ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY JULY 17, 2018 High of 90 Low of 79 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 RECOGNIZING, AND APPLAUDING, OUR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS LOCAL | PAGE 3 POLICE INVESTIGATING DRUG CONNECTION IN ROBBERIES Records detail OfReg’s $387K in travel expenses Regulator has spent another $132,895 through May this year KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Utility Regulation and Competition Of- fice, known as OfReg, has spent at least an- other $132,895 on travel-related expenses this year, according to OfReg records obtained by the Compass. This year’s expenditures bring the regu- lator’s total travel costs to nearly $400,000 since the office was created in January 2017. The travel records, which show OfReg’s expenses through the end of May 2018, also show that the office spent $254,749 on travel-related expenses last year, which was more than the $234,233 in expenses stated in OfReg’s 2017 annual report. The expenses have been used to carry OfReg officials far and wide, to places such as Brus- sels, Dubai, Singapore, Copenhagen, London and Barcelona. Highlights in the travel records include $8,066 spent to send OfReg CEO J. Paul Morgan to Brussels from Oct. 6-15 for “Communications Policy and Regulation Week 2017;” $10,269 spent on “EU Competition Law Summer School” in London from Aug. 6-11; and $23,121 spent to send telecommunications officials to Copenhagen, Denmark from March 8-17, 2017 for the “Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers 58 Conference.” The Compass has not interviewed OfReg of- ficials about their travel expenses. Mr. Morgan has told this reporter that it is his office’s policy to only respond to written questions, and it is this newspaper’s policy to generally FORMER PILOT TAKES CONTROLS AT AIRPORTS BOARD BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former pilot Thomas Guyton, who served as Cayman Airways’ acting chief executive for a brief time, will now sit in the captain’s chair of the Cayman Islands Airports Au- thority board. Mr. Guyton was appointed to lead the gov- ernment-appointed board by order of Cab- inet on July 5. Board member Joel Jefferson was promoted to replace Mr. Guyton as deputy chairman. The former pilot and airline chief execu- tive, who has been involved with the local air- ports in some form since 1978, will take over the chairmanship held by Kirkland Nixon be- tween mid-2013 and April 30, 2018 – when Mr. Nixon unexpectedly died following illness. “Cabinet would like to acknowledge the sterling contribution of Mr. Kirkland Nixon to the success of the Cayman Islands Airports Authority,” the note announcing the board changes read. Mr. Nixon long served as Cayman’s chief fire officer, but his passing will not leave the airports authority board without firefighting expertise. Former fire chief Roy Grant will also continue on as a board member following his reappointment. Mr. Guyton’s appointment as chairman is for four years. Mr. Jefferson will serve as his deputy for a three-year period. Mr. Grant will also serve a three-year term. All three board terms began on Monday. Mr. Guyton said he would not look to re- place Mr. Nixon, but would seek to “carry on his legacy” at the airport. More scandal hits troubled Port Authority BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com Complaints of sexual harass- ment made by nine female em- ployees at the Cayman Islands Port Authority against a senior male member of staff have not been substantiated, according to a review done by government’s Internal Audit Unit. However, the unit noted in a brief report released Monday that while the complaint “in its original form lacks merit,” the agency’s review did re- veal some systemic behavioral and management problems at the troubled agency. “The review … yielded a subset of legitimate behavioral issues which need to be ad- dressed,” the report stated. It did not identify those behaviors. The audit report continued: “The manner in which the [staff] complaint originated and the in- tent of the complaint is suspect. This is, in part, due to a Freedom of Information request inquiring about any incidences of sexual harassment issues at the port being received the day prior to the complaint.” However, the audit review Cayman celebrates performing arts victory Participants and supporters who traveled to Long Beach, California, last week for the World Championships of Performing Arts display their Cayman flags in celebration of the islands’ successes at the competition. Actress Rita Estevanovich, front, center, was named the Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World after she and the other Cayman performers competed against contestants from 70 countries. Jaedyn Hanna made it to the final round in the R&B vocal category and vocalists Tia McPherson, Melody Allenger and Ericka Assai were semifinalists. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 5 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 5 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 5 » For a full breakdown of OfReg’s travel expenses, see page 5.2 LOCAL&REGIONAL TUESDAY JULY 17, 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) HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 (PG) 12:20 3D I 2:40 I 5:00 3D I 7:20 ESCAPE PLAN 2 (R) 12:40 I 3:00 I 5:20 I 10:05 ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (PG13) 1:30 3D I 3:50 VIP I 7:00 I 10:00 VIP 9:40 THE FIRST PURGE (R) 4:20 I 9:30 SKYSCRAPER (PG13) 1:20 VIP I 4:25 I 7:40 3D I 9:50 3D INCREDIBLES 2 (PG) 1:20 I 6:40 JURASSIC WORLD: THE FALLEN KINGDOM (PG13) 1:00 I 3:55 I 6:50 I 9:40 CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA: TOP GUN (PG) 7:00 VIP The Breast Cancer Foun- dation of Cayman presented the Cayman Islands Cancer Society with a $92,936 dona- tion recently. The Breast Cancer Foun- dation gives the Cancer So- ciety an annual grant or do- nation to help the latter provide financial aid to breast cancer patients. The funds are also used to supply special bras, prosthetics and mammograms. “The Breast Cancer Foundation has been the most faithful and consis- tent annual supporter of the Cayman Islands Cancer So- ciety,” said Jennifer Weber, operations manager of the Cancer Society. “They have increased their financial support each year, eight years in a row, for a total of CI$479,188.62.” “We applaud the work that the Cayman Islands Cancer Society does for breast cancer patients,” said Janette Fitzgerald, chief ad- ministrator of the Breast Cancer Foundation. The Breast Cancer Foun- dation has just signed a new three-year grant/donation agreement with the Cancer Society, which will include $70,000 per annum for finan- cial assistance and $20,000 per annum for mammo- gram screenings. “The Cayman Islands Cancer Society is an integral organization for the support of breast cancer patients,” said Kim Lund, co-founder and board member of the Breast Cancer Foundation. “The Breast Cancer Founda- tion looks forward to a con- tinued close relationship in the years to come.” James Bovell, fellow co-founder of the Breast Cancer Foundation, said a further award of a $5,000 grant has been awarded for one year only toward spe- cial bras and prosthetics. “This grant directly focuses funds on a much-needed ser- vice for breast cancer survi- vors,” he said. It is envisaged that after 2018 the Breast Cancer Foun- dation will take on this ser- vice in full, he added. “The Cancer Society and the Breast Cancer Founda- tion are a team,” added Guy Manning, chairman of the Cancer Society’s board of di- rectors. “We help each other provide charitable services to people in need. We appreciate what they do to help us help others in Cayman.” Cancer Society receives $93,000 donation James Bovell of the Breast Cancer Foundation presents Jennifer Weber, operations manager of the Cayman Islands Cancer Society, with a donation for more than $90,000. Mission House cooking up local treats JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Sweet cassava cakes, tasty tangy tamarind balls, coconut macaroons, peppermint can- dies and local almond drops are among the sweet and sa- vory delights being cooked up at the Bodden Town Mission House. During July and August, the Cayman Islands National Trust is taking a culinary journey of Caymanian treats by hosting a children’s cooking class at the Mission House. “We have had such a tre- mendous response to these classes, we will be offering more Caymanian dishes for teens and adults in the coming months,” said Jen- nifer Martinez, the site’s new historic coordinator. “We want to offer tradi- tional Caymanian treats, but also make it fun and festive for the kids. Last week, we made cassava cake and the children added their creative flair and we came up with something truly unique and colorful,” added Ms. Martinez. Cooking classes are held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The cost is $15 per child, age 7-12. The cooking classes in- clude a tour of the Mission House, gardens and tradi- tional games. Adult tours are separate. The historic Bodden Town Mission House, located at 63 Gun Square, Bodden Town, reopened its doors to the public in early May, offering regular daily tours. Cooking classes are held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. A young participant squeezes tamarinds at a Mission House cooking class. A cassava cupcake decorated with turtles laying eggs is one of the creative designs made by young bakers at the cooking class. The Breast Cancer Foundation gives the Cancer Society an annual grant or donation to help the latter provide financial aid to breast cancer patients. The funds are also used to supply special bras, prosthetics and mammograms. PUERTO RICANS RETURN TO POWER GRID, BUT FEAR FOR LONG TERM ADJUNTAS, Puerto Rico (AP) – It was finally a night to cel- ebrate in this village tucked into the mountains of cen- tral Puerto Rico. People pressed TV re- mote buttons, clicked on fans and plugged in refrig- erators as electricity again flowed into homes that had been without power since two major hurricanes dev- astated the U.S. territory nearly a year ago. Lights are slowly coming on for the more than 950 homes and busi- nesses across Puerto Rico that remain without power in hard-to-reach areas. Repair crews are some- times forced to dig holes by hand and scale down steep mountainsides to reach damaged light posts. Electrical poles have to be ferried in one-by-one via helicopter. It is slow work, and it has stretched nearly two months past the date when officials had promised that everyone in Puerto Rico would be energized. And even as TVs glow into the night and people like 20-year-old delivery man Steven Vilella once again savor favorite foods like shrimp and Rocky Road ice cream, many fear their newly returned nor- mality could be short-lived. Turmoil at the island’s power company and re- cent winds and rains that knocked out electricity to tens of thousands of people at the start of the new hurricane season have them worried. “If another storm comes through, we’re going to die. There’s no money left here,” said 66-year-old Marta Ber- mudez, who still has a blue tarp over her rusting zinc roof. She doesn’t believe the government has enough re- sources to properly rebuild the power grid amid an 11-year-old recession. Still, after power was restored to her house on Friday, she celebrated no longer having to eat a diet of mostly rice, bananas and soup or wash clothes by hand in a sink that she and her husband found on the street after Hurricane Irma. The only power they had for 10 months was courtesy of a neighbor who threw over a thin yellow extension cord connected to his generator that pro- vided just enough power to light one bulb in her kitchen and another in her living room for a couple of hours each day. Puerto Rico’s electrical grid is still shaky after Hur- ricane Irma brushed past the island as a Category 5 storm last Sept. 6 and then Hurricane Maria made a direct hit as a Category 4 storm two weeks later, damaging up to 75 percent of transmission lines. More than 52,000 power poles have been installed and thousands of miles of cable secured, with some 180 generators still providing power at key locations. 3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 17, 2018 NOTICE THE DORMANT ACCOUNTS (FORMS) (AMENDMENT) REGULATION LAW, 2010 (Section 6) Name of financial institution/Number of financial institution: VBT Bank & Trust, Ltd. / License No. 87029 Address of financial institution: P.O. Box 454 – The Harbour Centre, 2nd Floor, 42 North Church Street. George Town. Grand Cayman KY1-1106. Cayman Islands. Change of name, if any, of the financial institution: Venecredit Bank & Trust, Ltd. The public is hereby given notice that VBT Bank & Trust, Ltd. holds the following dormant accounts: Account Number The date account was opened 0000005153 November 11, 2004 0000004610 April 11, 2003 0000005279 March 08, 2005 0000006946 May 17, 2007 0000008056 April 20, 2009 0000008568 March 26,2010 The public is also hereby given notice of the following: Unless one or more of the following transactions are effected on a dormant account listed above on or before 31st December next following, the monies in the dormant account will be transferred to the general revenue of the Islands without further notice: • Increase or decrease the amount held in the financial institution¹; • Present the passbook or other record for the crediting of interest or dividends in respect of the items enumerated in section 4(6)(a) and (b) of the Dormant Account Law, 2010; • Correspond in writing with the financial institution concerning the monies; • In the case of a trust, make a claim under the trust; or • Otherwise indicate an interest in the monies as evidenced by a memorandum concerning the monies written by the financial institution. Subject to the Dormant Accounts Law, 2010, on the transfer of the monies in the dormant account to the general revenue of the Islands, the dormant account holder will no longer have any right against the financial institution to repayment of the monies transferred, but the dormant account holder will have against the Government such right to repayment of the monies transferred that the dormant account holder would have had against the financial institution. Any interested person should contact the financial institution mentioned above to establish if that person is a dormant account holder. Dated this 5th day of July 2018. Cinthya Zerpa Deputy Manager Authorised Officer ________________________________ ¹ Interest paid by a financial institution on monies held in the financial institution shall not be regarded as a transaction which increases the amount held in the financial institution pursuant to section 4(5) of the Dormant Accounts Law, 2010.”. Police investigating drug connection in robberies Burglar smoked ganja in hotel room Defendant says he was invited to party with two females CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man who says two women invited him back to their hotel room at the Kimpton Seafire was sen- tenced for burglary of the premises Monday. Melbourne Junior Dyke pleaded guilty earlier to bur- glary at the hotel, which oc- curred in August 2017. Mr. Dyke, 32, told officers after his arrest that he had been drinking at a West Bay Road bar. He then met two American females who in- vited him to their hotel room to party. When he woke up, they were gone. During his appearance in Summary Court on Monday, Mr. Dyke started to tell Mag- istrate Valdis Foldats about “these girls,” but the mag- istrate stopped him. “You’re here. You’re the one who has to deal with it,” he said. Crown counsel Toyin Salako explained the of- fense. She said Mr. Dyke was found inside a room after a hotel employee had tried to gain access to it. Numerous items were missing from the minibar and there was no re- cord of Mr. Dyke being regis- tered as a guest. Police were called and they found a bag with 6.11 grams of ganja in Mr. Dyke’s possession. He also tested positive for consumption of the illegal substance. A check of CCTV on the premises did not show him to be in the company of two females at any time, but did show him entering two dif- ferent rooms. Cost of items missing from the rooms plus damage was more than $2,000, Ms. Salako said. The magistrate said this case was somewhat unusual. A hotel room is a dwelling, he pointed out, but this was not a typical residential bur- glary. He described it as “es- sentially jumping into a room and trashing it.” Ms. Salako submitted that the offense did cross the cus- tody threshold. Defense attorney John Furniss said the facts were admitted. He explained that Mr. Dyke maintained the la- dies were staying at the hotel, but the room in which he was found was not under anybody’s name because it was being renovated. Mr. Dyke’s biggest problem was the smell of ganja, the attorney suggested. Both rooms he was seen going into had to be “deep cleaned” at significant cost, he indicated. “It’s clear he took advan- tage of the hotel,” he said of his client. “He went into the rooms. He consumed items from the minibars. He should not have tres- passed. He should not have smoked ganja.” The magistrate said the aggravating feature of the of- fense was that it occurred in a tourist area and had the potential to affect this as- pect of Cayman’s economy. “The harm is in the risk,” he pointed out. “It doesn’t have to happen.” Mr. Furniss agreed that not everyone wanted to go into a hotel room that had the odor of ganja. He asked the court to impose a sus- pended sentence. He said Mr. Dyke was awaiting a de- cision on a work permit. If the permit were granted, the defendant could stay on is- land, do community ser- vice and pay compensation to the hotel, he urged. In passing sentence, the magistrate accepted that Mr. Dyke had no previous convictions. “I did consider immediate imprisonment, but we want the victim to be compensated,” he said. Starting at six months, he gave the standard one-third discount for the guilty plea, bringing the sentence to four months, which was then suspended. He ordered com- pensation to the Kimpton hotel in the sum of $2,280 with a local surety to guar- antee payment. The money is to be paid by Sept. 28, if not by Mr. Dyke then by whoever signs for him. For the ganja offenses, he imposed 40 hours’ commu- nity service and urged Mr. Dyke to do it as quickly as possible. “I hope you realize how close you came to going to prison today,” the magis- trate told him. BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is investigating whether a string of armed robberies is linked to a recent spate of drug seizures made on Grand Cayman. Five armed heists oc- curred around Grand Cayman within six days between July 5 and July 10. Three busi- nesses, a public bus and a resident walking in a heavily traveled tourist area num- bered among the victims. Just a few weeks prior, police and customs officers seized 689 pounds of ganja in two marine operations that occurred on June 19 and June 23. Seven suspects were arrested in the operations. Successive police raids on Watercourse Road in West Bay on June 28 and 29 also turned up more ganja and cocaine, as well as $220,000 cash that was stored in a cardboard box. “Some of the success we’ve had in drugs recently has created cash shortages for some of these people,” Police Commissioner Derek Byrne said Monday. “[The suspects] would have invested up front in terms of bringing drugs to the island,” Mr. Byrne said. “We’ve had quite a bit of suc- cess recently and that would have cost them. Now we have people trying to make money and continue the cycle, we suspect.” Mr. Byrne was quick to point out that those state- ments represented an oper- ating premise or theory based on police intelligence sources. He said he did not wish to infer by the statements that anyone or everyone arrested in connection with the recent robberies was involved in the illegal drugs trade. However, he said, enough information is available to po- lice at the moment to pursue a further investigation. “This is information we’re trying to develop,” he said. As far as links between the five robberies earlier this month, Mr. Byrne said po- lice are considering the pos- sibility. Two of the robberies involved properties owned by the same company, Al La Kebab, and two of the in- cidents happened on the same night within an hour of each other. Four of the five inci- dents involved armed sus- pects and, in the one case that did not, the victim was beaten and stabbed. The criminal groups in- volved in these incidents might be considered gangs, Mr. Byrne said, but they are not really “organized” crime. “It looks like we have two or three little gangs oper- ating,” he said. “We wouldn’t call them an organized crime gang … they’re just loosely formed groups of people who are getting into a car and going out and commit- ting robberies.” Whether police are able to draw any conclusion about the robbery-drug shipment link or not, police records show robberies are going up so far in 2018. Through July 11, there had been a total of 24 rob- beries reported in the Cayman Islands this year. For all of 2017, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice reported 31 robberies on Grand Cayman. George Town businesses and residents have suffered the most from holdups so far this year, with a total of 17 crimes committed since the beginning of the year in Grand Cayman’s largest district. Defense attorney John Furniss explained that Mr. Dyke maintained the ladies were staying at the hotel, but the room in which he was found was not under anybody’s name because it was being renovated. Police Commissioner Derek ByrneThe 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” Facebook bestrides the Earth, attracting nearly 1.5 billion users a day and commanding a fifth of global online advertising revenue. Any business of such dominance would raise con- cerns about fair competition, and Facebook is no exception. A number of activist groups are even demanding that the company be broken up. As preeminent as Face- book is, breaking it up would do little to stimulate competition, while causing plenty of harm. The most obvious problem with breaking up Facebook is that consumers enjoy using it, and pay nothing for the privilege. Demanding that they choose between arbi- trarily smaller, less useful services is hardly to their ad- vantage. Small businesses, likewise, profit hugely from Facebook’s scale, data and advertising tools. Facebook isn’t blameless when it comes to hindering competition. Its boldest ploy involves a security ap- plication called Onavo Pro- tect, through which the company gathers data on nearly everything its users do online. Facebook uses that information to deter- mine what rival products are becoming popular. It then may acquire the com- pany producing the app – as it did with WhatsApp – or develop a competing product of its own. Regulators must keep a close eye on this sort of thing and intervene when it’s being abused. But they must respond to specific threats to competition, not to per- ceived problems with big- ness. For all its faults, Face- book should not be vilified. It should simply be held to account when it behaves badly. Let the market take care of the rest. © 2018, Bloomberg Opinion TUESDAY JULY 17, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS This year’s Dart Scholars and government’s Proud of Them award recipients set powerfully positive examples for their peers. Not only are they exceptional students with evident aptitude and dedication to their studies, they are well-rounded and civic-minded individuals, with heads for business and appreciation for the arts and charitable causes. They are bakers and small business owners, scien- tists and philanthropists; already at their young ages, they have demonstrated strong character, a commit- ment to excellence and the perseverance that will serve as a sturdy foundation upon which to build a lifetime of success. We join all of Cayman in congratu- lating them for their achievements and look forward to watching them continue to flourish and grow. The four students selected as Dart Scholars – Charlotte Dowell, Graeme Madison, Charlotte Hodkin and Joshua Martin – will receive tuition assistance and will be offered work experience with the highly influ- ential company, where they will cross paths with many potential mentors and industry connections, learn valuable “soft skills” that are invaluable workplace assets, and have an opportunity to learn more about future career paths. They were chosen by the company in a highly selective process in recognition of their academic and extracurricular achievements. Miss Dowell, of Clifton Hunter High School, not only leads her peers in academics, particularly in course- work involving Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (commonly referred to as STEM), she also competes as a member of the school’s netball and debate teams and is an active participant in musical theater. Mr. Madison, a Cayman Prep student and fellow recipient of the Dart High School Scholarship, is exceptionally gifted in the subject of mathematics (he is a two-time winner of the Minds Inspired Maths Chal- lenge) and also a gifted musician. Miss Hodkin and Mr. Martin, recipients of the William A. Dart Memorial University Scholarship, are similarly well-rounded and adept. As Dart CEO Mark VanDevelde said, “These four young Caymanians are part of our future and Dart believes that by investing in their education we are also investing in the future of our country.” So too, are the dozen students receiving this year’s Proud of Them award, recognizing outstanding work in academics, entrepreneurialism, sports and community service. Perusing their robust list of accomplishments offers a glance at a bright future, indeed. Tya Bovell, 17, plays rugby, operates a small cupcake business, is involved in service activity and was named Key Clubber of the Year last year. At only 17, Deija Myles is already appearing on stage or screen. Janelle Smith, 18, has turned a love for aesthetics into a small business. Taneil Lee, 21, who studies public health at the University of South Florida as a public health major, is conducting cancer research. Eleven-year-old Trevor Carmola Jr. is a peer mentor, football team captain and active member of the Cadet Corps. Zolla Jones, 14, has devoted herself to community service. Rasheem Brown, 18, and Zachary Moore, 16, are elite athletes who have admirably represented Cayman at the CARIFTA Games. Anissa Hoyte, 17, recently graduated with honors from Triple C School and intends to continue her studies in graphic arts to become an illustrator. Keanu Oliver, 19, has helped teach disabled teens to dive. Gabriela Ritch, 17, excels academically in both the liberal arts and the sciences. Julius Smith, 15, has been a stalwart leader among his peers. Individually and together, these students have, indeed, made Cayman proud. Applause, applause to all of them. Recognizing, and applauding, our exceptional students CHRISTOPHER BALDING How serious are Presi- dent Donald Trump’s latest trade threats against China? The scale of the new mea- sures – 10 percent tariffs on an additional $200 billion of Chinese products – will cer- tainly get Beijing’s attention. But the headline figure mat- ters less than the industries being targeted and their rel- ative importance to China’s economy. By that metric, this latest attack is a se- rious escalation. Most consequentially, the tariff list targets basic man- ufactured goods such as furniture, electronics, ma- chinery, textiles and fibers. Together, these broad cat- egories make up roughly 67 percent of total Chinese exports, which in turn ac- count for 18 percent of gross domestic product. That means the potential for sig- nificant economic harm is high, all the more so given that manufacturing is the largest individual employ- ment sector in China. The new tariffs will also put pressure on Chi- na’s trade surplus with the U.S. In principle, this imbal- ance does not much bother economists. The problem is that China depends on sav- ings, investment, and cap- ital accumulation to drive its economy. Historically, it would print money to buy surplus U.S. dollars, build up reserves, flood the do- mestic market with money, and thus encourage invest- ment. Beginning around 2012, however, this strategy started breaking down as gray-market capital out- flows rose and surplus dol- lars dwindled. After years of increas- ingly stringent capital con- trols, China has only recently returned to a small surplus in total capital flow. Tariffs on major export industries will threaten its primary source of hard currency and place substantial strain on the capital-control system. That, in turn, will jeopardize China’s dreams of signature international investment and potentially destabilize its fi- nances as it becomes harder to balance capital flows. Un- less it can generate more U.S. dollars, this could place se- rious pressure on the yuan. Making matters worse, the new tariffs will likely accelerate the migration of low-wage manufacturing from China to frontier mar- kets such as Vietnam and Bangladesh. Even without tariffs, many export-focused firms in industries such as garments and textiles were eyeing the exits after years of double-digit wage growth in China. Tariffs will only ex- acerbate this shift, for which China was ill-prepared to begin with. All this, moreover, comes at a bad time. With economic strain rising, Chinese offi- cials were already resorting to risky measures to boost growth. The China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission recently advised banks to reduce interest rates on loans to small and medium-sized enterprises, while state-owned banks have increased lending for real-estate investment to en- sure the economy continues to grow, even as stocks and key commodities have been plummeting. Against this back- drop, the prospect of a pro- longed trade war is causing growing alarm within China. Academics and key officials have been quietly wondering if the ruling party has made a significant miscalculation. The Commerce Ministry has vowed to retaliate against Trump’s latest measures, but it has little room to ma- neuver given China’s relative lack of imports from the U.S. The government has even agreed to reimburse some importers for the cost of its retaliatory soybean tariff, which is hardly the sign of a strong hand. Exactly how China will respond, then, is anyone’s guess. But make no mistake: Trump is attacking the foun- dations of the modern Chi- nese economy. And the trade war he initiated is escalating faster than either side seems to appreciate. Christopher Balding is an associate professor of business and economics at the HSBC Business School in Shenzhen and author of ‘Sovereign Wealth Funds: The New Intersection of Money and Power.’ Trump’s tariffs hit China where it hurts Breaking up Facebook would do more harm than goodThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 17, 2018 OFFICE CLOSURE The National Drug Council advises that both of its offices (Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac) will be closed on Wednesday, July 18th 2018. This closure is necessary to facilitate a full staff meeting. We will re-open on Thursday, July 19th for normal business hours. We apologize for inconvenience this closure may cause. also found an “unhealthy” working environment where lower level employees were reluctant to bring issues to management or simply didn’t know whom to approach with a complaint. “The lack of employee awareness regarding the manner in which to raise and communicate issues of a sen- sitive and personal nature, coupled with management’s failure to address such issues have contributed to an un- healthy work environment,” the report found. “Staff lacks the necessary trust and confidence in management that they will adequately address sensi- tive issues in an effective and timely manner.” Internal audit did find the staff complaint, which al- leged 21 separate incidents of sexual harassment against fe- male employees at the port, to be unsubstantiated. However, the report also made reference to unspecified “behaviors” by a senior staff member that, if left unaddressed, could continue to make certain staffers feel un- comfortable in the workplace. The senior member of staff referenced, who was not iden- tified in the report, was never made aware of what auditors termed “residual behavioral is- sues” having a negative impact. Auditors recommended the senior staff member undergo “sensitivity training” and that the port monitor his behaviors to determine if that offending behavior had been corrected. All port staff were asked to undergo additional training in dealing with workplace con- flicts and anti-sexual harass- ment measures. Investigation ongoing The audit report regarding the sexual harassment claim was more bad news for the port authority, which has al- ready found itself awash in a separate scandal that led to the suspension of its managing di- rector earlier this year. The Cayman Compass un- derstands the sexual harass- ment claims were not made against Managing Director Clement Reid, but rather re- lated to another member of the agency’s senior staff. In May, Mr. Reid was sus- pended for “up to three months” in connection with an internal investigation at the authority. Mr. Reid was initially given a second chance via a warning letter dated Feb. 21, following the release of an auditor gen- eral’s review to the port board that identified a number of “ir- regularities” in the agency’s hiring practices. Other areas noted in the audit report in- cluded a suspected theft of boat engines that was not re- ported to police, and the as- signment of an employee to attend a member of the Leg- islative Assembly during out of town trips. However, Port Authority Board of Directors Chairman Errol Bush said other matters had arisen that led to Mr. Re- id’s suspension in May. He did not specify what those other matters related to. “You can’t fill those shoes,” he said. “He was a great mentor to all of us, but we have a good team and we have some good momentum. “It’s not just about the airport expansion, we’re working on a 20-year master plan. We have to keep that fresh and im- prove the airport.” The new chairman takes over at a particu- larly busy time for the authority which is in progress on a massive upgrade to the Owen Roberts International Air- port, revamping both its arrivals and departures areas, as well as the out- side pathways to and from the parking lot. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell has said work on the expan- sion would be completed on time – meaning by the end of this year – but the facility’s original $55 mil- lion proposed budget has already seen some cost overruns, according to information obtained by the Cayman Compass. Officials have declined to release the final cost of the project until 2019, after it is expected to be completed. Airport managers have worked out a com- promise on concessions contract negotiations which had threatened to delay the completion of the departures terminal. Although it’s still not clear how the concessions matter was ultimately re- solved, a number of suc- cessful bidders contacted by the Compass in June indicated they had been awarded contracts and that there would not need to be another request for bids sent out for those contracts, as was first feared. Airport officials have still never provided a full list of concessions con- tractors since the Com- pass reported the names of some of the successful bidders in June. BREAKDOWN OF OFREG TRAVEL EXPENSES OFFICEDATESDESTINATIONPURPOSE OF TRAVELCOST ICTMarch 8-17, 2017Copenhagen, DenmarkInternet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers 58 Conference$23,121 ICTMarch 17-25, 2017LondonPrinciples of Economics Regulation Course$8,087 ICTMarch 18-24, 2017JamaicaCaribbean Association of National Telecommunication Organizations Workshop$1,952 ICTMarch 25-April 2, 2017London International Centre for Parliamentary Studies – Professional Certificate in Technology & Development $33,552 AdministrationApril 7-18, 2017Washington, DCUniversity Residency & Exam$4,289 ICTMay 22-25, 2017MiamiInternational Institute of Communications Forum$2,714 ICTJune 3-7, 2017TexasNational Emergency Number Association Conference$2,675 ICTJune 10-17, 2017Puerto Rico 29th Annual Forum of Incident Response and Security (cybersecurity) Teams FIRST Conference $7,506 LegalJune 10-23FloridaPublic Utility Research Center Training$16,650 FuelsJune 12, 2017Sister IslandsInspection$675 FuelsJune 23-30, 2017TexasCathodic Protection Tester Training$3,737 LegalAug. 6-11LondonEU Competition Law Summer School$10,269 FuelsAug. 22-25WashingtonOil Industry Economics$3,193 BoardSept. 14-22, 2017DubaiIngenico Conference$12,004 ICT and CEOSept. 22-Oct. 1, 2017SingaporeSubmarine Networks Conference$35,004 ICT, Legal and CEOOct. 6-15, 2017Brussels International Institute for Communications – Communications Policy and Regulation Week $22,199 Energy & UtilitiesOct. 13-29, 2017London Professional Certificate in Utility Regulation + Professional Certificate in Governance and Accountability $12,988 Energy & UtilitiesOct. 17-24, 2017FloridaCREF Conference – Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum$2,959 AdministrationOct. 24-30, 2017FloridaUniversity Residency and Exams$2,702 ICTOct. 26-Nov. 4, 2017Abu DhabiInternet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers 60 Conference$24,420 ICTNov. 4-18, 2017LondonInterConnect Communications (ICC) Regulatory Master Class$6,074 ICT and FuelsNov. 6-12, 2017Trinidad and TobagoOrganization of Caribbean Utility Regulators Conference$4,984 Energy & UtilitiesNov. 10-18, 2017BudapestIntroduction to Water Utility Regulation$9,318 LegalDec. 4-9, 2017WashingtonInternational Institute for Communications - Telecommunications and Media Forum $2,790 FuelsDec. 6-7, 2017Sister IslandsInspections$886 FuelsJan. 14-18, 2018MiamiASQ Course$6,899 ICTJan. 14-28, 2018FloridaPublic Utility Research Center training$10,739 ICTJan. 17-Feb. 1, 2018Las VegasNAMESCON Conference$3,917 Fuels and Energy & Utilities Jan. 24-27, 2018Nassau, BahamasPLATT Fuels Conference$6,107 Energy & UtilitiesFeb. 6-7, 2018JamaicaProductivity Improvement Training – CDB$445 ICTFeb. 16-March 18, 2018London and Barcelona Submarine Networks Conference and Global System for Mobile Associations Conference $20,768 ICTFeb. 17-March 10, 2018Gibraltar and LondonGlobal System for Mobile Associations Conference and ICPS Conference$20,056 CEOFeb. 18-25, 2018London and GibraltarSubmarine Networks Conference Regulatory visit$8,144 BoardFeb. 22-March 3, 2018BarcelonaGlobal System for Mobile Associations Conference$7,573 ICTMarch 2-12, 2018BarcelonaGlobal System for Mobile Associations Conference$9,650 ICTMarch 9-16, 2018Puerto RicoInternet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers 61 Conference$8,300 FuelsMarch 16-29, 2018OxfordOXERA Conference & meetings with consultants$15,671 CEO and Energy & Utilities March 18-24, 2018MexicoWFER Conference$7,061 FuelsMarch 25-29, 2018Florida20th Annual Aboveground Storage Tank Conference and Trade Show$4,252 ICTMay 3-4, 2018Jamaica Regulatory Meetings with Office of Utilities Regulation, Broadcasting Authority, Spectrum Management Authority, Kingston $3,314 Total$387,645 avoid written interviews. OfReg Deputy CEO Alee Fa’amoe did, however, ap- pear on Cayman Crosstalk last week with host Woody DaCosta, where he was questioned about his department’s expenses. “About 44 percent of the travel expenditure for last year was directly related to training and education of staff, and we make no apologies for that,” Mr. Fa’amoe told Mr. DaCosta. “These aren’t courses you [can] just drive to UCCI to do … These are very technical courses on the how network in- frastructure works … this isn’t gallivanting across the world.” The OfReg deputy chief added that some of his staff were sent to Texas for “fuels and emergency services” training, while others were sent to accredited universities, such as the University of Florida – Gainesville. The rest of the expenses went to sending OfReg officials to regulatory meetings, he said. “Part of our responsibilities is representing the [country] at international forums like the [In- ternet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers] meet- ings where the international domains are represented,” Mr. Fa’amoe said. OfReg’s 2017 annual report does not project how much the office expects to spend on travel in 2018, but $132,895 in ex- penses through May this year puts the office on pace to sur- pass last year’s $254,749 – more than double what OfReg bud- geted for travel in 2017. OfReg ran a nearly $1.5 million oper- ating deficit last year, and asked government for a $1 million cash injection to address its budget shortfall in May. The regulator is also pushing for fee increases across the sectors it regulates. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Records detail OfReg’s $387K in travel expenses CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Former pilot takes controls at airports board CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 More scandal hits troubled Port AuthorityThe 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 JULY 17, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, JULY 19 PUB QUIZ: At Fidel’s, from 7 p.m. Organized by Humane Society. Contact sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. THURSDAY, JULY 26 NORTH SIDE MEETING: The RCIPS, along with the North Side District Council, will hold a District Community Meeting 8 p.m. at the Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre. The meeting is open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend in order to express concerns and ask questions. Refreshments will be served. SATURDAY, JULY 28 DEALS ON WHEELS: The Red Cross mobile thrift shop will be in West Bay 6-10 a.m. at the Lord’s Church compound, junction of the West Bay Town Hall. Items available include ladies’ bags and accessories, kitchen items, linens, adult and children’s clothing and shoes. TUESDAY, JULY 31 CONTRACTORS REGISTRATION: The Builders Board has extended until today the deadline for all local contractors to register with the board. For fees and registration forms that are available online, contractors should visit www.planning. ky/boards-all/builders-board. SUMMER CAMPS BRAC SPORTS: Basketball July 23-27, 8:30 a.m. to noon, LSHS Court. Junior Lifeguards, July 30 – Aug. 3. 8:30 a.m. to noon, Venue TBD. Football Aug. 5–10, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Cayman Brac Sports Complex. Contact harold.sanford@gov.ky. SUMMER SCHOOL: Light of the World program has openings for children ages 5-11, until July 27. 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Special emphasis on literacy and numeracy, with educational games, arts and crafts, field trips. Trained teachers administer the program. Register your child for continued progress in their education. For more information call 926-1541. BRAC CULTURE: July 16-20. YMCA at Heritage House 8:30 a.m. to noon. $50 per week. Extended camp 12:30-4:30 p.m. $40. Contact ysummercamp@ ymcacayman.ky. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: The First Assembly of God hosts their annual Vacation Bible School July 16–20, for ages 4-12 years. Cost is $50 per child. Call 945-2182 for further details. NATIONAL MUSEUM: For students ages 9-12. July 16-20, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The theme is “Cayman Nature – Safeguarding Biodiversity.” Students will learn about different habitats, flora and fauna, and will visit Cayman Crystal Caves, Mastic Trail and the Botanic Park. Cost of camp includes breakfast, lunch, snacks, admission to parks, a cap and T-shirt. To register, complete form at National Museum Gift Shop during regular hours or email shenicemcfield@ museum.ky. Cost is $100 per child. A $50 deposit should be made upon confirmation. Balance due one week before the first day of camp. NATIONAL TRUST: For kids ages 6–12. July 23-27, July 30–Aug. 3. 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dart Family Park. Includes field trips. Email education@nationaltrust. org.ky to register. $275 for members, $300 for non-members. KIDSABILITY: A variety of programs for various ages, with activities from school readiness to bike riding. Contact www.kidsability.ky. ACTING CAMPS: Cayman Drama Society offers an acting camp for ages 12-16, July 30 to Aug. 3, $325. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Prospect Playhouse. Register at www.cds.ky. GENERAL INTEREST PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION: For students 10 to 14. Photos need to creatively demonstrate sun safety (hats, sunglasses, sunscreen) while having fun. It could be at the beach, soccer field, in town, anywhere outside, doing anything fun. Email photo – one per person – to fununderthesun2018@ gmail.com. The best five will win prizes. Competition runs until Aug. 31. Organized by the Cayman Islands Cancer Society. LIQUOR LICENSE HOLDERS: License holders – including those with music and dancing licenses – are reminded of the upcoming Annual Liquor License Meeting to be held Sept. 13. The deadline for applications is Aug. 24. BOOK SALE: Five-dollar bag book sale at the Red Cross Thrift Shop during July. 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 5–7 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday. Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Customers can get all the books they can fit in a single bag for only $5. NEW THRIFT SHOP: One Dog At A Time has launched its “New To You” Thrift Shop. The store is open every Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. plus every Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the summer. The shop is at Unit 26 at the warehouses on Bodden Road, which run down the side of Kirk Home Store to the old screen print place. SCHOLARSHIP OFFERED: The U.S.-based Collaborate to Educate Our Sons has announced its 2018 essay/poetry contest for scholarships for the 2018/19 academic year. At least four scholarships will be awarded. They are for tuition support to assist young men to achieve their goal of graduation from college/seminary. Essays should be submitted by email by 11:59 p.m. on July 31. Applicants can visit www.collaboratetoeducate.org for details. OLIVE MILLER EXHIBITION: At the Old George Town Library. Olive Miller is one of three Cayman residents who were recognized in the U.K. New Year’s Honors List. Betty Baraud and the late Dr. Bill Hrudey received MBEs, and are also featured in this exhibition, which is open until July 31. NEW LICENSE PLATES: The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing has uploaded its list of new electronic license plates that are ready for collection. An additional 1,200 plates are now ready to be picked up from the DVDL office on Crewe Road. Vehicles owners are reminded that they must bring in the temporary/old plates, the windshield tag, as well as their logbook. The list can be viewed on the department’s website at www.dvdl.gov.ky. EARLY CHILDHOOD FEES: The Ministry of Education provides financial assistance for Caymanian children between 3 and 4 years of age before Sept. 1, 2018, to assist with 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. ADULT OPEN STUDIO: Watler House Studio at Pedro Castle. Wednesdays 9 a.m. till noon. Thursdays, 10 a.m. till noon.Organized by Visual Arts Society. Fee is $5 or $15 for non- members. Ceramics is $15 or $25 for non-members. To register email ceramics@ visualartcayman.com or info@visualartcayman.com or 546-9422. 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. FARMERS ARTISAN MARKET: Noon to 7 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. 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. ROTARACT BLUE OF CAYMAN: Meets Wednesdays 6 p.m., at Royal Palms Beach Club, West Bay Road. Contact rotaractblue@gmail.com or www.rotaractblue.org. LEO CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, contact Secretary Letisha Allen at 924-2819. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. Email lionsclubgcm@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabethan Square (corner unit). Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7 a.m. every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. Visit www.rotarysunrise.ky or contact info@rotarysunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30 p.m., at The Wharf Restaurant. Projects include promoting well- being of children in the community and schools. Email president@kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The Cayman Islands National Museum is holding a summer camp this week, called ‘Cayman Nature – Safeguarding Biodiversity.’The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 17, 2018 IMF maintains global growth outlook The International Monetary Fund is keeping its forecast for global economic growth unchanged at 3.9 percent this year, however, citing proliferating trade conflicts, the IMF warned that ‘the risk of worse outcomes has increased’ for the world economy. Trump-Putin summit off to ‘very good start’ HELSINKI (AP) – President Donald Trump and Rus- sia’s Vladimir Putin opened their long-awaited summit Monday with a wink and slouch, respectively, then talked one-on-one behind closed doors for two-plus hours before the American leader declared their meeting was off to a “very, very good start for everybody.” Neither leader revealed what was discussed. But in advance of the talks, Trump listed a series of topics that did not include Russian med- dling in the 2016 presiden- tial election. “We have not been get- ting along well for the last number of years,” Trump said after arriving at the Presiden- tial Palace in Finland’s cap- ital, where the leaders are meeting. “But I think we will end up having an extraordi- nary relationship …. I really think the world wants to see us get along.” Putin, for his part, said he and Trump have maintained regular contact through phone calls and meetings at interna- tional events but “the time has come to have a thorough dis- cussion on various interna- tional problems and sensitive issues.” He added: “There are quite a few of them for us to pay attention to.” Their opening one-on-one session had been scheduled to run 90 minutes. The Rus- sians said it lasted two hours and 10 minutes. The White House would not immedi- ately confirm the timing. The summit, which is being closely watched around the world, was not the first time Trump and Putin have held talks. They met on the sidelines of world leader meetings in Germany and Vietnam last year. But Mon- day’s session was condemned in advance by members of Congress from both parties after the U.S. indictment last week of 12 Russian military intelligence officers accused of hacking Democrats in the 2016 election to help Trump’s presidential campaign. Trump said last week that he would raise the meddling issue again with Putin, but questions have been swirling about whether Trump will sharply and publicly rebuke his Russian counterpart for the interference that prompted a special investigation probe that Trump has repeatedly la- beled a “witch hunt.” Out on the streets, the summit attracted a grab- bag of protesters, with abor- tion-rights activists wearing artificially bulging bellies and Trump masks, anti-fas- cist protesters bearing signs with expletive-laden insults, and free traders, anti-war Ukrainians and gay rights supporters making their voices heard. The summit began just hours after Trump blamed the United States – and not Russian election meddling or its annexation of Crimea – for a low-point in U.S.-Russia relations. The drama was playing out against a back- drop of fraying Western al- liances, a new peak in the Russia investigation and fears that Moscow’s aggres- sion may go unchallenged. Trump and his aides have repeatedly tried to lower ex- pectations about what the summit will achieve. He told CBS News that he did not “expect anything” from Putin, while his national security adviser said the U.S. wasn’t looking for any “concrete de- liverables.” Trump told re- porters during a breakfast Monday with Finland’s pres- ident that he thought the summit would go “fine.” Observers have raised concerns about the fact that the leaders met alone during their first meeting, but for a pair of interpreters, meaning there will be no corrobo- rating witnesses to accu- rately represent what was said during the conversation. Trump said he and Putin would discuss a range of is- sues, from trade to the mili- tary, along with missiles and China. Not mentioned: Elec- tion meddling or Syria. While Trump was eager for a made-for-TV moment that will dominate head- lines like his sit-down with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month, Putin hopes the meeting, mere hours after he presided over the World Cup finals, will help him forge good personal ties with Trump and focus on areas where Moscow and Washington may be able to find common ground, such as Syria. Putin will likely not be shooting for official recogni- tion of Russia’s 2014 annexa- tion of Crimea or the easing of crippling U.S. sanctions, aware that the U.S. Congress would never allow such ac- tion. But he would welcome a symbolic end to Western pro- tests over Crimea and Mos- cow’s attempts to destabi- lize elections and traditional Western alliances and norms. Neither leader revealed what was discussed. But in advance of the talks, Trump listed a series of topics that did not include Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. U.S. President Donald Trump, left, listens to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a press conference Monday after their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland. – PHOTO: AP China files WTO challenge to US$200 billion tariff plan BEIJING (AP) – China an- nounced it filed a World Trade Organization chal- lenge Monday to President Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat, stepping up its diplo- matic efforts to counter U.S. pressure in a spiraling tech- nology dispute. The Trump administra- tion has criticized the WTO as unable to deal with the problems posed by China, suggesting a challenge there might have little impact in Washington. But it might help Beijing rally support from governments that criti- cized Trump for going outside the WTO to impose tariffs on Chinese and other imports. The move is unusually swift, coming less than one week after the U.S. Trade Representative proposed 10 percent tariffs on a $200 bil- lion list of Chinese goods. Those would not take effect until at least September. China’s lopsided trade balance means it will run out of U.S. imports for penalty tariffs before Washington does. Beijing is trying to re- cruit support, so far in vain, from Europe, South Korea and other governments. “We are unable to fight equally,” said Tu Xingquan, di- rector of the China Institute for WTO Studies at the Uni- versity of International Busi- ness and Economics in Beijing. Monday’s move “indicates that we value the role of the WTO rules,” said Tu. Washington imposed 25 percent tariffs on $34 billion of Chinese goods in response to complaints Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology. Bei- jing responded immediately by imposing identical penal- ties on a similar amount of American imports. It has criticized the latest tariff threat but has only about $80 billion of an- nual imports left for penal- ties. As for why Beijing has not retaliated, “there might be some adjustment in Chi- na’s approach to countermea- sures,” said Tu. Economists and busi- ness groups have suggested Beijing might try to dis- rupt operations of American companies, especially ser- vice industries, in which the United States runs a surplus. But Chinese officials have tried to appeal to American companies as allies. A Commerce Ministry spokesman said last week Beijing hoped they would lobby Washington to protect their own interests. ROYALTY, THE POPE, AND NOW TRUMP; PUTIN MAKES EVERYONE WAIT HELSINKI (AP) – Famous for his tardiness at offi- cial talks, President Vlad- imir Putin did it again Monday – to U.S. President Donald Trump. Putin long has sought to meet with Trump, but the Russian leader was 35 min- utes late to arrive at their closely watched summit in the Finnish capital. The delay followed a long tradition set since Pu- tin’s first election in 2000. Famous victims of his lack of punctuality in- cluded Britain’s Queen Eliz- abeth II and Pope Francis among many others. In 2014, he was hours late for a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, after his previous stop in Serbia lasted longer than usual, involving a pro- tracted military parade. Some Kremlin watchers saw Putin’s lack of punctu- ality as a deliberate tactic of trying to throw his vis-a- vis off balance, but others pointed out that it appears to be more of a personal trait than a well-calcu- lated strategy. Putin is also chronically late for official events in Moscow, often because he lets preceding meetings run longer than expected. He often holds meetings in late evenings and starts his days relatively late. The Trump administration has criticized the WTO as unable to deal with the problems posed by China, suggesting a challenge there might have little impact in Washington.8 WORLD&REGIONAL TUESDAY JULY 17, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS MEXICAN PRESIDENT-ELECT SLASHES HIS OWN SALARY MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mex- ican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Sunday he plans to earn less than half of what his predecessor makes when he takes office in December as part of an austerity push in government. “What we want is for the budget to reach everybody,” he told reporters in front of his campaign headquarters. Glancing at a piece of paper with numbers on it, Lopez Obrador said he will take home 108,000 pesos a month, which is $5,707 at current exchange rates, and that no public official will be able to earn more than the president during his six-year term. The tran- sition team calculates that current Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto makes 270,000 pesos a month. Lopez Obrador said he’d like to reduce his salary even further, but that he does not want to cause re- sentment among future Cabinet members who are in some cases leaving pri- vate sector positions and academic posts that pay more than the new ceiling for public officials. He reiterated campaign promises to cut back on tax- payer funded perks for high- level government officials, such as chauffeurs, body- guards and private medical insurance. The official pres- idential residence will be- come a cultural center and ex-presidents will no longer receive pensions, he said. At the same time, he doubled down on pledges to stem corruption. Mexico ranks 135 out of 180 coun- tries in Transparency In- ternational’s 2017 Corrup- tion Perception Index, with higher numbers indicating higher levels of corruption. Public officials will have to disclose their assets, he said, and corruption will be considered a serious of- fense. Supporters gathered beyond the gates cheered the proposals. Orlando Alvarado, a chemical engineer standing next to Arciniega, called Lopez Obrador’s pro- posed presidential salary a dignified wage. “A lot of Mexican pro- fessionals don’t even make 6,000 pesos a month. I’m talking about accountants and doctors,” he said. DEADLY FIRE SHUTS DOWN KEY ROUTE TO YOSEMITE PARK MARIPOSA, Calif. (AP) – A wildfire that killed a Cal- ifornia firefighter grew quickly and forced the clo- sure of a key route into Yo- semite National Park as crews contended with swel- tering conditions Sunday, authorities said. The so-called Ferguson Fire that broke out Friday scorched nearly 7 square miles of dry brush along steep, remote hillsides on the park’s western edge. It was burning largely out of control, and offi- cials shut off electricity to many areas, including Yosemite Valley, as a safety precaution. Guests were ordered to leave Yosemite Cedar Lodge on Saturday as flames crept up slopes and the air be- came thick with smoke. “You can’t see anything, it’s so smoky outside. It’s crazy,” said front desk clerk Spencer Arebalo, one of a handful of employees who stayed behind at the pop- ular hotel inside the park. He said it was surreal to see the property empty at the height of tourist season. “We’re counting on being closed at least one more day,” Arebalo said. Evacuations also were or- dered in rural communities just outside the park, and people in nearby lodges and motels were told to be ready to leave if flames ap- proach. A stretch of State Route 140 into Yosemite was closed, and motor- ists were urged to find al- ternate routes. Temperatures spiking to 95 degrees and inacces- sible terrain were making it difficult for crews to slow the flames, U.S. Forest Service fire Capt. Mike Seymour said. Heavy fire equipment operator Braden Varney, 36, died early Saturday on the fire line, the Cali- fornia Department of For- estry and Fire Protection said. Varney was driving a bulldozer to create a gap in vegetation to keep the flames from extending into a nearby community, ac- cording to Cal Fire Fire Chief Nancy Koerperich. Varney’s body likely will not be retrieved until Monday at the earliest be- cause it’s in a “precarious location” and conditions were too dangerous over the weekend, Cal Fire Deputy Chief Scott McLean said. The wildfire is one of several burning across the state and among 56 large blazes that are ac- tive in the U.S., most in the American West, a re- gion that is struggling with drought and heat. Obama to make rare high-profile speech on Mandela’s legacy JOHANNESBURG (AP) – In a speech marking the 100th birthday of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, former U.S. President Barack Obama will urge youth around the world to work for human rights and fair soci- eties, highlighting the late South African leader’s ex- ample of persevering in the struggle for democracy and equal rights for all. The speech on Tuesday, one of Obama’s most high- profile since leaving of- fice, is meant to draw atten- tion to values that today are under threat and to rally people in Africa and else- where to push for tolerance and justice. Obama is not expected to make any men- tion of his successor, Presi- dent Donald Trump, said Ben Rhodes, Obama’s longtime aide and adviser. “At the current moment we’re in, values that we thought were well-estab- lished – the importance of human rights, respect for di- versity – in many parts of the world those values are under threat,” Rhodes told The Associated Press. “Man- dela’s life is an inspiring ex- ample of how we can over- come obstacles to promote inclusive democracy and an equitable society with toler- ance of others.” In delivering the an- nual Nelson Mandela Lec- ture before thousands of South Africans, Obama is ex- pected to highlight how the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was imprisoned for 27 years, kept up his campaign against what appeared to be insurmountable odds to end apartheid, South Afri- ca’s harsh system of white minority rule. Mandela, who was re- leased from prison in 1990 and became South Africa’s first black president four years later, died in 2013, leaving a powerful legacy of reconciliation and di- versity along with a resis- tance to inequality, economic and otherwise. “In the U.S. and around the world, many see re- cent developments that run counter to Mandela’s legacy,” Rhodes said. “This will be a globally minded speech, highlighting global trends and focusing on how, in his life, Mandela embodied per- severance. It will be aimed at young people in Africa and also around the world to show that we have been through darker times before and we can overcome these challenges to keep Mandela’s vision alive.” Obama, who is in Kenya before coming to South Af- rica, has shied away from public comment on Trump, whose administration has reversed or attacked notable achievements of his prede- cessor. The U.S. under Trump has withdrawn from the 2015 Paris climate agreement and the Iran nuclear deal while trying to undercut the Afford- able Care Act or “Obamacare.” Instead of commenting on politics, Obama’s speech will draw on broader themes and his admiration for Mandela, whom America’s first black president saw as a mentor. When Obama was a U.S. senator he had his picture taken with the newly freed Mandela. After Obama be- came president he sent a copy of the photo to Man- dela, who kept it in his office. Obama also made a point of visiting Mandela’s prison cell and gave a moving eu- logy at Mandela’s memorial service in 2013, saying the South African leader’s life had inspired him. “Mandela was a hero, an example of someone who overcame adversity to achieve significant change,” Rhodes said. “The opportu- nity to speak at the commem- oration of the 100th anniver- sary of Mandela’s birth is very meaningful.” Obama also will high- light one goal of his post- presidency, the promotion of young people as future leaders, Rhodes said. His visit to South Africa will launch his foundation’s lead- ership program in Africa. Two hundred young Af- ricans are in Johannesburg for a five-day workshop to boost their leadership skills. Chosen from nearly 10,000 applications, the participants come from 44 countries, said Bernadette Meehan, the Obama Foundation’s ex- ecutive director of interna- tional relations. The average age of the participants is 31 and they come from the private sector, government and civil society, she said. They are working in Africa in the fields of public health, food secu- rity, girls’ education, female empowerment, the LGBT movement, human rights, peacemaking, conflict reso- lution, renewable energy and entrepreneurship. The Obama Foundation plans to launch similar youth leadership programs in Asia, Europe and Latin America. “President and Mrs. Obama strongly believe that ordinary people can achieve positive change,” Meehan said. “This program is de- signed to inspire and em- power the next generation of change makers.” Former UK Cabinet secretary seeks new Brexit referendum LONDON (AP) – A former U.K. Cabinet minister from the ruling Conservative Party on Monday called for a new Brexit referendum, an idea long assailed by the prime minister. Former Education Secre- tary Justine Greening told the BBC that Parliament is “gridlocked” over Brit- ain’s exit from the European Union. She said that she and other senior Tory lawmakers favor a new vote. Greening said that she would campaign to keep Britain in the EU if a new ref- erendum is held. There is mounting pres- sure on Prime Minister The- resa May coming from both sides of the Brexit debate. Her recent “white paper” outlining plans for a “common rule book” with the EU over trade in goods has infuriated those who favor a complete break. May defended her plan as she opened the Farnborough International Airshow. She said it would safeguard vital jobs in the aviation industry and keep Britain’s tradition as a nation in the forefront of the aviation industry. The issue is sensitive be- cause Airbus signaled in June that it would have to consider its long-term plans for Britain if there is no Brexit deal. May said the plan out- lined in the white paper honors the wishes of British voters – who in June 2016 backed Brexit with 52 per- cent of the vote – while pro- tecting industry and security. Her office has said there will be no second refer- endum under any condi- tions. Her authority has been weakened with the resigna- tions of major figures Boris Johnson and David Davis and a series of lesser of- ficials who disagree with her Brexit plan. Parliament will debate as- pects of the Brexit proposal later Monday, when May will face efforts by hard-line Brexit backers to use a series of amendments to limit her government’s ability to set up the customs arrangement she seeks – one that would keep close ties with the EU. It will be seen as a fresh sign of weakness if she has to compromise again on these plans. The skirmishes are ex- pected to continue Tuesday when a trade bill is debated. British Prime Minister Theresa May meets representatives during a Monday visit to the Airbus area at the Farnborough Airshow in Farnborough, England. – PHOTO: AP The speech on Tuesday, one of Obama’s most high-profile since leaving office, is meant to draw attention to values that today are under threat and to rally people in Africa and elsewhere to push for tolerance and justice.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 SportsNEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 17, 2018 Serena climbs 153 spots to No. 28 Serena Williams climbed 153 spots in the WTA rankings after her runner-up finish at Wimbledon, putting her back in the top 30. Kevin Anderson climbed into the men’s top 5 for the first time after his run to the Wimbledon final put him in fifth place. World Cup afterglow gives France a boost Djokovic, Kerber, Williams each made a comeback at Wimbledon LONDON (AP) – From cham- pions Novak Djokovic and An- gelique Kerber, to runner-up Serena Williams, this edition of Wimbledon was all about comebacks of various sorts. When Djokovic won his fourth title at the All England Club and first at a Grand Slam tournament in more than two years by beating Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3) on Sunday, it was the cul- mination of what he called a “journey” and a “process” as he returned from surgery to his right elbow. Kerber collected her first Wimbledon championship with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Williams on Saturday to mark a turnaround from a rough 2017 that saw her slip from No. 1 in the rankings and deal with two first-round exits at majors. “I’m still sure,” said Kerber’s coach, Wim Fis- sette, “that we haven’t seen the best Angie.” And while Williams did not win what would have been her eighth Wimbledon singles trophy, her run to the final just 10½ months after a difficult childbirth and com- plications involving blood clots served as, in Kerber’s words, “such an inspiration for everybody, for all of us, for every person watching you.” Williams’ loss left her with 23 Grand Slam titles, the most in the half-century of professional tennis and only one short of Margaret Court’s record. She can take a crack at that mark at the U.S. Open, which begins on Aug. 27 in New York. “I didn’t know a couple of months ago where I was, where I would be, how I would do, how I would be able to come back. It was such a long way to see light at the end of the road, kind of,” Wil- liams said. “So I think these two weeks have really showed me that, ‘OK, I can compete.’ Obviously I can compete for the long run in a Grand Slam.” Here is what else we learned at Wimbledon in 2018: Tiebreaker time? Anderson’s 26-24 vic- tory in the fifth set against John Isner in a semifinal that lasted more than 6½ hours was the second-lon- gest Grand Slam match ever and renewed a debate about the rules: Should Wimbledon adopt a fifth-set tiebreaker? Currently, the U.S. Open is the only major that decides matches that way. “It abso- lutely needs to change,” said Anderson’s coach, Brad Stine. WTA depth There’s no question the depth in the women’s game is as great as ever and there is a lot more room for trophy- collecting at the majors. Ker- ber’s victory ended a stretch in which seven players split the previous seven Grand Slam titles, including first- time champs Simona Halep, Caroline Wozniacki, Sloane Stephens and Jelena Osta- penko. For the first time since Wimbledon began seeding players in the 1920s, none of the top 10 seeds reached the quarterfinals. It was also the first time that happened at any Grand Slam tournament in the Open era. The Big 3 Men’s tennis is back to having its Big 3 of Roger Fe- derer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic. Federer and Nadal had combined to win six ma- jors in a row until Djokovic got back in on the action. Each member of that trio has been counted out in recent years, but they just keep on winning. All can excel on hard courts, Djokovic’s best surface. So the next couple of months should be entertaining. Old guys Djokovic, 31, and An- derson, 32, made this Wim- bledon final the first in the Open era with a pair of men older than 30. Add in Nadal, 32, and Isner, 33, and it was the first quartet of thirty- something semifinalists at any major in the past 50 years. Which means they all deserve kudos, but also raises the question: Where are all the young guys? No up-and-comers reached the quarterfinals. One break- through did come from Ste- fanos Tsitsipas, a 19-year-old from Greece who made it to the fourth round. PARIS (AP) – With the golden World Cup trophy in hand, France’s victorious national team is returning home to a grand “Merci!” from a grateful nation that was sorely in need of a boost. “Eternal Happiness” said Monday’s headline in the sports daily L’Equipe, sum- ming up the mood of many who hope this euphoria will last for months – even years. France was preparing to welcome home the national soccer team Monday for a victory lap down the grand Champs-Elysees, the grand Paris avenue where hun- dreds of thousands thronged after the team’s 4-2 victory Sunday over Croatia to cap- ture the trophy. That will be followed by a reception at the presiden- tial palace, with hundreds of guests, including people from soccer clubs known to the French players, like that of the poor suburb of Bondy, where 19-year-old star Kylian Mbappe grew up. Several Paris Metro sta- tions are temporarily ad- justing their names to honor the team and its members, the transport authority tweeted. The Champs-Elysees Clem- enceau has become the Des- champs-Elysees Clemenceau to honor national team coach Didier Deschamps. The Etoiles station is for now “On a 2 Etoiles” (We have 2 stars), to denote France’s second World Cup victory, after one in 1998, while the Victor Hugo station is now Victor Hugo Lloris, after France’s standout goalie and team captain. Celebrations were spread across the nation, and among still-dazed French players themselves. “We are linked for life now with this Cup,” defender Ra- phael Varane told BFM-TV on Monday before departing for home from Moscow. French President Em- manuel Macron exulted on the field in Moscow, hugging players as they received their medals even as the heavens opened up and poured down on everyone, and congratu- lating the players again in the locker room. He is clearly hoping the World Cup vic- tory glow rubs off on him, raising him up in a nation that is fiercely protesting his economic reforms. It’s the players, though, who have captured the French imagination, a mostly youthful, diverse group that represents a generation which traditionalists have yet to come to terms with. Sports Minister Laura Flessel told Europe-1 radio that the World Cup victory allows France’s youth – like those in the poor suburbs where many of the players grew up – “to dare to believe in their dreams.” Joy over the victory brightened the Monday morning commute in Paris, with young people in cars still singing and shouting in celebration. In the eastern Paris neigh- borhood of Belleville, with the Eiffel Tower visible in the far distance, Vincent Simon said, “Both teams deserved to win. France won, and that’s good for the country. That will do us good for some months.” Fellow Parisian Florian Scaven only caught glimpses of the World Cup final from the maternity ward, where his wife had a baby during the match. “We vibrated with the horns in the street. We are happy. Long live France,” he said. The victory came at a time when many French were in need of good news. “It represents enormous things,” said Goffrey Hamsik, dressed in a hat resembling a rooster – the French national symbol – and a shirt with Mbappe’s No. 10 number. “We’ve had lots of prob- lems in France these past years,” he said, recalling deadly terror attacks. “This is good for the morale … Here, we are all united. We mix. There is no religion, there is nothing, and that’s what feels good.” Still, celebrations in France typically end up with a spate of violence by troublemakers, and Sunday was no exception. Broken shop windows, pillage and other destruc- tion lined a section of the Champs-Elysees, the post- game site for revelers. Riot police used water cannon and tear gas to end the violence. French media reported that authorities detained 90 people for questioning in the Paris region and some 290 around France. Williams’ loss left her with 23 Grand Slam titles, the most in the half-century of professional tennis and only one short of Margaret Court’s record. A woman waves a French flag on the Champs Elysees avenue after France won the soccer World Cup final match between France and Croatia, Sunday in Paris. – PHOTO: AP Angelique Kerber of Germany holds the winner’s trophy after defeating Serena Williams of the United States, right, in the women’s singles final match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships, Saturday in London. – PHOTOS: APNext >