ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MAY 29, 2018 High of 87 Low of 76 Seas: Moderate to rough with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 A ‘TRUMPIAN MOVE’ THAT CAYMAN SHOULD EMULATE LOCAL | PAGE 5 NEW AGENCY TO DEVELOP LABOR AND HANDLE WORK PERMITS 187818_PRINT-Ad-Strip-Compass-FiPage 1 4/20/18 11:54:13 AM Weeklong rain expected to ease MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com The low pressure system that has become Subtropical Storm Alberto dropped more than 8 inches of rain on Grand Cayman during the past week. From May 21 to the morning of May 28, monitors recorded 8.4 inches of rainfall, 4 inches of which came down in a single day, the 21st. Relief, however, is on the way, said mete- orologist Avalon Porter, with the Cayman Is- lands National Weather Service. Mr. Porter said rain showers should taper off on Tuesday, with some high clouds hanging on through Wednesday. After that, he said, “We’ll be back to our typical, partly cloudy and isolated showers.” Winds, he said, will calm by the end of the week. Mr. Porter said the amount of rain is un- usual for May. The month’s rainfall is nor- mally about 6 inches. Persistent rain on Monday would have added to the 8.4 inches already recorded during the previous week. The center of Alberto hit the Florida Pan- handle on Monday, where it was expected to move slowly inland, dumping enough rain to cause flooding. Its winds were high enough on the fringes to generate tornado warnings. Cayman roads saw plenty of high water and flooding in the usual areas. Legislative As- sembly member Alva Suckoo said he and his colleagues were taking the opportunity to ad- dress some enduring drainage problems. “There are some areas that are really low lying and prone to flooding,” said the Sa- vannah-area representative. “I’ve done an as- sessment and put in a request for drains to be put in.” National Roads Authority workers began installing drains on Moonbeam Drive on REPORT: 10 POLICE CASES DROPPED OVER DELAYS IN 2017 BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Just more than 10 percent of the internal investigations carried out against Royal Cayman Islands Police officers last year in- volved “statute barred” cases – cases in which the deadline to file charges was not met – according to data released this month by the RCIPS. The police Professional Standards Unit re- ceived 97 reports of complaints made against officers during 2017 and 10 of those were for court cases that were not brought to prosecu- tors in time for charges to be filed. The report does not detail what offenses were delayed to the point where it was too late for charges to be brought; however, most traffic-related offenses have a six-month time line from the date of a suspect’s arrest to when charges must be filed. If that time line is exceeded, the case is considered “statute barred” and the matter is discontinued. Whenever a police officer fails to submit a case file within the statutorily required time limit, RCIPS policy requires a report to be made to the Professional Standards Unit. The data on investigations by the Profes- sional Standards Unit, which has – until re- cently – served as both the RCIPS internal af- fairs office and as a reception office for public complaints against police, was released via a police service annual report for 2017. According to figures provided, 60 of the 97 complaints made against police during 2017 were made by the general public. The other 37 were made internally by supervisors against junior officers. It is likely the statute-barred cases would fall into the latter category. Dart waste management deal not yet signed JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Work on a new suite of waste management facilities to replace the George Town landfill site is unlikely to begin until next year at the earliest. A consortium of companies led by Dart Enterprises was se- lected as the preferred bidder for the project last October. Rep- resentatives from Dart now are involved in protracted negotia- tions with government over the details of a 25-year contract to take over responsibility for waste management. A second consortium, which has not been named, is on standby should negotiations fall through. Martin Edelenbos, Dart’s en- gineering coordinator for waste management, said it was ex- pected to take until October of this year to finalize the contract. The new system is expected to reduce the 100,000 tons of waste currently going into landfill every year by as much as 95 percent. In- stead, much of the trash will be fed into a 7-megawatt, waste-to-energy plant and sold as electricity to the Caribbean Utilities Company. ‘Superheroes’ raise $60K for boy’s cancer treatment While 7-year-old Felix Lubin lies in a Miami hospital getting treatment for neuroblastoma cancer, friends, family and members of the public donned masks, capes and costumes of their favorite superheroes on Sunday to raise funds to help pay for his medical and associated expenses. Felix’s Superhero Beach Walk on Seven Mile Beach raised more than $60,000, organizers said. For more on this story, see page 7. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL TUESDAY MAY 29, 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) AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (PG13) 1:10 I 3:25 3D I 6:40 I 9:55 3D BREAKING IN (PG13) 12:30 I 2:40 I 4:50 I 7:00 I 10:20 DEADPOOL 2 (R) 1:00 I 4:40 I 7:25 I 10:10 LIFE OF THE PARTY (PG13) 12:50 I 4:30 I 7:10 I 9:40 SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY (PG13) 12:45 VIP I 1:40 I 3:45 VIP I I 7:20 I 9:10 3D I 10:00 VIP THE MATRIX (R) 7:00 VIP New license plate list released The Department of Ve- hicle and Drivers’ Licensing has uploaded its latest list of new electronic li- cense plates that are ready for collection. An additional 1,200 plates are ready to be picked up from the DVDL office on Crewe Road. Vehicle owners are re- minded that when col- lecting the new plate, they must bring in the tempo- rary/old plates, the wind- shield tag and logbook. The list can be viewed on the department’s website at www.dvdl.gov.ky. UCCI PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VISITS CAMPUS A fourth candidate to take over as president of the University College of the Cayman Islands was on the school’s campus Monday, May 28, to meet with faculty and staff and to tour the campus. Three initial candi- dates visited the campus in April. Two of those have withdrawn their applica- tions since then. No names have been released during the hiring process, but the fourth candidate was identi- fied as a woman. There have been no of- fers of employment, said a statement on the Board of Governors’ website: “The Executive Committee has made no recommendation to the Board, and there- fore the Board has made no recommendation for approval by the Minister of Education under the University College Law. Only when the recruit- ment process is complete we will be in a position to announce the new Presi- dent of UCCI.” Free market vs. subsidies at heart of Brazil truckers’ strike RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Bra- zilian cabinet ministers on Monday called on truckers to end a crippling eight-day strike that has led to major shortages and disruptions in Latin America’s largest na- tion, saying the government had gone as far as it could to meet their demands. The ministers spoke in Brasilia hours after Pres- ident Michel Temer an- nounced a series of measures aimed at getting truckers back to work. Late Sunday, Temer said the government would subsidize a 10 percent drop in diesel prices for 60 days. He also said measures were being crafted to cut tolls for truckers and estab- lish minimum freight rates, both key demands. “We are at the limit of what we can do to normalize the situation,” said Finance Minister Eduardo Guardia. It was not immediately clear how many truckers would accept the govern- ment’s stance. Several unions said Monday they would start demobilizing their blockades but needed a few days to talk to members. Other unions remained mum. A supposed agreement reached between several unions and the government last week was ignored by thousands of truckers, who continued striking. On Monday, as in pre- vious days, thousands of schools remained shut- tered, many flights were can- celed and many supermarket shelves were empty. Wendel Campos, a trucker in Rio de Janeiro who vowed to keep protesting, said he would not accept the mea- sures because he believed prices would go back up in a few months. “We will stay here as long as necessary,” he said. At the heart of the im- passe is a fight over the fu- ture of the economy, particu- larly as it relates to state oil company Petrobas. Temer’s predecessor, Pres- ident Dilma Rousseff, imple- mented price controls that worked as de facto sub- sidies, keeping prices rel- atively low regardless of what was happening in the world oil markets. However, beginning in 2014, the so-called “Car Wash” investigation uncov- ered a massive kickback scheme for construction con- tracts coming from Petrobras. The probe, which continues, has led to the jailing of sev- eral of the country’s elite, from politicians like former President Luiz Inacio da Silva to Petrobras directors. In 2016, Temer, then vice president, took over for Rousseff when she was im- peached and removed from office for illegally managing the federal budget. As part of a series of reforms aimed at pulling Brazil from a deep recession, Temer’s admin- istration said there would no longer be interference in Petrobras pricing. The company recovered and grew, and market prices worked fine in the economy while world oil prices were low. But lately, the com- bination of rising prices and a sharp devaluation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar has caused prices to jump. This was acutely felt by truckers, who move the ma- jority of goods in the com- modity-rich nation over a ter- ritory slightly larger than the continental United States. Gilberto Braga, a finance professor Ibmec university in Rio de Janeiro, said the strike and its aftermath could cut gross domestic product by at least half a percent. “This is not an isolated event. The truckers’ strike will have repercussions in just about every part of the economy,” he said. Auto-pedestrian smash leaves man critical A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle and critically in- jured Monday morning on Shamrock Road in the Sa- vannah area of Bodden Town. According to police, the man was struck in the east- bound (outbound) lanes of Shamrock Road near Trum- bach Drive, just east of the Lower Valley Agricul- tural Grounds. He was taken to hospital with “life-threatening inju- ries” Monday, police said. The crash clogged traffic through the Savannah area for a few hours during the middle of the day Monday as RCIPS officers directed drivers around the incident. No arrests were immedi- ately reported. The latest batch of electronic license plates are ready for collection. The scene of Monday morning’s crash in Savannah. POLICE BRIEFS 4 arrested for Prospect Point Road robbery Four people, including three teenagers and a 35-year- old woman, were arrested over the weekend for a rob- bery that took place on Pros- pect Point Road on Monday, May 21. Police said they ar- rested two males, ages 17 and 19, both of George Town, and a 19-year-old woman from West Bay. The second woman is from George Town. The four were ar- rested on suspicion of rob- bery and assault causing grievous bodily harm. The 19-year-old woman has been bailed, while the other three remained in cus- tody Monday as investiga- tions continue. 6 arrested in GT bar raid Six people were arrested on suspicion of gambling and illegal drugs possession Friday during a raid at Ar- chie’s Bar & Restaurant on Shedden Road. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service conducted the raid, along with customs and immigration officers, early Friday evening. A small amount of ganja and cash were recovered. Officers arrested the fol- lowing people: a 20-year- old George Town man for ganja possession; a 63-year- old George Town man for il- legal gambling; a 34-year- old George Town man for ganja possession; a 68-year- old West Bay man for il- legal gambling and disor- derly conduct; a 34-year-old Bodden Town man for ganja possession; and a 56-year- old George Town man for il- legal gambling and disor- derly conduct. Police did not immedi- ately state why the sixth person taken into custody in the raid was arrested. Police investigate two Sunday house fires Two homes in Grand Cay- man’s eastern districts were set on fire Sunday afternoon, the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service reported Monday. One of the arson fires oc- curred at a home on Old Robin Road, North Side. Po- lice said the owners came home around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, found the residence had been broken into and fire set to the furniture. The flames went out on their own, before the owners’ arrival. Police said the rooms in the house had been ran- sacked, but nothing was re- ported missing. No arrests were immediately reported. Police and fire crews were also called to a home on West Lane, Bodden Town around 3:45 p.m. Sunday. The home sustained sig- nificant damage from the fire, but no one was hurt, police said. A 38-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the West Lane fire. A police officer tries to organize people as they wait in line to buy petrol at one of the few open gas stations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday. A strike by Brazilian truckers has caused shortages at gas stations and supermarkets across Latin America’s biggest country. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 29, 2018 The Cayman Compass special Father’s Day feature is the place to showcase all the items at your company that dad would like to receive as a token of appreciation from his loved ones. Call 949-5111 or email sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com BOOK YOUR SPACE NOW! AD SPACE DEADLINE: TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2018The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. With a series of executive orders, U.S. President Donald Trump has cut the ropes that tied the hands of managers hoping to hold their government depart- ments and agencies to appropriately high standards. Cayman Islands legislators should do the same. The first order signed last week by Mr. Trump will make it easier to fire and discipline federal employees and will make performance – not seniority – a primary consideration in layoff decisions. That straightens out a discipline and termination process that, until now, has commonly taken six months to a year, followed by an average eight-month appeals process, according to a report from the New York Times. The second order directs federal agencies to rene- gotiate wasteful union contracts. The third limits the time federal employees can spend “on the clock” (and drawing a federal salary) performing union duties to no more than 25 percent of their workweek. Previously, there had been no limit – with some employees spending as much as 100 percent of their time handling union business. While we would have preferred an order preventing federal employees from devoting any work time to such extracurricular activities, administration officials estimate that even this modest improvement will save the federal government at least $100 million per year. With these three commonsense executive orders, Mr. Trump continues to fulfill his promise of signifi- cantly reforming an entrenched, entitled and under- performing civil service – an army of more than two million people living off taxpayer dollars. In the Cayman Islands, a small territory with fewer than 65,000 people, approximately 6,000 employees (including civil servants as well as staff at government- owned businesses and more than 25 “authorities”) draw their paychecks from the public purse. From our vantage point, rarely a week goes by without yet another noteworthy and “newsworthy” incident of dysfunction, incompetence, insouciance or outright illegality in the public sector. In the absence of a formal union, successive itera- tions of Cayman’s Legislative Assembly, in efforts to appease the well-organized (and politically influen- tial) Civil Service Association, have stacked the deck in favor of civil servants – to the detriment of nearly everyone else. The benefits, perks, allowances and “protec- tions” offered to Cayman’s government workers read like some fantasy “wish list” that would be granted by a genie, not bestowed, carte blanche, on real-life employees in a functioning business. Consider, for example, golden benefits packages, garden leave with full pay, a dismissal process so cumbersome and lengthy that it can be less costly (and less onerous) simply to reassign poor performers or pay them hand- somely to leave. As everyone knows (regardless of whether they work in government service or in private enterprise), in an environment where poor performance is tolerated and lack of accountability is commonplace, the organi- zation itself becomes diseased and deteriorates. In his writings, business consultant Peter Drucker wisely observed that without intervention, the natural progression of any organization is to decline. There- fore, it is the responsibility – perhaps the main respon- sibility – of management to ensure that the opposite takes place. Put another way, weeds, left unattended, will eventually overrun the most beautiful of gardens. In the United States, President Trump knows that the only way to raise standards of performance is to raise expectations – and hold low-performing employees accountable when they fail. In Cayman, we have our own new “chief executive,” His Excellency, Governor Anwar Choudhury. Constitu- tionally, Governor Choudhury is the ultimate authority regarding Cayman’s civil service (although traditionally, as the Constitution also allows, governors have dele- gated this task to their deputies). We would encourage our new governor to develop a comprehensive understanding of the broad swath of Cayman’s workforce (and economy) that ultimately is his to oversee. A ‘Trumpian move’ that Cayman should emulate TUESDAY MAY 29, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Trump’s trade wars would avenge mythical casualties WASHINGTON – America’s government declares “war” promiscuously – on pov- erty, on drugs, on cancer, etc. – except when actually going to war, which the na- tion has done often since it last declared war (on June 5, 1942, on Romania, Bulgaria and Hungary). But the in- cipient war du jour is being postponed. Treasury Secre- tary Steven Mnuchin says the Trump administration is “putting the trade war on hold.” The one with China, that is. Others can continue. The armistice-before- the-war is good news for farmers, who could use some. USA Today reports that the net income of U.S. farmers has fallen by more than half since 2013, to its lowest point since 2006, the steepest decline since the Depression. For this, blame productive farming around the world (supply outpacing demand), rotten weather in America, and perverse government in Washington. China and Mexico, responding to un- certainties caused by U.S. indignation (about China selling too much to con- senting American adults, and about NAFTA enabling mighty Mexico to exploit America), are finding alter- native sources of soybeans, pork and beef. There is nothing like a ca- lamity for taking one’s mind off one’s troubles, and anti- immigration Republicans have another affliction for American farmers. The Wall Street Journal reports that about half of agriculture workers are undocumented immigrants. Because more Mexicans have left than en- tered the United States be- tween 2009 and 2014, the immigrant agriculture labor force is aging – and moving to higher-paying construc- tion jobs. The Journal: “As farmers struggle to find workers, more production has moved abroad. Avocado imports have doubled over the last eight years while U.S. production (measured by acreage) has declined by about a quarter. Since 1999, domestic production has fallen for oranges (by 36 per- cent), grapefruits (61 percent) and asparagus (69 percent). Imports of fresh fruits and vegetables have swelled …. This hurts workers in related industries like transporta- tion and food processing.” This is the Republicans’ ap- proach to succoring “victims of globalization.” Mortgage rates have risen to the highest level since 2011, they are far from done rising, and a National As- sociation of Realtors econ- omist says that every per- centage-point increase can reduce home sales 7 to 8 per- cent. Simultaneously, the ad- ministration’s protectionism is further increasing the cost of homeownership with tar- iffs on imported Canadian lumber (framing lumber is about 18 percent of the av- erage new home’s selling price). Bloomberg Business- week says this adds an av- erage of $1,360 to the cost of building a single-family home, the price of which has risen $6,388 since January 2017. Steel can sometimes be used as a substitute for lumber, except … In the 1830s, in Grand Detour, Illinois, a young blacksmith designed a self- scouring steel plow that could turn the Midwest’s heavy black topsoil. John Deere then started a com- pany and now his name is on big green machines ev- erywhere. Today, however, the administration’s steel tariffs are causing Deere & Co. to raise prices, which will injure its competitive- ness, unless the demand for American machinery is price-inelastic. Perhaps the Trump administration’s pro- tectionists, who know so much (how much Americans should consume of this and that import, and at what prices), know this about the machinery market. Not content with bossing around Americans, even unto telling them which washing machines to buy, the ad- ministration’s protectionists have demanded that Mexico, as part of a renegotiated NAFTA, institute a $16 min- imum wage for Mexican fac- tory workers. So, a Repub- lican administration purports to know more than Mexico’s labor market knows about the proper price of Mex- ican labor. But, then, the last know-it-all administration so aggressive about controlling wages and prices was Re- publican (Richard Nixon’s). All this dictating and re- negotiating is supposed to protect American jobs from the menace of NAFTA, which according to one of its ardent critics destroyed 1 million U.S. jobs in its first 20 years (1994-2014). An academic study argues that trade with China destroyed 2.4 mil- lion jobs between 1999 and 2011. But Don Boudreaux of George Mason Universi- ty’s Mercatus Center says this means it took NAFTA two decades to destroy as many jobs as are erased by the normal churning of the American job market on av- erage every 18 days. And the so-called “China shock” elim- inated in 13 years as many jobs as are eliminated by the U.S. economy’s process of creative destruction, on av- erage, every 41 days. So, if there are to be trade “wars” with China and Mexico, they will be launched to avenge job “casualties” that are far fewer than those routinely inflicted by the domestic processes that produce American prosperity. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2018, Washington Post Writers Group GEORGE F. WILL Not content with bossing around Americans, even unto telling them which washing machines to buy, the administration’s protectionists have demanded that Mexico, as part of a renegotiated NAFTA, institute a $16 minimum wage for Mexican factory workers. 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 29, 2018 A family of four, who were returning guests to The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, were planning a Spring getaway and coordinating the details for their trip. Prior to their arrival, the mother of the two young guests had been in contact with Club Lounge Concierge, Andreea Voicu, to request a small stepping stool for her children as they were not able to reach the bathroom sink yet due to its height. Andreea shared the request with the Housekeeping team, who confirmed they would have it ready for arrival. WhenWhen the guest checked in, she found that they had placed a small ladder in the bathroom instead of a stool and seemed a bit disappointed to which Andreea advised that she would follow-up with the Housekeeping team and find a solution. Housekeeping mentioned that they had no stepping stools available at the time so Andreea decided to go a step further and truly make this family happy. She would go out and purchase one for them but after going to sever- al retail stores on the island, her search was unsuccessful. After sharing with her colleague Lucero Aguilar the following day, Lucero had the brilliant idea of making a custom stool for the children and contacted Marvin from the Engineering department to assist with the carpentry. Marvin loved the idea and worked the entire day to produce a special stool for them with handles so that they could easily step up and down. When he presented it to Lucero and Andreea, they loved it so much that they decided to decorate it and personalize it with the young guests’ names. ThatThat evening they placed it in the bathroom to surprise the family who absolutely loved it when they returned from dinner at the Club Lounge. They were incredibly grateful and immediately called the Club Lounge to thank them for the thoughtful gift, and even sent a note to the resort’s General Manager thanking him for the team’s gesture. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is proud to share the stories crafted by our most valuable resource: our Ladies and Gentlemen. Discover an unmatched collection of experiences at Grand Cayman’s top luxury resort. ADVERTORIAL New agency to develop labor and handle work permits MINISTRY: ‘NO CONFLICT’ IN HIRING PRISONS TRAINER BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands gov- ernment denies it created a conflict of interest in hiring the wife of interim prisons boss Steven Barrett to help train officers within the prisons service. Fiona Barrett, a 20-year veteran of the U.K. corrections service, was hired May 21 on a temporary, three-month contract to assist the Ministry of Home Affairs in profession- alizing its prison officer ranks. Typically, the Cayman Is- lands government service does not hire husband and wife teams to work in the same department, although civil service managers point out there is no written policy to prevent that. “There is a foundational principle to conduct human resources matters in a manner which avoids conflicts of in- terest, including nepotism,” a ministry response to Cayman Compass questions about the matter sent Sunday read. “For- tunately, there is no conflict of interest as Ms. Barrett is em- ployed by the ministry and therefore works for and re- ports to the ministry and not the [prisons] department.” The description of Ms. Bar- rett’s employment and back- ground was provided by the ministry last week: “The Min- istry of Home Affairs took the decision to address training in Her Majesty’s Cayman Is- lands Prison Service, a field in which Ms. Barrett is a highly qualified expert. The employ- ment agreement was signed following a thorough process of evaluation to ensure the best decision going forward. “Ms. Barrett possesses a lengthy background in cor- rections, with more than 20 years of experience in the in- dustry. She has held several senior positions at different correctional institutions in- cluding: Assistant Director, Head of Performance and Training Standards Manager.” The recent hiring issue was raised to the Compass by gov- ernment staff after allegations of favoritism were leveled against former prisons chief Neil Lavis. The government hired Mr. Lavis’s close family friend, Nina White, to work within the prison service as a manager during his tenure. A group of senior prisons of- ficers took a complaint to the Gender Affairs Tribunal over the hire and won their case. The government’s In- ternal Audit Service is still reviewing that matter. Mr. Barrett started as in- terim prisons director on Feb. 21 this year following Mr. La- vis’s departure. He has said he intends to apply for the full-time prisons director job when it is advertised. Goal is to achieve full Caymanian employment Beginning next year, a new governmental depart- ment will take on the admin- istration of issues involving immigration and work- force development. The government an- nounced Friday that the new department will be named Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman, known as WORC. It will focus on restruc- turing the labor market in the Cayman Islands, with the goal of achieving full employment for Cayma- nians and a competitive business community, ac- cording to a government press release. In addition to providing training, internship, ap- prenticeships and partner- ships with private sector businesses for Caymanian workers, the department will also process applica- tions for work permits, per- manent residency and Cay- manian status. Sharon Roulstone, in- terim director of the agency, said the new department will be able to better con- nect businesses with the workers they need, identify gaps in the labor market and help to train new workers to fill those gaps. “With WORC, we are re- designing how employment and workforce development in the Cayman Islands is managed, with a focus on two inter-related elements: full Caymanian employment and a well-supplied business community that is globally competitive,” she said in the press release. “This is not simply a merger of the Department of Immigration and the Na- tional Workforce Develop- ment Agency, it is entirely brand new,” she added. Ms. Roulstone was sec- onded from her role as deputy ombudsman to head up the newly formed department. Premier and Minister for Human Resources and Im- migration Alden McLaughlin said he expects the WORC department to improve the lot of working Caymanians. “Through this reform ini- tiative, our objective is to en- sure all Caymanians suc- cessfully attain employment, where every Caymanian who is able, willing and quali- fied to work has a job,” Mr. McLaughlin was quoted as saying in the press release. “We plan to continue our progress forward leaving no one behind.” The change process to de- velop WORC is in progress with completion scheduled for summer 2019. “Through this reform initiative, our objective is to ensure all Caymanians successfully attain employment, where every Caymanian who is able, willing and qualified to work has a job.” PREMIER ALDEN MCLAUGHLIN “There is no conflict of interest as Ms. Barrett is employed by the ministry and therefore works for and reports to the ministry and not the [prisons] department.” MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS STATEMENT Premier Alden McLaughlinSharon RoulstoneThe 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 MAY 29, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, MAY 29 GEORGE TOWN SCHOOL INSPECTIONS: A public meeting is being held by the Office of Education Standards to get input on the new inspection framework, “Successful Schools and Achieving Students.” 6 p.m. John Gray High School School Hall ISLAND HERITAGE CHARITYDRIVE: Each time you drive by the Island Heritage roundabout or engage with them on social media, Island Heritage will donate $1 of your behalf, in support of the Special Needs Foundation. Visit www.charitydrive.ky for details. WEDNESDAY, MAY 30 LIQUOR LICENSE DEADLINE: The Liquor Licensing Board will hold its quarterly meeting Tuesday, June 26 at 1:30 p.m. Today at noon is the deadline for all Liquor/Music & Dance applications. Applications that do not meet the deadline will not be included in the published agenda. For more information contact the Department of Commerce and Investment at info@dci.gov.ky or 945-0943. SNUGGLE UP AND READ: This Child Month activity takes place at Bodden Town Primary School, 6:30-8:30 p.m. EAST END SCHOOL INSPECTIONS: A public meeting is being held by the Office of Education Standards to get input on the new inspection framework, “Successful Schools and Achieving Students.” 6 p.m. East End Primary School. ISLAND HERITAGE CHARITYDRIVE: Each time you drive by the Island Heritage roundabout or engage with them on social media, Island Heritage will donate $1 of your behalf, in support of the Family Resource Centre. Visit www.charitydrive.ky for details. THURSDAY, MAY 31 NORTH SIDE DISTRICT COUNCIL: All North Side residents are invited to the monthly meeting of the district council. 8 p.m. Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre. SNUGGLE UP & READ: Sir John A. Cumber Primary School, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. This Child Month event in West Bay is a reschedule because of last week’s inclement weather. BODDEN TOWN SCHOOL INSPECTIONS: A public meeting is being held by the Office of Education Standards to get input on the new inspection framework, “Successful Schools and Achieving Students.” 6:30 p.m. Bodden Town Primary School. ISLAND HERITAGE CHARITYDRIVE: Each time you drive by the Island Heritage roundabout or engage with them on social media, Island Heritage will donate $1 of your behalf, in support of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute. Visit www.charitydrive.ky for details. FRIDAY, JUNE 1 NORTH SIDE SCHOOL INSPECTIONS: A public meeting is being held by the Office of Education Standards to get input on the new inspection framework, “Successful Schools and Achieving Students.” 6 p.m. Edna M. Moyle Primary School. SATURDAY, JUNE 2 TALES AND ALES: St. Matthew’s University Shelter Club has organized this fundraiser to benefit animal services. 4-8 p.m. at The Lodge (formerly Whiskey Mist) in the Strand. Raffle tickets and 50/50 draw. Free admission. All are invited. MONDAY, JUNE 4 ANNIVERSARY LAUNCH: The Celebrate Cayman Official Launch Ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. The ceremony signals the official start of year-long national celebrations to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Cayman Islands Coat of Arms. All are invited to attend, on the grounds of the former Government Administration Building. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6 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. SATURDAY, JUNE 9 CAR BOOT SALE: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Credit Union parking lot, across from the Farmers Market and cricket pitch in George Town. Hosted by the Edna M. Moyle Primary School PTA. Book a selling spot by email at emps.pta@gmail.com or call Carol at 547-2900 or Kim at 925-0242. $30 per vehicle in advance or $35 on the day. Bargains to customers. Food and drink on sale. Proceeds to benefit the school’s Literacy and Home Reading programs. SUNDAY, JUNE 10 OPEN STUDIO: The Visual Arts Society offers this opportunity to those who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere on any medium or craft. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Watler House Studio, Pedro St. James. Fee is $5; $15 for non-members. Includes use of studio, easels, glazes and ceramic tools. Glazes, firing and clay orders available for extra fee. To register email info@visualartcayman.com. MONDAY, JUNE 11 QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY: The Brac District of the National Trust invites everyone to the annual Queen’s Birthday Tea, 4–6:30 p.m. Heritage House, Northeast Bay, Cayman Brac. There will also be a silent auction, split the pot, plant sale and art show. Funds raised to conserve natural habitat. Tickets are $7 adults, $3 children. GENERAL INTEREST SPECIAL OLYMPICS NATIONAL GAMES: The 2018 Week of Awareness begins Sunday, June 3, 10 a.m. with a Church Service and Athlete Lunch at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road. Monday, 5:30 p.m., Law Enforcement Torch Run and Opening Ceremony, Track and Field Competitions, Truman Bodden Sports Complex. Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. Swimming Competitions, Lions Pool. Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Bocce, Truman Bodden Sports Complex. Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Basketball, First Baptist Christian School Gymnasium. Saturday, 9 a.m., Stand Up Paddleboard, Governors Beach. Tuesday, June 12, 5:30 p.m. Football and Football Skills, Truman Bodden Sports Complex. SEAMEN AND VETERANS: Recipients of the ex gratia Seamen and Veterans benefit who need help completing the Continuation Confirmation Certificates can get assistance. Community Development Officers will be at the following locations and recipients are asked to bring a current photo ID with them. West Bay CDO Vanda Powery, 916-7902, will be at the district library 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 29. George Town CDO Dorline Welcome, 925-4083, will be at Seafarers Hall 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays May 30. Dates for East End, North Side and Cayman Brac will be announced later. Housebound recipients should contact 244-2426 or their district CDO. CHILD MONTH: The Department of Children and Family Services celebrates Child Month in May with more than 30 interactive and family friendly events across the Cayman Islands. For the full listing of Child Month events, visit the department’s Facebook page. CONTRACTORS REGISTRATION: The Builders Board has extended the deadline for all local contractors to register with the board. The contractors’ deadline is now Tuesday, July 31, 2018. For fees and registration forms that are available online, contractors should visit www.planning.ky/ boards-all/builders-board. 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 fees at an early childhood center between September 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 centers. Contact Renee Barnes at 244-5735, Turnette Stewart at 244-5724 or email ecap@gov.ky. 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. 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. CERAMIC OPEN STUDIO: Available to adults who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere, Wednesdays 9 a.m. to noon: Watler House Studio, Pedro St. James. $15 pp/$25 pp non-members. Includes use of studio, glazes, and ceramic tools. Kiln and clay orders available for extra fee. To register, email ceramics@ visualartcayman.com. FARMERS ARTISAN MARKET: Noon to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Visual Arts Society artists sell arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand-crafted jewelry, ceramics and more at the VAS tents by KARoo Restaurant. For more information or to inquire about table space, email info@visualartcayman.com. ART OPEN CANVAS: At KARoo Restaurant in Camana Bay, Wednesdays 7-11 p.m. Artists of all levels are welcome to come and enjoy painting and socializing with other artists. Includes use of easels, lights, space, beverage ticket. No fee. For more information, contact 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, Tuesdays, 7:15 p.m. For details, contact Vanessa Gilman 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., George Town. 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. The local contact is George R. Ebanks, 322-9369 or Grand Cayman Toastmasters club on Facebook. Email info@ toastmastersclub2686.org. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Public meetings will allow input on the new inspection framework for Cayman’s schools.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 29, 2018 ‘Superheroes’ raise $60K for boy receiving cancer treatment Governor hosts World Red Cross Day celebrations Celebrations to mark World Red Cross Day this month were held at Gov- ernment House, where Gov- ernor Anwar Choudhury hosted 123 Cayman Is- lands Red Cross volunteers and partners. Governor Choudhury ac- knowledged the importance of the work of the volunteers and said he looks forward to seeing the strengthening of the relationship with the Red Cross in its role as an auxil- iary to the government, espe- cially in the area of disaster management and response. “Your work does not go unnoticed,” Governor Choud- hury told the attendees. Red Cross Director Jondo Obi explained at the May 8 gathering that the Red Cross movement began in 1859 by Henri Dunant. “May 8 is Henri Dunant’s birthday, and none of us would be here were it not for his vision and his faith in hu- manity,” she said. “The Cayman Islands Red Cross was founded in 1961, and it has been working for this community since then. It was through the work of founders and volunteers that they were able to fundraise to purchase and donate the first ambulance to the Cayman Is- lands Hospital.” Janilee Clifford, the first secretary of the Cayman Islands Red Cross com- mittee and the last surviving founder of the local branch, was also on hand, along with past Chairman Peter Mil- burn, both of whom were recognized for their con- tributions to the commu- nity and the development of the Red Cross in Cayman. Deputy Chairperson Douglas Moffatt spoke about a capital campaign which will be launched shortly to raise funds for repairs and improvements to the Red Cross headquarters. “Most of you know that our Red Cross headquarters is the first official shelter to open as a part of the na- tional hurricane plan, and those of you who visit the building often also know that it is in desperate need of renovations,” he said. “The board is acutely aware of this need and we are in the ini- tial stages of our first capital fundraising campaign to ren- ovate the building.” For more information about the Cayman Islands Red Cross, email vrm@redcross.org.ky or call 949-6785. JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Like a scene from a Marvel movie, superheroes de- scended on Seven Mile Beach Sunday to help someone in need. Captain America, Spider- Man, Batman and a host of caped heroes took part in a fundraising beach walk for 7-year-old Felix Lubin, raising more than $60,000 to help pay for the child’s med- ical and associated expenses. Felix was diagnosed with neuroblastoma cancer in De- cember 2017. He is receiving treatment in Miami, Florida. “We are giving him sup- port and love, so he can beat this and come home,” said Pa- trizia Bruzio, one of the orga- nizers who put on the event with Silva Seferian Jacotine, Kirsty Isbister, Dara Flowers Burke, Brandi Propas, Holly Wellon and Melanie Roddam. Participants were invited to dress as superheroes for the walk, and many who took part obliged, showing up in a vast array of masks, capes and costumes. “Twenty volunteers came out to assist; it is pretty amazing,” Ms. Bruzio said. Felix’s grandparents, Rob and Karin Fulton, said they were amazed by the support being shown to Felix and his parents Kyle and Michael. “This is a truly, truly re- markable community. We are overwhelmed by love, sup- port and the generosity of the Cayman Islands people … the time, friends, money … it’s a very unique com- munity in our experience,” Mr. Fulton said. “We thank them for their prayers, thoughts, and cer- tainly the ability to host such an amazing event in support of Felix,” he added. Mr. Fulton said Felix was in the middle of a very diffi- cult stretch. For three to four months he will be in isola- tion, and he has not been able to speak to them. “He waved to us on Face- Time when his dad held up the iPad and he whispered ‘I love you’ … it’s a long, hard road,” Mr. Fulton said. Mrs. Fulton said, “It’s a tough time, very hard on the parents.” “All these lovely people have opened their arms to us and taken us into their hearts and homes. It’s been remarkable. It’s certainly made things a lot easier,” she said. One young participant, Maria Lennon, said, “It’s good to have the event because it’s getting him the medicine he needs to feel better.” “He is my best friend and I really feel sorry for his little sister Cleo too. I just want to help my best friend,” said Holly Mae Bird, who was dressed as Mystique of the X-Men. A host of other superhe- roes, princesses and ninjas gathered at the beach under overcast, gray skies, despite the threat of rain. A family of five went all out to show support for Felix, donning superhero cos- tumes that featured letters spelling out “Felix.” There were awards for most sponsorship money raised by an individual, best costume and best dressed family, as well as raffle prizes. The community also created a bake sale and do- nated all the proceeds from the baked goods. Calico Jack’s sponsored the event, providing food and music for the crowd after the walk. The donation table was busy throughout the day. Twins Charlotte and Riley, in the arms of their parents Aaron and Laura Elniski, celebrate their birthdays at the superhero walk.Even parents get in on the superhero act. – PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY Ana Brinson poses as Captain America. Governor Anwar Choudhury meets with Red Cross volunteers.8 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY MAY 29, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Monday, he said. Democ- racy Drive and some other streets are on the list for sim- ilar treatment. Other areas of the island are getting at- tention as well. Mr. Suckoo said a change in the way money is appro- priated is making the dif- ference in addressing some long-standing, standing water problems. “This is a new approach, where the district repre- sentatives have been in- cluded directly in the deci- sion making,” he said. “I’m grateful I’ve been consulted.” Each district, he said, was given a budget for street proj- ects and assembly members have a large role in deciding how the money is spent. Tapering rain on Tuesday should allow pooled water to recede in Cayman. Those living in Florida will likely be dealing with the problem for some days to come. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said at 2 p.m. EDT Monday that Al- berto was weakening slightly as it approached the Florida Panhandle and was cen- tered about 30 miles south of Panama City, Florida. It had maximum sustained winds of 50 mph and was moving north at 8 mph. Forecasters warned of life-threatening surf condi- tions, the possibility of a few brief tornadoes in much of Florida and parts of Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama. And, it said, heavy rains are also expected in many areas. Once Alberto is in- land, and deprived of the warm waters that fuel trop- ical weather systems, the storm was expected to steadily weaken. The hurricane center said a tropical storm warning was in effect from the Suwannee River in Florida to the Ala- bama-Florida state line. Mark Bowen, the Bay County Emergency manage- ment director, said Alber- to’s biggest threat would be its heavy rains, with fore- casts of anywhere from four to 12 inches of rain in some areas. Storm surge flooding was less of a concern be- cause Alberto’s arrival would not coincide with high tide, he said. The storm’s approach triggered mandatory evacua- tions of some small, sparsely populated Gulf Coast bar- rier islands in one Florida county. The Florida Division of Emergency Management said in a statement Sunday that a mandatory evacuation has been issued in Franklin County for all barrier islands there and those in the county living directly on the coast in mobile homes or in recre- ation vehicle parks. In Taylor County, there were voluntary evacuations for those in coastal zones and beach communities, mobile homes, RV parks and low- lying areas. In Gulf County, T. H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park began evacuations Sunday morning. In northwestern Cuba, 5,000 people were evacuated from Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Sancti Spíritus over the weekend, amid heavy rains and flooding, according to re- porting by 14ymedio. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a hurricane season forecast Thursday that calls for 10 to 16 named storms, with five to nine hurricanes. One to four hurricanes could be “major,” with sustained winds of at least 111 mph. If that forecast holds, it would make for a near- normal or above-normal season. An average hurricane season produces 12 named storms, of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes. Recycling and composting centers and a much smaller lined landfill site are part of Dart’s proposal, but roadside waste collection will remain the remit of the Department of Environmental Health. The current landfill site will be capped and cov- ered with grass. Mr. Edelenbos acknowl- edged it may seem like not much had happened since the announcement of Dart as preferred bidder last October, but he said a lot of work was going on behind the scenes. “We are dealing with a long list of reserve matters that need to be resolved to get to the contract stage,” he said. “It has to do with making sure that government is completely satisfied with the solution that Dart is pro- posing from a technical, fi- nancial and legal perspective. “When this contract is promulgated, it basically means a 25-year deal be- tween Dart and government – that’s why it takes a lot of time to get this resolved.” Jim Schubert, govern- ment’s senior project man- ager, said the two parties were working through the details of the contract. “It should be noted that we’re still in negotiations and the contract has not actually been finalized and awarded as yet,” he said. The process of carrying out an environmental impact assessment on the project is under way. Draft terms of reference outlining the pa- rameters of that study are being reviewed by an Envi- ronmental Assessment Board and a series of public meet- ings is expected next month to get feedback. Mr. Edelenbos said Dart was hopeful the envi- ronmental impact assess- ment would be completed in time for planning applica- tions to be submitted by the end of the year, with a view to construction beginning in early 2019. The project will be un- likely to impact one of the more troublesome as- pects of waste manage- ment in recent times – road- side collections. Mr. Schubert said the public would see little change in the way waste is collected at the curbside, but he said there would be new options for residents and commercial companies to bring waste to be recycled. In total, about one-third of the complaints were made against officers al- leging “unprofessional con- duct,” another 14 were for conduct prejudicial to good discipline. About half of the complaints had been re- solved by the end of the year. “A number of these com- plaints have been resolved and various actions have been taken by the Profes- sional Standards Unit, such as a verbal and written rep- rimand, an action plan for development, or dismissal,” the RCIPS report stated. Not all complaints against police are substan- tiated. According to the re- port, 39 complaints were closed with no further ac- tion taken. Two complaints are awaiting hearings be- fore a police disciplinary tribunal and one investiga- tion led to criminal charges against the officer involved. Older cases The RCIPS has amassed hundreds of public com- plaints made against its of- ficers since 2011 which have not been resolved, and are now the subject of review by the newly created Office of the Ombudsman. Until Ombudsman Sandy Hermiston’s appoint- ment and the formal cre- ation of her office last year, no one had been legally al- lowed to hear the public po- lice complaint cases. The issue involves the failure of the government to follow amendments to the Police Law in 2010, which called for the appointment of the territory’s first police public complaints commission. The commission was never appointed, largely due to funding and staffing diffi- culties. The RCIPS could still hear internal complaints filed by its own officers during this time, but the police Pro- fessional Standards Unit no longer had any legal power to hear public complaints once the Police Law was changed. Since the public commission was never appointed, that body did not hear any of the complaints either. Some of the older com- plaints filed with the Profes- sional Standards Unit were able to be resolved between the parties, she said, but that is only in cases where the person complaining about the police agreed with the settlement suggested. Ms. Hermiston has said part of her office’s du- ties would be to review the outstanding public com- plaints made against po- lice since 2011. Weeklong rain expected to ease CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 More then 8 inches of rain fell in Grand Cayman over the past week. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Report: 10 police cases dropped over delays CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dart waste management deal not yet signed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The police Professional Standards Unit received 97 reports of complaints made against officers during 2017 and 10 of those were for court cases that were not brought to prosecutors in time for charges to be filed. New charges levied in March drug bust case SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com A trio of Jamaican na- tionals who were ensnared in a March drug bust involving 313 pounds of ganja were back in court Monday, with two new charges levied against them. Assad Adana Walker, Fitzroy Ottey and Owen Omar Reid were charged with being concerned with the importation of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, and possession with intent to supply MDMA. The three men had pre- viously pleaded guilty to possession of ganja with intent to supply, and impor- tation of ganja. They are also charged with possession of an un- licensed firearm and pos- session of ammunition. No pleas have been made on the MDMA or firearm charges. They will be back in court for their next appear- ance on June 21. The three men were ar- rested on March 2 after the Joint Marine Unit came upon a canoe with three men on board. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said that the Air Operations Unit saw the three men throwing packages overboard, and all three were later appre- hended by police. An RCIPS statement indi- cated that a search of the area yielded several packages con- taining ganja, a .38 caliber re- volver handgun and 49 rounds of .38 caliber ammunition. The new waste management system at the George Town landfill is expected to reduce the 100,000 tons of waste currently going to the dump every year by as much as 95 percent. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 EU presses for new Venezuela elections European Union foreign ministers are calling for new presidential elections in Venezuela and are preparing more targeted sanctions against those close to President Nicolas Maduro. The EU has said that elections over a week ago were fatally flawed and wants to see them redone. CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY MAY 29, 2018 US team in N. Korea raises expectations of a rescheduled Trump-Kim summit UK faces calls for anti-abortion law changes in Northern Ireland EMBATTLED SPANISH PM TO FACE NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE THIS WEEK LONDON (AP) – Britain’s leaders are facing increasing calls to take action to loosen abortion restrictions in Northern Ireland after the Republic of Ireland’s land- mark referendum in favor of doing so, but complex polit- ical realities may make quick action difficult. Prime Minister Theresa May is being asked by some legislators and activists to take steps that might lead to liberalization in Northern Ireland now that Ireland has voted overwhelmingly to re- peal its constitutional ban. Once new laws are put in place by Ireland’s parlia- ment, Northern Ireland would be the only region in the U.K. and Ireland to ban abortions. Its strict law prohibits abor- tion even in cases of rape and cases when the fetus is judged to have a fatal abnormality. Terminations are allowed in England, Wales and Scot- land – and will be legal in Ireland by the end of the year if its parliament acts as quickly as national leaders hope. The Irish Cabinet will meet Tuesday to discuss what steps to take after Fri- day’s resounding two-to-one vote in favor of liberalization. Sarah Wollaston, a member of May’s party who is chairwoman of the Commons Health Select Committee, says she would vote in favor of ex- tending abortion rights to “all women across the whole U.K.” She said a referendum in Northern Ireland might be one way to achieve this goal. Others have made similar proposals, with some Labour Party figures urging May to back up her feminist ideals by taking action. But action in Northern Ireland is complicated by a number of important fac- tors. First, its power-sharing national assembly – a key product of the Good Friday agreement that in 1998 ended decades of violence known as “The Troubles” – has been suspended, meaning it is un- able to take any action at all. May’s options for direct ac- tion are also somewhat limited. Her government’s mi- nority status in Parliament makes her dependent on the cooperation of the Dem- ocratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland, which is opposed to abortion. May re- lies on DUP support to sur- vive no-confidence votes. DUP leader Arlene Foster has said the vote in Ireland will have no impact on the law in Northern Ireland. Foster said Sunday that abortion rights must be de- cided by the Northern Ire- land Assembly – once it’s re- stored to power, a goal which has been extremely difficult because of a breakdown in trust between leading Cath- olic and Protestant parties. “The legislation gov- erning abortion is a devolved matter and it is for the Northern Ireland Assembly to debate and decide such issues,” she said. “Some of those who wish to circum- vent the assembly’s role may be doing so simply to avoid its decision.” MADRID (AP) – Spanish lawmakers agreed Monday to subject Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to a vote of no confidence this week in the wake of graft con- victions of businesspeople and officials tied to his conservative Popular Party. The lower house of Spain’s parliament, the Congress of Deputies, said it would hold a debate Thursday on whether Rajoy should be replaced by So- cialist leader Pedro San- chez and then vote on the opposition’s no-confidence motion Friday. All major parties except for the ruling PP are calling for Rajoy to step down, but the prime minister has fended off the pressure until now. He has called the opposition’s campaign “opportunist” and said that instability goes against the general interest of Spain’s people. Sanchez has yet to en- list enough support to de- feat Rajoy with an abso- lute majority of the 350 seats in the fragmented chamber. The Socialists have the backing of the far-left, anti-establish- ment Podemos party, but they would need votes from lawmakers with the pro-business Ciudadanos (Citizens) party or nation- alist and separatist par- ties for their leader to supplant Rajoy. Ciudadanos, a rising star in the center-right of Spanish politics led by Al- bert Rivera, a young law- maker from Catalonia, is refusing to support San- chez and is seeking a new general election instead. Recent polls have given Rivera’s party strong chances of placing first in an election, positioning him to become prime min- ister, but without winning a majority to form a govern- ment on its own. Rivera stepped up the pressure Monday on Rajoy to step down even though Ciudadanos re- fuses to support the So- cialist candidate. (AP) – A U.S. team was in North Korea to plan a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, ac- cording to President Donald Trump, raising expectations that the on-off-on meeting would indeed take place. Both the State Department and South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said the American and North Korean officials have been engaged in talks at the Korean village of Pan- munjom, which straddles the border inside the Demilita- rized Zone, or DMZ. One can cross the border simply by stepping across a painted line, but moving beyond sev- eral footsteps into the North at Panmunjom would be rare for U.S. officials. Trump withdrew from a planned June 12 Singa- pore summit with Kim last Thursday, but quickly an- nounced it could still happen. His tweet Sunday afternoon, which offered praise for the longtime U.S. adversary, was the latest signal that his concerns about the North’s stance toward the summit had been allayed. “Our United States team has arrived in North Korea to make arrangements for the Summit between Kim Jong Un and myself,” he tweeted Sunday. “I truly believe North Korea has brilliant potential and will be a great economic and financial Nation one day. Kim Jong Un agrees with me on this. It will happen!” South Korean President Moon Jae-in gave details about his surprise meeting Saturday with Kim in Pan- munjom, saying Kim had committed to sitting down with Trump and to a “com- plete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tapped veteran Amer- ican diplomat Sung Kim, the U.S. ambassador to the Phil- ippines, to handle pre-summit negotiations. On a separate but complementary track was the CIA team Pompeo set up last year when he headed the spy agency. And on a third track was a White House lo- gistical group sent to Singa- pore on Sunday to prepare in case the summit takes place. It was led by Joe Hagin, White House deputy chief of staff for operations. The Korean leaders’ second summit in a month saw bear hugs and broad smiles. But their quickly ar- ranged meeting appeared to highlight a sense of urgency on both sides of the world’s most heavily armed border. The talks, which Moon said Kim Jong Un requested, capped a whirlwind 24 hours of diplomatic back and forth. They allowed Moon to push for a U.S.-North Ko- rean summit that he sees as the best way to ease ani- mosity that had some fearing a war last year. Kim may see a meeting with Trump as necessary to easing pressure from crushing sanctions and to winning se- curity assurances in a region surrounded by enemies. Moon told reporters that Kim said he’s willing to co- operate to end confronta- tion and work toward peace for the sake of the successful summit with Trump. Moon said he told Kim that Trump has a “firm re- solve” to end hostile relations with North Korea and ini- tiate economic cooperation if Kim implements “complete denuclearization.” “What Kim is unclear about is that he has concerns about whether his country can surely trust the United States over its promise to end hostile relations [with North Korea] and provide a security guarantee if they do denucle- arization,” Moon said. “During the South Korea- U.S. summit, President Trump said the U.S. is willing to clearly put an end to hos- tile relations [between the U.S. and North Korea] and help [the North] achieve eco- nomic prosperity if North Korea conducts denucleariza- tion,” he said. Kim, in a dispatch issued by the North’s state-run news service earlier Sunday, “ex- pressed his fixed will on the historic [North Korea]-U.S. summit talks.” During Satur- day’s inter-Korean summit, the Korean leaders agreed to “positively cooperate with each other as ever to im- prove [North Korea]-U.S. rela- tions and establish [a] mech- anism for permanent and durable peace.” They agreed to have their top officials meet again June 1. Moon said military generals and Red Cross officials from the Koreas will also meet sep- arately to discuss how to ease military tensions and resume reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. Trump withdrew from a planned June 12 Singapore summit with Kim last Thursday, but quickly announced it could still happen. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, right, talks Saturday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, center, during a meeting at the northern side of Panmunjom in North Korea. - PHOTO: SOUTH KOREA PRESIDENTIAL BLUE HOUSE VIA AP Protesters opposed to abortion hold placards Thursday outside a clinic in Belfast, Northern Ireland. - PHOTO: APNext >