ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY AUGUST 28, 2018 High of 90 Low of 78 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 WATER HAZARDS: THE PERILS OF RECKLESS ‘JET SKI’ OPERATORS LOCAL | PAGE 3 DIVERS CULL 224 LIONFISH IN 2-DAY TOURNAMENT Port fires four senior staffers BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands Port Authority has terminated the contracts of four senior staff members, according to a brief statement is- sued Monday by the authority’s acting director. The employees who were fired were not identified in the statement. However, the Cayman Compass understands three were deputy directors at the agency earning more than $90,000 per year. The fourth termi- nated employee was the port’s operations and events manager. Acting Director Joey Woods said the firings took effect under rules that “permitted termi- nation … without cause upon the giving of a certain notice period.” “In the interests of efficiency, the port au- thority has had to restructure its resources to meet its challenges and to provide the neces- sary services to meet customer expectations,” Mr. Woods said in the statement. Mr. Woods declined to address questions about the status of suspended port director Clement Reid in his statement Monday. Mr. Reid was suspended in May amid an internal investigation at the port. He was not one of the terminated employees referenced the Monday statement. A review done by the Cayman Islands Au- ditor General’s Office in late 2017 and pre- sented to the Port Authority board in Jan- uary this year raised a number of issues about hiring at the agency, including that a number of new senior management positions were created– putting the port well over budget for the 2016/17 year. Auditor General Sue Winspear’s office high- lighted concerns about the port hiring deci- sions made between late 2016 and 2017. For instance, a deputy director for human resources was paid at a salary scale above the CAYMAN AIRWAYS GOES WEST WITH DENVER ROUTE JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Airways will begin flying direct to Denver in March as the national airline seeks new horizons in the western United States. The new route was announced at twin press conferences in Colorado and Grand Cayman Monday with flights scheduled twice weekly from next year. Grand Cayman will be the only Caribbean island with a direct route from Denver. Tourism and airline bosses said the new route was part of a strategy to target in- creased tourism from cities on the West Coast. A second flight, either to Los Angeles or San Francisco, is also under consideration, though reaching either destination would require lengthening of the runway at the Owen Rob- erts International Airport, something that is scheduled to happen within the next few years. Phillip Rankin, chairman of the Cayman Airways board, said the airline’s new fleet of Boeing 737-800 Max aircraft, the first of which arrives in November, have the range to fly any- where in the U.S., as far south as Brazil and even to London, via Bermuda. He said the Denver route was the first ex- ample of what the upgraded jets would allow the airline to achieve. Fabian Whorms, CEO of Cayman Airways, said the airline would be looking at further route expansion in the near future. “There will be further movement towards the west,” he said. “That is where the future of Cayman Airways lies. It will lie with longer missions, direct flights giving us a com- petitive advantage over other destinations Concern over reckless jet ski riders JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Reckless watercraft riders are putting lives at risk by ig- noring basic marine laws, ac- cording to concerned dive opera- tors in Grand Cayman. The issue is one of a number of concerns about risky behavior on the ocean as tourism grows. A meeting is planned between po- lice and business owners in an effort to improve the situation. Dive operator Divetech re- ported an incident to police last week in which jet-skiers ignored a dive flag and mowed through a group of divers. According to company owner Jo Mikutowicz, a diver was coming to the sur- face near the boat and was al- most hit by a jet ski. “One of my dive instructors saw what was happening and Back to school Years 7 and 11 students attending Clifton Hunter High School in Frank Sound make their way through the gates after arriving on early morning buses from various districts. While Monday was the first day of school after the long summer break for many students in Cayman, schools officially reopen for all students at John Gray and Clifton Hunter High Schools at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. Meanwhile, students at Bodden Town Primary got a colorful surprise when they returned after the summer break to find their school walls covered with murals. For more on this story, see page 3. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Dive operators on Grand Cayman are raising concern about jet skiers who are ignoring dive flags and putting other water users in danger. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 REGIONAL NEWS TUESDAY AUGUST 28, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - TUESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) CRAZY RICH ASIANS (PG13) 12:45 VIP I 4:20 I 6:35 I 9:55 ALPHA (PG13) 4:30 I 9:20 MISSION : IMPOSSIBLE FALLOUT (PG13) 1:00 CHRISTOPHER ROBIN (PG) 12:50 I 2:00 I 6:50 SLENDER MAN (PG13) 3:10 I 5:30 I 7:45 I 10:00 THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS (R) 3:25 I 5:40 I 7:55 I 10:10 MILE 22 (R) 12:50 I 4:10 I 9:45 THE MEG (PG13) 1:35 I 3:40 VIP I 7:10 I 9:50 VIP CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA: JAWS (PG) 7:00 VIP Visiting Gynecologist will be available for consultation at Novo Clinic, Britcay House 236 Eastern Avenue from 4-26 September, 2018 For appointments please call +1 (345) 746-6082 clinic@novocayman.com Students lead the fight in Nicaragua’s uprising against Ortega government MANAGUA, Nicaragua – Hector Saballos, a member of the underground student move- ment here, sits at a table in a safe house planning how to deliver rice, beans and medicines to friends who are in hiding. His boots are stained with blood, and his finger is broken from a re- cent shoot-out. He is worried about his girlfriend, who is in the hospital recovering from gunshot wounds. A few months ago, Sa- ballos, 29, was studying me- chanical engineering. When the government of President Daniel Ortega announced changes to the social secu- rity system, setting off pro- tests throughout the country, Saballos joined the marches. As security forces began to kill protesters, he manned the barricades, fighting with mortars, guns and rocks. Now he is a wanted man. “I had no preparation for this,” he said. “I have no mil- itary or tactical training. I grew up on a farm, so I do know how to use a gun. But Ortega is destroying human rights in this country. He is ignoring the separation of governmental powers. We can forgive much of what he has done, but we can’t forgive him for killing his own people.” Students are at the heart of the movement opposing Ortega, who has been in office for 11 years and was last re- elected in 2016. In the past sev- eral years, Ortega has grown increasingly authoritarian, punishing those who speak out against him and cracking down on protests. More than 300 people have been killed since the demonstrations started in April, many of them young people, according to human-rights groups. Students have been prom- inent in Nicaraguan politics for decades, with university campuses acting as centers of activism during the San- dinista revolution that tri- umphed in 1979, driving out dictator Anastasio Somoza and bringing Ortega and his comrades to power. Ortega was voted out of office in 1990 and returned to the presidency in 2007. Until recently, though, stu- dents have not taken center stage in opposition move- ments, although they at times engaged in issues like the environment. “I thought they were just millennials who cared mainly about video games and lived their lives online,” said Marie Antonia Bermudez, a litera- ture professor at the Univer- sity of Central America (UCA). “But I was wrong.” With Nicaragua’s oppo- sition parties weak and di- vided, students have as- sumed a leading role in the protests. In the spring, they started taking over the uni- versities, building barricades to fight off police and pro- government militias. Military forces have recently moved in and occupied campuses, but the students have achieved an iconic status among many Nicaraguans. CDs with songs like “Gracias, estudiantes” can be bought in local markets. Graffiti lining the streets of Managua praises the courage of the young protesters. The demonstrators have demanded Ortega step down and early elections be held. Ortega has claimed his political opponents and drug cartels are behind the fighting and insisted he will stay in office until the 2021 elections. International and local human-rights groups attribute most of the vio- lence to government secu- rity forces and their allies. For students, the crisis gripping the country has meant a complete disrup- tion of their lives. Most uni- versities have been closed for three months. Many scholarships have not been disbursed. Many students have returned to their fam- ilies in the countryside be- cause they have no money, and with the economy in a downward spiral, there is little chance to find work. Others have fled the country. Vinicio Gonzalez, 24, known in the student move- ment as “Yankee” because of his light skin, was a dance major at UCA before he joined the rock-throwing demonstrators confronting the police. He had planned to perform at a folkloric dance festival in Costa Rica this summer. Instead he is hiding out with Saballos at the church. “Rocks can’t do any- thing against guns,” he said through tears.” But I have to take these risks. Our friends have been killed, and our rights taken away.” Kim Angeles, 23, had a full scholarship to UCA and was studying sociology. She now spends much of her time at a safe house and tells her par- ents she is going to church when she attends protests. “My biggest fear is being raped,” she said. “We are just students. We don’t know how to fight.” In this divided country, Angeles’ situation is com- plicated by her father’s and uncle’s support of Ortega. “My father thinks that students in the resistance should be killed,” she said. Regis Gonzales, 20, is a medical student who helped treat students in- jured during a protest. He said he was arrested and questioned for 12 hours by the police. “After they questioned me, they started writing on a piece of paper. I looked down to see what they were writing. They had written ‘terrorist’ by my name. I was shocked,” he said. He was released and continued to attend pro- tests. Now, he said, police have issued an arrest war- rant for him, accusing him of being a terrorist. He has been living in a safe house. “I will continue to fight against the political oppres- sion,” he said. “We won’t forget a single drop of blood spilled by our friends who were killed.” Professors also are facing hardship. Many have not been paid for three months since classes have been suspended, and they cannot go to their offices or do research in the library. © 2018, The Washington Post In this Aug. 2, 2018 photo, an anti-government university student wearing a Spider-Man mask holds a home-made mortar during a protest outside the Jesuit-run Universidad Centroamericana in Managua, Nicaragua. - PHOTO: AP Paola arranges bullet shells on the coffin of her brother Gerald Jose Vasquez Lopez, 20. He was killed during a standoff with police and pro-Ortega paramilitaries at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua on July 14. - PHOTO: WASHINGTON POST MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mexican marines killed an alleged gang leader and seven of his bodyguards, authorities in the central Mexico state of Puebla said Monday. State prosecutor Gus- tavo Huerta said the gang leader, known as “Coman- dante 30,” was responsible for the death of six munic- ipal police officers executed in Puebla in June. He also said the leader and his bodyguards were escorting a truck carrying stolen fuel on Sunday when they opened fire on a Ma- rine patrol that spotted them. There were no casual- ties among troops. State police chief Jesus Morales said Comandante 30 had been posting videos in recent weeks claiming to represent the Jalisco drug cartel. A campaign of at- tacks on his rivals were “destabilizing the state of Puebla,” Morales added. Puebla has been a flash point for violence related to fuel thefts from govern- ment pipelines. MEXICAN MARINES KILL ALLEGED GANG LEADER VENEZUELANS ACCEPT OFFER FOR FLIGHT HOME LIMA, Peru (AP) – Nearly one hundred Venezuelan mi- grants in Peru are making an unexpected journey back home after fleeing their na- tion’s economic and human- itarian crisis. Several dozen Venezu- elans will board a flight from the Peruvian capital of Lima to the city of Caracas on Monday afternoon. In interviews with The Associated Press, several said they had difficulty finding jobs as migrants and ultimately decided to take up the Venezuelan gov- ernment’s offer to provide them a free trip home. The United Nations es- timates 2.3 million Ven- ezuelans have fled since 2014 as their nation slides into a crisis con- sidered worse than the Great Depression. Tensions have risen in many of the South Amer- ican cities where they are now arriving. Nonetheless, the vast majority believe they are better off abroad.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY AUGUST 28, 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 PINK RIBBON SPONSORS Artist adorns school with paintings JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Bodden Town Primary School students returned from summer break Monday to find a colorful surprise waiting for them. The school building now features five murals painted by Carlos Garcia, a self-taught muralist who is making a name for him- self painting vivid murals on walls around Cayman. Paintings of a Cayman blue iguana, a Cayman parrot, a map of Cayman Brac, and two underwater scenes adorn the school walls. Colorful tropical fish, dolphins, tur- tles, coral and other marine life decorated the walls of Molly Farrell’s Art Building and a side entrance to the school. The map of the Sister Island is on a wall out- side the lunchroom, while a friendly looking iguana now welcomes parents and stu- dents at the school’s en- trance. The Cayman parrot can be seen on the wall next to the Reception class. Second-grader Cameron Dilbert said the paintings are amazing and he loves to see the creatures of the ocean. He’s also happy to be back at school, he said. Sapphire Ebanks, an- other second-grader, said the paintings are really pretty to look at and she especially loves the Cayman parrot. The surprise was or- chestrated by the Bodden Town Primary School parent-teacher association, through the artistic skills of Mr. Garcia. Kimberly Watler, the school’s new principal, said Bodden Town Primary School previously had been known for its artistry and the PTA Executive Committee was in- spired to bring this reputa- tion back to the school. “We thought the best way to inspire young minds would be to add color and life and [for it] be visible to all,” she said. “It was then decided that the best way to achieve this was to have large murals. We just didn’t want any paintings, but instead we wanted paintings which said ‘Cayman,’ so we decided to showcase some of Cayman’s cultural icons on the walls.” Mr. Garcia took three days to complete the paint- ings, which were paid for by the PTA. Bodden Town Primary School students check out a painting of an underwater scene during their first day back at school. – PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Divers cull 224 lionfish in 2-day tournament Lionfish cullers donned fins and masks and grabbed their spears over the weekend for the latest lionfish tourna- ment. The cullers removed a total of 224 lionfish from Cayman waters over the two- day challenge. Organized by the Cayman United Lionfish League, known simply as CULL, the 27th tournament landed some whoppers. The biggest lionfish caught was 293mm (11.5 inches), speared by team Reef Lions. The second and third biggest fish (278mm and 273mm) were both caught by team iDive. The smallest lionfish, at 56mm (2.2 inches), was also caught by iDive. The prize for the greatest number of lionfish caught per culler was won by team Green Water, whose team members caught an average of 43.5 lionfish each. Team iDive had an average of 34 fish per culler, and Reef Lions caught 12.5 per culler. The prize for most weight per culler went to iDive, with 7.25kg (16 pounds); Green Water was runner-up with 3.67kg, and Reef Lions was in third place with 3.6 kg. The total weight of all lionfish caught during the tournament was 37.6kg (82.8 pounds). The fish were then served up at Silversides at Eden Rock in George Town, where the official weigh-in was held on Saturday and Sunday. Organizers say the culls are necessary because the li- onfish, which are native to the Indo-Pacific, are an in- vasive species that were first spotted in local wa- ters in 2008. Since then, their num- bers have grown rapidly. A female lionfish can pro- duce up to 30,000 eggs every four days, and can repro- duce year round. With no natural preda- tors, the only way to remove the species from the water is through culling. Mark Orr of Cayman United Lionfish League weighs a 293mm lionfish, the biggest fish caught in the tournament. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe 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” Call them the motorbikers of the marine environ- ment. Reckless watercraft operators who have been buzzing boats, speeding through dive sites and other- wise interfering with the peaceable enjoyment of our tranquil waters. As we report in today’s newspaper, several dive operators are calling for tighter restrictions on “menacing” watercraft riders whose irresponsible behaviors are endangering scuba divers and snorkelers. Like their notorious counterparts on two wheels, antisocial operators of personal watercraft are turning Cayman’s coastlines into speedways, threatening lives and interfering with others on (and under) the water. Like motorcycles and motorbikes, the popular vehicles (better known as Jet Skis, WaveRunners, Sea- Doos, etc.,) are predominately driven by law-abiding citizens who are merely seeking some innocent fun – and are not looking to be deemed guilty by vehic- ular association. Responsible watercraft operators must also be repelled by recent videos and eyewitness reports that show their favored means of transporta- tion being abused out of malice, recklessness or sheer carelessness. When alcohol is added to this mix, we have a lethal cocktail in the making. Cayman’s hordes of “showboaters” are not only sullying the reputation of all watercraft operators; they are risking their own lives, as well as those of anyone unlucky enough to be in their path. Last week, Divetech reported an incident to police after jet skiers ignored a dive flag and narrowly avoided colliding with a diver, who was pulled under- neath the water by a dive instructor just in time to avoid being struck by the vehicle. When joyriders speed past sailors, paddleboarders or kayakers, with their engines roaring at 115 decibels (louder than a chain saw), it is aggressive, annoying and disruptive – and obviously dangerous. The problem of unsafe watercraft operators is not new, but it seems to be growing more commonplace. Personal watercraft are readily available for rental from several local businesses, some offering door-to- door delivery. They are simple to operate. And they are very, very fast. In fact, off the shelf, watercraft can hit speeds of upward of 65 miles per hour. Those factors combine to make personal watercraft favorites of weekend thrill-seekers who may be unfa- miliar with Cayman’s waters, marine safety rules or the very machine they are attempting to operate. Just as with the motorbiker problem, the regular flouting of public safety by a relative small number of watercraft operators sends a strong – and wrong – message about law and order in the Cayman Islands. It is telling and troubling that there is some uncer- tainty regarding which government agency has primary responsibility for enforcing the country’s water safety rules: Is it the police? Department of Environ- ment? The nascent coast guard? All of the above? For a tourism destination where the main attrac- tions are pristine beaches, tranquil waters, serenity and security, our failure to coordinate and carry out effective water “policing” is, in a sense, as dangerous as the behavior of the reckless watercraft operators. Water hazards: The perils of reckless ‘jet ski’ operators TUESDAY AUGUST 28, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS LETTER TO THE EDITOR Give people a say in cruise berthing project The proposed cruise berthing project and the po- tential consequences have the ability to negatively impact the future of the Cayman Is- lands. It will be the largest and most expensive capital works project in Cayman’s history. As a result, the envi- ronmental, financial and so- cioeconomic concerns must be addressed as a matter of national importance. Transparency, objectivity and a sound local approach by our leaders, the pro-port lobbyists and the large num- bers of concerned citizens and residents is necessary in this national discussion. Ulti- mately, we all want to live in a clean, safe, vibrant and suc- cessful Cayman Islands. Unfortunately, the current lack of transparency by the government fuels more specu- lation by the day and leads to many questions, for example: 1. Why are they unwilling to engage the public and re- lease all the information and plans on the project? 2. What are the estimated total costs of the project? 3. If the CIG is not pro- viding a guaranty for the project, will the cruise lines provide the necessary pas- senger commitments per year? It is important to re- member that the CIG told the public the cruise lines would be paying for the piers. 4. Who will pay for the redevelopment of cargo op- erations on the current site? At what cost? 5. Where is the updated EIA and updated Final Busi- ness case as a result of the new design, size, costs as- sociated by moving into deeper waters? 6. Is the Unity government in discussions with China Harbour Engineering Com- pany to finance and construct the project? Is CHEC on the list of final bidders? The lack of relevant and substantive communication/ consultation with the public, which is best described as a lack of transparency by CIG, results in legitimate concern that the public will be left paying the final tab if the project goes ahead. I agree that we need to improve the tourist experi- ence and I appreciate the de- sire for the berthing piers for the ships that come to Cayman. However, it is im- perative that our government proceed with caution, dem- onstrate the highest stan- dards of transparency with the associated costs and long-term liabilities in order not to burden current and future generations to essen- tially aid a select few. A project of this magni- tude, which will likely be closer to CI$300-400 mil- lion in final costs, must not be driven or decided upon by pro-port lobbyists and the politicians they control. This type of major decision re- quires a national referendum. I encourage the voting public and residents to stand up, speak out and continue to publicly ask questions and hold all MLAs account- able. Ultimately, all Cayma- nians, residents and busi- nesses, including corporate Cayman, must unite against these types of poor and ex- pensive decisions in order to guard against potential fiscal and environmental mismanagement. In the spirit of candid di- alog, I am prepared to call this charade what it really is. This entire process and project is nothing more than an example of “Government Sponsored Corporate Wel- fare” to benefit a few select business interests for certain families, political financiers, friends and acolytes who ex- pect the public purse to fi- nance and prop up their com- mercial interests. No business or sector is entitled to a profit. Profitability comes from sound strategic decisions and hard work, not a government bailout or subsidy. History clearly shows us that the perceived success of most of those businesses and groups desperately pushing for the cruise berthing project, no matter the costs to the public, is largely because of the cronyism, nepotism and attitudes of entitlement which drives the duty-free retail sector and how de- cisions have been histori- cally made in Cayman over several decades. If the customary poorly negotiated contracts on be- half of CIG continues and is executed, it is the type of de- cision that could potentially plunge our country into sig- nificant long-term financial hardship. Poor and expensive decisions like this will accel- erate the implementation of a direct form of taxation in the Cayman Islands. Given the size, scale and magnitude of the project, our leaders must demonstrate the highest levels of trans- parency and good gover- nance. The public deserves all relevant information in order to make an informed decision. It appears, given their blind support and their close connections and working relationship with government, that the pro- port lobbyists know more than the general public about the project. This issue is too impor- tant for the future of our country to play the usual “po- litricks.” A referendum will clearly demonstrate the will of the people at a time when Cayman has record numbers in both cruise passenger ar- rivals and air travel arrivals. The CIG and Ministry of Tourism promised public consultation and information sharing at the outset. What has occurred to date is unac- ceptable. Perhaps the reluc- tance is based on emerging details which suggests that there may exist significant issues that could potentially embarrass this government. If so, the question to be asked is: why are they com- mitted to moving forward at any cost? Their collective ac- tions are reminiscent of the conduct of the previous UDP administration during its negotiations with CHEC in 2011-12. You may recall the PPM opposition members in- cluding the current Premier and Deputy Premier fought against it then, alleging a lack of transparency, alleging pos- sible corruption and failing to meet the appropriate stan- dards of good governance.” Johann Moxam Unfortunately, the current lack of transparency by the government fuels more speculation by the day and leads to many questions ...5 LOCAL&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY AUGUST 28, 2018 INFORMATIVE DISCUSSION WITH LAUREN SIMMONS ANNIE HULDAH BODDEN LECTURE SERIES As part of its Annie Huldah Bodden Lecture Series, BPW Grand Cayman invites you to attend an interesting and informative discussion with Lauren Simmons of Rosenblatt Securities, the only female full time trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. MONDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER 2018 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Regal Cinemas Theatre #6 55 Market Street, Camana Bay Don’t miss this event! For more information about the event and BPW Grand Cayman, contact info@bpwgcm.org or visit BPW’s facebook page at www.facebook.com/bpwgrandcayman CI$25 PER TICKET available from BPW members or US$ 35 if purchased online at www.eventbrite.com Public input sought on advance directive bill MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com The public is being asked to weigh in on proposed leg- islation on advance directives related to end-of-life care. Health Ministry Chief Of- ficer Jennifer Ahearn said the Health Care Decisions Bill is the result of a year of work by the ministry and health organizations in the Cayman Islands. Until now, there has been no legal provision for such arrangements. In an email, Ms. Ahearn said the impetus for the bill came out of a healthcare con- ference in 2015 that included presentations on end-of-life decisions and palliative care. An advance directive lets a person determine what course they would like physicians to take in a situation where the person has become men- tally incapacitated or other- wise unable to communicate their wishes. It can cover such things as an order not to put the person on long-term life support or not to resuscitate them in specific situations. The bill specifies that a person must be over 18 and mentally competent to file an advanced directive. The direc- tive must be signed in front of two adult witnesses, nei- ther of whom can be that person’s beneficiaries. A person can revoke their own advance directive at any time, while mentally compe- tent. This must be done in writing, signed and dated. It is also possible for someone to appoint one or more proxies to act as a sub- stitute decision-maker in cases where the directive maker becomes mentally in- competent. The underlying principle of such appoint- ments is that these individ- uals should act consistently with what the directive maker would have decided. Ms. Ahearn said such di- rectives can alleviate po- tentially difficult decision- making in a time of crisis. “I believe that this will make very difficult situa- tions easier for families and loved ones as they will know what the patient’s wishes are and be able to honour them should the patient become unable to communicate their wishes themselves,” she said. The public is being asked for input on the bill. Ms. Ahearn said the hope is to get a range of thoughts on the bill from the public. “Do they support it?” she said. “Do they have any con- cerns with it? Are the forms in the schedule easily un- derstood and would they be able to fill them out? Have we missed anything?” Based on the feedback, she said, the bill will be mod- ified and submitted to the Legislative Authority. A link to the bill can be found at http://ministryofhealth.gov.ky. An advance directive lets a person determine what course they would like physicians to take in a situation where the person has become mentally incapacitated or otherwise unable to communicate their wishes. FORMER MINISTER’S ASSAULT TRIAL ADJOURNED Defense witness not available, court told CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The ongoing trial of former government min- ister Michael Adam has been adjourned again. This time, it has been scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 9. Trial began in March after Mr. Adam pleaded not guilty to a single charge of common assault. The allegation is that Mr. Adam, 68, assaulted the owner of a parcel of land adjoining his own in West Bay on the morning of June 27, 2017. The complainant, 42, gave evidence that Mr. Adam “placed his right fist against my cheek with slight pressure.” Mr. Adam gave evi- dence and said he did raise his fist in an encounter with the complainant, but it was in self-defense. Trial was adjourned until April and then again to Monday, Aug. 27, because of conflicts in the schedules of the at- torneys and Magistrate Grace Donalds. On Monday, defense attorney Waide DaCosta told the magistrate that, unfortunately, his wit- ness was absent due to illness, “so we won’t make any progress today.” He asked for a new date and the magistrate ex- plained that the next time she was rostered to be in the criminal court was the week of Oct. 8. Based on everyone’s schedule, including that of Crown counsel Ken- neth Ferguson, who is con- ducting the case for the prosecution, trial continu- ation was set for Oct. 9. Mr. Adam was elected as a Member of the Legis- lative Assembly for George Town in 2009 and served as Minister for Housing and Community Affairs from 2009 to 2013. The complainant, 42, gave evidence that Mr. Adam “placed his right fist against my cheek with slight pressure.” Jennifer Ahearn, chief officer, Ministry of Health After Mexican officials discovered eight bodies in Cancun last week, the U.S. State Department issued a travel advisory for the country. Not surprisingly, the incident has caused some travelers to reconsider vaca- tioning on the Yucatán Pen- insula. However, security ex- perts and tourism officials say the area remains safe for foreign visitors. The incident took place in Cancun – located in the state of Quintana Roo – in a down- town neighborhood miles from the tourist area of Zona Hotelera. Dario Flota, director general of the Quintana Roo Tourism Board, said for- eigners typically do not ven- ture into this part of town. Most travelers congregate along the 14-mile-long beach strip dense with high-rise ho- tels, restaurants and clubs. “In general, there have been no incidents near the tourist area,” he said. Flota said security forces keep a watchful eye on Zona Hotelera and Playa del Carmen, another popular beach desti- nation on the peninsula. Fed- eral police and Navy personnel patrol the beaches; the police and Army monitor the high- ways. The government has in- stalled surveillance cameras between Cancun and Playa del Carmen as well as at the ferry piers, where visitors board boats to Isla Mujeres and Co- zumel. Officials inspect bags and have used dogs for an ad- ditional layer of protection. “The tourist zone is a much safer area,” said Ben West, a security expert with Stratfor, a geopolitical intelligence firm. “It has tighter security.” Cancun’s limited access – one entrance, one exit – also helps keep dangerous ele- ments away. (In Cozumel, the jungle acts as a security fence.) “Cancun is easy to con- trol,” Flota said. “It is well-protected.” Visitors shaken by recent events can find some solace in the State Department’s warning. The advisory does not include Quintana Roo, which is also home to Tulum, Riveria Maya, Costa Maya and Cozumel. The state’s tourism board pointed this out in a strongly worded statement. “There are currently zero U.S. State Department Travel Warnings against any desti- nation in the state of Quintana Roo and there are zero Travel Warnings against any inter- national tourist destination in Mexico,” it read. “Unfortunately, there have been episodes of vi- olence between criminals in remote areas of Quintana Roo and elsewhere in Mexico …. The State Department travel advisory for Mexico does not include any tourist or beach areas and reaffirms that all major tourist destinations in Mexico are safe.” © 2018, The Washington Post CANCUN STILL SAFE DESPITE RECENT VIOLENCE, SAY TOURISM OFFICIALS A federal police officer patrols a beach in Cancun, Mexico, on July 11, 2017. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. TUESDAY AUGUST 28, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS WEDNESDAY, AUG. 29 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: The Family Resource Centre hosts a Domestic Violence Intervention Training workshop for frontline professionals and interested members of the community Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 29-31. The free three-day workshop will be held in George Town Library, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. As well as taking part in interactive presentations from external facilitators, participants will learn about ways to support individuals and families dealing with domestic violence. For further information and to register for the workshop, contact the FRC at 949-0006 or email frc@gov.ky. The program for Cayman Brac this month has been canceled. SELF-HARM PREVENTION: The Ministry of Community Affairs invites the public to a presentation on identifying self-harm and suicidal thoughts. The free presentation, being hosted with the support of the Alex Panton Foundation, will educate parents, residents and the community on how to identify self-harm and suicidal thoughts/behaviors. Attendees will also be advised about how to respond and who to reach out to for help, guidance and support. 7-8:30 p.m. Bodden Town Civic Centre. THURSDAY, AUG. 30 EAST END MEETING: The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service will hold a District Community Meeting at 7 p.m. at the East End Presbyterian Church Hall. The meeting is open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend in order to express concerns and ask questions. Refreshments will be served. LITTLE CAYMAN VEHICLES: Vehicle licensing. 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Little Cayman District Office. BRAC COURT: Summary Court today and tomorrow. Aston Rutty Civic Centre. FRIDAY, AUG. 31 SCHOOL HEALTH SCREENINGS: All students entering government or private schools for the first time are required to have health screenings before the new school year. Screenings are at the Public Health Department, Cayman Islands Hospital, Aug. 20-31. Completed forms from private physicians should be submitted to the Public Health Department, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For screenings in Cayman Brac, call the Public Health Nurse on 948-2243. PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION: Last day to enter. For students 10 to 14. Photos need to creatively demonstrate sun safety (hats, sunglasses, sunscreen) while having fun. It could be at the beach, soccer field, in town, anywhere outside, doing anything fun. Email photo – one per person – to fununderthesun2018@ gmail.com. The best five will win prizes. Organized by the Cayman Islands Cancer Society. SATURDAY, SEPT. 1 BUSINESS EXCELLENCE: Today is the submission deadline for the Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards. Visit www. businessexcellenceawards.ky to apply. THURSDAY, SEPT. 6 THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK: Presented by the Cayman Drama Society at Prospect Playhouse. Opens tonight and continues Sept. 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 at 7:30 p.m. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Matinees Sunday Sept. 9 and 16 at 4 p.m. Doors open at 3 p.m. Tickets Adults $25, Students $15. Tickets available online at www.cds.ky. SATURDAY, SEPT. 8 WEIGHTLIFTING COMPETITION: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Arts & Recreation Centre. This will be the first weightlifting competition in Cayman and open to weightlifters of all ages, weight classes and skill levels who could represent the Cayman Islands for future Olympic competitions. SUNDAY, SEPT. 9 RUGBY 5K: 6:30-8 a.m. Camana Bay Town Centre. Help raise funds for the Cayman National Rugby 7s team and promote family wellness by participating in this 5K. Walk, run, cycle or use scooter, skateboard, rollerblades or even taking little ones on the run in their stroller. The cost is $15 for kids ages 8-12 and $20 for teens and adults. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12 THE BOOKENDS CLUB: 6:30-7:30 p.m., Books & Books at Camana Bay. Join The Bookends Club as they review their latest pick, “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood. Come share insights and impressions in open discussion. The Bookends Club gathers on the second Wednesday of every month and new members are always welcome. SATURDAY, SEPT. 29 CLAY WORKSHOP: Visual Arts Society studio at Pedro St. James. Today and tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fee is $150 for members, $175 for non-members. Includes terra cotta clay, glazes, firing, use of tools & studio plus light lunch and beverage. Limited space. Register at workshops@ visualartcayman.com. GENERAL INTEREST UK SCHOLARSHIPS: The Chevening Secretariat is accepting applications for U.K. Government scholarships to study in the U.K. in 2019/2020. Applications for Chevening Scholarships are open until Nov. 6, 2018, with applications to be submitted via www.chevening.org/ apply. Visit www.chevening. org/apply/guidance for detailed information on the eligibility criteria and scholarship specifications. Contact Gill Skinner on 244- 2431 or gillian.skinner@fco. gov.uk LOCAL HARVEST MARKET: Wednesdays and Saturdays at Camana Bay. A produce- only market featuring local farmers. Located in Heliconia Court (the new courtyard next to the building with Scotiabank in). 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. NCVO BARGAIN SHOP: The NCVO New To You Bargain Shop extends opening hours for the rest of August. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Sundays. Customers can find lightly used products on sale, including household items, baby supplies, toys, shoes, books, clothes (including select school uniforms) and craft items. The shop is located at 90A Anthony Drive, off Smith Road, (beside the rear entrance of The Pines Retirement Home). Sales benefit the NCVO’s children’s programs. For more information on the shop, its donation policy or volunteering, contact Mona at ncvocoordinator@ncvo. org.ky or 949-2124/526- 1078. COMMERCIAL GARBAGE FEES: The Department of Environmental Health reminds all business operators/owners/strata in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, who pay their fees by biannual installments, that garbage fees are due for the period ending June 30. In Grand Cayman, payments can be made at any post office or at the DEH main office, 580 North Sound Road from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. In the Sister Islands, payments can be made at District Administration. For additional information, contact the DEH at 949-6696 or dehcustomerservice@gov.ky. NEW THRIFT SHOP: One Dog At A Time has launched its “New To You” Thrift Shop. The store is open every Saturday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. plus every Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the summer. The shop is at Unit 26 at the warehouses on Bodden Road, which run down the side of Kirk Home Store to the old screen print place. NEW LICENSE PLATES: The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing has uploaded its list of new electronic license plates that are ready for collection. An additional 1,200 plates are now ready to be picked up from the DVDL office on Crewe Road. Vehicles owners are reminded that they must bring in the temporary/old plates, the windshield tag, as well as their logbook. The list can be viewed on the department’s website at www.dvdl.gov.ky. EARLY CHILDHOOD FEES: The Ministry of Education provides financial assistance for Caymanian children between 3 and 4 years of age before Sept. 1, 2018, to assist with fees at an early childhood center between September and June 30. Application forms can be downloaded from www. education.gov.ky or collected from the Government Administration Building, the Department of Education Services and all early childhood centers. Contact Renee Barnes at 244-5735, Turnette Stewart at 244- 5724 or email ecap@gov.ky. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary St. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. Email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc. in good condition always needed. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. ART OPEN CANVAS: At KARoo Restaurant in Camana Bay, Wednesdays 7-11 p.m. Artists of all levels are welcome to come and enjoy painting and socializing with other artists. Includes use of easels, lights, space, beverage ticket. No fee. For more information, contact info@visualartcayman.com or jar.was@gmail.com. VISUAL ARTS SOCIETY: Adult Open Studio available to those who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere. Wednesdays for adults, 9 a.m. till noon. Thursdays Adults and Youth, 10 a.m. till noon. Watler House Art Studio, Pedro St. James. Fee is $5/$15 or Ceramics. $15 pp/$25 pp non- members. Includes use of studio, glazes, and ceramic tools. Clay available $30 per bag/fee for kiln usage. To register email info@ visualartcayman.com 546- 9422. FALL SOUTHWEST CLAY WEEKEND WORKSHOP: Visual Arts Society studio at Pedro’s St. James – Sat. Sept 29 & Sun. Sept 30 10 to 4 pm. Fee: CI $150 or $175 for non-members. Includes: terra cotta clay, glazes, firing, use of tools & studio plus light lunch and beverage. Limited Space: Register NOW: workshops@ visualartcayman.com CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. Call 926-9044 or visit www. caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail. com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-step recovery group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Tuesdays, 7:15 p.m. For details, contact Vanessa Gilman at 946-2422, or visit www. overcomersoutreach.org. For more Community Calendar events, visit www. caymancompass.com/events. A weightlifting competition will be held at the ARC in Camana Bay on Satuday, Sept. 8, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY AUGUST 28, 2018 advertised range of $88,000 to $125,000 per year for a post that did not originally exist in the port’s 2016/17 budget. The person holding that position was terminated on Friday, the Cayman Com- pass has learned. The individual declined to make a statement when con- tacted by the Compass Monday. Another port employee was promoted to deputy director/ chief logistics officer without the position being advertised and at a higher salary than the range typically used for port deputy directors. This position also did not exist within the 2016/17 budget, auditors found. A manager for operations and events was hired without an interview process, and the successful candidate was not required to submit medical exam forms or police clear- ances, as is normal practice. Another port employee was promoted to deputy director/ chief operating officer with no notification or internal adver- tising for the job. It is under- stood that employee was also among the port workers ter- minated via the announcement made by Mr. Woods. The auditors’ report noted additional issues with a Port Authority manager who re- ceived a salary increase of $21,000 per year after com- pleting the probationary period on the job, putting the overall salary well in excess of the po- sition’s advertised pay. An office manager hired in 2016 was paid above the ad- vertised salary range, but quit the job just two months later. This led to a situation where another person was recruited, at a higher salary, without the job being advertised. This was done without consulting the port’s human resources man- ager, auditors said. Suspended director Mr. Reid did not respond to Cayman Compass ques- tions about the terminations Monday. However, he did re- spond earlier in the year to the auditor general’s report in a statement made to the Port Au- thority board. Mr. Reid said at the time that he still believed the new hires came within the approved budget for the agency, and that he and had no reason to be- lieve otherwise. “On Aug. 31, 2017, the [port] chief financial officer presented his own authored August finan- cial report to the board,” Mr. Reid wrote in his statement to the board. “The contents are en- tirely consistent with the facts as I represented and believed them to be. At no time did the chief financial officer alert me as to whether there were any errors or inaccuracies in his monthly reports.” Auditors said the $1.9 mil- lion provided in the budget for Port Authority hiring cov- ered 18 months between July 1, 2016, and Dec. 31, 2017, be- cause the government was operating an unusual 18- month, one-time budget during the period. The provided budget in- crease for the new employees was actually $1.3 million on an annual basis, auditors said. Yet the port’s projected annual cost for the new employees it hired during 2016/17 was around $1.7 million, including health- care and pension allotments. “This amount exceeds the budgeted annual increase by $400,000 per year,” the audit of- fice report noted. that will not have direct flights from these more dis- tant gateways.” Officials believe the East Coast of the U.S. is now well covered by a va- riety of airlines, including Cayman Airways. The national carrier plans to pull out of Dallas, Texas, with three other air- lines now flying to Cayman from that state. It has also reduced the number of flights to Miami and Cuba as demand has reduced on those routes. The Denver route will launch with introductory prices of just over US$500 and cut the flight time from Denver to Cayman to five hours. Officials acknowledge it is unlikely to be profit- able for the airline in the early stages. Mr. Whorms said it was considered a “strategic tourism” route, meaning it is subsidized by government because it fits with the Min- istry of Tourism’s strategy of attracting new visitors to the island. He added, “From the country’s side, from day one, it will be profitable. There is an economic return from the visitors coming to our shores.” Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said Colorado is the fastest-growing state for scuba diving and home to the sixth largest popula- tion of divers in the U.S., ac- cording to industry research. He added, “We calcu- lated that there is tremen- dous opportunity in the western U.S. Denver is our first gateway, and I empha- size the word first.” He said it would also make it easier for travelers from cities like Vancouver, Seattle and Los Angeles to reach Grand Cayman by connecting through Denver. Mr. Kirkconnell said the route would not require ad- ditional investment from the Cayman Islands govern- ment, which already sup- ports the airline to the tune of $17.9 million a year. “The profit center is the island,” he said, empha- sizing the strategy of using the national airline as a tool to drive visitation. Michael B. Hancock, the mayor of Denver, said the new route would also create opportunities for business and tourism part- nerships between the two destinations. “We thank Cayman Air- ways for investing in our community and we are pleased to welcome them as the first Caribbean based airline to serve Denver,” he said in a statement. Starting March 2, 2019, flights will leave Grand Cayman at 8 a.m., arriving in Denver at 11 a.m. local time. The return flight will depart Denver at 12:15 p.m., arriving in Grand Cayman at 7:15 p.m. local time. The schedule will move up an hour when the clocks change in the U.S. Flights will run on Wednesdays and Sat- urdays from December through August. was able to pull him under the water. The jet ski went right over the top of them,” she said. “I thought I was going to watch one of our divers get hit head-on.” All marine craft, including Jet Skis and WaveRunners, are required to reduce speed to a maximum of 3 knots and maintain a lookout when they are within 200 yards of a boat displaying a dive flag, to avoid striking divers as they rise to the surface. Ms. Mikutowicz says the rule is rarely respected. In this case, she said the jet-skiers were oblivious to the pres- ence of divers in the water, de- spite the fact that the red and white dive flag was clearly flying and dive staff on board the boat were shouting at them to slow down. “Something like this hap- pens to all of the dive opera- tors almost every day on the water and it is time for it to stop,” she added. Ash McKnight, the Cayman Islands Tourism Association’s director for water sports and the owner of GoPro Diving, said concern was growing among responsible business owners about the environment on the water. “There are problems all over the place,” Mr. McKnight said. “It is not just WaveRunners. There’s problems at Stingray City with overcrowding and the overloading of tour boats; there are issues with illegal op- erators; there is very little en- forcement of marine laws.” CITA businesses had an ini- tial meeting with police earlier this month. Mr. McKnight said he was helping to facilitate a further meeting between po- lice and all water-sports busi- nesses, not just CITA members. He believes more work needs to be done to educate new water- sports businesses and marine users in general on the law. Ms. Mikutowicz believes urgent action is needed. She said dive operators did not know who to call to get help in such situations. “For any of the dive opera- tors working on the west side, this is a daily occurrence,” she said. “It has been happening for a long time but last week’s incident was as close a call as I have seen. I almost watched somebody get hit by a jet ski and it was scary.” Though reports of reckless watercraft riders fall under the Port Authority Law, the law only gives port officers powers of enforcement within the im- mediate port area. Marine po- lice are responsible for the rest of the island’s waters. Police have advised dive op- erators to call them with re- ports of similar incidents. Acting Inspector Damenian Maxwell, of the Joint Marine Unit, said the offenders were often cruise ship tourists, who are on island for just a few hours. He said if they were found committing an offense, they could face prosecution. The Joint Marine Unit has increased patrols off Seven Mile Beach in response to complaints. Inspector Maxwell said of- ficers were also talking to water sports companies to en- sure proper safety briefings were carried out before they rent jet skis to tourists. Port fires four senior staffers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 From left, Cayman Airways board chairman Phillip Rankin, Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell, airline CEO Fabian Whorms and Tourism Director Rosa Harris pose for a photograph at Monday’s press conference at which the new Denver route was announced. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER CONCERN OVER RECKLESS JET SKI RIDERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cayman Airways goes west with Denver route CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Grand Cayman will be the only Caribbean island with a direct route from Denver. The Port Authority operates the cargo port in downtown George Town. “In the interests of efficiency, the port authority has had to restructure its resources to meet its challenges and to provide the necessary services to meet customer expectations.” JOEY WOODS, acting director, Port AuthorityThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY AUGUST 28, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Russia postpones Afghan peace talks Afghanistan’s government says that the Russia has indefinitely postponed a meeting on the Afghan peace process planned for next week. A statement by the office of the Afghan presidency said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani decided to postpone the meeting and hold it at another date. US, Mexico reach partial agreement on trade conflict, move closer to NAFTA deal WASHINGTON – Trump ad- ministration officials reached a partial accord with Mexico on the terms of a new North American trade deal, in- cluding a provision that would require more auto manufacturing be done in high-wage factories, ac- cording to two people briefed on the agreement. The deal is the most sig- nificant step toward a new agreement since talks with Mexico and Canada began one year ago. But negotia- tors remain far from fin- ishing their work. The announcement left unresolved a number of con- tentious U.S. demands and Canada, which has not par- ticipated in the deliberations for five weeks, must sign on before a new North American trade deal is complete. Negotiators are rushing to finish a new treaty by the end of this week in hopes of se- curing Mexican lawmakers’ approval before incoming Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is sworn in on Dec. 1. The populist Mexican leader remains leery of plans to enshrine Mexico’s oil in- dustry privatization in a new treaty. His aides, who have been participating in the talks alongside officials from the current Mexican administration, want to pre- serve the incoming govern- ment’s flexibility. In recent days, U.S. and Mexican diplomats reached agreement on key elements of a new treaty, including an increase in the percentage of each car that must be made in North America to qualify for duty-free treatment to 75 percent from the current 62.5 percent. The two sides agreed to a provision that would require a significant portion of each vehicle be made in high-wage factories, a measure aimed at discouraging factory jobs from leaving the United States for Mexico. Negotiators also resolved a dispute over how to treat cars and trucks produced in Mexican plants that do not comply with the new trea- ty’s content rules. Amer- ican companies importing those vehicles will pay a 2.5 percent tariff. “What most of us are focused on now is: what happens next?” said Dan Ujczo, a trade attorney with Dickinson Wright. Having resolved their major sticking points with Mexico, the Trump admin- istration is now expected to press Canada to accept quickly the consensus terms. But Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whom Trump criticized in harsh terms fol- lowing the G-7 summit in Quebec in June, does not want to be viewed at home as conceding to the unpopular American president. “Can we actually get a deal done with Canada when they’re negotiating with a gun to their head and a ticking clock?” Ujczo said. “Canada’s got some choices to make.” Trump has been crit- ical of Canada’s dairy man- agement system, which re- stricts imports of poultry, eggs and dairy prod- ucts to provide Canadian farmers high prices. Other long-standing points of contention re- main unresolved, including a U.S. demand that the treaty sunset every five years un- less explicitly reauthorized by the three governments. Business leaders complain such language would make it too difficult to plan fu- ture investments. “The competitiveness of North America will be dimin- ished if companies fear the rules are at risk of constant change,” the Information Technology Industry Council said on Friday. “These po- tential provisions risk jeop- ardizing the incentives for businesses to innovate, in- vest, hire, and produce across North America.” The NAFTA renegotiation has been a rocky one. The president over the past year repeatedly lambasted the original 1994 treaty, calling it a “bad joke” and blaming it for the loss of millions of American factory jobs. One year ago, U.S. Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer kicked off the ne- gotiations by calling for a major overhaul of trade rules to take account of nearly a quarter century of eco- nomic changes and to rec- tify the imbalance in trade between the U.S. and its southern neighbor. Trump, he said, was “not interested in a mere tweaking of a few provisions.” Though trade deals are complex affairs that typically require years of glacial bar- gaining, administration offi- cials initially hoped to finish the job by the end of 2017. They failed to meet that am- bitious timetable and also blew through revised dead- lines for the end of March and late May. This time, the deadline may be real, given a con- gressional requirement for 90 days notice of an im- pending trade deal. If the administration does not for- mally notify Congress that it has reached agreement with both Canada and Mexico by the end of August, the out- going Mexican President En- rique Peña Nieto will not be able to sign it. Negotiators want to get a deal wrapped up before Lopez Oprador, who might demand additional changes, takes office. © 2018, The Washington Post In this Aug. 16, 2017 file photo, the national flags of Canada, from left, the U.S. and Mexico, are lit by stage lights before a news conference, at the start of North American Free Trade Agreement renegotiations in Washington D.C. - PHOTO: AP Iran goes to UN’s highest court over re-imposed US sanctions THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) – Iran went to the United Na- tions’ highest court Monday in a bid to have U.S. sanc- tions lifted following Presi- dent Donald Trump’s decision earlier this year to re-impose them, calling the move “naked economic aggression.” Iran filed the case with the International Court of Justice in July, claiming that sanctions the Trump admin- istration imposed on May 8 breach a 1955 bilateral agree- ment known as the Treaty of Amity that regulates eco- nomic and consular ties be- tween the two countries. At hearings that started Monday at the court’s head- quarters in The Hague, Tehran asked judges at the world court to urgently sus- pend the sanctions to pro- tect Iranian interests while the case challenging their le- gality is being heard – a pro- cess that can take years. In a written statement, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called the legal move an attempt by Tehran “to in- terfere with the sovereign rights of the United States to take lawful actions, including re-imposition of sanctions, which are necessary to pro- tect our national security.” Trump said in May that he would pull the United States out of a 2015 agree- ment over Iran’s nuclear pro- gram and would re-impose sanctions on Tehran. Wash- ington also threatened other countries with sanctions if they do not cut off Iranian oil imports by early November. Iranian representative Mohsen Mohebi told the court the U.S. decision was a clear breach of the 1955 treaty as it was “intended to damage, as severely as pos- sible, Iran’s economy.” Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal imposed restrictions on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program in return for the lifting of most U.S. and in- ternational sanctions against Tehran. However, the deal came with time limits and did not address Iran’s bal- listic missile program or its regional policies in Syria and elsewhere. Trump has repeat- edly pointed to those omis- sions in referring to the ac- cord as the “worst deal ever.” Mohebi said the re-impo- sition of sanctions was un- justified as Iran was abiding by the terms of the 2015 deal. He said sanctions are already having damaging effects on Iran’s economy and society and threaten to further de- stabilize the volatile Mideast. “This policy is nothing but a naked economic aggression against my country,” Mohebi told the court. The United States, which argues that the court does not have jurisdiction in the case, is to present its legal argu- ments to judges on Tuesday. Pompeo said lawyers would “vigorously defend” the U.S. and “and we will con- tinue to work with our al- lies to counter the Iranian regime’s destabilizing activi- ties in the region, block their financing of terror, and ad- dress Iran’s proliferation of ballistic missiles and other advanced weapons systems that threaten international peace and stability. We will also ensure Iran has no path to a nuclear weapon – not now, not ever.” The United States rejec- tion of the nuclear deal is not backed by some key al- lies. Last week, the European Union announced its first fi- nancial support package to help bolster Iran’s flagging economy, part of the bloc’s commitment to keep the Iran nuclear deal alive. Iran and the U.S. have a history of litigation at the International Court of Jus- tice, in cases covering crises including the Tehran em- bassy hostage-taking and the shooting down of an Iranian passenger jet mistaken by a U.S. warship for a fighter jet. The 1955 treaty was signed when the U.S. and Iran were still allies following the 1953 revolution – fomented by Britain and the U.S. – that ultimately cemented the rule of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. However diplomatic relations were severed fol- lowing the 1979 Islamic rev- olution in Iran and takeover of the U.S. embassy and en- suing hostage crisis. Despite the dramatic deterioration in relations, the treaty re- mains in force. Rulings by the world court, which settles disputes between nations, are final and legally binding. A United Nations flag flutters in the wind next to the International Court of Justice in the Hague, the Netherlands, Monday. - PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY AUGUST 28, 2018 China in struggle to curb reliance on US market, suppliers France’s Macron urges Europe to take charge of own defense PARIS (AP) – French Pres- ident Emmanuel Macron pushed Monday for Eu- rope to take more respon- sibility for its own defense, saying the continent’s secu- rity should not rely so much on the United States and could even include discus- sions with Russia. In a speech to French am- bassadors in Paris, Macron said “Europe cannot rely on the United States only for its security. It’s up to us to meet our responsibilities and guar- antee our security, and there- fore European sovereignty.” He said discussions on defense cooperation should be extended to all Euro- pean countries and Russia, on condition that progress is made with Moscow on put- ting an end to the fighting in eastern Ukraine between the government and Russia- backed separatists. Macron’s vision included a more united front on at least half a dozen security topics and comes after U.S. President Donald Trump’s re- peated demands for Europe to become more self-suffi- cient in its defense. “This reinforced soli- darity will imply a revision of the European architec- ture of defense and security: by initiating a renewed di- alogue on cybersecurity, chemical weapons, conven- tional weaponry, territo- rial conflicts, space security, the protection of the polar zones, in particular with Russia,” Macron said. With the exceptions of fellow NATO members France and Britain, the European al- lies have lived under the nu- clear umbrella of the United States since World War II. That NATO alliance with the U.S. is especially impor- tant to countries like Po- land and the Baltic states, which had long been under the thumb of Moscow be- fore the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. At a NATO summit last month in Brussels, Trump put more pressure on European countries, asking them to in- crease their defense spending to at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product – a NATO goal that many mem- bers, including Germany, do not yet meet. Germany is, however, increasing its mili- tary spending to 1.5 percent of GDP by 2025. Macron’s speech on Monday aimed to set the roadmap of French diplo- macy for the next year. Since his election in May 2017, the 40-year-old French leader has called for a more integrated European Union as a whole, with a common European defense budget and security doctrine. In November, EU coun- tries officially launched a new era in defense coopera- tion with a program of joint military investment and project development aimed at helping the EU confront its security challenges. Twenty-three of the EU’s 28 member nations signed up to the process, known as permanent structured coop- eration, or PESCO. Britain, which is leaving the EU in March 2019, and Denmark, which has a de- fense opt-out, were among those not taking part. France, meanwhile, is also pushing for the full imple- mentation of the 2015 Minsk peace agreement that France and Germany backed to settle the conflict in Ukraine, which has killed at least 10,000 people since 2014. BEIJING (AP) – Faced with plunging U.S. orders, sur- gical glove maker Ren Jiding is hunting for new markets amid Chinese government calls to reduce reliance on the United States. But none can absorb the 60 percent of his sales that went to Amer- ican customers last year. “Other countries import much less than the United States,” said Ren, a co- owner of Hongyeshangqin Medical Science and Tech- nology Co., Ltd. in the eastern city of Zibo. From medical products to smartphone chips to soy- beans, Beijing is responding to President Donald Trump’s tariff hikes by pushing com- panies to trade more with other countries. But there are few substitutes for the United States as an export market and source of technology for industries including telecom equipment makers Chinese leaders are eager to develop. Beijing has announced tariff cuts and other changes while rejecting U.S. demands to scale back plans such as “Made in China 2025,” which calls for state-led creation of Chinese champions in ro- botics, biotech and other fields. American leaders say those violate Beijing’s market-opening promises and might erode U.S. indus- trial leadership. The response highlights the cost the ruling Commu- nist Party is willing to pay in lost sales and jobs to stick to plans that are fueling conflict with Washington, Europe and other trading partners. “China sees its technology and industrial policies as fundamental to its growth,” Tianjie He of Oxford Eco- nomics said in an email. “It is thus hard to see China’s lead- ership committing to signifi- cant changes.” Trump has raised du- ties on a total of $50 bil- lion of Chinese imports in- cluding ultrasound scanners and industrial components that Washington says ben- efit from improper policies. China retaliated with sim- ilar penalties. The U.S. is poised to raise duties on $200 billion of im- ports including the gloves made by Ren’s company. Bei- jing has issued a list of Amer- ican goods for retaliation. The impact on China is “small and is containable, at least for the time being,” said Vincent Chan of Credit Su- isse. He said the “worst case” outlook if all threatened U.S. tariff hikes go ahead would cut China’s growth by 0.2 percentage points this year and 1.3 percent in 2019. Chinese leaders have tried to cushion the blow to their own economy by targeting American goods its importers can get from other countries – soybeans from Brazil, gas from Russia, cars from Ger- many and fish from Vietnam. Beijing has promised to use revenue from the higher tariffs to help strug- gling exporters and has or- dered banks to lend more freely to them. The biggest jolt so far came from Beijing’s cancel- lation of orders for soybeans, the biggest American export to China at $21 billion last year. That hammered farm states that voted for Trump in the 2016 election. It also pushed up prices for Chinese farmers that use soybeans for animal feed and food processors that crush them for cooking oil. That could be a wind- fall for Brazil. But China already is its top market and consumes two-thirds of the global supply. Chi- nese total imports last year of 95 million metric tons were 50 percent more than the South American giant’s entire exports. “The Chinese can talk all they want about finding other sources of soybeans,” but 80 percent come from the United States, Brazil and Argentina, said Michael Cor- donnier, president of Soybean & Corn Advisor, Inc., a U.S. research firm. “If you want to import soybeans, it generally must be from one of those three countries,” said Cordon- nier in an email. Regulators also cut im- port duties on automobiles on July 1 but raised them on vehicles from the United States. That helps luxury brands that import from Ger- many and Japan. Replacing markets for Chinese exporters that sup- port tens of millions of jobs will be harder. The United States bought $430 billion of China’s ex- ports last year, or 20 per- cent of the $2.2 trillion total. The No. 2 market was the 28-nation European Union at $370 billion. “We can’t afford to lose the U.S. market,” said David Hu, general manager of Sino- hood Bags Factory Ltd. in the southeastern city of Yiwu. Americans bought 40 per- cent of his canvas tote bags last year, including the most profitable customized ver- sions with Christmas and other designs. “What we export to Eu- rope is lower-end products with lower prices,” said Hu. “We could explore the Indian, Vietnamese or Philippine markets. But the prices they offer would be too low.” Chinese officials point to potential markets in the “Belt and Road,” a multibil- lion-dollar initiative led by President Xi Jinping to boost trade by building ports, rail- ways and other infrastruc- ture across Asia to Europe. That has brought a flood of contracts to Chinese state- owned builders but com- plaints about costs have hurt its appeal. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of Ma- laysia announced this month the cancellation of plans for Chinese-built projects in- cluding a $20 billion rail line. “There is potential for de- velopment in areas such as central Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and South America. But their problems are de- velopment imbalance and economic instability,” said Li Yong, a senior fellow at the China Association of International Trade, an industry group. Local officials have met with exporters to exhort them to “diversify markets,” according to the state press. Authorities in the cen- tral city of Jingzhou visited exporters to help with cus- toms forms, financing and other details, the website China Industry and Com- merce News said. Ren, the surgical glove maker, said his 300-em- ployee company was looking at Europe and developing countries but demand was sluggish. Some companies are con- fident of keeping their U.S. market share. That reflects the possible success of offi- cial efforts to develop higher- tech goods instead of com- peting on price alone. The general manager of Yihua Electronic Equip- ment Co. in southern Chi- na’s Guangdong said the tar- iffs should not affect sales of its digital soldering guns, one fifth of which are sold to the United States. “With the 25 percent tar- iffs, ours still are cheaper than similar German- or Jap- anese-made products,” said the manager, who would give only his surname, Gou. “We are not producing something like shoes and clothing that could be easily replaced.” Trump’s pressure is likely to backfire by encouraging Beijing to throw even more resources at nurturing its own technology creators. China’s search for non- U.S. suppliers could help companies such as Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek Inc. But redesigning a phone or net- work gear and then gaining regulatory and customer ap- proval can take a minimum of three to five years. “For now,” said He of Ox- ford Economics, “China re- mains technologically depen- dent on the U.S.” French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech during the annual French ambassadors’ conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Monday. - PHOTO: AP In this Aug. 8, 2018, photo, a worker stands near a container ship at a port in Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong Province. - PHOTO: APNext >