High of 86 Low of 74 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 MARAUDING MOTORBIKERS: WHEN POLICE LOSE CONTROL OF OUR STREETS WORLD | PAGE 8 PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE ANNOUNCE THEIR ENGAGEMENT ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2017 186905-Ad-Strip-MC-60th-Grammys-10.333x1.5.indd 111/9/17 5:15 PM KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman Airways flight headed for New York had to return to Owen Roberts International Air- port and make an emergency landing Sunday when it developed a problem with the jet’s pres- surization system. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-300, was climbing around 10,000 feet with 121 passengers on board shortly after its 7:40 p.m. takeoff, when the flight crew decided that the pressurization system was not working correctly, according to a statement from Cayman Airways. After circling for a brief period of time to burn JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Small explosives, trained dogs and an aerial drone that resembles a hawk are among the solutions being considered to scare birds away from the airport amid con- cerns about the threat they pose to aircraft. A Cayman Airways jet sustained en- gine damage from a bird strike last month, the 13th such incident this year, according to statistics from the Cayman Islands Air- ports Authority. On the other occasions, the planes were not damaged. Airport officials from the Hazardous Wildlife Working Group met with community members and regulators Monday as part of its ongoing efforts to control the problem. The long-term plan is to fill in the ponds that have transformed parts of the airport into a wetlands populated by birds, including cattle egret, which pose the greatest threat to aircraft because of their size. Robert Harris, airport operations One arrested after 200 riders take over Cayman streets JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A pack of motorcycle riders took over the streets of Grand Cayman Sunday, terrifying motorists and taunting po- lice as they rallied at high speed around the island. Up to 200 riders, many with their faces concealed by masks or bandanas, on quad bikes, dirt bikes and high- powered motorcycles paraded through the island, popping wheelies and per- forming other stunts throughout Sunday. The riders were seen blitzing through traffic lights, mounting side- walks and weaving in and out of traffic throughout the day. Supporters ap- peared to be filming the event from the back of a Jeep. As the convoy passed through cen- tral George Town around lunchtime, a rider in an orange ski mask could be seen attempting to stop oncoming traffic by the Jacques Scott store, as the group roared through the red light. When they encountered police roadblocks later in the day in the eastern districts, many of the riders refused to stop, some of them jeering and allegedly throwing bottles at officers as they weaved through the parked police cars and sped away. Mob of bikers storm police roadblock Cattle egrets wander the grassy area at the airport Monday. Airport officials are trying to find ways to scare the birds away from aircraft. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » This rider in an orange mask stopped traffic at a stoplight in George Town as he directed fellow bikers through the lights. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Drones, dogs considered to deter birds from airport CAL jet makes emergency landing2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Daily Matinees Every Day $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 WONDER (PG) 1:45 I 4:25 I 7:00 I 9:35 THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (R) 1:30 I 4:30 I 10:00 JUSTICE LEAGUE 3D (PG13) 1:30 I 3:45 2D VIP I 7:10 2D I 9:40 2D DADDY’S HOME 2 (PG13) 1:15 VIP I 4:35 I 7:15 I 10:10 VIP MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (PG13) 1:10 I 4:00 I 6:50 I 9:45 THOR: RAGNAROK 3D (PG13) 12:25 2D I 3:30 I 6:30 2D I 9:30 CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA: MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (PG) 7:00 VIP *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. - TUESDAY - ‘Santa Paws’ raises $4,000 for Humane Society shelter Pet-lovers raised $4,000 for the Cayman Islands Humane Society with a Christmas photo shoot at Camana Bay on Saturday. Dogs donned Santa hats, reindeer antlers and other Christmas costumes for the annual “Santa Paws” event. Pet-owners paid for the Christmas photos and the pet store Must Love Dogs sold Christmas canine cos- tumes, with the proceeds going to the Humane So- ciety. The Dart group matched the amount raised. Some of the Humane So- ciety dogs posed in cos- tumes as part of the char- ity’s effort to get the dogs adopted. Lesley Walker, di- rector of the Humane So- ciety, said the event had been well attended and was growing every year. BT students celebrate heritage day JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Bodden Town Primary School students celebrated a heritage day on Friday by participating in several dem- onstrations, traditional foods and arts and crafts. Students and teachers dressed up in traditional clothing. Many wore plaid dresses, thatch hats and wompers, and ate local foods, such as Cayman-style beef, corn bread, cassava cakes, peppermint candies, fish and fritters. School principal June El- liott said the heritage day was both fun and educa- tional. She joined the activi- ties by helping to fry fritters. “Isn’t it exciting?” she said, “It’s part of the curriculum at the school and what better way to experience it than just hearing and reading about it.” Students from non- Cayman backgrounds at the school got to learn about the local culture, while local stu- dents got to learn a bit more about their own heritage, the principal said. In the near future, the school has plans to put on culture days from other counties, Ms. Elliott added. Beth Jackson, a Year 6 stu- dent, said she enjoyed the heritage day and learned a lot about Cayman culture. “We learned how the older folks did things. Making coconut candies is my favorite,” she said. Students were able to witness local crafts being made, and were taught about the elements that go into crafting, such as the types of materials used, and tools needed for making thatch rope and baskets. Storyteller Twyla Vargas showed off dolls she had made from local material, students twisted rope with Donna Bryan, an instructor at Cayman Traditional Art, and Rose Myles showed them the art of peppermint making. Students also participated in dancing on the traditional maypole and fashion show. In the school yard, Captain Kem Jackson of the Cayman Islands Catboat Club shared Cayman’s catboat history. Kids were told that cat- boats were crafted from the curved branches of Cayman’s pop-nut, fiddlewood or ma- hogany trees and that the boats played a major role in nearly every facet of life in the Cayman Islands, serving as the islands’ taxis, pickup trucks, buses, and of course, fishing boats, from the early 1900s through to the 1950s. Heritage arts is taught at the government schools by Cayman Traditional Arts, which is funded by the min- istries of tourism, educa- tion and culture. “Overall it was an ex- citing and enjoyable day for everyone,” said teacher Kendriah Whyte. Students have fun blowing conch shells. Students take part in the traditional maypole dance. Jyasia McLaughlin, Samara McCoy, Shinaya Barnes, Mikayla O’Connor and Beth Jackson learn to make fritters. A canine ‘elf’ poses for a photo.Santa made many canine friends Saturday.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2017 Fidelity Pension Plan Fidelity Financial Centre on West Bay Road Wednesday, December 13th, 2017 6:00pm - 7:00pm Fidelity Financial Centre, West Bay Road & Esterley Tibbetts Highway Cayman Financial Centre, Dr. Roy’s Drive, George Town info@fidelitycayman.com RSVP: Carolee.Crowley@fidelitycayman.com Phone: 914-2179 Light refreshments 2017 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING [] Police: Don’t overtake buses Police are warning drivers not to overtake buses when they are dropping off pas- sengers following mul- tiple complaints. In one incident last week, a driver mounted the side- walk in an effort to over- take a school bus, almost colliding with a student, ac- cording to a press release from the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service. The vehicle twice at- tempted to overtake the bus on the left hand side as it made stops along West Bay Road last Tuesday, police said. Acting Chief Inspector Everton Spence said, “To not only attempt to overtake a school bus, but to do so by passing on the left side, di- rectly in front of the bus door, is inexcusable, and such reck- less behavior will not be tol- erated. This incident shows a disregard for both the rules of the road and the safety of stu- dents travelling on the bus.” Motorists are permitted to overtake public buses that have stopped, once it is safe to do so and if the road al- lows it. However, motorists are not permitted to over- take a school bus under any circumstances. Additionally, traffic going in the opposite direction is not permitted to travel past a school bus when it is stopped to load or unload passengers, the statement clarified. KILLED SHARKS PICTURED WITH FINS REMOVED JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Just days after put- ting out a warning over illegal shark fishing, the Cayman Islands Depart- ment of Environment, re- ceived an anonymous tip that the problem may be worse than they thought. An image of eight dead sharks, some with their fins removed, inside a cooler, apparently taken in the Cayman Islands, was reported to environ- ment officials Saturday. Johanna Kohler, shark project officer with the Department of Envi- ronment, said the find was worrying, coming so soon after the de- partment reported three separate incidents of sharks being killed or in- jured on the Brac. She said the sharks in the picture were a deepwater species called Cuban dogfish found in deeper waters around Cayman. She said, “As with most sharks they grow very slowly, and produce only a few young which makes them particularly vulner- able to fishing. “Deep water shark populations such as the Cuban dogfish are par- ticularly vulnerable be- cause we know even less about them compared to our coastal and pelagic sharks in Cayman.” The find follows three separate incidents on the Brac in the past few months where sharks have been killed or injured. A dead lemon shark washed up at the Channel Dock, a nurse shark was photographed with a gash in its side from a knife wound and dive instruc- tors were forced to re- move a rope that had ap- parently been tied around a nurse shark’s head. In another case earlier this year, a dive instructor discovered a shark with a kitchen knife sticking out of its head. The DoE is circulating posters and reminding the public it is against the law to harm sharks in the Cayman Islands. Call the DoE on 946-8469 or call 911 to report an offense or report any dead sharks found to the DoE’s shark research team on sharkloggers@gmail.com. Police are reminding motorists not to overtake school buses when stopped, an action that could put students’ lives in danger. Rainfall adds to surplus Nearly two inches of rain was recorded at Owen Rob- erts International Airport Sunday evening as an thun- derstorm swept through Grand Cayman and lasted into the night. More rain ar- rived late Monday morning. Kerry Powery, chief me- teorologist for the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, said the 1.88 inches that fell is helping to push the annual total well past average. “At the end of October, we were 0.6 inches over the 30-year-average,” Mr. Powery said, adding that storms in the earlier weeks of November and likely rain in December will probably bump the year’s total 10 to 20 inches beyond the av- erage figure of 56.2 inches. In contrast, last year was the driest on record with just 28 inches. The wettest year was 1979, when 84.5 inches fell on the islands. Rain on Sunday night and Monday morning flooded a section of the Linford Pierson Highway. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS Man charged in hammer assault case CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialyd.com A man accused of injuring a co-worker with a hammer was granted bail on Monday. Alain Martinez-Hernandez appeared before Magistrate Valdis Foldats on a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm on a fellow employee at a business compound on Port- land Road, George Town, just before noon on Friday. Police responded to a re- port of an altercation at the premises between two men who were known to each other. One of the men alleg- edly used a hammer to strike the other on the head. The victim was taken to the Cayman Islands Hos- pital where he was treated for his injuries and subse- quently released. Martinez-Hernandez, 34, was granted bail with a re- cognizance and surety in the sum of $950. The only other condition was that he have no contact with the complainant. Because of the recentness of the incident, no papers re- lating to the case were avail- able for defense attorney Prathna Bodden. The magis- trate set the matter for men- tion on Dec. 12. He noted on the court file that a Spanish interpreter was required. 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. At the recent Asia-Pa- cific Economic Cooperation summit, Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping offered com- peting and disturbing vi- sions of a new international economic order. Mr. Trump abandoned America’s leadership for a multilateral trading system based on rules and shared responsibilities. Mr. Xi cynically offered China to fill the void, but Pa- cific leaders see that for what it is. Twelve nations are nego- tiating a multilateral Trans- Pacific Partnership without America to counter China’s economic imperialism. Modern economics dem- onstrates that nations can increase their wealth by opening up to trade and spe- cializing in exports that use resources in greatest abun- dance within their borders – for example, inexpensive labor in China and scientists and engineers in the United States, Japan and Western Europe. All of this assumes trade is reasonably bal- anced, and works best when barriers are lowered among many trading partners and not just a few. After World War II, the United States and its al- lies founded the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which became the World Trade Organization, to promote economic in- terdependence, discourage conflict among historical ad- versaries and contain Rus- sian and Chinese-led com- munism. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, western nations sought to encourage democratic and market- based reforms by granting former communist nations admission to this multi- lateral system. America led efforts to first cut tariffs and later limit in- dustrial policies – such as subsidies, domestic prefer- ences in government pro- curement and intellectual property enforcement, and arbitrary product standards. All governments bend these rules, but China violates them most egregiously – for example, protecting its un- competitive indigenous auto- mobile industry. Western nations granted less-developed and emerging countries latitude to keep much higher tariffs to jump- start industrialization – for example, China’s 25 percent tariff on cars as compared to the U.S. 2.5 percent levy. For many nations, such as China, Brazil and Mexico, those tariff preferences long ago outlived their justification. The United States has amassed large trade deficits to help glue the system to- gether. This has exacerbated the difficulties of moving workers in smaller commu- nities out of traditional man- ufacturing and agriculture into more technologically in- tensive pursuits or decently paying service jobs; worsened unemployment, put down- ward pressure on wages and social well-being; and signifi- cantly contributed to the elec- tion of Mr. Trump. For 2017, the United States is on track to export about $2.3 trillion – that gener- ates economic benefits of about $250 billion because export industries are esti- mated to be 11 percent more productive than import-com- peting industries. However, U.S. imports will top $3.1 trillion, and the re- sulting $540 billion deficit im- poses costs that overwhelm the above-mentioned benefits. For example, lost research and development in techno- logically intensive industries, which would result from bal- anced trade, shaves as much as 2 percentage points off an- nual economic growth. An economy growing at 3.5 or 4 percent would create all kinds of additional op- portunities for Trump voters to obtain training in the pri- vate sector and find new em- ployment. Mr. Trump has re- sponded by throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Though America has trade deficits with many nations and surpluses with others, China is really the focal point of the problem. It closes its markets to support industries it wants to develop, forces for- eign companies to transfer technology or steals it out- right, and grants huge sub- sidies to failing domestic in- dustries and those it wishes to promote. It accounts for about 60 percent of the U.S. trade gap, while oil accounts for much of the rest. Instead of rallying Amer- ican allies to confront China’s mercantilism through joint action, Mr. Trump has bul- lied Mexico, South Korea and Canada, pulled America out of the Trans-Pacific Partner- ship and derailed free trade talks with the EU. Mexico, Canada, Japan and nine other Asian nations are moving quickly to form a Trans-Pacific Partnership to counter China’s mercantilism and fill the leadership void left by Mr. Trump’s economic nationalism. And that will leave America isolated. Along with its other free- trade agreements, the Trans- Pacific Partnership will permit factories in Mexico, Canada, Japan and the EU to export unencumbered by most trade barriers into much of Asia and Europe – an advantage U.S.-based in- dustries will not enjoy. In- creasingly, that will attract high-tech activities more log- ically domiciled in the United States to other North Amer- ican, Japanese and Euro- pean locations. This is only one of the un- intended consequences of Mr. Trump’s trade policy. In- creasingly, America is viewed by thoughtful leaders and an- alysts around the globe as ir- rationally led and in decline. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2017, The Washington Times If you did not see them … you certainly heard them. You know who we are talking about – the scores of motorbikers who rallied Sunday, revving their engines and thumbing their noses at police, law- abiding motorists and bystanders as they paraded from West Bay to East End, putting on display their usual juvenile, but threatening, behavior: popping wheelies, speeding, blocking intersections and gener- ally disturbing the peace. Sunday’s motorcade was a repeat performance of last November’s “ride of the century.” At the time, police assured us it was the proverbial “last straw” and launched a much-publicized crackdown on illegal motorbiking, generating a far greater number of head- lines than successful convictions. So here they came again Sunday, disrupting the tranquility of an otherwise serene afternoon with their noise, putting themselves and other residents in danger with their antics, and belying the assump- tion that the Cayman Islands is a community based on law and order. The motorbikers traveled unchallenged by police as they made their way from West Bay, through George Town and eventually into East End. There was nary a police officer in sight until they finally encountered a roadblock on Bodden Town Road, hastily put in place to block their return to George Town. The illegal motorbikers turned the blockade into a scene straight out of “Keystone Cops” – swerving, making U-turns and otherwise leaving in their exhaust members of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service who (gamely, but lamely) tried to chase them down on foot. (We highly recommend that our readers view a video of the mayhem which is spreading through social media channels. We have published the video on the Compass website: www.caymancompass.com). Police report they confiscated 10 motorbikes on Sunday – but that is a small fraction of the estimated 200 motorbikers who traversed the entire island before police finally intervened. They made one arrest. A year ago, in one of his first public actions in his new position, Police Commissioner Derek Byrne said he was making it a priority to run these menacing motorbikes off the roads for good. Obviously, that has not happened. To date, the sordid prosecutorial score- card reads: two convictions. This is a collective failure shared by the police, the Office of the Director of Pros- ecutions and the courts. These marauding motorbikers are making Commis- sion Byrne, the RCIPS and Cayman’s prosecutorial and judicial system look ineffective and impotent. It has become a highly visible mockery of their inability to enforce the rule of law on this island. And the brazenness of the motorbikers is esca- lating. The written statement from the RCIPS, released Monday afternoon, included this: “Around 4 p.m. [on Sunday] about 75-100 of the bikers charged the road- block … The bikers charged the officers personally, threw bottles at officers, behaved in a threatening manner, and engaged in other reckless and dangerous acts while charging the roadblock.” They even brought their own film crew, mounted unsafely and most likely illegally in the back of a moving Jeep, to document the rally. Members of the Compass news staff watched from their offices as one motorbiker – his identity masked by an orange balaclava – commandeered a busy four-way intersection in order to “direct traffic” so that his law-breaking companions could speed past motor- ists who clearly had the right of way. The unmistakable message was this: The motor- bikers, not the police, had taken control of Grand Cayman’s roadways. Which leads to this inevitable question: What are authorities going to do about it? Marauding motorbikers: When police lose control of our streets TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Economic nationalism is a losing strategy PETER MORICI Modern economics demonstrates that nations can increase their wealth by opening up to trade and specializing in exports that use resources in greatest abundance within their borders 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2017 JOB Nº: FH001963CLIENT: IMAC VERSION: PRESS-01 TITLE: CCF 2017 Ad 2 PUBLICATION: Cayman Compass INSERTION DATE: n/aDATE: October 31, 2017 2:41 PM PROCESS: CMYK SPOT COLOUR: n/aPDF STD: pdf/x4:2008DIMS: 10.333” x 7.8975” SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: Full colour 1/2 page ad, All fonts outlined.BLEED: n/a SUBSTRATE:FILE ENQUIRIES: design@fountainhead.ky www.fountainhead.ky CMYK FOUNTAINHEAD FH001963_IMAC_CCF_2017_AD2_FINAL_103117.indd 131/10/2017 14:45 Commissioner: Police need ‘a lot of phones’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com They have aerial and ma- rine patrol units, taser stun weapons, and computer- aided dispatch systems in their patrol cars enabling them to retrieve all sorts of information from around the Cayman Islands. However, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service offi- cers, in many instances, are missing a key crimefighting tool owned by almost ev- eryone else these days – a smartphone. “There’s a requirement for a lot of phones, right now,” Police Commissioner Derek Byrne said last week, adding that the primary issue facing the department is the cost of ordering the hardware – the actual phones themselves – from local providers. Mr. Byrne said the “data plans” required for using the phones would likely be affordable, once the department re- ceived the devices. The phone problem af- fects police on a number of levels. Some officers do not have any department- issued cellphones whatso- ever, while others have old, outdated Nokia or Black- berry devices. Other officers purchase their own Android phones or iPhones to enable them to keep in contact with mem- bers of the public who pro- vide valuable information about what’s going on in the community. The addition of the What- sApp feature on these phones is becoming increasingly more important in modern communications. Many neighborhood watch or concerned citizens groups in various Grand Cayman neighborhoods are now providing informa- tion daily to community po- lice “beat” officers or other RCIPS personnel. One recent case where information was “What- sapped” involved the theft of a Honda Accord Friday, which was located in Bodden Town after a resi- dent there noted a vehicle that looked like one the po- lice had reported stolen ear- lier in the day. Cayman Crime Stop- pers Chairman Sebastien Guilbard seemed surprised to learn about the police phone shortage during a re- cent community meeting in Prospect, but noted it “was not for Crime Stoppers” to judge where police resources are used best. “If we can help with pri- vate funding, we will,” Mr. Guilbard said Monday. “We are currently looking into this, but no final decisions have been made.” Commissioner Byrne said the phones issue was something the RCIPS was looking into “across the or- ganization” and pledged it was a matter the depart- ment would solve. Police budget According to govern- ment budget analyses, the area of “national security” re- ceives the lion’s share of an- nual budget funding over the next two years. Roughly 22 percent of the $1.5 billion the government will spend during 2018 and 2019 on its central operations budget will go on police, fire, prisons and immigration. More than $56 million of that has been set aside during the two years for the RCIPS, most of it for police protection and investiga- tive services. In addition, more than $4 million is budgeted for the construction of two new po- lice stations in George Town and West Bay, with most of the funding for the George Town Police Station ($10 mil- lion), not expected to arrive until the 2020 budget. The cost of ordering 300 Android phones for the police services, assuming a cost of about $500 per phone, would be around $150,000. Commissioner Derek Byrne CAYMAN CAPTIVE FORUM CELEBRATES 25 YEARS The Cayman Captive Forum, the world’s largest captive insurance event is hosted for the 25th time this week. The conference attracts more than 1,400 captive directors and managers, CFOs, risk managers and service providers from around the world to the Cayman Islands to net- work, learn and discuss the important issues for the captive insurance industry. The Insurance Managers Association of Cayman as organizers of the Captive Forum said the event has grown from its first install- ment in 1992 and reached a reputation for offering unparalleled educational content matched with real world experiences from those who operate captives. The three-day event features interactive work- shops, tutorials, key- note speakers and panel discussions. “This event is set to be the biggest and best yet,” said Erin Brosnihan, chair of the Forum Committee and incoming chair of IMAC. “We are particularly excited to welcome our im- pressive lineup of speakers.” Not only the Forum has changed over the past quarter century Ms. Brosnihan said. “If you put it into perspective, in 1992 the internet was less than a year old. “This year the hot topic is cyber security. Techno- logical growth has shaped the world as we know it, including the insurance in- dustry. One of our speakers will explore how the future of tech will impact health- care. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come, and how far we’ll continue to grow in this regard.” No stranger to the Forum, cybercrime expert Michael Bazzell will return on Thursday with a new session detailing various cyber breaches of 2017; while CNN contributor and keynote speaker Mel Rob- bins will take the stage with her presentation “The 5 Second Rule.” Deborah Hersman, the president of the U.S. Na- tional Safety Council, will share her lessons learned on everyday risk hazards; such as fatigue, distracted driving, and opioid pre- scription drugs. The Cayman Captive Forum is held at the Ritz- Carlton, Grand Cayman from Nov. 28 to 30.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. TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS The National Gallery is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Its Infinity Ball will be held on Dec. 1. TUESDAY, NOV. 28 HURRICANE RELIEF: Today is the deadline to contribute to hurricane relief in Turks and Caicos through the Community Services Department of the Adventist Church. Clothing, bed and bath linen, and non- perishable goods are requested. Items may be taken to Angela Hall at Cayman Academy, Walkers Road. FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE: The Family Resource Centre hosts a three-day domestic violence intervention training program today through Thursday. For further information or to register contact frc@gov.ky or 949- 0006. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 29 SICKLE CELL: The Sickle Cell Support Group meets at 7.30 p.m. at the Cayman Islands Hospital Public Health waiting room. The topic will be Sickle Cell Disease and Stress Management. All are invited. For further information, contact the genetics coordinator on 244-2630 or email joy.merren@hsa.ky. THURSDAY, NOV. 30 DINNER, DRINKS AND DRAG: Cayman AIDS Foundation Fundraiser. Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Dress code is cocktail attire. Performances by Miss Peppermint, Miss Delicious and Damon Williams. Tickets now on sale. Contact 526-1001 or fundraising@caf.ky. LIGHT UP A LIFE: Cayman HospiceCare hosts its annual Light up a Life ceremony of remembrance at Cassia Court, Camana Bay. A minimum donation of $10 is requested. Pre-registration advised. All are welcome. Contact fundraising@ caymanhospicecare.ky or call 945-7447 for further information. PLAYHOUSE FAMILY CHRISTMAS: At the Prospect Playhouse. Annual holiday production. Tonight, Dec. 1, 2 at 7:30 p.m.; Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. Adults, $15. Children under 12, $12. Tickets now on sale at www.cds.ky or call 938-1998. CHAMBER COURSE: Quickbooks Training; 12:30-4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Small Business Workshop: Customer Relationship Management; 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; Free. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, DEC. 1 MINISTRY AND TREASURY: The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development’s administration section and the Treasury Department close at noon for a staff function. Offices reopen for business on Monday, December 4. INFINITY BALL: Celebrating the National Gallery’s 20th anniversary and raising funds to make the visual arts available to everyone. Starts 6:30 p.m. Contact events@nationalgallery.org.ky or 945-8111. SATURDAY, DEC. 2 MISSION FUNDRAISER: John Gray Memorial Church invites everyone to a fundraising sale to assist their Mission Ministries. Items for sale will be gently used clothing (children & adult sizes), household items, shoes, bags, etc. Also traditional homemade cakes. 6:30 a.m. until noon. Church Hall adjacent to the 4 Way Stop, West Bay. SUNDAY, DEC. 3 CAYMAN THANKSGIVING: Held each year on the first Sunday of December. Includes meals, celebrations and worship services marking the end of the hurricane season. REDEDICATION: All are invited to a service of rededication of Gun Bay United Church. 3:30 p.m. TUESDAY, DEC. 5 CHAMBER COURSE: The Essentials of Selling Part Two. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Basic Grammar & Writing Skills Part Two. 12:30-4:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $150 for members, $225 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. SUNDAY, DEC. 10 NATIONAL CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA: The Cayman National Choir and Cayman National Orchestra present a Christmas Spectacular at the Harquail Theatre 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 adults, $10 for children. The concert features Jamaican tenor Rory Baugh, local singer Mikayla Corin, the a cappella group the Singrays, and the Cayman Youth Choir. Tickets are available from caymanaisles. com/etickets or members of the choir and orchestra. TUESDAY, DEC. 12 NATIONAL CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA: The Cayman National Choir and Cayman National Orchestra present their traditional Christmas carol concert 7:30 p.m. at Elmslie Memorial Church tonight and Thursday. CHAMBER COURSE: Immigration, Permanent Residence, Work Permits & Status. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square; $350 for members, $400 for future members. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. GENERAL INTEREST SHAPED BY THE SEA: New exhibition at National Museum, Harbour Drive, celebrating Charles O. “Captain Chuckie” Ebanks. BUY A BAG SALE: The NCVO New to You Thrift Shop hosts a sale now through Dec. 15. Buy a bag for $5 and whatever it holds inside is yours. 90 Anthony Drive, off Smith Road, next to Miss Nadine’s Pre-School. CONCH AND WHELK SEASON: The Department of Environment reminds the public that the conch and whelk season opened on Nov. 1. It is still lobster closed-season. The legal limit for conch is five per person per day or 10 per boat, whichever is less. The limit for whelk catches limit is two-and-a- half gallons in the shell, or two- and-a-half pounds of processed whelks, per person, per day. CAYMAN CRAFT: The exhibition, “Revive!” – Celebrating contemporary and traditional craft from the Cayman Islands, is open at the National Gallery. OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS: The Ministry of Education is receiving applications for overseas scholarships for the 2018/2019 academic year. The application period is open until Jan. 31. Anyone planning to apply for a government scholarship for 2018/2019 is invited to complete the Overseas Scholarship Application at www.education. gov.ky. Contact the Scholarships Secretariat for any further information at scholarships@gov.ky or 244-2482. 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 are 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, by email on soci@candw.ky or call 916-2600. CANDLE MAKING: The Visual Arts Society is offering this workshop at Lucky House Pizza on Sundays, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Fee of $45 per member or $55 per non-member includes materials for two candles. Parasol painting workshops, 4-6 p.m. Same fee, includes one parasol and paint. Contact info@visualartcayman.com. OPEN STUDIO: Painting, Mondays, 1-4:30 p.m. at Watler House, Pedro Castle grounds. $5 for members, $15 non-members. Fee includes use of studio, easels, painting boards and library. Thursday, 10 a.m. till noon for arts and crafts. Contact info@visualartcayman.com. 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. 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. 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. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. Call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail.com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-step recovery group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Mondays, 7 p.m. For details, contact Virginia Castillo at 946-2422, or visit www. overcomersoutreach.org. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at ADACI’s office, 4th floor Cardinall Plaza, 30 Cardinall Ave., GT. All are invited to attend. Call 924-4170 or email info@adacyman.com. ROTARACT BLUE OF CAYMAN: Meets Wednesdays 6 p.m., at Royal Palms Beach Club, West Bay Road. Contact rotaractblue@gmail. com or www.rotaractblue.org. LEO CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, contact Secretary Letisha Allen at 924-2819. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, email LionsClubGCM@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabethan Square (corner unit next to the MLA’s office). Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7 a.m. every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. website at www. rotarysunrise.ky or contact info@ rotarysunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30 p.m., at Britannia Golf Course Restaurant. Projects include promoting well-being of children in the community and schools. email president@ kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis. ky. OPTIMIST CLUB: Meets first and third Thursdays at the Hibiscus Conference Room, George Town Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Email optimistcayman@yahoo.com. THE MODEL AIRPLANE FLYING CLUB: Meets Sundays 2 p.m. at the J. Bodden Marlpit/Old Raceway. Call 916–2327 for more information. PARENT AND TODDLER PLAY GROUP: For children from 2 weeks to 4 years. Meets Mondays 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the South Sound Community Centre. Children must be accompanied by parent or helper. Toys, activities, light refreshments provided. $6 per session per family. For information, email sspg@foxwood.ky. HEARTS THROUGH HANDS: Meets Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to noon at The Family Life Centre, Room 10, Academy Way. Women make crafts for charity and missions. For information, call 946–3067 or 947–1863. THE WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE: Breastfeeding Clinics every Thursday 10 a.m. to noon in the Women’s Health Centre. No appointments, no fees. Phone 244–2649. CAYMAN BRIDGE CLUB: Meets Tuesdays 7 p.m. at Comfort Suites, West Bay Road; Fridays, 9 a.m. at the Rugby Club. For further information, contact Helen Haines at 947-3217 or Alex Wood at 947-3693. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB: Meets third Wednesday of every month, Governors Square Boardroom at 5:30 p.m. Visit www.facebook. com/BPWGrandCayman. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Kurt Walton, deputy commissioner of police, said Monday, “What we wit- nessed yesterday was in- excusable behavior on our roads by a group of people with little regard for their safety or anyone else’s …. It is pure luck that someone was not killed or seri- ously injured.” At one stage, police landed the helicopter on the beach in Bodden Town as officers chased the group around the island. Ten bikes were confis- cated but only one person had been arrested in con- nection with the event by press time Monday. Complaints started coming in from around midday Sunday, in West Bay, where the rally appears to have begun, before heading to George Town and to- ward East End. A heavy police contin- gent, including Commis- sioner Derek Byrne, re- sponded, setting up a roadblock in Bodden Town to trap the riders in East End and tracking their prog- ress from the air. The group scattered, with several riders fleeing into Midland Acres to avoid the roadblock. A group of around 75 to 100 riders, in- cluding one man driving a white all-terrain ve- hicle, brazenly charged the roadblock, driving to- ward officers and be- having in a threatening manner, according to a po- lice statement. Officers, guided by the air support unit, tracked down and seized the ATV and arrested the driver, a 30-year-old man from West Bay. He is now on police bail on suspicion of dan- gerous driving and other traffic offenses. He appears to be the only person in- volved in the rally who was arrested, though po- lice confiscated several ve- hicles discarded by riders in Midland Acres. The police helicopter also landed on the beach near Midland Acres and air sup- port unit officers helped ap- prehend a man suspected of being involved in the gathering. Later, the heli- copter landed in another area of Midland Acres and the crew assisted traffic of- ficers in apprehending two women riding dirt bikes and seizing their bikes. Other incidents of reck- less driving from the riders throughout the day included bikers popping wheelies, standing on their seats and performing stunts as they drove toward oncoming traffic. Police said mul- tiple close calls involving pedestrians and motorists were reported. The group also blocked an ambulance trav- eling along the Queen’s Highway on an emergency call, police said. Deputy Commissioner Walton said, “Whether or not these young people are just looking for an outlet, and whether or not a track for off-road riding should or should not exist, there is no excuse for the crimi- nally dangerous behavior we saw [Sunday].” Problems with riders on illegal and unregistered bikes driving recklessly on Cayman’s roads has been a long-running concern. Commissioner Byrne in- dicated when first took up his position as chief of police that dealing with the problem would be a key priority. Earlier this month, in re- sponse to questions from the Compass, police said they had made 16 arrests in con- nection with illegal motor- bike riding. Of those cases, nine were dismissed without going to court, because of lack of evidence. Two had re- sulted in driving bans and fines for the offenders, while five others were still going through the court process. Of the 17 bikes confiscated in connection with such in- cidents, at least five were re- turned to the owners. Mr. Byrne declined to be interviewed about the sit- uation Monday. The Department of Public Prosecutions had not re- sponded to requests for comment Monday. According to a police state- ment, the commissioner is es- tablishing a task force headed by Mr. Walton to address the issue of reckless bikers. The task force will be charged with investigating Sunday’s event and the offenses of “dangerous driving, affray, unlawful assembly, threat- ening offences, reckless and dangerous acts among other offences that appear to have taken place.” Anyone with information, pictures or footage is asked to email Jodi-Ann. Powery@rcips.ky or call 916-3277. CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2017 The long-term plan is to fill in the ponds that have transformed parts of the airport into a wetlands populated by birds, including cattle egret, which pose the greatest threat to aircraft because of their size. Drones, dogs considered to deter birds from airport CAL plane makes emergency landing manager, said an request for proposals had gone out for design work to fill in those ponds and create a new drainage system for the airport, a project tied into the long-term goal of expanding the runway. Chief Safety Officer An- drew McLaughlin said that would ease the problem, but would not eradicate it to- taly. He said migrating birds used any available space in and around the airport. An air cannon and a fogger, which sprays bird repellent, have been used for the last several years to deter birds. But Mr. McLaughlin said they had become ha- bituated to the sound. He said airport staff had to shoot at the birds occa- sionally to scare them away. They cannot do this at night, however, under current reg- ulations and he said the air- ports authority would be seeking special permission to use small arms at night to deal with the issue. Within the next few weeks, he said, the airport will also begin trials in- volving a Belgian Malinois dog, trained to go after the birds. Similar strategies are used in U.S. airports to deter birds. A robotic falcon – a drone in the shape of a hawk – was also put for- ward as potential op- tion. The drone would per- form a similar function to a scarecrow, frightening away smaller birds with its silhouette. Mr. McLaughlin would also like to use small explo- sives, similar in size to fire- works, to frighten the birds, but has been hampered by import regulations. He said the cannon was still effective as a method of scaring off new arrivals, but birds in the area had got used to it and were no longer afraid. The impact of a bird strike on a plane can range from relatively minor to cat- astrophic. In the recent in- cident involving a Cayman Airways jet, six fan blades in the engine were damaged and locally based engineers were able to fix it overnight. In many incidents in- volving smaller birds, there is no damage at all. One of the most high- profile incidents involving bird strike was the so- called “miracle on the Hudson,” where two eight- pound geese flew into each of the plane’s twin en- gines over New York, dis- abling the aircraft and forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing on the Hudson River. As part of its licensing requirements, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority is required to have a manage- ment plan for such threats. fuel and reduce the landing weight of the aircraft, the flight landed at 8:18 p.m. without further incident, the airline stated. Passengers were trans- ferred to a different aircraft, which departed for New York at 10 p.m. Cayman Airways CEO Fa- bian Whorms said that the jet was still at a safe operating altitude for unpressurized flights when the problem was discovered. “Whilst this situation did not constitute a full emer- gency, in an abundance of caution, the captain re- quested that the airport’s emergency services be on standby for the landing,” Mr. Whorms added. “As always, we at Cayman Airways place safety as our highest pri- ority and we appreciate the patience and understanding of our passengers affected by this return to [Owen Roberts International Air- port] last night.” According to the flight tracking website flight- radar24.com, the aircraft was back in operation today, making a round trip from Cayman to Miami. Sunday’s incident is the second time since Sep- tember that a Cayman Air- ways jet had to return to Owen Roberts International Airport after takeoff due to technical issues. On Sept. 14, a Cayman Air- ways Boeing 737-800 bound to Tampa had to make an emergency landing because of engine trouble. In a statement about that incident, Cayman Air- ways said at the time that shortly after the takeoff, the aircraft experienced “abnormal engine param- eters, accompanied by vi- bration, on the right-hand engine while climbing through 5,000 feet.” After the plane was fitted with a new engine, it was returned to service ear- lier this month. Mr. Whorms said on Nov. 10 that me- chanics in Germany were in- vestigating and attempting to repair the damage to the original engine. Cayman Airways officials still have not stated a cause for the mechanical failure. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Up to 200 riders, many with their faces concealed by masks or bandanas, on quad bikes, dirt bikes and high-powered motorcycles paraded through the island, pulling wheelies and performing other stunts throughout Sunday. Mob of bikers storm police roadblock This quad bike was among the motorbikes seized by police Sunday. - PHOTO: RCIPS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Police load motorbikes that were abandoned by their riders in Midland Acres in Bodden Town onto a trailer Sunday. - PHOTO: RCIPSThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS Guns a big seller in US on Black Friday Hopeful gun owners sent in 203,086 single-day requests to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System on Friday, topping the two previous milestones that were also set on the discount-driven shopping holiday after Thanksgiving in previous years, according to USA Today. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle announce their engagement LONDON (AP) – Prince Harry, fifth in line to the British throne, will marry American actress Meghan Markle in the spring, palace officials an- nounced Monday, confirming months of speculation. Markle, a humanitarian campaigner and lifestyle blogger who succeeded in show business before falling for Harry, will become a senior member of the royal family as the wife of one of the monar- chy’s most popular figures. Harry, a bad-boy-made- good by his tireless devotion to wounded veterans and his embrace of a variety of char- itable causes, has said for several years that he wants to start a family, and the ru- mors of his engagement to Markle have been flying for some time. The marriage represents a first blending of Hollywood glamor with the once-stuffy royal family, which has of late seemed less fixed in its ways, and brings a mixed- race American divorcee into a highly visible role. The couple made a brief appearance before photogra- phers on the grounds of Kens- ington Palace hours after their engagement was announced. Harry, wearing a blue suit and tie, said he was “thrilled” and that details about his proposal would come out later. He was then asked if the proposal was romantic, and he replied: “Of course!” Markle, who said she was “so happy,” was wearing an engagement ring for the first time in public. She held Har- ry’s hand and rubbed his arm. They left with their arms around each other. The couple plan to give their first inter- view later in the day. Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his pregnant wife Kate welcomed Markle to the royal family. “We are very excited for Harry and Meghan,” they said in a statement. “It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.” Harry’s father, Prince Charles, told reporters he was “thrilled” with the engagement. “They’ll be very happy in- deed,” he said. The engagement an- nouncement says the couple became engaged in London earlier this month and that Harry has informed his grandmother, Queen Eliza- beth II. It says he sought and received the permission of Markle’s parents. The couple plan to live in Nottingham Cottage at Kens- ington Palace. Markle is also reported to have started the sometimes time-consuming process of moving her dogs from Canada to Britain. She recently left her televi- sion show, a development that helped fueled engage- ment speculation. Congratulations also came in from the queen and her husband, Prince Philip, and from Prime Minister Theresa May. Markle’s parents also welcomed the news. Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland said their daughter Meghan “has always been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same quali- ties, is a source of great joy for us as parents.” Markle was raised in the Los Angeles area. Her father is a Hollywood lighting director, her mother a yoga instructor and psychotherapist. In some ways, Markle – a mixed-race American raised in California, an outspoken full- time actress, and a divorcee – makes a surprising addition to Britain’s monarchy. But the institution has moved on with the times, and the romance between Markle and Harry – who has repeat- edly stressed his wish to lead as “normal” a life as he could – has a decidedly unstuffy, modern feel to it. The announcement means another grand royal wedding may be in the offing – the first since William and Kate married in 2011 – though it is possible the couple may choose to have a private cer- emony, perhaps in a remote location far from the pa- parazzi who bedeviled Har- ry’s mother, Princess Diana. Markle, best known for her role as an ambi- tious paralegal in the hit U.S. legal drama “Suits,” surprised many when she shared her feelings for Harry in a September cover story for Vanity Fair. Indonesia volcano forces mass evacuation, shuts Bali airport KARANGASEM, Indonesia (AP) – Indonesian authorities or- dered 100,000 people to flee Monday from an erupting volcano on Bali that forced the island’s international air- port to close, stranding large numbers of travelers. Mount Agung has been hurling clouds of white and dark gray ash about 9,800 feet into the atmo- sphere since the weekend and lava is welling up in the crater, sometimes reflected as a reddish-yellow glow in the ash plumes. Its explo- sions can be heard about 7 ½ miles away. Videos released by the Na- tional Disaster Mitigation Agency showed a mudflow of volcanic debris and water known as a lahar moving down the volcano’s slopes. It said lahars could increase because it is rainy season and warned people to stay away from rivers. The agency raised the vol- cano’s alert to the highest level early Monday and ex- panded the danger zone to 6 miles in places from the pre- vious 5 miles. It said a larger eruption is possible. The volcano’s last major eruption in 1963 killed about 1,100 people. Spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told a news confer- ence in Jakarta that the ex- tension of the danger zone affects 22 villages and about 90,000 to 100,000 people. He said about 40,000 people have evacuated but others have not left because they feel safe or do not want to abandon their livestock. “Authorities will comb the area to persuade them,” he said. “If needed we will forcibly evacuate them.” About 25,000 people were already living in evacuation centers after an increase in tremors from the moun- tain in September sparked an evacuation. Lava rising in the crater “will certainly spill over to the slopes,” Sutopo said. Villager Putu Sulasmi said she fled with her husband and other family members to a sports hall that is serving as an evacuation center. “We came here on motor- cycles. We had to evacuate because our house is just 3 miles from the mountain. We were so scared with the thundering sound and red light,” she said. The family had stayed at the same sports center in September and October when the volcano’s alert was at the highest level for several weeks but it did not erupt. They had returned to their village about a week ago. “If it has to erupt let it erupt now rather than leaving us in uncertainty. I’ll just ac- cept it if our house is de- stroyed,” she said. Bali’s airport was closed early Monday after ash, which can pose a deadly threat to aircraft, reached its airspace. Flight information boards showed rows of cancella- tions as tourists arrived at the busy airport expecting to catch flights home. Airport spokesman Air Ah- sanurrohim said 445 flights were canceled, stranding about 59,000 travelers. The closure was in effect until Tuesday morning, though officials said the situation would be reviewed every six hours. It had a ripple effect across Indonesia, causing de- lays at other airports because Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai air- port is a national hub with many transiting flights. Bali is Indonesia’s top tourist destination, with its gentle Hindu culture, surf beaches and lush green inte- rior attracting about 5 mil- lion visitors a year. Indonesia’s Directorate General of Land Transpor- tation said 100 buses were being deployed to Bali’s inter- national airport and to ferry terminals to help travelers stranded by the eruption. A father holds his son at an evacuated area in Karangasem, Indonesia, Monday. - PHOTOS: AP Mount Agung volcano erupts in Karangasem, Indonesia, on Monday. Authorities closed the airport on the tourist island of Bali. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, after the announcement of their engagement. - PHOTO: PRESS ASSOCIATION Meghan Markle’s engagement ring features a trio of diamonds. The center stone hails from Botswana and is flanked by two diamonds from the collection of Prince Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana. - PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2017 UK faces Brexit deadline on Ireland as Varadkar clings on British Prime Minister Theresa May has a week to find a compromise on the con- flicting Brexit demands from the north and south of Ireland, just as a political scandal threatening the Irish govern- ment could further undermine her chances of success. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar wants written as- surances that Brexit will not mean a return to check- points and towers along what will become the EU’s new land frontier with the U.K. Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, which props up May’s government, values its ties to mainland Britain more than an open border with the Irish Republic. It re- jects the European Union’s proposed solution and says the future of the border can only be settled in tandem with a final trade deal. That is been the U.K. gov- ernment’s stance all along, and it had all but parked the Irish issue in its negotiating plans, focusing instead on the financial settlement as the main obstacle. Just as prog- ress was being made on the divorce bill, though, the Euro- pean Commission made clear that it also needs a workable solution for the Irish border by Dec. 4 or else talks on a fu- ture trade deal will be off. Varadkar has also stepped up the rhetoric in recent weeks, and raised the pros- pect on Friday that the dead- lock in talks will continue into 2018. He’s fighting for his own political survival, as his team step up efforts to avoid an election that could harden po- sitions on Brexit. The government is set for a fourth day of talks over a whistleblower controversy, with Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney telling broad- caster RTE that some opposi- tion demands to deal with the affair are “reasonable.” Stephen Donnelly, a spokesman for opposition party Fianna Fail, responded by saying he hoped a compro- mise could be found to avoid an election just as Brexit talk hurtle toward a crunch point next month. Pressure is mounting on May – including from within her own party – after she failed to convince European leaders in October to move talks on from the divorce to trade. Another summit is scheduled for Dec. 14 but the EU wants commitments in place well before so it can agree on its common position. There may be another round of negotiations this week. The opposition Labour Party’s Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer, raised the stakes on Sunday, saying May has “two weeks to save herself.” He hinted at the possibility of a vote of no-confidence if May fails to seal the progress she seeks in Brexit talks next month, telling the Sunday Times that “if there isn’t suf- ficient progress this time, I think that scrutiny will be- come really intense and it will be about her authority.” May has only a slim ma- jority in Parliament, thanks to the DUP, and some of her own lawmakers reject her Brexit policy. The EU has adopted Ire- land’s position on the border issue almost wholesale. Ire- land’s EU Commissioner, Phil Hogan, weighed into the de- bate on Sunday, telling the Observer newspaper that the issue could be resolved if Britain agreed for the whole country – or just Northern Ireland – to stay in the single market or customs union. May has said she will pull the U.K. out of both, and Northern Ireland’s DUP does not want to be treated differently to mainland Britain. “If the U.K. or Northern Ire- land remained in the EU cus- toms union, or better still the single market, there would be no border issue,” he told the paper. “That’s a very simple fact. I continue to be amazed at the blind faith that some in London place in theoretical future free trade agreements.” A spokesman for May’s government said on Monday efforts to find a way for- ward continued. But the gov- ernment continues to believe that a final solution will not be reached until the future trading relationship is clear, spokesman James Slack said. Ireland’s Coveney agreed that some of the finer details will not be hashed out until the last phase of Brexit talks, but maintained the govern- ment’s demand that it needs written reassurances from the U.K. that a border will somehow be avoided. The trouble is that the EU has a less ambitious vi- sion for the kind of trade deal the two sides will eventually strike than the U.K. does. While the U.K. seeks to keep current rules as much as possible, Eu- rope is talking about an ac- cord like the one Canada struck with the EU, which maintains trade barriers on products such as beef and dairy. The worse the trade deal, the more enforcement will be needed on the fron- tier.Read more: What the EU is Seeking in a Trade Deal with the U.K. The Irish government is adamant it will continue to demand the best deal pos- sible, even if finds itself in the middle of an election campaign. Varadkar spent the weekend in contact with the leader of the opposi- tion, Michael Martin, trying to avert an election over his deputy’s handling of a whis- tleblower controversy. Varadkar repeated that Deputy Prime Minister Frances Fitzgerald should not resign, as opposition political forces have de- manded. Fitzgerald faces a no-confidence vote on Tuesday which could pull down 38-year-old Varad- kar’s minority government. In that case, an election would be held next month, Varadkar said. An election is unlikely to change Ireland’s core demand for written guarantees from May on the border. The U.K. leader has already prepared a higher offer for Britain’s exit payment, and the two sides have made progress on the rights of EU citizens. Britain is consulting the DUP on the border question, and the difficulty in finding an acceptable formula was underlined by that organiza- tion’s conference on Saturday. Party leader Arlene Foster was clear she would oppose the most straightforward means of avoiding a hard border – by applying EU rules to Northern Ireland after Brexit and reiter- ating her opposition to trade barriers within the U.K. © 2017, Bloomberg Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, left, shows his decorative socks to British Prime Minister Theresa May during a round table meeting at an EU summit in Goteborg, Sweden on Friday, Nov. 17. - PHOTO: AP Leftist challenger Nasralla leads Honduras presidential vote count TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Early results from Hon- duras’ presidential election Monday showed leftist chal- lenger Salvador Nasralla with a surprise lead over in- cumbent President Juan Or- lando Hernandez. David Matamoros, presi- dent of the electoral court, announced that, with 57 per- cent of the vote counted, Nas- ralla is polling 45.7 percent of the vote, to Hernandez’ 40.2 percent. The late hour for the an- nouncement of the votes had suggested a close vote be- tween Hernandez, a conser- vative U.S. ally, and Nasralla, the candidate of the leftist Al- liance of Opposition Against Dictatorship. Both men had claimed victory. Turnout in Sunday’s vote appeared to be heavy across the country, with relatively minor irregularities reported. Nasralla, 64, trained as an engineer and is a popular sports commentator and pre- senter on one of the country’s top television contests. Born in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, Nas- ralla began working as a radio sport reporter when he was 14. According to his official party biography, it was in his travels around the country for his programs that Nasralla came to understand the needs of Hondurans. Nasralla says constant complaints about corrup- tion in the country led him to form the Anti-corruption Party in 2013, promising to challenge the two-party system and set up of an anti- impunity commission. A director of programs such as Miss Honduras, Nasralla last year married Iroshka Elvir, Miss Hon- duras of 2015. Hernandez built his sup- port largely on a drop in vi- olence in this impoverished Central American country, whose homicide rate was once among the world’s worst. Honduras’ National Autonomous University says the rate has dropped to 59 homicides per 100,000 people from a dizzying high of 91.6 in 2011. But corruption and drug trafficking allegations cast a shadow over his government. And his re-election bid fu- eled charges that the presi- dent’s National Party was seeking to entrench itself in power by trampling the coun- try’s institutions with court approval for the president to seek a second term. Fears of just that sort of consolidation — but by a leftist rival allied with Ven- ezuela — led Hernandez’ party to back a military coup in 2009 against a president it accused of plotting to vi- olate Honduras’ seemingly iron-clad constitutional ban on re-election. The country’s highest court backed the 2009 ouster of President Manuel Ze- laya. But the current court is packed with Hernandez’ sup- porters and it ruled in 2015 that the constitutional ban was overridden by a citizen’s right to seek re-election. “Here in Honduras there is no democracy; there is a dictatorship,” Zelaya told The Associated Press late Sat- urday. “The hypocrisy of the Honduran elite is evident ... the people will have to decide at the ballot box.” In addition to people in Honduras, tens of thou- sands of Hondurans were eligible to cast ballots in seven U.S. cities: Atlanta, New Orleans, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and Washington. Sunday’s general elections were the 10th in Honduras since the country returned to democracy in 1980 after almost two decades of mil- itary regimes. Despite his popularity, Hernandez had a weak spot in the perception of corruption. A convicted drug traf- ficker testified in a New York courtroom this year that he met with Hernandez’s brother Antonio to get Hon- duras’ government to pay its debts to a company that the trafficker’s cartel used to launder money. Devis Le- onel Rivera Maradiaga, ex- leader of the cartel known the Cachiros, testified that Antonio Hernandez asked him for a bribe in exchange for government contracts. The brother has denied that allegation. Riot policemen stand guard Monday as supporters of opposition Alliance presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla, chant slogans outside the Supreme Electoral Tribunal, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. - PHOTO: APNext >