ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2018 High of 90 Low of 78 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CELEBRATING THE TOURISM ‘BOOMLET’ ON THE BRAC LOCAL | PAGE 5 JOB PROGRAM WORKERS TO RECEIVE TRAINING, REFERENCES SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY Cayman opens new home for Olympic committee Nearly 200 tickets issued for illegal tint in a month NEW LEGISLATION TARGETS CHILD GROOMING SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s Olympic Committee has a new home, thanks to a crucial assist from the Panam Sports organization. Cayman opened its new Olympic House – the first perma- nent facility of its kind – on Thursday with a brief ceremony that featured speeches from some visiting dignitaries. The facility, located at the Cayman Busi- ness Park, was made possible by a contri- bution of US$400,000 from Panam Sports’ Olympamerica Program and Infrastructure Program. Neven Ilic, president of Panam Sports, said Thursday that he was thrilled to be able to assist the local sports authority. “One year ago, we decided to meet with each of the different Olympic committees to mainly understand what is the real situa- tion in each of the countries and in what way we can help to develop sport,” he said. “We had an important meeting with the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee and we decided to go step-by-step growing sports here in the islands. “This is the first step to give the Olympic Committee a chance to own the new building for sport. Then we’re working on how to support the athletes.” The Cayman Islands Olympic Committee previously operated out of office space donated by its president Donald McLean. The new space will provide offices, a training area and a mini-museum depicting the history of local Olympians. Mr. McLean was not present at Thurs- day’s ceremony, but he previously told the The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service issued nearly 200 tickets for illegal vehicle window tint during the month of July. In total, police issued 187 tickets for illegal tint, along with 182 tickets for speeding. They also issued 51 tickets for using a mobile phone while driving. During the month’s traffic en- forcement operations, 35 people were also prosecuted for careless driving, and 14 were prosecuted for dangerous driving, according to the RCIPS. Forty DUI arrests were made during July, compared to 24 in June. Police noted that in a single day last week, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 28 tickets for tint were issued. Section 23 of the Traffic Reg- ulations states that the front windscreen of a vehicle must allow at least 70 percent light transmission in either direc- tion. The top of this windscreen is also permitted to have a strip of tinted glass of any degree of light transmission, not extending more than six inches down. The front side windows can be tinted, but must allow at least 35 percent light transmis- sion. The rear windscreen and rear side windows may allow less than the 35 percent light transmission only if fitted by the manufacturer as standard equipment. All other tint applied to the rear windscreen and rear side windows shall allow at least 15 percent light transmission. JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Sex offenders who target children via cell- phones and social media face tough penalties under new legislation that goes to the Legisla- tive Assembly next month. Planned amendments to the Penal Code seek to create a host of new offenses that spe- cifically deal with the grooming of children. If the bill is passed, it will be a criminal of- fense for any adult to engage in “sexual com- munication” with a child. Police have welcomed the planned legis- lation, saying it will provide them with new tools to target child groomers, who use tech- nology like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to prey on young children. Kevin Ashworth, manager of the RCIPS Family Support Unit, said anyone sending sexual texts or requests for explicit pictures from children could be charged under the new legislation. Currently, officers use other offenses where appropriate, such as the charge of misuse of an ICT network to cause harassment, alarm or distress, to prosecute child groomers. In- spector Ashworth said the proposed legisla- tion would make it much easier for police and prosecutors to tackle offenders. “The word ‘grooming’ is an internationally recognized term and we have seen evidence of it in several recent local cases, but it is not something that has been exclusively covered by legislation until now,” he said. “We see this legislation as a very positive reaction to public feeling and to the require- ments of law enforcement. It gives us the tools to be able to do our job effectively.” He said the offense of “sexual communication” did not just cover online or From left, Cayman Olympian Florence Allan, Panam Sports president Neven Ilic, Cayman Islands Olympic Committee secretary general Carson Ebanks and Panam Sports Ivar Sisniega celebrate the opening of the new Olympic House. - PHOTO: SPENCER FORDIN LOCAL THERAPIST ADDRESSES OPIOID ADDICTION Mental health counselor Sutton Burke told delegates at the Caribbean Association of Pharmacists Friday that thorough screening of patients and a centralized computer system for tracking drug prescriptions are critical tools in keeping an opioid addiction problem from coming to Cayman and the rest of the Caribbean. For more on this story, see page 6. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY AUGUST 20, 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. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) MILE 22 (R) 2:00 VIP I 4:10 I 7:30 VIP I 10:00 ALPHA (PG13) 12:45 I 3:10 3D I 5:30 I 7:50 3D I 10:10 THE SPY WHO DUMPED ME (R) 4:20 THE EQUALIZER 2 (R) 1:25 I 7:00 I 9:50 VIP CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (PG) 1:00 I 4:00 I 6:30 I 9:00 THE MEG (PG13) 1:35 I 4:35 3D I 7:10 I 9:50 MISSION : IMPOSSIBLE FALLOUT (PG13) 1:00 3D I 4:20 VIP I 6:30 I 9:40 3D Hotel burglary charge sent to Grand Court for sentence Summary Court sentencing power limited to four years CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man who pleaded guilty to burglary in Sum- mary Court has been sent to Grand Court for sentencing because a magistrate’s sen- tencing power is limited to four years for this offense. Donald Arlington Miller, formerly known as Donald Arlington Hall, pleaded guilty last month to the burglary of a guest suite at Morritt’s Tortuga Re- sort in East End on July 4. He also admitted consump- tion and possession of ganja that night and criminal trespass at the resort the night before. When entering his pleas, Mr. Miller advised that he wished to apply to be ad- mitted to the Drug Reha- bilitation Court. He was re- manded in custody and subsequently attended drug court sessions. On Friday, defense at- torney Prathna Bodden told Justice Marva McDonald- Bishop that the drug court team had determined that Mr. Miller was ineligible. Presiding Magistrate Valdis Foldats said he was sending Mr. Miller to Grand Court because of his previous con- victions and the nature of the latest offense. The Criminal Procedure Code provides that, except for specific offenses such as drugs or firearms, the Sum- mary Court magistrate may impose a sentence of up to four years. If the magis- trate is of the opinion that the offense is so serious that greater punishment should be inflicted, the mag- istrate may commit the of- fender to the Grand Court for sentence. Mr. Miller, 49, admitted to entering a guest suite as a trespasser at night with in- tent to steal. The guests were present at the time. The male occupant of the suite heard a noise in the kitchen area and when he went out from the bedroom, he became aware of a person in the premises. That person ran and the guest’s wife phoned the night manager. A secu- rity guard checked the area and found Mr. Miller hiding nearby with items he had removed from their suite. Because Mr. Miller had opted for the drug court ini- tially, no social inquiry re- port had been requested at the Summary Court level. The judge agreed to order one at this stage and sentencing was set for Wednesday, Sept. 26. The de- fendant remained in custody. JURY NOTICE Church promotes drinking more water Son accused of father’s murder awaits fitness report All Grand Court jurors who are in the July 4-Oct. 2 session are advised that the report date of Monday, Aug. 20 has been changed. Jurors are now re- quired to report for duty on Monday, Aug. 27, at 9:45 a.m. Call the Jury Information line at 244-3899 for the most up-to-date information or email jury@judicial.ky. JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Seventh-day Adventist churches took to the streets Friday to promote the impor- tance of drinking more water. Dozens of volunteers from 15 Seventh Day churches is- landwide gathered on road- sides to hand out free bottles of water to passing motorists. Volunteers gave away six cases of water at the Shedden Road, North Sound Road stoplight. “At the Seventh-day Ad- ventist Church, one of the main focuses is health,” said Maurice Chambers, pastor of the Berea Seventh-day Adventist Church in West Bay. “When you are feeling healthy, you will be more inclined to be spiritually healthy. As a church, we take great pride in teaching the health message, which in- cludes drinking more water,” Pastor Chambers said. As well as handing out bottles of water, the volun- teers also distributed leaflets outlining the health benefits of drinking water, which in- clude maintaining the balance of body fluids, transportation of nutrients and maintenance of body temperature. Volunteers held up signs advising passersby to stay hydrated to avoid headaches and to aid digestion. The water initiative was organized by the Health Min- istries Department of the Cayman Islands Conference of Seventh-day Adventist. No arraignment until preliminary issues are dealt with CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Waylon Timothy Rivers, 19, appeared in Grand Court on Friday charged with the murder of his father, Tim- othy Rivers, in North Side on June 8 this year. The charge was not put to him and he was not asked to enter a plea be- cause reports ordered in Summary Court have not been completed. Defense attorney Prathna Bodden told Jus- tice Marva McDonald- Bishop that a fitness re- port had been ordered; a psychological report was received, but did not deal with the issue of fitness. Since then, a psychi- atrist had said that Mr. Rivers needed a neuro- logical assessment. Ms. Bodden noted that a neu- rologist is not always on island, so receiving such an assessment often takes longer than a month. She and Crown counsel Scott Wainwright agreed that Mr. Rivers could not be arraigned – have the charge put to him – until the fitness issue was decided. No trial date was set. Mr. Wainwright in- dicated that Director of Public Prosecutions Cheryll Richards will be dealing with the case. The judge was advised that Mr. Rivers has another appointment on Aug. 29, so she set the next mention in court for Friday, Sept. 28. The defendant was charged with murder after his father, a 66-year- old farmer, was found bleeding and unresponsive in the Hutland Road area of North Side. Teacher pleads not guilty to indecent assault Trial set for Monday, Nov. 5 CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A high school teacher ap- peared in Grand Court on Friday, when he pleaded not guilty to charges relating to a girl under the age of 16. The teacher denied al- legations of indecent as- sault, cruelty to a child and causing harassment, alarm or distress. The indecent assault charge accuses him of in- citing a girl to commit an act of gross indecency with him at John Gray High School on Dec. 6, 2017. On the same date and at the same location, he is fur- ther charged with willfully ill-treating the girl by using inappropriate sexual lan- guage toward her within her hearing or sight; and using abusive or insulting words likely to have caused harass- ment, alarm or distress. Justice Marva McDonald- Bishop set trial to start on Monday, Nov. 5. Defense at- torney Crister Brady did not indicate whether it would be a jury trial or by judge alone. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright did not object to bail, continuing with con- ditions set previously: not to contact named persons; not to enter or go near John Gray High School without prior arrangement with the principal. Lyneth Monteith, di- rector of the Department of Education Services, said the teacher was currently on suspension. The judge set the next mention in court for Friday, Sept. 28. Church volunteers hand out bottles of water to passing motorists at the Shedden Road and North Sound Road junction on Friday afternoon. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2018 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 Former solicitor general fails to block inquiry U.K.’s Privy Council rejects judicial review KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former Cayman solicitor general and current Trin- idad and Tobago Chief Jus- tice Ivor Archie’s attempt to stop an investigation into his conduct was struck down by the London-based Judi- cial Committee of the Privy Council on Thursday. The case stems from sev- eral articles published by the Trinidad Express last year that alleged wrongdoing on the part of Mr. Archie. According to the Privy Council’s judgment, the ar- ticles alleged that Mr. Ar- chie tried to influence his fellow Supreme Court Jus- tices to change their state- provided personal security to a private company associated with his “close friend” Dillian Johnson, who was reportedly a convicted felon. The chief justice also al- legedly tried to use his influ- ence to fast-track Mr. John- son’s application for a public housing unit. The media reports led to the Law Association of Trin- idad and Tobago, known as LATT, announcing that it would open an inquiry into the allegations against Mr. Archie with the view to de- cide what actions to take, in- cluding whether to make a complaint to the country’s prime minister. Judicial review Mr. Archie filed a judicial review against LATT’s deci- sion, arguing that Trinidad’s constitution stipulates that the prime minister is the only person who can advise the president to initiate a formal inquiry into the conduct of a member of the higher ju- diciary that might result in being removed from office. The judicial review was initially successful in Trini- dad’s High Court, but an ap- peals court ruled in the favor of LATT. The appeals court stated that the LATT is not a tribunal with powers to make sanctions, and is not sub- ject to the constitutional rule that only the president can launch an inquiry. At the Privy Council hearing on July 23, Mr. Ar- chie’s attorney, Philip Havers, QC, accepted that LATT can investigate allegations of wrongdoing made against legal officers. “However, argues Mr. Havers, the position here is quite different,” wrote the Privy Council in its judgment. “That investigation is a formal affair. And, as the public an- nouncements show, the ob- ject is not simply to enable it to decide whether to make a complaint to the Prime Min- ister. It is to find out the facts.” Mr. Havers argued that this has the potential to mis- lead the public as to the role of the LATT and the weight to be attached to its findings. The attorney also ar- gued that it has the poten- tial to make the task of any future tribunal more diffi- cult – for example, if wit- nesses have been rehearsed in their evidence. Mr. Havers added that if the LATT’s conclusions on the facts are published, there would be widespread media coverage and pressure on the chief justice to resign – undermining his constitu- tional protections. Arguments not accepted But the Privy Council did not accept these arguments. “The short answer to all [of Mr. Havers’s] points is that the LATT is in no posi- tion to make findings of fact which are in any way binding upon the Chief Justice or upon any tribunal which might be established under [Trinidad’s constitution],” the Privy Council stated. “It follows that each of the grounds of appeal re- lied upon by the Chief Jus- tice must be rejected and that this appeal is dismissed. The injunction [granted by the Court of Appeal when giving final leave to appeal on June 11, 2018], which restrained the LATT from convening a meeting of its membership to consider any legal advice it might receive in relation to its inquiry and/or investiga- tion of the Chief Justice until this appeal is heard and de- termined, is discharged.” According to his biog- raphy on the Trinidad Ju- diciary’s website, Mr. Ar- chie served as solicitor general of the Cayman Is- lands, and acted as the ter- ritory’s attorney general on a number of occasions during the 1990s. He returned to Trinidad in 1998. The judicial review was initially successful in Trinidad’s High Court, but an appeals court ruled in the favor of LATT. Trinidad and Tobago Chief Justice Ivor Archie CUC, US manufacturer fail to settle faulty equipment lawsuit KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com A conference was sched- uled to take place on Aug. 13 in the United States for the Caribbean Utilities Com- pany and the U.S.-based manufacturer Howard In- dustries Inc. to reach a set- tlement over CUC’s claims that the company sold it de- fective electrical equipment, costing Cayman’s power provider “millions of dol- lars” in damages. However, no settlement was reached, and the dispute looks to be heading to a trial, according to filings with the U.S. Southern District Court of Mississippi. The court’s docket states that “the parties did not reach a settlement” during the Aug. 13 conference. The latest filings is from Howard Industries, which asked the court for an extension of time to designate expert wit- nesses for the dispute. The trial is scheduled for June 3, 2019, but the court has en- couraged the parties to reach a settlement before then. According to court docu- ments, CUC alleges that it purchased numerous stain- less-steel distribution trans- formers for its operations from the Mississippi-based Howard Industries Inc. be- tween 2000 and 2016. However, the trans- formers and/or their com- ponent parts were defec- tive and eventually failed, CUC claims. “Such defects were latent, and it took time for the latent defects to manifest,” CUC states in its claim, which was filed last November. CUC is seeking refunds for all its costs and dam- ages, which it claims to be in the millions of dollars. In a response filed in January, Howard Indus- tries denies the allega- tions of wrongdoing against it, including the allega- tions that the transformers were defective. The trial is scheduled for June 3, 2019, but the court has encouraged the parties to reach a settlement before then.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” Even as the opposition raised its collective voice last week calling for a countrywide referendum on the George Town harbor cruise pier project, Cayman Brac announced some good cruise news of its own. The elegant Seabourn Sojourn is expected to call on the Sister Island beginning in November next year, giving the cruise line’s upscale travelers a taste of Cay- mankind – and giving us a welcome boost to tourism on the Brac. The Seabourn Cruise Lines’ 2019 itinerary will include four visits to Cayman Brac, offering hundreds of passengers a chance to dive or snorkel, explore the Bluff, view rare and beautiful species of birds and soak up a bit of Cayman culture. The four scheduled visits may not sound like much to folks accustomed to dodging thousands of bargain- hunting, beach-seeking cruise-shippers in downtown George Town, but it is welcome news to the Brac – doubling the annual number of cruise ship visits there. (Seabourn’s Sojourn has a capacity of 450 passengers.) As record crowds continue to disembark from tenders in George Town harbor, Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell told the Compass his ministry has been working to bring smaller vessels to Cayman Brac. He said the Seabourn announcement is evidence that cruise tourism is a viable product for the Brac. (For several years now, the island has been hosting the MS Star Flyer and its 170-or-so passengers four times annually.) We think the minister is on to something. With hotel accommodations on the Brac being limited – aggra- vated by the closing of the 31-room Alexander Hotel in 2014 – small cruise ships provide what may be an ideal “workaround.” Passengers will arrive in prime-time daylight hours, experience the amenities and pleasures that only a small tropical venue can provide, and then be merrily on their nautical way. We do not know how many other small ships or tall ships might be candidates to visit our Sister Islands, but now that the highly regarded Seabourn Sojourn is joining the MS Star Flyer, perhaps a “follow the leader” syndrome will be set in motion. In any event, the announcement of the Seabourn Sojourn’s impending visits is a positive development by any measure and one for which Minister Kirkconnell and his ministry deserve recognition. As one would expect from an elected member, Mr. Kirkconnell never misses an opportunity to showcase his district and advocate on behalf of his constituents. Nevertheless, economic activity on the Brac has remained stubbornly difficult to initiate – and sustain. At least two-thirds (and we suspect more) of all employees on the Brac are drawing their paychecks from government – far more than is ideal, or even sustainable, in the long term. A much greater private sector presence is woefully needed. But that is a subject for another day …. For now, let us remind our readers that next month the Legislative Assembly will be convening on the Brac to conduct its official affairs. It’s a good opportunity for our legislators, by their presence, to put our Sister Islands in the spotlight and an ideal time for those of us who live on the “big island” to pay a visit. Certainly, we at the Compass are planning to do just that. Celebrating the tourism ‘boomlet’ on the Brac MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Markets know what society needs WASHINGTON – Governments, seemingly eager to supply their critics with ammuni- tion, constantly validate his- torian Robert Conquest: The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be un- derstood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies. Consider North Carolina’s intervention in the medical-devices market. Born in India, Dr. Gajendra Singh is an American citizen and a surgeon in Winston- Salem who wants to supply something useful for which there is a strong demand. North Carolina’s govern- ment is, however, an almost insuperable impediment to his doing so. Singh runs a medical diagnostic imaging center where patients can get X-rays, echo-cardiograms, ul- trasounds and CT (computed tomography) scans. It cannot, however, be a full-service center without an MRI (mag- netic resonance imaging) machine, and local hospi- tals offering MRIs are averse to competition. Americans with high-de- ductible insurance plans, which are increasingly preva- lent, especially need low-cost diagnostic services. The me- dian Winston-Salem house- hold income is about $40,000. The average MRI scan at a North Carolina hospital costs $2,000. Singh charges $500- $700 for the MRIs he does using rental machines that the state’s harassing law re- quires to be moved once a week. Singh wants to buy an MRI machine. North Carolina, however, has a “certificate of need” (CON) law, requiring Singh to prove to the Soviet- style central planners in the state government that Singh’s area needs another machine. Such state and local CON laws proliferated in the 1970s as the federal government began pouring money into healthcare and government- funded hospitals tried to pro- tect their revenue streams. Just for the privilege of sub- mitting an application to buy an MRI Singh would have to pay a nonrefundable $5,000 fee and be prepared to spend $400,000 (lawyers, consul- tants, economists) to sur- mount the opposition of de- termined competitors. The only two providers of fixed (not mobile rental) MRIs in Singh’s county are at two multibillion-dollar hospitals. Fortunately, Singh has the support of the Institute for Justice’s litigators who are wielding on his behalf four provisions of North Caroli- na’s constitution: First, “Per- petuities and monopolies are contrary to the genius of a free state and shall not be al- lowed.” Second, “No person … is entitled to exclusive or sep- arate emoluments or privi- leges.” Third, “No person shall be denied the equal protec- tion of the laws.” Fourth, Singh has a due-process right to participate in the health- care market without arbi- trary, irrational impediments. There are states where as- piring entrepreneurs must pay (application fees, law- yers) just to try to surmount the opposition of established businesses in order to get a CON entitling them to open a car dealership, operate a moving company, run a food truck or enter other areas of enterprise. And the audacity of economic interests clam- oring for government protec- tion from domestic competi- tion seems to be increasing as the Trump administra- tion, with tariffs and import quotas, practices crony capi- talism to protect favored in- dustries and companies from foreign competition. For example, this month a federal court, following the example of other courts that have swatted aside cases from Boston, Chicago, Phila- delphia and Georgia, unan- imously rejected this pre- posterous argument from Miami-Dade County (Florida) taxi owners: The U.S Consti- tution says private property shall not be taken for “public use” without just compensa- tion, so they should be com- pensated because the gov- ernment has permitted ride sharing services (e.g., Uber and Lyft) that have substan- tially reduced the value of the owners’ taxi medallions. Governments sell medal- lions and keep them scarce in order to keep prices high for the benefit of the government and past buyers. Displaying heroic pa- tience in the presence of mer- etriciousness, the court ex- plained that the government had not given the medallion owners an entitlement to pro- tection from competition. As a federal judge said in a sim- ilar case, “A license to operate a coffee shop doesn’t autho- rize the licensee to enjoin a tea shop from opening.” There are three important lessons from North Carolina’s CON mischief. First, domestic protectionism that burdens consumers for the benefit of entrenched economic in- terests (e.g., occupational li- censing that restricts entry to professions for no reason related to public health and safety) is even more prevalent and costly than are tariffs and import quotas that inter- fere with international trade. Second, the sprawling, intru- sive, interventionist, admin- istrative state – aka modern government – that recognizes no limits to its competence or jurisdiction is inevitably a defender of the entrenched and hence a mechanism for transferring wealth upward. Third, only courts can ar- rest the marauding of the po- litical class when, with un- seemly motives, it pretends to know more than markets do about society’s needs. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2018, Washington Post Writers Group. GEORGE F. WILL GEORGE Governments sell medallions and keep them scarce in order to keep prices high for the benefit of the government and past buyers.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2018 Job program workers to receive training, references AUTHORITIES ASK PUBLIC TO BE ALERT ABOUT COCKFIGHTING The Department of Agri- culture and Royal Cayman Islands Police Service issued an advisory Friday urging Cayman residents to re- port information it may have about cockfighting. The DoA and RCIPS have been engaged in investigating cockfighting complaints, and Friday’s advisory stressed that the activity is pun- ishable by law under Sec- tion 71 of the Animals Law (2015 revision.) Police officers arrested a 50-year-old man on March 21 in connection with an il- legal cockfighting ring, and found more than 40 roosters after a search in the North Sound Estate area. Another arrest took place in June, when RCIPS and DoA staff members con- ducted a search of a North Sound address and arrested a 32-year-old man on sus- picion of crimes related to cockfighting. One of these two cases is already before the court; the other is awaiting a ruling from the Department of Public Prosecutions. The DoA stressed Friday that cockfighting is an age-old sport in other countries but remains il- legal in Cayman. Minister for Agriculture Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, in a statement, said, “As Min- ister, I support the endeavor of the DoA to raise awareness of the illegality of this ac- tivity. In addition to causing cruelty to animals, cock- fighting is often linked to other crimes, such as illegal gambling, robbery, drug ac- tivity or worse. “It saddens me to know children are often present at these events and exposure to such violence can desen- sitize them to other’s pain and decrease their sense of empathy, an invaluable life trait for success.” The DoA’s advisory Friday indicated that the agency is employing a zero- tolerance approach to of- fenses related to cock- fighting. The danger is not just confined to animals; the DoA noted that cockfighting attracts wagers of large sums of money, which in- flames the potential for vio- lent confrontations. Workers taking part in the summer National Commu- nity Enhancement program will receive extra incentives for the work they do, in a bid to improve their resumes and their chances of eventu- ally finding full-time employ- ment, the government an- nounced Friday. Some 460 unemployed Caymanians and out-of-work spouses of Caymanians reg- istered for up to two weeks’ paid work on the program, known as NiCE, which starts this week, govern- ment confirmed. Project Manager Levi Allen of the Public Works Department, one of the gov- ernment departments over- seeing the project, said in a statement that workers taking part in the islandwide cleanup program will receive training and a participa- tion certificate. Mr. Allen said other in- centives would also be avail- able. For example, workers who satisfactorily complete the project will get “graded references highlighting their level of performance fol- lowing input from their foremen,” he said. Officials are also con- sidering how some of those who signed up for the NICE project can be engaged to help cull invasive iguanas in due course, he added. Participants in the NiCE program will be paid $10 an hour to clean beaches and roadsides, while job foremen will receive $12 per hour. The release noted that the number of Caymanians and spouses who had signed up for this, the first NiCE summer program, was lower than the number that had registered for last year’s Christmas pro- gram, when 606 signed up. “The project’s new elements have been included to pro- vide the unemployed with the chance to learn new skills and demonstrate their ability and willingness to work efficiently as part of a team,” said Minister for Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure, Joseph Hew. “NiCE workers will now be able to use their time with the project to show prospec- tive employers that they are reliable, conscientious and have the appropriate work ethic,” he added. He said it was hoped that most of the people working on the summer cleanup project would even- tually transition into fur- ther or full-time employment. “The NiCE project is not in- tended to be a ‘fix-all’ for the unemployed,” he said, “it pro- vides assistance to those be- tween jobs and for others who, for whatever reasons, are unable to maintain full- time employment, while at the same time providing ser- vices to the community.” Environment Minister Dwayne Seymour said the government’s decision to run an extra NiCE project this year was “in direct re- sponse to those households who are in need of extra funds to buy back-to-school items for the academic year ahead and other essentials. It will also serve to prepare us ahead of the forecasted busy tourism season.” Some 460 unemployed Caymanians and out-of-work spouses of Caymanians registered for up to two weeks’ paid work on the program, known as NiCE, which starts this week, government confirmed. Applicants for this summer’s National Community Enhancement work program sign up on Aug. 13 at the Lions Centre to take part in the project. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER Trial date set in gun behind microwave case CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com In Grand Court on Friday, Elton David Web- ster pleaded not guilty to possession of an unli- censed firearm and ammu- nition. His trial was set for April 11, 2018. Mr. Webster, 31, was ac- cused of having a Glock 17 9 mm handgun and 59 rounds of 9 mm ammunition at his Bodden Town home on April 11, 2018. When Mr. Webster first appeared in Summary Court on these charges, the magis- trate was told that police had executed a search warrant at the home. In the kitchen, be- hind a microwave oven, offi- cers found a plastic bag. In- side the bag was a towel, in which the gun was wrapped. The box of bullets was in the same area. A photo showed the mi- crowave oven removed from a built-in cabinet, with a ledge in the wall. The court was told at the time that Mr. Webster and his wife had purchased the home two years earlier and had not changed any of the appliances. Defense attorney Crister Brady appeared on be- half of his colleague Amelia Fosuhene, who repre- sents Mr. Webster. Justice Marva Mc- Donald-Bishop continued the defendant’s bail with the same conditions as be- fore: surrender of passport; fixed residence; curfew from 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.; daily re- porting to the Bodden Town Police Station; a surety in the sum of $30,000; and re- striction from going within 100 yards of any air- port or seaport. The court was told at the time that Mr. Webster and his wife had purchased the home two years earlier and had not changed any of the appliances. “In addition to causing cruelty to animals, cockfighting is often linked to other crimes, such as illegal gambling, robbery, drug activity or worse.” JULIANA O’CONNOR-CONNOLLY, minister for agriculture Police and Department of Agriculture officers seized this rooster, among more than 40, that they believe were used for cockfighting during a March 21 operation in the North Sound Estates area. - PHOTO: RCIPS6 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman performers retake the spotlight MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Actress Rita Esteva- novich says the success of a small team of Cayman Is- lands performers at the re- cent World Champion- ships of Performing Arts should give entertainers here more confidence. “I think it’s inspiring,” said Ms. Estevanovich, 38, who won the Senior Grand Cham- pion of the World award at the event last month in Long Beach, California. She and other members of the Cayman team recre- ated the performances they gave during the competition at the Harquail Studio The- atre on Saturday evening be- fore an audience of about 75 people. It was a thank you to their supporters and a way to bring a piece of the com- petition home. Ms. Estevanovich said the fact that five Cayman performers made it to the semifinals, with two going on to the finals, points to the quality of the islands’ pool of talent. “It definitely encourages anyone at any age who might be thinking about doing something like this for a living,” she said. It even has Ms. Esteva- novich thinking about doing it for a living. She has been acting part time over the years, and lived in Los Angeles for a year hoping to get a break in Hollywood. The atten- tion she has received since winning the award has her hoping that that break might finally come. Winning the top trophy in the world championships was not really on her mind when she went into the re- cent competition, she said. “I thought, ‘I’m getting a lot older and I still have an interest. Let’s see where I measure up,’” she said. Her biggest hope was just to do some networking and attract the attention of an agent. Taking the top prize and having received some still tentative opportunities in the wake of that, she said, has shifted her thinking. “It has pretty much woken me up,” Ms. Estevanovich said. “I didn’t have the faith that I have now. It’s given me permission to dream again.” This was Cayman’s first appearance at the world championships. Shepherded by Antonio Dennis, who had taken Jamaican teams in the past and had produced a grand champion, the nine- member team faced a field of hundreds of performers from 63 countries. The team came away from the weeklong competition with six bronze, seven silver and seven gold medals. Ms. Estevanovich’s award came with a $1,000 scholarship for the New York Conservatory of Dramatic Arts and a $1,000 appear- ance fee for next year’s world championships. Singer Jaedyn Hanna, 16, who also made the finals, said the competition helped cement her plans for a ca- reer in music. The Cayman Prep student hopes to at- tend the Juilliard School in New York and eventually per- form on Broadway. Preparing for, and going through, the event, Ms. Hanna said, “developed my skills and allowed me to see the stage is literally my home.” She said she had been offered a recording con- tract as a result of the world championships, but has not taken it. She’s hoping some- thing even better will come out of an upcoming event where she will perform, the New York Cabaret Conven- tion, on Oct. 9 at the Lincoln Center in New York. “There’s supposed to be a lot of talent scouts in the au- dience,” she said. “I’m hoping that’s when my real ca- reer will begin.” Other successes in com- petitions may bring more young artists to share such dreams. Ms. Estevanovich said it is clear Cayman has the talent, citing the success of people such as actress Grace Byers, director Frank E. Flowers, and model/actress Selita Ebanks. “We already know what’s possible,” she said. “The more we see it, the more we will believe it.” Rita Estevanovich and other members of the Cayman team recreated the performances they gave during the competition at the Harquail Studio Theatre on Saturday evening before an audience of about 75 people. Local therapist addresses opioid addiction MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Mental health coun- selor Sutton Burke told a hotel conference room filled with pharmacists that thor- ough screening of patients and a centralized computer system for tracking drug pre- scriptions are critical tools in keeping an opioid addic- tion problem from coming to Cayman and the rest of the Caribbean. Ms. Burke, a counselor with Infinite Mindcare in Cayman, said there is little evidence that the islands are seeing that would point to the kind of epidemic that has been experienced in the United States in recent years, but the potential is there. On Friday, Ms. Burke ad- dressed the Caribbean Asso- ciation of Pharmacists as part of its weeklong convention at the Marriott Beach Resort. “This is happening and this is real,” Ms. Burke said. “This is medication you may have in your medi- cine cabinet.” Nearly 50,000 opioid-re- lated deaths were reported in the United States in 2017, a doubling of the number seen just five years earlier. Figures provided during Ms. Burke’s talk indicated that 2.1 million Americans have an opioid abuse problem. Worldwide, that figure is es- timated between 26.4 million and 36 million. Ms. Burke urged the group to take action. “There’s a lot you can do to help, to keep this from coming here or from getting worse,” she said. In her own practice, she said, she has seen a slight in- crease in cases of opioid ad- diction. No figures for Cayman were immediately available and recently released data on causes of death locally did not break out a category for drug overdose. Very often, opioid addic- tion begins with the legiti- mate use of drugs such as Vi- codin or oxycodone for pain relief. Some people can de- velop dependency on such drugs and can then begin to overuse them, resulting in addiction. The prolifer- ation of such medications has also resulted in easier access for recreational use of such drugs. Those with an abuse problem will often seek to procure more medication than they might otherwise be prescribed. Ms. Burke said this can lead to patients at- tempting to refill prescrip- tions earlier than would be warranted and even engaging in doctor and pharmacy shopping. She said there are a small number of doctors in the Cayman Islands known for prescribing medication on a patient’s request. Ms. Burke encouraged the group to engage in a call to action for a government- financed shared prescrip- tion database. “It’s happening all over the world,” she said, “and it’s very affordable.” Pharmacists should also begin screening every pa- tient when it comes to opioid medications. “The pharmacist may be the first to suspect opioid abuse,” Ms. Burke said. “This is all about communication with your patients.” Acknowledging that the subject is an uncomfort- able one to address, she pro- vided some strategies for ap- proaching the process. “We need you to believe in yourself and what you’re doing,” she told the group. “Believe in the idea that this is for therapeutic purposes.” She said more discus- sion among professionals is also important and sug- gested making opioid use a mandatory topic in fu- ture conferences. “Make sure you’re ed- ucating every patient,” she said. “You could be saving a life.” “This is happening and this is real. This is medication you may have in your medicine cabinet.” SUTTON BURKE, mental health counselor Rita Estevanovich performs an excerpt from the play ‘The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe,’ one of the monologues that helped her win the grand prize at the World Championships of Performing Arts. Melody Allenger performs one of three different numbers during an event at the Harquail Studio Theatre Saturday evening. - PHOTOS: ALVARO SEREY Jaedyn Hanna sings an excerpt of a Whitney Houston song at the Harquail Studio Theatre Saturday evening.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2018 Police say they will not take ignorance of the amount of tint a car window should have as an excuse. “We have had many people claiming not to know what the regula- tions are for tinting of ve- hicles,” said Inspector Ian Yearwood of the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit. “While that is not an excuse that we will accept if you are found to be driving with illegal tint, we are taking this opportunity to remind the public of exactly what the rules are. “I would encourage any member of the public who is in violation to make the necessary adjustments so as to avoid being ticketed or sent to court.” text communication, but could allow police to investigate patterns of suspicious behavior and potentially intervene before more serious offenses were committed. He highlighted the case of Errington Webster, a political candidate who was convicted of three counts of indecent assaults and one count of gross indecency on a 13-year- old girl, as a prime example of grooming. Mr. Webster cul- tivated a friendship with the girl and her family, taking her, for example, on trips to Burger King and show- ering her with gifts over a period of time, before sexu- ally assaulting and engaging in a grossly indecent act in her presence. “There are patterns of be- havior that are not illegal per se, but along with text mes- sages and other evidence, we can build a bigger picture,” said Inspector Ashworth. He said the law would help officers intervene to protect children earlier in the process. He added that police needed parents, teachers and other responsible adults to be vigilant and report suspi- cious behavior or communi- cations to police in order for the law to be effective. The bill, which is ex- pected to be debated at the next Legislative Assembly session, which will be held on Cayman Brac, creates eight new offenses, including sexual communication with a child, arranging to meet a child for sexual purposes, at- tempting to “procure a child for sexual activity,” causing a child to watch sexual activity and inviting a child to engage in sexual activity. The new offenses carry penalties ranging from four to 12 years in prison, de- pending on severity, and are magnified if the perpetrator is in a “position of trust.” The same bill also seeks to amend the Penal Code to allow the courts to impose “sexual harm protection or- ders” retrospectively. The orders, introduced last year, allow for a set of specific restrictions to be placed on the freedom of sex offenders once they are re- leased from custody. These can include bans on working with children or going near certain locations, in- cluding schools. The amendment, allowing them to be applied retroac- tively, will mean they can be applied to people who were sentenced before the orders were introduced into law. “It means we can apply them to offenders that are being released from prison in the near future once the law is enacted,” said In- spector Ashworth. All suspicions of child sexual abuse, physical and emotional abuse or neglect should be reported immediately to the Cayman Islands’ Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub at mash@gov. ky, or 911 in emergency situations. Cayman Compass that the space cost $345,000 to pur- chase and another $25,000 in renovations. Thursday’s cere- mony featured three-time Olympic cyclist Craig Merren as master of cere- monies, and several of Cay- man’s past Olympians were given certificates commem- orating their achievements. Sports Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly could not be at Thursday’s cere- mony, but she sent a state- ment that was read aloud by her ministry’s senior policy adviser, Joel Francis. “I must commend the in- valuable work done by the committee for local athletes and I hope that this house will allow you to create a hub for athletes where they can learn and grow with each other,” the statement said. “I applaud Pan Am Sports for providing the grant needed to make this a reality and also for the fi- nancial assistance provided by the national federations. “As we all know, these type of endeavors take a vil- lage of passionate, like- minded people, and I’m happy to know that your ded- ication to the advancement of all local athletes on the global stage has been rewarded.” New legislation targets child grooming Nearly 200 tickets issued for illegal tint in a month Cayman opens new home for Olympic committee The RCIPS issued this image to help drivers understand the level of tint that their windows legally can have. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 NINTH TOURIST DIES IN WATER-RELATED INCIDENT A 45-year-old male died after encountering difficul- ties while snorkeling off Rum Point on Thursday, the ninth water-related death involving a tourist in 2018. The man, who was a visitor from the United States, became un- responsive while snorkeling and was taken back onto the boat that he had ridden. CPR was administered as the boat returned to shore, and officers from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice responded to the report of a person in distress. The man was transported to the Cayman Islands Hospital by emergency services, and he was later pronounced dead. All of the 2018 water-re- lated deaths involving tour- ists have been visitors from the United States, and they have ranged in age from 45 to 83. Seven of the nine vic- tims experienced trouble while snorkeling or swim- ming, and the other two were diving-related inci- dents. Cayman recorded seven water-related deaths in 2017, according to an an- nual report issued by the RCIPS in May. MAN ARRESTED FOR ASSAULTING WOMAN, SMASHING BAR Police arrested a 23-year- old man who allegedly broke through the door of Da Station Bar in Pros- pect in the early hours of Saturday morning, as- saulted a woman inside and smashed up the bar. The 911 Communica- tions Centre dispatched po- lice to a report of a dis- turbance at the bar on Shamrock Road just be- fore 4:30 a.m. According to police, “A man had banged on the door and broken it to gain entry, then upset furniture and caused a general distur- bance inside during which a woman was assaulted.” The woman remained in hospital Sunday with “what may be serious inju- ries,” police said. The man was arrested on suspicion of assault causing grievous bodily harm. Venezuelans jittery ahead of sudden economic reforms CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Residents across Venezu- ela’s capital spent a ner- vous weekend bracing for dramatic measures that President Nicolas Maduro has announced to rescue a downward-spiraling economy, including a more- than-3,000 percent hike in the minimum wage. The changes start to kick in Monday with the introduc- tion of a new currency that lops five zeros off the coun- try’s fast-depreciating bills. Maduro says he will also raise gasoline prices to inter- national levels – a combina- tion of measures critics say will only make things worse. Opposition leaders seized on tension among residents, calling for a nationwide strike and protest Tuesday. They hope to draw masses into the streets against Mad- uro’s socialist ruling party – something they have failed to do in over a year. Banks will close Monday as they prepare to release the “sovereign bolivar,” the new currency printed with five fewer zeroes in a bid to tame soaring inflation. Mad- uro’s government says that in late-September, the world’s cheapest gas will rise to in- ternational levels to cur- tail rampant smuggling across borders. Maduro said Friday that the minimum wage will also soon jump dramatically. Economists say the package of measures is likely to accelerate hyperinflation rather than address its core economic troubles, like oil production plunging to levels last seen in 1947. “The bolivar’s redenomina- tion will be like going under the knife of one of Caracas’ famed plastic surgeons,” Johns Hopkins University economist Steve Hanke wrote on www.forbes.com. “Ap- pearances change, but, in re- ality, nothing changes. That’s what’s in store for the bo- livar: a face-lift.” Lines on Saturday were longer than normal at a Ca- racas street market, where people stocked up due to un- certainty about what will come this week. Many were frustrated by bank card readers that were slow to register or that failed alto- gether, forcing some to leave their goods walking away empty-handed. “You have to be pa- tient,” a shop worker selling grains told a growing line of customers. Many other stores remained closed, un- certain what prices to set for their goods. Venezuela was once among Latin America’s most prosperous nations, holding the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but a recent fall in oil prices accompanied by corruption and mismanage- ment under two decades of socialist rule have left the economy in a historic eco- nomic and political crisis. Inflation this year could top 1 million percent, ac- cording to economists at the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has made it diffi- cult to find paper money. The largest bill under the out- going cash system was the 100,000-bolivar note, equal to less than 3 cents on the commonly used black market exchange rate. A cup of coffee cost more than 2 mil- lion bolivars. Customers stand in a practically empty Las Pulgas market, where vegetables and fruit are normally sold, in Maracaibo, Venezuela, Sunday. In addition to a general lack of produce, some venders are holding back their merchandise as they brace for dramatic economic measures to be put in place Monday. - PHOTO: AP 15% Tint Rear Windscreen 15% Tint Rear Side & Quarter Glass 15% Tint Rear Side & Quarter Glass 35% Tint Front Window 35% Tint Front Window 6 inches measured from the top at ANY DEGREE Legal Tint Applications for Motor Vehicles Traffic Law 2011 & Traffic Regulations 2012The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS UK woman falls from cruise ship in Croatia Croatia’s coast guard says a British woman has been saved after spending 10 hours in the Adriatic Sea at night after she fell from a cruise ship. The woman fell from the Norwegian Star cruise ship, about 60 miles off Croatia’s coast shortly before midnight Saturday. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan dies at age 80 ACCRA, Ghana (AP) – Kofi Annan, a charismatic global diplomat and the first black African to become United Na- tions secretary-general who led the world body through one of its most turbu- lent periods, died early Sat- urday at age 80. Tributes flowed in from around the world after his foundation announced his death in the Swiss capital, Bern, after a short and un- specified illness. The state- ment remembered the Nobel Peace Prize winner as “ra- diating genuine kindness, warmth and brilliance in all he did.” He died “peacefully in his sleep,” the president of Ghana, where Annan was born, said after speaking to his wife. At U.N. headquarters in New York, the U.N. flag flew at half-staff and a bouquet of flowers was placed under Annan’s portrait. Reflecting the widespread regard that won him a groundbreaking uncontested election to a second term, leaders from Russia, India, Israel, France and elsewhere expressed condolences for a man Bill Gates called “one of the great peacemakers of our time.” Annan spent virtually his entire career as an adminis- trator in the United Nations. His aristocratic style, cool- tempered elegance and polit- ical savvy helped guide his ascent to become its seventh secretary-general, and the first hired from within. His two terms were from Jan. 1, 1997, to Dec. 31, 2006, capped nearly midway when he and the U.N. were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. During his tenure, Annan presided over some of the worst failures and scandals at the world body. Challenges from the outset forced him to spend much of his time struggling to restore its tar- nished reputation. His enduring moral pres- tige remained largely un- dented, however, both through charm and by virtue of having negotiated with most of the powers in the world. When he departed from the United Nations, he left behind a global organiza- tion far more aggressively en- gaged in peacekeeping and fighting poverty. “In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Na- tions,” current U.N. Secretary- General Antonio Guterres said. “He rose through the ranks to lead the organiza- tion into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination.” Even out of office, Annan never completely left the U.N. orbit. He returned in spe- cial roles, including as the U.N.-Arab League’s special envoy to Syria in 2012. He re- mained a powerful advocate for global causes through his eponymous foundation. Annan took on the top U.N. post six years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and presided during a de- cade when the world united against terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks – then di- vided deeply over the U.S.- led war against Iraq. The U.S. relationship tested him as a world diplomatic leader. “I think that my darkest moment was the Iraq war, and the fact that we could not stop it,” Annan said in a February 2013 interview with TIME magazine to mark the publication of his memoir, “Interventions: A Life in War and Peace.” “I worked very hard – I was working the phone, talking to leaders around the world. The U.S. did not have the support in the Secu- rity Council,” Annan recalled in the videotaped inter- view posted on his founda- tion’s website. “So they decided to go without the council. But I think the council was right in not sanctioning the war,” he said. “Could you imagine if the U.N. had endorsed the war in Iraq, what our rep- utation would be like? Al- though at that point, Presi- dent (George W.) Bush said the U.N. was headed toward irrelevance, because we had not supported the war. But now we know better.” Kofi Atta Annan was born April 8, 1938, into an elite family in Kumasi, Ghana, the son of a provincial gov- ernor and grandson of two tribal chiefs. He shared his middle name Atta – “twin” in Gha- na’s Akan language – with a twin sister, Efua. He became fluent in English, French and several African languages, attending an elite boarding school and the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. He finished his un- dergraduate work in eco- nomics at Macalester Col- lege in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1961. From there he went to Geneva, where he began his graduate studies in interna- tional affairs and launched his U.N. career. Annan married Titi Al- akija, a Nigerian woman, in 1965, and they had a daughter, Ama, and a son, Kojo. He returned to the U.S. in 1971 and earned a mas- ter’s degree at the Massachu- setts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Manage- ment. The couple separated during the 1970s and, while working in Geneva, Annan met his second wife, Swedish lawyer Nane Lagergren. They married in 1984. Annan worked for the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia, its Emer- gency Force in Egypt and the office of the High Commis- sioner for Refugees in Geneva before taking a series of se- nior posts at U.N. headquar- ters in New York dealing with human resources, budget, fi- nance and staff security. He also had special as- signments. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, he facili- tated the repatriation from Iraq of more than 900 inter- national staff and other non- Iraqi nationals, and the re- lease of Western hostages in Iraq. He led the initial nego- tiations with Iraq for the sale of oil in exchange for human- itarian relief. Just before becoming sec- retary-general, Annan served as U.N. peacekeeping chief and as special envoy to the former Yugoslavia, where he oversaw a transition in Bosnia from U.N. protective forces to NATO-led troops. The U.N. peacekeeping operation faced two of its greatest failures during his tenure: the Rwanda genocide in 1994 and the massacre in the Bosnian town of Sre- brenica in July 1995. In both cases, the U.N. had deployed troops under Annan’s command, but they failed to save the lives of the civilians they were man- dated to protect. After be- coming secretary-general, he called for U.N. reports on those two debacles – and they were highly critical of his management. As secretary-general, Annan forged his experiences into a doctrine called the “Responsibility to Protect” that countries accepted – at least in principle – to head off genocide, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and war crimes. In 1998, he helped ease a transition to civilian rule in Nigeria and visited Iraq to try to resolve its impasse with the Security Council over compliance with weapons in- spections and other matters. The effort helped avoid an outbreak of hostilities that seemed imminent at the time. In 1999, he was deeply involved in the process by which East Timor gained in- dependence from Indonesia,. He was chief architect of what became known as the Millennium Development Goals, and played a central role in creating the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuber- culosis and Malaria and the U.N.’s first counter-ter- rorism strategy. Annan’s uncontested elec- tion to a second term was unprecedented, reflecting the overwhelming support he enjoyed from both rich and poor countries. In 2005, Annan succeeded in estab- lishing the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council. At a fare- well news conference, Annan listed as top achievements the promotion of human rights, the fight to close the gap between extreme poverty and immense wealth and the U.N. campaign to fight infec- tious diseases like AIDS. After leaving his high- profile U.N. perch, Annan did not let up. In 2007, his Ge- neva-based foundation was created. That year he helped broker peace in Kenya, where election violence had killed more than 1,000 people. He also joined The El- ders, an elite group of former leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, eventually suc- ceeding Desmond Tutu as its chairman. Annan “represented our continent and the world with enormous graciousness, in- tegrity and distinction,” Tutu said Saturday, adding that “we give great thanks to God” for him. As special envoy to Syria in 2012, Annan won interna- tional backing for a six-point plan for peace. The U.N. de- ployed a 300-member ob- server force to monitor a cease-fire, but peace never took hold. He resigned in frustration seven months into the job, as the civil war raged on. Annan continued to criss- cross the globe. In 2017, his foundation’s biggest projects included promotion of fair, peaceful elections; work with Myanmar’s government to improve life in troubled Ra- khine state; and battling vi- olent extremism by enlisting young people to help. His homeland of Ghana was shaken by his death. “One of our greatest compa- triots,” President Nana Akufo- Addo said, calling for a week with flags at half-staff. “Rest in perfect peace, Kofi. You have earned it.” Annan is survived by his wife and three children. Fu- neral arrangements were not immediately announced. A black ribbon and a bouquet of flowers adorn the portrait of former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan at U.N. headquarters, Saturday. - PHOTO: AP In this March 21, 2005 file photo, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan addresses a news conference at the United Nations. Annan died Saturday at the age of 80. - PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY AUGUST 20, 2018 US says conserving oil is no longer an economic imperative UK’s right-wing Farage vows to end government’s Brexit ‘sell-out’ SUSPECT IN UK PARLIAMENT CRASH CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER LONDON (AP) – In Britain, there is a growing sense of Brexit deja vu. Two years after the country voted to leave the European Union, emotional arguments about member- ship in the bloc are raging as fiercely as they did during the 2016 referendum. With seven months until Britain officially leaves the bloc, negotiations faltering, chances are rising of an ac- rimonious divorce – and the one thing that pro- and anti- EU forces have in common is that they are both unhappy. Former U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage an- nounced Saturday that he was returning to political campaigning in a bid to de- rail British Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan for future ties with the EU. Farage, the right-winger who helped lead the suc- cessful “leave” campaign in 2016, wrote in the Daily Tele- graph that he would join a cross-country bus tour by the group Leave Means Leave to oppose May’s “cow- ardly sell-out.” Referring to U.K. politi- cians and civil servants, he said “unless challenged, these anti-democrats will succeed in frustrating the result” of the referendum. Negotiations on future re- lations between the U.K. and the bloc have faltered, largely due to divisions within May’s Conservative government over how close an economic relationship to seek with EU. Last month the govern- ment finally produced a plan, proposing to stick close to EU regulations in return for free trade in goods. That ine- furiated Brexit-backers such as Farage and former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who say it would leave the U.K. tethered to the bloc and un- able to strike new trade deals around the world. Opponents of Brexit say that, even if the EU ac- cepts May’s plan – which appears unlikely – it would still erect barriers between Britain and the EU, its big- gest trading partner. Meanwhile, time is run- ning out. Britain and the EU say they aim to hammer out an agreement on divorce terms and future trade by October – or, at the latest, De- cember – so that it can be approved by all individual EU countries before the U.K. leaves the bloc on March 29. This week Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics put the chances of getting a Brexit deal at 50-50, a figure echoed by other EU leaders. U.K. businesses, however, have warned strongly that leaving without a deal could cause mayhem for trade and travel, bringing higher food prices, logjams around U.K. ports and disruption to ev- erything from aviation to medical supplies. The U.K. government says it remains confi- dent of reaching a deal, but is preparing for a “no deal” scenario. Anti-Brexit campaigners are urging a second refer- endum on whether to ac- cept any agreement that is reached. The idea is opposed by the government but sup- ported by a growing number of politicians, trade unions and groups including the British Medical Organization. LONDON (AP) – A driver whose car collided with several people before crashing outside Brit- ain’s Parliament has been charged with attempted murder, police in London said Saturday The Metropolitan Police force said 29-year-old Salih Khater faces two charges – trying to kill police officers, and trying to kill members of the public. Three people were in- jured when Khater, a British citizen originally from Sudan, hit a group of cyclists before colliding with security outside Par- liament on Tuesday. Police say that was an attempt to murder police officers. One injured person was treated at the scene and two were taken to local hospitals, where they were treated and released. Within minutes of Tues- day’s morning rush-hour crash, police flooded the streets around Parliament and cordoned off an area of the city that is home to government buildings and tourist attractions in- cluding Westminster Abbey. The crash came less than 18 months after an attacker plowed a car into pedestrians on Westmin- ster Bridge, killing four people, then fatally stabbed a police officer before being shot dead in a courtyard outside Parliament. Less than three months later, a van rammed into pedestrians on London Bridge before three men abandoned the vehicle and attacked weekend rev- elers in the nearby Borough Market. Eight people were killed and 48 injured. In June 2017, a far-right extremist drove a van into a crowd of worshippers leaving a London mosque, killing one man and in- juring eight others. Police say that because of the methodology and iconic location, prosecu- tors are treating the Par- liament crash as terrorism, although Khater has not been charged with a ter- rorist offense. Khater is scheduled to appear before a London court on Monday. WASHINGTON (AP) – Con- serving oil is no longer an economic imperative for the U.S., the Trump adminis- tration declares in a major new policy statement that threatens to undermine de- cades of government cam- paigns for gas-thrifty cars and other conserva- tion programs. The position was out- lined in a memo released last month in support of the ad- ministration’s proposal to relax fuel mileage standards. The government released the memo online this month without fanfare. Growth of natural gas and other alternatives to petroleum has reduced the need for imported oil, which “in turn affects the need of the nation to conserve en- ergy,” the Energy Depart- ment said. It also cites the now decade-old fracking revolution that has unlocked U.S. shale oil reserves, giving “the United States more flex- ibility than in the past to use our oil resources with less concern.” With the memo, the ad- ministration is formally chal- lenging old justifications for conservation – even congres- sionally prescribed ones, as with the mileage stan- dards. The memo made no mention of climate change. Transportation is the single largest source of climate- changing emissions. President Donald Trump has questioned the existence of climate change, embraced the notion of “energy dom- inance” as a national goal, and called for easing what he calls burdensome regula- tion of oil, gas and coal, in- cluding repealing the Obama Clean Power Plan. Despite the increased oil supplies, the administration continues to believe in the need to “use energy wisely,” the Energy Department said, without elaboration. Depart- ment spokesmen did not re- spond Friday to questions about that statement. Reaction was quick. “It’s like saying, ‘I’m a big old fat guy, and food prices have dropped – it’s time to start eating again,’” said Tom Kloza, longtime oil analyst with the Maryland-based Oil Price Information Service. “If you look at it from the other end, if you do be- lieve that fossil fuels do some sort of damage to the atmo- sphere … you come up with a different viewpoint,” Kloza said. “There’s a downside to living large.” Climate change is a “clear and present and increasing danger,” said Sean Donahue, a lawyer for the Environmental Defense Fund. In a big way, the Energy Department statement just acknowledges the world’s vastly changed reality when it comes to oil. Just 10 years ago, in summer 2008, oil prices were peaking at $147 a barrel and pummeling the global economy. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries was enjoying a massive transfer of wealth, from countries dependent on imported oil. Prices now are about $65. Today, the U.S. is vying with Russia for the title of top world oil producer. U.S. oil production hit an all-time high this summer, aided by the technological leaps of horizontal drilling and hy- draulic fracturing. How much the U.S. economy is hooked up to the gas pump, and vice versa, plays into any number of policy considerations, not just economic or environ- mental ones, but military and geopolitical ones, said John Graham, a former of- ficial in the George W. Bush administration, now dean of the School of Public and En- vironmental Affairs at In- diana University. “Our ability to play that role as a leader in the world is stronger when we are the strongest producer of oil and gas,” Graham said. “But there are still rea- sons to want to reduce the amount we consume.” Current administra- tion proposals include one that would freeze mileage standards for cars and light trucks after 2020, in- stead of continuing to make them tougher. The proposal eventually would increase U.S. oil con- sumption by 500,000 bar- rels a day, the administration says. While Trump officials say the freeze would improve highway safety, documents released this month showed senior Environmental Pro- tection Agency staffers cal- culate the administration’s move would actually increase highway deaths. “American businesses, consumers and our environ- ment are all the losers under his plan,” said Sen. Tom Carper, a Delaware Demo- crat. “The only clear winner is the oil industry. It’s not hard to see whose side President Trump is on.” Administration support has been tepid to null on some other long-running gov- ernment programs for alter- natives to gas-powered cars. Oil pump jacks work in unison in Williston, North Dakota. – PHOTO: AP Former U.K. Independence Party leader and Member of the European Parliament Nigel Farage says he is joining up with a pro-Brexit pressure group to oppose Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan for future ties with the European Union. – PHOTO: APNext >