High of 86 Low of 73 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 SHOULD GOVERNMENT ‘INDEMNIFY’ PUBLIC BOARD MEMBERS? WORLD | PAGE 8 ENVOYS HAIL BREXIT PROGRESS BUT NO IRISH BORDER DEAL ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MARCH 20, 2018 186295_PRINT-Butterfield-Strip-SPage 1 1/15/18 1:38:04 PM Lawmakers indemnify CIMA, liquor boards BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com “Bad faith” decisions made on behalf of Cayman Islands government-appointed boards will not receive legal protection, Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin declared Friday. “We’ve had very bad conduct by one former member of the Liquor Licensing Board, Mr. Woody DaCosta, who, among other things, appears to have fabricated [meeting] minutes and, it seems, manufactured a meeting which did not occur,” Mr. McLaughlin told the Legis- lative Assembly. “Absolutely terrible behaviors … and the Cabinet moved as it needed to and terminated his appointment.” Mr. McLaughlin’s comments came after lawmakers approved emergency deeds of in- demnity Friday evening for members of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority board of directors, as well as for the Liquor Licensing Boards of Grand Cayman and the Sister Is- lands. Indemnities are personal protections for members of boards or public entity staff members that generally protect them from personal liability arising from any legally er- roneous decisions made during the course of their official duties. Put another way, the gov- ernment or the entity is legally responsible for such a decision, not the person directly. When contacted by the Compass, Mr. DaCosta declined to comment but referred to a statement he made Monday morning on the radio program Cayman Crosstalk. On that show, Mr. DaCosta repeatedly referred to the premier as “Misleading McLaughlin,” and said the statements made against him were libelous. “Misleading McLaughlin openly slan- dered my reputation with misleading state- ments, such as but not limited to, that I acted in bad faith while acting as chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board for Grand Cayman,” he said. “The government’s very own internal auditors deemed that my actions were made in good faith.” An Internal Audit Service inquiry into the Liquor Licensing Board published last Sep- tember determined that Mr. DaCosta and the board acted in good faith, despite finding that the members approved a gas station’s SOLID ECONOMIC EXPANSION IN 2017 The Cayman economy grew at a rate of 2.4 percent in the first nine months of last year. The latest available gross domestic product figures reported by the Economics and Sta- tistics Office show that the economic perfor- mance was broad-based and driven mainly by growth of the construction industry, hotels and restaurants, electricity and water supply, and business activities. Tourism-related businesses were sup- ported by a rebound in air arrivals which grew by 5.3 percent. However, cruise arrivals during the period declined. The finance and insurance sector, Cayman’s largest sector, continued its recent perfor- mance, expanding by 1.2 percent. Especially, new company registrations during the period rose by 14.2 percent to 9,625, while new part- nership registrations increased by 13.8 per- cent to 2,821. The number of work permits issued rose by 2.7 percent to 23,723 year-on-year but dropped by 1.7 percent compared to the pre- vious quarter ending in June. The unemployment rate was revised up to 4.9 percent from 4.3 percent in connection with an estimated slowdown in employment in the construction industry, the ESO’s third- quarter economic report showed. The solid performance of the economy in the first three quarters of the year combined with expectations of robust growth in the fourth quarter has resulted in an upward re- vision of the full-year forecast year to 2.4 per- cent from 2.1 percent, the ESO said. Central government recorded an overall surplus of $115 million in the first nine months of 2017, an improvement from the surplus of $114.1 million a year ago. New ICCI president lays out vision MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com The new president of the International College of the Cayman Islands says he wants to make campus offerings more ac- cessible and, in doing so, make an impact on the number of Caymanians with degrees in higher education. Byron “Pete” Coon, 67, whose appoint- ment was announced last week, said he is disturbed by the fact that only 30 percent of Caymanians have college degrees. “Why are we still having this statistic?” Mr. Coon asked. “We have to change that. If we don’t, the entire workforce at the upper levels will be expatriates.” Part of the problem may be that people on the island are unaware of some of the educational opportunities available here. “I ran into some people the other day who had not heard of ICCI,” he said, “and they were born here.” ICCI opened in 1970. Its programs have typically been geared toward working students. Most course offerings are in the evening. The school specializes in business studies. Mr. Coon thinks more can be done to make the school more welcoming. “How can we make it more comfort- able for you to go to school?” he said. “It’s Byron R. Coon, the new president of ICCI. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL TUESDAY MARCH 20, 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) TOMB RAIDER 3D (PG13) 12:35 2D VIP I 12:50 I 3:40 2D 7:05 I 9:50 2D DEATH WISH (R) 1:15 I 4:00 I 7:15 I 9:55 BLACK PANTHER (PG13) 12:40 I 3:25 VIP I 3:55 I 7:00 9:25 VIP I 10:00 RED SPARROW (R) 3:50 I 9:45 PETER RABBIT (PG) 12:20 I 2:40 I 5:00 I 7:20 I 9:40 SAMSON (PG13) 1:00 I 7:10 CLASSICS @ THE MOVIES: SPACE BALLS (PG) 7:00 VIP Some wanted shooting suspect forcibly committed in 2016 Maduro’s cryptocurrency ‘genius’ once pushed US sanctions SIX MONTHS AFTER MEXICO QUAKE RESIDENTS STILL CAMP OUTSIDE HOMES CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – A chief strategist of Venezuela’s government-backed crypto- currency is a former U.S. con- gressional intern who once organized protests against the same socialist admin- istration he’s now helping to circumvent U.S. finan- cial sanctions. Gabriel Jimenez, 27, was catapulted to something of tech stardom in Venezuela last month when he stood alongside President Nicolas Maduro and two Russian businessmen on national TV signing a contract to position the petro, as the fledgling currency is known, among in- ternational investors. “It’s a company founded and led by young Venezu- elan geniuses, boys and girls of Venezuela, who have one of the most technologi- cally advanced blockchain companies in the world,” a beaming Maduro said at the petro’s unveiling, refer- ring to Jimenez’s company, The Social Us. It was a remarkable rein- vention for Jimenez. Maduro has repeatedly hailed the petro as a way to “overcome the financial blockade” by the Trump ad- ministration that prevents his cash-strapped govern- ment from issuing new debt. But Jimenez until recently had been agitating for the very same actions to punish Venezuela’s leader for jailing his opponents and destroying the oil-rich economy. A lawyer by training who describes himself as an “in- novation enthusiast,” Jimenez spent several years working at a Dominican Republic- based bank where his father was a top manager. The bank collapsed in 2014 and his fa- ther was among several Ven- ezuelan executives charged by the Caribbean nation with defrauding depositors of $30 million. After college Jimenez also started traveling to the U.S. for English and summer graduate classes at Harvard and George Mason Universi- ties. In 2013, he started The Social Us, registering the company in Florida, as a web page and app developer. In 2014, Jimenez worked five months as an intern in Washington for Miami Republican Ileana Ros- Lehtinen, one of Maduro’s fiercest critics. A handwritten survey he filled out upon being hired, a copy of which was provided by her office, listed in broken English that his goals for the internship were gaining “knowledge and experience about the defence of democracy.” Colleagues remember him as a spirited anti-government crusader who helped orga- nize a caravan, known as the Trip For Freedom, in which thousands of Venezuelan ex- iles traveled by bus to Wash- ington to pressure the Obama administration to slap sanc- tions on Maduro’s govern- ment. In photos of the event, he can be seen standing on a podium with Ros-Lehtinen at the Capitol addressing sup- porters in front of an Amer- ican flag and photos of Ven- ezuelan students allegedly tortured by security forces. Jimenez in an interview defended his work for the gov- ernment as serving a greater, non-political purpose: to em- power Venezuelans struggling to feed themselves amid four- digit inflation. MEXICO CITY (AP) – Under a patchwork shelter of overlapping tarps and re- purposed vinyl advertise- ments, several dozen resi- dents of 18 Independence Street pack cheek by jowl into donated tents in the street near their building, which was damaged in the Sept. 19 earthquake. Six months after the temblor, improvised camps like this one erected by dis- placed residents are among the most visible signs that not everyone has moved on from the earthquake that killed 228 people in Mexico City and 141 more elsewhere. Mexico City Recon- struction Commissioner Edgar Oswaldo Tungui Ro- driguez said there are 27 such camps around the capital, but denied that people were living in any of them. Rather, he said, quake victims had just posted guards to watch over their property. Camps visited by Asso- ciated Press journalists of- fered a different reality. Maria Patricia Rodri- guez Gonzalez has been living under tarps on the sidewalk near the Indepen- dence Street building with her 13-year-old son and 27- year old daughter for the past six months. The residents are still allowed to enter the building, but nobody risks staying there. The bedroom floor in Rodriguez’s apartment has sunk since the earth- quake. The ceiling sags and plaster has fallen from the walls. Afraid to use the bathroom there, she heats water on a gas burner under the tarps and manages a sort of bath in- side a portable toilet on the sidewalk. At first, Rodriguez and other residents say, there was a lot of soli- darity in the neighborhood. Some neighbors let them use their bathrooms and shared food after the mag- nitude 7.1 quake. But as the days turned to weeks and then to months, senti- ments shifted. MIAMI (AP) – Documents show some officials were so concerned about the mental stability of the student ac- cused of last month’s Florida high school rampage that they decided he should be forcibly committed. But the recommendation was never acted upon. Cruz is accused of the shooting rampage that killed 14 students and three school employees at Mar- jory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland on Feb. 14. In addition, 17 people were wounded. A commitment under the law would have made it more difficult if not impossible for Nikolas Cruz to obtain a gun legally. The documents in the criminal case against Nikolas Cruz, which were obtained by The Associated Press, show school officials and a sher- iff’s deputy recommended in September 2016 that Cruz be involuntarily committed for a mental evaluation. The documents are part of Cruz’s criminal case in the shooting. They also show that he had written the word “kill” in a notebook, told a class- mate that he wanted to buy a gun and use it, and had cut his arm supposedly in anger because he had broken up with a girlfriend. He also told another student he had drunk gasoline and was throwing up. Calls had even been made to the FBI about the possibility of Cruz using a gun at school. The documents were pro- vided by a psychological as- sessment service initiated by Cruz’s mother called Hen- derson Behavioral Health. The documents show a high school resource officer who was also a sheriff’s deputy and two school counselors recommended in September 2016 that Cruz be com- mitted for mental evaluation under Florida’s Baker Act. That law allows for involun- tary commitment for mental health examination for at least three days. Such an involuntary com- mitment would also have been a high obstacle if not a complete barrier to legally ob- taining a firearm, such as the AR-15 type rifle used in the Stoneman Douglas massacre on Feb. 14, authorities say. There is no evidence Cruz was ever committed. Co- incidentally, the school re- source officer who recom- mended that Cruz be “Baker Acted” was Scot Peterson – the same Broward Sheriff’s Office deputy who resigned amid accusations he failed to respond to the shooting by staying outside the building where the killings occurred. David S. Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor, said that an involuntary commit- ment would have been a huge red flag had Cruz attempted to buy a firearm legally. “If he had lied, hope- fully the verification of the form would have pulled up the commitment paperwork,” Weinstein said. The documents do not say why Cruz was not com- mitted under the Baker Act or whether he may not have qualified for other reasons. The law allows a law enforce- ment officer such as Peterson to initiate commitment under the Baker Act. An attorney for Peterson did not immediately re- spond to an email seeking comment Sunday. Cruz, 19, is charged in a 34- count indictment with killing 17 people and wounding 17 others in the attack. He faces the death penalty if con- victed, but his public defender Melisa McNeill has said he would plead guilty in return for a life prison sentence. In the Henderson Be- havioral Health documents, Cruz’s mother Lynda is quoted as saying she had fresh con- cerns about her son’s mental state after he punched holes in a wall at their home in Parkland. The clinicians at Henderson came to the home for interviews and said Cruz admitted punching the wall but said he did so because he was upset at a breakup with his girlfriend. Cruz also admitted cutting his arm with a pencil sharpener. He also told the clinician he owned only a pellet gun and was not capable of doing “serious harm” to anyone. The documents show that Cruz was very much on the radar screen of mental health professionals and the Bro- ward County school system, yet very little appears to have been done other than these evaluations. Other red flags have also surfaced, including calls to the FBI about Cruz’s po- tential to become a school shooter and numerous visits by county law enforcement officials to his home – both before his mother died in No- vember and after, when he lived briefly with a family friend in Palm Beach County. Again, very little was done. It’s not clear from the doc- uments who the recommen- dation was forwarded to or why it was not followed up. Nikolas Cruz is led out of the courtroom after an arraignment hearing at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Wednesday. - PHOTO: AP POLICE RECORDS OFFICE TO CLOSE EARLY WEDNESDAY The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service has advised that its Criminal Records Office and the Se- curity and Firearms Li- censing Unit in Wind- jammer Plaza on Walkers Road will close early on Wednesday, March 21. Both offices will be closed from 2 p.m. in order to facilitate a staff meeting.3 LOCAL&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 20, 2018 Three remanded for ganja and gun Topless cruise heading to Cayman 4-YEAR-OLD GIVES BIRTHDAY MONEY TO SHARK CONSERVATION JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com An adult hospitality group has announced plans for a “topless cruise” to the Carib- bean, with stops in Mexico and Grand Cayman. The Original Group, which runs adult-themed re- sorts in Mexico, revealed last week it would be orga- nizing a Temptation Carib- bean Cruise – a five-night voyage where clothing ap- pears to be optional. The company, which markets itself as a “play- ground for grown-ups,” said in a statement to Travel- Pulse that the cruise would depart Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 13, 2020. According to the state- ment, the group runs Can- cun’s number one “adult-cen- tric resort” and specializes in quality services in a care- free atmosphere. “Our new Temptation Ca- ribbean Cruise is part of an ambitious global plan to continue expanding and es- tablishing ourselves as the leaders of the adult travel in- dustry worldwide,” said CEO Rodrigo de la Pena. Any passengers dis- embarking in Grand Cayman may encounter a less carefree approach to public nudity. Various travel and tourist guides advise that topless bathing is banned on the island and the Towns and Communities Law in- dicates that anyone who “in any thoroughfare or public space, indecently ex- poses his or her person” is guilty of an offense and li- able on conviction to a fine of $1,000 or six months imprisonment. Phoebe Luijten, a first- year student at Monte- sorri by the Sea, decided to forego presents for her birthday party this year and instead raise money for Shark Conservation Cayman. The 4-year-old girl re- ceived $340 from guests at her birthday party to give to Shark Conservation Cayman, a collaboration between the Cayman Islands Department of Environment and Marine Conservation International. When asked why Phoebe choose Shark Conserva- tion Cayman, she said, “because they are good for the environment.” To find out more about Shark Conservation Cayman, visit www.sharkconservationcayman.com. Canoe intercepted in South Sound last week CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three Jamaican na- tionals were remanded in custody after appearing in Summary Court Monday for charges relating to the im- portation of more than 500 pounds of ganja and an unli- censed firearm. The defendants, all from Westmoreland, were iden- tified as Charles Rose, 40; Marvin Brown, 34; and An- drew Folkes, 45. They were all represented by attorney Prathna Bodden, who advised that she was not making any bail application at this time. No details of the alle- gations against the men were mentioned in court. The charges relate to an incident that occurred on Wednesday, March 14, when the Joint Marine Unit inter- cepted a canoe in the South Sound area of Grand Cayman. The three defendants are charged with having in their possession approximately 522 pounds of ganja with in- tent to supply; being con- cerned in the importation of that same ganja; illegal landing; and possession of an unlicensed Virginian Dragoon revolver and five bullets. Ms. Bodden asked for the papers in the case and Magistrate Valdis Foldats directed that she receive them by March 22. He re- manded the men in custody until Tuesday, March 27, by which time it was expected that Ms. Bodden would be able to take instructions from the men. Later, during another matter, Ms. Bodden told the court that the three men were being kept at the Fairbanks Detention Centre because Northward Prison was full. The charges relate to an incident that occurred on Wednesday, March 14, when the Joint Marine Unit intercepted a canoe in the South Sound area of Grand Cayman. This canoe was seized in Wednesday’s police operation off South Sound. - PHOTO: RCIPS Shark project officer Joahnna Kohler with Phoebe Luijten, who donated her birthday money to Shark Conservation Cayman. The Temptation Caribbean Cruise is scheduled to arrive in Grand Cayman in February 2020. The company, which markets itself as a “playground for grown-ups,” said in a statement to TravelPulse that the cruise would depart Tampa on Feb. 13, 2020. Bolivia takes dispute with Chile over sea access to International Court of Justice THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – Bolivia made an emotional appeal Monday for the In- ternational Court of Justice to order Chile to enter talks over granting the landlocked South American nation ac- cess to the Pacific Ocean, saying the dispute will re- main a source of conflict if it is not resolved. Bolivia lost its only sea- coast to Chile in a war be- tween from 1879 to 1883, and has been demanding ac- cess to the Pacific for gener- ations. Bolivia also accuses Chile of reneging on pledges to negotiate. “For 139 years, Bolivia has suffered the historical injustice of becoming land- locked,” former Bolivian President Eduardo Rodri- guez Veltze told judges sit- ting in the ornate Great Hall of Justice at the world court’s headquarters, the Peace Palace. “Restoring Bo- livia’s sovereign access to the sea would make a small difference to Chile, but it would transform the des- tiny of Bolivia.” Chile argues that its border with Bolivia was set- tled in a 1904 treaty and that it’s not under any legal ob- ligation to negotiate. Chile’s lawyers will present their case later this week. Prof. Payam Akhavan, a lawyer representing Bolivia, said that despite the treaty, Chile had made repeated pledges to find a solution to the dispute. “If the 1904 treaty set- tled all issues for all times, if there was no remaining dispute, why did the parties continue to negotiate sover- eign access for more than a century?” he said. “This case is not an aca- demic exercise. It is not mere political posturing,” Akhavan told judges. “The people have suffered real and con- tinuing injury. Chile cannot sweep this dispute under the carpet. It will remain a con- stant source of conflict until it is resolved.” Aymara people stand alongside a portion of a giant Bolivian Naval flag in rural Bolivia. A narrow strip of blue stretched for more than 150 miles as part of a demonstration of the country’s demand for sea access. - PHOTO: APThe 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. In Cayman we have a usually invisible, often opaque, powerful and largely unaccountable level of government operating off most radar screens. We refer to the country’s “appointed bodies” – the well in excess of 100 boards, commissions, commit- tees and tribunals that deliberate on matters ranging from financial services regulation, to the issuance of building and work permits, to business licensing and the administration of health insurance and pensions … and everything in between. In almost any activity government is involved in, it is a safe bet there are corresponding appointed bodies, which oftentimes beget “twins” or even “triplets.” Create a new board and we can almost guarantee an “appeals tribunal” will not be far behind. The propaga- tion of such a multiplicity of public boards, arguably, is a greater threat to our peace of mind and quality of life than our overly fecund lionfish or green iguanas. We are becoming overwhelmed by them and the hundreds of politically appointed individuals who comprise their membership. For the most part, these boards conduct their business largely unnoticed, surfacing only under exceptional circumstances (usually a scandal, a court case or a news story). Which brings us to today’s topic: Readers will recall that last fall the Liquor Licensing Board attracted much attention when it was revealed that, under the leadership of (now former) Board Chairman Woody DaCosta, official records were altered in an attempt to undo decisions made in relation to “Sunday liquor sales” at a Red Bay convenience store. At the time, the revelations repeatedly made the front page of the Compass, including a rare Page One editorial in which we called for the en masse resigna- tion of the entire board, and again today, after Premier Alden McLaughlin accused Mr. DaCosta of “very bad conduct.” (Mr. DaCosta, as we also report today, refutes the premier’s allegations.) Nevertheless, despite the actions of the Liquor Licensing Board and its former chairman, the Leg- islative Assembly on Friday approved “emergency deeds of indemnity” for members of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority board of Directors and the Liquor Licensing Boards of Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands. The move protects individual members of those boards (Mr. DaCosta, by name, was specifically exempted from protection) from being held personally liable for any actions performed in their official capaci- ties – provided the actions were taken in “good faith.” In discussion, Commerce Minister Joey Hew said the Liquor Board debacle had made it “next to impos- sible” to find replacements for Mr. DaCosta and for the board’s deputy chairman. Premier McLaughlin was quick to point out “bad faith” decisions, such as the apparent fabrication of meeting minutes, would not be covered under the new protections. Attorney General Sam Bulgin said some CIMA board members were concerned they were not suffi- ciently protected from being held personally liable for their official actions under previous law. We acknowledge and appreciate the dilemma: Cayman’s “best and brightest” are unlikely to serve on boards if they put themselves and their families at financial or reputational risk. However, we also have concerns about individuals’ rights to pursue remedies for wrongs done to them by the actions of boards – by one, some or all of its members. Frankly, we are puzzled by Mr. McLaughlin’s and Mr. Hew’s condemnation of Mr. DaCosta’s actions but exoneration (and indemnification) of the collective Liquor Licensing Board, which either participated in or, at the least, remained silent once alleged wrongdoings became widely known. The key question cannot be avoided: Should indi- vidual board members, who either participate in, or become aware of, misdeeds by their boards enjoy the protection of indemnification? – EDITORIAL – Should government ‘indemnify’ public board members? TUESDAY MARCH 20, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Castro’s survival plan may be crumbling ROGER F. NORIEGA The more you know about Cuba’s sorrows and who caused them, the less hopeful you will be that any good will come from a “transi- tion” in April being managed by the Castro clan. However, there is real hope for 11 mil- lion Cubans if Castro’s sur- vival plan crumbles – as the regime loses the windfalls it expected from President Obama’s ill-conceived “eco- nomic opening” and from its parasitic relationship with Venezuela. Obama scrapped the rea- sonable human rights and democracy standards that are U.S. law to grant unilat- erally the Castro regime dip- lomatic recognition and to boost trade and tourism. That policy ignored the fact that the Castros dictate the terms of engagement – if you do business on the island, your partner is the regime, not the people. Soon after Obama’s photo- op in Havana, it became clear the only business deals to be had in the anemic Cuban economy were with GAESA – a state-owned firm cre- ated to channel cash to the military that is managed by Raul Castro’s son-in-law, Gen. Luis Alberto Rodriguez Lopez-Callejas. GAESA con- trols about 80 percent of the Cuban economy. Its tourism branch, GAVIOTA, operates 40 percent of all the island’s hotels and 60 percent of its high-end lodging. Obama’s shortsighted concessions represented a boon not merely to the re- gime but directly to the Castro family. Far from making a democratic tran- sition more likely, these sweetheart deals buoyed the Castros’ hopes for a dy- nastic succession. However, in June, Presi- dent Trump blocked those benefits by forbidding trans- actions with GAESA, in his first step toward re- versing the counterproduc- tive Obama measures. Once Trump empowers his own team in the State Depart- ment, this continuing policy review may lead to breaking diplomatic relations. After all, under Obama’s strategy, U.S. diplomats assigned to the re- opened embassy in Havana practically abandoned the courageous cadre of Castro critics. Today, only a few U.S. diplomats remain in Havana after suspicious “health at- tacks” did physical damage to two-dozen Americans – likely with the complicity of the regime. The second unsteady pillar of Castro’s survival strategy is looting Vene- zuela. The Castro brothers backed the revolutionary Hugo Chavez and engineered the succession of power to Nicolas Maduro in 2013 to ensure the flow of cash and free oil to Cuba. Thousands of Cubans are part of Maduro’s ruthless in- ternal security force. And, se- nior Cuban military officers – including Castro’s favorite general Lopez-Callejas – play an integral role in the corrupt regime that has pillaged bil- lions in Venezuelan oil rev- enue and that profits from cocaine trafficking. Today, Venezuela’s economy has collapsed, and hunger, violence and re- pression torment its people. What many observers do not realize is that this tragedy is man-made – straight out of Castro’s playbook. By deci- mating the private sector, domestic production and food imports, Venezuelans are rendered dependent on the regime or too dis- tracted to resist. Here, too, the Trump ad- ministration is cracking down. Since February 2017, the Treasury Department has levied financial sanctions on Maduro, his vice president and key cronies for their involvement in drug traf- ficking, terrorism, corrup- tion or repression. Mexico, Colombia, Canada and, re- cently, the European Union have adopted similar mea- sures to undermine the cor- rupt regime. A regional dip- lomatic effort led by South American countries recently rejected a scheme by Maduro to keep power by staging phony elections. Clearly, ending the illegal regime in Caracas will be a fatal blow to the bankrupt dictator- ship in Havana. On April 19, Raul Castro will stage his own political transition, passing the pres- idency to handpicked suc- cessor Miguel Mario Diaz- Canel – whose own hardline views offer no hope for meaningful reform. Indeed, Castro is expected to retain the leadership of the pow- erful Communist Party and intends to claim a seat in the National Assembly. The aging dictator has ensured that the security apparatus will remain in the hands of his son, Ale- jandro Castro Espin, and that management of the country’s economy will stay in the family. However, these best-laid plans may be undone by the reversal of the Obama eco- nomic concessions and the disintegration of the Maduro regime in Venezuela. In addition to economic sanctions, the Trump admin- istration should adopt inno- vative programs to commu- nicate with the Cuban people and to help the country’s in- dependent political activists prepare for an orderly tran- sition to self-government. At long last, we must reject the illusion that the Cas- tros have any right to hold power or any interest in reforming Cuba. Roger F. Noriega was U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States and assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere Affairs from 2001 to 2005. He is a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. 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” Today, only a few U.S. diplomats remain in Havana after suspicious “health attacks” did physical damage to two-dozen Americans – likely with the complicity of the regime.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 20, 2018 Adopted British woman seeks Cayman connections MILO DACK mdack@pinnaclemedialtd.com A couple living in the U.K. has made an appeal to find relatives of Irwin Moralis Nickelson, who died in Cayman Brac in 1998. It is believed that Mr. Nickelson was married to Marion Price, who was the mother of Mar- garet Wendy Harris. Mrs. Harris was ad- opted at the age of six weeks and was led to believe that her birth mother had died shortly after, although this was later proved to be in- correct. Mrs. Harris and her husband Peter have been at- tempting to trace Mrs. Har- ris’s family history. Through research they have carried out, they believe Mrs. Har- ris’s late mother was Mr. Nickelson’s second wife. The Harrises say Marion Price was married to Mr. Nickelson in Stepney, London, and the marriage lasted three years. Ms. Price went by the name Kay Marion Nich- olson on the marriage cer- tificate, with a distinct dif- ference in the way that the surname is spelled. Mrs. Harris believes it is possible that family mem- bers of Mr. Nickelson still live in Cayman and is asking that anyone who may have been related to him, or who may know someone who is, to reach out to her. “I realise that it is very much a long shot but it is possible that there are rela- tives of Mr. Nickelson (Nich- olson) living in the Cayman Islands who may have mem- ories or records of my birth mother’s relationship with him – possibly even photo- graphs,” said Mrs. Harris in an email. “It would be abso- lutely wonderful if I could see a picture of her because the one photograph I do have is from when she was very young and that has not been positively identified in any event.” Mr. Nickelson and his parents are buried in Creek Cemetery in Cayman Brac. His father, Henry Thomas Nickelson, passed away in 1967 and his mother, Hilda Adina McLean Nickelson, in 1975. Birth records state that Irwin Moralis Nickelson was one of nine children born to Henry Thomas. Anyone who may have information regarding relatives of Mr. Nickelson are asked to email harris@libracom.u-net.com. Peter and Margaret Harris, son-in-law and daughter of (Kay) Marion Price-NicholsonThe memorial headstone of Irwin Moralis Nickelson, who died in 1998, is at the Creek cemetery on Cayman Brac. ‘Colour Me Purple’ event supports women’s empowerment Hundreds of people par- ticipated in the Colour Me Purple 5K Walk/Run on Sat- urday and Sunday morning, proceeds of which go to sup- port empowerment programs for women and youth. Saturday’s walk and run took off from Kaibo, and Sunday’s event took place at Smith Cove. Walkers started at 6:30 a.m. and runners launched at 7 a.m. The event was a part of the Department of Counsel- ling Services’ “Honouring Women Month” celebrations. For more information on Honouring Women Month, call the Family Resource Centre at 949-0006 or email frc@gov.ky. Dozens of walkers woke up early on Sunday morning to participate in the Colour Me Purple Walk/Run at Smith Cove. - PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Three runners are ‘colored purple’ Sunday morning at Smith Cove. Joggers race through clouds of purple dust Sunday morning at the Colour Me Purple Walk/Run. Powder fills the air as runners take part in Sunday’s Colour Me Purple run.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 TUESDAY MARCH 20, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS application to sell alcohol on Sundays, then qui- etly reversed the decision and doctored official re- cords last year. Commerce Minister Joey Hew said during Fri- day’s debate on the indem- nity measures that last year’s controversy had put prospective board mem- bers on edge, after a Li- quor Licensing Board de- cision to first allow, then disallow, the sale of al- cohol on Sundays at a local gas station con- venience store. The situation made it “next to impossible” to find replacements for Mr. DaCosta, who was then acting chairman of the board, as well as for the board’s deputy chairman, Mr. Hew said. Eventually, veteran board member Noel Williams stepped in to the chairman’s post. However, Mr. McLaughlin warned, even with the newly approved legal protections, actions such as those taken by Mr. DaCosta would not be tol- erated and could have per- sonal legal ramifications for those involved. “When you are given a role such as deputy chairman of the Liquor Li- censing Board and you be- have in such a way, you cannot expect to continue in that role or expect the government to speak on your behalf,” the premier said. “Those actions were actions taken in bad faith. If it has never been said before, the public needs to understand why Mr. Woody DaCosta is no longer the acting chairman or deputy chairman of the Liquor Li- censing Board.” It was not only mem- bers of the Liquor Li- censing Board who were concerned about personal legal protections. Financial Services Min- ister Tara Rivers said Friday that several mem- bers of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority board of directors had “expressed a reluctance to continue in their roles” without a deed of indemnity. The concern, according to Attorney General Sam Bulgin, arises over the adoption of the govern- ment’s Public Authorities Law, which regulates the operation of statutory au- thorities like CIMA. The Public Authori- ties Law protects board members from liability arising from decisions, save in cases of bad faith or negligence. Mr. Bulgin said the word “negligence” was newly introduced in the authorities law and some CIMA board members were concerned it did not offer enough protection. Lawmakers agreed to issue indemnity protections for CIMA and the liquor board members Friday, but Bodden Town West MLA Chris Saunders asked what protections might be in place for other board mem- bers in Cayman. The government cur- rently appoints well more than 100 boards and com- missions to fulfill various roles within the public sector. “The question is, where do we stop?” Mr. Saunders said. Mr. Bulgin said it was likely a matter of amending the Public Authorities Law to provide what board members felt was adequate protection, but government has not yet given any in- dication as to whether it would do so. Although government expenditures grew slightly faster (2.1 percent) than revenue (1.8 percent), total revenue outweighed gov- ernment spending in absolute terms. The increase in revenue was generated mainly from domestic taxes on goods and services, including ac- commodation and financial service fees. In contrast, the rise in expenditure resulted from a sharp increase in cap- ital spending. Central govern- ment’s outstanding debt dropped to $464 million as of September 2017 from $498.7 million recorded a year earlier. painful for me to see stu- dents who want to come to college so bad, but they may be carrying some luggage and they’re not very good in math or language and they have to take remedial courses.” Those courses, he said, not only cost students addi- tional money, but they do not count toward degree work. Mr. Coon said he likes the idea of offering free work- shops in math and English on the weekends for prospec- tive students. “I have already been writing a five- to seven-year strategic plan,” he said. “In three years, I want to re- duce remedial coursework by 50 percent.” He also wants to intro- duce some creative ways of helping students with fi- nancing their education. One of his ideas is to have ICCI students tutor those in sec- ondary or primary grades in exchange for part of their tuition costs. A native of Florida, Mr. Coon’s own education career began in 1974 as a primary school teacher. He didn’t last long. “The children chewed me up and spit me out for break- fast,” he said. He ended up instead at Florida’s Department of Transportation, working with property owners to secure rights of way for state and federal highways. After two decades, he decided to go back to school. He earned a bachelor’s degree in entomology and nematology from the Univer- sity of Florida in 1997, fol- lowing it up with a master’s and Ph.D. in the same sub- ject. During his time as a stu- dent, he said, he worked for the university. In 2009, he took a posi- tion at Argosy University in Illinois, working at both the Chicago and Schaumburg campuses. He eventually be- came an associate vice presi- dent of academic affairs and chair of the graduate school of business and management. Argosy was owned by Ed- ucation Management Corpo- ration, known as EDMC, a for-profit organization which also owned the Art Institute colleges and Brown Mackie and South universities. The corporation came under fire from the U.S. Department of Education for illegal re- cruiting practices. In 2015, it reached a $95.5 million set- tlement with the education department to offer loan for- giveness to unqualified stu- dents who had been lured into enrolling and taking out loans. The company sold its properties last year to the Dream Center Foundation, a nonprofit agency. Although the Department of Education did not dif- ferentiate between the col- leges in its complaint against EDMC, Mr. Coon said the vi- olations were primarily at the Art Institute and not Ar- gosy University. “I got with the admissions team at Argosy and I said, ‘I don’t want to hear about any of this going on with Ar- gosy,’” he said. EDMC’s troubles led to downsizing and in 2014, Mr. Coon was laid off. He figured he was retired and he and his wife, Vicki, made plans to travel. Then, a former student who taught at ICCI called him. His wife convinced him to go after the job. “My wife said, ‘We can live in an exotic place and you can be doing what you love to do,’” he said. So far, he said, he’s en- joying getting to know the island. “I’m just absolutely blown away by how absolutely gen- erous and kind the people I’ve met have been,” he said. “I went to a restaurant and people said, ‘It’s so good to have you on the island.’ I said, ‘And we’ve met?’ They said, ‘No, we saw your pic- ture in the paper.’” As president of ICCI, Mr. Coon said he is looking at the possibility of cooperative ef- forts involving the University College of the Cayman Is- lands. There has been talk for years of combining the two entities. Recently, UCCI pro- posed a federation agreement, hoping such an arrangement would provide leverage for both schools in gaining inter- national accreditation. ICCI Board of Trustees chairman Mike Mannisto has said he does not think a fed- eration is a good option for the school. Mr. Coon said creating an arrangement between his in- stitution, a private nonprofit, and UCCI, a government school, is tricky. “You’re trying to mix ap- ples and oranges,” he said. “I think it’s going to take some time. When both sides can get creative, I think some- thing eventually might be able to be worked out.” In the meantime, he ex- pects ICCI to move forward by increasing its enrollment and establishing stronger connections between the community and the com- mercial sector. “I’m excited about taking on this challenge,” he said. “It’s a big one.” Solid economic expansion in 2017 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Lawmakers indemnify CIMA, liquor boards CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Financial Services Minister Tara Rivers said Friday that several members of the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority board of directors had “expressed a reluctance to continue in their roles” without a deed of indemnity. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Byron R. Coon says he wants to make ICCI accessible to more students. – PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS New ICCI president lays out vision Actress Cynthia Nixon running for governor of New York ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – Former “Sex and the City” star Cyn- thia Nixon is running for New York governor. After flirting with a run for months, Nixon said on Twitter Monday that she will challenge Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York’s Demo- cratic primary in September. It sets up an intriguing race pitting an openly gay liberal activist against a two- term incumbent with a $30 million war chest and pos- sible presidential ambitions. Her campaign website said Nixon will not accept any corporate contributions and will limit contributions from any individual or or- ganization to $65,100 for the election cycle. “We want our government to work again. On healthcare, ending massive incarceration, fixing our broken subway,” Nixon said in a video an- nouncing her candidacy. “We are sick of politicians who care more about head- lines and power than they do about us.” Nixon has her work cut out for her. A Siena College poll released Monday showed Cuomo leading her by 66 per- cent to 19 percent among registered Democrats, and by a similar margin among self- identified liberals. Nixon did a little better among younger and upstate Democrats, but did not have more than a quarter of either group. The poll of 772 regis- tered voters was conducted March 11-16. The margin of error is plus-minus 4 per- centage points. Nixon has in recent months given speeches and interviews calling on Dem- ocrats nationally to run “bluer” in 2018 and carve out a strong, progressive liberal identity rather than being merely “the anti-Trump party.” It’s a left-flank strategy that has had success against Cuomo in the past – nearly unknown liberal activist and law professor Zephyr Teachout garnered a surprising 34 per- cent of the vote in the 2014 Democratic primary. “It could be a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party in some sense,” said Baruch College political scientist Douglas Muzzio. Nixon, a 51-year-old Man- hattan mother of three, is a longtime advocate for fair- ness in public school funding and fervent supporter of Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has frequently clashed with Cuomo on a range of issues. Her video shows her with her young son Max as she talks about being a proud public school parent. Last month, at the annual New York gala of Human Rights Campaign, which has endorsed Cuomo, she took a backhanded stab at the gov- ernor’s record: “For all the pride that we take here in being such a blue state, New York has the single worst in- come inequality of any state in the country.” The 60-year-old Cuomo had no immediate comment on Nixon’s candidacy. But recently, he mocked the ce- lebrity status the Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner could bring to the race. Actress Cynthia NixonThe 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 20, 2018 From March 30th to April 2nd EDITIONDEADLINE Please be advised there will be NO NEWSPAPER on Good Friday March 30th and Easter Monday April 2nd Celebrate the Long WEEKEND Thursday Thursday March 29th Closed to the Public at noon March 29thMarch 23rd Monday April 2ndEaster Monday TuesdayApril 3rdTuesday Friday No Publication March 27th Wednesday April 4th Wednesday March 28th Thursday April 5th Wednesday March 28th FridayApril 6th............ ............ ............ ............ ........... ...... TuesdayApril 3rd Friday March 30thGood FridayNo Publication ...... PHONE: 949.5111 | EMAIL: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com TUESDAY, MAR. 20 SEAFARERS: The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association advises members that the new president for 2018 is Denniston Tibbetts. Tonight at 7 p.m. is a social for a meet and greet. CHAMBER COURSE: Employment, The Hiring Process. 9-11 a.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. $175 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. WEDNESDAY, MAR. 21 CHAMBER COURSE: QuickBooks (Online) Training. 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. THURSDAY, MAR. 22 CHAMBER COURSE: Small Business Workshop, What is Your Business Worth? 5:30-7:30 p.m. Chamber of Commerce, Governors Square. Free. Register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. CHAMBER COURSE: Providing Exceptional Customer Service. 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. NAU CLOSED: The Needs Assessment Unit office on Grand Cayman will be closed today from noon and the NAU’s Cayman Brac office will be closed for the whole day for a staff meeting. CAYMAN DRAMA SOCIETY: “Barefoot in the Park.” 7:30 p.m. Tickets: adults $25; students $15. Performances continue tomorrow and Saturday. Purchase tickets at www.cds.ky or call 938-1998. FRIDAY, MAR. 23 GOLDEN APPLES: Today is the deadline for nominations for the 2018 Golden Apple Awards. Nominees must be full-time educators or principals currently working in a public or private school. Nomination forms are available in all schools and online at www.caymanchamber.ky. Forms may also be obtained from the Chamber of Commerce office or by contacting the Chamber at admin@caymanchamber.ky. DCI CLOSES: The Department of Commerce and Investment in Grand Cayman, including its Business Licensing Counter on the first floor of the Government Administration Building, will close at noon to facilitate staff training. DCI’s main office will reopen on Monday, March 26 at 8:30 a.m., and the counter will reopen at 9 a.m. 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 DEALS ON WHEELS: The Red Cross mobile Thrift Shop will be in Bodden Town 6-10 a.m. at the Rubis gas station parking lot. Items available include linens, clothing and shoes, ladies’ accessories, household items and more. GARAGE AND CAR BOOT SALE: In St. Ignatius School Hall and Car Park, Walkers Road. 6-11 a.m. No early birds, please. Clothes, toys, books, household items, art and more. Breakfast items on sale. BRAC AGRICULTURE SHOW: The Cayman Brac Agriculture Show takes place 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Agriculture Grounds on the Bluff. Contact Chevala Burke at chevala.burke@gov.ky or 916-4874. 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. 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 EARLY CHILDHOOD FEES: The Ministry of Education provides financial assistance for Caymanian children between 3 and 4 years of age before Sept. 1 2018, to assist with payment of fees at an early childhood centre between Sept. and June 30. Application forms can be downloaded from www.education.gov. ky or collected from the Government Administration Building, the Department of Education Services and all early childhood centres. Contact Renee Barnes at 244-5735, Turnette Stewart at 244-5724 or email ecap@gov.ky. 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. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. HOLY THURSDAY, MARCH 29 CATHOLIC CHURCH: Mass of the Lord’s Supper. 7 p.m. at St. Ignatius, Walkers Road. 7 p.m. Stella Maris, Cayman Brac. GOOD FRIDAY, MARCH 30 CATHOLIC CHURCH: Stations of the Cross at noon; Passion Service 1 p.m. St. Ignatius, Stella Maris and Christ the Redeemer in West Bay. HOLY SATURDAY, MARCH 31 CATHOLIC CHURCH: Easter Vigil Mass, 7:30 p.m. at St. Ignatius. EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 1 UNITED CHURCH: William Pouchie Memorial United Church holds its Easter Cantata with congregational participation at 9 a.m. The church is at 815 North Side Drive. Everyone is invited to come and worship. CATHOLIC CHURCH: Easter Sunday Mass. 8 a.m., 10 a.m. noon and 6 p.m. at St. Ignatius. 9 a.m., 11 a.m. at Christ the Redeemer (West Bay). 11 a.m. at Stella Maris (Cayman Brac). EASTER SERVICESThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY MARCH 20, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS South Korea seeks arrest of ex-president South Korean prosecutors have requested an arrest warrant for ex-President Lee Myung-bak over allegations of bribery, embezzlement and other charges. Lee is not the only South Korean leader to be entangled in scandals: Park Geun-hye was removed from office and jailed last year. Putin gains massive mandate for his nationalist policies MOSCOW (AP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin, boosted by a landslide re- election win, flexed his na- tionalist muscles Monday, declaring that he will de- fend Russia’s interests for another six years without an arms race. Putin won his fourth presidential term Sunday with nearly 77 percent of the vote – his strongest elec- toral support ever. The result gives Putin new confidence to stand up to the West and deploy Russia’s resurgent power on the world stage. “We have no intention of engaging in some kind of arms race,” Putin said, speaking at a meeting with his seven defeated presi- dential challengers in the Kremlin. “Just the opposite, we will seek to develop con- structive relations with other countries. We will do all we can to solve all disputes with our partners using political and diplomatic means.” The Russian presiden- tial election came amid es- calating Cold War-like ten- sions, with accusations that Moscow was behind the nerve-agent poisoning this month of a former Russian double agent in Britain and that its internet trolls had waged an extensive cam- paign to undermine the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Those accusations ulti- mately bolstered Putin at home among those who see him as their defender against a hostile outside world. Putin’s support at the ballot box, accompanied by a heavy turnout at 67 per- cent, marked his best elec- toral performance ever. In previous races, he won 53 percent of the vote in the 2000 presidential election, 71 percent in 2004 and 64 percent in 2012. With 99.8 percent of the vote counted, the Cen- tral Election Commission said Monday that commu- nist Pavel Grudinin came a distant second with 11.9 percent support. Third was ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky with 5.7 per- cent. The only candidate to openly criticize Putin during the campaign, liberal TV host Ksenia Sobchak, won just 1.7 percent. Putin’s most serious rival, opposition leader Alexei Na- valny, was barred from run- ning because of a fraud conviction widely seen as po- litically motivated. It’s not clear what effect, if any, Na- valny’s call for a boycott had on the presidential race. Both he and Sobchak, who had clashed during the cam- paign, were silent Monday, their future plans unclear. Despite the landslide, Putin still faces enormous challenges. He needs to diver- sify an economy that is still heavily dependent on oil and gas and to improve medical care and social services in re- gions far from the cosmopol- itan glitter of Moscow. Putin also needs to make a key strategic decision: whether to groom a preferred successor or try to stay at Russia’s helm beyond 2024, either by scrapping term limits like China just did or by shifting into a new posi- tion of power. When asked if he intends to initiate changes in the Russian constitution that could eliminate term limits, Putin answered that he has no such plans “yet.” Putin’s electoral power has centered on stability, a quality cherished by Rus- sians after the chaotic 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union. But that stability has been bolstered by a suppression of dissent, the withering of independent media and the top-down control of politics in Russia’s so-called “man- aged democracy.” That included heavy pres- sure on Russian voters to ful- fill their “civic duty” and vote Sunday in order to maximize the turnout – even though most could accurately tell you who was going to win the presidential race beforehand. Two election observers in Gorny Shchit, a rural dis- trict of Yekaterinburg, told The Associated Press they saw an unusually high influx of people going to the polls just before 2 p.m. A doctor in the Ural mountains city told the AP that was the dead- line for health officials to re- port to their superiors that they had voted. Observer Sergei Krivo- nogov said voters were taking pictures of leaflets that poll workers distributed, seem- ingly to prove they had voted. Other examples of Rus- sian election irregularities cited by observers or posted on social media included ballot boxes being stuffed with extra ballots in multiple regions; an election official assaulting an observer; CCTV cameras obscured by flags or nets from watching ballot boxes; discrepancies in ballot numbers; last-minute voter registration changes likely designed to boost turnout; and a huge pro-Putin sign in one polling station. Leaders of the observation mission for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said Monday that the Russian state media’s ex- tensive coverage of Putin’s activities gave him a signifi- cant advantage in the race. “While the incumbent president did not participate in debates or campaigning, extensive and unchallenging news coverage of his offi- cial activities continued to provide him with dominant presence in the media,” said Marietta Tidei of the OSCE’s Parliamentary Assembly. “A choice without real competition – as we have seen in this election – is not a real choice,” said Michael Georg Link, a coordinator of the observer mission. Sergei Klimov, a 32-year- old resident of Yekaterinburg, said he was forced to go to vote but he ended up spoiling his ballot. He added, however, that he did not see anyone who could challenge Putin. “It’s better to be with him than with anyone else,” Klimov said of Putin. “Someone else wouldn’t de- liver what Putin will deliver.” Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to supporters during a rally near the Kremlin in Moscow, Sunday. - PHOTO: AP Envoys hail Brexit progress but no Irish border deal BRUSSELS (AP) – Negotiators from the European Union and Britain on Monday hailed major progress in the Brexit talks, but conceded there had been no break- through on keeping open the Irish border. Britain is due to leave the European Union at the end of March 2019, but Brexit talks must be con- cluded by this fall to leave national parliaments in the bloc time to ratify any deal. The border between EU member state Ireland and Britain’s territory Northern Ireland issue is central to an agreement but negotiators are struggling to find a way to keep people, goods and services flowing while re- specting EU controls. “We have travelled a large section of the path toward an orderly withdrawal,” EU chief negotiator Michel Bar- nier told reporters in Brus- sels, in front of a power-point display highlighting that a political agreement has been reached on most issues. He said that negotiators, working day and night re- cently, had agreed on “a large part of what would consti- tute” the draft international legal agreement governing Britain’s departure. He said the two sides have also reached an agree- ment on a transition period to help ease Britain out of the EU once it officially leaves on March 29, 2019. Barnier said the period would be “of a limited duration,” ending on Dec. 31, 2020. Alongside him, British envoy David Davis said the progress made is a “significant step” toward a final deal. Davis said he is confi- dent that the draft legal text the sides have prepared will be endorsed by Euro- pean Union leaders when they meet on Thursday and Friday. If they do, the sides can begin discussing a fu- ture trade agreement, al- though it cannot take effect until Britain is gone. Barnier said Britain must continue to respect EU laws and would continue to ben- efit from Europe’s single market and customs union during the transition period. Davis said international agreements would continue to apply to Britain now and during the transition period after Brexit takes place in 2019. He said the two sides had agreed to set up a joint committee to resolve any dis- putes during that transition. “We must seize the mo- ment and carry forward the momentum of the last few weeks,” Davis said. Both sides agreed to in- tensify talks to keep people, goods and services moving across the Irish border, even though the Europeans are still waiting to hear sugges- tions from Britain that would avoid a “hard border.” Barnier underlined that “if new proposals are made that respect” Northern Ire- land’s Good Friday peace agreement, that keep open the Irish border and that respect Europe’s single market, then “we are ready to examine them.” Davis talked up the fu- ture of EU-British trade re- lations because they would start from similar rules, standards and tariffs, even though no pact can start until after 2020. “This will be the big- gest, most comprehensive, most effective trade deal ever,” he said. Meanwhile, a group repre- senting European carmakers urged the Brexit negotiators to urgently address issues af- fecting the auto industry and to prevent “potentially disas- trous implications” for its supply chain. The European Automo- bile Manufacturers’ Associa- tion, or ACEA, said it’s con- cerned about whether cars approved by U.K. authorities can still be sold in the EU after Brexit and vice versa. It called for both sides to recognize each other’s ve- hicle approvals. It also said any new cus- toms checks “would add cost, cause delays and threaten productivity.” European Union chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, right, shakes hands with British Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis prior to a meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels on Monday. – PHOTO: AP Despite the landslide, Putin still faces enormous challenges. He needs to diversify an economy that is still heavily dependent on oil and gas and to improve medical care and social services in regions far from the cosmopolitan glitter of Moscow.9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 20, 2018 Trump keeps up attacks on escalating Russia investigation Facebook data whistleblower: ‘fake news to the next level’ NEW YORK (AP) – A Trump- affiliated firm under scrutiny for inappropriately obtaining data on tens of millions of Facebook users created pro- filing algorithms that “took fake news to the next level,” a former employee said. Chris Wylie said the firm, Cambridge Analytica, secured personal data in order to learn about individuals and then used it to create an in- formation cocoon to change their perceptions. “This is based on an idea called ‘informational dom- inance,’ which is the idea that if you can capture every channel of information around a person and then inject content around them, you can change their percep- tion of what’s actually hap- pening,” Wylie said. In an interview Monday on NBC’s “Today,” Wylie said Cambridge Analytica aimed to “explore mental vulner- abilities of people.” He said the firm “works on creating a web of disinformation online so people start going down the rabbit hole of clicking on blogs, websites etc. that make them think things are hap- pening that may not be.” This idea of “information dominance,” of propaganda, Wylie told The Guardian newspaper earlier, is the no- tion that if you can control all of the streams of information to your opponents, “you can influence how they perceive that battle space and you can then influence how they’re going to behave and react.” Late Friday, Facebook said it would ban Cambridge An- alytica, saying the company improperly obtained infor- mation from 270,000 people who downloaded a purported research app described as a personality test. Facebook first learned of the breach more than two years ago, but has not disclosed it until now. The developments are the latest to show how people try to exploit Facebook in ways that could sway elections, and in the worst cases even undermine democracy. Before the Cambridge imbroglio, there were Russian agents running election-related pro- paganda campaigns through targeted ads and fake po- litical events. Wylie claimed Cambridge Analytica used the data it had while speaking with Russian businesses. He also said that while political ads are also targeted at specific voters, what’s different here is that people would not know they were getting messages aimed at influencing their views. Cambridge Analytica has denied wrongdoing and said it deleted all data it received from a contractor after learning the data had been obtained in violation of Face- book policies. The firm said none of that data was used in its 2016 election work for the “avoidance of doubt.” Presi- dent Donald Trump’s cam- paign Saturday denied using the firm’s data, saying it re- lied on the Republican Na- tional Committee for its data. Wylie left Cambridge Ana- lytica in 2014, and it’s not clear how the firm targeted people with misinformation during the 2016 presidential cam- paign. What is clear is that two-thirds of Americans get at least some of their news on so- cial media, according on Pew Research Center, and about 20 percent do so “often.” While people don’t exist in a Face- book-only vacuum, it is pos- sible that bogus information users saw on the site could later be reinforced by the “rabbit hole” of clicks and con- spiracy sites on the broader internet, as Wylie described. While Wylie said he does not know whether Trump’s campaign used the techniques, he said Trump’s former cam- paign manager Corey Lewan- dowski was meeting with Cambridge Analytica in 2015, before Trump even announced his run for office. WASHINGTON (AP) – Pres- ident Donald Trump kept up his attack on the esca- lating Russia investigation, insisting in a new tweet Monday that it was “a total WITCH HUNT with mas- sive conflicts of interest!” The comment came a day after a top White House lawyer tried to calm speculation that the president was considering firing the special counsel leading the probe. White House lawyer Ty Cobb offered a statement late Sunday after top congres- sional Republicans warned of repercussions if Trump fired special counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into contacts between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia and Russian meddling in the presidential election. In a series of weekend tweets, Trump jabbed di- rectly at Mueller by name for the first time. The presi- dent challenged the investi- gation’s existence and sug- gested political bias on the part of Mueller’s investiga- tors. Trump has long been frustrated by the lengthy and intensifying probe, and in- sists his campaign did not collude with Russia to influ- ence the election in his favor. “The Mueller probe should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime,” he said in a late Saturday tweet. Likely contributing to Trump’s sense of frustration, The New York Times reported last week that Mueller had subpoenaed the Trump Or- ganization for Russia-related documents. Trump had said Mueller would cross a red line with such a step. “Why does the Mueller team have 13 hardened Dem- ocrats, some big Crooked Hillary supporters, and Zero Republicans?” he tweeted Sunday. Some of Mueller’s inves- tigators indeed have contrib- uted to Democratic political candidates, but Justice De- partment policy and federal service law bar discrimina- tion in the hiring of career positions on the basis of po- litical affiliation. Mueller is a Republican. The tweets revived talk that Trump may, in an at- tempt to end the investiga- tion, move to have Mueller fired. Cobb sought to tamp down the speculation. “In response to media speculation and related ques- tions being posed to the Administration, the White House yet again confirms that the President is not con- sidering or discussing the firing of the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller,” he said. Trump on Monday tweeted: “A total WITCH HUNT with massive conflicts of interest!” Earlier Sunday, members of Congress, including some top Republicans, warned Trump to not even think about terminating Mueller. “If he tried to do that, that would be the beginning of the end of his presidency,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R- South Carolina, a Trump ally. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., chairman of the House Over- sight and Government Re- form panel, warned Trump that a Mueller firing would be a distraction from the president’s agenda. “Let it play out its course,” Gowdy said on “Fox News Sunday.” “If you’ve done nothing wrong, you should want the investigation to be as fulsome and thor- ough as possible. House Speaker Paul Ryan said through a spokes- woman that “Mr. Mueller and his team should be able to do their job.” And Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, tweeted that it is “critical” Mueller be allowed to complete a thorough inves- tigation “unimpeded.” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Illi- nois, called for passage of stalled bipartisan bills de- signed to protect Mueller. He said Trump “is engaged in desperate and reckless con- duct to intimidate his law enforcement agencies of this country and to try and stop the special counsel. That is unacceptable in a democracy.” Trump cannot directly fire Mueller, who can only be dismissed for cause. Any dismissal would have to be carried out by Rod Rosen- stein, the Trump-appointed deputy attorney general who has publicly expressed sup- port for Mueller. Trump has fumed to con- fidants that the Mueller probe is “going to choke the life out of” his presidency if allowed to continue unabated indefinitely, according to an outside adviser who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations with the president. Trump has long be- lieved that the entrenched bureaucracy, particularly at the Justice Department and FBI, is out to thwart him. He fumed to one confi- dant after seeing a promo- tion for a forthcoming book by James Comey, the FBI di- rector he fired last year, be- lieving Comey will seek to en- rich himself by besmirching Trump’s reputation. Com- ey’s book, “A Higher Loyalty,” topped Amazon.com’s best- seller list on Sunday. The president also has long been torn over how to approach the probe. His legal team, namely Cobb, has counseled Trump to coop- erate with Mueller. But some former campaign advisers have urged Trump to be com- bative, warning that the in- vestigation poses an existen- tial threat to his presidency. Aides and friends say they understand Trump’s frustration. Marc Short, Trump’s con- gressional liaison, said the frustration is “well-war- ranted” because “there has been no evidence whatsoever of collusion.” Trump may have felt em- boldened after Attorney Gen- eral Jeff Sessions fired former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe on Friday, something Trump had clamored for out of a belief that McCabe was part of the entrenched, anti- Trump bureaucracy. “A great day for Democracy,” Trump tweeted afterward. Trump asserted without elabora- tion that McCabe knew “all about the lies and corrup- tion going on at the highest levels of the FBI!” The Associated Press later reported that McCabe kept personal memos detailing in- teractions with Trump that have been provided to Muel- ler’s office and are similar to notes compiled by Comey. Trump sought to cast doubt on their veracity, tweeting Sunday that he spent “very little time” with McCabe “but he never took notes when he was with me.” “I don’t believe he made memos except to help his own agenda, probably at a later date. Same with lying James Comey. Can we call them Fake Memos?” Trump tweeted. It wouldn’t be un- usual for a senior official to make notes soon after meeting with the president. The contents of McCabe’s memos are unknown, but they could help substantiate McCabe’s assertion that he was unfairly maligned by a White House he says had de- clared “war” on the FBI and Mueller’s investigation. Sessions said he dis- missed McCabe on the rec- ommendation of FBI disci- plinary officials who said McCabe had not been candid with a watchdog office in- vestigation. An upcoming in- spector general’s report is expected to conclude that McCabe had authorized the release of information to the media and was not forth- coming with the watchdog office as it examined the bu- reau’s handling of an investi- gation into Democrat Hillary Clinton’s emails. Late Friday, Facebook said it would ban Cambridge Analytica, saying the company improperly obtained information from 270,000 people who downloaded a purported research app described as a personality test. Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, the special counsel probing Russian interference in the 2016 election, departs Capitol Hill following a closed door meeting, Wednesday, June 21, 2017, in Washington. - PHOTO: APNext >