ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MARCH 27, 2018 186295_PRINT-Butterfield-Strip-SPage 1 1/15/18 1:38:04 PM Governor Choudhury sworn in BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Anwar Choudhury was sworn in Monday afternoon as the Cayman Islands governor during a ceremony at the Leg- islative Assembly building in downtown George Town. The U.K.-appointed representative said he was humbled by his new responsibilities, the first such posting in a British Overseas Territory during his long public service career. “I know I will have much to learn in the months and years ahead,” Mr. Choudhury said during his first address to the Legislative Assembly. “I am here to serve you … nothing gives me more pleasure than to serve. “You will find my door open to you. I will defend your rights and prosperity with everything that I have at my disposal.” Rather than avoid some of more controversial matters that U.K.-appointed governors have sometimes been reluc- tant to address in the past, Mr. Choudhury seemed to prefer to meet them head-on during his introductory address. For instance, he noted some media reports had labeled him Cayman’s “first Muslim governor.” Mr. Choudhury is Muslim, but he said that’s not how he sees his new role. “I am, first and foremost, Her Majesty’s governor and your governor,” he said. The new governor set out four distinct areas his administra- tion would focus on specifically during his time here, listing them as: crime reduction, protecting Cayman’s financial services and PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 14 » Anwar Choudhury arrives at the airport in Grand Cayman with his family, including baby daughter Emilia. Anwar Choudhury arrives Monday with his wife and daughters, beginning his term as the Cayman Islands’ 13th governor. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY New Cayman Islands Governor Anwar Choudhury greets Premier Alden McLaughlin and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson. Anwar Choudhury is sworn in as the 13th governor of the Cayman Islands. ________________ More photos of the governor’s arrival on pages 12 and 13. ________________2 LOCAL&REGIONAL TUESDAY MARCH 27, 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) MARY MAGDALENE (PG13) 1:30 I 4:15 I 10:00 TOMB RAIDER 3D (PG13) 1:45 I 3:40 2D VIP I 7:20 2D I 10:00 BLACK PANTHER (PG13) 12:45 I 4:00 I 7:00 I 9:15 SHERLOCK GNOMES (PG) 1:00 VIP I 4:30 I 7:05 I 9:20 PETER RABBIT (PG) 12:20 I 2:40 I 5:00 I 7:20 I 9:40 DEATH WISH (R) 1:15 I 4:00 I 6:50 I 9:45 VIP CLASSICS @ THE MOVIES: ALIEN (R) 7:00 VIP KAABOO organizers expect 11K people a day JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Organizers of the KAABOO music festival gave some indication of the likely scale of the event Monday, when they sought a liquor license covering 47 different bars to be spread across the 30-acre site. The music festival planned for February 2019 is expected to attract 11,000 people a day to the site north of the Kimpton Seafire Re- sort, organizers told the Li- quor Licensing Board of Grand Cayman at its quar- terly meeting Monday. The event is a partner- ship between the Dart group and Virgin Produced. Mod- eled after the three-year- old KAABOO festival in San Diego, organizers plan to bring in a slate of 25 music and comedy performers. The festival will also have an art exhibit/sale component, gourmet food demonstrations and indulgent amenities such as spa treatments. Answering questions from the liquor board Monday, Kristy Rivers, Dart’s senior manager of expe- riences and engagement, said it was expected to be the most heavily attended event in Cayman’s history, eclipsing the 8,000 plus that turned out to see John Legend in 2012. She said the event was in- tended to be an annual fes- tival held in Cayman for at least the next three years. April Harbour , director of food and beverage for KAABOO, indicated the event would feature 47 bars and 22 restaurants, including a mix of local and visiting chefs. She said the intent was to provide as many “bev- erage locations” as possible to eliminate lines. Ms. Harbour said the event was already proving popular and a “blind sale” of tickets had sold out in five days. Further tickets went on sale and sold out as well. She said organizers would police underage drinking by issuing color-coded bands at the gate. Bartenders will also be able to ask for identification. Organizers also indicated the event would have its own security and medical center. Also at Monday’s meeting, businessman Robert Hamaty appeared before the board to seek permission for a new mobile duty-free truck to sell liquor to cruise ship tourists. The proprietors of Agua restaurant made an appli- cation for a license for their new premises in Camana Bay at the site of the former Orta- nique Restaurant. The owners of two new venues at the Cayman Technology Center – Mexican eatery Pico and café Water & the Elephant – also sought liquor licenses. Man pronounced dead after motorcycle accident near Spotts KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands resident Lenny Pinet-Trusty was pro- nounced dead on Sunday after his motorcycle collided with a car around 5 p.m. According to police, the collision took place on Sham- rock Road in the vicinity of Spotts Public Beach. Of- ficers were dispatched at 5:20 p.m., and Mr. Pinet- Trusty was taken to the hos- pital and pronounced dead shortly thereafter. Mr. Pinet-Trusty, a 35-year- old Honduras national who had Caymanian status, is sur- vived by his family, including a wife and young child. His coworkers at A. L. Thompson’s released a state- ment on Monday about the incident. “All of us at A. L. Thomp- son’s are saddened by the death of our co-worker Lenny Pinet-Trusty. Lenny served the company in appliance de- livery and installation since November 2005. He was well liked by staff and customers for being courteous, person- able, and conscientious,” stated Mr. Pinet-Trusty’s col- leagues. “His diligence in his position and in providing dedicated customer service earned him respect and rec- ognition; his wit, humor, and support earned him friends. “We will miss his smile and his service. May you rest in peace, Lenny.” The death of Mr. Pinet- Trusty was one of two se- rious motorcycle accidents over the weekend. On Saturday, another man was badly injured in a mo- torcycle accident on Saturday morning on Shedden Road near Dorcy Drive in George Town. The man was taken to the Cayman Islands Hos- pital where he received treat- ment for serious lacerations to the face and arms, and a broken femur. Police have not released further information on that incident or the man’s identity. Lenny Pinet-Trusty Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday Holy Week began throughout the Christian world with Palm Sunday, observed this year on March 25. Members of St. Ignatius Catholic Church carried palms in procession before Mass to commemorate Jesus Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem the week before he was crucified and then rose again. Churches throughout Cayman will be holding services this week, culminating on Easter Sunday, April 1. – PHOTO: CAROL WINKER CORRECTION The Cayman Compass incorrectly reported in Monday’s editions that Anwar Choudhury was Cayman’s 14th governor since the post was established in 1971. Mr. Choudhury is the 13th person named to that post since its establishment. Mexican zookeeper killed by lion MEXICO CITY (AP) – Author- ities say a zoo employee who was killed by a lion in central Mexico may have forgotten to shut a gate that separated the animal’s feeding and sleeping areas. Mexico’s office for en- vironmental protection said Monday that an in- spection of the enclo- sure showed no holes or breaches where the animal could have escaped. The lion was being held with a lioness at the Nicolas Bravo zoo in Tulancingo, northeast of Mexico City. The zookeeper was killed by the animal on March 17 as he cleaned the enclosure. Authorities fired tranquilizer darts but were unable to stop the attack. The zookeeper was killed by the animal on March 17 as he cleaned the enclosure.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 27, 2018 On an early February morning, a charismatic couple arrived to la prairie spa at The Ritz-Carlton for a scheduled massage treatment. The couple had separate treatment rooms and Ms. Jenney Jackson was the therapist that would be providing the massage to the Lady. As she guided the guest to the treatment room, she learned this was the couple’s first time in the Cayman Islands and they were visiting from Texas to celebrate her birthday. This was also the first trip away from their three children. She was delighted to be at the resort for some well-deserved time off her hectic life back home. OnceOnce in the treatment room, the guest noticed Jenney’s flag on her nametag and inquired where she was from. When she learned Jenney was from Cuba, the Lady excitedly shared that she loved Cuban music and culture, and even started to sing the popular tune “Havana”. Coincidentally, artist Camila Cabello is also Cuban and from the same town as Jenney. Through conversation about the culture and food, Jenney learned that the Lady loved to dance salsa and her favorite drink was mojitos. She went on to describe the exact way that she and her husband liked their mojitos prepared, and it was a detail that did not go unnoticed with Jenney. DuringDuring the treatment, Jenney also learned tthat the couple would be having dinner at Blue by Eric Ripert the following day, and decided to plan a pleasant surprise for them. She visited the Manager at Blue, Christina, and arranged for two mojitos to be delivered to the couple’s table, prepared exactly how they liked them by the Mixologist and accompanied with a thoughtful note. The attention to this detail made the guests’ stay even more memorable and they were blown away when they received the mojitos and the note at their table the following day. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is proud to share the stories crafted by our most valuable resource: our Ladies and Gentlemen. Call 943-9000 or visit ritzcarlton.com/grandcayman.Call 943-9000 or visit ritzcarlton.com/grandcayman. Discover an unmatched collection of experiences at Grand Cayman’s top luxury resort. Elderly snorkeler’s inquest raises questions Coroner refers to financial considerations CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The inquest into the death of an elderly snorkeler raised questions last week and even provided some possible an- swers when Queen’s Coroner Eileen Nervik and seven jurors heard evidence in the case of a cruise ship passenger who died after a self-booked ex- cursion to Stingray City. Jose Antonio Puron Lazcano was 77 when he came to Cayman with 13 family members aboard the cruise ship Liberty of the Sea on April 12, 2017. The court heard that Mr. Lazcano had declined to use a life vest while snorkeling at a North Sound site known as Coral Garden. The first mate aboard the charter boat had advised him not to enter the water because of choppy con- ditions, but his daughter in- dicated he could swim and “it was OK.” None of the party wore a life vest. Investigating officer An- thony Thomas of the po- lice marine unit noted that boats are required to have a life vest for every person on board, but there was no rule about their use. “When it comes to getting in the water to snorkel, there is nothing to say you have to put on a buoyancy device,” Mr. Thomas pointed out. Boat crew can advise, but they can’t force, he added. The jury foreman asked whether it should be a re- quirement that life vests be worn, or should it be a re- quirement for persons over a certain age. The coroner said she had noticed what seemed to be an increasing number of in- quests for swimmers and snorkelers. She asked Mr. Thomas if he could give a rough estimate of how many incidents of this nature there had been in the past year. Mr. Thomas said there had been 10 or more in 2016 and “prob- ably six or seven” in 2017. Asked what percentage of incidents involved tourists, he said 97 – 98 percent. She asked how many were between the ages of 60 and 80. Mr. Thomas said that 80 percent of the time, the inci- dent involved someone 50 or over. There had been only a couple of people in their 40s. He noted that tourists tended to come from “a more controlled environment” than the open sea and don’t realize how strong currents can be or the effect of wave action. Another juror asked whether Mr. Thomas had no- ticed incidents happening in specific locations. He re- plied that the “hot spots” were locations typically vis- ited by tourists. Asked about signs, he said there were some areas with signs and warnings about currents, “but you may not see them till after the fact.” Mr. Thomas also commented that where there were signs, “people don’t pay attention.” This led to suggestions that signs be made bigger, or put at a different angle, or be made three-sided. A system of lifeguards was discussed, with ques- tions as to where they would be stationed and the min- imum distance apart they would need to be in order to be effective. After the officer’s evi- dence, the coroner continued with the reading of witness statements and a review of the autopsy report presented earlier by government pathol- ogist Shravana Jyoti. “He was far from being healthy,” Mr. Jyoti told the court. “He was not fit to do snorkeling.” Mr. Lazcano’s health is- sues included the fact that he had undergone open heart and two by-pass sur- geries 20 years earlier; his left coronary artery was 90 percent blocked, which the pathologist described as “critical”; he was on medica- tion for Parkinson’s disease and high blood pressure. The medical cause of death was acute myocardial infarction (a heart attack) while snor- keling in seawater. A juror asked if Mr. Lazcano would have had a better chance of surviving a heart attack if he had not been swimming. Mr. Jyoti re- plied that when a person is doing a routine activity, the heart will not suffer much. Snorkeling required exer- tion and was not routine, he indicated. Mr. Lazcano had been heading back to the boat when he stopped swimming. His son called for help. The first mate jumped into the water and with other per- sons’ help, Mr. Lazcano was raised onto the boat and given CPR. The boat headed back to shore and a police marine unit vessel came alongside and assisted with CPR and a defibrillator ma- chine, which gave a reading of “No shock advised.” An ambulance carried Mr. Lazcano to the Cayman Is- lands Hospital, where he ar- rived around 3:15 p.m. He did not regain conscious- ness, but his blood was still circulating. He was placed on a ventilator and trans- ferred to the Critical Care Unit, where he died at 2:30 a.m. on April 13. After the jury deliberated and returned a verdict of mis- adventure, discussion con- tinued another 20 minutes. The corner said she had conducted inquests for more than six years and a lot of them were water- related deaths. The Coroner’s Law allows her to make certain recom- mendations and she thanked jurors for their suggestions. She was trying to see what Cayman could do as a community to mitigate what has been happening. But there was another component to all of this, she pointed out – the financial component. Cruise ships come here for a day and passengers go on tours, she summarized. “They come to enjoy our beautiful island and we don’t want to be unkind,” she said. Tragedy happens and, along with the impact on persons involved, “it has fi- nancial consequences for us. It’s not the cruise ship or family that bears the fi- nancial burden of the au- topsy, it’s government,” she explained. “The Health Services Au- thority will invoice the Ju- dicial Department for every single autopsy and other ex- penses. We struggle with that situation because it runs into thousands of dollars for just one autopsy and at the end of the year, it can be hundreds of thousands that we the people of the Cayman Islands are bearing financial respon- sibility for.” She wondered if that re- sponsibility should be shared in situations of illness or medical condition. “At least there should be conversation about this,” she commented, referring to Cayman’s reputation, safety concerns and the financial consideration, which she de- scribed as substantial. She wondered what other ju- risdictions were doing in these situations. In years past, there had been a number of fatalities involving scuba divers, “but there hadn’t been many re- cently, the coroner observed. She added her impression that the dive operations had a good association. Now there needed to be something in place to deal with snor- kelers, she suggested. When a fatality occurs, es- pecially involving someone coming in for one day on a cruise ship, “we’re stuck with the bill because it hap- pens in our jurisdiction,” she concluded. “He was far from being healthy …. He was not fit to do snorkeling.” SHRAVANA JYOTI, government pathologist Queen’s Coroner Eileen NervikThe 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. He may sign “Derrington Miller” on the dotted line, but everyone … and we do mean everyone … knows him as “Bo.” Even though he has never held elected office (he did run, twice), the well-respected businessman has been as active as any member of the Legislative Assembly on matters of public policy. Long ago, Mr. Miller championed the idea of creating a public beach on Old Robin Road just east of the junction with Frank Sound and North Side roads. He never contemplated its bearing his name. Nevertheless, last Saturday more than 100 people – friends, neighbors, politicians, Caymanians all – gathered to honor Mr. Miller in a public naming ceremony that will forever stamp his imprint on this special plot of North Side sand. It is, fittingly, the same site where Mr. Miller’s forefathers (he traces his Cayman ancestry back to the 1700s) built sailing ships. Mr. Miller, who has been fighting cancer in recent months, has long played an outsize role in his commu- nity and these islands. A fierce advocate of Cayman and its people, he has often stood in public forums, on platforms and behind megaphones and microphones, reminding his audiences – acolytes and adversaries alike – to think creatively about opportunities and solu- tions to enhance the homeland. The founder of the Young Caymanian Business- men’s Association, Mr. Miller’s causes are too many to mention in this limited space. A staunch proponent of government transparency and stewardship of the natural environment, he has been keenly interested in promoting local leadership and ownership. His idea for a Cayman Infrastructure Fund would allow residents to invest in major public-private partnerships to fund (and thus own) major capital projects. Even while he has fought his personal battle with cancer, Mr. Miller has continued to fight for solutions for the broader public. In a letter to the editor pub- lished in this paper last September, he urged gov- ernment and the public to embrace alternative and emerging therapies for patients with cancer. “As a cancer patient, I am continuously researching and discussing with my doctors and other experts on what miracles are on the horizon that would benefit me,” he wrote. In reminiscing, our publisher recalls giving Mr. Miller a ride home years ago after an evening event. They became so engaged in conversation (wine, women, song and politics – always politics) that they did not stop talking until more than an hour after they had pulled into the parking lot. On another occasion, Mr. Miller invited our publisher to take a personalized tour of North Side. “Bo’s Tour” was not just through the side roads and unmapped back bush of his district but also a tour of its history and heredity – a firsthand “who’s who” of North Side, its families and, of course, just enough “secrets” and “gossip” to keep a listener transfixed. Plans for the beach named in his honor include a paved parking area, cabanas and possibly a small maritime museum. For generations, Bo Miller Public Beach will be a reminder of Mr. Miller’s fierce dedica- tion to Cayman and its people. If we were empowered, say by our new governor, to hand out new titles, we would indeed bestow upon Mr. Miller the honor of forever being known as the Prince of North Side. It would go nicely with a title he already indisputably holds – a prince among men. ‘Bo’s Beach’: A fitting tribute to the ‘Prince of North Side’ President Donald Trump is taking a high-stakes gamble on trade. Tariffs on steel and aluminum will not have the huge impacts on supply chains that critics often claim, but those stand to upset the whole global trading system and specifi- cally, the role of the World Trade Organization. The lesson from the 2002 safeguard tariff is, after a brief price spike, the ulti- mate impact on material prices should be about half the 25 percent and 10 per- cent tariffs on steel and alu- minum. Simply, foreign sup- pliers will find ways to cut costs and accept slimmer margins, and new domestic supplies will come on line. By my math, the impact of the steel tariff on the price of the typical $36,000 car, which contains about one ton, should be $125 to $150. For a $20 12-pack of beer, the aluminum tariff should add about 3 to 5 cents. Such small price effects – coupled with exemptions for Mexico and Canada (which are the only import sources that may realisti- cally participate in just-in- time production) and other allies – indicate that consid- erable amounts of foreign steel and aluminum will continue to be used in the United States. However, the tariffs ap- pear broad for a national- defense exclusion under the WTO agreements, and terms of exemptions for al- lies in Europe and Asia will be critical to an evolving Trump strategy to shake up trade in more than just steel and aluminum. Cutting the $650 bil- lion annual trade gap by one-third could directly create about 1 million jobs. Manufacturing would ben- efit most, and it finances two-thirds of business re- search and development. Investments in intellec- tual property for new mate- rials, supply chain manage- ment, artificial intelligence and the like would sub- stantially boost long-term economic growth. China accounts for more than 60 percent of the U.S. trade deficit and habitu- ally subsidizes domestic in- dustries, limits imports in areas of rapidly advancing technology to incubate its own competitors, and forces foreign multinationals to transfer technology as a con- dition for market access. It compels their compliance with the Communist Party political agenda and insid- ious activities monitoring its citizens. China has targeted one U.S. industry after another – metals, solar panels, com- puter chips, artificial intel- ligence and supercomputers – many having significant economic and national secu- rity consequences. The administration is im- plementing a much broader response to China – cov- ering a wider range of bi- laterally traded products than just steel and alu- minum – and rules for Chi- nese investment in the United States, expected to mirror Beijing’s restrictions and performance require- ments for U.S. and other Western investment in the Middle Kingdom. Employing the mercan- tilist strategies noted above, China has built up vast alu- minum and steel capacity beyond its domestic needs and flooded global markets with those products. Alu- minum smelting is a shell of what it once was and the steel industry has huge ex- cess capacity. The Bush and Obama ad- ministrations slapped anti- dumping and subsidy coun- tervailing duties on Chinese metals, but China’s exports into Asia and Europe find their way into U.S. mar- kets – either simply trans- shipped, as the origin of these commodities is often too difficult to identify, or by displacing production in other markets that is then shipped here. For trade in other in- dustries, the Obama ad- ministration was increas- ingly frustrated in efforts to obtain relief through the WTO or WTO-ap- proved mechanisms. Part of the problem is that the WTO essentially imposes a set of rules for government policies in market economies, and those rules do not neatly apply to state-owned en- terprises or private firms having significant partici- pation of the Chinese gov- ernment in its management. And part of the problem appears to be in how dis- pute settlement panels and the appellate body try to apply those rules. Obama and now Trump made it U.S. policy to hold up appointments to the ap- pellate body and to table a long list of complaints about the process. Frequently mentioned in the steel and aluminum tariff exemption process for European and Asian al- lies are what policies they may take to keep their mar- kets from being a conduit for Chinese excess capacity. And as the United States girdles its loins for a slug- fest with China over trade and investment, these metals tariffs are a pre- liminary test of what the Trump administration will seek from its allies in dealing with China and re- forming the WTO. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. TUESDAY MARCH 27, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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” Tariffs are Trump’s first test of China and the WTO PETER MORICI China has targeted one U.S. industry after another – metals, solar panels, computer chips, artificial intelligence and supercomputers – many having significant economic and national security consequences.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 27, 2018 Today’s business environment is constantly evolving. You need team members who can help your organization thrive in this changing climate. 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Since leaving the army, Christopher Pierce embarked on a new calling as a dedi- cated Christian soldier. The latest step in his journey brings him to the Cayman Islands, where he has taken over the role as rector of St. Alban’s Church from Bishop Nicholas Sykes. For years, Mr. Pierce knew the Lord wanted him on his battalion; he figured he just did not fit the bill. “I thought God wanted an inoffensive ‘milquetoast’ – [a] bland and not exciting kind of person. That wasn’t me.” The reverend created quite a stir within his bat- talion when he announced he would not be making a career out of the military. “I did enjoy it with all its frustrations … I loved the ca- maraderie and a lot of other things that went along with it,” he said. But he said the call of the Lord was much more compelling. The Rev. Pierce’s ca- reer has been varied, from country music radio host, layman in the United States Army where he served in Ger- many, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Iraq for several years be- fore 1991, then finally to or- dained Anglican priest. He said he was very for- tunate he did not have ill ef- fects from some of the things they were exposed to, but he feels for those who did. “I had never been in min- istry, only as a layman while I was in active duty. I came to the conclusion that when I returned to the United States, I would begin serving the Lord,” he said. He started as a student in seminary in 1991, after leaving the military. A father of 6 children, hus- band to wife Stacy and lover of Popeye’s chicken, Mr. Pierce is an American by birth and a naturalized citizen of Ireland. “What you see is what you get,” he said. The reverend comes from the Church of Ireland in Do- negal as rector of Clonda- horkey with Cashel and Mevagh Union, where he served for the past 8 years. The Rev. Pierce recog- nizes that Bishop Sykes has left “big footprints” but he in- tends to make his own mark. Bishop Sykes, who cele- brates his 78th birthday in April, said he is happy with the new rector. “We have been trying for a few years to find a replace- ment to be specifically in charge of the congregation … Now we believe we have found him, we are pleased with that fact,” he said. He said the Rev. Pierce is somewhat younger than he is and a great deal more ener- getic to be able to carry the congregation forward in the way the Lord intended.“No congregation can have one particular pastor forever. You have to have a successor; that’s just the way things are,” Mr. Sykes said. Bishop Nicholas Sykes, left, welcomes the new Rector Christopher Pierce. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Boxers partner with Security Centre The Security Centre Lim- ited and the Cayman Islands Boxing Association have en- tered an agreement designed to give local job-seeking can- didates a better chance at on- the-job training in the secu- rity industry. The two parties have agreed to a three-month in- ternship program that will allow qualified candidates to get experience in all aspects of company operations ranging from accounts and sales to guarding and electronic se- curity systems. Dean Sinclair, the business development manager for Security Centre, hopes to give Caymanians a chance to get work experience in an educational and worker- friendly environment. The internship candidates will be selected in collabo- ration with CIBA, and the committed and disciplined boxers can get opportunities to start working and be in- volved in the business world. Alex Smith, a gold-medal winner at the recent Carib- bean Championships, will be the first participant in the program. Outside the boxing ring, Mr. Smith is interested in electronics, and he is cur- rently joining Security Centre technicians in a range of se- curity system installations and servicing. “We’re happy to be able to support the development of young Caymanians through this internship program and we would like to help launch and kick this off more broadly across the Cayman Islands,” Mr. Sinclair said. “Having at- tended the boxing gym, I saw the commitment and focus of these young athletes and felt we could develop a pro- gram to create opportunities if some of them wanted to have some professional expe- rience to help them become workforce ready.” Leyla Jackson, presi- dent of CIBA, is thrilled to be associated with the Se- curity Centre. “The new partnership with the Security Centre is a positive educational pathway that is creating opportuni- ties for young Caymanians to get work experience in a structured environment,” Ms. Jackson said. “We are de- lighted with Alex’s success which has resulted from this program, and his determina- tion to make it work.” Dean Sinclair, business development management for The Security Centre, intern Alex Smith and client services manager Maria McLean flex their muscles for the new boxing association partnership. “What you see is what you get.” THE REV. CHRISTOPHER PIERCETUESDAY MARCH 27, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. TUESDAY, MAR. 27 ANNUAL DAY OF PRAYER: The Cayman Ministers’ Association host their Annual Day of Prayer on the grounds of the Glass House (next to Government Administration Building on Elgin Avenue) from noon to 12:50 p.m. All are invited. NCVO EASTER SALE: The NCVO New To You Bargain Shop holds a $5 bag sale during the Easter season where customers can buy a bag for $5 and fill it to the brim with items in the store. Sale continues till Saturday, April 7. Items include household goods, baby supplies, stuffed animals and toys, clothes (some school uniforms), shoes, books and craft items. The Bargain Shop is at 90A Anthony Drive, off Smith Road (behind the Pines Retirement Home) next to Miss Nadine’s Preschool. Open 3 to 6 p.m. weekdays, Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. THURSDAY, MAR. 29 BLOCKCHAIN AND CRYPTOCURRENCY COURSE: Understand the mechanics behind blockchain, how it works, why it is in demand and how it can be regulated. $350. Register at www.riskpass.com/training. 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. TUESDAY, APRIL 10 GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS: All who are planning to apply for a local government scholarship for the 2018/2019 academic year are invited to complete the required forms online by visiting www.education. gov.ky/scholarships. An information session takes place today at the George Town Public Library 5:30- 6:30 p.m. Anyone planning to apply for a government scholarship for 2018/2019 is encouraged to attend. GENERAL INTEREST CADET CORPS: The Cayman Islands Cadet Corps is looking for new recruits, ages 11-16, to join the Band Detachment or the Marine Detachment and School Detachments at John Gray High School, Clifton Hunter High School, Layman Scott High School and Triple C School. Program includes drilling, field craft and adventure, navigation, first-aid, competition shooting, physical and leadership training, music and band, water-based activities. For more information, contact the Cadet Corps at 938-8821/22, 946-9810 or email cadetcorps@gov.ky. On Brac, call 948-8824 or 938-8824. Website is www.cicadetcorps.ky. 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. 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. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. OPEN CANVAS: Every Wednesday. Visual Arts Society supports this event at KARoo Restaurant located in Camana Bay. 7-11 p.m. No fee. Easels provided for artist of all levels to come out and enjoy painting and socializing with other artists. Email info@visualartcayman.com or jar.was@gmail.com. MUSEUM TOURS: The National Museum provides guided tours for students and school groups free of cost. Students will gain an understanding of Cayman’s geological formation, flora and fauna, seafaring and rope-making heritage, political history and more. Contact the museum to book a tour in advance at 949-8368 or email info@museum.ky. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. Call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail.com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-step recovery group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Mondays, 7 p.m. For details, contact Virginia Castillo at 946-2422, or visit www.overcomersoutreach.org. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at ADACI’s office, 4th floor Cardinall Plaza, 30 Cardinall Ave., GT. All are invited to attend. Call 924-4170 or email info@adacyman.com. GRAND CAYMAN TOASTMASTERS: Club meets each Thursday 6 – 7:15 p.m. on 3rd Floor, George Town Public Library. Visitors and guests welcome. Local contact is George R. Ebanks, 322-9369 or Grand Cayman Toastmasters club on Facebook. Email info@ toastmastersclub2686.org. ROTARACT BLUE OF CAYMAN: Meets Wednesdays 6 p.m., at Royal Palms Beach Club, West Bay Road. Contact rotaractblue@gmail.com or www.rotaractblue.org. LEO CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, contact Secretary Letisha Allen at 924-2819. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, email LionsClubGCM@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabethan Square (corner unit). Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7 a.m. every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. website at www.rotarysunrise.ky or contact info@rotarysunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30 p.m., at Britannia Golf Course Restaurant. Projects include promoting well- being of children in the community and schools. email president@kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis.ky. OPTIMIST CLUB: Meets first and third Thursdays at the Hibiscus Conference Room, Cayman Islands Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Learn more at www.optimistcayman.com. THE MODEL AIRPLANE FLYING CLUB: Meets Sundays 2 p.m. at the J. Bodden Marlpit/Old Raceway. Call 916–2327. PARENT AND TODDLER PLAY GROUP: For children from 2 weeks to 4 years. Meets Mondays 9:30- 11:30 a.m. in the South Sound Community Centre. Children must be accompanied by parent or helper. Toys, activities, light refreshments provided. $6 per session per family. Email sspg@foxwood.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The NCVO New To You Bargain Shop is holding a $5 bag sale during the Easter season. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28 EASTER CONVENTION: Held at the Wesleyan Holiness Church of West Bay tonight through Easter Sunday. 7:30 p.m. Wed through Friday; no service on Saturday; 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Sunday. Speaker is Rev. Adam Buckler, President of Union Bible College, Westfield, Indiana. 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 BOATSWAIN BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Service at 11 a.m. 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 BOATSWAIN BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Service at 11 a.m. POWER OF FAITH: The Power of Faith Deliverance Ministry presents the Easter production “The Power of the Cross” at 6 p.m. 100 Greenwood Drive, (Swamp) George Town. All are invited. 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 SERVICES7 LOCAL&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 27, 2018 A silent killer in the backyard Brazil appeals court: da Silva conviction, sentence stands SAO PAULO (AP) – As the slow wheels of Brazilian jus- tice turn, former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is inching toward jail. On Monday, appeals court judges unanimously upheld their decision to reject da Silva’s appeal of his convic- tion on corruption charges – a move that brings him one step closer to being barred from the presidential ballot and put behind bars. Despite his legal woes, da Silva is leading polls for the October presidential elec- tion, and he is currently trav- eling through Brazil’s south to rally his supporters. His caravan has been met by pro- testers along the way. On Monday, he spoke to a few thousand people in Fran- cisco Beltrao in Parana state, repeating his contention that the charges against him are trumped up and meant to keep him from regaining the presidency. Before the former leader arrived, protesters threw eggs into the crowd, as they have done at several other sites along the tour. That is a sign of how divi- sive a figure the once-beloved politician has become. For some, the man universally known as Lula is a symbol of the boom years, when mil- lions of Brazilians rose out of poverty. For others, he repre- sents widespread corruption in Brazil’s halls of power. Da Silva was convicted last year of trading favors with construction company OAS in return for the promise of a beachfront apartment. The conviction was upheld by a group of federal magistrates in January, and they increased his sentence to 12 years and one month in prison. In Brazil, the defense can enter a motion that questions such decisions, pointing out inconsistencies or contradic- tions. But the magistrates re- jected the substance of the de- fense’s motion, meaning the conviction stands. They did acknowledge one mistake in how they referred to a com- pany which has no concrete effect on the case’s outcome. Da Silva’s defense still has one more motion it can file with the same court, but lawyer Carolina Cleve said it was very unlikely to change anything since Monday’s ruling clearly showed the court’s position. Under Bra- zilian law, once all motions related to the first appeal are exhausted, the defen- dant can be ordered to start serving his sentence. The law also says he should be barred from running for office. It seems likely da Silva will be jailed in the coming weeks, but he would be al- lowed to continue to ap- peal his conviction to higher courts while serving his sentence. World’s most dangerous tree grows in Cayman JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com If you every come across a manchineel tree, do not eat it, touch it, stand under it, or even look at it. Cayman adults will not go near this dangerous tree. Children were told to stay away from it and animals are killed by eating it. It is also listed in the Guinness World Re- cords as the world’s most dangerous tree. It looks unassuming enough, often little more than a shrubby bush, but it can grow into a tree about 50 feet high. Its bark is gray-brown and its leaves are a bright and silky green. The manchineel is a shade tree with fruit that suppos- edly tastes sweet at first, but has devastating effects later on. Eating these fruits can cause extreme burning and pain in the mouth, fol- lowed by a tightening of the throat preventing one from swallowing. Fortunately, inju- ries in Cayman have been rare because of warning signs posted on trees in public areas. The fruits are known as “manzanilla de la muerte,” which in English translates to “little apple of death.” The name alone should be enough to stop even the most curious from tasting it. All parts of the man- chineel tree exude a toxic liquid that severely irritates the skin, so even touching it should be avoided. If you should get the toxic milk on the body, immediately wash with soap and water. The milky white sap is in- credibly poisonous. Even one drop can cause rashes, blis- ters and swelling. One of the biggest mistakes people make is to take refuge from rain under this tree. Water drip- ping off the leaves and bark can cause severe ailments – just one drop in the eye may cause permanent blindness. It even exudes a toxic mist in the wind, giving one more reason to stay far away. “We were warned to stay away from this tree by our parents and grandparents,” said Twyla Vargas, a Bodden Town resident familiar with manchineel. “There was only one tree I can recall of being in my area when I was growing up, and that was behind the Bodden Town Mission House, but I think it died,” Ms. Vargas said. “Hearing about manchi- neel brings back childhood fears. That’s was one plant everyone in Cayman was very afraid of,” Ms. Vargas said. Marilyn Nasirun, now 61, had the unfortunate ex- perience of coming face to face with a manchineel tree at age 14. “My face and eyes were swollen for weeks after I walked under the tree and a leaf brushed my face,” she said. Despite the inherent dan- gers associated, the tree has been used as a source of timber by Caribbean car- penters for centuries. Once dry, the hard, pale wood can be used in cabinet work, and in Cayman was con- sidered an excellent mate- rial for the deck planking on wooden schooners. Toxic as the tree may be to humans, blue iguanas eat it. National Trust field officer Stuart Mailer said Cayman blue iguanas love the fruit. Strangely enough, after in- gesting the fruit, the iguana gets into a drunken state. Mr. Mailer witnessed this recently at the Botanic Park when he encountered a blue iguana acting strangely and inquired from the park warden what was wrong. He was told it had just ingested a manchineel fruit. Manchineel trees at the Botanic Park are labeled as dangerous, with signs warning people to stay away. The book “Wild Trees in the Cayman Islands,” by Fred Burton and illustrated by Penny Clifford, states the manchineel is found on all three islands, growing abundantly in seasonally flooded areas close to but- tonwood wetlands, where the floodwater is never very salty. It also grows by sandy seashores. The tree is native to parts of the Caribbean, Cen- tral and South America, in- cluding the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands. The fruits are known as “manzanilla de la muerte,” which in English translates to “little apple of death.” The name alone should be enough to stop even the most curious from tasting it. Brazil’s former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva makes a heart shape as he meets with supporters for a rally on a farm in Nova Erechim in southern Brazil, Sunday. – PHOTO: AP A sign cautions passers-by against the toxic properties of the Manchineel tree.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY MARCH 27, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Earthquake rattles Papua New Guinea A magnitude 6.6 earthquake has rattled the Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea, a month after a deadly quake there killed more than 125 people. Home to 7 million people, Papua New Guinea is located to the east of Indonesia and sits on the Pacific’s ‘Ring of Fire.’ Russian shopping mall fire kills 64; no alarms reported Diplomats ousted: US, Europe punish Russia over spy case WASHINGTON (AP) – The United States and more than a dozen European nations kicked out Russian diplomats on Monday and the Trump administration ordered Rus- sia’s consulate in Seattle to close, as the West sought joint punishment for Mos- cow’s alleged poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain. Warning of an “unaccept- ably high” number of Russian spies in the U.S., the Trump administration said 60 dip- lomats would be expelled – all Russian intelligence agents working under dip- lomatic cover, the U.S. said. The group includes a dozen posted to Russia’s mission to the United Nations who the officials said were engaged in “aggressive collection” of in- telligence on American soil. The move was one of the most significant actions Pres- ident Donald Trump’s admin- istration has taken to date to punish Moscow and Russian President Vladimir Putin, es- pecially over its intelligence activities. The last time they spoke, less than a week ago, Trump congratulated Putin for his re-election but did not raise the March 4 spy poi- soning, Russia’s alleged elec- tion-meddling in the U.S. or its own tainted voting pro- cess, prompting dismayed critiques even from Trump’s fellow Republicans. “This is the largest expul- sion of Russian intelligence officers in United States his- tory,” said U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman. The American penalties were echoed by announce- ments in European capi- tals across the continent, in- cluding those in Russia’s backyard. All told, 18 coun- tries were ousting more than 100 Russian spies, British Prime Minister Theresa May said, in addition to 23 al- ready kicked out by the U.K. The list included at least 16 European Union nations, with more likely to follow. Germany, Poland and France each planned to boot four, the Czech Republic three and Italy two. Ukraine, a non-EU country with its own conflicts with Moscow, was expelling 13 Russians, President Petro Poroshenko said. All three Baltic states said they would kick diplomats out. Canada, too, said it was taking action, kicking out four and denying three who have applied to enter the country. Almost all of the countries said publicly that the Rus- sian diplomats they were ex- pelling were actually spies. The expulsions came with a chorus of condemnation for the Kremlin – for the poi- soning, Russian spying and other Western grievances. Poland’s Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz called it “the right response to the un- friendly, aggressive actions of Russia.” In the Czech Re- public, where Russian offi- cials have claimed the poison may have originated, Prime Minister Andrej Babis dis- missed that allegation as “an utter lie.” In Washington, Russia’s ambassador to the U.S., Ana- toly Antonov, was summoned early Friday to the State De- partment and told that the 60 diplomats would have one week to leave the country, the State Department said. Russia’s Embassy in Wash- ington responded on Twitter by hinting at retaliation, asking its followers to vote which U.S. consulate should be shuttered: St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg or Vladivostok. Russia will likely re- spond quid pro quo using the “principle of reciprocity,” the Kremlin said – a suggestion that Russia may expel an equal number of diplomats. Russia’s Consulate Gen- eral in Seattle must close by April 2. The facility is a par- ticular counter-intelligence concern to the U.S. because of its proximity to a U.S. Navy base, said the senior U.S. of- ficials, who spoke on condi- tion of anonymity because they were not authorized to be identified by name. The U.S. actions appeared to signal an increased level of concern about the extent of Russian spying in the United States. Senior officials said they estimated Russia had roughly 100 intelligence offi- cials at its diplomatic posts in the U.S., suggesting that dozens will remain even after the 60 are expelled. “The United States and many of our friends are sending a clear message that we will not stand for Rus- sia’s misconduct,” said U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump’s envoy to the U.N. Britain had already ex- pelled 23 Russian diplomats, accusing them of being un- declared intelligence agents, which led Russia to expel the same number of British dip- lomats. The European Union has already recalled its am- bassador to Russia. The steps on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean add to a serious escalation of ten- sions between Russia and the West that has been building since the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer convicted of spying for the U.K., and his daughter, Yulia. The two remain in critical condition and unconscious. A policeman who responded to their home was also injured. Britain has accused Moscow of perpetrating the attack using a Soviet-devel- oped nerve agent known as Novichok. The U.S., France and Germany have agreed it’s highly likely Russia was responsible. Russia’s gov- ernment has denied respon- sibility and has blasted Britain’s investigation into the poisoning. Monday’s expulsions ap- pear to involve the largest number of Russians kicked out of the United States since 1986, when the Reagan ad- ministration expelled 55. The George W. Bush administra- tion expelled 50 Russians in 2001 in retaliation for the Robert Hanssen spy case. In its waning days, the Obama administration expelled 35 over alleged Russian inter- ference in the 2016 presiden- tial election. Trump has repeatedly wavered on whether he be- lieves Moscow was behind the election-meddling, de- spite assessments from U.S. intelligence agencies and the special counsel investi- gation into Russia’s actions and potential collusion with Trump’s campaign. But this month, Trump’s administra- tion hit Russians with its first sanctions for the cam- paign interference, and also accused Moscow of an elab- orate plot to hack Ameri- ca’s electric grid and key infrastructure. MOSCOW (AP) – Witnesses say fire alarms were silent and staff was nowhere to be seen when a fire at a shop- ping mall packed with chil- dren and their parents on the first weekend of the school recess killed 64 people in Russia’s Siberia. The fire at the Winter Cherry mall in Kemerovo, a city about 1,900 miles east of Moscow, was extinguished by Monday morning after burning through the night. Sixty-four deaths were confirmed after firefighters finished combing through the four floors of the mall, Emergency Situations Min- ister Vladimir Puchkov told a televised briefing. Six of the bodies have not yet been re- covered. Some of the dead were found inside a cinema, which one witness said had been locked shut. Investigators said Monday that emergency exits were blocked and a security guard turned off the public an- nouncement system when he received a call about the blaze, but they provided no informa- tion why that happened. On Monday morning, Kemerovo residents were bringing flowers, candles and stuffed animals to a plaza outside the mall, and local hospitals reported an influx of people wanting to donate blood for the victims. Out of 23 victims whose bodies have been identified, eight are children, the emer- gency officials said. Thirteen people have been hospitalized. Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova, who vis- ited the Keremovo hospital where the victims were re- ceiving treatment, said on Rus- sian state television that the patient in the gravest condi- tion is an 11-year-old boy who jumped out of a window from the fourth floor. The boy’s par- ents and younger sister died in the fire, Skvortsova said. Russia’s top investiga- tive body said Monday after- noon that they are searching for a security officer who ap- pears to have turned off the PA system when he received a call about the blaze. Four people have been de- tained in connection with the deadly fire, including one of the mall’s tenants. The in- vestigators did not give the cause of the fire but said they have obtained evidence proving “flagrant violations” that could have contributed to the heavy loss of life, in- cluding the fact that the fire escapes were blocked. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday it was too early to draw conclusions about whether local officials failed in Kemerovo. Witness testimony indi- cated that the fire alarms were not working, but it was not clear why. Eyewitnesses also said that staff did not arrange for the evacuation at the shopping mall, which was converted from a former confectionery factory in 2013. Winter Cherry was one of Kemerovo’s most popular en- tertainment centers for chil- dren, with its own indoor skating rink, petting zoo and trampolines. Kemerovo res- idents said the mall was packed with children and their parents. The Prosecutor Gener- al’s Office on Monday or- dered all shopping malls in Russia to be checked for fire safety features. Russian companies rou- tinely complain about ex- cessive checks from various government agencies, which often abuse elaborate rules and regulations to pressure businesses. As a result, many companies prefer to pay bribes instead of complying with outdated and excessive regulations, including fire safety rules. President Vladimir Putin late on Sunday offered his “deep condolences” to the families of the victims. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev called for a moment of si- lence at a session of the gov- ernment on Monday. Investigators said Monday that emergency exits were blocked and a security guard turned off the public announcement system when he received a call about the blaze. Warning of an “unacceptably high” number of Russian spies in the U.S., the Trump administration said 60 diplomats would be expelled – all Russian intelligence agents working under diplomatic cover, the U.S. said. Smoke rises after a fire broke out in a multi-story shopping center in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, about 1,900 miles east of Moscow, Russia. – PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MARCH 27, 2018 Another birthday celebration without you. A day full of memories, memories of the birthday celebrations that we’ve shared throughout the years. We will always miss you for the wonderful husband, father and grandfather you were, a wonderful person inside and out. We can feel in our hearts that you are resting peacefully and feel that you are here with us in everything we do and so we will celebrate your birthday with tears of joy and not tears of sadness. Truly missed by your wife, children and grandchildren. Happy 4th Birthday in Heaven Anthony Blair Manderson March 27, 1958 – December 3, 2015 Egyptians go to polls; El-Sissi certain winner Turkey’s Erdogan: EU membership remains strategic goal ANKARA, Turkey (AP) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Er- dogan said Monday that membership in the European Union remains a “strategic goal” for his country despite the uneasy relationship with the 28-member bloc. Erdogan was speaking in Istanbul before departing for the Bulgarian Black Sea resort of Varna to attend a likely arduous summit meeting with EU leaders. Erdogan said he would urge the EU to remove “po- litical and artificial” hurdles against Turkey’s membership and revive stalled accession negotiations during talks with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council presi- dent Donald Tusk. “As Turkey, we have been continuing on our way with the goal of full member- ship (of the EU) despite all the mines that were planted on out path and barriers in front of us,” he told reporters. “Today, membership in the European Union remains a strategic goal for us.” The summit comes amid an array of issues that have strained ties, including a dispute between Turkey and EU-member Cyprus over energy exploration in the Mediterranean. Turkish warships have prevented a drillship from carrying out exploratory drilling on behalf of Italian company Eni southeast of Cyprus, in a move that the EU criticized. Turkey objects to “unilat- eral” gas searches by ethni- cally divided Cyprus’ Greek Cypriot-run government without the direct involve- ment of breakaway Turkish Cypriots. The Cyprus govern- ment says a gas search is its sovereign right and will ben- efit all citizens. The EU largely depends on Turkey to curtail the flow of migrants into Europe but has deep concerns over the state of democracy, human rights and freedoms in Turkey that have taken a turn for the worse after a 2016 failed military coup. Turkey for its part, ac- cuses EU nations of not backing Ankara’s fight against “terror” groups, in- cluding outlawed Kurdish militants and a network led by a U.S.-based Muslim cleric whom it accuses of master- minding the coup attempt. “Unfortunately on this issue [fight against ter- rorism], we are hearing many statements from the Euro- pean Union that are in con- tradiction with their own principles and that never fit into our partnership’s princi- ples,” Erdogan said. CAIRO (AP) – Egyptians voted on Monday in a presi- dential election, with the out- come – a second, four-year term for President Abdel- Fattah el-Sissi – a foregone conclusion and a sign that critics say shows the country is sliding back to the authori- tarian rule that had prevailed since the 1950s. For the general-turned- president, el-Sissi’s only chal- lenger is Moussa Mustafa Moussa, a little known poli- tician who joined the race in the last minute to spare the government the embarrass- ment of a one-candidate elec- tion after several hopefuls were forced out or arrested. Moussa, who supported el-Sissi until he joined the race in January, made no ef- fort to challenge the incum- bent who never mentioned his challenger once in public. Authorities hope enough people – there are nearly 60 million eligible voters – will vote in the three- day balloting, which ends Wednesday, to give the elec- tion legitimacy. Powerful pro- government media have in past weeks relentlessly por- trayed voting as a national duty, required to protect the country against foreign conspiracies. Some of the presidential hopefuls who had stepped forward might have attracted a sizable protest vote but they were all either arrested or intimidated out of the race, making this the least competitive election since the 2011 uprising ousted long- time autocrat Hosni Mubarak and raised hopes of demo- cratic change. El-Sissi cast his ballot as soon as the polls opened at 9 a.m. at a girls’ school in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis. He made no comments, only shook hands with election workers before he left. There were no long lines of voters waiting in several Cairo districts – but past elections have shown many prefer to wait for the af- ternoon or evening to vote. Footage aired by local tele- vision networks showed women dominating the early voters. They also showed fes- tive scenes outside polling centers, with women and school children singing. Tens of thousands of po- licemen and soldiers have been deployed to protect polling centers as well as key state installations during the election. According to an Inte- rior Ministry statement late Sunday, police killed six mili- tants believed to be involved in a weekend bombing in the coastal city of Alexandria that killed two policemen. The statement said they be- longed to a Muslim Brother- hood-linked group and that they were killed in a raid on their hideout north of Cairo. Mohammed Ibrahim Ali, a retired engineer, patiently waited for the polls to open at Cairo’s bustling Sayda Ze- inab middle-class neighbor- hood that is home to a much revered Islamic shrine. “Even if there are 1,000 candidates, we will vote for el-Sissi,” he said, struggling to be heard over the patriotic songs blaring from nearby giant speakers. “He is the one who makes life great here.” Ahmed Abdel-Atti, a 58-year-old doorman in the same neighborhood, voiced skepticism. “Do you see any other candidates?” he asked. During the official cam- paign period, instead of ad- dressing any of the scores of rallies held by his supporters or appearing in TV ads, el- Sissi has opted for carefully scripted and televised func- tions. The former general donned military fatigues on recent occasions, highlighting the war on Islamic extrem- ists and perhaps reminding voters that he led the mil- itary overthrow of a divi- sive Islamist president in the summer of 2013. Many Egyptians wel- comed the overthrow of Mo- hammed Morsi and the crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood group. For a time, el-Sissi enjoyed a wave of popular support bordering on hysteria, with downtown shops selling chocolates with his portrait on them. But that aura faded over the last four years, which could explain a clampdown ahead of the election on the media and critics. In the Sinai Peninsula, an insurgency that gained strength after Morsi’s over- throw and is now led by the Islamic State group has only grown more ferocious, with regular attacks on security forces and deadly church bombings. An assault on a mosque in November killed more than 300 people – the worst terror attack in Egypt’s modern history. The government has meanwhile enacted a series of long-overdue economic reforms – including painful subsidy cuts and the floata- tion of the currency. That im- proved the investment cli- mate and earned Egypt a $12 billion bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund. But the austerity measures sent prices soaring, exacting a heavy toll on ordinary Egyptians, especially the more than 25 percent living below the poverty line. Thousands of Islamists and several leading secular activists have been jailed, and unauthorized protests have been outlawed. The media is dominated by virulently pro- government commentators and hundreds of websites have been blocked. Indepen- dent journalists have been ar- rested or deported. El-Sissi, meanwhile, has worked to cultivate the image of a folksy populist, going on at length about his devotion to God, reverence for his late mother, and love for Egypt. In a one-hour puff piece TV in- terview, he said he wished he had one or two trillion dol- lars of his own money that he could spend on modern- izing the country. Authorities hope enough people – there are nearly 60 million eligible voters – will vote in the three-day balloting, which ends Wednesday, to give the election legitimacy. Erdogan said he would urge the EU to remove “political and artificial” hurdles against Turkey’s membership and revive stalled accession negotiations. People chat and smoke traditional water pipes under an election campaign banner for Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, with Arabic that reads, ‘for the sake of the nation security,’ in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday. – PHOTO: AP Turkey President Recep Tayyip ErdoganNext >