ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 2018 High of 86 Low of 73 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 UK WINS ‘WAR’ AGAINST EU … THEN SURRENDERS BUSINESS | PAGE 10 PANAMA PAPERS LAW FIRM TO CLOSE LOGIC WINS WORLD CUP RIGHTS, SPARKING DEBATE OVER LIMITED ACCESS JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The bulk of the coverage of the football World Cup – one of the most viewed sporting events in the world – will not be available to almost half of the Cayman Islands population after cable company Logic secured exclusive rights to the competition. With the exception of a handful of games, including the semifinals and final which the company is contractually obliged to offer free-to-air, coverage will be contained to its customers only. Typically events like the World Cup and Olympics have been available “free to air” in Cayman with rights holders recouping their investment through advertising. This time, Logic is using its coverage of the tournament to drive new customers to its network. Flow and C3 customers will not have the option to purchase coverage without changing providers. The World Cup, in Russia, starts on June 14, and runs for a month, including 64 games. The tournament, held every four years, attracts billions of viewers from across the globe, in- cluding in the Cayman Islands where a mix of nationalities avidly follows every kick. Rob McNabb, CEO of Logic, said the net- work would use a mix of cable channels and its own feed, to broadcast every game to its customers. He said it would be high- quality coverage and would not be impacted Premier: Government plans to expand fiber-optic network KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Dissatisfied with the speed in which local telecommunications companies are expanding their fiber-optic cable networks to the island’s under-served eastern districts, Premier Alden McLaughlin has announced government’s in- tention to have the Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg) build its own net- work throughout that area. Mr. McLaughlin’s plan would provide residents in the eastern districts with ac- cess to the same high-speed broadband in- ternet as people have in the George Town and West Bay areas. Such service is long overdue, the premier said. All the telecommunications companies, besides Flow, have deadlines in their licensing agreements to expand their fiber networks across Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands. Those deadlines passed more than a year ago. “All these years, we keep struggling unsuc- cessfully to get [the telecom companies] to de- ploy the fiber they agreed to, so we’re going to abandon that approach,” Mr. McLaughlin said on Friday in the Legislative Assembly. “We’re going to build the fiber network and we’re going to charge the licensees for it.” The premier set an ambitious timeline for OfReg to build out the network, saying he Beach to be named after Bo Miller A groundbreaking cere- mony will take place Saturday at a North Side beach which will be named in honor of Der- rington “Bo” Miller. The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture and Lands stated in a press release that it had received Cabinet ap- proval to name the beach on Old Robin Road, Old Man Bay, the “Bo Miller Beach.” Government purchased the property for the purpose of es- tablishing it as a public beach. Mr. Miller is recognized for having initiated the development and research of the site, which led to its procurement. “Given that Mr. Miller is recognized as a person of distinction in the District of North Side and has made Guy Harvey art sails into Cayman The marine life artwork of Guy Harvey is a daily sight at the artist’s gallery and restaurant in Grand Cayman, but his work was on the move Tuesday when the Norwegian Escape sailed into George Town harbor. The ship, which carries more than 5,000 passengers, features a massive sailfish and other wildlife on its hull, painted in 2015 by Mr. Harvey. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Bo Miller “We’re going to build the fiber network and we’re going to charge the licensees for it.” PREMIER ALDEN MCLAUGHLIN2 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 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. - WEDNESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) TOMB RAIDER 3D (PG13) 12:35 2D VIP I 12:50 I 3:40 2D 6:35 2D VIP I 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 CLEARANCE SALE DRESSES, JACKETS, SHOES, TOPS/BLOUSE, HAIR EXTENTION a lot more on sale come on over and check us out Shop #1 Barnes Plaza across from Roof Top MARCH 23 - 24 Family loss clouds governor’s arrival Death of father will not impact Anwar Choudhury’s arrival in Cayman JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s new governor will arrive in the territory as planned next week, despite the recent death of his father. The celebrations accom- panying the arrival of Anwar Choudhury in Grand Cayman will be clouded by the news that his father Afruz Bakht Choudhury died in London on Saturday. Representatives of the Gov- ernor’s Office and the Cayman Islands Government expressed their condolences to the ar- riving diplomat and his family. Officials confirmed the loss would not impact the timing of Mr. Choudhury’s arrival in the islands to replace Helen Kilpatrick as governor. Premier Alden McLaughlin said he was deeply saddened to learn of Mr. Choudhury’s loss. “Beginning a new position in a foreign land cannot be easy on anyone, but it must be especially difficult when you are facing the death of a parent,” he said. “On behalf of the gov- ernment and people of the Cayman Islands, I wish to extend our thoughts and prayers to Mr. Choudhury and his family.” According to the Gover- nor’s Office, the former am- bassador to Peru will be accompanied by his wife Mo- mina and their three children when he touches down in Grand Cayman on Monday. In keeping with tradition, he will be sworn in at the Legislative Assembly on the same day. On Monday evening, the governor and Mrs. Choudhury will attend a welcome recep- tion in their honor, hosted by Premier McLaughlin at Pedro St. James. The reception, which includes entertainment and refreshment, is open to the public and starts at 6 p.m. Mr. McLaughlin said, “The Governor Designate and his family will be very welcome in the Cayman Islands and between good old-fashioned local hospitality and the warmth of the Caymanian people, we look forward to dazzling them. I speak on be- half of the entire government in anticipating a productive partnership to ensure a pros- perous and constructive fu- ture for the Cayman Islands.” The governor is expected to spend Tuesday, March 27, in a series of introductory meet- ings with Cabinet and senior government officials before at- tending a private welcome re- ception at Government House. An all-day Sister Islands visit is scheduled Wednesday, followed by a press conference at Government House Friday. Video link failure leads to not guilty verdict CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Failing technology led to a verdict of not guilty in Grand Court on Monday when a video link between Cayman and Canada could not be re-established. Efforts had been made over three days to contact the complainant/victim in a charge of unlawful wounding. Defendant Jerome Jamaine Cunningham, 24, had pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to a co-worker at an Eastern Avenue barber shop in November 2016. The Crown’s case was that Mr. Cunningham had hit the other man in the face with a cricket bat after an argu- ment about money Mr. Cun- ningham said was owed to him by the other man. Medical evidence and photos indicated that the man sustained a three-centimeter laceration to the right of his right eye, which required su- tures, plus corresponding bone and soft tissue injury. Trial began on Monday last week, with jury selec- tion and evidence on Tuesday. On Thursday, the victim/ complainant began his evi- dence. Since the incident, he had moved to Canada and so communication was between his home and the courtroom via video link, which the Evi- dence Law permits. Senior Crown counsel Ni- cole Petit had finished taking the man through his evidence and defense attorney Jona- thon Hughes had begun ques- tioning him when the video portion of the link froze. Then the video resumed and the audio was lost. Court was adjourned until Friday while efforts were made to re-establish clear communication. On Friday, the Crown was still unable to communicate with the complainant. Justice Carter said she had considered the matter very carefully and concluded that the com- plainant should be allowed to complete his evidence. “Justice demands that he be given the opportunity,” she told jurors. The judge said she was allowing the Crown a final opportunity to resume con- tact with the complainant and she asked jurors to come back one more time. On Monday, she advised jurors that Ms. Petit had in- formed her that morning that she was unable to produce the witness to finish his evidence. The judge pointed out that the complainant was one of the main witnesses in the case. The judge explained that the Crown was offering no further evidence in the case. “I agree with them, that if that is the case, that really there is insufficient evidence for your consideration in the matter,” the judge told jurors. “The Crown have to reach a certain threshold and, if it is that they intend to offer no further evidence, that threshold is not reached.” On that basis, she di- rected the jury foreman to formally return a verdict of not guilty on behalf of the jury, which he did. Mr. Cunningham was dis- charged in this case, but was remanded in custody because he is awaiting sentence on charges arising from the Feb- ruary 2017 attempted rob- bery of an armored truck on Eastern Avenue. WORLD POETRY DAY UCCI professor shares Caribbean tradition KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Writers across continents will celebrate World Po- etry Day Wednesday, March 21, marking a time of di- alog, recitals and recogni- tion of the arts. In the Caribbean, poetry represents a long-standing tradition that incorpo- rates history, spoken word, rhythm and lyric. This tradition is honored and revered by many in the Caymanian community, in- cluding Christopher A. Wil- liams, an assistant professor of philosophy, history and so- ciology at the University Col- lege of the Cayman Islands. He has a Ph.D. in cultural an- thropology from the Univer- sity of Warwick and serves as acting chair of the UCCI De- partment of Social Sciences. Mr. Williams visited the Cayman Compass studio to discuss the Caribbean poetic tradition and share one of his own pieces, “I’ll Tell You,” selected for an anthology in honor of the late Saint Lucian poet, Derek Walcott. “Poetry, poetics is a part of who we are as Caribbean people. It’s been said that the best poets tend to come from the Caribbean for the simple fact that we inherited a fusion of languages, be it African lan- guages, French, English, etc. So we have mastered the Eng- lish language in the British West Indies but the thing is, we have all of this cultural baggage, which is not a bad thing,” Mr. Williams said. “We are very creative as Caribbean people. Maybe that has to do with history. Maybe it has to do with ev- eryday life and the hardships therein. But we are a very rhythmic region. What better way to express that rhythm than through poetry.” As a trained historian who claims roots in Cayman and Jamaica, Mr. Williams draws much of his inspira- tion from the stories of the Caribbean and its people. “I love Caribbean his- tory from that sort of racial vantage point because it is true that you cannot look at the Caribbean and our his- tory without looking at race, and the intersections of race and the social and cul- tural,” he said. His poem, “I’ll Tell You,” delves into the importance of this history and how it can rear back to life in unex- pected ways: “Often, that his- tory, its underbelly, creeps up and before we know it, we’re reliving history in certain terms, be it racial terms, so- cial terms, cultural terms.” I’ll Tell You Not quite two centuries ago the past became the raucous canard of every truth we hold dear. Try to forget about that history on which dead things hinge and swivel into the present with a dizzying speed that arrests. Funny how scarcity has a way of revealing the hidden things that do not matter until reality is stripped of its secrets. and history’s underbelly permits embarrassing glares at its botched reincarnation. Governor Designate Anwar Choudhury Christopher Williams JURY NOTICE All Grand Court Ju- rors who are in the Jan- uary session are advised that their report date has been changed. In- stead of Monday, March 26, they are now to re- port on Wednesday, March 21, at 9:45 a.m. Jurors are advised to call the Jury Information line at 244-3899 for the most up-to-date information or email jury@judicial.ky. “We are very creative as Caribbean people. Maybe that has to do with history.” CHRISTOPHER A. WILLIAMSThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 2018 JOB 5212 | DART | DART SCHOLAR | FULL PAGE 10.333 X 15.8975 IN | COMPASS | 5 FEB 2018 | CMYK | BB&P | BBANDP.COM | INFO@BBANDP.COM | +1 345 949 2933 dartscholar.ky Beyond prestige and financial support for both high school and university students, the Dart Scholarship provides young Caymanians with life-changing experience in the real world of industry. If you’re a high achieving Caymanian student with aspirations to be a future leader and innovator, we invite you to apply for the 2018 programme. A whole new world of possibilities. It begins with a simple application. The Dart High School Scholarship Submit your application by 12 April 2018 The William A Dart University Scholarship Submit your application by 18 May 2018The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. 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 findtheirownway” The process of “divorce” between the United Kingdom and the European Union has now lasted longer than many marriages. Two years ago, then-British Prime Minster David Cameron put the fate of the nation into the hands of the people, calling a referendum on whether the U.K. should “Leave” or “Remain” in the EU. The people of the U.K., as we all know now, chose “Leave.” At that point, regardless of their personal feelings on the subject, it became the imperative of U.K. leaders – particularly the majority lawmakers in Mr. Cameron’s Conservative Party – to execute accordingly the will of the people. Mr. Cameron, who (in one of history’s ironies) happens to oppose “Brexit,” had a parallel choice of his own to make: “Leave” the government, or “Remain.” Mr. Cameron left. Picking up the Brexit baton was current Prime Minister Theresa May, whose Downing Street tenure has been characterized by a perceived lack of toughness on what is, admittedly, one of the tougher issues in 21st century politics. In addition to the intricacies involved in halting and unraveling a complex merger-in-process that was decades in the making, Prime Minister May and her gov- ernment have had to contend with powerful “anti-Brexit” forces in the U.K. and Europe, spearheaded by political and business elites, the members of which overlap with Ms. May’s own party. Equally challenging, the “Remain” sentiment may well be shared, at least tacitly, by legions of London bureaucrats whose careers have been defined comfortably by the status quo with Brussels. (As they say in horror films, “The call is coming from inside the house!”) The result, so far, is that Brexit negotiations have con- stituted a series of stalls, subterfuges and sabotages, with the latest culmination being this week’s “standstill transi- tion agreement.” According to the “deal,” U.K. and EU officials have agreed that, even after the U.K. “officially” leaves the EU in March 2019, the U.K. will still abide by EU rules – including on the all-important topic of immigration – but will have no vote in EU decisions. The transitional period lasts through Dec. 31, 2020. Other concessions and question marks that are present in the transition agreement include the U.K. accepting the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice over EU laws and EU citizens, lack of U.K. control over fishing rights in local waters (much to the consternation of Brexit-supporting fisherman and Scottish Tories), and an absence of clarity on the future of the border between Northern Ireland (U.K.) and the Republic of Ireland (EU). This last issue has serious potential ramifications in terms of economics and public safety. (Some recent background, in extremely broad strokes: The 30-year Northern Ireland conflict, known as “The Troubles,” mainly between paramilitary groups who either wanted to join the Republic of Ireland or stay in the U.K., killed more than 3,500 people and injured more than 47,000 from 1968 to 1998.) In return for their capitulations to the EU, what did British “negotiators” receive? Apparently … more time. How much time do they need? Perhaps half-hearted Brexit officials secretly hope, if they manage to bungle the negotiations sufficiently, that the people of the U.K. will change their minds about leaving the EU. That seems unlikely. From where we sit (out in “the colonies”), the more protracted the negotiations become, the stronger our antipathy toward allowing Brussels bureau- crats to dictate the domestic affairs of sovereign nations. UK wins ‘war’ against EU … then surrenders WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Revelations that Face- book’s user database was abused by a third-party an- alytics firm for unethical po- litical purposes, and that the Russians exploited so- cial media to spread false in- formation during the 2016 presidential election cam- paign, justifiably raise con- cerns of public trust and the specter of increased govern- ment regulation. American politicians should be careful about how far they go and avoid censor- ship in their good intentions to safeguard democracy. Like the printing press, broadcast media and cable television, the internet and social media communica- tions made mass distribu- tion of news and analysis more broadly accessible. Those widened public dialog on everything from parking regulations to picking elected officials. That is too good to lose! Consider how stogy and limited dialog was in the days of Presidents Kennedy and Nixon. Viewers were largely limited to three major TV networks, which afforded equal time to the two major political parties. Mostly ab- sent were fringe voices – folks like many present-day environmentalists and con- servative bloggers. American politicians should be careful about how far they go and avoid censor- ship in their good intentions to safeguard democracy. Cable fractionalized tele- vision and opened elec- tronic media access to pre- viously marginalized voices. The internet, email and You- Tube made distributing en- tertainment and perspectives downright cheap, and Face- book and Twitter make it virtually free. Everyone who can re- cord a video or write has an outlet. This includes the in- formed, uninformed and un- fortunately, malefactors who would fan minorities’ fears and undermine public confidence in democratic institutions. Kremlin surrogates like the St. Petersburg-based in- ternet Research Agency cre- ated remarkably authentic- looking fictitious Twitter accounts and posted false stories on websites – for ex- ample, on CNN’s iReport and Wikipedia about poisoned water in an Idaho reservoir and tainted Thanksgiving turkeys from Walmart. The Kremlin surrogates disseminated material during the 2016 presidential pri- maries and general election campaign generally favor- able to Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, and intended to subvert the campaigns of Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton. They also spread false narra- tives to inflame black fears of racism and exploit other issues to seed divisions among Americans. The Russians are hardly alone at subterfuge, but they were particularly adroit at fooling people –for example, the false Twitter account @ Pamela_Moore13 attracted 70,000 followers, including retired Gen. Michael Flynn, who briefly served as Pres- ident Obama’s national se- curity adviser before he was forced to step down. Social media are particu- larly powerful for fake news because those platforms are structured to capture our continued attention. Once we view a story critical of Hillary Clinton or explaining how to make cranberry bis- cuits, algorithms feed us sim- ilar –especially “sticky” – con- tent on the subject to hold our interest and display ads that generate revenue. Too often, the content is fake or extreme. Pressure is mounting on social media to filter stories to eliminate pa- tently misleading content. But who will decide what is false or distorted? If the liberal faculty at universities or their aco- lytes in the media were put in charge, anything crit- ical about the link between carbon dioxide emissions and global warming likely would be nixed. Conserva- tives are routinely punished for questioning political cor- rectness or expressing pro- vocative views, for example, at the University of Pennsyl- vania Law School. Facebook wants to let readers vote on which news sources are authoritative. That is easier and cheaper than actually sorting content and verifying truly fictitious personalities and materials. But voting would let plat- forms with more liberal par- ticipants shut out conserva- tives. Given the bubble in the Silicon Valley, maybe that’s the ultimate objective. Requiring social media or- ganizations to tightly control access to personal user data, work with federal authori- ties to ferret out Russian op- eratives and other nefarious actors, and cancel malicious fictitious accounts is fine. But people should not be banned because they upset our bi- ases. The likes of Martin Lu- ther, Copernicus and others would have been voted out in their day, and perhaps Martin Luther King when he first emerged. Rob Goldman, Twit- ter’s head of advertising, was roundly criticized for stating the easiest way to fight a Russian campaign is a “well educated citizenry,” but he is right. If the water is really tainted and the turkeys are causing food poisoning, it will show up quickly in wire service stories and readers can cross check assertions on Google. School children and adults should be educated in such defenses. But the hysterical left has captured our universities. They are producing too many citizens who view honest de- bate as hate speech and do not think objectively – and that is more dangerous to our democracy than the Russians. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. Don’t muzzle social media sites to prevent abuse PETER MORICI5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 2018 Trade Day March 27, 2018 | 12 pm - 3:30 pm Schluter Systems Seminar with live demos Geared towards professionals of the tile industry. Participants will receive classroom instruction, as well as live demonstrations of the KERDI waterproofing system, and DITRA uncoupling membrane. Architect & Designer Showcase March 28, 2018 | 12 pm - 3:30 pm Challenges & Solutions for Today’s Ceramic Tile and Stone Installations Discover the history of tile installation and address both traditional methods and new technol- ogy. Topics that will be covered will include tile membrane advancements, movement accom- modation, and controversial issues such as mold and questionable shower assemblies. TCA Handbook details will be discussed. BOOK YOUR SPACE: info@paramountgroup.ky | by 12pm March 26 Location: Paramount Carpet Showroom | 317 North Sound Road | 949. 5000 JOIN OUR SEMINARS COMPLIMENTARY LUNCH SERVED 12-12:30 PM SCHLUTER GOODIE BAGS PRIZE GIVEAWAYS Trade Day March 27, 2018 | 12 pm - 3:30 pm Schluter Systems Seminar with live demos Geared towards professionals of the tile industry. Participants will receive classroom instruction, as well as live demonstrations of the KERDI waterproofing system, and DITRA uncoupling membrane. Architect & Designer Showcase March 28, 2018 | 12 pm - 3:30 pm Challenges & Solutions for Today’s Ceramic Tile and Stone Installations Discover the history of tile installation and address both traditional methods and new technol- ogy. Topics that will be covered will include tile membrane advancements, movement accom- modation, and controversial issues such as mold and questionable shower assemblies. TCA Handbook details will be discussed. BOOK YOUR SPACE: info@paramountgroup.ky | by 12pm March 26 Location: Paramount Carpet Showroom | 317 North Sound Road | 949. 5000 Trade Day March 27, 2018 | 12 pm - 3:30 pm Schluter Systems Seminar with live demos Geared towards professionals of the tile industry. Participants will receive classroom instruction, as well as live demonstrations of the KERDI waterproofing system, and DITRA uncoupling membrane. Architect & Designer Showcase March 28, 2018 | 12 pm - 3:30 pm Challenges & Solutions for Today’s Ceramic Tile and Stone Installations Discover the history of tile installation and address both traditional methods and new technol- ogy. Topics that will be covered will include tile membrane advancements, movement accom- modation, and controversial issues such as mold and questionable shower assemblies. TCA Handbook details will be discussed. BOOK YOUR SPACE: info@paramountgroup.ky | by 12pm March 26 Location: Paramount Carpet Showroom | 317 North Sound Road | 949. 5000 Trade Day March 27, 2018 | 12 pm - 3:30 pm Schluter Systems Seminar with live demos Geared towards professionals of the tile industry. Participants will receive classroom instruction, as well as live demonstrations of the KERDI waterproofing system, and DITRA uncoupling membrane. Architect & Designer Showcase March 28, 2018 | 12 pm - 3:30 pm Challenges & Solutions for Today’s Ceramic Tile and Stone Installations Discover the history of tile installation and address both traditional methods and new technol- ogy. Topics that will be covered will include tile membrane advancements, movement accom- modation, and controversial issues such as mold and questionable shower assemblies. TCA Handbook details will be discussed. BOOK YOUR SPACE: info@paramountgroup.ky | by 12pm March 26 Location: Paramount Carpet Showroom | 317 North Sound Road | 949. 5000 Survey seeks to determine health insurance needs of elderly How can Cayman best meet the unique health- care needs of its elderly population? That is a question that members of the public will have a chance to answer over the next few weeks. The Health Insurance Commission and the De- partment of Health are con- ducting a survey asking the general public how Cayman can best care for its elderly population in the years to come. The deadline is April 15, and forms can be down- loaded from the Department of Health Regulatory Ser- vices website. The survey is part of a re- cent study on the possible development of a Standard Health Insurance Contract, known as SHIC, for people aged 65 and over. Harvey Stephenson, chairman of the Health In- surance Commission, said, “In 2016 there were some 4,000 people aged 65 and over in the Cayman Islands, with an average life expec- tancy of 82 years. Our aim is to better understand this population’s unique needs. “Questions we will be looking to answer include whether to create a spe- cial plan for them, how we might go about doing it, and whether there are other ways to achieve the same goal.” Mr. Stephenson pointed out that the existing SHIC of- fers such things as maternity benefits, while older people might benefit instead from increased coverage for pre- scription medicines or out- patient visits. Mervyn Conolly, Cay- man’s Superintendent of Health Insurance, urged all Cayman Islands residents to speak up about their pref- erences before the process is completed. “The aim of this survey is to allow older persons and those who will eventu- ally become older persons to articulate their needs and opinions concerning the af- fordability and sustain- ability of health insurance coverage,” he said. A separate poll, said Mr. Conolly, has already been sent to local health in- surance brokers. The project is expected to be completed by early summer and is known as SHIC 65+. “The Cayman Islands re- cently adopted its first older persons’ policy,” said Health Minister Dwayne Seymour in an official statement. “As that document makes clear, Government is committed to ensuring that this vulner- able but much valued sec- tion of our population has access to coverage that is af- fordable, sustainable and al- lows them to enjoy a high quality of life.” The survey contains 22 questions, and it is expected it will take about 20 min- utes to complete. Interested people may download the survey form or complete it online at the Department of Health Regulatory Services website: www.dhrs.gov.ky. Public Library Service appoints new librarian Kevin Goring has been ap- pointed as the Cayman Is- lands Public Library Service’s newest librarian. In addition to providing general library services, Mr. Goring will assist with out- reach, planning, promotion, coordination and implemen- tation of the programs offered through or by the library ser- vice, a Public Library Service press release stated. “Mr. Goring brings with him a great deal of education and experience to his new post and the staff feel very fortunate that he is a member of the CIPLS,” the library service’s director, Ramona Melody, said in the release. “He has worked as Library Assistant since 2016 and has built a good rapport with his team and the community.” Mr. Goring holds a Bach- elor of Fine Arts degree in Computer Art from the Sa- vannah College of Art and Design, an Executive Certif- icate in International Mar- keting from Loyola Univer- sity in Chicago, and other certificates in business com- munication, sales, customer service, supervisory manage- ment, team leadership and hospitality. He is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Information and Library Studies at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scot- land, and recently com- pleted a certificate in Alterna- tive Basic Library Education through the Idaho Commis- sion for Libraries. In an effort to keep abreast of industry trends, Mr. Goring became a member of the Chartered Institute of Library and In- formation Professionals, the leading professional body for librarians, information spe- cialists and knowledge man- agers in the United Kingdom, as well as the Cayman Is- lands Information Profes- sionals organization. When asked about his new role, Mr. Goring said, “I believe that families are the core of any community, and as librarians, it is our re- sponsibility to provide them with the information and tools at our disposal in order to ensure their success in education, employment and life in general.” Chief Officer for the Min- istry of Education, Youth, Sports, Agriculture, and Lands Christen Suckoo stated, “It is heartening to see Caymanian civil ser- vants continuing to pursue further education and con- nect with relevant organiza- tions that will assist them not only personally in their careers, but professionally. It will enhance how we serve the people of the Cayman Is- lands. I trust [Mr. Goring] will be successful in his new role at the Public Library Service and continue to make the lives of those we serve better.” Kevin Goring, newly-appointed Librarian for CIPLSThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Get started today. 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Cancel | Accept Locations I Apply I FAQs I Terms & Conditions Mobile Location Confirmation significant contributions to Caymanian society throughout his lifetime, the Government agreed that the beach would be named after Mr. Miller,” the release stated. The date of the groundbreaking has been expedited due to Mr. Miller’s failing health, officials said. The North Side District Council announced in September last year that the new public beach had been acquired. The beach area is known lo- cally as Jackie Bay, after John “Jackie” Miller, a shipwright, pastor and farmer who is considered one of the founders of the North Side district. Saturday’s groundbreaking cer- emony is expected to be attended by Mr. Miller and his family, Minister for Education, Youth, Sports, Agricul- ture and Lands Juliana O’Connor- Connolly, the ministry’s chief officer Christen Suckoo, North Side MLA Ezzard Miller, and members of the North Side District Council. The brief ceremony will be held between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and members of the public are in- vited to attend. wants fiber to cover the entire island within 18 months. How- ever, his announcement con- tained few details about how that plan will be implemented. His statements took the telecom companies by surprise. “As I have not had any communications from OfReg stating anything remotely close to this, it would be inappro- priate for Flow to comment on this topic at this time,” Flow’s interim managing director, Daniel Tathum, said in an email response to the Compass. Similarly, Logic CEO Rob McNabb said government pro- viding a universal service has always been an option, but that the plan has not been dis- cussed in detail. “Where do we start [the uni- versal service] would be a ques- tion,” said Mr. McNabb. “How is that going to work for the competitors? Is OfReg going to sell the companies service? Is the government making money off of it, and splitting it back to us? Does [OfReg] have to tender [the build-out]? Does it have to be a third party? There’s just so many questions based on [Premier McLaughlin’s] announcement.” The Logic CEO added that to expand broadband to ev- eryone in the territory, future technological developments such as 5G wireless internet might be more feasible than to build out fiber cables to every single home, even those in sparsely populated areas. Sacha Tibbetts, the CEO of DataLink – a Caribbean Utili- ties Company subsidiary cre- ated to manage the installation and maintenance of fiber-optic cables attached to CUC-owned poles – said that based on pre- vious discussions with OfReg, he believes that OfReg will likely put the construction of the fiber network out to tender and then manage the payment processes for its use. “I would be surprised if we have a regulator that’s going to come in and take ownership of assets and force the sale of those assets to the entities it regulates. It sounds like a bit of a potential for conflict of inter- ests, but I think the full story hasn’t been told yet,” said Mr. Tibbetts. “From what I under- stand, I don’t believe they were looking at being the owners, but they were going to be the facili- tators of the process.” OfReg, for its part, told the Compass on Monday that it will “provide a press release in a day or so to address the issues raised,” but did not provide that press release before press dead- line. Currently, the regulator is in the consultation process of formulating a broadband policy, which will define the term broadband and set a target for licensees to make broadband available to all residents by a certain date. That consultation period ends on April 18, and both Mr. McNabb and Mr. Tibbetts said they believe it will be a pre- cursor to OfReg determining exactly how it will implement universal broadband service. If implemented correctly, Mr. Tibbetts said, he believes a universal service in the eastern districts would be more eco- nomical than having multiple telecom companies build out their networks separately in a sparsely populated area. “There are only so many homes here, which means that there’s a limited amount of sales available for the service. If you have multiple providers putting up multiple networks, you’ve got a lot more costs in- volved, when one network could be sufficient,” he said. “So the universal service can make a lot of sense if it’s done correctly.” Beach to be named after Bo Miller Premier: Government plans to expand fiber-optic network CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Premier Alden McLaughlin Teen dead, 2 hurt at Maryland school shooting GREAT MILLS, Md. (AP) – A teen- ager with a handgun shot a girl inside his Maryland high school Tuesday before he was fatally wounded during a confrontation with a school resource officer, a sheriff said. It was not immediately clear whether the shooter took his own life or was killed by the officer’s bullet, St. Mary’s County Sheriff Tim Cameron said. The 16-year-old girl was hos- pitalized with a life-threatening wound, the sheriff said. A 14-year- old boy also suffered a gun- shot wound, but it was not clear who shot him. He was in stable condition. The officer, who dou- bles as a SWAT team member, was unharmed. Politicians responded swiftly, acknowledging that this shooting increases the pressure for ac- tion against gun violence as anger swells nationwide over the Valen- tine’s Day killings of 17 people at a Florida high school by a teenager with an assault weapon. However in this case, it ap- peared that the shooter had ille- gally possessed the gun. In Mary- land, a person must be 21 to possess a handgun, unless carrying one is required for employment. The shooter was identified 17-year-old Austin Rollins. Authorities believe he had a prior relationship with the girl but a motive was not immediately clear. The sheriff praised the officer, Deputy Blaine Gaskill, a six-year veteran in his first year at the high school, for containing the situation in less than a minute.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 2018 The Insurance Broker for all your Insurance needs Unit# 10B Cayman Falls | P.O. Box 11118 Grand Cayman KY1-1008 Tel: 345-943-2475 | Fax: 345-943-2472 Email: info@cipil.net www.cipil.net Relax You’re with us. 180406-Ad-Compass-QrtPg.indd 11/24/18 4:07:09 PM Investing in the future of the Cayman Islands since 1983… Let us invest in yours! Water Authority - Cayman is now accepting applications for its 2018 Annual Scholarship. The successful applicant could receive up to CI$30,000 to pursue an undergraduate academic or technical/vocational degree or diploma in a field of study relevant to the Authority’s work. Applications may be obtained online via www.waterauthority.ky, by e-mailing HR@waterauthority.ky, or in-person at the Authority’s headquarters at 13G Red Gate Road, George Town, Grand Cayman or 96 Cross Road, West End, Cayman Brac. APPLICATION DEADLINE is 31 MARCH 2018. www.waterauthority.ky by the kind of customer com- plaints that have marred previous events, including the Olympics and past World Cups. Mr. McNabb said the company had assured regulator OfReg it was ready and able to make some key games available to all viewers in the islands after questions were raised in the Legislative Assembly. The rest of the tournament, how- ever, will not be available to ev- eryone. He said, “FIFA gives us a requirement that the opening cer- emony, semifinals and final will be free to air and on display every- where. That is the requirement of the contract we were given. “You will get those games as a C3 or Flow customer. Whatever is not free to air will be on our platform only.” He said Logic could go beyond that minimum requirement and offer more games for free to all, but only Logic customers will get the whole tournament. He acknowledged that some foot- ball fans would be disappointed by the news, but suggested that was the nature of broadcasting rights in a competitive marketplace. Logic felt the flip-side of that, he said, when rival network Flow se- cured rights to screen weekly Eng- lish Premier League soccer. Though some of Flow’s sports content is available to other cable providers, it does not include the full menu of EPL matches. “I would love to sell the Premier- ship to my customers but Flow has those rights,” he said. “We lost lots of subscribers be- cause of the Premiership. It’s not ideal but that’s the way it goes.” He said Logic had more than 50 percent of the market and was best placed to deliver quality World Cup coverage to the most customers in the Cayman Islands. He added that the company was still discussing the details of which matches it would make available to all and how it would achieve this. Four years ago, WestStar, which was later taken over by Logic, won the rights to the World Cup and screened it on Cayman 27. Though some concerns were raised about the quality of the feed and the fact that U.S. and Canadian channels were blacked out for the tournament, coverage was available to all for free. MLA Chris Saunders, who raised concerns about World Cup access in the Legislative As- sembly last week, believes the event is too important to be a pawn in the battle for cable customers. He said the issue was tied up with wider concerns that regula- tors had failed to enforce a licensing requirement that all cable compa- nies carry a free-to-air public tele- vision channel, including important events and local content. After being told that Logic did plan to offer some of the games free to air, he acknowledged, “It’s defi- nitely an improvement from where we started, which was that nothing would be shown. The bigger issue is that the licensees are required to provide certain free-to-air content and they are not doing it.” Other countries mandate that events like the World Cup are pre- served for all. In the U.K., for example, the British government won a legal battle with FIFA to allow it to man- date that all 64 games of the tour- nament be maintained as free-to-air. FIFA had argued that the law prevented it from extracting the maximum commercial value by selling exclusive broadcast rights to cable companies. Even if FIFA had won the case, all games involving England, Scot- land, Wales and Ireland, as well as the semifinals and final would still have been preserved as “free to air.” But the European Court sided with the U.K. on the broader argu- ment that the entire tournament was an important part of the list of national sporting “crown jewels,” that it could mandate be made available to the whole popula- tion for free. Mr. Saunders stopped short of calling for the Cayman gov- ernment to impose similar re- strictions, but he urged OfReg to take a closer look at the issue and to ensure that, at a minimum, the games that FIFA required to be made free-to-air, would be broadcast to all. He said the regulator needed to up its game and tackle the larger issue that several of the cable com- panies were not providing the breadth of free coverage required by the terms of their license. Randy Merren, an owner of rival cable company C3 and Hur- ley’s Media, which includes Cayman 27 and Island 24 channels, said he was disappointed not to be able to broadcast the tournament, which he believes should be univer- sally available. He said, “This is the World Cup and the idea is that everybody should be able to see the beau- tiful game for free. You sell adver- tising around it and get your rev- enue that way. “If we had the rights, we could broadcast it on Cayman 27 and Is- land 24 and every customer of Logic or Flow would be able to access the content. That won’t be the case here. “They are trying to leverage the World Cup to drive subscribers to their cable system.” He said the regulator had failed in its duty to ensure cable compa- nies carried public television, in- cluding local content, required under the terms of their licenses, and questioned why a company that did not fulfill that requirement was allowed to acquire lucrative broadcast rights. Alee Fa’Amoe, head of the tele- communications arm of OfReg, did not respond to questions from the Compass this week. Logic wins World Cup rights, sparking debate over limited access CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Teen dead, 2 hurt at Maryland school shooting Swiss national soccer player Valon Behrami, left, fights for the ball with Blerim Dzemaili during a training session in Athens, Greece, Tuesday, in preparation for the 2018 World Cup – an event many sports fans in the Cayman Islands may have difficulty viewing due to broadcast restrictions. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS It’s Sir Ringo, now, as ex-Beatle knighted The 77-year-old Ringo Starr received his long-awaited knighthood from Prince William Tuesday. He used his real name Richard Starkey for the big event, and said the honor ‘means a lot.’ The other surviving Beatle, Paul McCartney, was knighted in 1997. Sadly missed by your husband Harry, children, Grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews IN LOVING MEMORY OF AVIS EBANKS HARRY March 11th 1936- March 21st 2007 You’re not forgotten, Avis dear, Nor ever shall you be. As long as life and memory last, We will remember you. No one knows the silent heartaches, Only those who have lost can tell Of the grief that’s borne in silence March 11 You’re not forgotten, Avis dear, Sadly missed by your husband Harry, children, Grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews IN LOVING MEMORY OF AVIS EBANKS HARRY 2007 You’re not forgotten, Avis dear, Condolences can be registered at: www.churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Ernest Kenton Ebanks of Cayman Brac, who passed away on Monday March 12, 2018. A Thanksgiving Service will be held on Sunday March 25, 2018 at 3:00p.m. at the Veteran’s & Seaman’s Hall, 205 Ashton Reid Drive, on the Bluff, Cayman Brac. Viewing will be from 2:00–2:45p.m. Interment follows at West End Cemetery. In lieu of fl owers, donations can be made to Cayman HospiceCare. Saudi crown prince to meet with Trump amid marathon US tour WASHINGTON (AP) – Saudi Arabia’s young crown prince has an ambitious list of to- dos: modernize his conserva- tive kingdom, weaken Iran’s hand across the Mideast and, this week, rehabilitate his country’s image in the eyes of Americans. Crown Prince Mo- hammed bin Salman, son of King Salman and heir to the throne, is opening a mara- thon tour of the United States with a stop in Washington, where he will meet President Donald Trump on Tuesday. He’ll hold separate meetings with a long roster of influ- ential U.S. officials, including the secretaries of defense, treasury and commerce, the CIA chief and congressional leaders from both parties. Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House envoy Jared Greenblatt, who are drafting Trump’s long- awaited Mideast peace plan, will also join the crown prince for dinner Tuesday, the Saudi Embassy in Washington said. The visit comes as the United States and much of the West are still trying to figure out Prince Mohammed, better known by his initials MBS, whose sweeping program of social changes at home and increased Saudi assertive- ness abroad has upended de- cades of traditional rule in Saudi Arabia. The 32-year-old crown prince also has big eco- nomic plans, and over three weeks in the U.S. he will meet businessmen in New York, tech mavens from Google and Apple Inc. in San Francisco, and entertainment bigwigs in Los Angeles. Other stops in- clude Boston and Houston. “This is not the real Saudi Arabia,” Prince Mohammed said when asked by CBS News about the repressive version of Islam many out- siders associate with the kingdom. He said he was re- storing the more tolerant, egalitarian society that ex- isted before Saudi Arabia’s ultraconservatives were em- powered in 1979. “We were victims, especially my gener- ation that suffered from this a great deal.” It’s a message that has earned Prince Mohammed admirers in the United States, as he allowed women to drive and opened movie the- aters shuttered since the 1980s. The crown prince is turning “Saudi Arabia into a normal country in which normal people lead normal lives,” Saudi Foreign Min- ister Adel al-Jubeir told re- porters Monday. Yet Democrats and Re- publicans have approached some of the crown prince’s other bold steps with trep- idation, particularly in the broader Middle East. One bill in Congress proposes scaling back U.S. military as- sistance to a Saudi-led coali- tion fighting in Yemen. Prince Mohammed, in particular, has been closely identified with the three- year-old war in the Arab world’s poorest country, which started while he was defense minister. The Saudis and their allies are fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels, but international organiza- tions have harshly criticized the coalition’s airstrikes and blockading of Yemeni ports for contributing to thousands of civilian deaths and a hu- manitarian catastrophe. It’s not the only regional mess the Saudis are in. In November, U.S. officials voiced unease when Leba- non’s prime minister unex- pectedly resigned while in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia was ac- cused of attempting to bring down Lebanon’s government, which is strongly influenced by Iranian proxy Hezbollah. Prime Minister Saad Hariri later reversed his resignation. The Saudis are working aggressively to change per- ceptions. They have cast themselves as essential part- ners against Islamist ex- tremist groups and, espe- cially since Trump’s maiden overseas voyage last year, touted their lavish purchases of high-tech goods from job- creating American compa- nies. In Yemen, the kingdom says it is improving mili- tary targeting, opening up ports and pledging $1.5 bil- lion in new aid. “The concerns expressed there are reflective of deep concerns by the American public at large,” said Lori Plotkin Boghardt, a Gulf scholar at the Washington In- stitute for Near East Policy. “The Saudis are very sensi- tive to this. They’re certainly communicating with elite circles to discuss the mea- sures they’re taking to try to get humanitarian assistance in to Yemen.” In Prince Mohammed, Trump will find a sympa- thetic ear for his calls to crack down on Iran, Saudi Arabia’s archenemy, and strengthen a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran that former President Barack Obama and world powers brokered. Trump has threatened to pull out of the agreement unless there are changes by May. Last week, Trump fired Sec- retary of State Rex Tillerson, an advocate of staying in the accord, choosing Mike Pompeo, the current CIA di- rector and nuclear deal critic, as a replacement. The crown prince could dangle a huge carrot in front of Trump for his support. Stock exchanges in New York and elsewhere are vying for the international listing of Aramco, the Saudi oil behe- moth expected to go public soon. Saudi concerns with New York include a post-9/11 law that could jeopardize assets in the United States if victims’ families claim Saudi Arabia helped the al- Qaida attackers and sue for compensation. Although the U.S. has wel- comed Prince Mohammed’s determination to purge per- vasive corruption in Saudi Arabia, including by royals, the Trump administration has not endorsed his tac- tics. Last year, more than 150 high-level princes, min- isters, military officials and businessmen were abruptly rounded up and detained at The Ritz-Carlton hotel. They eventually paid settlements that Saudi Arabia says ex- ceeded $106 billion. Al-Jubeir, the foreign min- ister, said the tough tactics were needed after past anti- corruption campaigns failed. “It didn’t work,” he said. “So now you do some- thing dramatic.” In this Nov. 26, 2017 photo, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks at a meeting of the Islamic Military Counterterrorism Alliance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. - PHOTO: AP RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS HEAD HOME FROM BRITAIN AFTER SPY ATTACK MOSCOW (AP) – Nearly two dozen Russian diplomats ex- pelled by Britain over the poi- soning of an ex-spy headed home Tuesday, while a sci- entist involved in the cre- ation of the nerve agent said it could be manufactured by other countries. Former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, are in crit- ical condition in the English city of Salisbury after being poisoned on March 4. Britain said they were poisoned with a class of nerve agent known as Novichok and blamed Russia for the attack. On March 14, British Prime Minister Theresa May gave the 23 diplomats – whom she said were unde- clared intelligence agents – a week to leave Britain. Russia responded by expelling the same number of British dip- lomats, who are expected to leave in the coming days. Diplomats and their families emerged from the Russian Embassy in west London with suitcases, bags and pet carriers. Some hugged before they boarded vehicles to the airport for a flight to Moscow.9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 2018 Northern Brazil overwhelmed by desperate, hungry Venezuelans PACARAIMA, Brazil (AP) – Hungry and destitute, tens of thousands of victims of Venezuela’s unrelenting po- litical and economic crisis are trying their luck in Brazil – a country where they do not speak the language, con- ditions are often poor and there are few border towns to receive them. Many arrive weak from hunger and with no money for a hotel, food or the $9 bus ride to Boa Vista, the capital of the Brazilian state of Ro- raima, known in Venezuelan circles as a place that offers three meals a day. In dozens of interviews over four days, many said they had not had more than one meal a day for the last year. Some wore baggy clothes, had emaciated faces and complained of medical is- sues ranging from children with measles to diabetics with no insulin. Kritce Montero tried to shush 6-month-old Hector, who cried from hunger even after breast-feeding while his family and several hundred other Venezuelans waited to be processed at the border. Montero, who said she lost 57 pounds the last year from eating just one meal a day, traveled with Hector and her 7-year-old daughter 18 hours by bus from Maturin, a city in northeast Venezuela. After spending the night sleeping on the ground in Pacaraima, a dusty border town in the Am- azon, they took another bus 130 miles to Boa Vista. “We are desperate. We could no longer buy food,” said 33-year-old Montero, adding it had been months since Hector had any for- mula or diapers. While in recent years mil- lions of Venezuelans have immigrated, until recently Brazil received relatively few of them. Hundreds of thou- sands have gone to Colombia, but authorities there and elsewhere in South America are tightening their borders. Portuguese-speaking Brazil has become the latest alternative for Venezuelans. But they are not finding much comfort there. With no money for a bus, Jose Guillen, 48, and wife July Bascelta, 44, decided to begin the journey to Boa Vista at night on foot, setting off with 9-year-old twins Angel and Ashley along a road sur- rounded by forest. “God will provide,” said Guillen when asked how the family would eat during a trip that can take five days. After walking 4 miles, a Brazilian driver stopped agreed to give them a lift to Boa Vista, where the situa- tion is arguably more des- perate. Thousands of Venezu- elans are living in the streets. They sleep in tents and on benches in central squares, have taken over abandoned buildings and cram dozens of people into small apartments. The largest of three shel- ters in the city, Tancredo, has 700 people despite being equipped for 200. Half-naked children roam the former gymnasium while groups of men and women chat about their hopes for finding work and worry about the families they left in Venezuela. Brazilian authorities es- timate 40,000 Venezuelans are living in Boa Vista, ac- counting for over 12 percent of the population in a city that was already poor and unable to offer many oppor- tunities to its residents. Most have arrived in the last several months, put- ting intense pressure on the public health system, the jails and volunteer organiza- tions and churches that are carrying the largest burden when it comes to keeping Venezuelans fed. Police say Venezuelans are sometimes working for as little as $7 a day in every- thing from construction to yard work, putting downward pressure on wages. For many, even offering to work for less is not enough: Several inter- viewed said many employers have told them flat out they will not hire Venezuelans. Roraima’s governor has declared a state of emer- gency to free up funds for overwhelmed public hospi- tals, where health officials estimate that 8 in 10 patients are Venezuelan. Last month, President Michel Temer can- celed activities during Car- nival to make an emergency trip to Boa Vista. But residents say the fed- eral government’s plans, which include building a field hospital in Pacaraima and relocating a few thou- sand immigrants to bigger cities, are not enough. Be- tween Jan. 1 and March 7 of this year, 27,755 Venezuelans crossed into Brazil from Pa- caraima. Authorities estimate at least 80,000 are currently in Brazil, most of them in Roraima state. Brazil, Latin America’s largest nation, has one of the region’s most inclusive immi- gration policies. Venezuelans are allowed to enter with just a national identification card, a lifeline for many who say that getting a passport in Venezuela has become im- possible. Many immigrants who do not have identifica- tion cards but can show a birth certificate are allowed in if they request and are granted refugee status. Being designated “refu- gees” can be problematic be- cause such immigrants can’t return to Venezuela; President Nicolas Maduro has called them “traitors” of the state. Many say that as long as Maduro is in power they have no reason to return. Despite skyrocketing infla- tion and a collapse of many businesses, Maduro has re- fused to allow humanitarian aid to enter Venezuela. He de- nies there is a crisis and says international relief would lead to foreign intervention. “Maduro’s solution is that we just eat each other,” said Diana Merida sarcastically while washing her clothes in a Boa Vista river. The 34-year- old from Maturin said she re- cently sent $3 home to her 16-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son, which would allow them to buy some rice.Young Venezuelans pull their luggage after crossing the border to Pacaraima, Roraima state, Brazil. – PHOTO: APNext >