ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY AUGUST 16, 2018 High of 90 Low of 78 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 BOXING DAY: SORRY, NOT THIS YEAR SPORT | PAGE 17 FEDERER WINS, SERENA LOSES IN CINCINNATI HomeOptions Do you think “if” or “when”? BritCay is the only insurance company with a $1 million disaster recovery facility. It means business as usual when power lines and phones are down. Ask for a home insurance quote. Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd: insurance, health, pensions, life 22 new recruits join the prison service Cohort the largest ever KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Curious tourists took photos and videos from their balconies at the Westin Grand Cayman resort as a cohort of 22 prison officer re- cruits stood at attention below. After a brief inspection from Acting Governor Franz Manderson, the group was told by drill in- structor Randolph Scott to stand at ease. About 30 minutes later, the 18 men and four women would be receiving their certificates for passing what Interim Prisons Di- rector Steven Barrett described as a “very arduous process.” According to Mr. Barrett, 338 people initially applied for the latest round of vacancies at Her Majesty’s Cayman Islands Prison Service. Of those appli- cants, 261 were invited to partic- ipate in a literacy and numeracy test. Mr. Barrett said that only 105 passed those tests, moving on to a fitness test. A final 60 were selected to be interviewed, and only 23 made it through the entire training pro- cess, said the prisons director. One of the recruits dropped out for “family reasons” after passing the training process, but the 22 gradu- ates still made for the largest co- hort of recruits in the prison ser- vice’s history, Mr. Barrett said. Along with congratulating the recruits, Mr. Barrett also talked about the importance of prisons serving as institutions of rehabilitation. The recruits will be frustrated at times, he said, but will serve a crucial role in making sure that in- mates can reenter society as pro- ductive individuals. Helping rehabilitate inmates is difficult, but not impossible, he said. Mr. Manderson illustrated this point by telling a story from a re- cent encounter with a prison officer. “I was at a function a few months ago, and there was a prison officer there. A young man came up and hugged him and said, ‘Thank you for all you have done for me,’” the acting governor said. “That didn’t happen by accident. It’s because the prison officer had the right attitude. He went to work knowing he had the great privilege of making someone’s life better.” According to Mr. Barrett, the recruits all have similar opportu- nities to make a positive impact. “You’re now my colleagues,” he said. The influx of prison officers comes at a time when the facilities at Northward face overcrowding. For the last two-and-a-half years, the Cayman Islands average adult male and female prison popula- tion has hovered between 217 and 218 prisoners – a 17 percent in- crease from earlier years. For the previous four years, from 2012 to 2015, the prisons’ population aver- aged 186 prisoners held per day.. Along with the added prison officers, government is exploring other areas to house inmates, in- cluding the currently empty Im- migration Detention Centre. Secu- rity provisions and other upgrades will need to be made before that facility is ready to house inmates, according to government. Acting Governor Franz Manderson inspects the newest cohort of prison officer recruits. - PHOTO: KEN SILVA Former Cayman residents caught in Indonesia earthquake Partying down on Party Lane JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Esin Atalay had always taken it for granted that the ground beneath her feet was a solid, steady thing. That changed when a 6.9 magnitude earthquake ripped through her home in Indonesia’s Gili Islands, shaking the roof and splin- tering the walls. For Ms. Atalay and her husband Philipp Messner, who left jobs in the Cayman Islands in 2015 to set up a restaurant and boutique hotel in idyllic Gili Air, the moment the quake struck was terrifying. “The electricity failed immediately. It was pitch black and the place was shaking,” she said. “As we were running for the door, it sounded like the whole place was falling down.” For the rest of the night they huddled with 350 others, including the guests of their hotel, in a large open field as smaller af- tershocks rippled through the island and rumors of a potential tsunami spread among the group. The feared tidal wave never came and the tourists were evacuated the next day, leaving the couple and other business owners to survey the damage to the island. For Ms. Atalay and JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Party Lane in Prospect is one of the more literal road names in the Cayman Islands, named after the many parties that were held there in past years. Today, the lane enjoys a much qui- eter reputation. Located off Prospect Road on the junction of Marina Drive, Party Lane veers off to the right, alongside McRuss Grocery, and leads into a quiet community with nice homes and apartment complexes, before making a loop back onto Marina Drive. The late James (Jim) Manoah Bodden, a former government minister and Cayman’s first National Hero, developed Prospect in PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » Despite its wild-sounding moniker, Party Lane today is a quiet residential street. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY2 LOCAL&REGIONAL THURSDAY AUGUST 16, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The Cayman Heart Fund helped children have a healthy summer this year by hosting a summer camp that introduced them to basic cooking skills. The camp, held in July, gave the kids and their par- ents a chance to try out some healthy recipes while learning how to read food labels and make healthier food choices. Over the last few years, the Cayman Heart Fund’s Get Active program has been in- volved in helping families to live healthier lifestyles through health screenings, nutritional education and motivating families to partic- ipate in regular exercise. Dr. Christine Chen, Kristen Lomas and Michelle Hay- lock hosted this summer’s Get Active Cooking Camp, which was sponsored by the Cayman Heart Fund, Kirk Market and the St. Ignatius school canteen. • 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. - THURSDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME (R) 1:35 I 4:20 I 7:10 I 9:50 BLACKKKLANSMAN (R) 12:35 I 3:35 I 6:35 I 9:35 MISSION : IMPOSSIBLE FALLOUT (PG13) 12:35 3D I 3:35 VIP I 6:40 I 9:40 THE EQUALIZER 2 (R) 1:00 I 3:50 I 6:45 I 9:25 VIP THE MEG (PG13) 1:00 VIP I 3:45 3D I 6:50 VIP I 9:50 TEEN TITANS GO! TO THE MOVIES (PG) 2:30 I 4:45 MAMMA MIA! HERE WE GO AGAIN (PG13) 7:00 I 9:40 Police bring day of fun to children’s home The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Force teamed up with the children and staff of the Frances Bodden Children’s Home for a re- cent day of fun. Officers from the Bodden Town Community Policing Department helped put to- gether a barbecue and activ- ities for the children at the home on Friday, Aug. 10. Police Constable Norice Artwell and Auxiliary Con- stable Tameka Joseph-Rick- etts helped organize the event, and they were joined by members of the RCIPS Se- nior Command Team, social workers from the Depart- ment of Children and Family Services and family members of the children at the home. Community Police offi- cers from North Side, West Bay and George Town also at- tended the barbecue. “The interaction of all the police officers with the youth greatly promoted helping the youth to appre- ciate the important role the police play in the commu- nity,” said House Manager Maureen Jervis-Brooks. “It helped them to know that the police care about each of them being successful in their journey to achieving their full potential and being a credit to their families and to the community.” The event was part of the Bodden Town Community Policing Department’s out- reach initiative. The boys at the home par- ticipate in a program helmed by PC Artwell called IPAD- R, which stands for Identity, Purpose, Perseverance, Atti- tude, Destiny and Respect. And the girls take part in the Big Sister program, which was initiated by AC Joseph- Ricketts. The programs began in June, and the officers have been meeting with the chil- dren weekly to participate in a wide range of activities. Police deliver message of road safety to football-playing youngsters JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Summer campers learned a little more than football at the FC International Football Camp on Wednesday. Police Inspector Ian Year- wood from the Police Traffic Department educated young- sters on becoming law abiding citizens, with the view that it’s never too early to promote the message about safety on local roads. “Today, I will discuss with you driving under the in- fluence of alcohol, speeding and tinted car windows,” In- spector Yearwood told the assembled crowd of chil- dren, who ranged in age from 5 to 16. When he said he knew they were wondering why he wanted to talk to them about road safety, one young- ster shouted out: “I know, you mean about crashing.” More than 50 kids at- tended the free football camp at The Annex playing field in George Town. Inspector Yearwood told them, “I want to share this message with you because you need to know. We have three islands, and for such a small place, we have lots and lots of accidents, too [many] accidents, and some of these accidents can be avoided. Al- cohol and driving should not be mixed.” Inspector Yearwood also instructed the young- sters in the use of police radar guns and how al- cohol affects drivers’ abili- ties to respond quickly in the event of an accident. For the next three days, the campers will learn sports strategies, as well as personal development, discipline, team- work and cooperation. Young- sters of varying skill levels have been turning out since Monday for the camp, which is free of charge for participants. FC International Foot- ball Camp has been hosted islandwide since 1994. The camps help develop funda- mental skills and discipline in the sport, organizers said. FC’s assistant coach Melicia Andrews, who has been involved with the pro- gram for three years, said she is seeing more youngsters par- ticipate in the camps. “The youngsters are def- initely interested. A few of have even joined football clubs,” she said. The camp also gives them the opportunity to form life- long friendships and bonds with coaches while learning the game, she said, adding: “For me, it provides a positive future and keeps me fit.” In addition to supporting young athletes, FC Interna- tional has provided training and advancement oppor- tunities for many volun- teer coaches known as “ju- nior coaches.” Ms. Andrews is one of these coaches. Finding a seat for his two boys, parent Nikol Pearson said his participation in foot- ball camps and the positive experience he had received were his reasons for en- rolling his two boys. Coaches said since the in- ception of the camp, it has been attracting more and more youngsters each year. FC International President Kennedy Ebanks thanked the camp’s sponsors, saying: “Most camps, you have to pay but we do ours totally free with the help of sponsorship from individuals, businesses, government and anyone else that’s willing to give.” Heart Fund helps keep kids healthy this summer Participants and organizers at the Cayman Heart Fund’s Get Active Cooking Camp. GUYANA TO BUILD REFUGEE SETTLEMENT GEORGETOWN, Guyana (AP) – Guyana says it will set up a temporary settlement for hundreds of people who have fled the eco- nomic collapse in neigh- boring Venezuela. Citizenship Minister Winston Felix says his government will lease land near the north- western border with Ven- ezuela to provide refu- gees with shelter, food and medicine. Felix described the facilities to reporters Wednesday as basic, with tarpaulins to provide cover from the tropical sun and outdoor toilet facilities. An estimated 500 Venezuelans have crossed into Guyana in recent months. Guyana is one of the poorest and least-devel- oped countries in the Western Hemisphere. FC International campers look through a radar gun held by Police Inspector Ian Yearwood. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Volunteers pose during a fun day with the children and staff from Frances Bodden Children’s Home.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 16, 2018 Don’t Get TRAPPED at Home. Call 233-4427 or order your tank refills online at cleangas.ky Lower propane prices are a Clean choice. You are free to choose your propane supplier. Don’t be misled by long-term contracts! They do NOT guarantee low pricing. And you can break free! Clean Gas is the clean choice. We offer everyday low prices and deliver 20lb, 100lb or 200lb propane tanks directly to your home. Did you know? School surveys reveal highs and lows MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com A summary report on sur- veys taken during a series of school inspections in the past year shows how var- ious primary schools stack up against one another in terms of parent, staff and student assessments. All three groups were en- couraged to participate in surveys when inspectors from the Office of Educa- tion Standards visited their schools during the 2017-2018 academic year. Some schools saw greater participation than others, ranging from as few as 10 parent respon- dents at North Side’s Edna M. Moyle Primary to 95 respon- dents at Red Bay Primary. The highest satisfaction came from those surveyed at Edna M. Moyle. On eight of the 11 survey questions, in- cluding one about overall sat- isfaction with educational quality, 100 percent of the par- ents gave positive responses. While satisfaction levels varied, almost all fell into positive territory. Only seven responses to the 11 questions posed at 10 schools showed less than half of parents were satisfied. Three of those were at Bodden Town Primary. Of the 23 parents who filled out the survey for the school, 48 percent were satis- fied or happy with the overall quality of education. The same level agreed that parents were effectively involved in the work of the school, but just 29 percent felt their children were making progress in science. Of the 13 teachers and staff taking the survey at Bodden Town, only 69 per- cent said the school was well led. The school has a new principal, Kimberly Watler, this year. Ms. Watler initially agreed to discuss the survey results, but did not respond to a follow-up call. Savannah and Prospect primaries also scored low on leadership in the teacher and staff survey, with 67 and 62 percent respectively. East End Primary and Cayman Brac’s West End Primary both had 100 percent satis- faction for leadership among their teachers and staff. Satisfaction with the overall quality of education was high, with six of the 10 schools receiving a 100 percent endorsement from teachers and staff. Lowest rated was West Bay’s Sir John A. Cumber Primary with 76 percent. Half the teachers and staff at that school were dis- satisfied with the behavior of students, and only 48 percent of parents said they thought student behavior was good at the school. Both of those ratings were significantly lower than those of other schools, and Sir John A. Cumber students felt the same way. A survey of 111 fifth and sixth graders showed 43 percent felt stu- dent behavior was good and 60 percent said they felt safe at school, again the lowest rating among the 10 schools. A voice message left at the school was not returned, but in a previous interview, Prin- cipal Paul Samuel said he and his staff believe the issue is related to a small group of problem students. He said the school is focused on ad- dressing the situation and improving it. Woman arrested for gambling offenses Cars targeted by crooks Police arrested a 49-year- old woman on suspicion of gambling offenses Tuesday. According to a Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice, customs officers spotted a small group of people “be- having suspiciously” on Sound Way in George Town Tuesday. “When approached by cus- toms officers, several people scattered, and a woman re- mained who was found to be in possession of various sums of cash on her person,” the release stated. Police were notified and the woman, of George Town, was arrested. She remained in police custody Wednesday. Police are investi- gating two reports of cars being broken into in South Sound, and a third report involving the theft of tires and rims from a car on Walkers Road. On Monday, Aug. 13, the front passenger windows of two cars were smashed at an address in Sunrise Boulevard. The cars were ransacked but nothing was reported stolen, police said. That same morning, of- ficers responded to a report of the tires and rims of an- other car being stolen from a car parked outside a Walkers Road residence. EASIER ACCESS TO JUSTICES OF THE PEACE A service launched last month is providing access to a justice of the peace for the general public and civil ser- vants three times a week in the lobby of the Government Administration Building. From 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the justices of the peace can provide such ser- vices as witnessing a signa- ture on an authentic docu- ment, certifying a document as a true copy of the original as long as the original has been provided, completing a Cayman Islands or British passport application, and ac- knowledging that a photo provided is an exact likeness. The Council of the Jus- tices of the Peace Associa- tion said those applying for a new or renewed Cayman or British passport must have an identification card, unless they have known the justice of the peace personally for two years or more. Satisfaction with the overall quality of education was high, with six of the 10 schools receiving a 100 percent endorsement from teachers and staffs.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” The Bodden Town boxing gym has been KO’d without a single punch being thrown or a competitor entering the ring … which, of course, raises a serious question: Has anyone yet notified Manny? Readers may recall the Don King-like hype and hoopla approximately two years ago when the pugilist- turned-politician (the Filipino slugger Manny Pacquiao) joined Premier Alden McLaughlin (known to throw a few punches himself in the political arena) and other officials to show off Grand Cayman to Manny and to show off Manny to potential voters in Grand Cayman. It was one of the first political stunts of the 2017 campaign season. In addition to the boxing exhibition that Pacquiao hosted, the main event of the entire trip was the gath- ering of politicians, including Osbourne Bodden, who was then sports minister, Premier McLaughlin, and MLA Wayne Panton. Wielding the requisite golden shovels, hard hats and campaign grins, the entourage announced the proposal for a magnificent edifice, the plaque of which was to read: “The Bodden Town Boxing Gymnasium.” (In the ensuing election, of course, Messrs. Bodden and Panton hit the canvas pretty hard, and the boxing center never got up either.) In Wednesday’s Cayman Compass, we reported that Christen Suckoo, chief officer in the ministry of sports, effectively confirmed that for the foreseeable future, the Bodden Town equivalent to Madison Square Garden would have to remain a proposal without funding, which, of course, is simply another way of saying, a dream. On the subject of the pantheon of nice ideas, who can ever forget the Cayman Ice Palace, once declared to be the cornerstone of the Progressives’ downtown redevelopment plan; Jubilee Park, a 44-foot bell tower topped off with a cross (appropriately to be constructed on the Tower Building site adjacent to the Legislative Assembly); the oil refinery to be situated on 13 acres of Industrial Park land; and, of course, the Glass House (projected to be a public park) which observant residents will note is still standing as proudly as the skeletal structure of the once-grand Hyatt Regency Hotel. Just as the universe has a natural order, so too do all successful ventures, projects and most human endeavors: calculators before shovels, planning before building, funding before promising. When governments, rather than private institutions or certainly individuals, make pronouncements about future capital projects, it is important, indeed, impera- tive that they follow up on the expectations that their words and behaviors have set into motion. As a news organization, while we will continue to keep our readers informed about government’s proposals and plans, we always will include in our coverage a modicum of skepticism. Even under the best of conditions, we under- stand that circumstances evolve, priorities are reor- dered, governments change hands and any number of unforeseen events can affect the most well-intentioned and noble of visions. Nevertheless, we cannot help but notice that this newspaper publishes a far greater number of stories on groundbreakings than it does on ribbon cuttings. Boxing Day: Sorry, not this year THURSDAY AUGUST 16, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The news in the media today talks about the Cayman Islands are booming, which gives the impression that all three islands are thriving, which in fact is false. As a businessman in Cayman Brac, I have never seen business so slow in the last 30 years. Cayman Brac does not need a Marriott or a Kimpton Seafire, but it does need some accommodations for tourists. This could be ac- complished by reinventing some of the boarded-up houses that now existing here. I believe that Brackers that are living abroad or in Grand Cayman should not forget their roots, and [should] get involved in investing in their island. It is now the time for Brackers to come to the aid of their island, Cayman Brac, and invest. The time is right to buy property in Cayman Brac, as it is a buyers’ market. And with the incentives still in place that all new building material is duty free, this is a huge savings. Making it no time like now to invest. Cayman Brac is a crime- free island, with an excel- lent infrastructure which in- cludes a modern international airport, docking facilities for ships, newly paved roads, as well as a modern hospital, staffed with experienced doc- tors and nurses. Cayman Brac offers some of the best diving in the world, along with our 140- foot bluff, which offers great nature trail hiking to ob- serve the abundant of birds and plants, and the mag- nificent rock walls for rock climbing. There is something for everybody. In view of the unrest in the rest of the world, Cayman Brac has a stable govern- ment, no traffic jams and very friendly people – making Cayman Brac well worth the investment. Mervyn Scott V.S. Naipaul, quintessential West Indian intellectual SIR HILARY BECKLES V.S. Naipaul, our phenom- enal West Indian son, has resigned, leaving behind a substantial space in our so- ciety, that we can only hope would one day be filled again. The passages detailing his passing have been marked with sadness on all sides of the discursive divide of the subject he centered with sen- sational success – the naked and hidden truths of the post- colonial world. West Indian society was blessed to have produced and unleashed him upon a world much in need of self-liberation. For over half a century the master scribe was magiste- rial in pursuit of his mission. All who read and heard him, marvelled at his intellectual insights, though his panache for pinching the raw nerve extracted fury from a few. The mega-narrative of the lit- erary icon was the primary inner theme of our times – freedom. Imagining a literary “West Indianness,” as a cel- ebration of cultural creolity, was for him, at times, fri- volity; more meaningful were the possibilities embedded in the ontologies of ancestry. He reserved his satirical sting for the emerging soci- eties of what he termed the “bourgeoise banana democ- racy” that proliferated the pe- ripheries of empire. Migra- tion, he said, the brick and mortar of the West Indies, has made us all mad as we imagine the attainment of freedom from colonial ideals. The very idea of “madness” proved to be a metaphor of nationhood embedded in Nai- paulian dimensions. From “Biswas” to “Mimic men,” the West Indian journey to justice is narrated in the contradictory pains and pas- sions of our attempts to de- tach from the colonial scaf- fold. Naipaul delved deeply and described the political brutality, cultural banality, and heroic vanity of the effort. In many respects, Naipaul was the all-seeing, inner eye that witnessed inconvenient truths daily brushed under a mountainous Caribbean rug. V.S. was very special in every sense. His “Trini” roots were as deep as can be imagined; every branch of his work drew upon Indian springs that fertilized his Caribbean comprehension of the on- tological encounter so lyri- cally captured as the Nile- Ganges discourse. Inserting this indigenous Caribbean mindscape into the open field of British imperial brutishness provided the core of his global view about the world and everyone’s place in it. He admitted to adoring as- pects of Englishness, and was contemptuous of “creole” ver- sions of it, a pivot that drew attention to popular mimicry. His craving for notions of es- sence led him to experiencing “home” as nothing more than ruins filled with “despair and rootlessness.” Redemption, and less so, reparations was not an item on his radar. Our literary genius was quintessentially a West In- dian intellectual, strug- gling with the contradictory consciousness of post-colo- nialism, including the paro- dies and pleasures of imperial culture. He was torn and tor- tured at every turn, and never sought to find solace or inner peace in any conciliatory con- ceptual discourse. Instead, he dug deeper into the reality he felt could not be repaired. Home, he felt, was filled with pain, and now he will never return to it again. Writing provided the in- spirational use of his abun- dant existential turbulence, and served as a cocoon for his complex, hyper-critical con- sciousness. Without words and ideas, he would have long ceased to be. His persistent melancholy was as West In- dian as cricket, carnival and picong. He will dwell among us forever. We bid farewell and send blessings to accom- pany him to ancestors. Here resides the great V.S. Naipaul, in a special way, the St. Paul of Caribbean civilization. Professor Sir Hilary Beckles is Vice Chancellor of The University of the West Indies. LETTER TO THE EDITOR No development boom on the Brac V.S. Naipaul5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 16, 2018 Bringing together leading thinkers and experts in the renewable energy industry to explore low carbon options for Cayman and the wider Caribbean. Tickets are CI$500. Register today at cteccayman.com REGISTER NOW FOR CAYMAN’S ONLY RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFERENCE September 13-14, 2018 | Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, Grand Cayman 2018 Dr the Honourable Kedrick Pickering Deputy Premier & Minister for Natural Resources & Labour, British Virgin Islands Ronald Jumeau Seychelles Ambassador to the United Nations Jerry Barber Inventor & Chairman of the Board, Barber Wind Turbines KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Adrian Grenier Actor & UN Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, PLANNING & INFRASTRUCTURE CREA Cayman iguana meat to go on sale in US JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The first green iguana meat export shipment left the Cayman Islands Tuesday, raising hopes that the pri- vate sector could play a role in tackling the growing problems posed by the in- vasive species. After a lengthy vetting and permitting process, Spinion Ltd. shipped 236 pounds of iguana to its American subsidiary to be processed for sale online. The company aims to start on a small scale, targeting a niche food market in the United States largely made up of Central American expa- triates. It hopes to generate a strong enough customer base to ship 500 pounds of iguana each week – equivalent to about 200 iguanas. The figure is a drop in the ocean in the context of the 14,000 iguanas per week that environment officials say need to be killed to begin to make an impact on the in- vasive species. But Spinion’s owners believe they can be a big part of the solution. In the long term, the busi- ness owners hope to get into the pet-food industry, a move that would enable them to export significantly higher volumes of iguana. Maria Yapelli, one of the founders of the busi- ness, said: “Currently the ex- port is for human consump- tion. Once we get the dog food and dog treats going, we will be able to take field- slaughtered animals; then we would be talking about 2,000 pounds per week.” She said processing iguana meat for dog food would require investment in research and development, but could be an avenue for the Cayman Islands to make a profit by getting rid of its unwanted iguanas. “If we want to get big numbers of iguanas off this island, we need to get the dog food and dog treats going. If the government here would be willing to help us de- velop that, it could be a win- win,” she added. “That would enable us to cull and get them off island without throwing them into the dump and potentially cre- ating another health issue.” Food safety regulations mean animals meant for human consumption have to be caught live and killed at Spinion’s processing plant in George Town. The com- pany uses contractors to supply iguanas, caught with a noose, and has set up a pen in North Side where the animals can be left for col- lection. It plans to set up similar facilities in Bodden Town and West Bay. Ms. Yapelli said Spinion would be increasing the amount of iguana it buys from ethical contractors, and adding Caymanian staff to work at its processing plant. For now, though, she plans to bask for a few days in the triumph of making the first export shipment. “It has been a long road with a lot of hurdles, but we are finally there. I’m so ex- cited,” she said. Spinion’s Maria Yapelli and Benjamin Bodden unload packages of iguana meat alongside Cayman Dispatch Service’s Rowel Atencio and Roger Porter Tuesday at the airport. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER Chevening scholarships accepting applications ROADWORK ON CREWE ROAD Applications for Cheve- ning scholarships are being accepted from now through Nov. 6. The scholarships, funded through the British government, are awarded to international students with strong academic back- grounds and who have shown leadership potential. Recipients are provided with full financial support to study for any eligible master’s degree at any U.K. university while also gaining access to a wide range of exclusive aca- demic, professional, and cul- tural experiences. More than 1,500 schol- arships will be offered in- ternationally for the 2019- 2020 academic year. Since 1983, 50,000 students have become Chevening scholars. “If you are chosen for Chevening, you will receive a first-rate U.K. education which can open doors in your career,” said Acting Governor Franz Manderson in a statement. “You will also become part of the global Cheve- ning alumni network full of dynamic influencers who have shared the same expe- rience as you will, and can offer mentorship, advice, and contacts.” Chevening’s Head of Pro- gramme Management Louise Thomson said the Chevening allows students to choose from more than 12,000 mas- ter’s courses at more than 150 higher education institutions. Applications are available online at www.chevening.org/apply. The National Roads Au- thority will be closing the westbound lane of Crewe Road at the Silver Oaks Roundabout on Saturday, Aug. 18, and Sunday, Aug. 19, while roadwork in the area continues. Motorists are advised to use the Linford Pierson Highway during these times. Traffic signs will be posted in the general vi- cinity of the work areas and motorists are asked to drive with caution and obey all instructions from staff on the ground.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 THURSDAY AUGUST 16, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS the 1980s, according to Charles Watler, a retired local businessman. Party Lane became part of the lots that Mr. Bodden pur- chased from Fossie Arch and Benson Greenall, an English entrepreneur who developed the Galleon Beach hotel on Seven Mile Beach. Before that, government owned the land, which was known as “Orange Tree,” be- cause of the sweet oranges that were farmed in the area. Local businessman Fred Whittaker bought property in the development, built his home and called it as he saw it – Party Lane – because of all the parties that oc- curred in the area. “There was always a party on Party Lane,” said Mr. Whittaker, recalling the good times. “People had fun. They would gather to play dominoes, dance, socialize, eat some good local food and hang out to the small hours of the morning. Some guests even spent the night be- cause they had had too much to drive home.” Party Lane grew quieter after Mr. Whit- taker stopped drinking al- cohol in 2005. “The party moved to the Mango Tree Bar and Grill in George Town. That’s where all the action is now,” said Mr. Whittaker, who manages the outdoor bar. “Mr. Whittaker’s house was known by many for its great parties,” said Marilyn Nasirun, a local farmer. She said a stay-over after a party would sometimes re- sult in a sweet breakfast con- sisting of fried fish, fritters, salt fish and ackee, bacon, eggs, toast, coffee or an early morning pot of fish tea or soup – then the partying started all over again. “I had lots of fun … we just couldn’t wait for weekend to come around and hear there was a party on Party Lane … good food, music and good times with friends,” Ms. Nasirun said. This article is one in a continuing series that explores the stories behind some of Cayman’s unusual road names.Prospect’s Party Lane enjoys a quieter side of life today. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Partying down on Party Lane CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mr. Messner, the quake has closed their business indef- initely and could mean the demolition of some of their guest villas. But amid the devastation seen across the region, they feel lucky. The earthquake, which centered on northern Lombok, left at least 321 people dead, 1,033 seriously injured and 270,000 people displaced from their homes. Now the couple are trying to rebuild their business and do what they can to support their 19 staff members, many of whom lost their homes and are living in tents. Mr. Messner, who worked for seven years as a server at Morgan’s restaurant, and Ms. Atalay, who worked as a dive instructor with Happy Fish Divers, left Grand Cayman three years ago to open their own restaurant and bar, Sharkbites, in the Gili Islands, a popular tourist destination off the coast of Lombok. They had opened some luxury guest villas adjoining the property just months be- fore the earthquake hit. The couple, who plan to stay in Gili Air and rebuild, are currently camping out in the open air, sleeping on mattresses set up around a neighboring dive shop. Though their restaurant re- mains intact, the villas have been seriously damaged and concern about after- shocks from the earthquake is forcing people to stay away from buildings. Ms. Atalay said her primary concern was for the wellbeing of their staff, most of whom live on the mainland, which was more severely affected. “Our business is indefi- nitely closed until we can figure out what the best fix is for the buildings,” she said. “We are staying fo- cused on the families of the 19 people that we employ and are out of a job for the foreseeable future. We are helping them and their fami- lies first and foremost. “We want to try to make a difference in the lives of people we know.” She said many of the tourist businesses on Gili Air employ people from Lombok and are trying to do every- thing they can to get direct aid to their staff. “Our restaurant is closed,” she said, “but we have been working with our suppliers instead of shipping food and supplies to us to go to our staff and their fami- lies in Lombok.” The restaurant has also set up a GoFundMe page and is working with other busi- nesses on Gili Air to get help to those that need it most. So far they have raised nearly $3,000 to help provide tents, safe drinking water, baby food and other supplies. Ms. Atalay said she was appealing to friends in Cayman and around the world as well as anyone who had visited Sharkbites to do what they could to help. “If you came here and had a great meal at Sharkbites and want to kick in five dol- lars for the family of the chef that made it, that is great.” In the long term, she said she hoped the restaurant, hotel and the island’s other tourism businesses would get back on their feet quickly, to enable the people of Lombok to start earning money again. To contribute visit www.GoFundMe.com/ aid-for-members-of-sharkbitesvilla. Former Cayman residents caught in Indonesia earthquake CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Backers of Brazil’s Lula rally on filing day for candidacy BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) – Thou- sands of supporters of jailed former President Luiz In- acio Lula da Silva rallied Wednesday outside the court in Brazil’s capital where his party planned to register his candidacy for president later in the day. Da Silva is serving a sen- tence for a corruption con- viction, but he continues to lead polls for October’s pres- idential election. His leftist Workers’ Party has long vowed that he will be its can- didate, even though it is ex- pected the court will bar him from running because of the conviction. Da Silva and his sup- porters insist is innocent, contending the charges were trumped up to pre- vent him from returning to the presidency. “We don’t even think about the possibility (of an election without da Silva) be- cause an election without Lula would be a fraud,” Elen Neves, a 22-year-old farmer from Parana state, said, using the name most Brazilians call the former president. “But if by any chance his candi- dacy is rejected, we will keep fighting for him to achieve the presidency.” Neves was among more than 10,000 people from around the country who marched through Brasilia on Wednesday and rallied at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to show support for da Silva’s candidacy. Da Silva is revered in many parts of Brazil for his humble beginnings and for sharing the fruits of the country’s boom years with the poor and working classes. The police presence was heavy around the court, though the rally was peaceful. Many of the sup- porters wore red shirts or T- shirts with da Silva’s face on them. Some more masks of his face. The crowd shouted: “Free Lula!” or “Lula, warrior of the Brazilian people!” The registering of a candi- dacy, even for the president, is not usually a notable event. Several politicians already filed without any fanfare and a few more would do so by the end of Wednesday, the filing deadline. But da Silva’s case is dif- ferent. Brazilian law bars anyone like da Silva who has had a conviction upheld from holding office, though the court has the final say. His conviction and the question over whether he can run for office has split Brazil, where some see his jailing as proof that no one is above the law and others feel he is being persecuted by a jus- tice system being manipu- lated to prevent him from taking power again. Da Silva was convicted last year of trading favors with a construction company in exchange for the promise of a beachfront apartment. That conviction was part of the huge “Car Wash” cor- ruption investigation in which prosecutors have alleged that Brazil’s government was ef- fectively co-opted for years, with politicians doling out favors and state contracts in exchange for bribes and campaign contributions. The investigation has shaken Bra- zil’s political system and put dozens of powerful people in jail, including some of the country’s richest men. Da Silva and his supporters insist is innocent, contending the charges were trumped up to prevent him from returning to the presidency. A supporter holds a photo of Brazil’s jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as he takes part Wednesday in the Free Lula March, in Brasilia, Brazil. - PHOTO: AP Esin Atalay and Philipp Messner left the Cayman Islands in 2015 to open Sharkbites restaurant in the Gili Islands.THURSDAY, AUG. 16 PUB QUIZ: Fidel Murphy’s, West Bay Road. 7 p.m. $10 per person, teams maximum of six members. Humane Society fundraiser. To reserve a table, contact 949-5189 or sarah.dyer81@gmail.com. FRIDAY, AUG. 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. SATURDAY, AUG. 18 CIIPA CHARITY RUN: The Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants invites the community to walk or run for Special Olympics Cayman Islands. Walkers and runners of all levels are invited to participate in a 5K or 10K distance, both starting at 6:30 a.m. This is chip-timed event and two water stations will be available on the course. The $25 race fee includes breakfast, and entry into the post-race prize draw. To register, visit www.ciipa. ky/events-calendar. 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 today. For more information or to organize a mini-collection, visit Facebook @StuffTheBusCayman or call Caribbean Alliance on 949-9744. TUESDAY, AUG. 21 SEAFARERS: The Seafarers Association advises all members that there will be a General Meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Avenue, Prospect. Buses will be provided from West Bay Town Hall at 6 p.m. A bus route in George Town leaves the public library parking area at 7 p.m., stopping at Cayman Compass building and the Airport Foster’s. The bus is marked Bobo $1 Public transport and is blue in color; there is no charge. FRIDAY, AUG. 24 ART OF FASHION: Opening reception at the National Gallery, 6-8 p.m. An exhibition featuring new collections by designers Isy B and Jawara Alleyne, inspired by the National Art Collection. Free admission to members. Guests may purchase a $25 guest membership for entrance to the event. Exhibition runs until Nov. 30. 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. SATURDAY, AUG. 25 BRAC CONCERT: The Brac Community Theatre Company presents a variety concert and fashion show at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre. Doors open 7 p.m. Show time 7:30 p.m. Contact 924-8446 for more information. WEDNESDAY, AUG. 29 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: The Family Resource Centre hosts a Domestic Violence Intervention Training workshop for frontline professionals and interested members of the community Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 29-31. The free three-day workshop will be held in George Town Library, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. As well as taking part in interactive presentations from external facilitators, participants will learn about ways to support individuals and families dealing with domestic violence. For further information and to register for the workshop, contact the FRC at 949-0006 or email frc@gov.ky. The program for Cayman Brac this month has been canceled. SELF-HARM PREVENTION: The Ministry of Community Affairs invites the public to a presentation on identifying self-harm and suicidal thoughts. The free presentation, being hosted with the support of the Alex Panton Foundation, will educate parents, residents and the community on how to identify self-harm and suicidal thoughts/behaviors. Attendees will also be advised about how to respond and who to reach out to for help, guidance and support. 7–8:30 p.m. Bodden Town Civic Centre. THURSDAY, AUG. 30 LITTLE CAYMAN VEHICLES: Vehicle licensing. 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Little Cayman District Office. BRAC COURT: Summary court today and tomorrow. Aston Rutty Civic Centre. 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 on 749-1121. BRAC YMCA: Summer Camp. $90 per camper, per week. Aug. 20-24. Contact ysummercamp@ ymcacayman.ky for more information. KIDSABILITY: A variety of programs for various ages, with activities from school readiness to bike riding. Contact www.kidsability.ky. GENERAL INTEREST NCVO BARGAIN SHOP: The NCVO New To You Bargain Shop extends opening hours for the rest of August. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Sundays. Customers can find lightly used products on sale, including household items, baby supplies, toys, shoes, books, clothes (including select school uniforms) and craft items. The shop is located at 90A Anthony Drive, off Smith Road, (beside the rear entrance of The Pines Retirement Home). Sales benefit the NCVO’s children’s programs. For more information on the shop, its donation policy or volunteering, contact Mona at ncvocoordinator@ncvo.org.ky or 949-2124/526-1078. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY AUGUST 16, 2018 The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 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. OCTOBER , The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman www.breastcancerfoundation.ky info@breastcancerfoundation.ky PRINT MEDIA SPONSOR Featuring Special Guest Speaker Shannen D hert THANK YOU TO OUR PLATINUM SPONSOR Students going to school for first time in the coming new school year are required to undergo health screenings. Friday, Aug. 17, is the last day for screenings at the John Gray High School Medical Centre, and screenings continue at the Public Health Department, Cayman Islands Hospital, from Aug. 20-31. – PHOTO: CHRIS COURTThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Boat sinks on Nile in Sudan, killing 22 Sudan’s state news agency says a boat sank while crossing the Nile River, killing at least 21 students and a woman. SUNA said the boat was carrying more than 40 students on their way to school in the northern River Nile state on Wednesday. THURSDAY AUGUST 16, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS COME TO MIAMI Great Deals on all Merchandise China India Asia USA Products from: Wholesale•Sample sales•Cash & Carry•Direct Sales Call 305.262.3200 info@asiaamericatradeshow.com Register FREE ONLINE - www.asiaamericashow.com Apparel & Fashion, Beauty, Cosmetics, Perfumes, Wigs & Hair, Jewelry, Health, Linens, Bedding, Bath items, Kitchen & House wares, Consumer Electronics, Cellular, Tablet PCs, Outdoor, Camping, Toys, Gifts, Holiday, Seasonal, LED Lighting, Souvenirs, Novelties, Tools, Convenience, Dollar Items, Smoking & Vapor, Variety, Value, Liquidations & Closeouts, Complete Booth Sales,Value, Liquidations & Closeouts, Complete Booth Sales, General Merchandise, Brand New Products Some primary night ‘firsts’ as Dems pick diverse slates ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – In a night of firsts, Democrats in Vermont’s primary chose the nation’s first transgender gu- bernatorial nominee. In Min- nesota, they picked a woman who would be the first So- mali-American member of Congress. Connecticut Demo- crats nominated a candidate who could become the first black woman from the state to serve in Congress. Democrats embraced di- versity in Tuesday primaries, while Republicans in Min- nesota rejected a familiar face of the GOP old guard in favor of a rising new- comer aligned with President Donald Trump. But Minnesota Demo- crats also backed a national party leader who is facing accusations of domestic vio- lence. He has denied the alle- gations, yet they threaten to undercut enthusiasm in his state and beyond. On the other side, Trump tightened his grip on the modern-day Republican Party as the turbulent 2018 pri- mary season lurched toward its finale. A one-time Trump critic, former two-term Min- nesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty lost a comeback attempt he was expected to win. Trump fired off a cele- bratory tweet Wednesday, hailing “Great Republican election results” and adding “Red Wave!” He also endorsed a series of candidates in Wisconsin, including Bryan Steil who won the GOP pri- mary for the House seat held by Speaker Paul Ryan and Leah Vukmir, who will face Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin in November. All but 10 states picked their candidates for Novem- ber’s general election by the time the day’s final votes were counted. While the full political battlefield is not quite set, the stakes are clear: Democrats are working to topple Republican control of Congress and governors’ of- fices across the nation. Four states held prima- ries Tuesday: Vermont, Con- necticut, Minnesota and Wis- consin. Kansas’ gubernatorial primary, which was held last week, was finalized when Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer conceded defeat. In Minnesota, Republican County Commissioner Jeff Johnson defeated Pawlenty, who once called Trump “un- hinged and unfit” and was hoping to regain his old post. In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker, endorsed just this week by Trump, won the right to seek a third term. The president’s pick for Kansas governor, Secretary of State Kris Kobach, scored a delayed victory against Colyer, who became the first incumbent governor to fall this season. In Vermont, Democrat Christine Hallquist won the Democratic nomination in her quest to become the na- tion’s first transgender gov- ernor. The former chief ex- ecutive of Vermont Electric Cooperative bested a field of four Democrats that included a 14-year-old. While she made history on Tuesday, Hallquist faces a difficult path to winning the governor’s race. Repub- lican incumbent Phil Scott remains more popular with Democrats than members of his own party in the solidly liberal state. Vermont Democrats also nominated Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has not ruled out a second presidential run in 2020, for a third term in the Senate. The 76-year-old democratic socialist won the Democratic nomination, but he is expected to turn it down and run as an independent. Democrats appeared par- ticularly motivated in Wis- consin, where eight candi- dates lined up for the chance to take on Walker. Walker’s strong anti-union policies made him a villain to Democrats long before Trump’s rise. State schools chief Tony Evers, who has clashed with Walker at times, won the Dem- ocratic nomination and will take on Walker this fall. Once a target of Trump criticism, Walker gained the president’s endorsement in a tweet Monday night calling him “a tremendous Governor who has done incredible things for that Great State.” Trump also starred, in- formally at least, in Wiscon- sin’s Senate primaries as Republicans try to deny Dem- ocratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin a second term. Longtime state law- maker Leah Vukmir, who was backed by House Speaker Paul Ryan, won the Repub- lican primary, even after struggling to explain footage recently unearthed from 2016 in which she called Trump “offensive to everyone.” Tuesday’s primaries served as a test of Democratic enthu- siasm in the upper Midwest, a region that has long been asso- ciated with liberal politics but has been trending red. Trump won Wisconsin by less than 1 percentage point in 2016, be- coming the first Republican presidential candidate to carry the state since 1984. It was much the same in Minnesota, where Trump lost by less than 3 percentage points in a state that has not backed a Republican presi- dential contender since 1972. Nearly twice as many Minnesota Democrats as Re- publicans cast ballots in their parties’ respective gu- bernatorial primaries. Pawlenty had been con- sidered the heavy favorite in a two-person Republican contest for his old job. But he struggled to adapt to a GOP that had changed dras- tically since he left office in 2011 and flamed out early in a 2012 presidential bid. The former two-term gov- ernor strained to live down his October 2016 comment that Trump was “unhinged and unfit for the presidency,” remarks that incensed many Republican voters in Minne- sota and beyond. Johnson, his underfunded opponent, circulated Pawlenty’s critique far and wide, telling voters that he was a steadfast sup- porter of the president. Johnson will face Dem- ocratic Rep. Tim Walz, who won a three-way race for his party’s nomination. Three Minnesota women won Senate nominations, in- cluding incumbent Dem- ocrats Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith. Smith, who had been ap- pointed to replace Democrat Al Franken, will face Repub- lican state Sen. Karin Hou- sley, ensuring a woman will hold the seat once held by Franken, who left Congress amid allegations of sexual misconduct toward women. Nationwide, a record number of women are run- ning this year for governor and Congress. Meanwhile, a new scandal threatened to dampen Demo- cratic enthusiasm. Rep. Keith Ellison, the Democratic National Com- mittee’s deputy chairman, captured his party’s nomina- tion in the race to become the state’s attorney general. That is after Ellison’s candidacy was rocked by allegations over the weekend of domestic violence amid a broader na- tional outcry against sexual misconduct by powerful men in business, entertainment and politics. Ellison has denied a former girlfriend’s allegations that he dragged her off a bed while screaming obsceni- ties during a 2016 relation- ship she said was plagued by “narcissistic abuse.” On the other side, Trump tightened his grip on the modern-day Republican Party as the turbulent 2018 primary season lurched toward its finale. 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THROUGH THE MONTH OF AUGUST C om e ce leb rate Puritan Cle an er s You Feel Good When You Look Good Rain or Shine Suicide bomber targets Shiite students in Kabul, killing 48 KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) – A suicide bomber targeted stu- dents preparing for university exams in a Shiite neighbor- hood of Kabul on Wednesday, killing at least 48 people and wounding 67 in an attack blamed on the Islamic State group, officials said. The bombing was the latest large-scale assault on Afghanistan’s Shiite commu- nity, which has increasingly been targeted by Sunni ex- tremists who consider Shiites to be heretics. It comes amid a particularly bloody week in Afghanistan that has seen Taliban attacks kill scores of Afghan troops and civilians. The bomber detonated his explosives inside a pri- vate building in the Dasht-i Barcha area of Kabul where a group of young Shiite men and women, all high school graduates, were studying for university entrance exams. The spokesman for the public health ministry, Wahid Majroh, said the casualty fig- ures were not final and that the death toll – which steadily rose in the immediate after- math of the bombing – could rise further. Majroh did not say if all the victims were students and whether any of their teachers were also among the casualties. The explosion initially set off gunfire from Afghan guards in the area, leading to assumptions that there were more attackers involved. Of- ficials later said all indica- tions were that there was only one bomber. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but Jawad Ghawari, a member of the city’s Shiite clerical council, blamed IS, which has carried similar attacks in the past, hitting mosques, schools and cul- tural centers. In the past two years, Ghawari said there were at least 13 attacks on the Shiite community in Kabul alone. Abdul Hossain Hos- sainzada, a Shiite commu- nity leader in the western Kabul neighborhood, said the bomber apparently tar- geted the course, which had young men and women studying together. Taliban spokesman Zabi- hullah Mujahid denied his group’s involvement in the attack. Meanwhile, a Taliban as- sault on two adjacent check- points in northern Afghani- stan late on Tuesday night killed at least 30 soldiers and policemen, officials said. The attack took place in northern Baghlan province, in the Baghlan-I Markazi dis- trict, said Mohammad Safdar Mohseni, the head of the provincial council. Dilawar Aymaq, a parliamentarian from Baghlan, said the attack targeted a military check- point and another manned by the so-called local police, mi- litias recruited and paid by the Interior Ministry. Abdul Hai Nemati, the governor of Baghlan, said at least nine security forces were still missing and four others were wounded in the attack. He said rein- forcements have been dis- patched to help recapture the checkpoints. Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, claimed respon- sibility for the assault. Also Wednesday, life was gradually returning to normal in parts of the eastern city of Ghazni after a massive, days-long Taliban attack, though sporadic gun- battles was still under way in some neighborhoods. Afghans emerged from their homes and some shops reopened in Ghazni, where the Taliban launched a coor- dinated offensive last Friday, overwhelming the city’s de- fenses and capturing sev- eral neighborhoods. Afghan forces repelled the initial as- sault and in recent days have struggled to flush the insur- gents out of residential areas where they are holed up. The United States and NATO have launched air- strikes and sent military ad- visers to aid Afghan forces as they fight for the city, just 120 kilometers (75 miles) from the Afghan capital with a popula- tion of some 270,000 people. Arif Noori, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said Wednesday that “life is getting back to normal” after at least 35 civilians were killed in recent days. But he said wounded people were still arriving at the city’s only hospital, which has been over- whelmed by the casualties. Hundreds of people have fled the fighting in Ghazni, which has also killed about 100 members of the Afghan security forces. Elsewhere in Afghani- stan, the Taliban attacked a police checkpoint in the southern Zabul province early Wednesday, killing four policemen, according to the provincial police chief, Mus- tafa Mayar, who said another three officers were wounded. He said seven attackers were killed and five were wounded during the battle, in which the Taliban used artillery and heavy weapons. The Taliban have seized several districts across the country in recent years and carry out near-daily attacks targeting Afghan security forces. The assault on Ghazni was widely seen as a show of force ahead of possible peace talks with the U.S., which has been at war in Afghanistan for nearly 17 years. Modi says India will send manned flight into space by 2022 NEW DELHI (AP) – India will send a manned flight into space by 2022, Prime Min- ister Narendra Modi an- nounced Wednesday as part of India’s independence day celebrations. He said India will be- come the fourth country after Russia, the United States and China to achieve the feat and its astronaut could be a man or a woman. The space cap- sule that will transport In- dia’s astronauts was tested a few days earlier. Rakesh Sharma was the first Indian to travel in space, aboard a Soviet rocket in 1984. As part of its own space program, active since the 1960s, India has launched scores of satellites for it- self and other countries and successfully put one in orbit around Mars in 2014. It hopes to showcase its technological ability to ex- plore the solar system while also using research from space and elsewhere to solve problems at home. The $1 bil- lion-a-year space program has already helped develop satellite, communication and remote-sensing technologies and has been used to gauge underground water levels and predict weather in the country prone to cycles of drought and flood. India won independence from British colonialists in 1947. Modi’s 80-minute speech, broadcast live from the historic Red Fort in New Delhi, comes months before national elections. Modi listed his govern- ment’s achievements in the past four years in reforming the country’s economy, re- ducing poverty and corrup- tion. He announced a health insurance scheme for 500 million poor people pro- viding a cover of $7,150 per family a year. He said India will become a growth engine for the world economy as the “sleeping ele- phant” has started to run on the back of structural eco- nomic reforms. He said its economy was seen as fragile before 2014 but was now attracting in- vestment. India is the sixth- largest economy in the world and Modi said interna- tional institutions see India as giving strength to the world economy for the next three decades. He said the structural re- forms like a national tax re- placing various state and local taxes, bankruptcy and insol- vency laws, and a crackdown on corruption have helped transform the economy. The body of a man killed in a deadly suicide bombing, that targeted a training class in a private building in the Shiite neighborhood of Dasht-i Barcha, is taken for burial Wednesday in western Kabul, Afghanistan. - PHOTO: AP Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets school children Wednesday after addressing the nation on the country’s Independence Day from the ramparts of the historical Red Fort in New Delhi, India. - PHOTO: APNext >