ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2018 High of 84 Low of 73 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CANCER OF CRIME DEMANDS AGGRESSIVE TREATMENT LOCAL | PAGE 6 GARDEN TEA PARTY RAISES FUNDS FOR NATIONAL GALLERY 187019_PRINT-Butterfield-Strip-6Page 1 1/18/18 3:03:13 PM TOURISM BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT FUND PROPOSED JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A scheme much like ABC’s reality TV series “Shark Tank,” designed to help budding entre- preneurs make their business dreams a re- ality, is part of government’s plans for the fu- ture of the tourism industry. Under the proposal, Caymanian entrepre- neurs would be able to pitch their ideas to an assessment panel in a bid to access low-in- terest loans and business mentorship. The new National Tourism Plan, currently being presented to the public in a series of district meetings, recommends government develop a “Public-private Visitor Experience Challenge Fund.” The plan is still in the em- bryonic stage and would require a business case study to establish the structure and funding mechanism. The concept is similar to the popular U.S. television show, “Shark Tank,” where hopeful entrepreneurs try to persuade business leaders to invest in their ideas. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said it could be used to assist enterprising young Caymanians in developing small business to help fill niches in the market. “We’ve worked really hard over the last few GRAND COURT JUDGE CHARGED WITH DUI BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman Islands Grand Court judge was charged Friday with careless driving and driving under the influence following a one- vehicle accident last September. The Cayman Compass has previously iden- tified the judge arrested in connection with the incident as Ingrid Mangatal. According to a police statement, which did not name the judge: “The woman, age 53, ar- rested on suspicion of DUI on Sept. 4, 2017, was charged last Friday, March 2, with care- less driving and DUI.” The judge is due to appear in court on March 15, according to the RCIPS. Emails and calls to the court system seeking the current working status of Justice BVI governor calls for return of Irma evacuees KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Financial services workers who were evacuated from the British Virgin Islands after last September’s hurricanes should return there by the end of March, BVI Governor Gus Jas- pert said last week during his Speech from the Throne. With many law firms and other financial services compa- nies in the BVI also having of- fices here, at least 170 evacuees came to the Cayman Islands after Hurricane Irma devas- tated the BVI on Sept. 6, de- stroying an estimated 80 percent of the homes there. Government was not able to provide numbers on how many evacuees are still here before this issue’s press deadline, but several were at a financial ser- vices conference at The Ritz- Carlton on Friday. One displaced worker said he was unaware of Mr. Jaspert’s statements, but that he already plans to return to the BVI on March 23. The displaced workers were granted temporary work permits to continue carrying out BVI-re- lated business while living here, Cayman’s first female governor says goodbye BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Ending a four-and-a-half year term that made her one of Cayman’s longest- serving governors since the post was es- tablished in the early 1970s, Helen Kilpat- rick bid farewell to the Cayman Islands in a small sending off party at Island Air Monday afternoon. The event was attended by Premier Alden McLaughlin and Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush, as well as Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, senior civil ser- vice leadership and a number of other Leg- islative Assembly members. Shortly after her arrival at the Island Air facility, Speaker Bush told Governor Kil- patrick that he would not have minded her staying in the Cayman Islands after her term in office was up. “You’re one of the few recent gover- nors I’m sad to see go,” Mr. Bush told Ms. Kilpatrick. “Thank you, Mr. Bush, that is a very great honor,” the governor responded. Mr. Manderson will be filling in as the territory’s acting governor until the arrival of new Governor Anwar Choudhury, sched- uled for March 26. “I think it will be a smooth transition, although they’re both coming from very PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Governor Helen Kilpatrick carries our her last inspection of the guard outside Island Air on Monday, just before boarding her flight. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLER PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 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 - 640-FILM (640-3456) ACTS OF VIOLENCE (R) 12:45 I 3:00 I 5:10 I 7:25 I 9:35 JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (PG13) 1:00 I 3:45 I 6:30 WINCHESTER (PG13) 12:40 I 3:05 I 5:30 BLACK PANTHER (PG13) 12:40 I 3:30 VIP I 6:45 I 8:00 I 9:15 9:35 VIP RED SPARROW (R) 12:30 VIP I 3:40 I 9:45 GAME NIGHT (R) 2:30 I 4:55 I 7:20 I 9:45 CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA: OLIVER TWIST (G) 7:00 VIP Witnesses sought in police shooting JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Police have impounded a burgundy SUV believed to have been used as a getaway vehicle in the robberies that sparked a shoot-out between gunmen and armed officers in Grand Cayman, Saturday. The SUV, a Honda CR-V, was reported stolen from a home on Marina Drive earlier on Saturday. Now investiga- tors are calling for witnesses to report any sightings of the vehicle earlier on Saturday. Police picked up the trail of the SUV in the imme- diate aftermath of a hold-up at the Czech Inn in Bodden Town. Another armed rob- bery had occurred at a small store in George Town earlier the same night. An armed response unit chased the SUV through the backroads of Prospect, be- fore the men abandoned the car in Victory Avenue and fled on foot, firing shots at the of- ficers as they gave chase. A K-9 unit was dispatched to the scene but the dogs lost the scent of the suspects in a swampy area nearby, ac- cording to a police press release Sunday. The men were still at large Monday and police are asking the public to report any sightings of the vehicle Saturday, and to come for- ward with any other infor- mation to help catch the two suspected robbers. “These were intolerable acts by persons with a reck- less disregard for our is- lands,” said Deputy Com- missioner Kurt Walton. “It is extremely important that anyone with any information about these robberies, or who may have seen this vehicle earlier in the evening before the robberies, reaches out to us however they can, even anonymously.” Anyone with information should call the George Town police station on 949-4222 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 800-8477 (TIPS).Suspected armed robbers ditched this SUV in Prospect, Saturday. Girls’ Brigade creates a fairyland for tea party More than 200 guests were welcomed by winter fairies, magical wands, pa- rading peacocks and a gleeful goose at the Girls’ Bri- gade Winter Fairyland Tea Party on Saturday. Attendees enjoyed after- noon tea, delectable treats, games, entertainment and fellowship at a private estate in Frank Sound, North Side, according to a press release from the Girls’ Brigade. Debra McLaughlin, the brigade’s national chair, gave the opening remarks. Opening prayer was conducted by the Rev. Christopher Mason, George Town Company chap- lain and United Church mod- erator. Tracy Rankine, acting as a frosty fairy godmother, emceed the event. Attendees took part in a fairy quiz, get-to-know-you bingo, a tea tasting compe- tition and a best-dressed fairy competition. Brigaders and young leaders from the George Town Company also offered manicures, pedicures and face painting. North Side Brigade Com- pany entertained guests with a performance by Thalia McIntosh and a violin duet by Tessani Lodge and Jovante Dixon. There were fairies aplenty at the Girls’ Brigade tea party. Meals on Wheels seek coins to feed the elderly Meals on Wheels will host its annual coin drive later this month to raise money to feed house- bound and disabled seniors throughout Cayman. “Change for Change Coin Drive” will take place March 23-24 across 20 locations in Grand Cayman. Volunteers are greatly needed to assist with this cause, organizers said. The charity is asking for volunteers to solicit funds from the public at key lo- cations. All volunteers will be provided with a collec- tion bucket and a T-shirt, as well as lapel stickers to hand out to those who do- nate. The Meals on Wheels program feeds more than 200 seniors, five days a week islandwide. The feeding of se- niors began as a simple act of Christian kindness by Martha McField, an el- derly widow. On her way to church, she would deliver food to people in need. Her kindness grew into Meals on Wheels in 1997 with the help of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman and her daughter, Beulah McField. Meals on Wheels re- ceives a third of its funding from the Cayman Islands Government, with the bal- ance made up from do- nations, sponsorship and fundraisers such as the an- nual Coin Drive. Davenport Develop- ment Ltd. is sponsoring this year’s Meals on Wheels Coin Drive. Their sponsorship will help to cover the cost of executing the event, in- cluding volunteer shirts, la- bels and more. Interested olunteers can contact info@mealsonwheels.ky for more information. CIFEC TO HOLD VOCATIONAL OPEN HOUSE The Cayman Islands Further Education Centre is holding an open house on Thursday to show- case its internships, voca- tional courses, apprentice- ships and more. In addition to 11 voca- tional courses – art, automo- tive studies, beauty therapy, business, construction, cre- ative media, ICT, health and social care, hospitality, sports and work skills – the school works with 88 em- ployers who provide intern- ship programs where stu- dents work two days per week, attending classes on the other three days. Director Delores Thompson said the school also began an apprentice- ship program last year with the Public Works Depart- ment and is planning to ini- tiate another one in water sports this fall. The school also works with students who need to raise their skills in literacy, math and other core areas in order to perform well on CXC exams. High school students will be attending the technical vocational education and training showcase during the day. But the event is open to the public from 5-6:30 p.m. For more information, call 949-3285. The overturned vehicle involved in Sunday night’s crash in West Bay. Three people inside the vehicle were hurt, one seriously. Three people were hurt in a one-car rollover accident in West Bay late Sunday. The most seriously injured of the three remained hospi- talized Monday with head in- juries. The other two crash vic- tims were treated and released. The crash happened around 8:10 p.m. on Hell Road near Miss Daisy Lane. Police said a silver BMW turned over, receiving ex- tensive damage. Two of the people in- side managed to get out, but the third crash victim had to be extricated by emer- gency personnel. THREE HURT IN ONE-CAR CRASH IN WEST BAY3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2018 Exclusive Luncheon | Friday, March 16, 2018 | 12pm – 3:30pm | Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman Jennifer Thompson - Inspirational speaker and Author of the New York Times Best- Selling Memoir Picking Cotton. Jennifer’s story has inspired audiences around the world appearing on Oprah, 60 Minutes, The Today Show, Good Morning America, 20/20, The View and more. Jennifer Thompson touches the hearts of audiences with a story that is both heartbreaking and uplifting. Her story is one of transforming personal tragedy into a crusade for justice and restoration for the wrongly convicted. By examining choices, consequences and ultimately, forgiveness, she demonstrates the true nature of the human spirit and shows how one person can make a difference. In 1985, a year after surviving a brutal sexual assault, her mistaken testimony led to an innocent man being sentenced to life in prison. DNA testing later identified her true attacker and proved the innocence of Ronald Cotton, who spent 11 years in prison after being wrongly convicted. Through the healing power of forgiveness, reconciliation and the human spirit, Jennifer and Ronald became friends, and together co-authored the New York Times Best-Selling Memoir, Picking Cotton. The best-seller recounts their journeys, the tragedy that brought them together and their mutual belief that apology and forgiveness are important elements of healing. On stage, she recounts her heartening story of overcoming adversity, personal resilience, and how one person can make a difference to achieve improbable outcomes. Jennifer is a nationally-known advocate for criminal justice reform, focusing on the human impact of wrongful convictions, the fallibility of eyewitness testimony, combating sexual violence, and the capacity to forgive. She serves as president of the nonprofit Healing Justice, which she founded after her tragic experience with a flawed criminal justice process. She has successfully lobbied state legislators to change compensation laws for the wrongly convicted, revise police eye witness line- up procedures and for many other causes. Silent Auction for designer handbags Tickets: CI$150 per person (Enjoy complimentary glass of wine, canapés, lunch, dessert buffet and cocktail reception!) CI$1350 per table of 10 Contact Jennifer O’Leary at jennifer.oleary@scotiabank.com or call 815 4313. Brought to you by Volunteers, cadets turn out for Gun Bay cleanup More than 100 volun- teers and 32 cadets from the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps turned up on Sunday morning for the Gun Bay beach cleanup. The event was organized by Claire Hughes, founder of Plastic Free Cayman. She said that over the course of the morning, volunteers picked up more than 1,000 pounds of rubbish on the beach and from surrounding areas. Major Ricardo Henry, deputy commandant of the Cadet Corps, and Major Marlon Levy, adjutant training officer, brought along 32 cadets from Clifton Hunter, Triple C and John Gray high schools, as well as the Marine Detachment, which is made up of pupils from various schools across the islands, to participate in the beach cleanup with a number of other adult super- visors from the Cadet Corps. With the help of Junk, a local trash valet and garbage removal service on island, volunteers sorted through the garbage that was col- lected for recyclables such as glass and plastics, which Junk removed afterward. Some of the more un- usual items that turned up were a traffic cone, a 1990s- era desktop computer and copious amounts of flip- flops and shoes. A number of local orga- nizations were involved in this cleanup in addition to Junk and the Cayman Is- lands Cadet Corps, including Red Sail Sports, A. L. Thomp- son’s, and Tukka Restaurant & Bar in East End. Another beach cleanup is planned for April, and those interested in attending can follow Plastic Free Cayman on Facebook for further information in the coming weeks. Eilidh MacDonald, 3, takes part in the beach cleanup at Gun Bay, East End. - PHOTO: DANIELLE MACDONALD Pink Ladies give to island charities The Pink Ladies are giving away $35,000 in funds which they raised last year at the annual Christmas Bazaar and other events. “Whatever they raise they give away, and now that their main funding from the Christmas Ba- zaar has been collected, it is time to share,” said Faye Lippitt, director of the Pink Ladies. The donations have been disbursed as follows: The National Council of Voluntary Organisations received $10,000; The Pines Retirement Home $10,000; Special Olympics received $4,000; Lighthouse School $5,000; YMCA $5,000; and $1,000 to the National Trust Blue Iguana pro- gram. The Pink Ladies sup- port one of the program’s iguanas, and have named her Pink Lady. Since the Pink Ladies Coffee Shop closed last year, the group has relied heavily upon the Christmas Bazaar for funding. “And likewise, we rely upon our corporate do- nors to help us. Donors such as Dart again donated the space and many items such as tables and chairs, which are necessary to run a successful bazaar,” Ms. Lippitt said. The net income from the bazaar, after expenses, was $23,288, according to the Pink Ladies. This year’s Pink La- dies Christmas Bazaar will be held Nov. 24 at the Arts and Recreation Centre at Camana Bay. The Pink Ladies gather at last year’s Christmas Bazaar. Volunteers picked up more than 1,000 pounds of rubbish on the beach and from surrounding areas.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. Public safety is the bedrock of the Cayman Islands. Upon it is founded our community, our economy and our continuing prosperity. What sets Cayman apart from other islands that have been similarly blessed with sun-kissed shores and turquoise seas is the ever-present feeling of security of self and property. Slowly but inexorably, we may be watching our country’s most valuable asset slip away, not unlike Seven Mile Beach sand through our fingers. Last weekend’s shoot-out between armed robbers and police officers is a new and most dangerous high- water marker in an incoming tide of serious criminality. Consider the circumstances: Czech Inn owner Jiri Zitterbart, his wife and 9-year- old son were closing up shop in their Bodden Town establishment on Saturday night when two men appeared, brandishing weapons and demanding money from the till. Upon receiving the report, police gave chase to a stolen red Honda SUV believed to be the getaway car. The suspects fled, first in the vehicle and then by foot – exchanging gunfire with pursuing officers. The two men escaped and are currently at large – armed and dangerous, as the saying goes – among our populace. The brazen holdup followed another armed robbery earlier in the evening at Rollin Convenience Shop in George Town. Only days before, yet another gunpoint robbery – this one of a 25-year-old man and his pregnant girlfriend – took place outside their Prospect home. Not many years ago, any one of those series of events involving firearms would have been an aberra- tion, unheard of in our tranquil community. Today they have become commonplace. In fact, robberies at stores, gas stations, private resi- dences and public beaches, not to mention gang-related shootings and retaliatory shootings, have become such a regular occurrence that on busy “news days,” they may not even make the front page of the Compass. At the same time, police officers themselves have become targets of attacks – including verbal abuse, physical assaults, and even acts of arson. To date, the response – by police, by politicians and particularly by the populace – has not been commen- surate to the gravity of the situation. Perhaps lulled into comfortable complacency by Cayman’s peaceful past, our country’s officials have been hoping the troubling trends will simply “go away.” They will not. Cancers, be they medical or social, never improve without intervention. And we are not talking about divine intervention. We’re talking about a tough, no-nonsense approach from our soon-to-be governor, our politicians, our police, the Office of Public Prosecutions and, particularly, our courts. Here’s a place to start: Everyone has heard the phrase “hiding in plain sight.” In Cayman, many of our resident malefactors are in “plain sight,” but they’re not hiding because they have no fear of being arrested, prosecuted and successfully convicted. Every time a police officer witnesses an infrac- tion of the law – whether it is a motorbiker doing “wheelies” (with no license tag in sight) or a local resident smoking dope or displaying any other antiso- cial or illegal activity – and decides to turn his or her head, that officer is, in effect, aiding and abetting the breaking of the law. It must stop, and it is Commissioner Derek Byrne’s duty and responsibility, as our chief law ENFORCE- MENT officer, to be certain it does. Millions of people come to our islands to visit, invest and live, lured by the assurance of public safety. The body politic, like the human body, can be only as healthy as its weakest organ. Just as a weak heart can kill a person who is in otherwise excellent health, losing control of public safety with certainty will erode our quality of life and impair our island’s future. We must not allow that to happen. – EDITORIAL – Cancer of crime demands aggressive treatment TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Protect public workers from unions’ coercion WASHINGTON – The Amer- ican Federation of State, County and Municipal Em- ployees (AFSCME) is osten- sibly a public worker union. In truth, it is nothing more than an appendage of the Democratic Party. One hun- dred percent of its political contributions go to Dem- ocrats, and it works tire- lessly to increase government spending and stop Repub- licans who want to reform state government. Should AFSCME be able to force public workers who disagree with its lib- eral agenda to pay union dues and support it? That was the question before the Supreme Court this week, when justices heard oral ar- guments in Janus v. AF- SCME, a case brought by Illinois child-support spe- cialist Mark Janus, who ar- gues that forcing him to contribute to union coffers violates his First Amend- ment rights by compelling him to support speech with which he disagrees. Public worker unions cannot compel nonmem- bers to directly pay for po- litical activities, but in states that have not passed “right to work” laws, they can force public employees to pay an “agency fee” to support the union’s collective bargaining efforts. Of course, the union gets to decide what spending is political, and the fees are usually between 80 and 100 percent of union dues. More- over, to stop paying for the union’s political activities, workers must proactively object – and then get a par- tial refund of what the union claims is the extent of its po- litical spending. This is a scam. The unions know that if they cannot compel workers to pay union dues, most will choose not to do so. In In- diana, when then-Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) signed a “pay- check protection” law bar- ring forced collection of union dues, only 5 per- cent of state employees chose to continue paying – and public worker union membership dropped from 16,408 in 2005 to just 1,490 in 2011. In Wisconsin, when Gov. Scott Walker (R) passed Act 10, which included pay- check protection, AFSCME membership fell by more than half – from 62,818 in 2011 to 28,745 the fol- lowing year. Other public worker unions faced similar losses in membership. And those losses have been sus- tained. According to a Mil- waukee Journal Sentinel analysis, by 2016 Wisconsin had “132,000 fewer union members, mostly teachers and other public workers – enough to fill Lambeau Field and Miller Park, with thou- sands more tailgating out- side.” (Disclosure: I have co- written a book with Walker.) Apparently, when you do not force workers to stay in a union, many choose to leave. Janus wants the same freedom to choose. He ar- gues that all spending by public sector unions is polit- ical spending. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. seemed sympathetic to this type of argument in a similar case that deadlocked two years ago after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, noting that even negotia- tions over wages affect the state budget. “The amount of money that’s going to be allocated to public educa- tion as opposed to public housing, welfare benefits, that’s always a public policy issue,” he said. Justice Anthony M. Ken- nedy got to the heart of the matter this week, when he asked AFSCME lawyer David Frederick, “If you do not pre- vail in this case, the unions will have less political in- fluence?” Frederick admitted they would. “Isn’t that the end of this case?” Kennedy asked. Yes, it is. As Kennedy put it, the question before the court is whether states can “mandate people that object to certain union pol- icies to pay for the imple- mentation of those policies against their First Amend- ment interests.” Liberals say conserva- tives are trying to use the court to break the power of public sector unions. But if the only way they can main- tain their political power is through coercion, then they do not deserve that power in the first place. The reason so many workers quit when given the chance is because they know the unions use their power not to benefit workers but to enrich themselves. In Wis- consin, the teachers unions used collective bargaining to force school districts to buy health plans from union-af- filiated insurers at inflated prices, when they could have gotten much cheaper insur- ance on the open market. Once the unions’ coer- cive power was broken and school districts were able to open their health insur- ance to competitive bid- ding, they saved $404.8 mil- lion over five years – money they were able to put into merit pay increases for teachers, and other class- room improvements. Public union bosses want that money for them- selves. They want to dictate spending decisions to state and local governments, and collect compulsory union dues to perpetuate their po- litical power and line their coffers. The Supreme Court can end this unconstitu- tional coercion. The only way unions will be hurt by this is if the workers they claim to represent reject them. Follow Marc A. Thiessen on Twitter, @marcthiessen. © 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group MARC A. THIESSEN MARC A. THIESSEN 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” Liberals say conservatives are trying to use the court to break the power of public sector unions. But if the only way they can maintain their political power is through coercion, then they do not deserve that power in the first place. 5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2018 It’s a double bubble day! Top up your FLOW phone Monday and Tuesday to double your credit instantly!† Add KYD $17.00 or more via Scotia Online, ATM, or our Mobile App on March 5th and 6th 2018, and enjoy 2X bonus credit PLUS 15 international minutes and 250MB bonus data.† ky.scotiabank.com/click online • mobile • atm † 2X bonus credits plus 15 international minutes plus 250MB free data for KYD 17.00 or more. 100% on-net credit (Flow to Flow voice & SMS), 15 international minutes for calls to U.S., CA & UK landlines and 250MB data. Bonus expires in 3 days. Rewards multiple times during campaign. Offer Valid on March 5th & March 6th, 2018 only. All transactions are final. Court approves Webb’s 7th sentence date BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com By the time Cayman’s Jef- frey Webb is sentenced over his role in the FIFA racke- teering scandal, it will have been nearly three years since he pleaded guilty to seven criminal charges in the investigation. A U.S. federal court judge agreed Friday to delay the Cayman Islands resident’s criminal sentence further – to Sept. 7 – just days be- fore Mr. Webb was due to learn his fate in the bribery scheme. Mr. Webb’s attor- neys requested the delay last week and federal prosecutors voiced no objections. The former FIFA vice pres- ident was arrested in May 2015 and pleaded guilty in No- vember 2015 to seven counts in a U.S. federal court indict- ment alleging he and dozens of other defendants conspired to rig sports marketing con- tracts for various world foot- ball events in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes. Mr. Webb is not the only defendant in the case to have multiple sentencing dates assigned. His successor at CONCACAF (FIFA’s North and Central American and Carib- bean region), Alfredo Hawit, also saw his sentence put back to September, last week. A number of other de- fendants, including former Cayman Islands resident Costas Takkas, have pleaded guilty in the FIFA case. Mr. Takkas received a 15-month sentence on one charge against him last year, with 10 months off for time already served in Swiss detention awaiting extradition to the U.S. The scheme described by U.S. prosecutors alleged Mr. Webb and others at FIFA so- licited bribes from sports mar- keting companies in exchange for directing lucrative broad- cast and commercial rights deals for various football tour- naments to the bribe-payers. Dozens of U.S. banks were used to make those alleged bribe payments to Mr. Webb and others, prosecutors said. It is unclear what Mr. Webb’s fate will be once his U.S. sentence is decided and any jail time assigned is served. The Cayman Islands na- tional is facing separate charges of conspiracy to de- fraud the local government in connection with the CarePay public hospital swipe-card scandal, and Anti-Corrup- tion Commission investiga- tors are looking into another matter involving the Cayman Islands Football Association, of which Mr. Webb was presi- dent for more than 20 years. During earlier U.S. court proceedings, the presiding judge in the case noted that de- portation was a likely result of Mr. Webb’s criminal conviction. However, U.S. District Court Judge Raymond Dearie said that the final decision in the matter was largely out of the court’s hands. “[Deportation] is not a de- cision that I make,” Judge Dearie said during plea pro- ceedings in November 2015, which were released in heavily redacted form in April 2016. “It is a decision made by other authorities, immigra- tion folks,” the judge con- tinued, speaking to Mr. Webb and his attorney. “I bring it to your attention because it is a likely consequence of your conviction.” Since then, the case has been reassigned to another district court judge, Pamela Chen, who will decide sen- tencing later this year. It is likely that Mr. Webb will receive a reduced sen- tence in exchange for his co- operation with U.S. federal prosecutors in the FIFA in- vestigation, but details of any sentencing agreements have never been disclosed. Mr. Webb has a right to appeal the sentence if he feels the court’s decision is unreasonable. Jeffrey Webb TEENAGERS PIONEER RECYCLING INITIATIVE IN WEST BAY MILO DACK mdack@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two teenagers, Jade and Luke Barnard, have begun a small-scale recycling busi- ness in West Bay at the Shores and at Highlands to encourage people to re- cycle their trash. In April last year, Luke Barnard, 15, came up with the idea with his sister, Jade, 13, to earn a little pocket money while doing some- thing to help the environ- ment and his neighborhood. Together, Jade and Luke decided that they would put aside a couple of hours every Sunday morning to collect the recycling that their neighbors put out on the curb and take it to the recycling point at the Foster’s Food Fair in West Bay, charging a small fee of either $5 or $3, respective to whether the recyclables came sorted or unsorted, into glass and plastic and cardboard. “People want to recycle but they don’t always have the time or know-how to do so,” Jade said. “We want to expand this project to other neighborhoods and make it an official business soon.” Currently, Jade and Luke are working with business studies students from the University College of the Cayman Islands under the Ministry of Commerce’s Stu- dent Consulting Program. Their mother Nancy Bar- nard said she was happy with the input, time and ef- fort that the business stu- dents had committed toward helping Jade and Luke grow their business. The siblings have ap- plied for a business license that they hope to be ap- proved in the next couple of weeks, and are also looking toward creating a web- site and convincing friends to get involved with the re- cycling scheme. Luke and Jade Barnard pose next to the recyclable garbage collected from Highlands in West Bay.6 LOCAL NEWS Check out these photos and others by visiting caymancompass.com/photogalleries or on facebook.com/caycompass (and don’t forget to tag yourself and your friends!) TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Plenty of pretty hats and sophisticated fascina- tors were in evidence at the Ariane Dart annual garden tea party fundraiser for the Cayman Is- lands National Gallery’s Education Department Friday afternoon. Held at the garden of Ms. Dart’s Coral Beach Cottage home on West Bay Road, the event, which fea- tured afternoon tea and a live auction, is one of the gal- lery’s main yearly fundraisers. National Gallery director Natalie Urquhart presents Ariane Dart with a sculpture to thank her for her efforts in assisting the gallery. Sherri Bodden-Cowan Kristin Brown, Joanne Brown, Courtney Brown and Amanda Wilson Dara Flowers-Burke, Eileen Keens, Julie Cumber, Debi Bergstrom and Wanda Thompson. - PHOTOS: MAGGIE JACKSON Irene Gut and Berna Thompson-Cummins Kristin Amaya, Francine Jackson, Jennifer Dilbert and Pamela SmallBetty Baraud and Angilynn Baraud Nikki Callendar, Alyssa Manderson and Cassandra SheaMolly Thomas, Trina Savage and Ivana Faltysova Norma Connolly, Alicia Proud, Joanna Virtue-Markman, Taylor Vaughn, Vicki Legge, Wilma Laemmle, Searlina Bodden and Sian WeinzweigThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2018 SAVE THE DATE The Ministry and Department of Tourism Invites You To Talk Tourism at Community Meetings in Your District Join us to help celebrate the record breaking success in Tourism for 2017. Last chance to attend and hear more on what’s to come. Complimentary refreshments and door prizes at each meeting. NORTH SIDE Monday, 12 March Clifton Hunter High School Auditorium 6 p.m. WEST BAY Tuesday, 13 March Sir John A. Cumber Primary School Hall 6 p.m. GRAND CAYMAN TUESDAY, MAR. 6 MUSEUM SPEAKER SERIES: Stephen Broadbelt talks about Recreational Scuba Diving and Tourism in the Cayman Islands. 6 p.m. $10 general admission, $6 members. Complimentary refreshments and free admission to exhibits. THURSDAY, MAR. 8 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: Enjoy Canvas and Mocktails at Art Nest, 7:30-9 p.m., $38, including refreshments. CAYMAN DRAMA SOCIETY: Opening night for Barefoot in the Park. Happy hour, 6:30 p.m. Showtime, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: adults $25; students, $15. Performances continue tomorrow and Saturday, then March 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24. Purchase tickets at www.cds.ky or call 938-1998. FRIDAY, MAR. 9 BRAC SPRING WEEKEND: The Youth Services Unit hosts the Brac Spring Weekend 2018 today and tomorrow. The events for teenagers and young adults are free and open to all. Friday, Brac Youth Forum (Layman E. Scott High School, last two periods of school). 3/3 Basketball Tournament – a junior and senior division (Layman E. Scott High School Courts, 7-10 p.m.) For further information, flyers or registration forms for events, email the Youth Services Unit at camille.angel@gov.ky. SATURDAY, MAR. 10 SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Special Olympics Cayman Islands, in honor of Special Olympics 50th anniversary and the Cayman Islands Chapter’s 30th Anniversary, is hosting a community and athlete Beach Games Fun Day at Public Beach from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Games include volleyball, football and bocce, obstacle course races, and a paddleboard exhibition and trial. Other beach games will be ongoing for fun. Companies are welcome to bring a team and participate, volunteer or give sponsorship. All are welcome to come and get to know the athletes and have fun at the beach. Contact Darrell at 916-2600 for more information. BRAC WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM: Presented by Faith Hospital Women’s Health in association with Cayman First & Rotary Club of Cayman Brac. 6:30 a.m., Cayman Brac Beach Resort. BRAC SPRING WEEKEND: Activities continue. The events for teenagers and young adults are free and open to all. Today, Car Scavenger Hunt (Aston Rutty Civic Centre 1-2 p.m.). Domino Tournament/ Car and Bike Show with Sound-Off (Aston Rutty Civic Centre 4-6 p.m.) Brac Beach Bonfire (South Side Public Beach 7-9 p.m.) For further information, flyers or registration forms for events, other than the beach bonfire, email the Youth Services Unit at camille.angel@gov.ky. PAWS IN THE SAND: Fundraiser for PAWS (Protection of Animal Welfare Society) at Grand Old House. 6:30 p.m. cocktail party and 7 p.m. dinner. Tickets are $135. Silent and live auction, complimentary glass of Prosecco on arrival, complimentary bottle of wine per couple during dinner. Off Broadway Show. Tickets available at PAWS Thrift Shop in Bodden Town, next to Cox Lumber, 916-1731 or 916-3957, or The Lighthouse Restaurant in Breakers, 947-2047. MONDAY, MAR. 12 CDS AGM: The Cayman Drama Society will be holding its annual general meeting at the Prospect Playhouse at 7 p.m. All members are encouraged to attend. NORTH SIDE MEETING: The Ministry and Dept. of Tourism hold a public meeting to discuss tourism. 6 p.m. at Clifton Hunter High School Auditorium. Refreshments and gate prizes. TUESDAY, MAR. 13 WEST BAY MEETING: The Ministry and Department of Tourism hold a public meeting to discuss tourism. 6 p.m. at Sir John A. Cumber Primary School Hall. Refreshments and gate prizes. CDS AUDITIONS: Auditions for The Diary Of Anne Frank take place 6-9 p.m. (with recalls Sat March 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.). The show will be performing Sept. 5-9 and 13-16 with rehearsals from June 26 (Tue/Thu 7-9 p.m., plus Sunday rehearsals in August/September). Email kirstyannosullivan@gmail.com to register interest. We seek actors age 14+. FRIDAY, MAR. 16 SCHOOL FAIR: St. Ignatius Spring Fling 3-6:30 p.m. on the school grounds. Lots of food, fun, games, entertainment and prizes for all ages. IRISH JOG: From Britannia at 5:30 p.m. Registration details can be found on www.ky.butterfieldgroup. com. Cayman’s ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) benefits. FRIDAY, MAR. 23 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Meals on Wheels receives one- third of its funding from the Cayman Islands government and the balance is made up from donations, sponsorship and fundraisers, such as the annual Coin Drive, which takes place today and tomorrow. Volunteers are needed to solicit funds from the public at key locations. They will be provided with a collection bucket, a T-shirt and lapel stickers to hand out to those who donate. Any person or organization willing to assist or “take over” a location from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., contact info@mealsonwheels.ky for more information. SATURDAY, MAR. 24 ORATORICAL CONTEST: The Optimist Club holds its annual oratorical contest for students 18 years and under at the George Town Town Hall. This year’s topic is, “Where are my roots of optimism?” Contact contest chairperson Patrice Hanson at 323-3925 or deputy chairperson Mark Ray at 916-2844. Club meetings are held every first and third Tuesday, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at the Hibiscus Conference Centre at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Learn more about the Optimist Club at www.optimistcayman.com. SUNDAY, MAR. 25 HONOURING WOMEN MONTH: Church service, John Gray Memorial Church, West Bay, 10 a.m. All are invited. FRIDAY, MAR. 30 FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Persons receiving permanent financial assistance benefit must be re-assessed if they have not been assessed since July 1, 2015. Get a form from the Needs Assessment Unit via email nauinfo@gov.ky, on the www.nau.gov.ky website or from the district Community Development Officer. The completed form/supporting documentation must be returned to the NAU by Friday, March 30. Failure to comply will result in payments being placed on hold. For more information, contact the NAU immediately on 946-0024 or 948-8748. GENERAL INTEREST SOLAR IMAGING: An exhibition of digital solar imaging in Cayman by the late Dr. Bill Hrudey. National Gallery, Esterley Tibbetts Highway. FISH FRY: Friday evenings in Lent at St. Ignatius School Canteen. Serving from 5-8 p.m. Dine in or carry out. Menu includes fried or baked cod or snapper with all the trimmings. Proceeds benefit Youth Ministry. CONCH AND WHELK SEASON: The open season for conch and whelk runs until April 30. The legal limit for conch is five per person per day or 10 per boat, whichever is less. The limit for whelk catches is two-and-a-half gallons in the shell, or two-and-a-half pounds of processed whelks, per person, per day. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The fundraiser for PAWS returns with a gathering at Grand Old House Saturday at 6:30 p.m.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Three in custody for importing ganja One defendant has previous drug offenses in Cayman CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three Jamaican nationals appeared in Summary Court on Monday charged with being concerned in the im- portation of approximately 313 pounds of ganja. One of them, Assad Adana Walker, 58, has been convicted in Cayman twice previously. He was sentenced in 2000 to three years for importing ganja. He was sentenced again in 2005 to 12 years’ imprison- ment for being concerned in the possession of some 1,500 to 2,000 pounds of ganja with intent to supply. That offense was committed in 2003 and he had been in custody while awaiting sentence. The Misuse of Drugs Law provides for a maximum sen- tence of seven years for a first offense involving ganja; the maximum for a second or sub- sequent offense is 15 years. With Mr. Walker in the dock were Owen Omar Reid, 37, and Fitzroy Ottey, 41. Mr. Walker is from West- moreland, while the other men are from Hanover. Defense attorney Jona- thon Hughes told Magistrate Valdis Foldats that he did not have any papers in the case and would not be making any bail application. The magistrate remanded the men in custody until March 12, noting that they had no legal right to be on the island. A press release from po- lice indicated that all three were arrested on suspicion of importing ganja and il- legal landing, but no immi- gration charges were brought to court on Monday. It also stated that a .38 caliber re- volver and 49 rounds of am- munition were recovered, but no firearm charges were be- fore the court at this time. A summary of the inci- dent in the release stated that the men were seen aboard a canoe just after 12 a.m. on Friday, March 2. They were chased by the crew of a Joint Marine Unit that was on border protection patrol. “The men tried to evade capture by speeding off; how- ever, they were later spotted by the Air Operations Unit who saw the men throwing packages overboard. Fol- lowing a short pursuit, offi- cers aboard the JMU vessel intercepted the canoe and de- tained the men. A search of the area was conducted and several packages containing ganja were recovered,” the release stated. It was during a search of the packages that the handgun and ammuni- tion were found. The ganja was initially es- timated to weigh around 250 pounds. That quantity, with a minimum street value of $650 per pound, would be worth $162,500, police said. The higher weight at that rate would be worth $203,450. The men are also charged with possession of ganja with intent to supply. The magistrate remanded the men in custody until March 12, noting that they had no legal right to be on the island. different backgrounds,” Mr. Manderson said. “The new governor is a diplomat. [He’ll] engage with the community, be accessible, promoting our good governance and human rights. “[Ms. Kilpatrick] and I had a really great relation- ship. I’m certainly going to miss her. She’s been a great boss.” Ms. Kilpatrick had time for one last police guard re- view outside the Island Air hangar, after which she was driven to her waiting Air Canada flight. The outgoing governor said she would be retiring from the U.K. civil service following the Cayman post and going on vacation in Sri Lanka and Bali shortly after her Cayman departure. She said she’s largely uncertain what the future holds. “The variety of the work and the vibrancy of the beau- tiful Cayman Islands have spoiled me and I would not relish returning to cold, dark London on a full-time basis,” she said. Although Governor Kil- patrick will not be staying in Cayman, her daughter, Olivia Connolly, will be remaining here on a work permit. Ms. Connolly said she’s been offered a six-month contract as a paralegal at a local law firm and that her mom has a place to stay if she wishes to return as a visitor. “I think she’ll come back and visit before long,” Ms. Connolly said. “The best part about [our time in Cayman] is seeing that mum has been the happiest she’s ever been in her life.” and the BVI government passed the Financial Ser- vices (Continuity of Busi- ness) Act, 2017, which al- lowed BVI businesses to temporarily relocate out- side of the territory. The Financial Services (Continuity of Business) Act, 2017 expires on March 31 unless the BVI govern- ment makes an order to ex- tend it. If businesses stay outside the BVI after the expiration date, they will be deemed to have left the territory permanently, the legislation states. Mr. Jaspert said he be- lieves that conditions in the BVI are such that all evac- uees can return. “Our government be- lieves that it has provided reasonable accommoda- tion to the territory’s fi- nancial services players to transition out of and back into the territory as we continue to recover from the effects of the two hurricanes we experi- enced in September 2017,” he said. “It is our govern- ment’s hope, therefore, that the financial ser- vices businesses that had taken advantage of and benefitted from the sun- shine period will now be making preparations to return to the territory no later than March 31 to continue their business operations as required by the various financial ser- vices legislation.” According to BVI Pre- mier Orlando Smith, essen- tial services in the territory have largely been restored. Power has been restored to about 90 percent of the islands, schools are back in session, healthcare services remain fully operational, 70 percent of the public spaces have been cleared of debris, and 75 per- cent of the telecommuni- cations infrastructure has been restored, Mr. Smith said on Feb. 22. “While there are many persons still to re- ceive some essential ser- vices, it is safe to say that the general quality of our lives has remarkably im- proved over the past six months,” he said. years to get tourism where we want it in terms of ar- rivals. Now we have to make sure that Caymanians take advantage,” he said. He said there were oppor- tunities for small business de- velopment, particularly in ac- commodation, transport and attractions. But he believes tourism businesses require more up-front investment for longer-term returns and it can be hard to find financing from commercial banks. He said en- terprising Caymanians could also benefit from the mentor- ship and support structure provided through the fund. “There are currently no investment funds avail- able for a start-up tourism product,” he said. “If you are just coming out of the hospitality school or from university and you see a niche in the market, our thought is there would be a mentor available. You have a coach and you have help to write your business plan and look for funding, and then you deliver a tourism product that is needed.” Mr. Kirkconnell said it could also be used on a small scale to help people develop properties and run them as guesthouses on Airbnb. Mr. Kirkconnell said the new fund could involve reforming the Cayman Islands Development Bank or establishing a com- pletely separate entity. The Development Bank has been beset by prob- lems, including high default rates over the years – at one point approaching 70 per- cent – and in recent times has been largely unable to make small business loans, the pri- mary function of development banks in most jurisdictions. Mr. Kirkconnell acknowl- edged it would need to be substantially reformed if it was to play a role in the new tourism scheme. A Strategic Outline Case seeking to define the struc- ture/governance of the pro- posed tourism fund, the budget, financing, project evaluation and selection pro- cess, is one of the action items outlined in the tourism plan. Tourism business development fund proposed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 BVI governor calls for return of Irma evacuees This Sept. 8 picture shows some of the devastation Hurricane Irma caused in the British Virgin Islands. At least 170 people came to Cayman after the hurricane, and the BVI’s governor is calling for them to return by the end of March. - PHOTO: AP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cayman’s first female governor says goodbye CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Governor Helen Kilpatrick poses for a photograph with her daughter Olivia Connolly, who is remaining in Cayman, and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson at a reception at Island Air Monday immediately prior to the governor’s departure from the Cayman Islands. - PHOTO: BRENT FULLER Mangatal were not immedi- ately returned. She was listed on this week’s judicial cause list on Monday and Wednesday for the Financial Services divi- sion of the Grand Court. Emails and calls to Judge Mangatal’s attorney were not immediately re- turned Monday. Police initially reported the crash on Sept. 5, the day after it occurred, iden- tifying the driver involved as a Grand Court judge. The Compass confirmed through multiple sources that it was Judge Mangatal who had been arrested. According to police, the one-vehicle wreck hap- pened around 10:15 p.m. on Sept. 4 when the vehicle col- lided with a wall along West Bay Road in the vicinity of Lime Tree Bay Avenue. Shortly after the crash, the driver was arrested on suspi- cion of driving under the in- fluence and careless driving. The driver suffered minor injuries. No other vehicles were involved in the incident and no one else was hurt. Previous calls to Chief Jus- tice Anthony Smellie seeking to determine the current em- ployment status of the ar- rested judge were not re- turned. She has continued to be listed on the judicial cause list in the months following her initial arrest. The Judicial Administra- tion office released the fol- lowing statement about the arrest on Sept. 5: “It would be inappropriate for the court to provide comment during the course of the police investigation.” Grand Court judge charged with DUI CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2018 France to introduce fines for catcalls French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb says the government is introducing a $110 fine for street harassment and sexist comments. President Emmanuel Macron’s government is preparing a sweeping new law targeting sexual violence and harassment, to be presented in coming weeks. Cayman Drama Society PROSPECT PLAYHOUSE, RED BAY “Barefoot in the Park” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. PURCHASE TICKETS: Visit www.cds.ky Call Box Office 938-1998 www.cds.ky www.facebook.com/caydrama Dates March 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 Happy Hour 6:30 pm Showtime 7:30 pm Tickets Adults $25 Students $15 186614_HR-Ad-Compass-2colx12-BW.Page 1 2/15/18 2:26:04 PM Euroskeptic parties surge in Italy vote, but no majority ROME (AP) – Two popu- list and stridently anti- European Union political groups – both fierce rivals – surged in Italy’s parliamen- tary election at the expense of the country’s traditional powers, but neither gained enough support to govern alone, preliminary results showed Monday. With no faction win- ning a clear majority in Sunday’s vote, a hung Par- liament was expected and long, fraught negotiations to form a new coalition govern- ment lay ahead. Financial markets opened lower Monday on the news and were volatile. “Ungovernable Italy” head- lined the La Stampa newspaper. Preliminary results re- leased by Italy’s Interior Min- istry showed the center-right coalition winning about 37 percent of the parliamentary vote and the populist 5-Star Movement getting about 32 percent. The center-left coali- tion was far behind with 23 percent support. In an upset, the results showed the populist, right- wing and anti-immigrant League party led by Matteo Salvini surpassed the long- time anchor of the center- right, the Forza Italia party of ex-Premier Silvio Berlus- coni. According to the partial results, the League captured around 18 percent of the vote, while Forza Italia had less than 14 percent. A triumphant Salvini cel- ebrated the victory of the center-right bloc, saying it had won the “right and the duty to govern,” and an- nounced that his party, not Berlusconi’s, would lead that effort. Salvini said he would begin sounding out any potential allies to reach the necessary parliamen- tary majority, but he ruled out any “strange coali- tions,” an apparent refer- ence to a possible alliance with the 5-Stars. “I am and will remain a populist,” he said. He re- peated his belief that joining the common euro cur- rency was a mistake for Italy, but said financial mar- kets shouldn’t fear his par- ty’s leadership. But the anti-establish- ment 5-Stars were the highest vote-getter of any single party, prompting their leader, Luigi Di Maio, to im- mediately assert his right to govern Italy. Di Maio noted Monday that no campaign bloc had obtained a ma- jority and that the 5-Stars had strong showings from north to south. “The fact that we are rep- resentative of the entire na- tion projects us inevitably to- ward the government of the country,” Di Maio said at a news conference in which he took no questions. “Today, for us, it is the start of the Third Republic. And the Third will finally be the republic of citizens.” Monday’s results con- firmed the surging of popu- list, right-wing euroskeptic forces that have swept across Europe and the de- feat of the two main political forces that have dominated Italian politics for decades –Forza Italia and the center- left Democrats. “The vote has radically transformed Italy’s political landscape and its repercus- sions will be long-lasting,” said political analyst Wol- fango Piccoli. Piccoli, the co-founder of the Teneo Intelligence consultancy, said the ne- gotiations to form a coali- tion government would be “prolonged and the out- come uncertain.” Piccoli said the center- right is best positioned to form a government, expected to secure 250-260 seats in the 630-member lower house. Still it will fall short of the 316 needed to con- trol a majority. The 5-Stars are expected to get 230 seats. “The European Union is having a bad evening,” French far-right leader Marine Le Pen tweeted. British far- right, pro-Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage also congratu- lated the 5-Stars. The 5-Star Movement con- siders itself an internet-based democracy, not a party, and views established political parties as a parasitic caste. Since its birth in 2009, the 5-Stars have attracted legions of mostly young Italians who are facing few job prospects and are fed up with Italy’s traditional politicians. The 5-Stars had a remark- ably strong showing in the south, which has long been a stronghold of the center-right and Forza Italia. During the campaign, Di Maio backed off early 5-Star policy to push for a refer- endum to get Italy out of the shared euro-currency group. But 5-Star members, who espouse a range of ide- ology-defying pro-green, anti-bank views, rail against what they say are exces- sive EU rules. “In all these years we have been going against the cur- rent. Now we are starting to fly,” marveled Davide Casa- leggio of the 5-Stars. It will now be up to Pres- ident Sergio Mattarella, a constitutional scholar, to sound out the political par- ties to determine who has the best chances of forming a government. The League, which only captured 4 percent of the national vote in the last general election in 2013, was particularly strong in the north, its traditional base. In Veneto, where it won 11 percent in 2013, it captured around 33 percent this time around. Salvini, who never has held public office in Italy, fed public anger at the EU’s in- ability to help Italy handle the hundreds of thousands of migrants who have flooded into the country after being rescued while crossing the Mediterranean Sea. He had vowed during the campaign to expel 150,000 migrants in his first year, but said Monday that the League’s strong showing was due more to its eco- nomic proposals than its anti-migrant stance. The League has proposed over- turning pension reforms, in- troducing a flat tax and cut- ting bureaucracy. “While some were doing anti-fascist marches in the absence of fascists, we were preparing the future,” Salvini said. Still the anti-migrant stance proved popular. The League surged to more than 20 percent of the vote in Macerata, where a former League candidate shot six African migrants in the elec- tion campaign. The League did not even reach 1 percent there in 2013. Between the League and the 5-Stars, the results showed that the two parties with the most euroskeptic platforms together topped the 50 percent needed to rule Italy. While the two are ri- vals, if they joined together, analysts have called that a “nightmare scenario” for the European Union and the fi- nancial markets. “No, no, no,” Salvini said when asked about the possibility of governing with the 5-Stars. The election results showed a stunning loss for the Democratic Party, the main partner in the center- left government that has ruled Italy since 2013. The Democrats received 25 per- cent of the vote in 2013. Agriculture Minister Maurizio Martina called the outcome “a complete defeat.” In an upset, the results showed the populist, right-wing and anti-immigrant League party led by Matteo Salvini surpassed the longtime anchor of the center-right, the Forza Italia party of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi. Right-wing, anti-immigrant and euroskeptic League’s Matteo Salvini smiles as he arrives for a press conference on the preliminary election results, in Milan, Monday. - PHOTO: APNext >