men basic construction skills, but also had conversations with them, listened to them and encouraged them. “This is exactly the kind of project that makes reha- bilitation possible,” she said in the statement. “All these young men know is that they are working on a basket- ball court, but the benefits to them can’t be measured in time or 3-point shots. They are developing positive relationships with adults, learning to work with each other, learning about delayed gratification and possible training and employment op- tions for future careers.” Director Lavis said while incarcerating children is ab- solutely the least desirable option for any judicial system or society; it is often a reality. “Everything beyond the basic needs such as food, shelter, safety, education is an earned privilege in prison,” he said. “Granting the teens the request for a basketball court has already provided mentoring oppor- tunities and shown them the power of teamwork.” Teenage inmates and prison staff pour concrete to lay out the foundation of a new basketball court at Northward prison last week. AMERICAN’S FIREARMS TRIAL SET FOR APRIL Defendant returns after being allowed to travel because of Hurricane Irma CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An American citizen building a retirement home in Cayman Brac appeared in Grand Court on Friday when his trial for firearms charges was scheduled for April. David Dean Meadors, 52, was charged after customs of- ficers opened a container of goods at the building site and found 240 rounds of nine-mil- limeter ammunition. After the discovery and subsequent in- terview, officers went with Meadors to his temporary res- idence, where a Glock 9mm handgun, a Smith & Wesson BB gun and BBs were recovered. Meadors first appeared in Summary Court in Grand Cayman on July 10. He was granted bail with conditions that included a charge on his Brac property, three Cayma- nian sureties and the wearing of an electronic monitor. His charges were committed to the Grand Court in August. In September, attorney Ben Tonner applied for the defen- dant’s bail to be varied so that he could travel to Florida to safeguard his family and prop- erty there, ahead of Hurricane Irma. Justice Marlene Carter permitted him to travel on Sept. 7, returning on Sept. 17. She ordered that the charge on Meadors’s Brac property be increased, that he return his travel documents by Sept. 19 and be refitted with the elec- tronic monitor by Sept. 20. Before bail was granted, Meadors was asked to enter pleas to the charges against him. He pleaded guilty to im- portation and possession of a Glock 9mm handgun in Cayman Brac without the re- quired licenses on or before July 7, 2017. He pleaded not guilty to importation and pos- session of 240 rounds of 9mm ammunition, also on or before July 7, and not guilty to posses- sion of an unlicensed BB gun. Friday was his first court appearance since then. Senior Crown counsel Ni- cole Petit advised that trial had been set for April 9, 2018, for the charges to which Meadors had pleaded not guilty. Justice Alastair Mal- colm extended his conditional bail until then. Verdict expected in helicopter/laser trial Technical officer ‘100 percent sure’ that police detained the right person CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Magistrate Grace Don- alds is expected to give her verdict on Thursday after hearing evidence in the trial of Javonnie Silburn, who is accused of shining a laser at a police helicopter. Silburn, now 22, admitted shining a red laser beam at the aircraft one time while it was over East End on the night of April 29, 2015. But Crown counsel Emma Hutchinson said the plea was not accept- able on that basis. Silburn then pleaded not guilty to the charge causing harass- ment, alarm or distress. Trial began in September, but had to be adjourned because one of the police witnesses was on a hurricane relief mission in Turks and Caicos. That witness, Neil Mo- hammed, gave his evidence last week. He said he was the technical officer operating the infrared camera aboard the helicopter. He said he saw the individual on the ground “with his hand raised on numerous occasions.” The magistrate asked what he meant by “nu- merous,” and Mr. Mo- hammed replied, “No less than three.” Questioned by Ms. Hutchinson and then by de- fense attorney John Furniss, he explained that he was on the right side of the aircraft with the camera. The tactical officer, Gustavo Rodrigues, sat on the left side, made his observations and instructed Mr. Mohammed on where to point the camera. Mr. Mohammed said he initially had the camera on wide angle, but then Mr. Rodrigues instructed him to “narrow down” and when he did, Mr. Ro- drigues said yes, that was what he wanted. He said the individual had a distinctive Afro hair- style and he saw no on else with that hairstyle. He agreed he could not say with certainty there was no other person with that hairstyle in the crowd. Mr. Mohammed said he focused the helicopter camera on the individual as instructed by Mr. Ro- drigues and he saw officers on the ground make contact with that person. He could not say they arrested him but he did see them “take hold of one specific indi- vidual.” They had been spe- cifically instructed by Mr. Rodrigues to that individual and no one else. Mr. Mohammed did not know that individual and was not asked to at- tend an identification pa- rade. He said there was “an issue” with the system at the time, so the incident had not been recorded. He said he was “100 per- cent sure” that officers on the ground had detained the right person because he had followed that person with the camera. Following the close of the Crown’s case, Silburn gave evidence that he had shone the laser just once. He thought he had an Afro- style hair style at the time of the incident, but it was “not that high at that time.” He mainly repeated what he had told police when in- terviewed, except that he now knew the name of the man who had the laser ini- tially. He revealed that name to the court. In her closing speech, Ms. Hutchinson referred to evi- dence from police who had seen the laser at ground level as they drove in the vi- cinity of the East End ceme- tery. She pointed out that the laser had caused distress: at least one officer thought it was attached to a firearm and felt vulnerable. The he- licopter had been called for as a result. Mr. Furniss reminded the court that Silburn had been consistent in his admission that he had shone the laser just one time. The magistrate set Thursday, Oct. 19, for de- livery of her verdict.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2017 The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. We all know there are some strange rules on im- port duty. Example: Leather shoes are dutiable, leather purses aren’t. But some are truly fascinating: Under classification 3001.90.10, there is a 12 per- cent import duty on human organs. Since the sale of or- gans for transplant is il- legal, how would you put a dutiable value on a heart or kidney? Meanwhile, if you fancy importing a railway car- riage, to use on the rail- ways we do not have, under 8428.50.00 you will have to pay 22 percent duty. There is also, under 8428.60.00, a duty of 22 per- cent on funicular or ski-lifts. I guess they must have been thinking about one to the top of Mount Trashmore. Imported nuclear re- actors are also taxable at 22 percent under classifica- tion 8401.00.00. Norman Linton The phrase “mandatory survey” should send a chill down the spine of every entrepreneur in the Cayman Islands private sector. The government has recently declared it will require all local employers to submit proprietary information – including employee qualifications, nationality, compensa- tion, skills and workload – under penalty of fines or even imprisonment. There are many reasons to oppose the occupa- tional wage survey concocted by the Ministry of Human Resources and the Economics and Statistics Office. Chiefly: It is an egregious overreach by information- obsessed public authorities that could cause material harm to the private sector. The government, of course, provides the obligatory and gratuitous assurances that businesses’ sensitive details will be kept in the strictest confidence. Pardon our skepticism. In the internet age, any large set of data is susceptible to potential compromise, leaks or involuntary publication – whether through hacking, deliberate information-sharing or accidental distribution. Off the top of our heads, we can think of massive breaches in confidentiality by Yahoo, Ashley Madison (the extramarital dating site), eBay, Equifax, the U.S. Social Security Administration, U.S. Democratic National Committee (Hillary Clinton’s emails), etc., etc. The website WikiLeaks owes its existence to, you guessed it, leaks. Here in Cayman, the Compass often ends up in possession of government documents we did not ask for and would not dream of publishing. Keep in mind that the information that is being demanded via the new occupational wage survey is the same sort of information the government already has amassed on the expatriate, work-permit-holding half of the workforce. As many readers (particularly employers) will recall, the Department of Immigration landed in hot legal waters in early 2015 after a civil servant decided to release that wage data, for more than 20,000 work permit holders, to the media following an open records request. Now, the government is attempting to compel employers to hand over that data for all employees, including those with Cay- manian status, permanent residence or work permits. (Note: Government, of course, has viewed information- sharing as a one-way street, going in, not out. Public offi- cials have not provided precise salary information on indi- vidual government employees, revealing instead the salary ranges civil servants fall into, even though we the taxpayers are the ones underwriting their paychecks. The new survey targets all public and private employers, so we assume all government departments, statutory authorities and govern- ment-owned companies will be ordered to participate.) On a smaller level, consider the temptation that civil servants or their confidantes will have to share, misuse or “pillow-talk” selected information on individual companies, either to help a friend’s business, make a profit for them- selves, or simply to share a juicy piece of gossip. Setting aside the near-inevitable breaches of confi- dentiality, the fundamental usefulness of this mandatory exercise is extremely questionable. The government says the information will assist the establishment of a “comprehensive human resource baseline database” that will “generate reliable and inter- nationally comparable labour market information” and aid government decision making. Oh, please … Government is glutted on reports generated by armies of analysts, auditors, consultants and statisticians. That information is, as a rule, “selectively interpreted” or simply ignored by top officials and legislators whose policy directions are more often based on political instinct or political opportunism. (Recall the debate on the national minimum wage, when North Side MLA Ezzard Miller, off-the-cuff, made the initial suggestion of setting the wage at $5 an hour. The government set up a committee, conducted months of research and eventually produced a report that pegged the proper minimum wage at … $6 an hour.) What a waste. Officials suggest that the aggregate data will be avail- able and might be useful for “private sector compa- nies and HR associations.” Considering that the govern- ment already releases data based on voluntary surveys (which heretofore officials have insisted are accurate), any benefits would be marginal at best. There are three potential lessons to learn by comparing your employees’ wages and qualifications with those of employees at other companies: Either your employees are overpaid, underpaid or paid exactly the right amount. That implies three possible courses of action: arbitrarily cutting employees’ salaries (a management decision that would not be popular), raising employees’ salaries (and risking putting the entire business out of business), or keeping employees’ salaries the same. What is the “value” of an employee? How do you calculate the worth of an employee, in the context of their attitude, adaptability and overall contributions to a business enterprise? Certainly not through another mandatory government survey. Mandatory wage survey: Frankly, it’s none of their business MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Is tax reform going to happen in the US? ED ROGERS Just as I wrote last month, for congressional Re- publicans it’s tax reform or die. If the GOP fails to pass a meaningful tax bill, the ra- tionale for having a majority in Congress will disappear. So, given that the stakes are so high, how is it going? An- swer: not good. Based on my 30-plus years working in Wash- ington, I can say that this is not what legislative mo- mentum feels like. I was in the White House in 1986 during President Ronald Reagan’s historic tax over- haul and, trust me, it was a different vibe. Are we supposed to be- lieve that all the noise coming from Trump World is just a facade? And behind the facade, is there an effec- tive process of policy devel- opment that can produce a meaningful – and passable – tax reform bill? Republicans everywhere are nervous. We all hope that the presi- dent can be part of successful negotiations on tax reform. Republicans in Washington are trying to convince each other that just because we do not see the administration’s policy machinery in place, it does not mean there is no one making it all come to- gether. Maybe National Eco- nomic Council Director Gary Cohn is Dick Darman reincar- nated and all the ducks are getting lined up. Maybe. Anyway, an important threshold is set to arrive when the Senate votes on the budget resolution. Passing the budget resolution is a critical first step, as it would allow tax reform legislation to pass with just 51 votes. As The New York Times reported Wednesday, “A tax overhaul would be nearly impossible to achieve if the budget fails.” That means the White House needs to be helpful in se- curing the support of some of the usual suspects, including Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., Rand Paul, R-Ky., Susan Col- lins, R-Maine, and, most re- cently, Bob Corker, R-Tenn. Is it possible that the presi- dent can help? No matter what is going on with this White House, I’m reassured by the fact that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is one of the few people in Washington who always has a plan. And he has realized the shift in liberal politics, writing in a commentary for NBC News Wednesday, “Democrats are under pressure from the left to oppose just about ev- erything President Trump touches – even ideas they themselves used to promote.” Good for McConnell; he knows better than anyone that Democrats will never work with Republicans on tax reform. The fact is, bipartisan- ship is dead in Washington. Democrats hope that tax re- form fails, so the burden is on Republicans to secure the votes. But right now, the GOP is close to the point where it will have to rely on saying prayers, lighting candles and hoping for the best. This just is not what the legislative environment should look like when a major piece of legislation is barreling through the system. It is not impossible for tax reform to pass, but if it does, it looks as though it will be more of a miracle than the product of a finely tuned GOP strategy led by a mas- terful president. Ed Rogers is a political consultant and a veteran of the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush White Houses and several national campaigns. © 2017, Washington Post Writers Group 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” LETTER TO THE EDITOR Fascinated by import duty rules We all hope that the president can be part of successful negotiations on tax reform.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2017 Are You at High-Risk for Breast Cancer? Know Your Options . You, or someone you know, may have already been touched by breast cancer. Risk factors include age, personal/ family history, genetics, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, among others. Some of these risk factors are innate, but others can be controlled. Knowing your risk factors can decrease the likelihood of developing the disease, or help detect it in the earliest stages when it’s most curable. “About 10 to 15 percent of all breast cancers are linked to a genetic predisposition that has been inherited, and, BRCA gene mutations are the most common cause,” says Cassann Blake, MD, Cleveland Clinic Florida breast surgeon. Women who test positive for an abnormal BRCA gene have a much higher risk of developing breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. The average lifetime risk is about 12%, but women with the gene mutation have an increased risk of up to 80%. If you are at high risk there are steps you can take. While you may not be able to control the risk factors you’ve inherited, you can manage the ones that are modifiable. It’s also very important to follow recommended screening guidelines. Mammography is an essential screening tool, and often your first line of defense. In addition to a standard mammogram, 3-D mammogram, breast MRI and ultrasound are other common diagnostic tools used when necessary. According to the American Cancer Society, women should talk to their physician about breast cancer screening starting at age 40. From age 40-44 they should have the option to begin annual screening, and by age 45 they should be getting yearly mammograms. Women at higher than average risk may need to start screening earlier. You should discuss your own personal risk factors with your doctor to determine what is best for you. There are other alternatives for women at high risk, including those who previously had breast cancer and want to decrease the chance of reoccurrence, or those who have the BRCA gene mutation. A preventive or “prophylactic” mastectomy involves the removal of one or both breasts, and has been found to reduce the risk of breast cancer in high-risk women by about 90%. But it’s important to note that approximately 10% of women who have undergone a preventive mastectomy will still develop breast cancer. The choice is very personal and should be based on your individual circumstances. Careful consideration, consulting with your breast cancer team and even seeking a second opinion, is highly recommended before making a decision. Several innovative surgical options are now available for those women who do elect to have a prophylactic mastectomy. “New advances allow us to remove breast tissue using skin or nipple-sparing techniques,” says Dr. Blake. Sparing the skin or nipple allows for better results in the reconstruction stage of surgery, through improved shape of the reconstructed breast. And, when combined with immediate breast reconstruction, the results are greatly improved. “Our breast cancer team includes fellowship trained breast surgeons, plastic surgeons, radiologists, genetic counselors, oncologists, a breast navigator, and other support staff. Patients benefit from the comprehensive care that our team provides,” says Dr. Blake. Cleveland Clinic Florida’s breast cancer specialists collaborate to develop a personalized treatment plan. This multidisciplinary approach increases the chance for a successful outcome, and the best possible quality of life. For a consultation or to make an appointment, please call +1.954.659.5080, or email us at flgps@ccf.org. Cassann Blake, MD Breast Surgeon Cleveland Clinic Florida For more information visit clevelandclinicflorida.org/breastcancer. +1.954.659.5080 | flgps@ccf.org One team rallying against breast cancer. Maroone Cancer Center Red Cross delivers risk reduction lessons Students from throughout Cayman visit Red Cross SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Right in the thick of hur- ricane season, the Cayman Is- lands Red Cross and Hazard Management Cayman Islands took some time to meet with students and teach them how to lessen their risk of being impacted by a nat- ural disaster. The Red Cross met with students from all over Grand Cayman last week as part of International Day for Risk Reduction, which took place on Friday. Keith Ford, disaster man- ager for the Cayman Islands Red Cross, said the idea was to sit down with kids and to arm them with information that can last a lifetime. “It’s just for them to un- derstand that disasters are really a part of life,” said Mr. Ford. “They happen and we should be prepared. Our chance of surviving is greater if we anticipate and prepare for the event.” The International Day for Risk Reduction started in 1989, and it was coined by the United Nations as a ve- hicle to promote awareness of natural disasters, as well as a way to prepare and mit- igate the damage associated with them. Mr. Ford said that approximately 1.2 mil- lion people died from nat- ural disasters between 2000 and 2016, and the hope is to lessen the damage from those events over time. The Red Cross ran local students through a series of activities designed to heighten their preparation for disasters and to make them aware of their place in the larger community of the Cayman Islands. “We look at the prac- tical things like what you need to put in your fami- ly’s emergency kit and what you should do 72, 48 and 24 hours before a storm arrives,” said Mr. Ford. “We have the First Aid booth, where they go through basic First Aid procedures. And then they come into the Emergency Op- erations Center, where we walk them through a sce- nario of what would happen and how we utilize our var- ious means of communi- cations, like radio and sat phones, to communicate in- ternally and externally.” The Red Cross, in con- junction with Hazard Man- agement Cayman Islands, has established Community Emergency Response Teams in several neighborhoods to help residents take care of each other. There are already teams in place in North Side, Bodden Town, North Sound Gardens, West Bay, Pros- pect and Windsor Park, and there are plans to build one in Cayman Brac and Cen- tral Scranton. The students got to learn what it means to be prepared for a natural disaster last week, but it did not just come in the form of a lecture or a homework assignment. The Red Cross engaged them and made them a part of the pro- ceedings, making an impor- tant lesson seem as fun as it was educational. “They put on the Red Cross raincoat. They get to handle the radios,” said Mr. Ford. “It becomes real to them. And from the ques- tions they ask, you realize it’s getting through. A number of them volunteered about the preparedness at their home. ‘We have a generator. We know what to do.’ Some- where along the line, there was previous information given to them. This is really reinforcement.” Many of the students were not even born when Hurri- cane Ivan struck Cayman in 2004, and Mr. Ford said that storm cost the local economy around $3.2 billion. The Red Cross wanted to underline the relationship between pov- erty and disaster loss for the students, making the point to them that the poorer you are, the more likely you are to experience catastrophic damage in a natural disaster. “It’s been a long season. And it’s not over yet,” said Mr. Ford of the current hur- ricane season. “I guess this is where it gets through to the political level. Disaster re- duction can be achieved by increasing the income levels of the population. If a per- son’s income increases, it be- comes natural for them to take the steps necessary to protect themselves. If I have to make a choice between buying something to eat and a hurricane strap to put on my roof, it’s a choice. If I have the wherewithal to do both? I’ll do both.” MAN INJURED IN SUSPECTED BARRACUDA BITE A man suffered minor in- juries after being bitten by a marine animal, believed to be a barracuda, while in the water off Seven Mile Beach Friday morning. The victim was taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital for treatment and released later the same day. He was unable to identify the animal that caused the injury, but ambulance staff and environ- ment officers say it was most likely a barracuda. According to a statement from the Department of Envi- ronment, “Officers from DoE believe the man encountered a barracuda that was feeding in a school of fish in the area. This is a very unusual inci- dent and no cause for alarm for people swimming or en- joying other water activities in the vicinity.” Jondo Obi, director of the Cayman Islands Red Cross, speaks to students from East End Primary School last week as part of the lead-up to the International Day for Disaster Reduction. ADVERTORIALThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Maples celebrates golden anniversary leader that it is today. The firm was founded in 1967 by Jim McDonald and John Maples, swiftly moving from Mr. McDon- ald’s camper van to set up shop in a single room at Dr. Roy McTaggart’s house on South Church Street. Douglas Calder joined the following year and after Mr. McDonald’s retire- ment in 1969, Maples and Calder was born. The firm grew over the decades and rapidly expanded in the 1990s, opening offices in Hong Kong, London, Dubai, Sin- gapore and the British Virgin Islands, Mr. Robertson said. The Maples group now comprises law firm Maples and Calder and its affiliate MaplesFS, employing more than 1,500 staff worldwide. The firm, which spe- cializes in finance, cor- porate, investment funds and litigation, employs al- most 600 people in the Cayman Islands. Mr. Robertson said, “Over the course of five decades, we have experi- enced tremendous prog- ress and embraced oppor- tunities that have helped to set the Cayman Islands apart in the industry by at- tracting the brightest and highest calibre of people – an ethos that has remained a cornerstone of our suc- cess ever since.” In a speech at the out- door gala event, he raised a toast to all those who had helped make the firm and the financial services in- dustry a success. He said, “We have sup- ported and challenged each other to develop and re- fine the Cayman product, to improve and sharpen our services and to offer the world a jurisdiction that continually strives to be the leading interna- tional financial centre of excellence. No small feat. Thank you for growing with us and sharing the vi- sion that continues to put Cayman on the map.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Stuart Sybersma, office managing partner, Deloitte, left, with Minister of Finance Roy McTaggart Minister of Commerce Joey Hew, left, with Maples and Calder Global Managing Partner Alasdair Robertson and his wife Lisa Andrew Edgington, principal, Delta Group, left, and Andrew Moon, former Maples and Calder partner Dennis Hunter, managing director, Queensgate Bank and Trust, left, and Jumbo Harding, former Maples and Calder partner Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, left, and Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush – PHOTOS: MAGGIE JACKSON From left, Andre Ebanks, senior legislative policy advisor; Bryan Hunter, managing partner, Appleby; Anthony Webster, partner, Maples and Calder; and Jude Scott, CEO, Cayman Finance The firm grew over the decades and rapidly expanded in the 1990s, opening offices in Hong Kong, London, Dubai, Singapore and the British Virgin Islands, Mr. Robertson said.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2017 Personal Insurance BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. 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CALL 949-8699 or visit www.britcay.ky SAVE $250* when you insure your home! 10% discount on car insurance if you have home insurance Free $500,000 public liability (home insurance) Free $10 million liability protection (car insurance) Interest free monthly payment option cgigrp coverwithoutaddedcosts! $250* CERTIFICATE WITH BUILDINGS INSURANCE *$250 BritCay gift certificate applies to new buildings insurance policies only Jury finds cyclist died by misadventure No charges to be brought against driver SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com The coroner’s inquest into the untimely passing of Rhonda Azan concluded on Friday, when the jury ruled unanimously that the case was a “death by misadventure.” Ms. Azan, a 60-year-old cyclist, was struck by a ve- hicle in October, 2015, and died shortly after arriving at the Cayman Islands Hos- pital. Pathologist Shravana Jyoti testified at the inquest and stated that Ms. Azan died from multiple blunt im- pact traumas to the head, chest and abdomen. The task for the jury, sit- ting in the court of Queen’s Coroner Eileen Nervik, was to determine the nature of Ms. Azan’s death. For two days, they heard testimony from witnesses and multiple po- lice sources, including a pair of crime scene investigators who came to markedly dif- ferent conclusions. Ms. Azan was reportedly riding against traffic in the eastbound lane of Shamrock Road when she was struck by a Ford F-250 heading to- ward Bodden Town. One wit- ness provided testimony that said they saw Ms. Azan riding along the shoulder shortly before the accident and that they feared for her safety because she was not wearing bright-colored clothing and did not have lights on her bicycle. The accident occurred right after sunset, as the day was transitioning into night. Another witness, a clerk at a nearby Jacques Scott li- quor store, testified that Ms. Azan bought four cans of beer shortly before her ac- cident, and the autopsy re- port stated that the victim had a blood-alcohol level of .78 milliliters when she was tested at the Cayman Is- lands Hospital. Mr. Jyoti tes- tified that Ms. Azan’s blood- alcohol level was within the legal limit for operating a vehicle and said that her level of intoxication would not result in a critical loss of judgment. The jury was told that the accident occurred in normal traffic conditions, just after 6:30 p.m. Para- medics attended Ms. Azan at the scene. She was declared dead at 7:28 p.m. after being taken to the hospital. The driver of the Ford F-250 said in a statement that he did not see the cy- clist until she was around 10 feet away, and the po- lice testified that he did not brake or attempt an evasive maneuver. The driver also testified that he was talking on the phone on a hands- free device at the time of the accident. Collin Redden, a former member of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice who works as a ve- hicle collision inspector, con- cluded that there were no mechanical defects with the driver’s vehicle. Mr. Redden told the court that if the truck was traveling at 30 mph, it would need 2.5 seconds and 110 feet to re- spond adequately. His reen- actment of the crash con- ditions indicated that the cyclist should have been vis- ible from 168 feet away, and in his conclusions, he stated that it was his belief that the driver was distracted or paying attention elsewhere when the accident occurred. But Ledford Butler, an ac- cident reconstructionist for the RCIPS, had a very dif- ferent opinion. He cited Ms. Azan’s drinking and the fact that she had tied a grocery bag to the bike’s handlebars, and said those factors likely resulted in the cyclist being unable to ride straight along the shoulder. Ms. Nervik cautioned the jury that “no one is found guilty or at fault at an in- quest,” and she explained that the different conclusions reached by the police inves- tigators would not affect their ruling. The coroner told the mem- bers of the jury that they could only consider two rul- ings – an open verdict or death by misadventure – be- cause some of the other available classifications did not apply to the case. Death by unlawful killing, said Ms. Nervik, did not apply to this case because prior court rulings have ad- vised that only the crimes of murder, infanticide and manslaughter can be taken into account. The driver was cited for careless driving at the time of the accident, but Ms. Nervik said that was an infraction that could not be considered in a judgment of death by un- lawful killing. The jury, after hearing two days of testimony, made its ruling in less than an hour, and they concluded unani- mously that Ms. Azan had died of misadventure. Following the verdict, the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service confirmed to the Cayman Compass that no charges would be brought against the driver. Police spokeswoman Jacqueline Carpenter said, “The [Of- fice of the Director of Public Prosecutions] decided not to pursue charges in that case, and it was referred for in- quest instead.” Jail for handling stolen goods CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Jose Gonzalez Almonte, 47, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment on Wednesday for handling three laptops, a drill and a watch that all turned out to be stolen. Defense attorney Jona- thon Hughes told Magistrate Grace Donalds that Almonte had no previous convictions, attended church regularly and had excellent character references. His employer had described him as the most trustworthy person he had ever met. In fact, the employer put Almonte in charge of his house whenever he left the island, Mr. Hughes related. This was not a case of laying charges of handling stolen goods because of a lack of evidence to support burglary charges, the at- torney pointed out. “It would appear he was offered a deal too good to be true,” he said. Whether Al- monte was gullible, or made a mistake, he had bought items that turned out to be stolen, Mr. Hughes told the court. When the defendant’s so- cial inquiry report was being prepared, he had told the in- terviewer it was important that people who break the law be punished. He said his integrity had been harmed by his acts and he asked forgive- ness, Mr. Hughes said. Crown counsel Neil Kumar told the court that during a residential burglary, a MacBook Pro computer was stolen. It had a tracking device built in, which led po- lice to the defendant’s ad- dress. Officers obtained a search warrant and three items recovered were identi- fied as stolen laptops. A second charge related to a drill which had been stolen from a vehicle in October, 2016, and also recovered from Almonte’s premises. The third charge related to an Invicta watch, valued at $1,800, and reported stolen after a Bodden Town residence was burgled. The watch was found in the same search of Almonte’s premises. Mr. Hughes told the court that Almonte had been in custody since June 26. He had been granted bail ini- tially when there was one charge against him. On that date, however, two more charges were brought and the magistrate was not sure if more charges would come to light, so he revoked bail. No further charges were brought and Almonte pleaded guilty on July 26 to the three charges as described above. The magistrate said she considered the guilty pleas and all the surrounding cir- cumstances before passing sentence. For the computer and the watch, she imposed prison sentences of four months, to run concurrently. For the drill, the sentence was one month concurrent. Since credit was given for time in custody, it was ex- pected that Almonte would be released in a matter of days. Previous reports indi- cate that Almonte said he paid $800 for the watch, but the value of the other items and what he paid for them was not clear.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Seasons, next to the Kimpton, have stalled as Dart con- siders its response to a re- quest for an environmental impact assessment on its ap- plication to remove beach rock from the shallow coastal waters bordering the de- velopment site. Whether the development takes place at that site, or at a different location, Ms. Doak said Dart is committed to building another luxury hotel. She believes there is significant potential for fur- ther growth in the luxury travel sector. “Tourism and financial services are the pillars of success and everything we do is focussed on the con- tinuing growth and advance- ment of the Cayman Islands in those areas,” she said. Alasdair Foster, president of Active Investments at Dart Enterprises, said Dart’s prop- erties did not compete with one another, but worked to- gether to bring new tourists to the Cayman Islands. “The Kimpton was not de- signed to compete with The Ritz-Carlton,” he said. “It was chosen as a new oper- ator that has a unique style that has allowed the market to grow as a whole. Having common ownership gives us the opportunity to focus on growing the market, bringing more people and new tourists to the island.” Marc Langevin, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, said the Cayman Islands had the opportunity to position itself as the region’s luxury travel destination. “The airport is going to be a key element, ensuring there are flights coming in and proper flight distribu- tion. Demand for the destina- tion is amazing,” he said. “We are booking now for 2019, for 2020. We are not concerned about competition. Every is- land has something dif- ferent. We have room to be the luxury destination for the Caribbean.” Ms. Doak agreed that improvements in facili- ties at the airport were key to Cayman’s reputation as a high-end destination. She said Dart’s acquisi- tion of The Ritz-Carlton and its planned new five-star hotel would complement the work being done to enhance the airport and to attract tourists from new gateways. and obstructing police in the lawful execution of their duties. Mr. Lansdown was on duty and in full uni- form, when the as- sault occurred, just be- fore 9:30 p.m. The detective had stopped at the scene of a single vehicle collision at the Island Heritage roundabout on the Es- terley Tibbetts Highway, according to a press re- lease from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. Mr. Lansdown was not named in the of- ficial release, but several sources confirmed his identity to the Compass. A former senior detec- tive with London’s Metro- politan Police, Mr. Lans- down joined the RCIPS in June last year as head of specialist operations, in- cluding the drugs and se- rious crime units. It is the second time in less than a year that a senior police officer has been seriously assaulted. The head of the traffic unit, Inspector Ian Yearwood, suffered two broken teeth after being punched at a po- lice traffic checkpoint in December, 2016. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident at the weekend is asked to contact George Town CID at 949-4222 or 649-4222. – Story by Compass reporter James Whittaker Cayman sends private contestant to Miss World pageant in China TAD STONER tstoner@pinnaclemedialtd.com Kristin Amaya will repre- sent the Cayman Islands at mid-November’s Miss World competition in Sanya, China, the first privately sponsored Caymanian at the gath- ering, inaugurating a two-tier system of beauty contests to start next year. Ms. Amaya, 24, was “first runner-up” at March’s Miss Cayman awards, finishing behind West Bay’s Anika Conolly, 27, in a Saturday night ceremony at the George Town Lions Centre. Bodden Town native Ms. Amaya, who finished ahead of Mahalia Seymour, Taylor Langfitt and Chante Smith- Johnson, also won for Miss Photogenic and captured the People’s Choice Award. On Tuesday morning, she will leave for Miami and New York, before departing Thursday for international tourist resort Sanya, in China’s southernmost province, Hainan Island in the South China Sea. The city has staged a dozen beauty competitions, including Miss World in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2015 and 2016; “Mister World” in 2007; and the “World’s Strongest Man” in both 2006 and 2013. The 67th Miss World pag- eant is scheduled for Nov. 18 and will feature 116 contes- tants. Ms. Amaya will return to George Town on Nov. 20. Her Sanya appearance marks the first time Cayman will send a privately sponsored contestant to Miss World. In the past, government’s Miss Cayman Island’s Committee, under its two franchise agree- ments, sent winners to both Miss World and Miss Universe. In April 2017, however, the committee relinquished the Miss World franchise, granting it to a private organization di- rected by local marketing ex- ecutive Pamela Small, herself a 1992 Miss Cayman and partic- ipant at the 1992 South Africa Miss World and 1993 Mexico City Miss Universe pageants. Government still holds the Miss Universe franchise and Ms. Conolly will repre- sent Cayman at that pag- eant on Nov. 26 at The Axis in Las Vegas, where reigning Miss Universe Iris Mitten- aere of France will crown her successor. Ms. Small said most coun- tries already have separate franchise holders for the two events, meaning the April sepa- ration “may be the first time it’s happened in Cayman.” “I contacted Miss World and after months of talks and negotiations, was named the franchise holder of Miss World for Cayman about a month ago. “I formed a small team of six committee members just more than two weeks ago and we worked together to get Kristin Amaya to Miss World,” she explained. Because time was short and Cayman had not staged its own Miss World pageant, she said, the London owners “made an exception and allowed me to send a contestant of my choice without having an ac- tual contest.” Because “Kristin placed first runner-up in the Miss Cayman pageant in March 2017,” she said, “we felt she was the best candidate for Miss World. We approached the government of the Cayman Islands and they gave her permission to attend.” Ms. Small said the U.K. event owners, headed by Julia Morley, widow of 1951 founder Eric Morley, require she stage a local Miss World pag- eant next year to select Cay- man’s representative at the global gathering. “The entry and applica- tion process, she said, “will begin in early 2018.” Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Miss World committee member, local businesswoman, perennial political candidate and Ms. Amaya’s trainer Pear- lina McGaw-Lumsden will ac- company Ms. Amaya, who will be greeted in China by cur- rent Miss World, Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Del Valle. “I am humble and grateful for this opportunity to repre- sent my country,” Ms. Amaya told the Cayman Compass. “It’s an opportunity of a lifetime that I’ve always dreamed of. I’m extremely grateful to the committee who have worked so hard in such a short time, as well as the sponsors who were so gracious with their services and support. “I hope to make my country proud and I plan to do the best that I can to represent Cayman. I ask that the com- munity please support me on social media as that is a very important part of the pageant. Thank you to all of those in- volved,” she said. Ms. Small hoped to join Ms. Amaya in China, “but at this time we don’t have those types of funds available so that is not confirmed.” She said costs for the project hover around $10,000, although they can vary widely: “There’s no set expense for sending a contestant to Miss World. It depends on how much you want to spend or have to spend. A gown could cost $500 or $5,000. “It’s around $10,000 to send a contestant to Miss World. Her ticket alone was US$2,000. We asked for – and received – support in way of dona- tion of clothing and services, but if we had more funds to work with, we would spend more on clothing, accessories, training, etc.” She and the committee were “very grateful” to the 14 local sponsors, she said. “We ask for the commu- nity’s support throughout the month that Kristin is at Miss World,” she said, di- recting attention to www. missworld.com. “I am extremely grateful to have this opportunity – it’s a dream come true for me. I think the Miss World pag- eant is a very important pag- eant and Cayman should be represented. My goals are to eventually have a Miss World from Cayman. That may take some time, but I am willing to attempt it. Kristin is a stun- ning young lady who’s in- telligent and community fo- cused. I know she will do us proud and I am honored for her to be our first Miss World Cayman Islands. “We really need the en- tire community behind Kristin. For a contestant to win Miss World or even place, she needs her whole country behind her.” Pamela Small Kristin Amaya will represent the Cayman Islands in the Miss World contest in Sanya, China, next month. - PHOTO: SIMON PITCHER, SIMON’S PICTURE Senior police officer assaulted CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dart buys Ritz-Carlton hotel, targets growth in luxury tourism Two men, aged 25 and 23, from Bodden Town, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm and obstructing police in the lawful execution of their duties. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman has been acquired by Dart Real Estate. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Hurricane Ophelia heads toward Ireland, UK Authorities in Britain and Ireland say the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia could bring disruption and damage as the work week gets under way. Ophelia was a category 2 hurricane Sunday as it moved northeast across the Atlantic, with sustained winds of 105 mph. CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2017 Death toll from Somalia blast at least 231 Wildfires now up to 100 miles wide as death toll reaches 40 SONOMA, Calif. (AP) – They fled in fear nearly a week ago. Now they are ready to go back. While wildfires are still burning powerfully in parts of Northern California, some of the tens of thousands of evacuees are getting antsy to return to homes that aren’t under immediate threat. Others want to see if they still have homes to return to. But authorities are staying cautious in the face of blazes that have now killed at least 40 people and destroyed at least 5,700 homes. Although some evacuees were returning home in Men- docino County, the latest es- timates were that about 100,000 people were under evacuation orders as the fires burned for a sixth day. Plans were in the works to reopen communities, but they were not ready to be put into effect, said Dave Teter, a deputy director with the Cal- ifornia Department of For- estry and Fire Protection. Douglas and Marian Taylor stood outside their apartment complex Saturday in Santa Rosa with their two dogs and a sign that said “End evacuation now.” Their building was un- harmed at the edge of the evacuation zone with a po- lice barricade set up across the street. The couple said they are spending about $300 per day to rent a motel and eat out, and they want to return home because the fire does not appear to threaten their home. At an evacuation center at the fairgrounds in the So- noma County city of Pet- aluma, volunteers sorted through mounds of donated baby wipes, diapers, pillows, shoes and clothing. Randy Chiado and his wife, Barbara, evacuated Monday from the Oakmont section of Santa Rosa. They stayed for several days with a friend in Santa Rosa but left Saturday when flames ap- proached again and sought refuge at the fairgrounds. “After so many times of ‘It’s coming, get ready. It’s coming, get ready,’ it just gets nerve-wracking,” Bar- bara Chiado said. Life away from home has been difficult and dangerous. Randy Chiado said a man who may have suspected he was a looter tried to punch him through his car window and yelled for a friend to get a gun when the Chiados turned onto a residential street. He said he was able to push the man off and drive away. The couple planned to spend the night with other evacuees in a room set up with cots. “It’s like jail,” he said. Hundreds of people re- main unaccounted for, though officials think they will locate most of them alive. Most of the deceased are believed to have died late on Oct. 8 or early Oct. 9, when the fires exploded and took people by surprise in the dead of night. Most of the victims were elderly, though they ranged in age from 14 to 100. “It’s a horror that no one could have imagined,” Gov. Jerry Brown said, after driving past hundreds of “to- tally destroyed” homes with Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris. From the sky, large sub- divisions that burned to the ground looked like black and white photos. Each neatly outlined lot is full of ashen rubble. Cars are burned a darker gray. Trees still standing are charred black. Only streets look unscathed. Brown, 79, and Fein- stein, 84, said the fires were the worst of their lifetimes. The two veteran politicians reminded people that the blazes remain a threat and that people need to leave their homes when told to go. No causes have been de- termined for the fires, though power lines downed by winds are seen as a possibility. In all, 17 large fires still burned across the northern part of the state, with more than 10,000 firefighters at- tacking the flames using air tankers, helicopters and more than 1,000 fire engines. Signs posted in Sonoma thanked the firefighters. One declared them “he- roes among us.” MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) – The most powerful bomb blast ever witnessed in So- malia’s capital killed at least 231 people with more than 275 injured, a senator said Sunday, making it the dead- liest single attack in this Horn of Africa nation. The toll could continue to rise. Abshir Abdi Ahmed cited doctors at overwhelmed hos- pitals he visited in Moga- dishu a day after a truck bomb targeted a crowded street near key government ministries. Many of the bodies in mortuaries had not yet been identified, he said. As angry protesters gath- ered near the scene of the at- tack, Somalia’s government blamed the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group for what it called a “national disaster.” However, Africa’s deadliest Islamic extremist group, which often targets high-profile areas of the cap- ital, had yet to comment. The Mogadishu bombing is one of the deadliest at- tacks in sub-Saharan Africa, larger than the Garissa Uni- versity attack in Kenya in 2015 and the U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tan- zania in 1998. Doctors at Mogadishu hospitals struggled to as- sist badly wounded victims, many burned beyond recog- nition. “This is really horren- dous, unlike any other time in the past,” said Dr. Mo- hamed Yusuf, the director of Medina hospital. Inside, bleary-eyed nurses transported a man whose legs had been blown off. He waited as surgeons at- tended to another badly in- jured patient. Exhausted doc- tors struggled to keep their eyes open, while screams from victims and newly be- reaved families echoed through the halls. “Nearly all of the wounded victims have serious wounds,” said nurse Samir Abdi. “Un- speakable horrors.” The smell of blood was strong. Ambulance sirens echoed across the city as bewildered families wandered in the rubble of buildings, looking for missing relatives. “In our 10 year experience as the first responder in #Mogadishu, we haven’t seen anything like this,” the Aamin Ambulance service tweeted. The country’s Somali- American leader, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mo- hamed, declared three days of mourning and joined thou- sands of people who re- sponded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood. “I am appealing all Somali people to come forward and donate,” he said. Mogadishu, a city long ac- customed to deadly bomb- ings by al-Shabab, was stunned by the force of Sat- urday’s blast. The explosion shattered hopes of recovery in an impoverished country left fragile by decades of conflict, and it again raised doubts over the govern- ment’s ability to secure the seaside city of more than 2 million people. “They don’t care about the lives of Somali people, mothers, fathers and chil- dren,” Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said of the attackers. “They have tar- geted the most populated area in Mogadishu, killing only civilians.” Rescue workers searched for survivors trapped under the rubble of the largely de- stroyed Safari Hotel, which is close to Somalia’s for- eign ministry. The explo- sion blew off metal gates and blast walls erected outside the hotel. The United States con- demned the bombing, saying “such cowardly attacks re- invigorate the commitment of the United States to as- sist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism.” It tweeted a photo of its charge d’affaires in Somalia donating blood. But the U.S. Africa Com- mand said U.S. forces had not been asked to provide aid. A spokesman told The Associated Press that first responders and local en- forcement would handle the response and “the U.S. would offer assistance if and when a request was made.” The U.S. military has stepped up drone strikes and other efforts this year against al-Shabab, which is also fighting the Somali mili- tary and over 20,000 African Union forces in the country. The United Nations spe- cial envoy to Somalia called the attack “revolting,” saying an unprecedented number of civilians had been killed. Mi- chael Keating said the U.N. and African Union were sup- porting the Somali govern- ment’s response with “lo- gistical support, medical supplies and expertise.” The spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack and urged all So- malis to unite against ex- tremism and work to- gether to build a “functional” federal state. Saturday’s blast occurred two days after the head of the U.S. Africa Command was in Mogadishu to meet with Somalia’s president, and two days after the country’s de- fense minister and army chief resigned for undis- closed reasons. Amid the chaos, the sto- ries of victims began to emerge. Amino Ahmed said one of her friends, a female medical student, was killed on the eve of her graduation. The explosion also killed a couple returning from a hos- pital after having their first child, said Dahir Amin Jesow, a Somali lawmaker. “It’s a dark day for us,” he said. Somalian security forces and others gather and search for bodies near destroyed buildings at the scene of Saturday’s huge blast in Mogadishu, Somalia. – PHOTO: AP Fire crews battle a wildfire Saturday in Santa Rosa, California. – PHOTO: APNext >