ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY MAY 16, 2018 High of 87 Low of 75 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 THE REVEALING (AND DISTURBING) MRCU/OXITEC EMAILS LOCAL | PAGE 5 CAYMAN-BASED DIVERS EXCEL IN FREE-DIVING COMPETITION POLICE 3-YEAR PLAN: Gangs, ‘top 10’ suspects targeted BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Massively increased traffic enforcement, additional anti-gang training and the internal monitoring of criminal suspect “top 10” lists are all part of the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service’s three-year public safety plan. The proposal, released Monday, also seeks to establish “performance targets” for things such as officer response time to incidents, continued monitoring of criminal investiga- tions, and updating victims to the extent pos- sible on progress. Police Commissioner Derek Byrne said the next three years would be a period of “sig- nificant change” for the RCIPS, as it modern- izes to meet the needs of a globalized crime- fighting environment. “This is a formidable challenge where we must review and change the way we conduct our business in order to respond to the many competing and complex demands from a 21st century perspective,” Mr. Byrne said in an opening statement attached to the report. Gang training The police plan puts significant emphasis on gang-busting activities in a society which, just over 10 years ago, did not formally ac- knowledge the existence of such criminal organizations. The plan calls for the establishment of a dedicated team of investigators to probe gang activities, supported by community po- licing officers who develop profiles of the criminal street gangs operating within their “beat” areas. All RCIPS “frontline” staff members are due to receive “gang-sensitization” training by Sept. 30. In addition, four police officers will be selected and trained to bring anti-gang ed- ucation efforts into local schools. SCIENTISTS CAST DOUBT ON GM MOSQUITO IMPACT Emails show skepticism among MRCU staff JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The depth of skepticism among scien- tists at the Mosquito Research and Control Unit about the success of genetically modified mosquitoes in Grand Cayman is revealed in a cache of internal emails released following an open records request. Both Alan Wheeler, assistant director at the unit, and Fraser Allen, who at the time was the unit’s research manager, expressed serious doubts about the impact of the technology in controlling natural populations of the disease- spreading insects. They also expressed con- cerns about the claims being made on its be- half by British biotech firm Oxitec. The concerns of both men appear to have contributed to government’s decision to walk back on plans for an US$8 million national rollout of the technology. Though neither the MRCU nor Oxitec has commented in detail on their current plans, the emails suggest that a rerun of the initial West Bay trial release has been sanctioned to help government to determine if and how to use the technology in the long term. In a series of emails dating back to April last year, Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Allen sug- gest the unit was moving too fast on the controversial project. They consistently argue that the GM mosquito technique has KAABOO reveals eclectic lineup for Cayman festival SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com KAABOO is landing in Cayman with a loaded lineup. The field of performers for the first KAABOO Cayman event was announced on Tuesday, and it will be headlined by The Chainsmokers, Duran Duran and electro house music artist Zedd. Jason Derulo, Bryan Adams, Counting Crows, Flo Rida and Blondie will also be among the fea- tured performers. Jason Felts, KAABOO’s chief brand of- ficer, said that he popped a bottle of cham- pagne at the Kimpton Seafire on Tuesday morning as a celebration for finally being able to announce the lineup. “It’s so great to actually reveal this,” Mr. Felts said. “It’s been the secret that I’ve been dying to spill. To take all the ex- citement that’s been building up since we launched, it’s pretty cool.” KAABOO will be held in Cayman on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15 and 16. The concert grounds are currently being con- structed just north of the Kimpton. KAABOO has previously been oper- ated in California to great fanfare, drawing more than 100,000 people to San Diego last September. The Cayman edition is expected to have Jason Felts holds up a poster showing the lineup of February’s KAABOO festival on a balcony of the Kimpton hotel. In the background is the site which is being prepared for the music festival. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 »2 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY MAY 16, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - WEDNESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) LADY BIRD (R) 2:00 I 4:35 I 7:20 I 9:40 I FEEL PRETTY (PG13) 4:55 I 9:55 AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (PG13) 12:15 VIP I 12:20 3D I 3:30 VIP I 6:45 VIP I 6:50 I 9:20 3D I 9:55 VIP I CAN ONLY IMAGINE (PG) 3:50 I 10:00 OVERBOARD (PG13) 1:00 I 6:45 A QUIET PLACE (PG13) 12:25 I 2:40 I 7:30 RAMPAGE (PG13) 1:30 I 4:15 I 7:10 I 9:50 The annual Balance of Payments (BOP) Survey collects information necessary in recording the Cayman Islands residents’ foreign transactions with the rest of the world. The survey runs from April 9th to June 1st, 2018. Data collected for the BOP survey is CONFIDENTIAL under the Statistics Law (2016 Revision) and EXEMPT from Freedom of Information Law. Foreign Exchange Revenue from Services in 2016, CI$Million For assistance or enquiries, please check www.eso.ky or call 244-4600 or 244-4607. Better Data...Better Decisions…Better Business Business Survey 2018... Your Response Matters! Did the Cayman Islands revenue on export of services increase or decrease? In 2016, total foreign exchange revenue from Cayman’s export of services totalled CI $1.97 billion. TravelFinancial and Accounting, legal Government insurance services & other business and other services 578.3 68.6 751.0 571.8 Woman, 92, arrested in police raid Police confirmed that a 92-year-old woman was among two people ar- rested Friday during a law enforcement raid at a George Town home, which ended in a dog being shot by police. The nonagenarian and a 54-year-old were arrested on suspicion of possessing an unlicensed firearm after a handgun was found on the premises during the police search. Police said the loaded handgun and two spear- guns were recovered from the home on Bodden Road Friday morning. The elderly woman was arrested, taken to the detention center, questioned and released on bail shortly afterward. According to a police statement on the shooting that occurred during the incident: “While executing the warrant, a pit bull ag- gressively ran towards one of the officers as if to at- tack. As it approached, the officer shot the dog once, wounding it. A veterinary doctor was immediately contacted to attend the lo- cation. The dog was taken by the doctor for medical treatment, but later had to be put down.” Two CAL employees arrested in drug probes BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two Cayman Airways em- ployees have been arrested within the past month in relation to ongoing drug investigations. Criminal information filed with the U.S. District Court in Miami Monday suggests in at least one of the cases, there was an ongoing conspiracy to smuggle ganja into the Cayman Islands from south Florida for the last several months. The first arrests occurred April 29 as the CAL employee, Corey James Miller, and an- other man, Kelven Claret, were arrested on the jetway of a Cayman Airways flight due to leave Miami. The second arrest hap- pened Monday, May 14 in Grand Cayman and involved a different CAL employee, as well as a local customs officer on suspicion of conspiracy to import ganja into the Cayman Islands. No charges had been filed in connection with the Monday arrests and Customs Collector Charles Clifford clarified Tuesday that sepa- rate CAL workers had been ar- rested on the different dates. “The customs officer and Cayman Airways employee that were arrested in Grand Cayman [Monday] are not the same two people that were arrested in Miami previ- ously,” Mr. Clifford said. Mr. Clifford did not state whether the arrests were re- lated to the same probe or different matters. All four people were ar- rested for drugs-related of- fenses. Details of the April 29 arrests and charges were re- vealed in publicly available U.S. court records. According to a criminal complaint filed by U.S. Im- migration and Customs En- forcement Officer Gerald Mc- Neil, both Mr. Miller and Mr. Claret were leaving Miami on CAL flight 103 on April 29. After the men checked in at the airline ticket counter, their three suitcases were in- spected by U.S. Transporta- tion Security Agency officers. “TSA inspectors discovered several packages of a brownish, leafy substance concealed in- side three boxes of laundry de- tergent,” the criminal complaint stated, adding the estimated weight of the substance, which field-tested as ganja was 2.94 kilograms [about 6.5 pounds]. Both men were stopped on the airline jetway and taken in for questioning. According to the crim- inal complaint: “Kelven Claret admitted that Corey James Miller had recruited him to smuggle the marijuana into Grand Cayman Islands from Miami. Claret also admitted that Corey James Miller paid him US$2,000 in advance and was going to pay him another US$2,000 upon his arrival to the Grand Cayman Islands for smuggling the marijuana.” Investigators stated they had obtained a Western Union receipt for a US$2,000 payment to Mr. Claret from Mr. Miller in Mr. Claret’s “personal effects.” The criminal information document filed Monday in the U.S. court indicated that Mr. Claret and Mr. Miller began the scheme to ship ganja to Cayman sometime in January and that the two conspired “with each other and with others known and unknown to the United States Attorney” to export ganja from the U.S. to Cayman. Mr. Miller was held in the U.S. for further court pro- ceedings and was due to be arraigned Tuesday morning. According to court records from the Tuesday hearing, he was scheduled for a “change of plea” hearing on May 18 in the U.S. court. CORRECTION A story titled “Clubs focus on Youth FA Cups” that appeared in the Sports section of Tuesday’s Cayman Compass named the incorrect winner of one of the Boys Under 13 FA Cup games. Sunset Sting- rays won the game, beating Academy SC ESM, and se- curing the team’s spot in the semifinals. Charge brought too late over ganja in prison More than six months passed before charge was laid CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A young man who pleaded not guilty to carrying contra- band into Northward Prison had the charge against him dismissed on Monday. He had been accused of taking an unauthorized item when he went to Northward Prison to visit his brother, who was an inmate, on April 15, 2017. The charge was not laid until Oct. 19, 2017 – more than six months later. The fact that the unau- thorized item was 2.96 grams of ganja did not matter. Since the charge was brought after the six-month time limit, Magistrate Kirsty- Ann Gunn dismissed it for being out of time. The magistrate explained her ruling by referring to the laws involved and the evi- dence she had heard. The evidence was that a prison officer had seen the defendant with a paper towel; then he and his brother shook hands and the in- mate put his right hand into his pants pocket. The officer asked him to hand over what his visitor had just given him. The inmate handed it over, but said it was just a small thing and he asked her not to report him. Examination of the item showed it to contain vegetable matter resembling ganja. Another prison officer gave evidence that under the Prisons Law, nothing was permitted to be brought into the prison unless it was spe- cifically authorized. It did not matter whether posses- sion of the item was un- lawful, like drugs, or lawful in other circumstances, like a cellphone or a stick of chewing gum. Second, if an item would be authorized, it would have to be given to a prison officer and not to the prisoner directly. Offenses against the Prisons Law are triable in Summary Court only. The Criminal Procedure Code provides that such charges must be laid within six months. The magistrate noted that if the charge had been brought under the Misuse of Drugs Law, it would have still been valid, because that law provides more time.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 16, 2018 The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. 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” For the benefit of the pub- lic’s understanding of the col- laboration between MRCU and Oxitec to help suppress Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the following material has been developed to provide factual responses to a recent article in the Cayman Compass pub- lication relating to a recently released GeneWatch report. That report, and the article that covered it, included sig- nificant factual errors, mis- characterizations, and did not represent the formal find- ings or opinions of the MRCU staff. In addition, the reporter who wrote the story did not consult with Oxitec. MRCU due diligence MRCU follows a formal due diligence process for all new technology it adopts and is fully supportive of Oxitec’s technology, after having con- ducted a review of its capa- bilities previously. The MRCU staff have designed a protocol and project that satisfies the Grand Cayman’s oversight re- quirements and is looking for- ward to a successful outcome for this year’s project, poten- tially leading to further larger scale deployment of Friendly Mosquitoes in the future. In a recent GeneWatch re- port, internal communica- tions by an individual ex- pressing questions regarding due diligence have been taken out of context. The in- dividual was later satisfied with Oxitec’s answers to var- ious questions, most of which were clarified clearly in the same report from which Ge- neWatch chose to selectively quote. Neither the quotations nor the individual who wrote them represents the Cayman government’s formal position, and the MRCU continues to evaluate Oxitec as a poten- tial long-term, efficient, and cost-effective tool against Aedes aegypti. Review and impact of Oxitec’s technology The GeneWatch report included a range of incor- rect, misleading, or mischar- acterized statements about the effectiveness of Oxitec’s OX513A. Friendly Mosquitoes technology has undergone years of research and has been published in more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, with almost a decade of suc- cessful suppression programs in various countries. Friendly Mosquitoes programs in the Cayman Islands, Panama and Brazil have shown that de- ployment of Oxitec’s solution can result in greater than 80 perecnt reduction in popula- tions of wild Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, compared to con- trol areas. During this time, regulatory authorities and scientists from around the world, including the U.S. and Cayman Islands, have con- cluded that environmental release of Oxitec’s Friendly Mosquitoes will have no neg- ative effects on human health, animal health, or the environ- ment. Country-specific refer- ences to peer reviewed arti- cles are available below: ■■ Cayman: Nature Bio- technology. Field perfor- mance of engineered male mosquitoes, June 2011 ■■ Panama: Pest Manage- ment Science, Short-term suppression of Aedes ae- gypti using genetic control does not facilitate Aedes albopictus, October 2015 ■■ Brazil: PLOS Neglected Tropical Disease, Suppres- sion of a Field Popula- tion of Aedes aegypti in Brazil by Sustained Re- lease of Transgenic Male Mosquitoes, July 2015 Releases of female adults Contrary to claims made in the GeneWatch report and opinions referenced therein, Oxitec was not responsible for a spike in adult female mosquitoes. A spike in adult female numbers, measured with BG-traps, is not associ- ated with Oxitec release as it would be evident 1-2 weeks after initiation of releases, which is not the case. Fur- thermore, and in the rare case a female mosquito is re- leased, Oxitec female mos- quitoes carry two copies of the self-limiting gene, known as homozygous females, and are short lived by design. The FDA has reviewed the risk of inadvertent release of females and concluded OX513A homo- zygous females have dramat- ically shorter lifespans than wild mosquitoes (2 days rel- ative to a wild-type median lifespan of 68-days) and thus reduced vectorial capacity. Importantly, the overall trend shows reduced adult female numbers as Oxitec treatment takes effect, corroborating re- sults from Ovitraps. Population suppression and health Epidemiological studies for Aedes aegypti have been conducted and showcase a reduction in both mosquito numbers and disease preva- lence that are statistically ro- bust. Although Oxitec does not make any claims about the potential health impacts resulting from the use of its technology, many health agencies including CDC, PAHO and WHO recommend vector control as a key tool for preventing the transmis- sion of dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya and Zika. Ox- itec technology has also re- peatedly demonstrated to be effective at reducing popula- tions of the principle vector, Aedes aegypti. Furthermore, WHO’s Vector Control Advi- sory has reviewed Oxitec’s technology and issued a pos- itive recommendation for countries to evaluate Oxitec’s OX513A mosquitoes. MRCU and Oxitec partnership Deployment of Oxitec’s so- lution was initiated in West Bay in the wet-/high-season of 2016, in combination with spraying insecticides, as part of an integrated control pro- gram. Consequentially, sub- stantial suppression was achieved moving into the 2016-2017 dry-/low-season and maintained into following wet-/high-season in 2017, as stated in the MRCU Annual Review. This is fully antici- pated as Oxitec’s technique, unlike insecticides, achieves control over several months. This is also in line with ex- perience from field trials in Cayman (2010) and multiple studies in Panama and Brazil, which demonstrates excel- lent control in both dry- and wet-/high season. However, the project was not continued due to the ex- piration of the contract. Since then, MRCU has worked closely with Oxitec to develop a new project, which is now being implemented. This in- tegrated vector management project will explore the use of various Friendly Mosqui- toes release rates in conjunc- tion with traditional control methods. The long-term ob- jective is to provide an effi- cient and cost effective tool in MRCU’s arsenal against Aedes aegypti. MRCU has rightfully car- ried out their due diligence with regards to the Friendly Mosquitoes solution and has always been supportive of the technology. Together, both parties have designed a project that meets MRCU’s requirement and are looking forward to a successful out- come for this year’s project. Dr. Renaud Lacroix, Project Manager, Oxitec Cayman Limited Editor’s note: The Cayman Compass is pleased to publish this Oxitec state- ment, which was submitted on deadline Tuesday. “I have been informed that a new contract has been submitted for signing that will cost CI Government in the region of $8,000,000 over the next three years. Based on the results to date of the Oxitec mosquito release I believe it would be very unwise to enter into such a contract. To date a technology that is being sold as ‘proven’ has failed to impact on the Aedes aegypti population … CI Govern- ment should not be expected to pay for a technology that has as yet failed to deliver any significant results.” – Alan Wheeler, assistant director, Mosquito Research & Control Unit, April 4, 2017 The cache of Cayman Islands government emails released this week by nonprofit group GeneWatch UK pulls back the curtain on a behind-the-scenes drama playing out among the Mosquito Research and Control Unit, the Ministry of Health, Environment, Culture and Housing, and biotech firm Oxitec in regard to an ongoing experimental control program that uses genetically modified mosquitoes. If we were to designate any one individual as “the hero” in this sorry saga, it would be MRCU Assistant Director Alan Wheeler, who, according to the documents, flagged potential inaccuracies in the stated results of Oxitec’s mosquito suppression trial, steadfastly expressed his beliefs to colleagues and superiors, and, throughout, appeared to stand strong on behalf of the mission of the MRCU and the government’s responsibility to the public. For example, Dr. Wheeler cautioned the MRCU’s then- Acting Director Nancy Barnard (in effect, his boss) and ministerial Chief Officer Jennifer Ahearn (his boss’s boss) against taking action based on Oxitec’s claims without third-party vetting from the World Health Organization and Caribbean Public Health Agency: “For MRCU to proceed without the recommendation from this WHO advisory group is (in my opinion) very unwise. Not only could it divert much needed resources from our own control efforts but it could lead to other countries following our example and investing their own vector control resources in an unproven technique. This could have severe negative consequences for Public Health in the region as a whole.” If it were not for Dr. Wheeler and MRCU Research Manager Fraser Allen, it seems likely that Oxitec’s claim that its program had led to a “62 percent suppression rate” of the disease-carrying Aedes aegypti population in the West Bay pilot area would have gone unchallenged by government officials. That may well have led to the awarding of a two-year, US$8 million contract to Oxitec based on, at best, incomplete data. Instead, the government budgeted “only” $940,000 in 2018, essentially for Oxitec to rerun its pilot tests in West Bay from 2016 and 2017. What is far more troubling than the dollars and cents involved are the complacent and complicit attitudes dem- onstrated by certain public officials when Dr. Wheeler shared his concerns. After he read an October 2017 story in the Cayman Compass about the mosquito program results contained in the “MRCU report,” Dr. Wheeler protested to govern- ment that the report “was actually written by Oxitec” and that MRCU should “clarify to the press our current position – that we require further data collection in order to determine the level of suppression that can be achieved using the Oxitec mosquito.” Ms. Barnard responded to Mr. Wheeler’s suggestion by seeming to double down on the deception: “While apparently Oxitec contributed in large part to the MRCU report referenced, at the end of the day it is an MRCU Report, so we cannot tell the public that Oxitec authored it.” And why not? Because then the public might learn that the “government” report was actually written by a private company seeking a multimillion-dollar contract from government for a program that may, or may not, actually work? The revealing (and disturbing) MRCU/Oxitec emails WEDNESDAY MAY 16, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Oxitec responds to report5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 16, 2018 Cayman-based divers excel in free-diving competition JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The first time Kurt Ran- dolph dove below 80 me- ters on a single breath, the crushing pressure felt like an elephant standing on his chest. Now, after back-to-back wins in the Deja Blue inter- national free-diving compe- tition, the Cayman Islands resident feels comfortable at depths most people con- sider impossible. “The more you train, the more relaxed you feel under that pressure,” said Mr. Ran- dolph after emerging from what for him was a relatively simple dip on the final day of competition. Known as the “Ironman of free diving,” Deja Blue brings some of the world’s top free divers to Cayman every year. Because this com- petition involves six dif- ferent disciplines, ranging from holding one’s breath in a pool to diving as deep as possible in the ocean, solid scores are required in every category to win. “You don’t see the big numbers that you see in other competitions which focus more on depth,” said Mr. Randolph. “Here, you have the pool too, so in the morning you are doing a depth dive and you have to be a bit conser- vative because then at night you have to take it into the pool and do laps. You have to strategize a lot more.” Mr. Randolph, originally from the U.S., did not need to push his limits on the final day and was able to cruise through a 72-meter dive to record the victory. “I did all my math last night, so I knew what I needed to do to get the win,” he said. Other athletes did go for broke, however. The rigorous safety pro- cedures of tournament free diving make these compe- titions an attractive propo- sition for divers looking to push the boundaries in a safe environment. Japanese free diver To- moka Fukuda sat out the main competition to focus on inching toward her goal of hitting a world record 105-meter depth. Earlier in the week, Ms. Fukuda became only the fifth female diver to hit the 100 meter mark. On Sunday, she fell just short of hitting 101 meters, blacking out at the surface after an otherwise successful dive. “I felt so good on the way down,” she said after the dive. “But when I came up, ac- tually I don’t remember anything, I blacked out at the surface.” Surface blackout, caused by a lack of oxygen as the diver exhales after a long dive, is relatively common for free divers attempting to push the limits. Divers are required to go through a surface protocol, demonstrating proper motor control, before a dive can be recorded as a success. Ms. Fukuda said she was disappointed not to hit her target, but pleased with her progress on her first trip to the Cayman Islands, and de- termined to return and break the world record. One diver who did hit her target was Shelby Eisenberg, who broke a U.S. national re- cord by diving to 85 meters. She said the only way to operate at such depths is to take it second by second, kick by kick. “Time does tend to go slowly down there,” she said, “but at the same time, it goes quicker than you think, be- cause you are so active and so focussed on what you are doing. “For me, after I get to the bottom, I have the ‘I got this’ feeling because you only have one way to go to finish the dive. You really have to stay focussed at that point be- cause you are only halfway.” The competition ran con- currently with the Cayman Open National Champion- ships. Cayman’s Richard Col- lett was the winner of that competition, also placing third in Deja Blue, and breaking four national re- cords in the process. He said the highlight was hitting 63 meters and breaking the 200-feet barrier for the first time. “It’s a rite of passage,” he said. “It is a milestone in your journey as a free diver. Everyone wants to hit the next marker.” WINNERS DEJA BLUE 1st M: Kurt Randolph 2nd M: Nate Leazer 3rd M: Richard Collett 1st F: Adriana Brandao 2nd F: Britney Ouellette 3rd F: Mandy-Rae Krack CAYMAN OPEN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: 1st M: Richard Collett 2nd M: Guy Rogers 3rd M: Bartek Jeske 1st F: Talya Davidoff 2nd F: Britney Ouellette 3rd F: Kristiina Unkuri Tomoka Fukuda of Japan kicks back to the surface after a 100 meter dive to become only the fifth woman in history to reach 100 meters. - PHOTO: PERFORMANCE FREEDIVING INTERNATIONALThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 WEDNESDAY MAY 16, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The family of the Late Darwin Leitch Tibbetts regrets to announce his passing on Thursday, 10 May, 2018. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com A funeral service will take place 2:00 PM Friday, 18 May, 2018 at Red Bay Holiness Church. Interment will follow in Creek Cemetery, Cayman Brac 11:00 AM Saturday, 19 May, 2108. Community police “beat” officers, of which there are now 27, including the de- partment’s commander, will be expected to handle at least one “anti-gang” educa- tion event per month in their area, according to the plan. Community policing of- ficers will also be respon- sible for security reviews with school principals. Some of these meetings may have been held already. The officers will also seek to establish neighborhood watches in each community police beat by the end of 2018. Responses The RCIPS has set goals for its officers’ response time to incident reports, of which they received more than 33,000 via the 911 center during 2017. The goal is to “re- duce emergency response times to five minutes in urban areas and 10 min- utes in rural areas,” the policing plan states. The response times will be mon- itored on a weekly basis via random sampling. In addition to reactive responses to 911 calls, po- lice officers will be moni- tored by senior managers on their continued contact with victims of crime in various investigations. For instance, there is one requirement to update all in- cident report complaints “on [the] investigative process” within 24 hours of the report and “regularly thereafter at two-weekly intervals or as needed.” The police are also instituting a “random call- back” procedure to a min- imum of 25 percent of their complainants each work shift or each business day by station supervisors. Top ten As part of the anti-gang enforcement, the policing plan suggests that an in- ternal top-ten list of criminal organizations be maintained and updated each month. In addition, a top-ten list of robbery suspects will be maintained and “in- cluded in all tactical assess- ments” for 2018. Each police community “beat” will keep track of sus- pects identified as “habitual burglars” via a list that is to be updated every two weeks. The anti-crime plan puts a heavy emphasis on bur- glaries generally, requiring a weekly report of burglaries to be submitted to Super- intendant Peter Lansdown. The RCIPS website is also tracking monthly burglar re- ports across Grand Cayman, and providing the public with that information. Traffic A substantial increase in roadblocks and rush-hour traffic checks has already been noted across Grand Cayman, but the police plan for 2018 is to increase that further. The plan calls for a “20 percent increase in traffic enforcement over 2017,” and for at least one major traffic enforcement op- eration to be conducted per month. An overall traffic policing plan is due to be produced by the end of this month. The police public relations office is expected to pro- duce multiple road safety releases and media commu- nications each month. Community policing of- ficers will also be expected to carry out one traffic safety education presenta- tion per month. The policing plan puts a great deal of emphasis on community or neighbor- hood policing in a number of areas identified, Mr. By- rne’s report noted. “This approach removes the gap between the inten- tions of the police and the expectations of the commu- nity,” the plan states. “In- stead of coming into com- munities to tell them what the problems are and what they will be doing, the po- lice seek to become part of the community. Prob- lems are owned by the community and not the police alone.” about 11,000 attendees, Mr. Felts said, but it will also feature music, comedy, food, drink and art installations. The festival organizers hope to bring something totally unique to Cayman while still staying true to the roots of the template they introduced in California. “You’re still going to have the same KAABOO experi- ence, which is a focus on customer service and hospi- tality. But it’s very different,” Mr. Felts said. “Cayman is my second home, and we re- ally wanted to do something that was going to be em- blematic of the community, which is very diverse in its music tastes. If you look at our lineup, it’s a combina- tion of bucket list artists and today’s hitmakers. There’s a lot of genres. There’s rock and there’s pop and there’s Top 40. There’s classic rock and reggae.” Local bands will have a chance to audition to be a part of the lineup. Inter- ested applicants can send an email to kaaboodiscovers@ kaaboocayman.com by the end of June, and selected acts will play as part of a show- case before Mr. Felts and a panel ultimately choose who rounds out the lineup. The future concert grounds are still being con- structed, and Mr. Felts said there is no doubt that they will be ready on time. Parking passes will be pro- vided to people who pur- chase a certain VIP-level pass, and most concert at- tendees will be brought to the grounds through a network of shuttle buses. “We move in and out about 100,000 people in Cal- ifornia over the course of a weekend,” Mr. Felts said. “We have a full transporta- tion and logistics team on staff 365 days a year. It’s a science. They’ll work with road authorities to archi- tect the system. Seamless in- gress and egress is very im- portant to us.” Mr. Felts said the early portions of ticket sales have been very encouraging, and he said he “100 percent” ex- pects KAABOO Cayman to sell out. Wanda Sykes and Sat- urday Night Live alumni David Spade and Darrell Hammond will be among the featured comedy per- formers. When they are not laughing or grooving to the music, concertgoers will have an opportunity to sample various foods from local and regional chefs, and Mr. Felts said he hopes that the KAABOO experience will only burnish Cayman’s repu- tation over time. “Cayman is known as the culinary capital of the Carib- bean. My focus and goal is that after KAABOO, we’ll re- ally put Cayman on the map as the live entertainment capital of the Caribbean,” he said of the upcoming extrav- aganza. “This is an annual event. We are committed and all in on Cayman for sure.” not definitively proved its ef- fectiveness in the field and that more data is needed. Both men wrote to then MRCU director Bill Petrie and ministry of health offi- cials in April 2017, disputing Oxitec’s data and calling for a more scientific approach to information gathering. “We all need to be looking at the data that is being col- lected; we cannot just take Oxitec’s word that it is working,” Mr. Wheeler wrote. Mr. Allen also cautioned that independently veri- fied data was needed before an islandwide rollout of the technology was contemplated “I’m throwing up cau- tion flags for discussion prior to a big commitment,” he wrote in an email citing con- cerns over the validity of Ox- itec’s results. The scientists also ques- tioned the wisdom of making such a large financial com- mitment to “one technology,” arguing that any operational rollout of GM mosquitoes should be on a much smaller scale than was being con- templated at that time. They suggested any rollout should focus largely on West Bay and George Town, and that GM mosquitoes should only be used in combination with other suppression methods. The pilot deployment in West Bay was largely self- funded by Oxitec, though government did make pay- ments to the company to ex- tend that trial beyond its original deadline. In a series of internal emails released this week by U.K. campaign group Ge- neWatch, which made the Freedom of Information re- quest, Mr. Wheeler argued against any payments to Ox- itec, suggesting they are benefiting from the trial as much as the MRCU. In one email, in April 2017, he argued that the re- sources being put into the project were hampering the unit’s effectiveness. “I am also rather dis- appointed that MRCU has signed a $400,000 extension of the project as I am firmly of the opinion that the Ox- itec program is still in the de- velopment stage and MRCU should not be paying for an as-yet unproven technique. $400,000 could have ex- panded our traditional con- trol program by 13 staff for 1 year, which would have al- lowed us to treat all problem yards across the island on a once-weekly basis,” he wrote. He went on to argue, in further emails to his col- leagues at MRCU and min- istry staff, that the unit was so short-staffed, it could not conduct its full schedule of yard-by-yard ground control patrols. “Our established and proven control methods are being neglected and it ap- pears that we have put all our eggs in one basket and see Oxitec as the only solution.” Following the depar- ture of Bill Petrie as MRCU director that summer, Mr. Allen, in emails to ministry staff in August, endorsed Mr. Wheeler’s view that fur- ther proof is needed of the effectiveness and value for money of the GM mos- quito technique. He proposed a compro- mise involving a new trial deployment in West Bay, which appears to be the path the MRCU eventually followed. The emails sug- gested “production issues” and other logistical prob- lems impacted the initial trial, and that a new test de- ployment was needed for the MRCU staff to be satisfied that it works. “I don’t think we are ready to make the big leap in 2018,” Mr. Allen wrote in August 2017. “By deferring for a year we can also ex- amine other combined con- trol methods and outline a more structured approach on our terms and within our comfort levels. “The future dollar figures they suggest may also be- come invalid if we look at other pathways, whilst in- corporating Oxitec where we see fit.” Doubts over Oxitec’s claims about the success of the technology came to a head in October 2017, when the Compass reported a 62-percent suppression rate from data in the MRCU’s an- nual report on the project. Among the emails, Mr. Wheeler argued that Oxitec, not the MRCU, authored that document, and that this sup- pression rate was not en- dorsed by the MRCU. “The MRCU Annual Re- port was actually written by Oxitec and we remain di- vided upon the level of sup- pression achieved,” he wrote in an email to ministry staff. “The information given is incorrect and goes against our current logic for re- questing a repeat of the re- lease. MRCU was expecting to see a reduction in the re- gion of 90%+ as had been re- ported in all other Oxitec re- leases. This was not achieved and the figure of 62% reduc- tion is also not accepted by MRCU.” No response to those concerns from Oxitec is ap- parent in the email chain. However, Oxitec’s Richard Adey did explain the sup- pression rate data in an email to ministry officials in September of last year, in which he argued that a 61-percent suppression rate was achieved for at least part of the trial period. He acknowledged that this was not achieved consistently throughout the project, but attributed this to logistical problems unconnected with the efficacy of the technology. As the negotiations con- tinued, the emails sug- gested Mr. Wheeler, in par- ticular, was keen to abandon the partnership with Ox- itec altogether. In one internal email re- sponding to Oxitec’s request for further payment to ex- tend the trial deployment, he wrote, “I really think we have reached the end of the line with Oxitec and should not be wasting anymore time on this. Now I need a cigarette.” Though the email chain does not tell the whole story, a compromise position ap- pears to have been reached for a new trial deployment to take place in West Bay in order to obtain clear data. In response to ques- tions from the Compass on the email release this week, a government spokeswoman said new MRCU director Jim McNelly was bringing himself “up to speed” on the data from the project so far. She said a more sub- stantive response would be sent this week. Asked about the future of the GM mosquito program, she said, “MRCU and Oxitec have finalized negotiations and will soon begin rollout of a programme that aims to evaluate Oxitec’s potential for inclusion within MRCU’s In- tegrated Mosquito Manage- ment Programme.” Scientists cast doubt on GM mosquito impact CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 KAABOO reveals eclectic lineup for Cayman festival CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 POLICE 3-YEAR PLAN: Gangs, ‘top 10’ suspects targeted CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 16, 2018 186393_PRINT-Ad-CharDr-JrPg-CompPage 1 4/26/18 12:46:15 PM Schools get jingle fever MILO DACK mdack@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s primary school children are literally singing the praises of recycling and waste reduction, with four schools submitting “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” jingles for an Earth Month competition hosted by the Department of Environmental Health. In line with the Earth Month celebrations in April, the Department of Environ- mental Health encouraged all primary schools across the Cayman Islands to create and submit catchy jingles with the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” theme. This competition was aimed at increasing aware- ness and education about waste reduction through re- using and recycling, in order to promote a more sustain- able environment and to cut back on the amount of dis- posable single-use items that are consumed. Cayman Prep, St. Ignatius, Edna M. Moyle and Truth For Youth primary schools all took part in the event, submitting a total of eight jingles. Cayman Prep submitted five jingles total, and all of the other schools submitted one each. The teams from Cayman Prep, St. Ignatius and Edna M. Moyle, who were judged by an internal body at the DEH as the top three com- peting schools, were invited to the Government Admin- istration Building in George Town on Monday after- noon, where they found out where they had placed in the competition. The St. Ignatius team came in first place with their rap song “Trash Talk,” win- ning $500 in gift certifi- cates from A. L. Thompson’s, the Music Box in Camana Bay, Subway and the Book Nook. Dylan Scott, Janae Thompson, Jude Solomon, Kyan Okoli, Felix Muhlanga and Andre Massias created the jingle with their teachers Guy Rogers and Vito Biliti. Councilor David Wight, who represented the Min- ister of Youth and Educa- tion, Juliana O’Connor-Con- nolly, read out a statement on her behalf. “As a govern- ment, we want to ensure all Caymanians benefit from a healthy environment and are taking positive steps to get these beloved Islands living more environmentally con- sciously,” said Mr. Wight. “I appreciate that though you are young, you realize how important it is to live a life that is aware of the need to protect all aspects of the environment.” Edna M. Moyle school came in second place with the song “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” which was sung to the rhythm and beat of Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” They received gift certifi- cates with a value of $350. The Cayman Prep team came in third place, winning $150 in gift certificates. All three schools in attendance per- formed their winning jingles at the ceremony. “I am very impressed by the commitment to the envi- ronment and to your future which [you] students showed by taking part in this com- petition,” Minister of Envi- ronment Dwayne Seymour told the students. “Simply by taking part in the school jingle competition, you have proven that you are up for any challenge.” The DEH is currently looking at the possibility of incorporating sections and excerpts of all three of the winning jingles to be broad- cast on radio as a part of its waste reduction and recy- cling campaign. The entries from the four schools can be found on the Department of Environmental Health’s Facebook Page or on its YouTube channel. The St. Ignatius Catholic School team perform their rap song ‘Trash Talk.’ The jingle won them first place and $500 worth of prizes. - PHOTOS: MILO DACK Councilor David Wight, back row, left, and Minister Dwayne Seymour present the team from Cayman Prep, who placed third, with their trophy and certificates.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY MAY 16, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Russian opposition leader gets jail time Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced Tuesday to 30 days in jail for staging an unsanctioned protest in Moscow. The anti- corruption campaigner, who has become Putin’s most visible political foe, already has served several jail terms for organizing other protests. Anne Brenda Dawson 21st Dec 1943 – 16th May 2006 Our hearts still ache in sadness And secret tears still fl ow What it meant to lose you No one will ever know With love always & forever Dec 1943 – 16 Dec 1943 – 16 May 2006 May 2006 Anne Brenda DawsonAnne Brenda Dawson 2121stst Dec 1943 – 16 Dec 1943 – 16 st Dec 1943 – 16 stst Dec 1943 – 16 st Dec 1943 – 16 Our hearts still ache in sadnessOur hearts still ache in sadness From your children, Grandchildren & Great-Grandchildren From your children, Grandchildren From your children, Grandchildren Israel sees diplomatic fallout over Gaza violence GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – Is- rael faced a growing backlash Tuesday and new charges of using excessive force, a day after Israeli troops firing from across a border fence killed 59 Palestinians and wounded more than 2,700 at a mass protest in Gaza. Turkey expelled Israel’s ambassador, while Ireland and Belgium summoned Is- raeli envoys. Leading Eu- ropean countries and the U.N. human rights office called for an investigation of the bloodshed. Israel says it has the right to defend its border against a possible mass breach and accuses Gaza’s Hamas rulers of trying to carry out attacks under the cover of the pro- tests. A military spokesman said Tuesday that 14 of those killed a day earlier were in- volved in attacks. Monday marked the dead- liest day in Gaza since a 2014 cross-border war with Israel, and was part of a high-stakes campaign by the Islamic mil- itant Hamas to break a de- cade-long border blockade. Gaza Health Ministry, which provided the toll from Monday’s violence, said a 9-month-old girl died from tear gas exposure, but med- ical officials later cast doubt on that claim, saying the in- fant had a pre-existing med- ical condition. It remained unclear Tuesday where and how the child died. In jarring contrast to the Gaza bloodshed, the U.S. held a festive inauguration cere- mony for a new U.S. Embassy in contested Jerusalem at the same time Monday, just sev- eral dozen miles away. The juxtaposition of violence on the Gaza border and festiv- ities attended by a Trump administration delegation – captured on split screens in TV broadcasts around the world – briefly drew atten- tion to the plight of Gaza and its 2 million people. The relocation of the em- bassy from Tel Aviv, con- demned by Palestinians as blatantly pro-Israel, further dimmed prospects of what President Donald Trump had once touted as plans to nego- tiate the “deal of the century.” The Palestinians seek Is- raeli-annexed east Jerusalem as a capital. The high casualty toll re- vived international criticism of Israel’s open-fire policies. Rights groups have said the use of potentially lethal force against protesters who pose no immediate threat to sol- diers’ lives is unlawful. The military has said presum- ably less lethal rubber-coated steel pellets are not effective in keeping demonstrators from the fence. Germany, Belgium and Ireland called for an investi- gation of the violence. In Brussels, Prime Min- ister Charles Michel called the Israeli actions “unacceptable violence” and said there was a “clear lack of proportion- ality.” Michel said the violence and killings would be moved onto the calendar of the Eu- ropean Union summit in Sofia on Wednesday and Thursday. German spokesman Steffen Seibert said the violence “con- cerns us greatly,” but also ac- cused Hamas of cynically es- calating the unrest. Ireland’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli am- bassador to express “shock and dismay.” Turkey asked Israel’s ambassador to leave temporarily and the country lowered flags to half-mast to mark three days of mourning. China called on Israel to ex- ercise restraint. On Monday, South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel until further notice. The U.N. human rights of- fice said Israel has repeat- edly violated international norms by using deadly live fire to repel protesters from its border with Gaza, sug- gesting its forces should instead arrest those who reach the fence. The U.N. Security Council planned to meet Tuesday to discuss the violence, though it was not clear what might come out of the session. For Hamas, which seized Gaza in 2007, Monday’s border protest was the culmination of a weekslong campaign to try to break the blockade. The group has led weekly protests near the border with Israel since late March. On Tuesday, there were no signs that Hamas had made a breakthrough in shaking off the blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt. Egypt ex- tended the opening of its border crossing with Gaza, initially set to continue for four days, by two more days, until Thursday. Typically, the Rafah crossing is closed for most of the year. In recent days, there had been negotiations between Egypt and Hamas, presum- ably on easing the blockade in exchange for ending the protests. Hamas has said protests would continue in a weekly format, but it was not clear if it would be able to main- tain momentum during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which be- gins this week. Khaled Batsh, the head of a grassroots organizing com- mittee, said the next mass march would be held June 5, to mark the anniversary of the 1967 Mideast war in which Israel captured Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Protest organizers said Tuesday was set aside for fu- nerals, in an apparent attempt to lower expectations of an- other mass protest later in the day. Thousands joined funeral processions Tuesday, though many of those killed Monday had been buried the same day, in line with Muslim tradition. Israel has defended its actions over the past few weeks, saying Hamas is trying to carry out attacks under the cover of protests. The Israeli military said its aircraft had struck 11 “terror targets” in a Hamas military compound Monday and that tanks targeted two Hamas posts. It said Gaza activ- ists used 10 explosive de- vices and firebombs against troops and that shots were fired at soldiers positioned along the border. Melania Trump has ‘successful’ procedure on kidney condition WASHINGTON (AP) – First lady Melania Trump under- went a “successful” procedure Monday to treat a benign kidney condition and was ex- pected to remain hospitalized for the rest of the week, her staff said. President Donald Trump took a helicopter to Walter Reed National Mili- tary Medical Center to visit her and tweeted that his wife was in “good spirits.” Mrs. Trump, 48, had the embolization procedure Monday morning. The presi- dent spoke with Mrs. Trump before the procedure and with her doctor afterward, the first lady’s office said. The president tweeted shortly before arriving at Walter Reed outside Wash- ington, saying it was a “suc- cessful procedure,” de- scribing his wife as being “in good spirits” and offering his thanks “to all of the well- wishers!” He spent over an hour at the hospital before de- parting, without addressing waiting reporters, via motor- cade under stormy skies. The White House did not offer any additional details on Mrs. Trump’s condition, though Vice President Mike Pence described the proce- dure as “long planned” as he opened a speech at an evening event celebrating Israel’s inde- pendence. “Melania is already on the mend,” Pence said. In the Senate, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., sent well wishes for “a speedy recovery to the first lady.” She was last seen in public on Wednesday at a White House event where she and the president hon- ored military mothers and spouses for Mother’s Day. Two urologists who have no personal knowledge of Mrs. Trump’s condition said the most likely explanation for the procedure is a kind of noncancerous kidney tumor called an angiomyolipoma. They are not common but tend to occur in middle-aged women and can cause prob- lematic bleeding if they be- come large enough, said Dr. Keith Kowalczyk of Med- Star Georgetown Univer- sity Hospital. “The treatment of choice” is to cut off the blood supply so the growth shrinks, added Dr. Lambros Stamatakis of MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Doctors do that with an embolization, meaning a catheter is snaked into the blood vessels of the kidney to find the right one and block it. Most of the time, these be- nign tumors are found when people undergo medical scans for another reason, but sometimes people have pain or other symptoms, Kowal- czyk said. Many times, embo- lization patients go home the same day or the next. The president had no of- ficial public appearances Monday and declined to an- swer shouted questions from reporters about his wife as he departed the White House for Walter Reed. The former model from Slovenia is Trump’s third wife and the couple has been married for 13 years. They have a 12-year-old son named Barron. Mrs. Trump, who has been gradually raising her profile as first lady, recently hosted her first state dinner and launched a public awareness campaign to help children. Mrs. Trump joined her husband last month to host the prime minister of Japan for a two-day summit at the Trumps’ Florida estate, and the Trumps hosted the pres- ident of France at the White House on a three-day state visit, including a lavish state dinner. Mrs. Trump also rep- resented the administration at the April funeral of former first lady Barbara Bush. Mrs. Trump has, at times, has been noticeably absent from her husband’s side. But both made a point of dis- playing affection during last week’s Rose Garden event where she announced the “Be Best” initiative. First lady Melania Trump An elderly Palestinian man falls on the ground after being shot by Israeli troops during a deadly protest Monday at the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel, east of Khan Younis, Gaza Strip. – PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY MAY 16, 2018 187766_PRINT-Butterfield-CompassPage 1 5/14/18 1:43:58 PM Tom Wolfe, pioneering ‘New Journalist,’ dead at 88 NEW YORK (AP) – Tom Wolfe, the white-suited wizard of “New Journalism” who exu- berantly chronicled Amer- ican culture from the Merry Pranksters through the space race before turning his sa- tiric wit to such novels as “The Bonfire of the Vani- ties” and “A Man in Full,” has died. He was 88. Wolfe’s literary agent, Lynn Nesbit, told The As- sociated Press that he died of an infection Monday in a New York City hospital. Fur- ther details were not immedi- ately available. An acolyte of French nov- elist Emile Zola and other au- thors of “realistic” fiction, the stylishly attired Wolfe was an American maverick who insisted that the only way to tell a great story was to go out and report it. Along with Gay Talese, Truman Capote and Nora Ephron, he helped demonstrate that journalism could offer the kinds of literary pleasure found in books. His hyperbolic, stylized writing work was a gleeful fusillade of exclamation points, italics and improb- able words. An ingenious phrase maker, he branded such expressions as “radical chic” for rich liberals’ fasci- nation with revolutionaries; and the “Me” generation, de- fining the self-absorbed babyboomers of the 1970s. Wolfe was both a literary upstart, sneering at the per- ceived stuffiness of the pub- lishing establishment, and an old-school gentleman who went to the best schools and when attending promotional luncheons with fellow au- thors would make a point of reading their latest work. He scorned the reluc- tance of American writers to confront social issues and warned that self-absorp- tion and master’s programs would kill the novel. He was astonished that no author of his generation had written a sweeping, 19th century style novel about contemporary New York City, and ended up writing one himself, “The Bonfire of the Vanities.” His work broke count- less rules but was grounded in old-school journalism, in an obsessive attention to detail that began with his first reporting job and en- dured for decades. “Nothing fuels the imagi- nation more than real facts do,” Wolfe told the AP in 1999. “As the saying goes, ‘You can’t make this stuff up.’” Wolfe’s interests were vast, but his narratives had a common theme. Whether sending up the New York art world or hanging out with acid heads, Wolfe inevitably presented man as a status- seeking animal, concerned above all about the opinion of one’s peers. Wolfe himself dressed for company – his trademark a pale three-piece suit, impossibly high shirt collar, two-tone shoes and a silk tie. And he acknowledged that he cared – very much – about his reputation. American author and journalist Tom Wolfe, Jr. during a 2016 interview – PHOTO: AP BRUSSELS (AP) – Major European powers sought Tuesday to keep Iran in a landmark international nu- clear agreement after Pres- ident Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the pact and promised tough economic sanctions against Tehran. In one of a series of meetings, foreign minis- ters from Britain, France and Germany – signato- ries of the 2015 deal to stop Iran developing nu- clear weapons – were to hold talks with Iranian For- eign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, amid concerns that the sanctions will also damage European busi- ness interests. “The U.K. and our Eu- ropean partners continue to view the nuclear deal as vital for our shared secu- rity, and remain fully com- mitted to upholding it,” British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said ahead of the meeting in Brussels. “We will look at poten- tial options for supporting continued sanctions re- lief for Iran to ensure we meet our commitments under the deal, as well as calling on Iran to continue to abide by the restrictions the deal places upon their nuclear program,” he said. Johnson also called on Washington “to avoid any actions that could pre- vent the remaining par- ties to the agreement from meeting their commitments under the deal – including delivering sanctions relief through legitimate trade.” Earlier Tuesday, Zarif said he had a “very good and constructive” meeting with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who helps to supervise the U.N. Security Council-en- dorsed agreement. After an hour-long meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels, Zarif said he be- lieved both sides were “on the right track” to make sure that the interests of the deal’s “re- maining participants, partic- ularly Iran, will be preserved and guaranteed.” Mogherini said “the aim” is to see how Iran and the Europeans “can coordinate actions” in order to pre- serve the deal. She said the parties are working on the principle of not dismantling some- thing that works. “Then if you can improve on other things, other is- sues, you always have space for doing that,” she said. EUROPE, IRAN SEEK TO SAVE NUCLEAR DEALNext >