High of 90 Low of 78 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CAYMAN’S ASPIRING CHEFS MEET THE CULINARY CHALLENGE LOCAL | PAGE 3 ‘COME BACK HOME’ EXPLORES CAYMAN’S HERITAGE ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 2018 HOTEL PRICES SOAR AMID TOURISM BOOM JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s hotels are the most expensive in the region, hitting an average price of just over US$426 a night in the first half of 2018. As demand for the destination has increased, so too have the prices, with hotels charging nearly 20 percent more than just a year ago, ac- cording to Integra Realty Resources Caribbean Hospitality Market Update. St. Lucia, at US$369 a night, is next highest. The Cayman Islands is significantly outper- forming its Caribbean rivals both in terms of tourist numbers and revenue generated, the report indicates. The territory saw a 16.5 per- cent increase in air arrivals in 2018 against a backdrop of declining tourism in the region. Only the Dominican Republic (6.1 percent), Ja- maica (5.4 percent) and St. Lucia (5.2 percent) saw significant increases in tourism in the first half of the year. The impact of the hurricanes that hit the eastern Caribbean last year is seen in dramatic declines in tourist numbers in affected islands, with Puerto Rico down 47 percent, the U.S. Virgin Islands down 54 percent, and the British Virgin Islands down 71 percent. The report suggests that the Cayman Islands is the prime beneficiary of that decline. “It is likely that the average daily rate for Cayman was buoyed by the opening of the Kimpton Seafire in December 2016, as well as the fact that many travelers previously plan- ning on trips over the holidays to the USVI, St. Maarten, BVI, Anguilla, Antigua and St. Barth may have diverted to Cayman instead,” it states. At the Westin resort on Seven Mile Beach, Managing Director Jim Mauer is seeing the typ- ical peaks and troughs of Cayman’s seasonal A tree of another name is still as sweet SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com The George Town edifice known as the Eucalyptus Building may need a new name. Local naturalists believe that a gigantic tree on Shedden Road that gave the building its name may not be a eucalyptus tree. Stuart Mailer, environmental pro- grams manager for the National Trust, said the tree leaning over the road appears to be a Mela- leuca quinquenervia. Mr. Mailer said local natural- ists made that determination after seeing the tree flower this summer. “The irony is it isn’t a euca- lyptus tree. Get used to Melaleuca Plaza,” Mr. Mailer said recently. “We haven’t yet had a botanist of- ficially say we’re right, but there’s no doubt in my mind.” The species – known more col- loquially as a paper bark tea tree – is not native to Cayman, and Mr. Mailer believes the specimen on Shedden Road was brought to Cayman early in the 20th century. The tree was thought to be a eucalyptus tree for decades, and Mr. Mailer said he has been told about local citizens making what they thought to be eucalyptus tea from its bark. But after seeing a similar tree behind Ugland House, Mr. Mailer began to believe The tree hanging over Shedden Road, long thought to be a eucalyptus, has been identified as a Melaleuca quinquenervia. The Eucalyptus Building, at the bottom left of the photo, was named after the tree. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY Cayman thrives in culinary competition SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com A taste of Cayman cooking was enough to bring home a special prize. One of the two Cayman teams in the Junior Caribbean Duelling Challenge in Barbados over the weekend brought home the second-place trophy. Team A, Bradley McLaughlin, 16, and Ayanna Davis-Eden, 15, made it into the final round after acing the “mystery basket” round and fin- ished just behind the ultimate winning team from St. Lucia. “Honestly, I’m very proud of them,” said Chef Carlos Sierra, the coach for both Cayman teams. “For sure, they have a good future if they want to work as chefs at some point down the line.” Bradley took second place in last year’s competition, alongside his former teammate Brittney Bodden, this year he repeated that ranking when he paired up with teammate Ayanna. The other Cayman team, Mohnydra Brown, 15, and Joshua McLean, 15, earned PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » The four Cayman chefs, Ayanna Davis-Eden, Bradley McLaughlin, Joshua McLean and Mohyndra Brown, pose together at the Junior Duelling Challenge. – PHOTO: KATIE O’NEILL PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 5 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 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. - WEDNESDAY - 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 Founding member of Argentina’s Grandmothers group dies at 95 BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) – One of the founders of Ar- gentina’s leading human rights group has died. Maria Isabel Chorobik de Mariani was 95. The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo group says that she died late Monday at a local hospital where she had been interned after suf- fering a stroke. Chorobik de Mariani was instrumental in founding the group that for decades has been searching for children who were stolen from people who were killed or forcibly disappeared during Argenti- na’s 1976-1983 dictatorship. Two former dictators were eventually convicted along with others of system- atically kidnapping children. Jorge Rafael Videla died in prison in 2013. Reynaldo Big- none, who was serving time under house arrest, died ear- lier this year. During the dictatorship, the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo marched weekly at Buenos Aires’ main square to demand the return of their loved ones. The group says Chorobik de Mariani was a “symbol of the fight for human rights.” The Grandmothers pushed for the creation of a DNA database that enables people illegally adopted to determine their real iden- tity. They believe that about 500 children were seized during the dictatorship and given to couples who sup- ported the ruling military junta. The group has so far helped to identify 128 cases of stolen children. Chorobik de Mariani, who was known as “Chicha,” never found her missing grand- daughter. Clara Anahi was 3 months old when she was stolen by agents of the dic- tatorship in 1976. The baby’s mother was killed. “Dear Chicha, we will keep searching for her, along with all the other granddaugh- ters and grandsons who are missing,” the group said. Maria Isabel ‘Chicha’ Mariani, one of the founders of the Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo, is seen in 2015. – PHOTO: AP During the dictatorship, the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo marched weekly at Buenos Aires’ main square to demand the return of their loved ones. CAYMAN AIRWAYS HQ WOUNDING CASE IN COURT Teen defendant in custody CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Tyrec Christopher Johnson, 17, appeared in Summary Court on Tuesday when the charge against him, wounding with in- tent, was transmitted to the Grand Court. The defendant is charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding a named male with in- tent to cause him grievous bodily harm on July 3, 2018, at the Cayman Airways of- fice on Owen Roberts Drive. Magistrate Valdis Foldats noted that the charge can be dealt with only in the higher court, and defense attorney Lee Halliday-Davis did not apply for bail, so no further details were aired in court. The next mention was set for Friday, Aug. 31. A press release from po- lice after the incident indi- cated that the complainant/ victim was stabbed in the leg during an altercation near the Cayman Airways headquarters shortly after 5:10 p.m. on July 3. Labour Appeals Tribunal chairman named Attorney Phillip Ebanks has been named as chairman of the Labour Appeals Tri- bunal, according to the latest Cayman Islands Gazette. The tribunal hears appeals on decisions made by Cay- man’s Labour Tribunals. Mr. Ebanks is a past member of the appeals tribunal and has served as deputy chairman of Labour Tribunal 1. As the principal attorney with Premier HR Manage- ment Solutions, Mr. Ebanks’ practice focuses on pro- viding legal and business support services to a host of for-profit, nonprofit, public sector and private sector cli- ents. He has served as a se- nior management executive in the public sector and the police service. He replaces former chair- woman, Justice Marlene Carter, who recently resigned from the tribunal. Other members of the tri- bunal are deputy chairper- sons Joseph Jackson and Seeima Kapoor and mem- bers Raquel Solomon, Betty Baraud, Richard Lewis, Sonji Myles, Shari McField and Au- drey Wellington. Old-time union boss in Mexico returns triumphant from prison MEXICO CITY (AP) – One of Mexico’s powerful old-time union bosses has made an un- repentant, triumphal return to the public spotlight after being freed from nearly five years of prison and house arrest. Elba Esther Gordillo was arrested in 2013 on corrup- tion and money laundering charges, the last of which were dismissed this month. Her fall helped President Enrique Pena Nieto implement a reform re- quiring teacher testing. Members of the National Education Workers Union she once led turned out to cheer her euphorically Monday, with some weeping as she appeared at a Mexico City hotel to read a brief statement. “I recovered my freedom and the education reform has collapsed,” Gordillo said, using the oratory and theatrical skills that once made her a major political figure. But she didn’t say whether she would return to politics. “For the present, I owe my time to my family who suf- fered during my absence, but that doesn’t mean I will abandon my convictions,” Gor- dillo said. “My place and my loyalty will always be with the teachers of Mexico … Life goes on, and things have to go well for Mexico.” President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who takes office Dec. 1, has pledged to rescind the educational re- form, and has announced a public consultation to deter- mine how to improve schools. The testing reform broke the union’s stranglehold on management of the nation’s schools, where some teachers had been able to pass their teaching jobs on to their chil- dren. But Lopez Obrador, and many teachers, said the reform relies too heavily on standard- ized tests that may not reflect a teacher’s ability. Preschool teacher Adriana Femat, 53, was one of the throngs of Gordillo’s sup- porters who pressed their way into the crowded event hall to cheer Gordillo. Femat wept a bit as Gordillo – known as to her supporters simply as “The Teacher” – began speaking. “The Teacher’s words were very beautiful, with all the support for teachers,” said Femat. For her Gordillo rep- resents “respect for teachers. We have been so excessively insulted. Education begins at home,” she said, adding par- ents needed to do more. But outside the hotel where Gordillo spoke, a small knot of protesters held up signs reading “Your place is in prison.” Gordillo had been accused of funneling about $160 mil- lion in union funds into private bank accounts with the help of assistants. She was never convicted, but her spending became legendary and con- trasted strongly with the reali- ties of poorly paid teachers. ATTEMPTED ROBBERY AT WEST BAY BAKERY A masked man carrying a knife attempted to rob a bakery in West Bay on Sunday, police said. According to a Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice statement, officers re- sponded to a report made shortly after 6:30 p.m. about a man, whose face was cov- ered with a white cloth, at- tempting to rob the business. He is described as tall, with light brown skin, dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt. Police said he threatened the cashier with a knife and demanded money. “The man was told that there was no money and he took off running towards the back of the bakery,” the press release from police noted. Elba Esther Gordillo3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 2018 ‘Come Back Home’ explores Cayman’s heritage Some 200 traditional music lovers turned out Thursday evening to help celebrate the launch of a double album by two iconic Cayman groups. The Cayman Islands Folk Singers and North Side Kitchen Band launched their album, called “Come Back Home,” at a party at Grand Old House in George Town. Among the attendees were members of the bands them- selves, as well as Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, Speaker of the House McK- eeva Bush, Acting Minister for Culture Joey Hew, and Henry Muttoo, artistic di- rector of the Cayman Na- tional Cultural Foundation, which produced the album. Mr. Hew said the album showcased the rich heritage of the Cayman Islands and “holds true to our oral tradi- tions, by telling the story of the Cayman Islands and its people through music.” He added, “Through this album we are able to honor our past, share the knowl- edge of our forefathers, foster intergenerational dialogue, and last but certainly not least, highlight and showcase the wonderful talent and cre- ative expression of the arts and culture community.” Mr. Muttoo described the album as a collector’s item, and said it was a “must-have for any person who is a fan of Cayman’s musical culture and history.” In a press release issued following the launch party, he called on the government to support the arts and cul- ture in the Cayman Islands. “I long for the day when those artists, who have proven their worth through works of cal- iber and who wish to pursue an idea, will receive conces- sions, in the same manner that businesses receive con- cessions because, while it is true that businesses and eco- nomic development are nec- essary to grow the country, so are the arts and culture necessary in the building of a creative, disciplined [pop- ulation] whose existence is rooted in substance and not rhetoric.” The Cayman Islands Folk Singers and North Side Kitchen Band launched their album, called “Come Back Home,” at a party at Grand Old House in George Town. Acting Minister for Culture Joey Hew speaks at the launch of ‘Come Back Home’ Thursday night at Grand Old House. The Cayman Islands Folk Singers pose by the seashore at the launch of the ‘Come Back Home’ album on Thursday evening. Speaker McKeeva Bush, left, with original member of the Cayman Islands Folk Singers Marcia Muttoo and her husband CNCF Artistic Director Henry Muttoo.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” Congratulations to Cayman’s Youth Culinary teams, who represented our country admirably with their “Page One” performance at the Caribbean Junior Duelling Chal- lenge in Barbados last weekend. The team of Bradley McLaughlin and Ayanna Davis- Eden finished second in the overall competition, which is part of the annual Caribbean Junior Culinary Conference. They and fellow teens Mohyndra Brown and Josh McLean worked hard to prepare for the event, and that hard work paid off. During the competition, entrants were judged on the basis of their technical skills and techniques, and for the presentation, taste, texture and creativity of their dishes. The Duelling Challenge demands quick and cool thinking under pressure. (As part of their training, Cayman’s entrants practiced in front of cameras and took a few tips from Toastmasters, just in case they should be called upon to speak.) By preparing for and participating in the event, the “Cayman Four” gleaned confidence and competence that no doubt will prove valuable inside and outside the kitchen in future years. Credit also goes to Cayman Youth Culinary Program Director James Myles and coach Chef Carlos Sierra of The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, who helped the students prepare, and to the businesses and individuals who supported them along the way. The program is an example of a forward-thinking, prac- tical partnership to prepare young Caymanians for future success. As Chef Carlos could attest, pursuing the culinary arts – particularly in the “Culinary Capital of the Carib- bean” – can lead to a potentially rewarding lifelong career. Cayman’s restaurateurs, chefs, kitchen assistants, maître d’s and waitstaff comprise a vital component of our country’s tourism-based economy. In addition to showcase events such as the Cayman Cookout and Taste of Cayman festivals, the local culinary scene underpins the reputation and reality of the country’s status as a world-class tourism destination. As evidence, simply look at another of today’s front page stories, reporting that Cayman’s average hotel room rates, of just more than US$426 per night, are the highest in the Caribbean … well above the runner-up, St. Lucia, at US$369. (Amid the context of regional recovery from the dev- astating 2017 hurricane season, Cayman’s concurrent 16.5 percent increase in air arrivals this year is a tremen- dous outlier. Only three other countries – the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and St. Lucia – experienced signifi- cant increases in tourism this year, but “only” of about 5-6 percent.) While Seven Mile Beach and Stingray City, of course, are our show-off attractions, it must be recognized that many other competitors in the region also offer immac- ulate stretches of white sand and breathtaking aquatic vistas. (And also, which we consider to be unfair advan- tages, other features such as hills, rivers and waterfalls.) What separates Cayman as a luxury destination – in other words, why we are able to charge more for rooms – is the safety of our jurisdiction and high quality of our accommodations and attractions. As demon- strated by the focus on food at resorts ranging from The Ritz-Carlton, Kimpton Seafire, Westin Grand Cayman and Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, all the way to Sunshine Suites, Sunset House, Morritt’s Resort and Cobalt Coast – the restaurant experience is an insepa- rable component of the hotel experience. Considering the scores of standalone eateries throughout Cayman, the only “reservation” we can cite about Cayman’s culinary landscape is that we can’t make reservations at some of our finest restaurants (Grand Old House, Andiamo, The Brasserie, Calypso Grill), since they close down for a few weeks on a seasonal basis, usually late-August through September or October. Until then, we eagerly await their reopenings – of course with appropriately whetted appetites. Cayman’s aspiring chefs meet the culinary challenge WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS America cannot stop watching GARY ABERNATHY HILLSBORO, Ohio – When Omarosa Manigault Newman joined the White House staff in January 2017, it was only a matter of time until she reestablished herself in the role that made her fa- mous early in her career on “The Apprentice” – America’s top drama queen. Chances are, Presi- dent Donald Trump knew that, but the president em- braces drama, too. He under- stands better than anyone before him that the presi- dency is performance art. He also knows that most Americans prefer schlock to Shakespeare. From the 1950s through the 1970s, small Hollywood studios such as American In- ternational Pictures made a killing churning out low- budget horror, science fiction, beach-party and sexploita- tion films. Critics thumbed their noses at such fare, but audiences, especially in the Midwest, flocked to small- town movie houses and the drive-ins where such gems typically played. They were drawn by lurid movie posters utilizing what AIP mogul Samuel Arkoff called the “Sees,” as in “In- vasion of the Saucer-men,” which promised, “SEE! Teen- agers versus the Saucer-men! SEE! Disembodied hand that crawls!” or “Goliath and the Vampires,” enticing cus- tomers to “SEE! The torture chamber of the blue men! SEE! The virgin-harem of the vampire god!” and so on. Of course, audiences knew this wasn’t high art; they were looking for a night of fun, en- tertainment and surprise – and got what they came for. Until Trump, old-guard Washington was performing the equivalent of a long-run- ning Broadway show fea- turing the same tired perfor- mances – everyone donning their fraying stage costumes, repeating their lines by rote, both the left and the right falling predictably into char- acter. The recitations had grown flat from lack of sin- cerity or passion, and the news media, as critics, wrote the same reviews ad nau- seam. “Fake news” rings somewhat true when what’s being covered is so formulaic and contrived. With Trump, we get the cheesy, the shocking and sometimes the uncomfort- able – just like a good drive- in movie. Trump never seems to study the script or know his part, at least as defined by those previously cast as the “President of the United States.” His riffing and ad- libbing are endless sources of dismay from Democrats, the media and, quite often, Republicans. But drive-in movies never depended on good scripts. Naturally, the reviews from those who studied under the masters have been scathing. Trump breaks pro- tocol. Trump flubs his lines. Trump insults his castmates. Why, he does not even look the part – who does his hair and makeup, anyway? But Trump appeals to Americans who were never invited onto the red carpet, a snub that was due in part to their lack of formal training in political theater. His fans are particularly offen- sive to highbrow critics. It’s as though the Helen Hayes Theatre was suddenly filled nightly by yokels fresh off the bus from Topeka, hiding their Milk Duds and Raisinets in their pockets – the kind of crowd former FBI agent Peter Strzok could “SMELL,” as he texted about the Trump sup- porters he stumbled onto in a southern Virginia Walmart. More and more, establish- ment Washington’s perfor- mances seemed designed for the edification of the players; the audience was taken for granted or ignored out- right. But even today, the old guard’s faithful ushers prowl the aisles, shaking Trump supporters by the shoulders and insisting they “wake up” and enjoy the tired old revue. But invitation-only black- tie premieres are out; Friday nights at the drive-in are in. Even as AIP’s output was considered garish and voy- euristic, theater owners and drive-in operators were obvi- ously doing something right. They cleaned up on the films, while countless “prestige” offerings from major stu- dios bombed or barely broke even. Likewise, while Trump’s critics are focused on his un- savory tweets and boorish behavior, his results with the economy, the stock market, North Korea, the Islamic State and more are vastly un- derappreciated. Former presi- dent Barack Obama remains the critical favorite based on style, but Trump yields better returns. In his autobiography, “Flying Through Hollywood by the Seat of My Pants,” AIP’s Arkoff recalled that after years of being a show business outcast, he and his studio were eventually feted by the Museum of Modern Art in New York 25 years after the studio’s founding. Establishment tastes had fi- nally aligned with Main Street America. Arkoff told the opening-night audience, “I guess if you hang around long enough, anyone can be- come respectable.” Trump is not yet respect- able to the old order, but his time will come. In the mean- time, Omarosa is the latest supporting player to get a big moment in the Trump Show, but her shock value is already waning as we order another bag of popcorn and eagerly await the coming attractions. Gary Abernathy, a contributing columnist for The Washington Post, is a freelance writer and former newspaper editor based in Hillsboro, Ohio. Trump appeals to Americans who were never invited onto the red carpet, a snub that was due in part to their lack of formal training in political theater. The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 2018 CAYMAN ISLANDS National Tourism P aln 2018-23 N P PUBLIC CONSULTATION For more information, contact: ntp@caymanislands.ky or call 949-0623 caymanNTP.ky Tourism impacts us all. Share your feedback on the draft National Tourism Plan 2018-2023. between 22 August - 26 September to make your opinion count. Log on to vital experience in their first international competition. The four budding chefs spent their first two days at the Caribbean Junior Cu- linary Conference learning new cooking techniques, before taking their places for the competition on the third day. All of the teams were to cook a signature dish, and the Cayman teams brought conch to the table. Team A made conch ceviche with a side of conch fritters, while Team B made a conch chowder. The next day of the com- petition involved a mys- tery basket round. Team A brought its best perfor- mance on this day, winning the mystery basket judging and earning a place in the final round. “It was a great experi- ence and a great competi- tion,” said Ayanna on Tuesday morning. “All the teams were great at what they do and going for the gold. We just did our best.” The mystery basket forced the contestants to think quickly and on their feet. After their ingredients were revealed, they then had just five minutes to consult with their coach before be- ginning to cook. Ayanna said that the com- petition was worthwhile be- cause it allowed the young chefs to learn new techniques and to meet new people, which could ultimately open the next door in their career. The event was televised, which added another ele- ment of difficulty. The chefs not only had to make their dishes and plate them cor- rectly, but they had to do it in front of cameramen and a boisterous crowd. “It was a little stressful with cameras in your face during cooking. It was a little nerve-racking be- cause you had an audience,” Ayanna admitted. But she added, “I knew with all the practice we had done that we’d be fine. My family was really excited be- cause they knew how hard I had worked.” Cayman thrives in culinary competition Mohyndra Brown shows off her piping skills in the competition. The teams could choose their fresh ingredients from this cart during the competition.Team B, Mohyndra Brown, left, and Joshua McLean in action during the competition. James Myles, left, director of the National Youth Culinary Program, poses with Bradley McLaughlin, Ayanna Davis-Eden and Chef Carlos Sierra of The Ritz-Carlton. – PHOTOS: KATIE O’NEILL The four budding chefs spent their first two days at the Caribbean Junior Culinary Conference learning new cooking techniques, before taking their places for the competition on the third day. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 One of the dishes cooked by Bradley McLaughlin and Ayanna Davis-Eden.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS that they had labeled the tree incorrectly. “One of the names of this tree is ‘paper bark’ and if you go to Ugland House, around the back you’ll find huge slabs of bark,” Mr. Mailer said. “When you touch them, you can separate it. It will crumble into sheets of paper. It feels like a stack of paper in flower. It’s obviously swamp paper bark. In south Florida, it’s an invasive pest drying out the Everglades. It doesn’t seem to be doing much in Cayman.” Mr. Mailer said he began taking pictures of the tree behind Ugland House for comparison with the one on Shedden Road, and he was convinced when the trees began to flower at the same time. “The flowers were iden- tical. Everything was iden- tical,” he said. “Once you’ve seen them, you know.” Mr. Mailer said that local naturalist Ann Stafford originally identified the spe- cies behind Ugland House as a Melaleuca quinque- nervia but did not make the connection to the tree on Shedden Road. The Shedden Road tree – swollen along its diam- eter and leaning at a pro- nounced angle – has been in place for decades near the road’s junction with Thomas Russell Avenue and North Sound Road, and Mr. Mailer said he can track its pres- ence by a series of aerial photographs. The earliest photo Mr. Mailer has ob- tained is from 1958, and the tree is clearly visible in it. “Going back and looking at the series from the 70s through the 60s back to 1958, you can see that same tree,” he said. “It is at least 60 years old, and in the pic- ture, it doesn’t look a whole lot different. I can’t see the width of it, but I can see the crown of the tree. It was a big tree in 1960.” Mr. Mailer is not at all certain of the tree’s ori- gins, but he believes that it may have been brought to Cayman from Florida in the early 20th century and planted along Shedden Road. “This is only a guess on my part,” said Mr. Mailer, separating facts from opinion. “I would suspect it dates to the 1920s or so, when there was a lot of trade between the southern United States and people bringing exotic trees back and forth when we had a shipbuilding industry. That’s just a wild guess. But I think it’s quite fast growing. And the evidence for that is that it’s signifi- cantly grown in diameter.” A tree of another name is still as sweet Hotel prices soar amid tourism boom tourist trade flatten out. “In a nutshell, we are almost seasonless right now,” Mr. Mauer said. He said the hotel had been nearly full through the end of July. A dip in occupancy is expected for August and September, but he be- lieves it will be “well above” previous years. He acknowledges the im- pact of the storms that af- fected other destinations, but believes the boost that Cayman has received could be permanent. “We have so many cus- tomers who had never been to Cayman before and now they plan to come every year. The exposure has done us wonders.” He said the high av- erage price of hotel rooms should not be a deter- rent for visitors so long as Cayman maintains its rep- utation for safety and first- class service. “I think we are that five- star island,” he said. “We are seeing our pace pick up even more in 2019 and I don’t see that going away. That is an optimistic view, absolutely, but hopefully I am not wrong.” At the Comfort Suites hotel, which markets it- self as the most affordable of the Seven Mile Beach venues, room prices have also gone up. Manager Tom Mason said it was a fine balancing act for hotels to manage pricing as demand grows. “We have seen a very positive increase in rates but we are also cautious to ensure that we offer the best value and service for our Seven Mile location for the many repeat guests who return to Comfort Suites year after year and who enjoy our hotel,” he said. “It has been great to see these rate increases and it is very encouraging, but we also want to retain our re- lationships and integrity with our guests for the long term, with reasonable in- creases that still ensure that we are attractive and offer great value for our segment of the market.” The report indicates that average room rates have dipped across the Ca- ribbean from just under US$250 a night in 2015 to just over US$218 in the first half of 2018. Competition from lower-priced Airbnb rooms is cited as one con- tributory factor. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cohen pleads guilty in hush-money scheme NEW YORK (AP) – Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and “fixer,” pleaded guilty Tuesday to campaign- finance violations and other charges, saying he and Trump arranged the payment of hush money to porn star Stephanie Clifford, known as Stormy Daniels, and a former Playboy model to influence the election. Under a plea bargain reached with federal prose- cutors, Cohen, 51, could get about four to five years in prison at sentencing Dec. 12. Cohen pleaded guilty to eight counts in all, including tax evasion and making a false statement to a finan- cial institution. In entering the plea, Cohen did not specifically name the two women or even Trump, recounting instead that he worked with an “un- named candidate.” But the amounts and the dates all lined up with the payments made to Daniels and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal. Cohen’s plea follows months of scrutiny from fed- eral investigations and a falling-out with the president, whom he previously said he would “take a bullet” for. The FBI raided Cohen’s hotel room, home and office in April and seized more than 4 million items. The search sought bank records, commu- nications with Trump’s cam- paign and information on a $130,000 payment to Daniels and a $150,000 one to Mc- Dougal. Both women claimed Trump had affairs with them, which he denies. Trump ignored questions about Cohen as he boarded Air Force One for a campaign visit to West Virginia. The president has fumed publicly about what he felt was government overreach, while privately worrying about what material Cohen may have after working for the Trump Organization for a decade. Trump branded the raid “a witch hunt,” an assault on attorney-client privilege and a politically motivated at- tack by enemies in the FBI. Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team is looking into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential elec- tion. The team referred the case involving Cohen’s finan- cial dealings to federal pros- ecutors in Manhattan. Before the election, Cohen had been a trusted member of the Trump organization, working out of an office in Trump Tower next to one used by his boss. He raised millions for Trump’s campaign and, after being interviewed by the House Intelligence Com- mittee last year, told Vanity Fair that Trump had no part in the suspected Russian conspiracy to tamper with the election. Michael Cohen Manafort guilty on 8 counts; mistrial declared on 10 others ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A jury has found former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort guilty after a three- week trial on tax and bank fraud charges – a major if not complete victory for Special Counsel Robert Mueller as he continues to investigate the president’s associates. The jury convicted Manafort on eight of the 18 counts against him. The jury said it was deadlocked on the other 10. U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis de- clared a mistrial on those other charges. Manafort was convicted on five counts of filing false tax returns, one count of not filing a required IRS form, and two bank fraud counts. The verdict announced Tuesday comes as President Donald Trump has stepped up his criticism of Mueller’s probe, publicly criticizing the investigation on a weekly basis. As the Manafort trial began, Trump called for Mueller’s probe to be shut down immediately. Manafort’s guilty ver- dict may strengthen Muel- ler’s hand as he continues to investigate possible con- spiracy and seeks an inter- view with the president; an acquittal could have led to a broader effort by conserva- tives to shut down the spe- cial counsel’s office. The 18 charges in the Manafort trial centered on Manafort’s personal finances, and had little to do with the special counsel’s mandate of probing Russian interfer- ence in the 2016 election and whether any Trump associates conspired with those efforts. But the trial was the first to emerge from Muel- ler’s probe, and as such it marked a significant public test of his work. The jury deliberated for four days before an- nouncing its verdict. Over two weeks of testi- mony, more than two dozen witnesses, including his former right hand man Rick Gates, as well as his former bookkeeper and accountants, testified against Manafort. They said he hid millions of dollars in foreign bank ac- counts that went unreported to the IRS, and then later lied to banks in order to get mil- lions of dollars in loans. His lawyers had argued that Gates, not Manafort, was the real criminal, pointing to Gates’ admitted lies, theft, and infidelity. Gates pleaded guilty in February to lying to the FBI and conspiring against the United States, and has said he hopes to get a lesser prison sentence by co- operating against Manafort. Prosecutors, in turn, told the jury that the most com- pelling evidence in the case were the dozens of docu- ments, many of them emails, showing Manafort oversaw the false statements to the IRS and banks. Manafort, 69, called no witnesses at all, as his lawyer argued prosecutors had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he in- tended to defraud the gov- ernment or banks. Manafort’s lawyers repeatedly suggested their client might not have known the law. The trial featured heated arguments at times – not be- tween the government and defense lawyers, but be- tween Ellis and prosecutors. The judge repeatedly chided prosecutors in front of the jury, though at the end of the trial he urged the panel not to consider during delibera- tions any opinions he may have expressed. Manafort faces a second trial in September in Wash- ington D.C., on charges that he failed to register as a lobbyist for the Ukraine government, and conspired to tamper with witnesses in that case. Manafort has been in jail since June as a result of the witness tampering charges. On Tuesday morning, the jury sent a note indi- cating they were split on at least one count. Ellis said he might be open to accepting a partial verdict at a later point, but not yet. Manafort’s attorney Kevin Downing argued jurors should be given a new verdict form that would give them the option to be undecided on the charges. The “third option should be hung as to each count,” said Downing, who added that the jury “shouldn’t be misled” into thinking that a hung jury is inappropriate. Prosecutor Greg Andres objected to that suggestion, saying such a form goes against the judge’s instruc- tion for the jury to keep de- liberating. The judge agreed, saying that if the jurors still cannot come to a consensus after he sends them back to continue deliberating, then he would “ask them to tell me where they stand.” When the jurors were brought into the courtroom, Ellis told them only that if they failed to agree on a ver- dict, the case would be “left open and undecided,” and that there was no reason an- other 12 jurors could decide the case “better or more ex- haustively” than they could. Prosecutors charge that from 2010 to 2014, Manafort hid more than $15 million from the IRS – money he made as a political consul- tant in Ukraine. When that income ended in 2014, au- thorities say Manafort lied to banks to get millions of dol- lars more in loans to support his extravagant lifestyle. © 2018, The Washington Post Members of the defense team for Paul Manafort, including Jay Nanavati, left, Kevin Downing, and Thomas Zehnle, walk to federal court for jury deliberations in the trial of the former Trump campaign chairman, in Alexandria, Virginia, Tuesday. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 2018 Iran sandstorm sends 95 people to hospital 95 people were taken to hospitals after suffering breathing problems during a sand-and-dust storm in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan. The sandstorm hit the province on Monday, with wind speeds of around 70 miles per hour. 1 Cayman Financial Centre | 36A Dr. Roy’s Drive P.O. Box 2510 | Grand Cayman KY1-1104 | Cayman Islands (+1 345) 949 3344 | www.stuartslaw.com Stuarts congratulates Dunzelle Daker on her admission to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands Chris Humphries, Managing Director states, “Dunzelle adds to Stuarts Walker Hersant Humphries’ wide ranging experience in commercial and insurance litigation and she will join our busy team as a much-needed part of our fi rm’s growth.” Richard Annette, Partner and Head of Litigation says, “having Dunzelle join the litigation team, contributing fi rst class knowledge and expertise, further strengthens Stuarts’ litigation practice.” Our primary objective is the provision of timely, cost effective and fi rst-class legal advice specialising in commercial and corporate litigation, insurance related disputes and insolvency. If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Richard Annette at (+1 345) 814-7920 or email at richard.annette@stuartslaw.com. (L to R) Richard Annette (Partner & Head of Litigation), Hon. Justice McMillan, Dunzelle Daker (Associate Attorney) and Chris Humphries (Managing Director). Trump plan scales back Obama’s coal emissions standards WASHINGTON (AP) – The Trump administration on Tuesday came out with new rules scaling back Obama- era constraints on coal-fired power plants, striking at one of the former administra- tion’s legacy programs to rein in climate-changing fossil- fuel emissions. The Environmental Pro- tection Agency called the Obama-era regulations on coal power plants “overly pre- scriptive and burdensome.” The Trump administra- tion plan broadly increases the leeway given states to de- cide how and how much to regulate coal power plants. The EPA says it “empowers states, promotes energy in- dependence, and facili- tates economic growth and job creation.” Combined with the EPA’s proposal earlier this month to ease mileage requirements for vehicles, the move may ac- tually increase the country’s climate-changing emissions, according to some former top EPA officials, environmental groups, and other opponents. The Natural Resources Defense Council called the re- placement proposal Trump’s “Dirty Power Plan.” Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey cited this summer’s wildfires and increasing droughts and coastal flooding as ev- idence that man-made cli- mate change from burning coal and other fossil fuels is already well upon the United States. “Once again, this ad- ministration is choosing pol- luters’ profits over public health and safety,” he said. Scientists say that without extensive study they cannot directly link a single weather event to climate change, but climate change is responsible for more intense and more frequent extreme events such as storms, droughts, floods and wildfires. In a statement, Repub- lican Sen. John Barrasso from the coal state of Wyo- ming welcomed the overhaul of the Obama administra- tion’s 2015 regulations, called the Clean Power Plan. The new proposal estab- lishes emission guidelines for states to use when developing any plans to limit climate- changing emissions from power plants. Critics say the new plan would allow utili- ties to run older, dirtier power plants more often and extend the plants’ overall operating life, undercutting potential en- vironmental benefits. President Donald Trump is expected to promote the new plan at an appearance in West Virginia on Tuesday. Trump has already vowed to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement as he pushes to revive the coal in- dustry. The Obama adminis- tration had worked to nudge the country’s power pro- ducers to natural gas, wind and solar power, and other less-polluting power sources. Trump also has directed Energy Secretary Rick Perry to take steps to bolster strug- gling coal-fired and nu- clear power plants to keep them open, warning that im- pending retirements of “fuel- secure” power plants that rely on coal and nuclear power are harming the na- tion’s power grid and re- ducing its resilience. Obama’s plan was de- signed to cut U.S. carbon di- oxide emissions to 32 per- cent below 2005 levels by 2030. The rule dictated spe- cific emission targets for states based on power-plant emissions and gave officials broad latitude to decide how to achieve reductions. The Supreme Court put the plan on hold in 2016 following a legal challenge by industry and coal-friendly states, an order that remains in effect. Even so, the Obama plan has been a factor in a wave of retirements of coal-fired plants, which also are being squeezed by lower costs for natural gas and renew- able power and state man- dates that promote energy conservation. US deports former Nazi prison camp guard, 95, to Germany BERLIN (AP) – The last Nazi war crimes suspect facing deportation from the U.S. was taken from his New York City home and spirited early Tuesday morning to Ger- many, following years of ef- forts to remove him from the United States. The deportation of the 95-year-old former Nazi camp guard, Jakiw Palij, came 25 years after investi- gators first confronted him about his World War II past and he admitted lying to get into the U.S., claiming he spent the war as a farmer and factory worker. Palij lived quietly in the U.S. for years, as a draftsman and then as a re- tiree, until nearly three de- cades ago when investiga- tors found his name on an old Nazi roster and a fellow former guard spilled the se- cret that he was “living some- where in America.” Palij, an ethnic Ukrai- nian born in a part of Poland that is now Ukraine, told the Justice Department he had Ukrainian citizenship. When their investigators showed up at his door in 1993, he said: “I would never have received my visa if I told the truth. Everyone lied.” A judge stripped Palij’s U.S. citizenship in 2003 for “participation in acts against Jewish civilians” while an armed guard at the Trawniki camp in Nazi-occupied Po- land and was ordered de- ported a year later. But because Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and other countries refused to take him, he continued living in limbo in the two-story, red brick home in Queens he shared with his late wife, Maria. His continued presence there outraged the Jewish com- munity, attracting frequent protests over the years that featured such chants as “your neighbor is a Nazi!” According to the Justice Department, Palij served at Trawniki in 1943, the same year 6,000 prisoners in the camps and tens of thousands of other prisoners held in oc- cupied Poland were rounded up and slaughtered. Palij has admitted serving in Trawniki but denied any involvement in war crimes. Last September, all 29 members of New York’s con- gressional delegation signed a letter urging the State De- partment to follow through on his deportation. Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador who arrived in Germany earlier this year, said President Donald Trump – who is from New York – instructed him to make it a priority. He said the new German govern- ment, which took office in March, brought “new energy” to the matter. The deportation came after weeks of diplomatic negotiations. Grenell told reporters that there were “difficult con- versations” because Palij is not a German citizen and was stateless after losing his U.S. citizenship, but “the moral obligation” of taking in “someone who served in the name of the German govern- ment was accepted.” A coal-fired power plant is silhouetted against the morning sun in Glenrock, Wyoming. – PHOTO: AP Former Nazi concentration camp guard Jakiw Palij8 WORLD&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS We regret to announce the passing of Louisa Rebekah Hydes-Ebanks Who departed this life on Thursday, 9th August 2018. Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. A Funeral Service will be held at John Gray Memorial Church West Bay on Saturday, 25th August 2018 at 4:00 p.m. Viewing will be held prior to the service from 3:00- 3:45p.m Interment will follow at West Bay Cemetery We regret to announce the passing of Monica Bryan who departed this life on Tuesday 7 August 2018. Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page. A Thanksgiving service for the life of Mrs. Bryan will be held at St. Georges Anglican Church on Saturday 25 August at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at the Prospect Cemetery Donations can be given in lieu of flowers Colorful attire is preferred Italy bridge designer warned in 1979 of risk of corrosion ROME (AP) – The Italian engineer who designed the Genoa bridge that collapsed and killed dozens warned four decades ago that it would require constant maintenance to remove rust given the effects of corrosion from sea air and pollution on the concrete. RAI state television broadcast excerpts Sunday of the report that the late engineer Riccardo Morandi penned in 1979, 12 years after the bridge bearing his name was inaugu- rated in Genoa. At the time of writing, Morandi said there was al- ready a “well-known loss of superficial chemical resis- tance of the concrete” be- cause of sea air and pollution from a nearby steel plant. He said he chose to write about it because the degra- dation represented a partic- ular “perplexity” given the “aggressivity” of the corro- sion that wasn’t seen in sim- ilar structures in different environments. Morandi reaffirmed the soundness of the reinforced concrete bridge design he used but warned: “Sooner or later, maybe in a few years, it will be necessary to re- sort to a treatment consisting of the removal of all traces of rust on the exposure of the reinforcements, to fill in the patches.” He recommended using an epoxy resin to cover the reinforcements with mate- rials “of a very high chem- ical resistance.” A huge section of the bridge collapsed Aug. 14 during a fierce storm, killing 43 people and forcing the evacuation of nearby res- idents in the densely built-up area. The cause is under in- vestigation, and a team of engineers appointed by the ministry of infrastruc- ture and transportation car- ried out a preliminary in- spection Sunday after rescue crews concluded their search for the missing. The head of the govern- ment team, Roberto Ferrazza, said the preliminary survey suggested a series of possible causes and not just a simple collapse of the bridge sup- port since the span appears to have initially experienced a distortion. “We have to look at the positioning of the rubble, considering that there was a break that provoked an imbalanced movement of the structure,” the ANSA news agency quoted Fer- razza as saying. The Espresso newsmag- azine reported Sunday that Ferrazza was one of the en- gineers who knew about the advanced corrosion under way on the key bridge sup- port that gave way, having attended a Feb. 1 meeting of experts from the transport ministry and the company that manages bridge repairs. Minutes of the meeting, which bear Ferrazza’s sig- nature, recommended that the supports be reinforced given the “trend of degrada- tion” being registered. Bid- ding opened in April for the 20 million-euro (US$23 mil- lion) public works contract to do the work, according to Italian media. The Morandi Bridge was a key artery that linked high- ways to Milan and France, a vital lifeline for both com- mercial traffic as well as vacationers bound for the mountains and Mediter- ranean beaches. Engineers say there have long been concerns about its unusual concrete-encased stay cables, which Morandi used in several of his bridge designs instead of the more common steel cables. Late Sunday, dozens of Genoese residents gathered in a central piazza to both vent rage and pain over the collapse. Many wrote mes- sages and poems on sheets of white paper unrolled on the piazza cobblestones. “We choose the paper be- cause this way everyone can write whatever he or she thinks without necessarily shouting, or screaming at a time when all we need is si- lence,” said Elisa D’Andrea, one of the event organizers. Heavy machinery removes rubble from the collapsed Morandi highway bridge, Sunday in Genoa, Italy. – PHOTO: AP UK apologizes to deported, detained residents from Caribbean LONDON (AP) – The British government apologized Tuesday to 18 long-term U.K. residents from the Carib- bean who were deported or detained because they could not produce documents to prove their right to live in the country. Home Secretary Sajid Javid said their treatment was “completely unaccept- able,” and issued a personal apology. He said those af- fected would get “the sup- port and compensation they deserve.” The government reviewed almost 12,000 immigration cases after it was reported that some people from the Caribbean who had lived in Britain for decades had been denied housing, jobs or med- ical treatment because they could not prove their status. The treatment of members of the so-called “Windrush generation” caused wide- spread outrage in Britain. The Home Office said Tuesday that the most se- rious cases include 11 people who were wrongly removed from the country, and an- other seven who were de- tained but not deported. Javid said these 18 people are the “most likely to have suffered detriment.” The gov- ernment found 146 other cases of Caribbean immi- grants who were detained or deported, but “the degree of detriment suffered varied considerably,” he said. Those affected are known as the “Windrush generation” after the ship Empire Win- drush, which in 1948 brought hundreds of Caribbean im- migrants to a Britain seeking nurses, railway workers and others to help it re- build after the devastation of World War II. They and other Com- monwealth immigrants who came to Britain before 1973 had an automatic right to settle in the U.K. But some have fallen foul of rules re- quiring employers and doc- tors to verify people’s immi- gration status. The Conservative govern- ment introduced the checks as part of its goal of making the U.K. a “hostile environ- ment” for illegal immigration. Javid, whose parents came to Britain from Pakistan, has dropped the “hostile environ- ment” label and is reviewing immigration procedures. “We must do everything we can to ensure that nothing like this happens again, which is why I have asked an independent adviser to look at what lessons we can learn from Windrush,” he said. Labour Party law- maker David Lammy said the apology was “a drop in the ocean” and the govern- ment had still not disclosed the full number of people affected. He tweeted that “apology is crocodile tears & an insult to people still not given hardship fund, left job- less, homeless & unable to afford food.” EL SALVADOR, TAIWAN BREAK TIES AS CHINA ISOLATES ISLAND TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) – Taiwan broke off diplomatic ties with El Salvador on Tuesday as the Central American country de- fected to rival Beijing in the latest blow to the self-ruled island China has been trying to isolate on the global stage. The break in ties means Taiwan is recognized as a sovereign nation by only 17 mainly small, developing countries. In Beijing, Chi- nese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that his gov- ernment had established ties with El Salvador. “History will prove that establishing diplomatic re- lations with China is in full accordance with the fun- damental and long-term interests of the country and the people of El Sal- vador,” Wang said. Taiwan split from main- land China amid civil war in 1949, and Beijing, which considers Taiwan its terri- tory, campaigns relentlessly to isolate the island globally. It cut off relations with Tai- wanese President Tsai Ing- wen’s government shortly after she took office in 2016 and has been steadily ratch- eting up both diplomatic and economic pressure. Earlier this year, the West African nation of Burkina Faso and the Dominican Republic broke ties with Taiwan and resumed or es- tablished diplomatic rela- tions with China. Taiwanese Foreign Min- ister Joseph Wu on Tuesday condemned what he called China’s campaign of luring away Taiwan’s allies with promises of vast financial aid and investment. Taiwan is willing to con- sider cooperating with its al- lies in education, farming or even infrastructure initia- tives, Wu said, but refuses to compete with China in buying diplomatic support. Wu said that El Salvador had repeatedly sought large amounts of funding from Taiwan for a port project that a Taiwanese team of engi- neers dispatched by the gov- ernment thought was not ec- onomically feasible. “We think this is an in- appropriate development plan that risks causing both countries to fall into great debt,” Wu said. 9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 2018 INVEST IN EDUCATION TODAY!! Train locally to compete globally! ACCA Diploma in Accounting & Business ACCA Advanced Diploma in Accounting & Business ACCA Tutorial Services Get a Solid Foundation in Accounting! 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Get AAT Qualified AAT Foundation Certificate in Accounting AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting Classes begin week of Sept. 3rd & 10 th Ask about our payment plans for self-sponsored students CBP® Certification Series: Featuring Business Communications & Leadership (2 of 5 available sessions) ICSA® Award in International Finance & Administration ILM® Award in Leadership & Team Skills ILM® Award in Effective Team Member Skills ACCA Accounting Certifications (The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants – over 100 years strong ) OFFICE TEL FAX E-MAIL WEBSITE Starting Sept. 4 th Ask about our payment plans for self-sponsored students AAT Accounting Qualifications (From the Association of Accounting Technicians) Other Certifications – starting in Sept. 2018 Save 5% - 10% Contact us for further details @ 943-4678 INVEST IN EDUCATION TODAY!! Train locally to compete globally! 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Get AAT Qualified AAT Foundation Certificate in Accounting AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting AAT Professional Diploma in Accounting Classes begin week of Sept. 3rd & 10 th Ask about our payment plans for self-sponsored students CBP® Certification Series: Featuring Business Communications & Leadership (2 of 5 available sessions) ICSA® Award in International Finance & Administration ILM® Award in Leadership & Team Skills ILM® Award in Effective Team Member Skills ACCA Accounting Certifications (The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants – over 100 years strong ) OFFICE TEL FAX E-MAIL WEBSITE Starting Sept. 4 th Ask about our payment plans for self-sponsored students AAT Accounting Qualifications (From the Association of Accounting Technicians) Other Certifications – starting in Sept. 2018 Save 5% - 10% Contact us for further details @ 943-4678 Rift leads Australian ministers to resign CANBERRA, Australia (AP) – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called on his government to unite be- hind him after he survived an internal leadership chal- lenge Tuesday. But several ministers who backed the failed challenger offered their resignations in a move that widens the rift in gov- ernment ranks. His challenger, Home Af- fairs Minister Peter Dutton, resigned from the Cabinet after the vote but the amount of support he gained sur- prised many people. Turn- bull ruled out any retribution against ministers suspected of supporting Dutton and said he had invited Dutton to remain in the senior secu- rity portfolio. “I don’t bear any grudge against Peter Dutton for having stood up and chal- lenged me today,” Turnbull said at a news conference with deputy party leader Julie Bishop, who retained her position unopposed in Tuesday’s ballot. “We know that disunity undermines the ability of any government to get its job done and unity is absolutely critical,” Turnbull added. But Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister James McGrath, Minister for Inter- national Development and the Pacific Concetta Fierra- vanti-Wells, and Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar confirmed within hours that they had offered their resig- nations after backing Dutton. “Our conservative base strongly feel that their voice has been eroded,” Fierra- vanti-Wells wrote in a res- ignation letter to Turnbull, a centrist leader. “I voted for Peter Dutton … As a matter of integrity, this afternoon I offered my resignation,” McGrath posted on social media. Other ministers have also reportedly resigned or are planning to resign in a move that undermines Turn- bull’s hopes for his polit- ical survival. It was not immediately clear whether Turnbull will accept the resignations. Turnbull called the vote at a meeting of conservative Liberal Party lawmakers as speculation mounted about his support within the gov- ernment, which is gearing up for a general election due early next year. The govern- ment has trailed the oppo- sition Labor Party in most opinion polls since the last election in 2016. Turnbull won 48 votes to 35. One lawmaker abstained and another was away on sick leave. Australia has gone through an extraordinary pe- riod of political instability since Prime Minister John Howard lost power in 2007 after more than 11 years in office. Ousting Turnbull would have been the sixth leadership change since then. Next month, Turnbull would become Australia’s longest-serving prime min- ister since Howard, having held office for three years and four days. Dutton supporters say the former police drug squad de- tective could have amassed enough support to success- fully challenge for the leader- ship if the vote had been held Thursday before Parliament takes a two-week break and lawmakers will not gather again until Sept. 10. Dutton later thanked his colleagues for their “consid- erable support” in the ballot. “I believe that I was the best person to lead the Lib- eral Party to success at the next election,” Dutton told reporters. He said he respected the outcome of the ballot and fully supported Turn- bull. He did not specifically rule out challenging the prime minister again. Trea- surer Scott Morrison will act as home affairs minister. Nick Economou, a polit- ical analyst at Monash Uni- versity in Melbourne, believes lawmakers are abandoning Turnbull because they fear he will lead them to a crushing defeat in the elections. Turnbull made a major concession to his opponents within his party on Monday by abandoning plans to leg- islate to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The concession avoided having the most conserva- tive government lawmakers voting against the legislation in Parliament, openly under- mining his authority. But former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who was re- placed by Turnbull in a ballot of government lawmakers in 2015, advised Turnbull in a statement on Tuesday that “unity has to be created and loyalty has to be earned. They can’t just be demanded.” His challenger, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, resigned from the Cabinet after the vote but the amount of support he gained surprised many people. Australian Liberal Party deputy leader Julie Bishop and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull address reporters Tuesday at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia. – PHOTO: AP Czechs boo prime minister 50 years after Soviet-led invasion PRAGUE (AP) – A cere- mony to honor the victims of the 1968 Soviet-led inva- sion of Czechoslovakia on Tuesday turned into a protest against Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis. Hundreds jeered and booed Babis’ arrival for a ceremony in front of the Czech public radio building in downtown Prague, a site of a fierce street battle be- tween unarmed civilians and invading troops in the first hours of occupation where 17 people died. “Shame, shame …,” the crowd chanted while blowing horns and whistles during his speech. Babis did not immediately react to the protest. In his speech, he said Babis, a populist billion- aire, is a controversial figure because of a power-sharing deal with the maverick Com- munist Party and fraud charges he is facing. His po- sition is also complicated by allegations he collaborated with the former communist- era secret police. Troops from the Warsaw Pact, a military alliance formed in 1955 between the Soviet Union and seven Eastern European nations, invaded Czechoslovakia on Aug. 20, 1968 to crush liberal reforms enacted in the brief era known as the Prague Spring. The country was sub- sequently taken over by a hard-line Communist regime fully loyal to Moscow. In 1968 alone, 137 people were killed by Warsaw Pact soldiers, and a total of more than 400 died during the occupation of Czechoslo- vakia that ended only after the 1989 anti-communist Velvet Revolution. In Brussels, European Commission President Jean- Claude Juncker said that Eu- rope is not divided by an Iron Curtain any more. “But let us use this day of solemn commemoration to collectively remember that freedom and the respect for human rights can never be taken for granted and need to be fought for every single day,” he said. In another move related to the anniversary, which will likely anger Russia, Prague au- thorities unveiled a new ex- planatory text about the role of Soviet World War II com- mander Ivan Stepanovic Konev to his monument in Prague. Marshall Konev led Red Army forces that liberated large parts of Czechoslo- vakia from Nazi occupation in 1945. His monument was unveiled in the Prague 6 dis- trict in 1980. On Tuesday, Prague 6 mayor Ondrej Kolar said the authorities wanted to give people “full informa- tion that would not conceal what happened.” The new text describes Konev’s leading role in crushing the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising in Hungary, his con- tribution to the construction of the Berlin Wall and the preparation of the 1968 inva- sion of Czechoslovakia. Russia and four other former Soviet republics had officially protested that. A small group of com- munists condemned at the site what they called “the re- writing of history.” Others demanded the monument was com- pletely removed given what Konev had done. Czech Republic’s Prime Minister Andrej BabisNext >