High of 91 Low of 80 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ‘I’M PICKIN’ UP GOOD VIBRATIONS’: AH, THERE’S THE RUB LOCAL | PAGE 3 FORMER POLICE COMMISSIONER ANDREW GREIFF DIES ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017 Premier Health This is what smart health insurance feels like! Health insurance that does the thinking for you! Just over 6 out of 10 local and 8 out of 10 US claims are submitted electronically and 95% of claims are settled in 5 working days. British Caymanian Insurance Agencies Limited acts solely as an agent on behalf of Colonial Medical Insurance Company Limited and it does not act as an insurance broker on behalf of its customers. Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life Dart group: Idea has ‘some merit’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A draft proposal to construct a new cargo port in Grand Cayman’s eastern districts has been circulated to some MLAs and certain members of the local business community. A copy of the draft plan, reviewed by the Cayman Compass, seeks to address several of Grand Cayman’s most significant infrastruc- ture problems in one overarching project. The port project would seek to dredge an area in Breakers to create a deep-water, pro- tected harbor that could accommodate cargo vessels, as well as larger Oasis-class cruise ships which cannot now be anchored in George Town or off Spotts Dock. The plan does not seek or intend to replace current cruise ship facilities in George Town and does not address any future developments scheduled for that location. It does seek the removal of the cargo port from George Town harbor. In a statement released in response to Cayman Compass questions, the Dart group of companies generally supported the idea of moving the cargo port out of George Town, al- though the company noted it was not directly involved with any such proposal: “This idea has been around for more than a decade and appears to have some merit. It makes sense to explore sustainable infrastructure solutions which separate the cargo and cruise operations and remove cargo operations from Hog Sty Bay.” In addition to the cargo port, plans seen by the Compass would require the extension of the East-West Arterial Road from its cur- rent ending point at Hirst Road in Newlands toward East End. The extended road would be the main pathway to and from the new port. Along the extended roadway and north of the proposed harbor, an area is proposed for the creation of a new fuel storage terminal, with the idea being to remove the existing Jackson Point fuel terminal in George Town to Scuba divers removed debris Monday from the wreck of the USS Kittiwake dive site, which was damaged during a storm last week. Divetech, which has a maintenance con- tract with the Cayman Islands Tourism As- sociation to keep the wreck shipshape, re- moved broken mirrors and other debris that had come loose when the wreck top- pled on its side last week. Using lift bags for the heavier items, the divers were able to clear the debris from the site. Joanna Mikutowicz of Divetech said the cleanup had taken the best part of Monday afternoon. Swells associated with Hurricane Nate, which passed nearly 300 miles from Grand Cayman on Oct. 8, snapped the anchor chains, leaving the 251-foot-long, 2,200-ton vessel on its side. Eastern districts cargo port plan floated Divers get Kittiwake shipshape HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE TO BEGIN THURSDAY EVENING “Food For Thought” is the theme of this year’s Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference, with 10 speakers scheduled to speak on nutrition-related topics from Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 19-21. The event is free and open to the public, and will focus on issues such as how food affects be- havior, heart health, and overall health. Advice will also be given on eating healthy at home. The opening night speaker will be “The Foodie Physician” Dr. Sonali Ruder, who will address healthy eating through the different stages of life. Other speakers range from local experts, in- cluding Health City cardiologist Dr. Ravi Kishore, to overseas professionals, such as Dr. Wael Bar- soum, president of Cleveland Clinic Florida. “By bringing together experts from a variety of fields, we aim to provide healthcare profes- sionals the opportunity to develop their knowl- edge of nutrition and its implications on health to ultimately create a better experience for their patients,” said Health Minister Dwayne Seymour. “This conference also offers a wealth of knowl- edge to members of the wider community, to edu- cate themselves on ways to utilize food to support the health and wellness of themselves their fami- lies and clients” Additionally, there will be a number of “nutri- tion in action” breakout sessions that will feature presentations and cooking demonstrations from world-class chefs. The demonstrations are open to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. “These breakout sessions are important as they really show how to take the key points from all the presentations at the conference, and use them to create nutritious as well as delicious meals at home,” said Health Services Authority CEO Lizzette Yearwood, the chair of the conference PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Steve Tippetts and Joanna Mikutowicz of Divetech clear debris from the USS Kittiwake on Monday. - PHOTO: DIVETECH2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema @cbcinema6cbcinema6 *Additional charges will apply per 3D ticket requested. 640-FILM (640-3456) SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - THURSDAY - 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 Man accused of assaulting officers, resisting arrest, importing ganja Defendant admits escaping custody, resisting arrest SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com The trial of Troy Pearson, who is accused of impor- tation of ganja with in- tent to supply and as- sault on two uniformed officers, began Wednesday in Summary Court. Pearson was found at a Prospect home that was the subject of a police raid on May 22. He escaped custody after scuffling with a police officer and a customs officer who stood in his path. He has pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and es- caping lawful custody, but denies charges of assault on the two officers, as well as importation and intent to supply ganja. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright delivered the facts of the case Wednesday morning. He said that 108 pounds of ganja were found at the home. The ganja was stashed in buckets and plastic bags and it filled the sitting room and a bed- room in the home. Gregory Banks, a senior detective constable, testified Wednesday that police were executing a search warrant at the home when they en- countered an “overwhelming scent of ganja.” Mr. Banks said the po- lice officers entered the home and encountered two men – one of whom was Pearson – who were attempting to exit through the back door. Pearson initially com- plied with orders, said Mr. Banks, but then he “jumped up and ran away” toward the front door. A customs officer met him in the doorway, and after a scuffle that saw them both go to the ground, Pearson at- tempted to escape. The customs officer tes- tified that he tried to grab Pearson in a bear hug and that the suspect hit him in the face with his shoulder. The officer suffered two scratches to the cornea in his right eye as a result of the struggle. Pearson leapt up and was confronted by a detective constable who attempted to grab him and advised him he was under arrest for as- saulting an officer, but he shook free and ran away, the court heard. Pearson escaped and was later the subject of a po- lice manhunt. He subse- quently turned himself in to authorities. His initial police inter- view was played Wednesday afternoon and read into evi- dence. Pearson claimed he was at the home to purchase ganja and not to sell it, but Mr. Wainwright said the de- fendant’s right middle finger- print was found on a bucket in the bedroom. The bulk of the ganja, ac- cording to Mr. Banks, was “highly visible” in the sitting room upon entry. Mr. Wain- wright said that Pearson would have had to pass “a mountain of ganja” to leave a fingerprint in the bedroom. The other suspect in the raid, Christopher Baker, pleaded guilty to il- legal landing, importa- tion of ganja and posses- sion of ganja with intent to supply in June. Following the lunch break, Pearson’s defense counsel, Nicholas Dixey, made a submission of no case to answer to Acting Magistrate Grace Donalds, who said she would make a ruling on the submission when Pearson next appears in court on Nov. 1. Mr. Dixey said he believes that the Crown was unable to prove importation or intent to sell ganja. He added that the alleged assaults on the officers were committed in the act of resisting arrest, a charge to which Pearson has already pleaded guilty. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright said that 108 pounds of ganja were found at the home. Cayman seniors enjoyed A Night with the Stars hosted by Caribbean Utilities Com- pany on Thursday, Oct. 12. The Ministry of Com- munity Affairs’ event, coor- dinated by the Department of Children and Family Ser- vices in partnership with the CUC and the National Museum, attracted bus- loads of seniors to the night of live entertainment, local food, spot prizes and a tour of the museum. Seated in open-sided tents on Goring Avenue, at- tendees were treated to a fellowship afternoon with friends. District booths decked out with exhibits vied for first place as at- tendees inspected the var- ious colorful local art and craft displays. Guest speaker Steve Mc- Field shared his knowledge of Cayman’s rich history of seafarers and merchant ma- rines. He also spoke of how things have changed in the islands over time. Peggy Leshikar-Denton, the museum’s director, de- scribed the evening as a “multifaceted initiative that helped showcase the rich culture and heritage of the Cayman Islands, which guests are a living part of.” The Department of Agriculture has established a temporary quarantine fa- cility for pets from hurricane disaster areas that do not meet existing im- port conditions. The department collaborated with the National Workforce Development Agency to hire a Caymanian intern to help take care of the pets, which are mostly coming from the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Anguilla. The hired intern is 19-year-old Kam- eron D’Hue, who began Oct. 9 and will receive “hand-on training and develop- ment” while actively contributing to the care of the housed animals, the depart- ment stated in a press release. “The Department of Agriculture is in- deed very pleased to be able to partner with the NWDA and to be able to use this opportunity to enable a young Cayma- nian to gain invaluable experience in the workplace in general and specifically in the area of animal welfare and the care and maintenance of pet animals,” Di- rector of Agriculture Adrian Estwick said. Mr. D’Hue stated in the release, “It’s re- ally great to know that I’m working along- side those responsible for keeping this historical industry alive and I would en- courage the younger generation to explore various roles available in agriculture. “I would like to give an enormous thanks to the NWDA and the DOA for this surreal experience and to my family for their support.” CUC treats seniors to night of fellowship Quarantine set up for pets from hurricane zones Lots of local food was served.John Smith is impressed with the museum’s latest exhibits. From left, Vanessa Rivers of the Department of Agriculture; Dianne Conolly, NWDA; Erik Bodden, DoA animal welfare officer (internship supervisor); intern Kameron D’Hue; and Paul Puckerin of the NWDA3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017 OBITUARY Former Police Commissioner Andrew Greiff dies, age 90 Andrew Greiff, who served as the commissioner of po- lice in the Cayman Islands from 1973 until 1980, and en- joyed a distinguished career around the former British colonies, died Friday, at the age of 90. Mr. Greiff was born in 1926 in Burma where his fa- ther was in the Indian Survey Service. As Europe was edging toward the Second World War, his father re- tired and the family moved back to England, settling in Sussex. Despite the onset of the war and its effect on Southern England, the young Mr. Greiff thoroughly en- joyed the idyllic life that rural Sussex afforded. In 1937, Mr. Greiff was sent to Mount St. Mary’s Col- lege, Sheffield, where he ex- celled in sports, making the Cricket 1st XI and repre- senting the college in rugby. At the University of Edin- burgh, he gained degrees in English and History, and also competed in the boxing team. In 1944, having gradu- ated from Edinburgh, he was selected for the Royal Ma- rines, and served with them for three years. He left the Royal Marines in 1947 to join the Colonial Police Ser- vice, taking up a post in the then Tanganyika, East Africa. Fairly rapidly, Mr. Greiff ad- vanced to the position of Pro- vincial Police Commander, during which time the now infamous Mau Mau insur- gency affected his area of responsibility. In 1960, shortly before responsibility for policing was passed to the new gov- ernment of an independent Tanzania, Mr. Greiff met his soon-to-be-bride Susan. The young couple left Africa in 1962 and, still under the aus- pices of the Colonial Service, moved to the then British Honduras (now Belize). In the seven years he spent there, Mr. Greiff es- tablished the Belize Police Training School for recruits from around the British West Indies. Despite the challenges of establishing the new training school, he nonethe- less managed to find time to indulge in fishing and sailing the Belize Cays. In 1967, his career took the Greiffs and their new daughter, Joanna, to the far side of the world. In the Kingdom of Tonga for the next five years, Mr. Greiff acted as police adviser to the Tongan royal family and established a particularly strong relationship with the Crown Prince Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, to whom he be- came a personal mentor. During these years, Mr. Greiff traveled extensively around the Pacific and it was in the Solomon Islands that he first met the eventual gov- ernor of the Cayman Islands, Thomas Russell. The two men were soon to become close colleagues. On leaving Tonga in 1973 and having been awarded the Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga, Mr. Greiff headed back to the Caribbean where he took up his final police post as Cayman Islands Commis- sioner of Police, supporting the new governor, Mr. Russell. The Cayman Islands were then making the early transi- tion from sleepy fishing com- munity to the international financial powerhouse that it is today. The family soon took to the laid-back, friendly at- mosphere of Grand Cayman and, in a community where both television and golf courses were yet to be intro- duced, found inventive ways to pass the time. Together with friends, the Greiffs would spend Sunday mornings horseback riding and “to make it interesting” dubbed each outing as an “Agouti Hunt.” Despite his general aptitude for sport, Mr. Greiff was a somewhat indifferent rider and spent more time off his horse than on. The outings, which never once caught the scent of the elusive rodent, would inev- itably dissolve into a pro- longed “Hunt Breakfast.” Certainly, in those simpler times, the Cayman Islands Police Force under Mr. Greiff was known for being well- organized and highly disci- plined. As one close friend from those years, Neil Cruick- shank, remembers, “Andy was the only man I knew who could bark orders without opening his lips.” On Mr. Greiff’s retire- ment from the Cayman Is- lands Police Force in 1980, the family moved to England where Mr. Greiff spent time advising the Civil Defence organization in Norfolk. But finding the East Coast some- what colder than their trop- ical blood could tolerate, Mr. and Mrs. Greiff relocated to Southern Spain. There, they revelled in their lifelong pas- sions for sailing, fishing, golf and mountain walking with their dogs. In their later years, the Greiffs bought a home in Lot, France, close to other friends from their service days. During his long police ser- vice, Mr. Greiff received both the Colonial Police Medal and the Queen’s Police Medal. He died in Norfolk on Oct. 13. Written by Simon Barwick On leaving Tonga in 1973 and having been awarded the Royal Order of the Crown of Tonga, Mr. Greiff headed back to the Caribbean where he took up his final police post as Cayman Islands Commissioner of Police, supporting the new governor, Thomas Russell. 100-year-old celebrating birthday wishes for a long life JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman senior who just turned 100 after a remarkably productive and adventurous life, says she still has plenty of work to do, and hopes to add more years to her tally. ”There is so many things I could wish for, I can’t name all them … a long life. I need to do more work, a lot of people need my help and they can’t get it,” said Marguerite Rankine. “If God gives me a longer life, I can lend them a little bit of my life, and we all can live good together.” Ms. Rankine turned 100 on Oct. 7. As she sits on her pink re- cliner at her home in Snug Harbour, decked out in a pretty pink dress and pink nails, she is all smiles. “I love pink, it’s my favorite color,” she declares. Proudly displayed on a table nearby is a birthday card from Queen Elizabeth II and a host of birthday flowers, also in pink, sent by friends and family. Her son Antonio is quick to say how proud he is of his mother. Born in East End on Oct. 7, 1917, to Eleanor Mazanell Watson and Joseph Franklyn Rankine, Marguerite is the el- dest of seven sisters. She was taught by her grand-aunt, Lucy McLean, who operated a small private school in East End. She attended government school in East End for a short time before the family moved to George Town. She did not finish school, opting instead to find work to help care for the family. She proved to be a hard worker over the years. Ms. Rankine held many jobs in her day. She assisted her mother with laundry work, and cared for Bertie Panton’s children, helped with pastors of the Church of God Chapel, including the Hastings and the Kluges. She worked at the Thompson bakery, Merren’s Store and as a practical nurse. On her birthday this month, she was surrounded by more than 150 friends and family members at the Family Life Centre. “Thank the Lord for keeping me these many years. Today I am celebrating 100 years, that is a long way, you know, and a long time to be in this world,” she said. “When I was small, I think I was a ‘sassy’ little thing. Anything the children would do to me, I would tell them off, and outsiders too. I be- lieve I am still sassy today,” she said with a laugh. “I remember walking from East End to Bodden Town with my mother when farmer Touslin Wood picked us up on his horse along the way,” she recalled. “When we arrived in Bodden Town, I didn’t want to come off the horse to walk the rest of the way to Spotts to visit my aunt.” Ms. Rankine still attends church, visits her hairdresser, and delights in enjoying her favorite foods, such as turtle, conch and fish stew. She said that as a girl, she loved skipping rope and would visit the beach to cut bay vine to use as a skipping rope. She loves movies like “The Sound of Music” and “Annie,” and her favorite character is Sophia Petrillo of the “Golden Girls.” She had one son, Rog- elio Antonio Hawkins, but cared for any child who crossed her path. She enjoyed being a Girl Guide, and loves cooking, baking, sewing, gardening, traveling and assisting the church and schools. Ms. Rankine said, “I feel good. The Lord has helped me to live a long life. Some of my friends are all gone, but some are still here. I am happy.” Andrew Greiff, left, on his arrival in Grand Cayman in 1973, with Alex ‘Sandy’ Sommerville, head of the police’s traffic department. Andrew Greiff at Saint-Caprais, Lot, France, in 2005. Marguerite Rankine, who turned 100 on Oct. 7, poses with a birthday card sent by Queen Elizabeth II. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYThe 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. Typically, “debate” about particular legislation occurs while it is still in “draft” form and can be amended, reshaped or remodeled, much like a piece of malleable clay. Once the legislation is passed into law, it often remains unvisited, as if it had been written in stone. But every so often, the community’s attention is turned toward an existing edict that, once in the public spotlight, appears to be a relic from an earlier era or, indeed, a different planet altogether. The “obscene objects” provision cited by Customs officials when they seized (and eventually returned) body massage devices from a George Town business is precisely such a statute. This spring, Customs officials “detained” a batch of personal massagers imported for sale by Reflections, believing the items may be in violation of section 157 of the Penal Code, which contains broad language pro- hibiting “obscene objects or any other object tending to corrupt morals” or, even more broadly, “any such matters or things.” Not long after Cayman 27 aired an interview with aggrieved business owner Prentice Panton, the gov- ernment disseminated a press release saying the mas- sagers had been returned to the store. In a state- ment, Collector of Customs Charles Clifford said the items had been “detained” but, upon review, there was “simply not enough evidence to justify a referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions.” “Consequently, I have instructed that the items be returned to the Reflections Store and provided appro- priate advice to my officers on the matter,” Mr. Clifford said. “I have also spoken to the proprietor of Reflec- tions concerning the matter and suggested to him that he take legal advice on section 157 of the Penal Code to ensure that none of his future imports give rise to any issues under that section of the law.” Hold on. It isn’t Reflections proprietor Mr. Panton who should seek legal advice – after all, Mr. Clifford himself determined that Mr. Panton was correct, and the massage devices were legal – it is Mr. Clifford himself, and perhaps his Customs officers, who should be studying up on the Penal Code, or better yet, the Cayman Islands Constitution. We would direct their attention, and all govern- ment officials, to the sections about personal liberty, respect for “private and family life,” peaceful enjoy- ment of property – and prohibitions that forbid govern- ment to “compulsorily take possession of any person’s property” without compelling public interest. In regard to the massagers specifically, they are not branded or sold as “adult” devices, and are commonly found on store shelves in Grand Cayman. Officers should never have confiscated the devices in the first place, and certainly should not have “quarantined” them for several months until the head of Customs’ individual intervention. If a Customs officer wished to confiscate any device or object based on alleged “off-label” use, then, depending on the richness of his imagination (and the influence of his Freudian id), that officer could jeopar- dize the inventories of every retail establishment in the country. (Heaven forfend if an especially scrupulous officer turns on a computer!) Mr. Clifford should have, but didn’t, use this opportunity to state “on the record” that theoretical uses of devices are beyond his department’s juris- diction, and far beneath government’s threshold of concern – and dignity. As for the overly broad and incredibly vague language of Cayman’s obscenity law, that is something to be addressed by legislators, not business owners. Poorly written laws that are “open to interpretation” are open to selective enforcement, which is a polite way of saying abuse. The primary issue is the assumption that govern- ment should police personal morality – a dangerous notion, at best. After all, sometimes a massage is just a massage. And if it’s not – it’s not the government’s business. ‘I’m pickin’ up good vibrations’: Ah, there’s the rub THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS General Motors and Ford are scurrying to realign for what many believe are the next big things – driverless and electric vehicles (EVs) – but do not look to Detroit, Japan or Germany for the mighty impulse that trans- forms personal transporta- tion. With the world’s largest car market and savvy govern- ment policies, the advantage goes to China. Autonomous drive tech- nologies will better assist or- dinary drivers – for example, by effectively providing 360-degree visibility to iden- tify hazards. However, before parents will put 6-year-olds in driverless carpools on a dark, rainy January morning, these systems must run flaw- lessly and without break- downs between periodic maintenance checks. Internal combustion en- gines, transmissions and overall vehicle structure are the core competencies of major vehicle manufacturers. They outsource and rely on others for quality control of seats, dashboards and the like, but keep close drive- train technologies and aero- dynamic design – those de- termine horsepower, gas mileage and compliance with emission standards and are central to carmakers’ com- petitive edge. Electronics, computers and the like are not what they do well, and that is an important reason why onboard electronics like dashboard displays, en- tertainment systems and Bluetooth go on the fritz so often. If carmakers cannot get mundane high-tech gad- gets to work flawlessly, how can anyone reasonably ex- pect them to provide assured safety for passengers in driv- erless vehicles? Consider how often com- puter systems get viruses or hacked – autonomous drive systems will be connected to the internet and central- ized control systems. If ter- rorists can hack Google and the Securities and Exchange Commission, they surely can seize control of vehicle systems guiding tractor trailers and cause carnage on our highways. The principle barriers to profitable production and wide adaptation of EVs have been range, high costs and the availability of charging stations. As with the rail- roads with their land grants and rights of way, and the airlines with their postal contracts and municipal fi- nancing of airports, aggres- sive government interven- tion may prove necessary to create a broad enough market to overcome those challenges. GM and others are intro- ducing vehicles that can go up to 200 miles before re- charging. That range will gradually improve and re- charge times will come down – eventually providing the practical range neces- sary for most family trips and not just for errands and commuting. However, until a mass market truly emerges to spur more rapid innovation and drive down the cost of bat- teries, EVs will remain an ex- pensive fashion statement. With gas prices likely to stay around $2.50 for the foresee- able future, EVs simply cost too much more than conven- tional SUVs to purchase and operate overall. And too many families lack potential charging sta- tions, especially in cities that are built straight up, like New York. Even spread-out cities like Washington have many homes with no driveway and whose drivers park on the street. Systems of charging stations must be constructed in front of homes across a vast swath of America to re- charge batteries overnight. Cash-strapped cities can hardly maintain water and sewage systems, ambulance services and roads now, never mind build out systems of electrical charging stations more complex and difficult to keep safe than underground cable TV systems. Govern- ments will have to turn to private investors who must be assured of enough sub- scribers to make such large investments attractive. The federal government provides tax credits up to $7,500 for the first 200,000 EVs sold by each manufac- turer. Tesla will soon cross that threshold and lose its subsidies without yet pro- ducing a vehicle whose price can cover costs. Beijing is more aggres- sively underwriting domestic manufacturers, building a vast system of charging sta- tions, earmarking $1.3 bil- lion to help replace 70,000 city cabs with EVs, and re- stricting license plates for new gas-powered vehicles in seven major cities. Along with the United Kingdom, France and India, it has sig- naled its intention to eventu- ally ban the sale of gas-pow- ered vehicles. With a large indigenous auto sector and a market for motor vehicles about twice the size of the United States or Europe, this could easily drive down the costs of Chi- nese manufacturers to levels competitive with or even lower than gas and diesel vehicles – and then flood the U.S. market. Americans may not like their government similarly meddling in their market for personal transportation, but experiences with rail and air transportation demonstrate that is exactly what may be necessary to keep American manufacturers in the game. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2017 The Washington Times The race for electric vehicle dominanace PETER MORICI 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” If carmakers cannot get mundane high-tech gadgets to work flawlessly, how can anyone reasonably expect them to provide assured safety for passengers in driverless vehicles?5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017 144 North Church Street George Town 943-7296 • There will be Fun and Games featuring our Famous Balloon Pop and a Roll the Dice Game! • Everyone who completes a transaction that day will get the chance to Pop a Balloon or Roll the Dice! 7th Year Anniversary Saturday, October 21st Celebrate 7 fantastic years of doing business in Grand Cayman! We’re offering massive discounts on all inventory, many items will be a cost or less! The Entire Month of October is Customer Appreciation Month! Win Cash, Credit, Merchandise , Discounts , Candy and more!! Amazing discounts offered all month long to our loyal customers . The Cayman Islands Sea- farers Association and the Health Services Authority have signed an memorandum of understanding to provide scholarships for two Cayma- nian HSA doctors to complete their postgraduate studies in the field of medicine. The recipients are Dr. Irka Ebanks, who is studying na- turopathy and herbal medi- cine at the College of Natu- ropathic Medicine in London, and Dr. Lorna Jackson, who is engaged in studies leading to a doctorate in family med- icine at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. According to a press re- lease, the scholarships provide full funding for the doctors to obtain specialty training over- seas for up to four years. Dr. Ebanks began her three-year course in October 2015 and is expected to grad- uate in October 2018. “It has been a real blessing to be awarded a scholarship from the Sea- farers Association. I started my studies without the aid of a scholarship or sponsorship and was unsure how I would finish the course,” Dr. Ebanks said in the press release. “It took a lot of dedication to my studies, prayer and patience to qualify, so I was over- whelmed when I received the confirmation email from the Scholarship Secretariat.” Dr. Jackson expects to complete her doctorate in Family Medicine in May 2019. “I’m honoured to be se- lected as a recipient of the Seafarer’s Scholarship, which allows me the opportunity to fulfill my passion of becoming a primary healthcare prac- titioner,” she said in the re- lease. “I believe a greater focus on primary healthcare assists in the prevention of chronic diseases which so often have a debilitating effect on the people of our society.” John Douglas, president of the Seafarers Association explained that the associa- tion was approached by the Minister of Finance about sponsoring local doctors to become specialists. He said the association members “thought it was a very impor- tant initiative to support, and we are very proud to do so.” The Ministry of Educa- tion and the Health Services Authority managed the schol- arship application process, along with the interviews be- fore selecting the recipients. “I am very grateful that the support for training of doctors in specialist areas has been made a priority by the Education Ministry, as this funding is critical for succession planning in the physician services,” said HSA Chief Executive Officer Liz- zette Yearwood. “I would also like to thank the Seafarers Associ- ation for their eager accep- tance to support improving the quality of healthcare at the HSA, as they have done in the past, and continue to do,” she added. Seafarers help two doctors complete studies A teenager’s donation to the Cayman Islands Hos- pital’s Mental Health Unit during Mental Health Week will help to provide support to mental health patients after their hospital treatment. Sophie Elias, 13, with the assistance of her mother Charmaine Elias, launched a food drive to collect as much food as she could within a month, with the goal of do- nating it to mental health pa- tients who may not have sus- tainable income following their treatment, according to a press release. “I wanted to provide food for those individuals with fi- nancial challenges so they can focus on their recovery and well-being,” Sophie said in the release. With the assistance of her family, friends, school and community, the teenager pur- chased $300 worth of gro- ceries. Local company Pro- gressive Distributors Ltd. matched her contribution. She presented the dona- tion to representatives of the Mental Health Unit on Tuesday, Oct. 10, and was awarded with a certificate of appreciation. “Sophie continues to amaze us with her strong desire to help those most vulnerable and her passion for community service, espe- cially at such a young age. Last year she raised money to purchase and donate a basketball hoop to our in- patient area and this year she has done even more. We are so grateful for this thoughtful contribution and the continued effort she has put into assisting our pa- tients,” said Mental Health Nurse Manager Phil Stater. TEENAGER DONATES FOOD TO MENTAL HEALTH PATIENTS Sophie Elias, with her mother Charmaine, is presented a certificate of appreciation by Psychiatrist Marc Lockhart, Mental Health Nurse Manager Phil Stater and Mental Health Nurse Kerri-Ann Campbell. From left, seated, Christen Suckoo, chief officer at the Ministry of Education; John Douglas, president of the Cayman Islands Seafarers Association; and Lizzette Yearwood, CEO of the Health Services Authority; with, standing, Deniston Tibbetts, vice president of the Seafarers Association and Dr. Delroy Jefferson, medical director of the HSA, at the signing of the scholarship MOU. 16 seizures in five-month period JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Lobster, conch, turtles and a parrot are among the ille- gally taken animals seized by environment enforcement officers in recent investi- gations, according to a re- port to the National Conser- vation Council. Department of Environ- ment officers confiscated animals or spearguns from poachers on 16 separate oc- casions, according to a re- port on their activity between April and August this year. Where possible, the ani- mals were returned to the wild, though some large hauls of lobster and conch were donated to the Pines Retirement Home and Meals on Wheels charity. Mark Orr, chief enforce- ment officer, said the re- port represented a snapshot of what his officers were dealing with on a daily basis. He said it detailed only cases where equipment was seized and what action was taken. It does not include incidents were no items were recovered. “We have a lot more cases, generally, but that is a good sample of the kind of activity we see,” he said. The cases include nine inci- dents that are either currently going through the courts or are with the Department of Public Prosecutions for poten- tial prosecution. In other, more minor incidents, suspects es- caped with a warning. In one case, two men were arrested for catching 24 fish with spearguns. In another incident, poachers took 18 conch and six lobster. One man was found with a wild parrot, that had its wings clipped. The bird was released back into the wild after its “flying feathers” grew back, according to the report. Mr. Orr said he believes most people accept and abide by conservation laws to pro- tect species like lobster and conch. But he said a minority of committed poachers con- tinued to ignore the rules. One man was found with a wild parrot, that had its wings clipped. The bird was released back into the wild after its “flying feathers” grew back, according to the report. Environment officers fighting poachers “The general public is pretty good about it. Not everyone likes it, but they understand the need for it and they know we need these restrictions if they want their grandkids to enjoy the marine life too,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have a handful of crimi- nals that we are dealing with or hearing reports about on an almost weekly basis. It is a small percentage of people that are out there basically doing it as a job. They don’t care about pre- serving marine life for fu- ture generations.” He said he was fa- miliar with the argu- ment that people had fished conch and lobster for generations and that some considered it their right to continue to do so, to feed their families. “I grew up hearing that argument, but un- fortunately we don’t have the reserves of marine life any more for anyone to go out and take 100 conch in one afternoon.”The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, OCT. 19 CRAFT AFTER HOURS: After- hours viewing and film screening at the National Gallery. 5-8 p.m. See the crafts in the current exhibition “Revive!” and watch excerpts of “Made in Cayman.” Free admission and refreshments. For additional details, see www.nationalgallery.org.ky. OLDER PERSONS MONTH: Tea Party, Pines Retirement Home, 2-4 p.m. RSVP to Vanda Powery 916-7902. FRIDAY, OCT. 20 WOMEN’S CONVENTION: Christian Women Connection Women’s Ministry invites all ladies to the 2nd Annual Women’s Convention tonight through Sunday, Oct. 22, at 7 p.m. nightly. Church of God Chapel West Bay, 388 Town Hall Road. Guest speaker will be Sally Ferguson, a retreat leader and book reviewer. For more info contact Pastor Elizabeth Bowen at 328-4117. NCVO DRESS DOWN DAY: All schools, businesses and service clubs are invited to join with the National Council of Voluntary Organisations in dressing down and dressing in green for a small donation to the charity’s 38th Annual Radio/Telethon. Each group’s representative can present the funds at the telethon on Oct. 21 at the Prospect Playhouse. To schedule a donation appearance, contact Janice Wilson on ncvo@ncvo.org.ky or 949-2124. SATURDAY, OCT. 21 BRAC CAREGIVERS: All caregivers for persons with dementia are invited to the Annual Caregivers’ Appreciation Dinner at the Seamen’s Hall on Cayman Brac starting at 7 p.m. There will be entertainment, prizes and surprises. Call 924-4170 to RSVP. OLDER PERSONS MONTH: Circle of Love Brunch, George Town Yacht Club, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. RSVP to Vanda Powery 916-7902. NCVO RADIO/TELETHON: Prospect Playhouse, 7 p.m. to midnight. All are invited to make a pledge. Donors will be entered to win prizes. All funds raised benefit the NCVO Children’s Programs. To make a corporate donation, contact Janice Wilson on 949-2124 or ncvo@ncvo.org.ky. SMALL BUSINESS EXPO: The Cayman Islands Small Business Association invites the public to the annual Small Business Expo at UCCI Fellowship Hall. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission. Contact 946-3147 or email cisbacayman@gmail.com. SUNDAY, OCT. 22 BRAC AWARENESS: All are invited to a Praise in Purple church service in commemoration with Alzheimer’s Awareness. 11 a.m. Hillside Chapel Church on Ashton Reid Drive. Wear something purple. PINK SUNDAY: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church invites all to their Pink Sunday Service at 11 a.m. Everyone is asked to wear pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. MONDAY, OCT. 23 REVIVAL SERVICES: Red Bay Church of God (Holiness) holds Revival Services tonight through Oct. 29. 7:30 p.m. Monday to Friday; 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. Evangelist will be Bro. Glaremon (Bobo) Grant. All are welcome. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 25 PIRATES WEEK FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING: The Department of Environmental Health will conduct two basic Food Handlers’ Certification Courses for Pirates Week food vendors today and tomorrow, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. All food handlers needing to update their certification before Pirates Week should register early, as there is limited space available. Cost is $15 per person and includes materials. Certification is valid for three years. To register, visit the DEH main office or contact 949-6696 or dehcustomerservice@gov.ky. THURSDAY, OCT. 26 BRAC COURT: Today and tomorrow, 10 a.m. FRIDAY, OCT. 27 STATE OPENING: The State Opening of the Legislative Assembly takes place at 9:40 a.m. The meeting will include the Throne Speech by the Governor; the Budget Address by the Finance and Economic Development Minister; and the Policy Statement by the Premier. NEEDS ASSESSMENT: The Needs Assessment Unit will be closed for a staff function and will reopen on Monday, Oct. 30. BRAC POETRY EVENING: 7 p.m., Cayman Brac Library. All are invited. LEADERSHIP CAYMAN: The Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for the 2018 program. Improve your leadership skills by applying. Today is the deadline. Call 743-9121 for further information or visit www.caymanchamber.ky/ leadershipcayman. SATURDAY, OCT. 28 LITTLE CAYMAN SPOOKTACULAR: 5K Fun Run. 4 p.m. $25 Adults, $15 Children under 12. Contact littlecaymansports@gmail.com. SPOOKFEST: At Pedro Castle, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visual Arts Society offers Kids Halloween Arts and Crafts, VAS Art Market; Kiwanis will host a book reading Corner in the Great House. Pedro will be filled with Halloween activities, food, Haunted House, Costumes, Great fun for everyone. GARAGE SALE: At St. Alban’s Church, 461 Shedden Road, (opposite Bodden Place). 7 a.m. Clothes, household items, books, toys and more. For information, call 949-2757. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1 TOBACCO LICENCES: Tobacco license holders are reminded of the 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, deadline to apply for their annual license renewals. Annual registration renewal fees are $500 for a retailer, $750 for a cigar bar and $5,000 for a wholesale distributor. MONDAY, NOV. 6 PROUD OF THEM: The public is invited to recognize excellence among young people in the Cayman Islands by submitting nominations to the Proud of Them award scheme. Today is the deadline. Youth ages 10 – 25 who are reaching new heights of achievement in academics, sports, their career, culture, business or community service can be nominated. Forms can be found online at www.gov.ky. For more information email proudofthem@gov.ky WEDNESDAY, NOV. 15 RUN IN THE DARK: 5K/10K walk or run. 8 p.m. A fundraiser for the Mark Pollock Trust, which aims to find a cure for paralysis. To find further information or sign up for this year’s event, visit www.runinthedark.org/ cayman-islands. GENERAL INTEREST CAYMAN CRAFT: The exhibition, “Revive!” – Celebrating contemporary and traditional craft from the Cayman Islands, is open at the National Gallery. GARBAGE COLLECTION: The Department of Environmental Health urges residents and business operators to ensure that garbage containers are accessible to sanitation crews at all times. Place garbage containers either at the front of the property or at a side that is accessible to the roadway. Receptacles must be stored in properly constructed enclosures and should not impede the flow of traffic. HURRICANE RELIEF: The Adventist Church has started a fund in aid of Hurricane Irma victims in the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas. Financial contributions may be made at the local office, 209 Walkers Road, during business hours, or at the nearest Adventist Church. Donations may also be deposited at the Royal Bank of Canada, to ADRA account number 500-6234. SCHOLARSHIPS: The Chevening Secretariat is accepting applications for U.K. government scholarships to study in the U.K. in 2018/2019. Applications for Chevening Scholarships are open until Nov. 7, with applications to be submitted via www.chevening.org/apply. CERAMIC OPEN STUDIO: Offered by the Visual Arts Society on Wednesdays to adults. 9 a.m. to noon at the Watler House Studio, Pedro St. James. $15 per person or $25 per non-member. Clay, materials and firing facilities available. Contact info@visualartcayman.com. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Volunteers needed for weekly sports training. Tuesdays – Track, bocce, football. Wednesdays – Lighthouse School swimming at Lions pool. Thursdays – Basketball. Saturdays – Adult swim. Golf is starting soon if interested. Contact Darrel Rankine, national director at soci@candw.ky or 916-2600. CANDLE MAKING: Visual Arts Society offers this workshop at the National Trust Club House on Sundays 3 – 4:30 p.m. Fee of $45 per member or $55 per non- member includes materials for two candles. Parasol painting workshops, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Same fee, includes one parasol. Contact info@visualartcayman.com. HUMANE SOCIETY THRIFT SHOP: The shop has moved to Plaza Venezia, next to China Village. The thrift shop is open Tuesday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed on Sunday and Monday. Phone 945-5596. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. LOST DOGS: The Department of Agriculture and veterinary students of St. Matthew’s University provide an online list of dogs housed at the Department of Agriculture Animal Rescue Shelter in Lower Valley. Anyone missing a dog can check www.smustudents.webs.com. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc., in good condition always needed. RED CROSS THRIFT SHOP: The Thrift Shop opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Friday hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and closed evenings. Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. ARTISAN MARKET: Every Wednesday, noon–8 p.m. at Camana Bay Farmers Market. Visual Arts Society artists display arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand- crafted jewelry and ceramics for sale at the tents by KARoo Restaurant/ Bar. For more info email info@visualartcayman.com. OPEN CANVAS: Every Wednesday. Visual Arts Society supports this event at KARoo Restaurant located in Camana Bay. 7-11 p.m. No fee. Easels provided for artist of all levels to come out and enjoy painting and socializing with other artists. info@visualartcayman.com or jar.was@gmail.com. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@museum.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. ‘Rhizophoraceae Salvo’ by John Bird is among the items on display at the National Gallery’s ‘Revive!’ exhibition. An after-hours viewing and film screening will be held on Thursday, Oct. 19 at the gallery.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017 Eastern districts cargo port plan floated Healthcare conference to begin Thursday evening the eastern Bodden Town/Breakers area. The proposal seen by the Compass suggests a financing plan largely de- pendent on the use of fill from the dredging project. That aggregate, the plan suggests, could be used for a number of other projects, including filling in an area just east of Owen Roberts Interna- tional Airport for a proposed runway extension to accommodate larger pas- senger jets. Right now, the runway is too short to safely land larger 767 and 777 ‘Jumbo’ jets. The draft of the proposal seen by the Compass suggests Grandi Lavori Fincosit, or GLF, an Italy based inter- national construction and engineering company with offices in the U.S., was involved in drawing up the plans. Local attorney Cline Glidden, Jr., who the Compass understands is rep- resenting a company involved in the proposal, said he did not have permis- sion from his client to comment on the matter. Mr. Glidden previously led cruise port discussions with the Dart group of companies and GLF for the proposed cruise pier in George Town when he was an MLA during 2009- 2013. Those discussions dissolved during 2011, as the then-United Dem- ocratic Party government chose other options for the port project. Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin said this week that he did not know anything about the new cargo port proposal. Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell did not return mes- sages seeking comment sent Monday. Speaker of the House and West Bay MLA McKeeva Bush said he had seen the proposal and noted he believed it was viable as a long-term infra- structure project. “I would believe that [location] is where the cargo port, the petroleum, a transshipment base and some home- porting for cruise can be located,” Mr. Bush said, referring to the Breakers area. “In my mind’s eye, it would be a project for the next 50 years. “Obviously, the country would benefit from such development with the ancil- lary projects [roads etc.] that government would demand. I’m very supportive.” Independent Prospect MLA Austin Harris said he was invited to a meeting Friday to learn about the cargo port proposal, which he said he was curious to find our more about. Most of the land identified for the project area is privately owned, in- cluding large swaths owned by the Dart group of companies. Dart company officials noted they were aware of “several conceptual draw- ings” being circulated that proposed moving both the cargo port and fuel storage terminal to the Breakers area. “Dedicating the Royal Watler Ter- minal exclusively for cruise operations would facilitate a much improved guest experience and could potentially act as a catalyst for a revitalized George Town,” the statement from Dart sent in response to Compass questions read. “Without cargo activity at night, and combined with berthing facilities, cruise lines would be motivated to re- main in port longer, leading to higher value benefits from cruise tourism for the local economy.” planning committee. “The idea behind each session is to demonstrate that healthy is an attainable ideal and very easy to implement into your daily routine.” More than 1,000 local and overseas delegates attended the conference last year, a re- cord number, and organizers hope to draw another banner crowd this time around. “It’s a conference for ev- eryone: government, fam- ilies, communities, em- ployers, healthcare workers,” said Mr. Seymour. The event kicks off Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, with registra- tion open from 5 p.m. To see the full agenda of speakers and events, visit www.healthcareconference.ky. Dr. Sonali RuderDr. Ravi Kishore CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Guilty plea but no jail for jewel thief Doris Payne, 87 Russian TV star Sobchak declares her presidential bid CHAMBLEE, Ga. (AP) – A noto- rious jewel thief recently ar- rested at a Georgia Walmart store got no jail time during her latest court appearance. Doris Payne, at 87, has stolen about $2 million in jewels over the last six de- cades. She was arrested July 17 for a misdemeanor shop- lifting charge after a Walmart employee said she tried to leave the suburban Atlanta store with items she had not paid for. Payne had been on proba- tion after pleading guilty in March to a felony shoplifting charge for trying to steal a $2,000 necklace from a de- partment store in December. She was jailed for violating that probation. The Atlanta Journal-Con- stitution reports Payne ap- peared Monday before Cham- blee Municipal court Judge Angela Duncan, who told her “Don’t come back.” “I won’t” said Payne, who pleaded guilty in a deal that gave her credit for 58 days served from July through September. Over the years, Payne has dressed in fine clothes with deep pockets, charmed sales workers at high-end depart- ment stores, distracted them and slipped out with expen- sive jewelry, the newspaper has previously reported. She was the subject of a 2013 documentary, “The Life and Crimes of Doris Payne.” “There’s never been a day that I went to steal that I did not get what I went to do,” she said in the film. Payne was raised in West Virginia and moved with her family to Ohio when she was a teenager. Authorities have said she has used at least 22 aliases over the years and probably got away more often than she was caught, though she has done several stints in prison. The Jewelers’ Secu- rity Alliance, an industry trade group, sent out bul- letins as early as the 1970s warning about her. Payne, who is black, told The Associated Press in an earlier interview that she was a child when a store owner let her try on watches and then forgot she had the jew- elry on when he turned to wait on a white customer who had come in. She said she returned the watch but the episode made her realize that a simple distraction could make it easy to slip out with a fancy trinket in hand. Her career began in her 20s when she got the idea that she could support herself by lifting jewelry. MOSCOW (AP) – A Rus- sian celebrity TV host shook up the country’s political scene Wednesday by an- nouncing her presidential bid, a move that would likely boost public interest in the race but could further frag- ment the nation’s belea- guered opposition. Ksenia Sobchak, 35, an- nounced her intention to become a candidate in March’s election in a You- Tube video, arguing that Russia has grown tired of its current political elite and needs a change. Sobchak, the daughter of Anatoly Sobchak, the re- formist St. Petersburg mayor in the early 1990s, first be- came known as a socialite and a fashion icon be- fore she launched her suc- cessful TV career. Sharp-tongued and witty, Sobchak has been often critical of the Russian gov- ernment. She joined anti- Kremlin protests in Moscow in 2011-2012 but has largely avoided criticizing Presi- dent Vladimir Putin, who once worked as her fa- ther’s deputy. Putin, 65, has not yet said whether he will seek re-elec- tion on March 18 but he’s widely expected to run. With approval ratings topping 80 percent, Putin would win in landslide against torpid vet- erans of past Russian pres- idential campaigns, like Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky or lib- eral Grigory Yavlinsky. They have all signaled their inten- tions to run again in 2018. Sobchak told Dozhd TV that she had warned Putin that she planned to join the race while interviewing him recently for a documentary about her father. “I had an impression he didn’t like it,” she said of Pu- tin’s reaction. Some pundits, however, said Sobchak’s candidacy should please the Kremlin, helping counter growing voter apathy without posing a threat to Putin. Andrei Kolesnikov, an expert with the Carnegie Moscow Center, warned that Sobchak’s bid would further fragment and weaken Russia’s opposition. When rumors about Sob- chak’s intentions first ap- peared recently, Russia’s most popular opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, warned her on YouTube that she would play into the Kremlin’s hands if she enters the race. Navalny is currently serving a 20-day jail term for organizing an unsanctioned protest. Navalny has also declared his intention to enter Rus- sia’s presidential race, even though a criminal conviction that he calls politically mo- tivated bars him from run- ning. The 41-year-old anti- corruption crusader has organized a grassroots cam- paign across Russia to sup- port his nomination. It has organized waves of protests this year, putting pressure on the Kremlin. Doris Payne, at 87, has stolen about $2 million in jewels over the last six decades. Notorious jewel thief Doris Payne Russian socialite and TV host Ksenia Sobchak, daughter of the late St. Petersburg mayor, Anatoly Sobchak, says she has decided to run for president of Russia in March’s election. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS German police conduct raids on Hells Angels More than 700 German police officers have raided buildings used by a local chapter of the Hells Angels biker gang near the western city of Duesseldorf. The group was banned on suspicion of involvement in violence, weapons violations, drug offenses and forced prostitution. Thousands of Somalis march over terror attack that killed 300 Judge: Newest US travel ban has ‘same maladies’ as previous version HONOLULU (AP) – Just hours before President Donald Trump’s latest travel ban was to take full effect, a fed- eral judge in Hawaii blocked the revised order, saying the policy has the same problems as a previous version. The revised order “suffers from precisely the same mal- adies as its predecessor,” U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson wrote in his ruling, which prevented the Trump admin- istration from enforcing the travel ban set to go into ef- fect early Wednesday. It was the third set of travel restrictions is- sued by the president to be thwarted, in whole or in part, by the courts. Watson’s Tuesday ruling said the new ban, like its predecessor, fails to show that nationality alone makes a person a greater security risk to the U.S. “The categorical restric- tions on entire populations of men, women and children, based upon nationality, are a poor fit for the issues re- garding the sharing of ‘public- safety and terrorism-related information’ that the presi- dent identifies,” Watson wrote. He said the ban is in- consistent in the way some countries are included or left out. For example, Iraq failed to meet the security bench- mark but was omitted from the ban. Somalia met the in- formation-sharing bench- mark but was included. The ban, which was an- nounced in September, ap- plied to travelers from Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, So- malia, Syria and Yemen, along with some Venezu- elan government officials and their families. The Trump administration said the ban was based on an assessment of each country’s security situation and will- ingness to share information with the U.S. White House spokes- woman Sarah Huckabee Sanders called the ruling “dangerously flawed” and said it “undercuts the pres- ident’s efforts to keep the American people safe.” The Justice Department said it will quickly appeal. The judge’s ruling applies only to the six Muslim-ma- jority countries on the list. It does not affect the restric- tions against North Korea or Venezuela, because Hawaii did not ask for that. The state of Hawaii chal- lenged the ban on a set of mostly Muslim countries, ar- guing that the restrictions would separate families and undermine the recruiting of diverse college students. “This is the third time Ha- waii has gone to court to stop President Trump from issuing a travel ban that discrimi- nates against people based on their nation of origin or religion,” Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin said in a statement. “Today is another victory for the rule of law.” Watson, appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama, said the new restric- tions ignore a federal appeals court ruling against Trump’s previous ban. The latest version “plainly discriminates based on na- tionality in the manner that the 9th Circuit has found an- tithetical to … the founding principles of this nation,” Watson wrote. Hawaii also argued the updated ban was a continua- tion of Trump’s campaign call for a ban on Muslims, despite the addition of two countries without a Muslim majority. Other courts that weighed the travel ban have cited Trump’s comments about banning Muslims, including the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia and a federal judge in Maryland. Watson also referred to a Trump campaign statement in his previous ruling. “Judge Watson’s ruling makes clear that we are a na- tion of laws, no matter what this administration may try to do,” Hawaii’s U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz said in a state- ment. “There is a place here for peaceful immigrants from every corner of the world: Spain, Syria, Sudan, or Sin- gapore. There is no place here for discrimination or xenophobia.” Watson found fault with what sorts of visitors are barred. For instance, all tour- ists and business travelers from Libya are excluded from the U.S., but student visitors were allowed. MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) – As thousands of people took to the streets of Somalia’s cap- ital Wednesday in a show of defiance after the coun- try’s deadliest attack, officials shared a detailed account of how Saturday’s truck bombing that killed more than 300 was carried out. They said two people have been arrested. Wearing red headbands, the crowd of mostly young men and women marched through Mogadishu amid tight security. They answered a call to unity by Mayor Thabit Abdi, who said “we must liberate this city which is awash with graves.” Some in Somalia have called the bombing their 9/11, while asking why one of the world’s deadliest attacks in years has not drawn the kind of global attention given to extremist assaults elsewhere. Another nearly 400 were wounded. Scores remain missing. “You can kill us, but not our spirit and desire for peace,” said high school teacher Zainab Muse. “May Allah punish those who massacred our people,” said university student Mohamed Salad. It was not all peaceful. At least three people, including a pregnant woman, were in- jured after security forces opened fire while trying to disperse protesters marching toward the attack site, said police Capt. Mohammed Hus- sein. Both Somali police and African Union soldiers were at the scene and opened fire, he said. Somalia’s government has blamed Saturday’s attack on the al-Shabab extremist group, which often targets Mogadishu but has not com- mented. Analysts have sug- gested that al-Shabab, an al- Qaida ally, may have avoided taking responsibility be- cause it did not want to be blamed for the deaths of so many civilians. A detailed description of the attack emerged. Ac- cording to a Somali intelli- gence official investigating the blast, an overloaded truck covered with a tarpaulin ap- proached a security check- point outside Mogadishu early Saturday. The truck, covered in dust, aroused the suspicions of sol- diers who ordered the driver to park and get out. The driver, a man who soldiers said behaved in a friendly manner, made a phone call to someone in the capital. The driver passed the phone to the soldiers to speak to a well-known man who vouched for the truck and persuaded soldiers to allow it into the city, the So- mali intelligence official told The Associated Press. Once through the check- point, the truck began to speed along the sandy, pot- holed road and raced through another checkpoint where soldiers opened fire and flat- tened one of its tires. The driver continued be- fore stopping on a busy street and detonating. The blast lev- eled nearly all nearby build- ings in one of Mogadishu’s most crowded areas. The man who vouched for the truck has been ar- rested and is being held in jail, the Somali intelligence official said. The massive bomb, weighing between 600 ki- lograms and 800 kilograms (1,300 pounds and 1,700 pounds), was meant for Mog- adishu’s heavily fortified in- ternational airport, according to security officials. Several countries’ embassies are located there. The driver probably de- cided to detonate on the street instead because sev- eral checkpoints still lay ahead, the Somali intelligence official said. “Another reason that he would not proceed further is the fact that security forces were coming after it,” the of- ficial said, speaking on condi- tion of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters. The truck bomber had an accomplice driving a smaller car, a Toyota Noah minivan packed with explosives that took another route, said an- other Somali intelligence of- ficial who spoke on condi- tion of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to reporters. Security forces stopped the vehicle at a check- point near the airport, forcing the driver to park and get out. As soldiers questioned the driver, the minivan detonated, the official said. The minivan’s driver is currently in a prison in Mog- adishu, said a senior So- mali police officer, Capt. Mo- hamed Hussein. Somalia last year saw its highest-ever number of at- tacks from improvised explo- sives, at least 395, up from about 265 the year before, according to a threat assess- ment by the Nairobi-based Sahan research group. Since 2013, when there were 33 such attacks, the threat has grown quickly. Al-Shabab’s capacity to produce and transport ever- larger explosives is im- proving, the assessment said. Vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices have in- creased from between 100 and 200 kilograms in 2015 to between 800 and 1,000 kilo- grams in 2016. Analysts have suggested that al-Shabab, an al-Qaida ally, may have avoided taking responsibility because it did not want to be blamed for the deaths of so many civilians. It was the third set of travel restrictions issued by the president to be thwarted, in whole or in part, by the courts. A Somali soldier sits with a machine gun on top of a truck Wednesday as protesters march with placards reading ‘Out Al Shabab’ near the scene of Saturday’s massive truck bomb attack in Mogadishu, Somalia. – PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY OCTOBER 19, 2017 Look who is here at Barbers International O’Neil (Jamaican) Anthony (Honduran) Located @ Button Wood Plaza, 32 Shedden Road, Walk in or call for an Appointment 945-0525 As congressional investigations wear on, some eye a finish Tillerson seeks stronger ties with India, chides China RUSSIAN BILLIONAIRE’S SUIT AGAINST AP DISMISSED WASHINGTON (AP) – Secre- tary of State Rex Tillerson called Wednesday for the U.S. and India to expand strategic ties. He also point- edly criticized China, which he accused of challenging international norms needed for global stability. Tillerson was speaking on relations between the world’s two largest democ- racies ahead of his first trip to South Asia as secre- tary of state. He said the world needed the U.S. and India to have a strong partnership. He said the two nations share goals of security, free navigation, free trade and fighting terrorism in the Indo-Pacific, and serve as “the eastern and western beacons” for an interna- tional rules-based order which is increasingly under strain. Both India and China had benefited from that order, but Tillerson said India had done so while re- specting rules and norms, while China had “at times” undermined them. To make his point, he alluded to Chi- na’s island building and ex- pansive territorial claims in seas where Beijing has long-running disputes with Southeast Asian neighbors. “China’s provocative ac- tions in the South China Sea directly challenge the in- ternational law and norms that the United States and India both stand for,” Til- lerson said in an address at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank. He added that the U.S. seeks constructive rela- tions with China but “won’t shrink” from the challenges it poses when it “subverts the sovereignty of neigh- boring countries, and dis- advantages the U.S. and our friends.” U.S.-India relations have generally prospered in the past decade, in part because of their shared concerns about the rise of China. While President Donald Trump has looked to deepen cooperation with China on addressing the nuclear threat from North Korea, he’s also sought a closer re- lationship with India, which shares U.S. worries on Is- lamic extremism. “In this period of un- certainty and angst, India needs a reliable partner on the world stage. I want to make clear: with our shared values and vision for global stability, peace and pros- perity, the United States is that partner,” Tillerson said. Tillerson said the U.S. wants to help improve In- dia’s military capabili- ties, and also improve se- curity cooperation among the region’s major democra- cies, which included Japan and Australia. Tillerson said the U.S. and India were leading re- gional efforts on counterter- rorism. He called for India’s archrival Pakistan “to take decisive action against ter- rorist groups based within their own borders that threaten its own people and the broader region.” WASHINGTON (AP) – A federal judge on Tuesday dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought against The Associated Press by a Russian billionaire with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle said in the 21- page ruling that aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska, who sued over a March story about his business relation- ship with former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, had “cherry-picked sentences” that he wrongly claimed were defamatory. She noted that Deripaska “does not dispute any mate- rial facts” presented by the news cooperative about his background and his role in advocating for Russian inter- ests internationally. The judge also said De- ripaska had failed to show the AP’s story was published with actual malice or with reckless disregard for the truth, a legal standard he would have to meet for the case to move forward. Instead, she said, De- ripaska had merely com- plained that the story omitted what he considered crucial background. “As the AP points out,” Hu- velle wrote, “this simply is not enough to make out a plau- sible case of actual malice.” The judge agreed with the AP’s characterization of Deri- paska as a “limited-purpose public figure,” whose wealth and interactions with the Rus- sian government had made him the legitimate subject of media coverage for more than a decade. Public figures have a higher legal burden to meet in arguing that statements about them are defamatory. “The Associated Press is pleased with the court’s de- cision. As we have said, we stand by our reporting and will continue to stand by our story,” the news organization said in a statement. The AP asked in July for the lawsuit to be dismissed, saying that Deripaska was challenging the article based on his own “strained impli- cations” rather than what it actually said. Huvelle echoed that defense in rejecting as defamatory three separate statements that Deripaska had selected from the story. “Deripaska has cherry- picked sentences and strung them together to give the AP’s article an effect it does not have when read in full,” the judge wrote. “But whole con- text is how courts determine whether there is defamation.” The AP story was based on interviews with people familiar with payments to Manafort and business re- cords, including strategy memoranda and records of international wire transfers for millions of dollars. WASHINGTON (AP) – As congressional investiga- tions into Russian interfer- ence in the 2016 elections wear on in the Capitol, some lawmakers are starting to wonder when – and how – the probes will end. After months of clan- destine interviews and a few public, partisan com- mittee clashes, some Repub- licans on the House intelli- gence panel have privately been pushing for their probe to wrap up by the end of the year. And Senate Intelli- gence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., is sig- naling he wants his more bipartisan investigation to finish in the next several months, before the 2018 elec- tions get into full swing and the Russians have a chance to again interfere. It’s still unclear whether the congressional committees looking into the interference will come to firm conclusions about whether President Donald Trump’s campaign was involved, or if they have found any direct evidence of any collaboration with Russia. Those involved say it’s too early to know if they will be able to issue bipar- tisan reports, and whether those reports will have firm conclusions or just be a se- ries of findings. With no ability to do criminal investigations and difficulty in getting some witnesses to appear, the panels could leave some of the more controversial as- sessments to special counsel Robert Mueller, who is also investigating the meddling and the question of whether Trump’s campaign was in- volved. Mueller has the ability to prosecute, and Con- gress must refer any criminal findings to him. “I think there are lots of Republicans who just want this to go away, and I think the White House very much wants it to go away,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said Tuesday. “So I don’t think it’s necessarily the easiest call in the world for our Re- publican colleagues.” Trump made his views clear, again, at a Monday news conference, saying “the whole Russian thing” is an excuse for Democrats who lost the presidential election. “So there has been abso- lutely no collusion,” Trump said. “It’s been stated that they have no collusion. They ought to get to the end of it, because I think the American public is sick of it.” In the Senate, Burr has worked closely with the top Democrat on the intelligence panel, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner. Burr said Tuesday that the committee “needs to have some conclusion in time to get ready for the 2018 elections … that gives you a window of somewhere be- tween the end of the year and maybe February.” Burr said the panel’s timeline is unrelated to Mueller’s probe. “They’re on a criminal in- vestigation and we’re looking at Russian influence in the election,” Burr said, adding that he hopes his inves- tigation will be done be- fore Mueller’s. At a news conference with Warner on Oct. 4, Burr said the issue of collusion is “still open.” He has said repeatedly that the committee has con- tinued to find new threads, and that a firm timeline isn’t possible. He said the com- mittee has 25 interviews this month, including two public hearings related to the inves- tigation. The panel has still yet to talk to Donald Trump Jr. and other witnesses who attended a June 2016 cam- paign meeting with Russians. “We’ve still got a fairly long list of people to see, and it’s more of a mathematical equation now,” Burr said. Some other Republi- cans on the House panel have questioned how long it should go on. “It’s getting old,” said Re- publican Rep. Tom Rooney of Florida, a member of the in- telligence panel. He said the committee should not “pro- long the investigation for the sake of prolonging it. Those days are going to come to an end here soon.” Democrats on the House intelligence committee are trying to head off calls to end the investigations. California Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the panel, said in a Washington Post op-ed over the weekend that some witnesses have been “rushed” before the committee amid White House calls to end the probe. Schiff said that the panel has much more work to do, and, unlike with Mueller’s probe, the point of the congressional investiga- tions is to “tell the American people what happened or prescribe remedies.” After months of clandestine interviews and a few public, partisan committee clashes, some Republicans on the House intelligence panel have privately been pushing for their probe to wrap up by the end of the year. Both India and China had benefited from that order, but Tillerson said India had done so while respecting rules and norms, while China had “at times” undermined them. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, R-N.C., left, and Vice Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., update reporters on the status of their inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections, at the Capitol in Washington. – PHOTO: APNext >