HEALTHCARE S PECIA L FE AT UR E CA YM AN IS LA ND S SPECIAL FEATURE Cayman Islands Healthcare High of 88 Low of 77 Moderate with wave heights less than 3 to 5 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 GODSPEED AND GOOD TIDINGS TO CAYMAN NATIONAL ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2018 Road User Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life Enjoy comprehensive cover with free roadside assistance, $200 deductible, zero windscreen deductible and many other free benefits! Ask for a quote! FOREIGN AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE Cayman, UK address differences Cayman’s man in London faces select committee grilling JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s representative in London, Eric Bush, faced a grilling from British MPs Tuesday and deflected questions on the con- troversial issues of beneficial ownership and same-sex marriage. Mr. Bush, appearing before a U.K. parlia- ment Foreign Affairs Select Committee, de- clined to say if Cayman was on a “collision course” with the U.K. over its intent to impose public beneficial ownership registries on the overseas territories. And he refused to answer questions from MP Chris Bryant on whether Cayman’s stance on gay marriage was in keeping with its purported commitment to “British values.” Mr. Bush said he could not comment because there was a legal challenge going on con- testing the ban on same-sex marriage in the Cayman Islands. “You want to be part of the British um- brella but not part of the British way of life,” Mr. Bryant said, referencing earlier comments from Mr. Bush that the island considered it- self to be fundamentally British and had no plans to seek independence. Mr. Bush appeared alongside politics pro- fessor Peter Clegg in the committee’s inves- tigation into the Future of the British Over- seas Territories. Many of the questions for the Cayman Islands representative focused on financial services and the controversial decision by the U.K. to include an amendment in the recent Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act, to require Britain’s overseas territories to in- troduce public company beneficial ownership registries by 2020 or face having that decision made for them through an order in council. Mr. Bush told the panel there was a sense of disbelief in Cayman about that decision, which he said “betrayed years of constructive BRITAIN, EU DECIDE TO TAKE ADDITIONAL TIME TO GET BREXIT RIGHT BRUSSELS (AP) – Leaders from the European Union and Britain shrugged off a weekend negotiating debacle and previous deadlines Wednesday, giving themselves several more weeks to clinch a friendly divorce deal ahead of their separation. After the EU insisted for months that this week’s summit was a key meeting to get a deal, its Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said “we need much time, much more time and we continue to work in the next weeks” with his British counterpart. British Prime Minister Theresa May also spoke about “working intensively over the next days and weeks” to achieve agreement that avoids a no-deal departure from the bloc on March 29 that could create chaos at the borders and in the economy. A deal must be sealed soon so parliaments have time to give their verdict on it. Underscoring the newfound sense of non- urgency, Prime Minister Sebastian Kurz of Austria, which holds the rotating EU presi- dency, even spoke of the “coming weeks and months” to get a deal and sought to impose a soothing calm. “There’s no need to dramatize matters. It’s always the case with negotiations, that in the end there are challenges,” he said. May addressed other EU leaders before they gathered for dinner – without her – to as- sess the state of Brexit talks. May urged her counterparts to redouble efforts to find the way to a deal, but European Parliament Pres- ident Antonio Tajani said she did offer them 39-unit condo complex planned for Prospect JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The NCB Group has been granted per- mission for a new condo complex in Pros- pect as Cayman’s residential building boom continues. The developer was granted approval for 39, two- and three-bedroom condos in its latest project, known as Aura. The de- velopment, on Shamrock Road, will fea- ture a 60-foot diameter circular pool, three oceanfront cabanas, a gym, private dock, barbecue area and children’s playground. It also features rooftop solar panels and a geothermal cooling system as part of an en- vironmentally friendly design, according to the developer. The Central Planning Authority ap- proved the project earlier this month. Matthew Wight, CEO of the NCB Group, said population growth and demand for new housing was driving the recent building boom. He expects that trend to continue. “The Cayman Islands real estate market is incredibly stable and continues to strengthen year after year,” he said. “With an anticipated population growth of 11,000 people in the next 10 years, bringing the total population to 75,000, there is no indication that the market will slow down. In fact, we are currently expe- riencing a housing shortage which provides us, as developers, with the confidence to continue to deliver quality residential proj- ects to meet this demand.” The South Sound, Red Bay and Pros- pect areas appear to be the main centers of growth in the residential market. Several new developments are still under construc- tion on South Sound, though lack of space PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » An architect’s rendering shows how the new development will look. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 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. - THURSDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) A STAR IS BORN (R) 1:00 VIP I 3:50 I 6:40 VIP I 9:30 VENOM (PG13) 12:20 I 1:15 3D I 4:00 VIP I 6:50 9:15 3D I 9:40 VIP I 10:00 NIGHT SCHOOL (PG13) 1:30 I 4:15 I 7:15 I 9:50 BLOCKBUSTER RE-RELEASE: STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI (PG13) 3:25 I 9:20 GOOSEBUMPS 2: HAUNTED HALLOWEEN (PG) 12:15 I 2:30 I 4:45 I 7:00 SMALLFOOT (PG) 3:00 3D I 5:20 I 7:40 BLOCKBUSTER RE-RELEASE: INCREDIBLES 2 (PG) 12:45 I 6:40 CAYMAN RESIDENT DIES IN WATER-RELATED INCIDENT A 68-year-old man died Wednesday in Cayman’s 10th water-related death of the year. The Cayman Islands resi- dent was reported as being “in distress” off of Seven Mile Public Beach around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, police said. When police and emer- gency services arrived at the scene, they found the man unresponsive. He was trans- ported to the Cayman Is- lands Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Nine tourists have died after getting into difficulty in Cayman’s water this year. All have ranged in age from 45 to 83. Seven of the nine tourists experienced trouble while snorkeling or swimming, and the other two were diving-re- lated incidents. Cayman re- corded seven water-related deaths in 2017, according to an annual report issued by the RCIPS in May. Another possible water- related death this year could be missing swimmer Linvol Smith on Cayman Brac, who disappeared in May. Search efforts to locate him at the time were unsuccessful. The Grand Court is cur- rently conducting six in- quests this week, at least five of them looking into water- related deaths. The subjects of the in- quests include Edna Llorens Quinones, 70, who died after snorkeling on Aug. 4, 2017; Dr. Rodney Lamb, who died after swimming in November 2017; Richard Fitzpatrick, 72, who died while snorkeling on Feb. 5, 2018; Dennis Bouta, who died while snorkeling on Feb. 12, 2018; and Beverley Bersano, who died on a scuba trip on April 20, 2018. Record numbers take part in anti-bullying fair A record number of stu- dents participated in Sat- urday’s Stood Up Inter- scholastic Fair, at which children were invited to share their anti-bullying ef- forts and ideas. This is the second year the Family Resource Centre has hosted the fair, and 85 students took part, double the number that were fea- tured at last year’s event. The students came from 13 government and private schools and displayed 40 anti-bullying-themed proj- ects at the Arts & Recreation Centre at Camana Bay. “Vastly increased par- ticipation led to larger than anticipated visitor num- bers. Members of the public viewed the creative proj- ects, and obtained anti-bul- lying literature and relevant information from the fair’s partner agency booths,” orga- nizers said in a press release. Competition entries were evaluated by judges from the Ministry of Education, De- partment of Counselling Ser- vices, United Against Bullying Foundation, and the cam- paign’s main private sector sponsor, Hurley’s Media. The winners in the two age categories were: ■■ 13-15 years old – (1st) Georgette Ansil, Clifton Hunter High School; (2nd) Natalie Bolland and Char- lize Keens, Cayman In- ternational School; and (3rd) Kendra Dickson and Tahiti Seymour, Cayman International School. ■■ 10-12 years old – (1st) Zariyah Duran and Keira Oliver, Savannah Pri- mary School; (2nd) Na- thaniel Lopez, George Town Primary School; and (3rd) Johann Uy and Cohen Ting, St. Ig- natius Primary School. The first place winners in each category received $500, with second and third receiving $250 and $150, respectively. “We’re delighted that the Family Resource Cen- tre’s hard work paid off in organizing the Interscho- lastic Fair,” said Minister of Health, Environment, Cul- ture and Housing Dwayne Seymour in a press release. “It’s clear from the atten- dance numbers and the high standard of the entries that the vast majority of schools are using Stood Up’s zero tolerance to bullying to re- inforce their own anti-bul- lying policies.” The minister, who at- tended the fair, added, “Talking to the students, they obviously learned a lot from making these submissions while taking on board the campaign’s central message.” Man guilty of wounding brother CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Following a judge-alone trial in Grand Court, Clay- burn Willie Ebanks was found guilty of wounding his brother in a fight cap- tured on CCTV. In his judgment delivered on Tuesday, Justice Roger Chapple found Mr. Ebanks not guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but guilty of simple wounding. Mr. Ebanks had always acknowledged inflicting the injuries, but said he did so in self-defense. He also denied having a knife on him – he said that during the fight he had picked up something from the debris on the road and anything could have been there. The judge pointed out that, when self-defense was raised, it was for the prose- cution to prove that the de- fendant was not acting in self-defense. The charges arose from an incident that occurred around 8 p.m. on Nov. 28, 2017, in the vicinity of the brother’s place of business on Martin Drive, off Shedden Road, in George Town. Justice Chapple heard evidence on Oct. 1 and ad- journed the matter so that he could write out his rea- sons for the various conclu- sions he reached. In reading his decision, he summarized the situation as it unfolded. The relationship between the brothers was ac- rimonious, he indicated, and an argument developed that evening, apparently about the care of their elderly mother. Mr. Ebanks is now 46, his brother 57, and their mother 88. Mr. Ebanks chose not to give evidence in the trial. The judge said that, overall, he found the brother to be an honest witness. He had conceded that he armed himself with a fan belt because he saw a knife in his brother’s hand. He also said, effectively, that emotions had boiled over. The situation between him and Mr. Ebanks had been going on for years and that night it had erupted. Justice Chapple said he was unable to dismiss the possibility that the com- plainant was the initial ag- gressor, a view that was sup- ported by the CCTV footage. Mr. Ebanks did have welt marks on his shoulder and upper arm. The brother’s injuries were far more serious. Two wounds to his chest required surgery to stem what was thought to be ar- terial bleeding. Doctors said the injuries were consistent with having been inflicted with a sharp object. Questioned by police soon after the incident, Mr. Ebanks said he had defended him- self and his brother got cut. The judge said the word “cut” implied a knife. Police did not find a knife on him, but they believed he had thrown it away. The high-quality CCTV had been of considerable as- sistance, the judge noted. It showed Mr. Ebanks taking something from his right- hand pocket. The thing caught the light source and supported him having a knife at an early stage of the incident. The CCTV also showed Mr. Ebanks chasing his brother several times. Justice Chapple said he was sure that Mr. Ebanks was not acting in self-de- fense, and that he foresaw some harm would result from his actions. On the question of whether Mr. Ebanks intended to cause such serious harm as happened, the judge was unable to say he was posi- tive the defendant had that intention. He therefore found him guilty only of “wounding simpliciter.” Crown counsel Toyin Salako, who prosecuted the case, told the court that Mr. Ebanks had been con- victed by a jury in Sep- tember on a charge of wounding with intent. She and defense attorney Crister Brady questioned how the defendant should be sentenced. Justice Chapple said he was leaning toward the view that one judge should sen- tence for both matters, but he would approach the judge who had presided over the jury trial and get his view. Mr. Ebanks was remanded in custody for mention of his matters on Oct. 26. Young attendees check out one of the booths at Saturday’s Stood Up Interscholastic Fair. “It’s clear fr om the attendance numbers and the high standard of the entries that the vast majority of schools are using Stood Up’s zero tolerance to bullying to reinforce their own anti-bullying policies.” MINISTER DWAYNE SEYMOUR SIX ARRESTED IN ILLEGAL GAMBLING RAID Police arrested six people on suspicion of illegal gam- bling following a search of a location on School House Road on Saturday. During the search, offi- cers recovered several re- ceipt books and other gambling paraphernalia. A large amount of cash was also seized. Among those arrested was a 35-year-old woman from George Town, a 54-year- old man from Bodden Town, and four men from George Town, ages 48, 55, 57 and 62. All six were released on police bail. In addition, a 42-year- old man and a 26-year- old woman, both of West Bay, who were arrested on Friday, April 13, following an operation at an address off West Church Street, have been formally charged with unlawful gaming and keeping or using a place as a common gambling house. They have been bailed to appear in court on Oct. 23.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2018 Update in respect of Partial Offer (the "Partial Offer") for Cayman National Corporation Ltd. ("Cayman National") by Republic Bank Trinidad and Tobago (Barbados) Limited ("RBTTBL") RBTTBL refers to its partial offer circular dated 14 September 2018 in relation to its proposal to acquire a minimum of 51% and up to 74.99% of the ordinary shares of Cayman National by way of a tender offer to Cayman National shareholders at an offer price of US$6.25 per Cayman National share. RBTTBL is pleased to announce that, as of the end of business on Friday, 12 Octo- ber 2018, it has received acceptances for a total of 22,934,246 ordinary shares of Cayman National, representing 54.15% of the ordinary shares. As RBTTBL has received acceptances in relation to more than 51% of the ordinary shares, the Partial Offer is now unconditional as to acceptances. The consummation of the Partial Offer remains subject to certain other conditions including, without limitation, receipt of necessary government and regulatory approvals. RBTTBL continues its commitment to purchase up to 74.99% of the ordinary shares of Cayman National. Shareholders who wish to accept RBTTBL’s Partial Offer and who have not submitted their completed Form of Acceptance must tender their shares by completing the Form of Acceptance provided to all shareholders, and which is available also at cncshares.ky. Shareholders who do not wish to accept RBTTBL’s Partial Offer need not take any action. The Partial Offer is scheduled to expire at 5:00 pm on Monday October 22, 2018, unless extended. RBTTBL accepts responsibility for the information contained in this media release and, to the best of its knowledge and belief (having taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this document is in accor- dance with the facts and, where appropriate, that it does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. NOTICE Four plead guilty to possessing 450 pounds of ganja at sea Crown wants drug destroyed because it is attracting vermin CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Four Jamaican men pleaded guilty on Wednesday to possession of ganja after 454.41 pounds of the drug were seized after police inter- cepted their boat at sea. The charges were brought under a section of the Misuse of Drugs Law dealing with controlled drugs aboard a ship. The men entered indi- vidual guilty pleas when the charge was put: that, being a person on a ship not reg- istered in any country, he was knowingly concerned in the carrying or concealing of controlled drugs. Specifically, each man knew or had rea- sonable grounds to suspect that, on Sept. 6, the vessel was 27 miles southeast of Grand Cayman with ganja that was intended to be imported into the Cayman Islands. The defendants were Martin Anthony Trench, 32; Kendale Jerome Straumann, 31; Andre Junior Russell, 33; and Basil Anthony Smith, 45. Mr. Trench is from Ha- nover. The others are from Westmoreland. They were originally charged with importing ganja, but that charge was withdrawn after pleas were entered to the new charge. Crown counsel Kenneth Ferguson asked Magistrate Grace Donalds to order that the ganja be forfeited to the Crown. He said it needed to be destroyed because it was attracting vermin. The magis- trate made the order. A press release issued after the men’s arrest indi- cated that officers of the Air Operations and Joint Ma- rine Units were conducting border patrols when they spotted a vessel acting suspi- ciously. On approach, the of- ficers observed men on board throwing packages over- board. The packages were re- trieved and the men taken into custody. On Wednesday, defense attorney Amelia Fosuhene asked for social inquiry re- ports for the defendants, noting that they had not been to Cayman before. She said each had a different attorney who would want to speak in mitigation. The magistrate set the matter for Dec. 5. They were originally charged with importing ganja, but that charge was withdrawn after pleas were entered to the new charge. The 18th Annual Silent Witness March, which is held each year to honor and re- member victims of domestic violence and bullying, takes place on Thursday, Oct. 18. This year’s march begins at 5:30 p.m. from the Glass House, the old Government Administration Building. Participants will walk in silence to the parking lot of the Law Courts Building in downtown George Town, where a ceremony will be held. The annual march has a simple message this year: “Love shouldn’t hurt.” In its earlier years, the march focused mostly on women and children who had suffered from domestic violence, but since 2016, or- ganizers have also been high- lighting the impact of bul- lying on victims. The first march against domestic violence on is- land was in 1999, when par- ticipants silently carried life-sized silhouettes to re- member the victims of vi- olence who had no voice of their own. No roads will be closed during the procession, po- lice said. However, Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice officers will be on the route to provide traffic con- trol. Motorists traveling in these areas on Thursday evening are advised to ex- ercise caution. The march is organized by the Business and Professional Women’s Club. For more information, email Paola Juarez at info@BPWgcm.org. SILENT WITNESS MARCH SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY MAN CHARGED IN FATAL CAYMAN BRAC CRASH A 37-year-old Cayman Brac man was charged Wednesday in relation to the Feb. 27 traffic collision that killed Sharon Gayle-Clarke, a care worker at Kirkconnell Community Care Centre. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service did not release the name of the man, but did identify him as the driver of the Honda Accord that crashed with the RAV4 being driven by Mrs. Gayle-Clarke, 51. The two-vehicle colli- sion on Bight Road, near Tib- betts Turn Road, on Cayman Brac, occurred shortly be- fore 11 p.m. that evening as Mrs. Gayle-Clarke was on her way to work. The man is charged with causing death by dangerous driving and refusing to pro- vide a specimen of blood. He has been bailed to ap- pear in court on Nov. 29. The Law Courts Building in downtown George Town.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” For good reason, many people think of Cayman National Bank as “the people’s bank” – a homegrown success story with deep community ties. That is as it should be. Cayman National Corporation’s senior execu- tives and board members include many well-known and highly respected personages, including Chairman Truman Bodden, CEO Stuart Dack, Clarence Flowers, Ormond Williams, Christopher Lumsden and others. Under their leadership, the bank has been a stalwart corporate citizen, sponsoring so many civic and chari- table causes that we could not begin to enumerate them in this limited space – more than two dozen in the fourth quarter of this year alone. Cayman National’s presence (perhaps “omnipres- ence” might be a better word) is obvious throughout these islands. In addition to the Peter A. Tomkins Building on Elgin Avenue, Cayman National operates more than a half-dozen branches from West Bay’s Centennial Towers to Countryside Shopping Village in Savannah and on both Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. For banking-on-the-go convenience, they maintain ATMs at more than a dozen locations throughout Grand Cayman and both Sister Islands. Over the past four decades, Cayman National and Cayman, generally, have enjoyed mutual growth and successes, and faced the same daunting challenges. Cayman National was the first bank to reopen its doors after Hurricane Ivan and was an integral part of Grand Cayman’s recovery, immediately and over the long term. And so, it is in some ways understandable that the bank’s pending sale to The Republic Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (Barbados) Ltd. would engender strong feelings locally, including some concerns and even fears. Frankly, we look at it somewhat differently. Cayman National may rightfully be considered a community treasure by many, but it is also a publicly traded company with duties and fiduciary respon- sibilities to its shareholders. As Chairman Truman Bodden explained last week, upon receiving an unso- licited offer from Republic Bank, the directors were legally bound to investigate its potential and bring it to investors’ attention. Shareholders’ response was unambiguous, with nearly 80 percent of voting shares approving an amendment to the bank’s articles of association – which cleared the way for the sale. As business decisions must be, the board’s recom- mendation and investors’ ultimate decision were based on careful consideration of facts – including, of course, the share price offered. Republic Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Republic Financial Holdings Ltd., which has more than $10 billion in assets on deposit and employs thou- sands staff members. Republic owns banks in Guyana, Grenada, Suriname and Ghana. Becoming part of this expansive organization will offer Cayman National – and its customers – vast new resources and opportunities. The Compass Editorial Board takes no position on the shareholders’ decision to sell the bank. We would only point out that sands shift and times change. Cayman today is not the same as Cayman yesterday, nor will it be the same Cayman tomorrow. No company – or country – can be governed by either nostalgia or resistance to change. But that does not prevent us from observing, with a touch of sen- timentality, that Cayman National is moving on to its next evolutionary stage. We wish all of their staff – and customers – Godspeed. We also thank them for their decades-long contributions to the Cayman community. Godspeed and good tidings to Cayman National THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS LETTER TO THE EDITOR Seek solutions to traffic congestion Although I am just a mere nondescript citizen, I share similar concerns re- lating to those expressed by former Minister of Govern- ment Osbourne Bodden in his letter to the Compass, (“Resolving traffic gridlock,” Oct. 10). Before his election to office, he impressed me with many insightful con- tributions to Cayman news- papers. In fact, I remember saying to him once that he should run for office. It seems as if he has now re- sumed his old good habit. It is only a pity that he did not have those concerns when he was active in govern- ment, as the traffic problem has existed for many years. The former minister’s list of possible solutions: 1. Restrict the number of vehicles approved to be imported. I think that is an excellent idea. It is obvious that roads and places to park them are limited. 2. Restrict the age of cars on the road to 10 years. My view is that it is not the age of the car that is the problem. If a car is over 10 years old, fully func- tional and meets all the government safety require- ments, the car should not be a problem. What needs to happen is the existing testing standards for al- lowing vehicles to be on the roads need strengthening. In addition, more stringent monitoring and fines for non-compliance by the po- lice should be a priority. 3. Restrict number of cars per household to two. That is an idea worth pursuing. However, atten- tion should be directed to apartment complexes with numerous individuals oc- cupying each unit, many owning cars. Parking be- comes a problem, resulting in cars being parked un- safely on the roads, some- times blocking entrances to private homes. Landlords should be compelled to have adequate parking stalls or tenants without cars. 4. Persons on work permits should not own cars but use public trans- portation. Such a restric- tion would be draconian. I suggest that the creation of a workable and reli- able public transportation system should be the first step before even consid- ering this idea. 5. Build vehicle depots. Another excellent idea, but a plan and discussion around creating a public transportation system has to be worked on first, and then implemented. Ve- hicle depots will be a part of that plan. 6. Incentives, e.g., li- cense fee reduction for carpoolers and establishing car pool lanes. It is diffi- cult to see how those could be implemented cost-ef- fectively, given limited re- sources. My humble opinion is to first educate drivers on the proper use of roads, and then be firm with prosecu- tion for infringements. An example is the apparent ig- norance of the correct way to use a two-lane road by using the middle lane as the passing faster lane. In my daily drive to and from Bodden Town, I am ham- pered, slowed and frus- trated by 99 percent of all large vehicles immediately moving over to the middle lane. Driving abreast of ve- hicles properly using the inside lane literally blocks the road and invites the taking of risks to overtake, road rage, as well as overall slowing the traffic flow. 7. Employers in George Town should offer flex time. Excellent idea, but why limit it to George Town? 8. Decentralize services from George Town. Another great idea, but I think more bang for the buck would be gained from devoting more effort and resources to enabling more transac- tions to be done online, at least initially. The objective of main- taining and increasing the quality of life of all citi- zens, residents and visi- tors is fully supported. I encourage the former min- ister to not only continue writing, but to raise his con- cerns directly to the “powers that be,” as he is eloquent and has direct access to all the players. Hopefully, this will not just create more interest and talk, but start some action toward finding so- lutions. Quality of life in Cayman should not be al- lowed to slip! Leland (Lee) Maragh Traffic congestion is a daily reality on Grand Cayman. – PHOTO: FILEThe islands’ most-trusted news source 5 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. CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2018 THURSDAY, OCT. 18 GREEN IGUANA CULL: The Department of Environment is accepting registrants for its green iguana cull program between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. today and tomorrow at DoE headquarters, 580 North Sound Road. To register, an individual culler must be Caymanian and at least 18 years old. Businesses possessing a valid Trade and Business License may also register. All cullers must be willing to commit to bring in at least 400 iguanas during the first month of the effort and must seek to maintain a similar level of participation throughout the year. Proof of Caymanian status must be brought. A valid firearms license must be brought if the culler is planning to use an air rifle. OLDER PERSONS MONTH: Bingo Night, Aston Rutty Civic Centre, 6-9 p.m. The Big Stage cultural event, Harquail Theatre, 6:30-9 p.m. BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: Public meeting, Webster Memorial Church Hall, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY, OCT. 19 OLDER PERSONS MONTH: Island Tour Cayman Brac, 9 a.m. SATURDAY, OCT. 20 SOY MONSTER DASH: The Save Our Youth Foundation hosts its annual Monster Dash 5K Walk/ Run fundraiser at Camana Bay. Registration 6:15 a.m. Walkers and runners start at 7 a.m. All participants are encouraged to wear costumes. To register online, go to www.caymanactive. com/monsterdash. Entry fee $20 for adults, $15 for students (age 10-18), children under 10 free. Registration on the day costs $25 for adults. Prizes for best overall costume, best family costume and first runner. Water and snacks provided at the end, with a water stop at the turnaround. OLDER PERSONS MONTH: Tea Party, Pines Retirement Home, 4-6 p.m. NCVO RADIO/TELETHON: The annual fundraiser for the National Council of Social Services is held at the Prospect Playhouse, from 7 p.m. SUNDAY, OCT. 21 ODAAT BOAT TRIP: There are still a few tickets available for a 1 p.m. sail aboard a catamaran for snorkeling (snorkels, masks and fins provided), feeding stingrays, swimming and sunbathing. Nibbles included in the price of $40 per adult; drinks available on board via donations to One Dog at a Time. Children and family groups welcome. Prices for children vary according to age. For more information and to book, contact onedogatatime13 on Facebook or call 926-7506 or 917-3370. CHURCH SERVICE: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church invites all to a Pink Sunday Service in support of Breast Cancer Month. 11 a.m. Everyone is asked to wear pink attire. MONDAY, OCT. 22 MISSION HOUSE CAMP: The Mission House will host a mid-term camp today through Friday for children seven to 12 years old. Activities will include traditional cooking classes, an archeological dig, cultural activities and more. Noon to 4 p.m. at The Mission House, Bodden Town. Register at projects@nationaltrust.org.ky. ADULT MENTORS NEEDED: Mentoring Cayman is accepting applications from adult role models who wish to serve as mentors for the 2019 class. Today is the deadline to apply. Mentoring Cayman is a six-month initiative coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Education. Apply at www.caymanchamber.ky/ mentoringcayman.html. BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: George Town Clinic, 10 a.m. to noon. TUESDAY, OCT. 23 YOUTH CONVENTION: The Wesleyan Churches of the Cayman Islands open their 6th Annual Youth Convention at 7:30 p.m. in the Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre, North Side. Convention continues through Oct. 28. The theme is “Navigating your spiritual journey in a post-modern world.” Featured are Pastors Alson Ebanks, Ronald Benjamin and John Gray High School Counselor Christopher Murray. Bus service will be available nightly from George Town to North Side. For more information contact Cassandra on 925-1930 or Pastor King on 916-5372. BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: North Side Clinic, 10 a.m. to noon. THURSDAY, OCT. 25 BRAC COURT: Today and tomorrow from 10 a.m. Aston Rutty Civic Centre BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: Public meeting, Lions Community Centre, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY, OCT. 26 LEADERSHIP CAYMAN: Today is the deadline to apply for Leadership Cayman, a six-month personal and community leadership program coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce. Applicants must be 30 years of age, in a middle management position and must have resided in the Cayman Islands for at least one year. Apply online at www.leadershipcayman.ky. DRESS DOWN DAY: Dress Pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, organized by the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens. SATURDAY, OCT. 27 BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARDS: Residents are invited to come out and support business innovators who will be featured at the Business Excellence Awards at The Ritz-Carlton. Winners in six categories will be announced, and a Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Keith Parker Tibbetts Jr. The evening will include refreshments and live entertainment. For tickets, visit www.eventpro.ky or call the Chamber of Commerce at 949-8090. FAMILY FUN DAY: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location at Leeward Drive, North Sound Estates, Newlands. Follow balloons from the ICCI campus. Kids/ family games with prizes, magicians, balloon bending, face painting, bouncy castle, raffle, baked goods stall, used goods stall, Christmas stall. Food vendors, music and more. Fundraiser organized by North Sound Estates Neighbourhood Watch and Community Group. Contact 321-9443 for more details. SUNDAY, OCT. 28 DAY OF BEAUTY: A fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At Sameena’s Beauty Centre, 80 North Church Street. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special prices on facials, massages, manicures and more. OLDER PERSONS SERVICE: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church, 11 a.m. All are invited. GENERAL INTEREST CAYMAN ARTISTS INVITED: Artists resident in the Cayman Islands or artists of the Caymanian diaspora are invited to submit photos of work (or work concept drawings/photos), with an accompanying artist’s statement relating the work to the exhibition synopsis for consideration, in electronic format, directed to the attention of the curator at assistantcurator@ nationalgallery.org.ky. Deadline for submission is Monday, Nov. 26, at 5 p.m. For more information, contact public.engagement@ nationalgallery.org.ky. U.K. 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. SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Be a volunteer for athlete training at Truman Bodden Sports Complex 5:30 p.m. for basketball skills, track, bocce and football. Swimming on Wednesdays at the Lions Pool 10-11 a.m. or on Saturdays at the Cayman International School pool, 9:30 a.m. Email soci@candw.ky or call 916-2600. TOBACCO LICENSES: Tobacco license holders are reminded of the 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1 deadline to apply for their annual license renewals. Annual registration renewal fees are $500 for a retailer, $750 for a cigar bar and $5,000 for a wholesale distributor. Persons in Grand Cayman must submit their applications at the Business Licensing Counter, first floor, Government Administration Building. In the Sister Islands, applications must be submitted to DCI Senior Licensing Officer, Lolita Bodden-Arch, in the Bodden and Bodden building on Cayman Brac. SEAFARERS HALL: The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association wishes to inform the community that the hall is now available for rental every day of the week, including Saturdays, as the church is no longer contracted with the association at 11 Victory Avenue, Prospect. 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 containing Scotiabank). 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. THRIFT SHOP: One Dog At A Time has launched its “New To You” Thrift Shop. Open Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the summer. The shop is at Unit 26 at the warehouses on Bodden Road, which runs down the side of Kirk Home Store to the old screen print place. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Members of the Rotaract Club of Grand Cayman assist with a recent collection for the NCVO, which is hosting its annual Radio-Telethon at the Prospect Playhouse on Saturday.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS conversation.” He said Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin had been very clear in stating that the move was a “consti- tutional overreach.” Asked if the Cayman Is- lands would accept the leg- islation now that it had been passed into British law, Mr. Bush replied, “That is not for me to say.” He said the Cayman Is- lands had made it clear it would become an “early adopter” of public ben- eficial ownership regis- tries when they became a global standard. Mr. Bryant questioned him on this, saying, “The U.K. government has raised the bar and said our standard is higher. Are you choosing a lower standard?” Mr. Bush said the Finan- cial Action Task Force and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Develop- ment were the two bodies that set global standards, and they ranked the Cayman Islands on par with the U.K. in terms of its standards on financial transparency. Tom Tugendhat, chair of the committee, came briefly to the defense of the Cayman Islands on the issue, pointing out that it did keep regis- ters on beneficial ownership, which, though not public, were available to law enforce- ment agencies on request. “Some elements of the overseas territories registers seem to be rather better than the U.K. registers, certainly in terms of identifying actual directors and checking gen- uine ownership. It is clear to many of us there is a lot we could learn in reverse.” But, he said, the U.K. had got involved in a financial services matter, previously seen as a devolved issue for the elected governments in the territories, because it now considered the issue to be less about tax evasion and more about national security. “Today, it is money going through that is being used to corrupt allies around the world, weaken defensive alli- ances, influence civil society in various ways. This is no longer a financial matter; it is a national security matter. Our national security support to the Cayman Islands is part of the infrastructure that al- lows the prosperity of the Cayman people. That is part of it from our perspective.” Asked whether the issue had prompted discussion of independence in the overseas territories, Mr. Bush said this was not the case in Cayman. He said being British was part of Cayman’s DNA, since it was first settled by two exiles from Oliver Cromwell’s army. Mr. Bush also welcomed suggestions from MP Andrew Rosindell, that the struc- ture for administering the overseas territories be re- formed, so the Cayman Is- lands was treated as a do- mestic partner, rather than as a foreign entity. “We do think it is dated and could be reformed,” Mr. Bush said. “The Cayman Islands and other overseas territories are not foreign. In the context of Brexit and the new sense of a global Britain, we want to be a strong member of that global British family.” is limiting future growth in that area. There are multiple de- velopments under way in and around the Grand Har- bour area in Prospect, in- cluding the $80 million Peri- winkle project. Mr. Wight said the Aura development had received “tremendous interest,” with 11 units currently under reservation. The company hopes to pre-sell all units be- fore construction begins in January 2020. He said the sustainable design and the oceanfront lo- cation were among the devel- opment’s key attributes. NCB is also working on a wellness and business hotel opposite Kirk Market and has agreed to a part- nership with Dart for a new residential community in Camana Bay. concrete new proposals. “Politically speaking, a will was expressed to move forward and reach agreement but there was nothing substantively new in terms of content,” Tajani told reporters. On Tuesday, European Council President Donald Tusk implored May to present new ideas for re- solving the tricky problem of how to keep the land border between the Republic of Ireland and the U.K.’s Northern Ireland friction- free once Britain no longer is an EU member. Tusk advised May that “creative” thinking from Britain was required to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, the issue that has brought divorce negotiations to a standstill. EU leaders dismissed May’s most recent proposal as unworkable. But when the prime minister was asked in the House of Commons ear- lier Wednesday whether her government’s blueprint for an amicable divorce was dead, May replied: “The answer is no.” The summit in Brus- sels had long been seen as the “moment of truth” in the two-year Brexit pro- cess. But after urgent talks on the Irish border ended Sunday without producing a breakthrough, Wednes- day’s gathering looked more like a therapeutic bonding session than an occasion to celebrate. The timeline for a deal has slipped into No- vember, or even December, when another EU summit is scheduled. “Today there will be no breakthrough,” said Lithu- anian President Dalia Gry- bauskaite. She said 2 ½ years after Britain’s Brexit referendum, the country had still not explained clearly how it wants to leave the EU. “Today, we do not know what they want,” she said. “They do not know them- selves what they really want. That is the problem.” At present the two sides are proposing that Britain remains inside the EU single market and is still bound by its rules from the time it leaves the bloc in March until December 2020, to give time for new trade relations to be set up. Many suspect that will not be enough time, which has led the EU to demand a “backstop” to ensure there are no customs posts or other controls along the currently invisible border between Northern Ire- land and Ireland. EU leaders have recently suggested that the transi- tion period, currently due to end in December 2020, could be extended by a year to provide more time for a trade deal to be forged that would make the back- stop unnecessary. Britain says it has not asked for an extension, but May has not yet come up with proposals for un- blocking the Irish border logjam. She is hemmed in by pro-Brexit members of her Conservative Party, who oppose any more compro- mises with the bloc, and by her parliamentary allies in Northern Ireland’s Demo- cratic Unionist Party, who insist a solution cannot in- clude customs checks be- tween Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. British Prime Minister Theresa May, left, hugs Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, as they meet in Brussels, Wednesday. - PHOTO: AP Britain, EU decide to take additional time to get Brexit right CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 39-unit condo complex planned for Prospect An architect’s rendering shows an elevated view of the new NCB development May urged her counterparts to redouble efforts to find the way to a deal, but European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said she did offer them concrete new proposals. FOREIGN AFFAIRS SELECT COMMITTEE Cayman, UK address differences In this video screengrab, Eric Bush speaks to U.K. parliamentarians Monday. UN anti-graft body in Guatemala says visas denied, revoked ESQUIPULAS, Guatemala (AP) – A U.N. commission investigating corruption in Guatemala said Tuesday that President Jimmy Morales’ government has de- nied or revoked visas for about a dozen of its personnel including staffers probing the president, his relatives and the ruling party. The announcement came the same day Morales sur- vived a third attempt to lift the immunity from prosecu- tion he enjoys as a sitting president, with congress bar- ring a probe against him for purported illicit campaign fi- nancing from moving forward. The International Com- mission against Impunity in Guatemala said in a state- ment that the Foreign Min- istry notified it Monday that three current visas were withdrawn, eight were denied for officials and two were de- nied for family members. Among those affected is Colombian lawyer Luis Fer- nando Orozco, who is in- vestigating Morales over purported illegal cam- paign financing during the 2015 election. Another is Cesar Rincon, also a Colombian lawyer, and the commission’s repre- sentative on a case against Morales’ son and brother over alleged falsification of documents to obtain gov- ernment funds. Rincon is also the lead in- vestigator in the investiga- tion against former President Otto Perez Molina, who was forced to resign in 2015 and is behind bars awaiting trial. The commission known as CICIG for its initials in Spanish said it was evalu- ating the situation. There was no imme- diate public comment from the government. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2018 Iran calls latest US sanctions an ‘insult’ Iran says the latest round of U.S. sanctions is an ‘insult’ to the international order that stems from ‘blind hostility.’ On Tuesday the U.S. imposed sanctions on businesses allegedly linked to the Basij, a volunteer wing of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Russian official: Student gunman killed 19 at Crimea college MOSCOW (AP) – A Russian official said a student at- tacked a vocational college Wednesday in Crimea, a ram- page that killed 19 other stu- dents and left more than 50 people wounded, before killing himself. The comments from Sergei Aksyonov, the regional leader in Crimea, were the latest in a series of shifting explanations by Russian of- ficials as to what exactly happened at Kerch Poly- technic College in the Black Sea city of Kerch. Russian officials at first reported a gas explosion, then said an explosive device ripped through the college canteen in a suspected ter- rorist attack. But witnesses reported that at least some victims were killed in an at- tack by a gunman or gunmen. Aksyonov said on televi- sion that the student, a local man acting alone, killed him- self after the attack. Russia’s Investigative Committee, the nation’s top investigative agency, identi- fied the attacker as Vladislav Roslyakov, 18. It said he was caught on security cameras entering the college with a rifle and firing at students. The committee said all the victims died of gunshot wounds, contrasting with the previous statements by other officials saying they were in- jured in an explosion. Reflecting the official con- fusion, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the vic- tims were killed by an explo- sion just as the Investigative Committee was announcing they were fatally shot. Putin deplored the attack as a “tragic event” and offered condolences to the victims’ families at a news confer- ence in Sochi, where he had talks with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi. After the attack, local of- ficials declared a state of emergency on the Black Sea peninsula that they had an- nexed from Ukraine in 2014. They also beefed up secu- rity at a new 11.8-mile bridge that links the peninsula with Russia that opened ear- lier this year. Military units were de- ployed around the college. The Investigative Com- mittee initially said an ex- plosive device that went off at the college’s canteen was rigged with shrapnel. Sergei Melikov, a deputy chief of the Russian Na- tional Guard, said the de- vice was homemade. Explo- sives experts inspected the college building for other possible bombs, according to Anti-Terrorism Com- mittee spokesman Andrei Przhezdomsky. Witnesses did not speak of an explosion but said one or more armed men at- tacked the school. The Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper quoted student Semyon Gavrilov as saying he fell asleep during a lecture and woke up to the sound of shooting. He said he looked out and saw a young man with a rifle shooting at people. “I locked the door, hoping he wouldn’t hear me,” the paper quoted Gavrilov as saying. He said police arrived about 10 minutes later to evacuate people from the college and he saw dead bodies on the floor and charred walls. Another student, Yuri Kerpek, told the state RIA Novosti news agency that the shooting went on for about 15 minutes. Olga Grebennikova, di- rector of the vocational college, told KerchNet TV that men armed with au- tomatic rifles burst into the college and “killed ev- eryone they saw.” Greben- nikova, who said she had left the grounds shortly be- fore the attack occurred, said students and staff were among victims. Russian Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova headed to the area to help coordinate assistance to the wounded and helicopters carrying emergency medical teams flew to the area. Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine trig- gered Western sanctions. Russia has also supported separatists fighting the Ukrainian government in eastern Ukraine, a conflict that has left at least 10,000 people dead since 2014. Over the past few years, Russian security agencies have arrested several Ukrai- nians accused of plotting terror attacks in Crimea, but no attacks have occurred. This image made from video shows the scene as emergency services load an injured person onto a truck, in Kerch, Crimea, Wednesday. - PHOTO: AP Turkish police search Saudi consul’s home in Khashoggi case ISTANBUL (AP) – Turkish crime-scene investigators searched the home of the Saudi consul general in Is- tanbul on Wednesday in the disappearance of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, and a pro-government newspaper published a gruesome ac- count of the journalist’s al- leged slaying. As Saudi Arabia’s green national flag flapped over- head, forensics teams entered the residence, only 1.2 miles from the consulate where Khashoggi vanished Oct. 2 while trying to pick up pa- perwork to get married. It was the second-such extraor- dinary search of a site con- sidered under international law to be sovereign Saudi territory after investigators spent hours in the consulate earlier this week. The account published in the Yeni Safak newspaper alleged that Saudi officials cut off Khashoggi’s fingers and then decapitated him at the consulate as his fiancée waited outside. The searches and the leaks in Turkish media have ensured the world’s atten- tion remains focused on what happened to Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who went into a self-imposed exile in the U.S. over the rise of Saudi Crown Prince Mo- hammed bin Salman. It also put further strains on the relationship between the kingdom, the world’s largest oil exporter, and its main se- curity guarantor, the United States, as tensions with Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East remain high. Flying back home after a visit to both Saudi Arabia and Turkey, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo remained posi- tive about an ongoing Saudi probe into Khashoggi’s dis- appearance, but he stressed that answers are needed. “Sooner’s better than later for everyone,” Pompeo said. The search of the con- sul’s residence came 15 days after Khashoggi’s disappear- ance – and after police ap- parently thought they would be able to conduct the search on Tuesday. Turkish For- eign Minister Mevlut Cavu- soglu said Saudi officials had halted the earlier search, claiming that Consul General Mohammed al-Otaibi’s family was still there. Crime-scene technicians wore white coveralls, gloves and shoe covers entering the residence. It was not immedi- ately clear what they hoped to find there, although sur- veillance video had showed diplomatic cars moving be- tween the consulate and the residence nearly two hours after Khashoggi walked into the diplomatic post. Turkey’s private DHA news agency, without citing a source, said police wanted to inspect a “water well” in the garden of the residence. Investigators also re- entered the consulate Wednesday night. A high-level Turkish offi- cial previously told The As- sociated Press that police found “certain evidence” of Khashoggi’s slaying at the consulate, without elabo- rating. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the investiga- tion was ongoing. The report by the news- paper Yeni Safak cited what it described as an audio re- cording of Khashoggi’s slaying. It described the re- cording as offering evidence that a Saudi team immedi- ately accosted the 60-year-old journalist after he entered the consulate. Al-Otaibi could be heard on the tape, telling those al- legedly torturing Khashoggi: “Do this outside; you’re going to get me in trouble,” the newspaper reported. One of the Saudis report- edly replied: “Shut up if you want to live when you return to [Saudi] Arabia.” Security services in Turkey have used pro-gov- ernment media to leak de- tails of Khashoggi’s case, adding to the pressure on the kingdom. President Donald Trump, who initially came out hard on the Saudis over the disappearance but since has backed off, said Wednesday that the U.S. wanted Turkey to turn over any audio or video recording it had of Khashoggi’s alleged killing “if it exists.” Saudi officials have not responded to repeated re- quests for comment from the AP in recent days, including Wednesday. Al-Otaibi left Turkey on Tuesday, Turkish state media reported. Trump’s previous warn- ings over the case drew an angry response Sunday from Saudi Arabia and its state- linked media, including a suggestion that Riyadh could wield its oil production as a weapon. The U.S. presi- dent wants King Salman and OPEC to boost production to drive down high oil prices, caused in part by the coming re-imposition of oil sanctions on Iran in November. Pompeo, wrapping up a trip to Saudi Arabia and Turkey to discuss the crisis over the missing journalist, made a point to stress areas where the kingdom and America cooperate. “We have lots of important relationships – financial rela- tionships between U.S. and Saudi companies, govern- mental relationships, … the efforts to reduce the risk to the United States of America from the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, Iran,” he said. “We just need to make sure that we are mindful of that when we approach deci- sions that the United States government will take when we learn all the facts associ- ated with whatever may have taken place.” However, Pompeo said there were clear lines that America would not stand to see crossed. Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi8 WORLD&REGIONAL THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Trump says he will not accept blame if GOP loses House US housing starts sank 5.3 percent in September WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. home construction fell 5.3 percent in September, a sign that recent hurricanes and rising mortgage rates may be weighing on the market. The Commerce Depart- ment said Wednesday that housing starts slipped last month to a seasonally ad- justed annual rate of 1.2 mil- lion, down from 1.27 mil- lion in August. So far this year, starts have increased 6.4 percent. But the pace of homebuilding has down- shifted since May September groundbreak- ings were also likely hurt by Hurricane Florence striking North Carolina – and ground- breakings could possibly be depressed in October after Hurricane Michael hit the Florida panhandle. “Starts are stagnating as the housing market slows, though September’s num- bers were suppressed by the hurricane affecting the Caro- linas,” said Tendayi Kapfidze, chief economist at Lending Tree, an online loan broker. Homebuyers are facing new cost pressures that could be dampening demand. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says that the average 30-year fixed-rate mort- gage jumped to 4.9 per- cent last week, the highest level since 2011. The combi- nation of higher borrowing costs and rising home values has made home ownership less affordable. “It may be tempting to draw national conclusions from these storm-related dips and rallies, but the regional blips can’t obscure the year- long malaise in the national single-family home construc- tion market: Starts have been hit or miss, sales flat and per- mits trending downward for months,” said Aaron Terrazas, a senior economist at the real estate firm Zillow. Builders appear to be adapting to the affordability challenges. Starts for multi- family buildings such as apartments have increased at a faster clip than single- family houses year to date. Still, much of September’s decline came from a decline in groundbreakings for multi- family buildings. Housing starts fell last month in the South and Mid- west, but they increased in the Northeast and West. The construction data can be vol- atile, so the regional levels of homebuilding can change sharply on a monthly basis. Permits, an indicator of future activity, fell 0.6 per- cent to an annual rate of 1.24 million. WASHINGTON (AP) – Facing the prospect of bruising elec- toral defeat in congressional elections, President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will not accept the blame if his party loses control of the House in November, arguing his campaigning and en- dorsements have helped Re- publican candidates. In a wide-ranging inter- view three weeks before Elec- tion Day, Trump told The As- sociated Press he senses voter enthusiasm rivaling 2016 and he expressed cautious opti- mism that his most loyal sup- porters will vote even when he is not on the ballot. The AP asked Trump “if Republicans were to lose control of the House on Nov. 6 – or a couple of days later depending on how long it takes to count the votes – do you believe you bear some re- sponsibility for that?” “No, I think I’m helping people,” Trump said. Elaborating, Trump added: “And I will say that we have a very big impact. I don’t believe anybody’s ever had this kind of an im- pact. They would say that in the old days that if you got the support of a presi- dent or if you’ve got the sup- port of somebody it would be nice to have, but it meant nothing, zero. Like liter- ally zero. Some of the people I’ve endorsed have gone up 40 and 50 points just on the endorsement.” Trump spoke on a range of subjects, defending Saudi Arabia from growing con- demnation over the case of a missing journalist, accusing his longtime attorney Mi- chael Cohen of lying under oath and flashing defiance when asked about the insult – “Horseface” – he hurled at Stormy Daniels, the porn ac- tress who accuses him of lying about an affair. Asked if it was appro- priate to insult a wom- an’s appearance, Trump re- sponded, “You can take it any way you want.” Throughout much of the nearly 40-minute interview, he sat, arms crossed, in the Oval Office behind the Res- olute Desk, flanked by top aides, including White House press secretary Sarah Huck- abee Sanders and communi- cations director Bill Shine. White House counselor Kel- lyanne Conway listened from a nearby sofa. The interview came as Trump’s administration was being urged to pressure Saudi Arabia to account for the dis- appearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Instead, Trump offered a defense for the U.S. ally, warning against a rush to judgment, like with what happened with his Su- preme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual assault. “Well, I think we have to find out what happened first,” Trump said. “Here we go again with, you know, you’re guilty until proven innocent. I don’t like that. We just went through that with Justice Ka- vanaugh. And he was inno- cent all the way.” Weeks away from the midterms, Democrats are hopeful about their chances to recapture the House, while Republicans are increasingly confident they can hold con- trol of the Senate. Trump has been cam- paigning aggressively in a blitz of rallies aimed at firing up his base. He said he be- lieves he’s doing his job, but allowed he has heard from some of his supporters who say they may not vote this November. “I’m not running,” he said. “I mean, there are many people that have said to me … ‘I will never ever go and vote in the midterms be- cause you’re not running and I don’t think you like Con- gress.’” He added: “Well, I do like Congress.” If Democrats take the House and pursue im- peachment or investiga- tions – including seeking his long-hidden tax returns – Trump said he will “handle it very well.” The president declared he was unconcerned about other potential threats to his pres- idency. He accused Cohen of lying when testifying under oath that the presi- dent coordinated on a hush- money scheme to buy Dan- iels’ silence. Trump on Tuesday de- clared the allegation “totally false.” But in entering a plea deal with Cohen in August, federal prosecutors signaled that they accepted his recita- tion of facts and account of what occurred. Trump said that Wash- ington lawyer Pat Cipollone will serve as his next White House counsel and that he hoped to announce a replace- ment for U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley in the next week or two. He again repeated his frustration with Attorney General Jeff Sessions over the special counsel investi- gation, saying he could “fire him whenever I want to fire him, but I haven’t said that I was going to.” On the ongoing Russia in- vestigation, Trump defended his son Donald Trump Jr. for a Trump Tower meeting with a Kremlin-connected lawyer offering damaging informa- tion about Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump called his son a “good young guy” and said he did what any political aide would have done. Trump again cast doubt on climate change, sug- gesting, incorrectly, that the scientific community was evenly split on the exis- tence of climate change and its causes. There are “sci- entists on both sides of the issue,” Trump said. “But what I’m not willing to do is sacrifice the economic well-being of our country for something that nobody really knows,” Trump said. He added: “I have a nat- ural instinct for science, and I will say that you have sci- entists on both sides of the picture.” Asked about his wartime leadership, Trump acknowl- edged that he has not brought U.S. troops home from con- flict zones overseas and that there are more Americans serving in harm’s way now than when he took office. “It’s not a lot more. It’s a little bit more,” he said. Saying he’s trying to pre- serve “safety at home,” Trump added that if there are areas where people are threat- ening the U.S., “I’m going to have troops there for a pe- riod of time.” Trump increased U.S. troop totals in Afghanistan by about 4,000 last year. The president engaged on several other topics, including: ■■ He said he has given no consideration to par- doning Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman who was con- victed of numerous fi- nancial crimes. ■■ He suggested that his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would happen after next month’s mid- term elections and would likely not be in the United States. ■■ He broke with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s proposed changes to Social Secu- rity to control the deficit. ■■ He defended his decision to break from his prede- cessors and not yet visit a military base in a combat zone, claiming it was not “overly necessary.” Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says that the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped to 4.9 percent last week, the highest level since 2011. President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday. - PHOTO: AP Workers toil on a new home under construction in Denver in August. - PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY OCTOBER 18, 2018 Canada now world’s largest legal marijuana marketplace TORONTO (AP) – Ian Power was among the first to buy legal recreational marijuana in Canada but he has no plans to smoke it. He plans to frame it. Canada became the largest country with a legal national marijuana marketplace as sales began early Wednesday in Newfoundland. Power was first in line at a store in St. John’s, Newfoundland. “I am going to frame it and hang it on my wall. I’m not even going to smoke it. I’m just going to save it for- ever,” Power said. And there was more good news for pot aficionados: Hours before a handful of retail outlets opened in the country’s easternmost prov- ince a federal official told The Associated Press that Canada will pardon all those with convictions for possessing up to 30 grams of marijuana, the now-legal threshold. A formal announce- ment was planned for later Wednesday. The official, who was not authorized to speak public ahead of the an- nouncement, said those who want to take advantage of the pardons will have to apply. Canada has had legal medical marijuana since 2001 and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has spent two years working to- ward expanding that to in- clude recreational marijuana. The goal is to better reflect society’s changing opinion about marijuana and bring black market operators into a regulated system. “Profits out of the hands of criminals. Protection for kids. Today #cannabis is le- galized and regulated across Canada,” Trudeau tweeted. Uruguay was first was the first country to le- galize marijuana. In St. John’s, Newfound- land, hundreds of customers were lined up around the block at the private store on Water Street, the main com- mercial drag in the provin- cial capital, by the time the clock struck midnight. A fes- tive atmosphere broke out, with some customers lighting up on the sidewalk and mo- torists honking their horns in support as they drove by the crowd. “Prohibition has ended right now. We just made his- tory,” said the 46-year-old Power, who bought a gram. “I can’t believe we did it. All the years of activism paid off. “ Bruce Linton, the CEO of marijuana producer and re- tailer Canopy Growth, made the sale to Power. “It was extremely emo- tional,” he said. “Several people who work for us have been working on this for their entire adult life and sev- eral of them were in tears.” Linton said Canada is at the forefront of the industry because it is federally legal in Canada and federally il- legal in the U.S. “The last time Canada was this far ahead in any- thing, Alexander Graham Bell made a phone call,” said Linton, whose company re- cently received an investment of $4 billion from Constel- lation Brands, whose hold- ings include Corona beer and Robert Mondavi wines. Tom Clarke, an illegal pot dealer for three decades, was also among the first to make a legal sale in Canada when his store opened at midnight local time in Portugal Cove, Newfoundland. He made the first sale to his dad. A crowd of 50 to 100 people waited outside and cheered him. “This is awesome. I’ve been waiting my whole life for this,” Clarke said. “I am so happy to be living in Canada right now instead of south of the border.” Clarke, whose middle name is Herb, has been called THC for years by his friends. His dad, Don, said he was thrilled he was among the first customers of legal pot. “It’s been a long time coming. We’ve only been dis- cussing this for 50 years. It’s better late than never,” he said. The Newfoundland stores are among at least 111 legal pot shops expected to open across the nation of 37 mil- lion people on Wednesday, with many more to come, according to an Associated Press survey of the provinces. Canadians also can order marijuana products through websites run by provinces or private retailers and have it delivered to their homes by mail. Alberta and Quebec have set the minimum age for purchase at 18, while others have made it 19. No stores will open in On- tario, which includes Toronto. The most populous province is working on its regulations and does not expect stores until next spring. A patchwork of regula- tions has spread in Canada as each province takes its own approach within the framework set out by the fed- eral government. Some are operating government-run stores, some are allowing pri- vate retailers, some both. Senior Treasury employee charged with leaking documents related to Russia probe WASHINGTON – A senior Trea- sury Department employee was charged Wednesday with leaking confidential govern- ment reports about suspicious financial transactions related to the special counsel’s probe of Russian election interfer- ence and Trump associates. The charges reflect the latest move in the Trump ad- ministration’s effort to root out leakers within the gov- ernment. Earlier this week, a former senior Senate staffer pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents in a separate leak investigation. The Treasury case centers around a dozen stories pub- lished by Buzzfeed News that described suspicious activity reports, or SARs, which are generated by banks when a financial transaction may in- volve illegal activity. Prosecutors charged Nat- alie Mayflower Sours Ed- wards with the unauthorized disclosure of suspicious ac- tivity reports and conspiracy. The charges were filed in federal court in New York but she is scheduled to make her first court ap- pearance in Northern Virginia, officials said. Edwards works as a senior adviser at the Treasury De- partment’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, often referred to as “FinCEN.” Geoffrey S. Berman, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Edwards “betrayed her po- sition of trust by repeatedly disclosing highly sensitive information.” The stories cited in the criminal complaint filed against Edwards match the headlines, wording, and infor- mation contained in Buzzfeed News stories, though the court papers did not identify the company by name. A Buzzfeed representa- tive did not immediately re- turn a call for comment, nor did a Treasury Depart- ment spokesman. © 2018, The Washington Post INDIAN MINISTER ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT STEPS DOWN NEW DELHI (AP) – M.J. Akbar, India’s junior ex- ternal affairs minister, re- signed Wednesday amid ac- cusations by 20 women of sexual harassment during his previous career as one of the country’s most prom- inent news editors, be- coming the most powerful man to fall in India’s bur- geoning #MeToo movement. Akbar said in a state- ment that he would “chal- lenge false accusations” in a personal capacity, refer- ring to a criminal case he filed Monday against the first woman to accuse him. Akbar, 67, first served as a lawmaker for India’s then- ruling India National Con- gress party between 1989 and 1991. He then edited The Telegraph, The Asian Age and other newspapers and wrote several books of nonfiction, becoming one of the most influential people in the Indian news media. He returned to public life in March 2014, when he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and was ap- pointed national spokesman during the 2014 election that brought the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power. Akbar maintained a low profile after joining India’s Ministry of External Af- fairs in July 2016 as its ju- nior minister, representing India overseas at multina- tional conferences. On Wednesday he thanked Modi, who had re- mained silent about the al- legations, for the opportu- nity to serve in public office. In India’s deeply conser- vative society, the #MeToo movement began belatedly but has picked up steam in recent weeks. Since Sep- tember, Indian actresses and writers have flooded social media with allega- tions of sexual harassment and assault by their supe- riors and colleagues. The string of accusa- tions against Akbar began when journalist Priya Ra- mani identified him on Twitter on Oct. 8 as the unnamed editor that she had described in a story about newsroom sexual harassment published in Vogue last year. Other women in media have alleged that Akbar in- terviewed job candidates in hotel rooms at night; groped, massaged and forc- ibly kissed young interns and employees; and offered young women choice out- of-town postings so that he could go visit them there. On Sunday, returning from an official visit to West Africa, Akbar denied the allegations as “false, baseless and wild.” The following day, dozens of members of the Congress Party’s youth wing clashed with po- lice outside Akbar’s New Delhi home, demanding his resignation. Akbar then filed a crim- inal case against Ramani and released a statement in which he questioned his accusers’ motives. “Why has this storm risen a few months before a general election,” he asked. Modi is hoping to re- main in power in elections due early next year. On Tuesday, 20 women signed a statement asking the court hearing Ak- bar’s case against Ra- mani to allow them to give their own testimo- nies against him. Ramini wrote on Twitter on Wednesday: “As women we feel vindicated by MJ Akbar’s resignation. I look forward to the day when I will also get justice in court #MeToo” Arti Jerath, a journalist and political commen- tator who is not among Akbar’s accusers, said his resignation should have come earlier. “The fact that he chose to brazen it out, he became an embarrassment to him- self and an embarrassment to the government,” she said. “I am glad that he is finally gone.” The Treasury case centers around a dozen stories published by Buzzfeed News that described suspicious activity reports, or SARs, which are generated by banks when a financial transaction may involve illegal activity. Canopy Growth CEO Bruce Linton, left, passes a bag with the first legal cannabis for recreational use sold in Canada to Nikki Rose and Ian Power at the Tweed shop on Water Street in St. John’s on Wednesday. - PHOTO: THE CANADIAN PRESS VIA APNext >