ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY JULY 31, 2018 FERAL CATS POSE THREAT TO SURVIVAL OF BRAC SEABIRDS Legal change may be required to allow culling JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Feral cats present a threat to the sur- vival of a rare seabird colony on Cayman Brac, according to Department of Environ- ment researchers. DoE staff conducted surveys of the brown booby colony on the Brac earlier this month and found several more carcasses. They be- lieve almost 10 percent of the small colony, designated as “regionally important,” has been preyed on by cats in the past year. A project, involving the DoE and Depart- ment of Agriculture, to cull feral cats in the area was shelved after two animal wel- fare groups mounted a legal challenge ear- lier this year. The two government departments were re- quired by the judge to give an undertaking not to trap cats until the dispute was resolved. Gina Ebanks-Petrie, director of the Depart- ment of Environment, said Monday that the undertaking was still in place. She said the Department of Agriculture may need to seek changes to regulations to allow them to trap and euthanize feral cats as originally planned. No one from the Department of Agriculture was immediately available for comment. Meanwhile, researchers say the brown booby population continues to be under threat. Jane Haakonsson, a research officer who led surveys on the Brac earlier this month, said researchers found six carcasses on the beach. “We were finding dead birds every day. It was heartbreaking,” she said. “They are not preyed on for food. It is most likely to be a thrill kill thing, which is common among feral cats.” Earlier this year, researchers reported seven carcasses discovered in a similar fashion on the Brac. “That is the ones we know about,” Ms. Haakonsson said. “There may be others that have been washed out to sea or removed by other scavengers.” The end of nesting season has brought ORGAN DONOR LAW TAKES EFFECT The Human Tissue Transplant Law, which was passed five years ago seeking to regulate the donation of organs and human tissue for med- ical purposes in the Cayman Islands, comes into legal effect Tuesday. For more on this story, see page 6. Drag racing pulls crowds to Breakers Races may become monthly events JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Almost 2,000 specta- tors turned out at Breakers Sunday as speed merchants took to the track for the latest drag racing event. A group of motorsports enthusiasts have revived the sport in the Cayman Islands and are drawing large crowds for what they hope will develop into a monthly race series. The Breakers Drag Racing Association se- cured a deal in May to use the track for regular racing over the next two years. Sunday’s event – dubbed “Drag Warz” – saw high-powered cars, trucks and motorbikes compete in head-to-head races on the one-eighth mile track throughout the afternoon. A new surface was laid in recent weeks on the Breakers Speedway track to prepare for Sunday’s races. Winners The overall winner in the grudge-match races was Je- rome Lindsey in his Honda Integra Type R DC2. He se- cured four wins and one loss during the day of highly competitive racing. Kashwayne McKenzie took the motorbike title with four wins and two losses in his Suzuki GSX-R 1000. Michael Chambers won the Top Gun Shoot-out award in his Honda Civic. Sammy Jackson, a lawyer who is part of the associa- tion, told the Cayman Com- pass earlier this year that the revival of drag racing was helping get young mo- torsports fans off the road and on to the track. “I am proud to say we have got a lot of these youngsters to come in and they have shown tremen- dous enthusiasm,” he said. “They want somewhere to race their cars and com- pete, and that is what we are here for.” Nikko Miller, in a white Nissan 370Z, gets ready to take on Jeffrey Jackson, in his silver Camaro SS, at the ‘Drag Warz’ races at Breakers on Sunday. - PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Jeffrey Jackson spins the wheels of his Camaro SS prior to a race. A Honda Integra Type R crosses the finish line just before a Subaru Impreza during one of Sunday’s races. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Nikko Miller wins a race in his Nissan 370Z. The Breakers Drag Racing Association secured a deal in May to use the track for regular racing over the next two years.2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY JULY 31, 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) MISSION : IMPOSSIBLE FALLOUT (PG13) 12:30 VIP I 1:00 3D I 3:45 VIP I 4:15 9:25 VIP I 7:30 3D THE EQUALIZER 2 (R) 1:15 I 4:25 I 6:35 I 9:30 HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3 (PG) 1:35 I 6:45 INCREDIBLES 2 (PG) 4:00 I 9:10 BLINDSPOTTING (R) 7:20 I 9:40 MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN (PG13) 1:00 I 3:40 I 7:25 I 10:00 SKYSCRAPER (PG13) 1:50 3D I 4:10 CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA: MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (PG) 7:00 VIP Ultramarathoner Kanuga conquers Badwater 135 for third time SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Kerri Kanuga sent two pairs of sneakers to a run- ner’s funeral and is still waiting for feeling to return to one of her toes. But oth- erwise, her third running of the Badwater 135 was a rousing success. Last week, Ms. Kanuga finished the 135-mile Cal- ifornia race from Death Valley to Mount Whitney in a crisp 38:28:05, placing 10th among women and 35th overall among 69 finishers. Her time was a little slower than she had managed in each of the last two years, but Ms. Kanuga can find the bright side. “I didn’t die, which is good,” she said. “They’re re- porting it to be the hot- test year ever. “It was a little bit disap- pointing for a lot of people out there. There were 99 people that started and 30 people dropped and didn’t make the time cut- off, which is unusual. You have to qualify for the race and there’s over 2,000 ap- plicants, so they try to take the toughest that they don’t think will fail.” Ms. Kanuga, who owns the local realty firm Tri- dent Properties, had finished sixth among women in each of her first two runnings of the Badwater 135. But this edition of the race was so hot, she said, that even ac- complished runners like two-time Badwater winner Pete Kostelnick were not able to finish. The run required Ms. Kanuga, 48, to be on her feet for a day and a half. It started at night so runners could maximize their time out of the sun, but the chal- lenge was still severe. “It was hot. It’s always hot,” said Ms. Kanuga. “At night, I had a 9:30 start, and it was 118 degrees in the dark. And when the sun comes up, absolutely nothing grows in Death Valley. There’s no shade and it’s just beating on you. There’s no relief from it and it starts warming up from there. “Next time I go, I’m going to bring a road thermom- eter, but there were people saying it was 177 degrees off the road. I’ve seen 130 from other reports, but my crew said the hottest they saw was 127 degrees.” One runner collapsed right in front of Ms. Kanuga during the first three miles of the race, and she stopped briefly to make sure he was OK before plowing onward. For the first 42 miles, she said, she was alone a lot, pacing herself and trying not to think too much about the perilous ascent ahead. By the time she got to Pan- amint Springs, about 70 miles into the race, she had already been running for more than 17 hours. From there, she still had a little less than half the race left to go. “You can see where you want to go in the distance, but it doesn’t seem to be get- ting closer,” she said. “That’s the bottom of an ancient dry riverbed, and it’s usually the hottest part of the race. That’s where we saw the re- cord temperatures. I usually fall apart a little bit there and start feeling really sorry for myself, but I did a pretty good job this year. “It really started get- ting long for me once I got to the top of the hill. All of a sudden, you realize you’re 80 miles out and there’s no ex- cuse not to run.” The climax of the race, though, brings the toughest adversity. Ms. Kanuga said that the final portions of the race include a steep ascent all the way up to 8,000 feet. Runners are on their last legs at that point, but there is no cruise to the finish. “You’re basically run- ning a half-marathon up- hill. And it’s not one of those gentle, rolling things. It is up,” she said of the ascent to- ward Whitney Portal. “There’s no relief and there’s hardly any switchbacks. That’s why the times get a lot slower there. It’s pretty much im- possible to run. “Nobody really runs that unless you’re a beast, and I didn’t quite find beast mode this year.” Ms. Kanuga said she sat down briefly at the 40-mile and 80-mile marks, and she took a 10-minute nap when she had reached mile 105. She melted two pairs of sneakers and said she will likely lose a toenail, which is normal for those exerting themselves over the punishing 135-mile distance of the race. Amazingly, though, Ms. Kanuga will run an even longer distance – 200 miles – in just five weeks. She’s planning on running the Tahoe 200, which will kick off on Sept. 8. Ms. Kanuga has dedi- cated her ultrarunning feats to childhood cancer sur- vivor Hannah Meeson, and she raises money for St. Bal- drick’s Foundation with each of her runs. Ms. Kanuga has raised more than $40,000 over the years. Ms. Kanuga’s crew – Jared Struck, Tyson Rich and Terri Sawyer – helped make sure she was supplied and ran alongside her for portions of the race to keep her company. Right now, despite having just finished the race, Ms. Kanuga is already thinking about running the Badwater again in 2019. “I will go back and do it again next year if I’m chosen,” said Ms. Kanuga. “The flats are where I lost it, believe it or not. You’d think I’d be the best at the flats, considering I run in Cayman.” Robbery, attempted robbery in George Town Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice are searching for sus- pects in an attempted rob- bery and a robbery last week in George Town. The attempted robbery occurred early Saturday on Portland Road near North Sound Road when a man was jumped and struck in the head by two robbery sus- pects. The victim told po- lice he was threatened with a knife, but that he managed to escape the scene before the suspects took anything. The victim was found by police knocking on the door of a nearby residence trying to get help. No arrests were immediately reported. The Saturday morning at- tack occurred just more than 48 hours after a robbery on South Church Street, George Town, where a man riding a bicycle home was robbed by three suspects. Police said the robbers hid behind a construction container on South Church Street near Thompson Way and struck the victim on the back of the head, causing him to fall off his bike. One of the robbery sus- pects threatened the cy- clist with a knife, and took a number of personal items from the victim, police said. “I didn’t die, which is good.” KERRI KANUGA Kerri Kanuga, front, poses with her crew, from left, Jared Struck, Tyson Rich and Terri Sawyer, near the finish line of the Badwater 135. Kerri Kanuga is assisted by crew member Jared Struck as she chugs her way through the Badwater 135.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 31, 2018 Account # Date account was openedAccount # Date account was openedAccount # Date account was openedAccount # Date account was opened 189422-Ad-cc-6colx16-dominant.in1 17/25/18 12:09:49 PMThe 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. Our country’s tourism industry is on a months-long, record-breaking, revenue-producing roll. Here’s what we reported on the front page of Monday’s newspaper: • Cayman’s tourism sector has posted 15 consecutive months of growth. • In the first six months of the year, 1.3 million tourists arrived in the country, a 20 percent increase from 2017. • The increase in visitors translated to an estimated $45 million in additional spending. • During the first half of 2018, Cayman hosted more than 250,000 stayover visitors, a 16-percent increase from last year. The numbers certainly speak for themselves. But even as we applaud our tourism sector’s upward tra- jectory, we as a country must ensure that we do not fall victim to our own success, but instead position ourselves to capitalize on long-term, sustainable economic growth. The next stage of our development must be a renewed focus on infrastructure and service that is more than adequate to meet the demand and expec- tations of our first-class visitors. Our hospitality sector continues to outdo itself in terms of attracting travelers to our shores, both by plane and ship. It is from the moment of arrival that we see the emergence of challenges. For example, tourists arriving by air disembark via metal staircase or sloping ramp, then (with their carry-on luggage) cross the tarmac to enter the ongoing construction site that is the Owen Roberts International Airport. We argued from the outset that jetways should have been built into the budget – and the structure – of the new airport. The form of the airport is beginning to take shape, and is a welcome upgrade, aesthetically speaking, from its beloved but timeworn predecessor. However, in terms of function, evidence is mounting that the expanded airport may not have been expanded enough, and upon its grand reopening (slated to be around the end of the year) may be underbuilt to handle “rush hour” air traffic. We can’t help but wonder if this built-to-purpose new structure will be fit-for-purpose 5, 10, or 15 years from now if the growth rates of our stayover guests continue to expand at current levels. Tourists arriving by sea must contend with their own set of inconveniences, as the long-awaited cruise port project remains in the planning stages. Visitors who hail taxis or rent cars encounter even more orange cones, demarcating Grand Cayman’s ongoing road construction projects. While Cayman’s world-class hotels and well- appointed condominiums continue to deliver spectac- ular service and views, the concern has become the creation of enough “rooms at the inn” to keep up with growing demand. Accordingly, developers and “moms- and-pops” are leaping into this gap in the marketplace with new resort projects and the short-term rental of private residences via online services such as Airbnb. The good news about Cayman’s tourism situation – is the tourism situation. Issues such as the airport expansion, road construction and room inventory are not symptoms of an illness, but “growing pains” accompanying a surge in the tourism sector that has far exceeded official projections and expectations. It’s like someone who has been pumping iron at the gym, finding that his new T-shirts have become a bit snug around the biceps. In other words, the “problems” to which we refer in this editorial should be viewed as results of our tourism industry’s success, and opportunities to accommodate future continuing growth and development. Ensuring sustainable growth in Cayman’s tourism sector TUESDAY JULY 31, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The hypocrisy of the Democratic Russia hawks WASHINGTON – With his in- terference in the 2016 elec- tion, Russian President Vladimir Putin achieved something that none of his murderous Soviet predeces- sors were able to accomplish: He has turned Democrats into Russia hawks. A few months after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ronald Reagan addressed the 1992 Republican Na- tional Convention and said: “I heard those speakers at that other convention saying ‘we won the Cold War’ – and I couldn’t help won- dering, just who exactly do they mean by ‘we’?” He had a point. Today, Democrats may be deeply concerned about the threat Russia poses to our democracy. But during the Cold War, when the Soviet Union posed an existential threat to our democracy, not so much. Most Democrats op- posed the Reagan policies that led to the fall of the So- viet empire. They fought the Reagan defense buildup and his Strategic Defense Initia- tive (which Sen. Edward M. Kennedy dismissed as “Star Wars” and Sen. John F. Kerry called “a dream based on illu- sion”). They supported the So- viet-supported nuclear freeze movement and opposed Rea- gan’s deployment of inter- mediate-range nuclear mis- siles to Western Europe. They criticized Reagan’s ef- forts to arm freedom fighters seeking to overthrow Soviet puppet regimes and sup- port to pro-American govern- ments fighting communist insurgencies. Not only did Democrats oppose Reagan’s policies, they heaped scorn on his blunt anti-Communist rhet- oric. After Reagan called on the Soviets to “tear down” the Berlin Wall, Democratic House Speaker Jim Wright declared he had “utter con- tempt for Reagan” because he had “spoiled the chance for a dramatic breakthrough in relations between our two countries.” While Reagan de- nounced the Soviet Union as an “Evil Empire” and prom- ised to leave it on “the ash- heap of history,” Democrats such as Kennedy criticized Reagan for his “misleading Red-scare tactics.” There were exceptions, to be sure. The legendary Dem- ocratic Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson was a fierce anti- Communist. Those like him were known as “Scoop Jackson Democrats.” They were given this name for a reason: to distinguish them from most other Democrats who did not share Jackson’s hard-line approach. Old habits of appease- ment die hard, so when the Cold War ended the Demo- crats continued their soft line toward Moscow. Demo- cratic opposition to President George W. Bush’s withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Mis- sile Treaty was more strident than that of Vladimir Putin. There was virtual silence from Democrats when Presi- dent Barack Obama callously threw Poland and the Czech Republic under the bus by canceling our missile defense agreements in an effort to ap- pease Moscow. In 2012, when Mitt Romney called Russia our “number one geopolit- ical foe,” Democrats mocked him mercilessly. Obama told Romney, “The 1980s, they’re now calling to ask for their foreign policy back.” And Vice President Joe Biden said Romney “acts like he thinks the Cold War is still on.” The Republican focus on Russia was considered laughable by most Democrats. But now, a quarter century after the fall of the Soviet Union, the Dem- ocrats have belatedly decided that Russia is a threat. For decades, while the So- viet Union sowed tyranny across the globe, sent mil- lions to rot in the Gulag, and threatened America with nu- clear annihilation, Demo- crats were for detente and peaceful coexistence. Even as Putin continued Russia’s pattern authoritarian ag- gression, undermining de- mocracy at home and in- vading his neighbors, they advocated a “reset” of re- lations. It was only when Russia invaded John Podes- ta’s privacy that Democrats were finally outraged. But before Republicans gloat, they need to be careful not to mirror the Democrats’ Russia transformation by be- coming Kremlin apologists. The fact that Democrats are suddenly channeling their inner Reagan is no excuse for those on the right to start channeling their inner Ken- nedy. Conservatives do not have to take the Democrats’ belated Russia outrage se- riously. But they do need to take Russia seriously. As for Democrats, let’s hope their newfound antip- athy for Russia is not just a convenient way to get Pres- ident Trump. Russia is a threat not just because it in- terfered in the 2016 election. Russia is a threat because it assassinates Putin’s critics with chemical weapons, shoots down civilian air- liners, arms the Taliban, sup- ports Iran, violates its treaty obligations, targets NATO allies with nuclear mis- siles and annexes the terri- tory of its neighbors. That threat will still be there when Trump is gone. The question is: Will the Democrats still be Russia hawks then? Follow Marc A. Thiessen on Twitter, @marcthiessen. © 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group MARC A. THIESSEN For decades, while the Soviet Union sowed tyranny across the globe, sent millions to rot in the Gulag, and threatened America with nuclear annihilation, Democrats were for detente and peaceful coexistence. 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”The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 31, 2018 6 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY JULY 31, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Organ donor law takes effect BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com A law passed five years ago seeking to regulate the donation of organs and human tissue for medical purposes in the Cayman Islands comes into legal effect Tuesday. The Human Tissue Trans- plant Law, 2013, was given a commencement date of July 31 by Cabinet. The legislation, first pro- posed by then-George Town MLA Ellio Solomon, will make it easier for tissue transplant procedures to be performed here. “The ability to have a transplant center on island will make an immeasur- able difference to patients who face organ failure or re- quire organ/tissue donation,” Health Minister Dwayne Sey- mour said earlier this year. According to the legisla- tion, tissue donation will only be done on a voluntary basis. Under the law, tissues or or- gans will be harvested from a deceased person only if a licensed medical practitioner is satisfied that the person gave consent to do so while they were still alive. Only those who are 18 or older may register as organ donors. Children can donate regenerative body tissue, but only with parental consent. The legislation passed in 2013 does not apply to fetal tissue, sperm or ova. It also requires that consent be given to remove organs or tissue from a human body and prohibits someone from removing tissue or organs from those who cannot le- gally give consent. The law makes illegal trading of human body parts a crime and establishes a council to review the process of tissue donation and trans- plants, including inspec- tions of any animal tissue imported into Cayman that would be used during trans- plant surgery. The issue of human tissue transplants was first re- viewed in 2005 by a govern- ment-appointed committee and came to the fore again when Dr. Devi Shetty pro- posed his Narayana Univer- sity Medical Centre in the Cayman Islands, or Health City Cayman Islands, as it is now formally known. The organ transplant proposal was also brought up and ap- proved in a private members’ motion filed in the Legisla- tive Assembly during 2010 by Mr. Solomon. In practice, tissue trans- plant surgeries have been performed in Cayman since 2013. However, tissues or or- gans could not be harvested here and sourcing them from overseas is a complex and time-consuming process. Often, patients find they must go overseas to either obtain the needed tissue or for the surgeries, or both. Following a public com- ment period and approval by Cabinet of regulations to the law, a Human Tissue Trans- plant Council will be ap- pointed. The council mem- bers will create a register that not only allows organs and tissues donated to be kept in Cayman, but which would also allow the British Overseas Territory to be- come part of an interna- tional donation network for human tissue. “The ability to have a transplant center on island will make an immeasurable difference to patients who face organ failure or require organ/tissue donation.” DWAYNE SEYMOUR, minister of health Dwayne Seymour, health minister Petition seeks to permanently install ‘Governor Manderson’ BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com While some Cayman Is- landers are seeking to re- turn absent Governor Anwar Choudhury from the U.K., others have launched a pe- tition to install Deputy Gov- ernor Franz Manderson as the territory’s appointed leader. Mr. Manderson, 52, is cur- rently serving as acting gov- ernor, a role he has taken on previously during governors’ holidays or in transitional periods when the U.K.-ap- pointed governors change. The U.K. has never ap- pointed a Caymanian as gov- ernor since the position was created in 1971. At the time, Athelstan Long, the territo- rial administrator of Cayman, was named governor and 12 more British-appointed gov- ernors were named after Mr. Long, including Mr. Choud- hury as the 13th governor on March 26, 2018. “We agree that Mr. Choud- hury had taken swift steps towards making changes in the Cayman Islands gov- ernment services, however, they should not overshadow Mr. Manderson’s ongoing ef- forts to groom and present a world-class civil service – a product that we, the people of the Cayman Islands, are proud of globally,” the peti- tion launched on the website www.change.org states. “Throughout decades of service, he has conducted himself with integrity and diligence and Mr. Manderson, in the exercise of his func- tions as acting governor and as deputy governor, has pro- moted good governance and acted in the best interests of the Cayman Islands and in accordance with the man- dates given by the U.K. – he is unquestionably qualified for the post of governor of the Cayman Islands.” Whether Mr. Manderson would wish to accept such a post, even if it were offered, is unclear. The West Bay district resident has often been ru- mored as a potential political candidate, once his civil ser- vice career ends, although he has recently denied that this is his desired career path. There are also some sig- nificant difficulties with nominating a Caymanian as governor from a U.K. perspec- tive, not least of which would be that the other remaining British Overseas Territories in the Atlantic and the Carib- bean might want to be given the same option. However, it was clear that, as far back as 2009 during the drafting of Cayman’s updated constitution, those involved in the process had an eye on eventually replacing the U.K.- appointed governor’s respon- sibilities to a great extent. Then-Deputy Governor Donovan Ebanks said he viewed the deputy governor’s role as one of preparing – in the long term – to ease cer- tain responsibilities held by the governor. “I don’t expect to see major changes in that for the remainder of my ca- reer,” Mr. Ebanks said in No- vember 2009. “But certainly I have responsibility to con- duct myself in such a way that I set the groundwork to those changes being seen as positive ones that should be made. At some point, we would expect there’s no longer going to be a governor. But there’s going to be what maybe in other jurisdictions is called a governor-general. “What you have to es- tablish, I believe, is the con- fidence in the community that we can referee our own league.” The change.org petition stated that time now has come, nearly a decade later. “For 47 years we have been governed by someone outside of our country,” it states. “We agree that, in the beginning years, it was nec- essary to have outside gover- nance, but we submit that it is no longer necessary, as Mr. Manderson’s civil service ca- reer is only 10 years less than the overall governance of the Cayman Islands.” The petition, which by midday Monday had ob- tained nearly 500 signa- tures, is addressed to the U.K.’s overseas territories minister, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon. Constitutional change The current Cayman Is- lands government is seeking to obtain a number of changes to the 2009 Consti- tution Order, largely aiming to lessen the U.K.’s ability to legislate for its over- seas territory. Premier Alden McLaughlin is expected to take a number of the proposed changes to Lord Ahmad and U.K. leaders during the joint ministerial council meeting with the ter- ritories later this year. Concerns about the U.K.’s ultimate power to force leg- islation upon Cayman and other territories never fully dissipated over the past few decades, but these were brought into sharp relief again following a May 1 vote in which the U.K. House of Commons approved a mea- sure that is expected to have a significant impact on Cayman’s financial ser- vices industry. The House approved amendments to the U.K. Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill which re- quire U.K. Overseas Terri- tories – but not Crown de- pendencies – to implement a public register of company ownership by Dec. 31, 2020. If that is not done, the U.K. Secretary of State is required to draft orders in council to force the public register upon the territories. Cayman Islands law- makers want to take away the governor’s ability to dis- allow legislation passed by the Legislative Assembly in instances where the British Overseas Territory is not in breach of international legal and human rights standards. Mr. McLaughlin also said Cayman would seek to re- move or significantly change the U.K. government’s ability to legislate directly for the territory. This is now contained in section 125 of the Cayman Islands Constitution Order, 2009, which states: “There is reserved to Her Maj- esty full power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the Cayman Islands.” Acting Governor Franz Manderson YCLA nomination deadline nears The Young Caymanian Leadership Award orga- nizers advise that the dead- line for submitting nomina- tions for this year’s YCLA event is Friday, Aug. 3. Each year, five final- ists are chosen from public nominations and the winner is chosen at a gala dinner event. Speech language pa- thologist Faith Gealey is the current holder of the 2017-2018 Young Cayma- nian Leadership Award. Since being awarded the title of “Young Caymanian Leader,” she has spoken at more than 20 engage- ments with nearly 10,000 people on the importance of mentorship. Previous YCLA recipi- ents include Kellie McGee, Olivaire Watler, Dax Foster, Sara Collins, Cindy Scot- land, Jonathan Tibbetts, Collin Anglin, Natalie Urquhart, Garth Arch and Shomari Scott. According to the criteria outlined by organizers, YCLA recipients must be Caymanians between the ages of 20 and 35 years old; they must possess “above average attributes and skills in areas such as char- acter, personal values, atti- tude, leadership and a de- sire to influence others in a positive fashion,” and be considered high achievers in their chosen profession, education or organizational involvements. Candidates nominated in previous years are still eligible, with the excep- tion of those who have held the title of “Young Cay- manian Leader.” This year’s YCLA gala will be held on Nov. 10 at the Kimpton Seafire Re- sort, and will focus on how “It Takes a Village” to truly mentor and empower young people, according to organizers. To find out more about putting forward a YCLA nominee, visit www.youngcaymanianleaders.ky. Completed forms can be emailed to YCLA Coordinator Brianna Wilkerson at brianna@ycla.ky. Faith Gealey, center, was the winner of last year’s Young Caymanian Leadership Award. She is pictured with the four other finalists, from left, Matt Brown, Yentel McGaw, Alice Ramos and Stacie Sybersma. – PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSONThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 31, 2018 a brief reprieve for the adult birds, with most now roosting in the coconut trees. But Ms. Haakonsson is con- cerned that they will be an easy target once they start nesting again. She said population sur- veys conducted over the last two years indicated there were 75 nesting pairs of brown boobies left on the Brac. With a total of at least 13 birds lost to predation in the past nesting season, she is concerned that the colony is under threat. “It is a really urgent situ- ation for the boobies on the Brac,” she said. “It is defi- nitely a threat to the sur- vival of the population. It is a regionally important colony and it is small enough now that they can’t withstand this kind of predation.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Feral cats pose threat to survival of Brac seabirds Researchers fear feral cats present a threat to the survival of Cayman Brac’s brown booby population. WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS VIOLENCE IN NICARAGUA WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House is con- demning months of violent conflict in Nicaragua that has left hundreds dead. Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says in a statement that President Daniel Ortega and his vice president are “ultimately responsible for the pro-gov- ernment parapolice that have brutalized their own people.” She adds that the United States supports ef- forts by the Roman Cath- olic Church to mediate. The administration has imposed sanctions on three Nicaraguans, including the national police commis- sioner, for human rights abuses and corruption. Sanders said “these are a start, not an end, of poten- tial sanctions.” Sanders said the U.S. is revoking or restricting visas for officials and their fami- lies responsible for police violence against protesters and others, and when “they have prevented victims from receiving care.” In Panama City’s booming colonial core, locals fight to stay PANAMA CITY (AP) – Es- ther Marina Sanchez has watched her neighborhood – the heart of Panama City – transformed by its desig- nation as a UNESCO world heritage site. Tourists and well-heeled Panamanians now stroll the paving-stone streets among gaudy hotels, fancy restaurants and trendy discos that have popped up in once-dilapidated colonial- era buildings. Gone are the gangs, the decay and abandoned struc- tures – as well as San- chez’s home, and those of most of her neighbors. Sanchez recalled how her landowner offered the family money 2½ years ago, but said they did not really have a choice: “Take it or leave it, but you’re leaving.” A fast-moving real estate boom spurred by the 1997 declaration of the Casco An- tiguo district as a world her- itage site has irrevocably al- tered the character of the neighborhood. Locals initially welcomed the designation, hoping to reap the benefits of the revi- talization that would come. But it ended up pricing them out, as long-absent land- owners suddenly saw money to be made by converting properties to hotels or night spots or renting them to well- heeled tenants. “Instead of being a ben- efit, it has brought us pain, powerlessness. It has di- minished us as a family,” said Sanchez, the 59-year- old leader of a residents’ as- sociation. “The social fabric that was declared here has been torn apart.” According to census fig- ures, the population of the Casco and neighboring San Felipe districts has dropped from about 16,000 in the early 1990s to a little over 2,000 today. The seaside Casco and its defensive walls were founded in 1673 to replace the first Spanish settlement on the Pa- cific Coast after it was sacked by pirates. It housed – and houses – some of the coun- try’s central institutions: the official presidential residence, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the National Theater. EX-COLOMBIA LEADER MOUNTS DEFENSE IN BRIBERY PROBE BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Co- lombia’s former president Alvaro Uribe is mounting his defense against allega- tions of bribery and wit- ness tampering. In a press conference on Monday, Uribe said yet-to- be-released audio record- ings will vindicate him. The Supreme Court is investigating Uribe for al- legedly pressuring wit- nesses in a legal dispute with another Colombian senator Ivan Cepeda. Uribe accused Cepeda of offering money to wit- nesses who testified that the former leader had ties to a paramilitary group. The court found no ev- idence to support Uribe’s accusation but did find grounds to investigate him for witness tam- pering instead. Uribe’s lawyer is re- questing that three Su- preme Court judges be re- cused from the case. He questioned their impar- tiality and said there is evidence of irregularities like leaking information to journalists. MEXICAN EXPERTS FIND SEEDS, CLOTH AROUND MUMMIFIED CHILD MEXICO CITY (AP) – A CAT scan of a rolled-up straw mat found in a northern Mexico cave has revealed the mummified remains of a 1 ½ year-old boy. The country’s National Institute of Anthropology and History says that re- searchers trying to deter- mine the age of the funeral bundle. But the institute said Sunday that organic materials in the cave in Tamaulipas state have been dated between 1,600 B.C. and 1,200 A.D. The child’s body bore a piece of cloth, and bone and shell ornaments. Police helicopter tracks down divers, WaveRunner The Royal Cayman Islands Police helicopter, along with civilian watercraft, managed to track down a broken-down WaveRunner, its stranded driver and a group of divers who were in difficulty, all in one Sunday afternoon rescue effort. Everyone involved was returned to shore off North West Point Road, West Bay, in good health. “Once again, the combi- nation of a speedy response by the helicopter crew and critical assistance from ci- vilians at the scene safely resolved two incidents that could have had a far worse result,” said Air Opera- tions Unit Commander Steve Fitzgerald. “This under- scores again the necessity of having the proper equip- ment and safety procedures for all marine activities. Luckily in both incidents, people on shore were able to raise the alarm.” The initial call came around 5:20 p.m. Sunday, when a resident spotted a WaveRunner drifting off the northwest coast of Grand Cayman. The RCIPS heli- copter located the WaveR- unner, drifting two miles offshore, and helped two other civilian WaveRunner operators find the stranded man. By 5:40 p.m., the Wa- veRunner was being towed back to shore. At 5:41 p.m., while the helicopter was still in the vicinity, the 911 Emergency Communications Centre re- ceived a call of six divers having difficulties, also off North West Point Road. The police helicopter located all six divers about 200 yards offshore. “They appeared to be caught in the current at that location and seemed ex- hausted,” a police statement on the second incident read. The helicopter crew hailed a nearby fishing vessel and asked its operator to head toward the divers to assist. Three of the divers managed to swim to shore, the other three were taken on board the fishing craft. A private boat picks up the three divers after the RCIPS helicopter crew directs it to where the divers are floating on the surface. Three divers caught in a current off the northwest coast of West Bay wave to the police helicopter for help. - PHOTOS: RCIPSThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 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 31, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, JULY 31 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 closes after today. NON-PROFITS: Today is the deadline to register charitable organizations under The Non-Profit Organisations Law. Registry staff will help persons to complete registration documents Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at General Registry’s offices on the ground floor of the Government Administration Building. The sessions are on an appointment basis. They will allow face-to-face assistance with completing and submitting registration applications. To book a day and time for the sessions, email paul.inniss@gov.ky or cigenreg@gov.ky. 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. BOOK SALE: Last day of $5 bag book sale at the Red Cross Thrift Shop. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Customers can get all the books they can fit in a single bag for only $5. SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 BEACH CLEANUP: 8 a.m. at Beach Bay in Savannah, organized by Plastic Free Cayman. All are invited to help. SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 JAMAICAN INDEPENDENCE: All are invited to celebrate the 56th anniversary of Jamaica’s independence with a service at St. George’s Anglican Church, 8 a.m. Courts Road off Eastern Avenue. ADULT OPEN STUDIO: Available to those who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Watler House Studio, Pedro St. James. Fee is $5/$15. Ceramics, $15 pp/$25 pp non-members. Includes use of studio, glazes, and ceramic tools. Clay available $30 per bag/ fee for kiln usage. To register, email ceramics@ visualartcayman.com or info@visualartcayman.com or call 546-9422. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 BACK TO SCHOOL FAIR: Students from George Town South and George Town West constituencies attending government primary schools are invited to the South Sound Community Centre 4-6 p.m. Activities will include marble games, rope skipping, musical chairs and competitions. Refreshments will be provided. FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 SCHOOL HEALTH SCREENINGS: All students entering government or private schools for the first time are required to have health screenings before the new school year. Today is the last day for screenings at the John Gray High School Medical Centre. Screenings continue at the Public Health Department, Cayman Islands Hospital, Aug. 20-31. Completed forms from private physicians should be submitted to the Public Health Department, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For screenings in Cayman Brac, call the Public Health Nurse on 948-2243. FRIDAY, AUGUST 24 LIQUOR LICENSE HOLDERS: License holders – including those with music and dancing licenses – are reminded that today is the deadline for applications. The Annual Liquor License Meeting is Sept. 13. SUMMER CAMPS TRADITIONAL CAYMAN COOKING: Wednesdays and Fridays, 2-4 p.m. until Aug. 31. Ages 7-12. $15 per class. Contact the National Trust. 749-1121. BRAC SPORTS: 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. For more information, contact harold.sanford@gov.ky. NATIONAL TRUST: 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 STUFF THE BUS: School supply drive to benefit students assisted by Department of Children and Family Services, Needs Assessment Unit, Crisis Centre and Boys and Girls Homes. Supplies can be dropped off at donation boxes located at Caribbean Alliance Office at 203 Alissta Towers, Cost-U-Less or Hurley’s Media in Camana Bay or can be handed directly to event organizers and charity group representatives that will be hosting live drive events at various locations on the island on Aug. 4, 11 and 18. For more information or to organize a mini- collection, visit Facebook @StuffTheBusCayman or call Caribbean Alliance on 949-9744. 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. 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. 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. 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. OPTIMIST CLUB: Meets first and third Thursdays at the Hibiscus Conference Room, Cayman Islands Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Learn more at www.optimistcayman.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Volunteers are invited to help Plastic Free Cayman clean up Beach Bay in Savannah on Saturday, Aug. 4.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY JULY 31, 2018 Safety measures for Novichok funeral Safety measures have been put in place for the funeral of a British woman who died after exposure to the deadly nerve agent Novichok. The Rev. Philip Bromiley said ‘there won’t be any pallbearers and the coffin will be in situ before we arrive.’ Thousands more flee wildfires as deadliest blaze slows down REDDING, Calif. (AP) – Thousands more people fled their homes after wildfires surged near a small lake town in Northern California, and the advance of the state’s largest, deadliest blaze slowed slightly after days of explosive growth, au- thorities said. In all, more than 10,000 people were under mandatory evacuation orders from the two blazes in Men- docino and Lake counties. Those fires were among 17 burning across the state, where fire crews were stretched to the limit. A man whose wife and two great-grandchildren were among the six people who perished in the so-called Carr Fire, near Redding, California, said he did not receive any warning to evacuate. Ed Bledsoe told CBS News he did not know his home was in danger when he left his wife, Melody, and the 4- and 5-year-old children to run an errand on Thursday. Bledsoe said he received a phone call from his wife 15 min- utes later saying he needed to get home because the fire was ap- proaching. He said one of the chil- dren told him the blaze was at the back door. When he tried to return, the road was blocked with cars, and flames prevented him from re- turning on foot. Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko told the network there’s an investigation into whether the Bledsoe home received a warning call or a knock on the home’s door. The sheriff says there is evidence that door-to-door notifications were made in the area. The latest evacuations included about 1,000 people in Mendocino County, Undersherriff Matthew Kendall said Monday. The rest are in Lake County, where residents of the town of Lakeport, population 5,000, were ordered to leave Sunday night. Two other towns with about 5,000 people are also under manda- tory evacuation. The two blazes have destroyed six homes and are threatening 10,000 others. The fires had black- ened 87 square miles, with min- imal containment. The wildfires that started Friday are about 100 miles south- west of Redding. Crews handling the blaze near Redding struck a hopeful tone for the first time in days as the mas- sive fire slowed after days of rapid expansion. “We’re feeling a lot more op- timistic today as we’re starting to gain some ground rather than being in a defensive mode on this fire all the time,” said Bret Gouvea, the California Department of For- estry and Fire Protection’s incident commander on the blaze around Redding, a city about 230 miles north of San Francisco. As of Monday, the Redding fire had destroyed 723 homes, up from a previous count of 657 homes. Shasta County Sheriff Tom Bosenko said authorities found a sixth victim of the blaze at a home that was consumed by flames, though he declined to say where. The victim’s identity was not released. Authorities were also inves- tigating at least 18 missing-per- sons reports, though many of them may simply be people who have not checked in with friends or family, police said. The Carr Fire that threatened Redding – a city of about 92,000 people – was ignited by a vehicle problem a week ago about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of the city. On Thursday, it swept through the his- toric Gold Rush town of Shasta and nearby Keswick, fueled by gusty winds and dry vegetation. It then jumped the Sacramento River and took out subdivisions on the western edge of Redding. Redding Police Chief Roger Moore kept up a round-the-clock work schedule despite learning that his home was one of those destroyed. He was finally able to shave on Saturday when his wife brought him a razor, he said. Moore was helping evacuate people from his River Ridge neigh- borhood in western Redding when the flames became unbearable. “I saw everything around it ig- nite, and I go, ‘It’s gone,’” Moore said. At least one person was arrested on suspicion of stealing from evac- uated homes and authorities were keeping watch for other potential looters, said Deputy Travis Ride- nour, whose home also burned. “Lost our house like so many others,” Ridenour wrote on Face- book. “Still out watching over the ones still standing. No looting on my watch.” After days of fortifying the areas around Redding, fire crews were in- creasingly confident that the city would escape further damage. The fire had not grown inside the city limits since Saturday, Gouvea said. Some of the 38,000 people forced to evacuate said they were frustrated because they did not know whether their homes were standing or were destroyed. Au- thorities had not reopened any evacuated neighborhoods where fires raged due to safety and on- going investigations and urged people to be patient. Fed up, on Sunday morning Tim Bollman hiked 4 miles to check on the Redding home he built for his wife and two sons 13 years ago. He found rubble. “There’s not even anything to pick up,” he said. “It’s com- pletely gone.” Keswick, a mountain town of about 450 people, was reduced to an ashy moonscape of blackened trees and smoldering rubble. The terrain surrounding nearby Whiskeytown Lake – usually filled in July with vacationers swimming in the clear water – was burned, burning or seemingly about to burn Sunday. A heavy haze hung low over the water, where some of the docked boats had melted. Firefighters and utility repair crews drove up and down the once- scenic highway, while California Department of Transportation water trucks sprayed roadsides in hopes of preventing potential wild- fires from burning across the road, which can cost several million dol- lars to repair. Meanwhile, officials said a second firefighter died fighting a huge blaze to the south near Yo- semite National Park. Brian Hughes, 33, was struck by a tree while re- moving brush and other fuel near the so-called Ferguson Fire’s front lines, officials said. Originally from Hawaii, Hughes had been with California’s Arrow- head Interagency Hotshots for four years and reached the rank of cap- tain. Earlier this month, firefighter Braden Varney was killed when the bulldozer he was operating over- turned while he was fighting the flames near the national park. Some evacuations were lifted, but officials said Yosemite Valley, the heart of tourism in the park, will remain closed until Aug. 3. San Bernardino County firefighters assess the damage to a neighborhood in the aftermath of a wildfire, Sunday, in Keswick, California. - PHOTO: AP UK court ruling seen as landmark in right-to-die cases LONDON (AP) – Britain’s Su- preme Court ruled Monday that families of patients who are in a long-term persis- tent vegetative state do not need to seek a court’s per- mission to have life support removed, in a case seen as placing the right-to-die de- cision back in the hands of loved ones and doctors. The landmark ruling comes in a case involving a man identified as Mr. Y, a 52-year-old financial ana- lyst who had suffered severe brain damage after a heart attack. Experts agreed that even if he had regained con- sciousness, he’d have pro- found cognitive and physical disabilities. The case landed in the courts because as a matter of practice, doctors have sought the approval of a court be- fore removing food and water from a patient – even if the family agreed that this was in the ill person’s best in- terest. Such cases can be costly and take months or years to resolve. In November, a High Court judge ruled that it was not mandatory to bring the matter to the courts since there was no dispute between relatives and spe- cialists. But the Official So- licitor, which represents those who are incapaci- tated, appealed. “This case is not about whether it is in the best in- terests of a patient to have (life support) withdrawn,” said Richard Gordon, the lawyer representing the Offi- cial Solicitor. “It is about who decides that question.” The court rejected the ap- peal. The ruling means that families making agonizing decisions over the care of un- responsive loved ones can avoid lengthy court battles. “Today we decide such an application is not obligatory and we dismiss the solici- tor’s official appeal,” Judge Jill Black said as she an- nounced the ruling. She emphasized that al- though an application to court was not necessary in most cases, there would undoubtedly be some in which the courts would get involved. Mr. Y died before the case was heard by the Supreme Court, but it proceeded be- cause of its importance. The case landed in the courts because as a matter of practice, doctors have sought the approval of a court before removing food and water from a patient. The two blazes have destroyed six homes and are threatening 10,000 others. The fires had blackened 87 square miles, with minimal containment.Next >