ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2018 187202_HR2-Ad-Strip-BOTY2017-6coPage 1 10/29/18 11:04:38 AM Martyn Roper sworn in as Cayman’s 14th governor JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com There was a sense of deja vu around the Legislative As- sembly Monday as a new gov- ernor was sworn in for the second time this year. Martyn Roper and his wife Elis- abeth arrived in Grand Cayman around noon on a Cayman Airways jet from Miami. The couple was greeted by a police guard of honor on the airport tarmac and a wel- coming committee of politicians and officials, including Premier Alden McLaughlin and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson. Mr. Roper, the territory’s 14th governor, replaces Anwar Choud- hury, who arrived in March with similar fanfare, only to be re- called by the U.K. amid allegations of misconduct. Mr. Roper, 53, a career dip- lomat from West Yorkshire, took the oath of office at the Legisla- tive Assembly just after 3 p.m. His appointment is initially on an interim basis, for up to nine months, but both he and Premier McLaughlin expressed hope that it could be extended. In his address to the Assembly, the governor alluded to the con- troversy surrounding his pre- decessor’s untimely and unex- plained departure. He said, “I realize that the timing and circumstances of my arrival are unusual and come after a difficult and uncertain period following the withdrawal of my predecessor.” He said he understood the frus- tration around the lack of informa- tion about Mr. Choudhury’s exit but insisted this was in line with Foreign and Commonwealth Office protocols to protect the privacy of the individuals involved. He added, “I’m sure it was not an easy time for everyone. But now it is time for us to move forward in a spirit of partnership and cooper- ation to deliver enhanced security and prosperity for all the people of these wonderful islands.” As governor, he said, he would seek to be open and straightfor- ward and listen to the views and ambitions of the Cayman people on all issues, including constitutional change. He said he would operate with a “light touch” where possible, while recognizing his responsibili- ties under the constitution, which include security and defense. Mr. Roper touched briefly on some of the more controversial topics he will have to tackle, in- cluding the issue of same-sex mar- riage. He said part of his respon- sibility was to ensure compliance with international human rights, “including the right to equality for all Cayman Islanders.” He also referenced the thorny issue of public beneficial owner- ship registries – a key point of Governor Martyn Roper and his wife Elisabeth step off a Cayman Airways flight from Miami on Monday. The couple was met by Cayman Islands government dignitaries. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, left, administers the Oaths of Office to Governor Martyn Roper in the Legislative Assembly Monday afternoon. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 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) HALLOWEEN (2018) (R) 1:15 VIP I 4:35 I 9:45 VIP I 10:05 HUNTER KILLER (R) 1:05 I 3:55 I 7:10 I 10:00 VENOM (PG13) 1:15 I 3:50 I 6:50 I 9:30 NIGHT SCHOOL (PG13) 4:05 I 6:40 BLOCKBUSTER RE-RELEASE: AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (PG13) 12:50 I 9:15 JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN (PG) 12:30 I 2:50 I 5:05 I 7:20 A STAR IS BORN (R) 1:35 I 3:55 VIP I 7:05 I 9:40 CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA: THE EXORCIST (R) 7:00 VIP HURRICANE OSCAR HEADS EAST SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Hurricane Oscar con- tinues to strengthen over the Atlantic Ocean, but as of midday Monday, it did not present a threat to any land areas. Oscar, the eighth hurri- cane in the Atlantic during the 2018 storm season, had maximum sustained winds of 85 mph when it was mea- sured at 11 a.m. AST. Oscar was about 590 miles southeast of Bermuda and 605 miles north-north- east of the Leeward Islands at the 11 a.m. update. It was moving west-northwest at 7 mph at that point. Analysts from the Na- tional Hurricane Center in the United States expect the storm to move toward the north overnight and then to begin moving toward the north-northeast on Tuesday. The storm is expected to strengthen through Tuesday and then gradually weaken over the coming days. There are currently no coastal watches or warnings associated with the storm. Oscar could eventually reach Ireland with tropical storm-force winds at some point on Saturday. Worker killed by tire explosion JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com A 54-year-old man died and two others were injured when a tire exploded at a Bodden Town quarry work site on Sunday. The accident hap- pened off Lake View Drive in Bodden Town. Workmen were using an indus- trial compressor to put air in a tire when it burst, killing the man. The victim’s name has not been released by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. According to Cayman police, the 911 Communi- cations Centre dispatched police and emergency ser- vices to the work site just before 4 p.m. The man was taken to the Cayman Islands Hos- pital where he was later pronounced dead. The other two men were later released from the hospital. The incident is being jointly investigated by police, and health and safety offi- cers from the Department of Labour and Pensions. Quarry owner Justin Wood could not be reached for comment by the Cayman Compass on Monday. According to a witness who arrived at the work site Sunday afternoon, an un- identified co-worker at the scene confirmed his office manager had been killed by a bursting tire. “He told us they were changing a tire and putting in air when it exploded.” Community rallies to paint Bodden Town cemetery JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Bodden Town residents spruced up the town’s ceme- tery this weekend in time for the festive season. About 20 volunteers armed with paintbrushes, rollers and paint buckets turned out as early as 6 a.m. Saturday morning and worked together, sanding and painting the cemetery’s graves and walls during the community action day. As the group worked side- by-side, Bodden Town East MLA Dwayne Seymour said he was proud of the commu- nity efforts taking place. He said the volunteers had “painted over 800 hun- dred feet of wall at the old Bodden Town Cemetery … which was something of an eyesore for many years.” Volunteers also got busy painting more than 40 graves of loved ones and committed to painting more graves next Saturday, he said. “It’s a beautiful job, it puts a smile on your face,” said Mr. Seymour, who thanked the volunteers and govern- ment’s Recreation, Parks and Cemeteries Unit for donating the materials. Volunteer Crosby Sol- omon said the walls at the Bodden Town Cemetery were dirty and covered with lots of mildew. “The department was in the process of power washing and repainting the cemetery but ran short of painters. Concerned mem- bers of the community, along with Mr. Seymour, stepped in to help. The Public Works De- partment was willing to pro- vide paint materials, with someone supervising the labor,” Mr. Solomon said. Also, as part of Satur- day’s community efforts, Mr. Seymour said, the volunteers had also picked up trash in the Belford area. If anyone is interested in joining the volunteer ef- forts, the group plans to meet again this coming Saturday around 6:30 a.m. to complete the work at the cemetery. In the coming weeks, vol- unteers plan to paint fences and the homes of older people in the community be- fore the Christmas season. Graves in the old Bodden Town cemetery get a fresh coat of paint from community volunteers. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY UCCI nursing graduates pinned The University College of the Cayman Islands honored its second class of nursing students in a pinning ceremony on Thursday night. From left, Delmar Alexander, Christina Blair, Shemika Gooding, Monique Hayles, Reanna Hydes, Mellean McNickol, Tishunda Prendergast, Kadian Riley, Sherice Williams and Vanessa Wilson. POLICE HALT 2ND MIGRANT GROUP TRYING TO ENTER MEXICO TECUN UMAN, Guatemala (AP) – Several hundred migrants tried to cross the Suchiate River from Guatemala to Mexico en masse on Monday, but were met by ranks of Mexican fed- eral police who blocked them from entering. The standoff on the riv- erbank follow a more violent confrontation that occurred on the nearby bridge over the river the night before, when migrants tossed rocks and used sticks against Mexico po- lice. One migrant was killed Sunday night by a head wound, but the cause was unclear. While migrants on the bridge had appeared to be pre- paring for a second day of con- frontations early Monday, in- stead they tried the route taken by the first caravan 10 days ago after it, too, was blocked: turn to the river below. The first, larger car- avan made it across the river by wading or on rafts, and now is advancing through southern Mexico. But since that crossing, the Mexican Navy has begun patrolling the Suchiate River and Mexican police have taken up positions on the riverbank. Dust clouds are created by a Mexican Federal Police helicopter flying close to the Suchiate River that connects Mexico and Guatemala, in order to create a downwash force to discourage a new group of Central American migrants bound for the U.S border. - PHOTO: AP3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2018 Judge prepares to summarize evidence in Christmas Eve cocaine/robbery trial KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Attorneys have wrapped up their arguments in the trial of three men charged in connection with a rob- bery on the beach at Morritt’s Resort on Christmas Eve last year, and Justice Roger Chapple is set to summarize the evidence to the jury on Tuesday morning. Marvin Gregory Grant is charged with the rob- bery – that he stole a quan- tity of packages from a named person and at the time of doing so put the man in fear of force being used. Fred Allon McLaughlin and Al Elford McLaughlin are charged with aiding and abetting Mr. Grant. All three are charged with conspiracy to supply con- trolled drugs. The trial has seen a number of starts and stops since the Crown opened its case on Oct. 9. Rather than going over the evidence, “More than half of trial has been spent ar- guing matters or law,” Jus- tice Chapple observed last Wednesday, referencing a number of motions and technical legal arguments made between the Crown and the defense. According to Deputy Di- rector of Public Prosecu- tions Patrick Moran, pack- ages washed up on the beach at Morritt’s on Dec. 24. They were shaped like bricks, wrapped tightly in black plastic and green duct tape. Police were called and the packages were put under a chair, with a staff member sitting on the chair to guard them until police arrived. The Crown’s case was that Mr. Grant was the masked man who approached the guard with a machete and said, “This is for me,” in reference to the packages. He then took them up in his arms and hur- ried up the path from the beach to the car park area. He was pursued by the guard who had been waiting for police. A red truck re- versed in a manner that ap- peared to deliberately block the guard’s path. The Crown alleged that Fred McLaughlin was the driver of the truck. The Crown’s evidence also included telephone records. One record showed a call to Al McLaughlin from his wife, who worked at the resort. The Crown’s case is that this defendant organized the rob- bery by telephone after re- ceiving the call from his wife. Records showed several calls between the men within a specific time frame. Mr. Moran said one of the packages that washed up was left behind at the scene and jurors had a pic- ture of the package. Mr. Moran said the package was analyzed and found to con- tain approximately one kilo of cocaine. The other pack- ages have never been recov- ered, he added. The defense has strongly disputed the evidence pre- sented against the three men. For example, defense at- torney Laurence Aiolfi, who is representing Fred McLaughlin, referenced CCTV footage that allegedly shows Mr. Grant taking the packages from the security guard and fleeing. Mr. Aiolfi said that the se- curity guard did not put up any resistance or attempt to pursue Mr. Grant, ques- tioning why that was. He said the security guard is a former member of the Jamaican mil- itary and has experience in counter-terrorism, which would suggest that he should not have been afraid to pursue one man with a machete. “We don’t want to criticize him, but you look at every- thing else, is that not another odd feature that he doesn’t want to struggle or chase the thief?” Mr. Aiolfi said. “If the security guard is in on it, then there is no robbery and you don’t need to con- sider count one.” Crister Brady, who is rep- resenting Al McLaughlin, also said the Crown’s tele- phone records do not prove any criminality. “Simply because calls were made does not mean there was a robbery behind it,” he said. The case is being heard in the Law Courts Building in downtown George Town. “Simply because calls were made does not mean there was a robbery behind it.” DEFENSE ATTORNEY CRISTER BRADY C3 plans challenge to Immigration Department raid, seizure of property KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com The telecommunications company C3 has filed for ju- dicial review against an Im- migration Department de- cision to execute a search warrant on its premises and seize some of the compa- ny’s property, including a laptop computer. There are few publicly available details about the case. Infinity Broadband Ltd., trading as C3, filed a judicial review application asking the Grand Court to quash the Immigration Depart- ment’s warrant and have the seized property returned. The grounds for the application, however, are in another doc- ument that was not provided to the Cayman Compass. A hearing took place over the matter on Monday in Jus- tice Ingrid Mangatal’s cham- bers, where it was implied that a C3 employee was ar- rested after the Immigra- tion Department carried out its warrant. The hearings for the ap- plication, which was filed on Oct. 6, were apparently fast- tracked because the Immi- gration Department had C3’s property, and because one of the company’s employees was arrested. While the computer has been returned to C3, the com- pany’s attorney, Vaughan Carter, sought to continue fast-tracking the hearings be- cause he said the company’s employee “remains on bail pending resolution of the in- vestigation” by law enforce- ment authorities. “There is a level of seri- ousness still attached to this matter,” Mr. Carter said. Senior Crown counsel Anne-Marie Rambarran re- plied that the employee signed an agreement with the Immi- gration Department to have the matter dealt with admin- istratively, rather than going through the courts. Mr. Carter said he has not received that information, and the Crown counsel said she would pro- vide the agreement to him. The allegations against the C3 employee were not discussed. Ms. Rambarran also ex- plained why the laptop was returned to C3. She said the laptop was encrypted, preventing au- thorities from accessing or copying the informa- tion on it. However, “Immi- gration was happy to return it because they have other evidence against the em- ployee,” she said. Justice Kirsty-Ann Gunn granted C3 leave to file for judicial review last week. At Monday’s hearing, Justice Mangatal gave the Immigra- tion Department seven weeks to file affidavits in support of its case, and gave C3 another two weeks to respond. The hearing is expected to take place in early 2019. At Monday’s hearing, Justice Mangatal gave the Immigration Department seven weeks to file affidavits in support of its case, and gave C3 another two weeks to respond.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” Examining the Gambling Law: By the ‘numbers’ With our lockups bursting at the seams and court dockets crammed to the point of paralysis, the stated intention of lawmakers to toughen penalties for illegal (yet ubiquitous) gambling calls for careful scrutiny. Far more than “doubling down” on existing legisla- tion, the proposal under consideration would increase exponentially punishments, particularly targeting popular underground lottery games known as “numbers.” If the new legislation is passed and then – as all laws should be – enforced uniformly and universally, it would test the capacity of Cayman Islands police and put further strain on judicial and correctional facilities. In the absence of rigorous and consistent enforcement, the new gambling penalties would at least appear to consti- tute little more than the opportunity for selective pros- ecutions – a most dangerous temptation in any society. In this editorial we are limiting ourselves to the observation that there is a distinction between tough- on-crime policies and disproportionate, even extor- tionate, fines and penalties. Here’s what the proposed Gambling (Amendment) Bill 2018 would do: • For playing a lottery or being found in a gaming house – increase the current $10 fine and two months’ imprisonment to a $2,500 fine and six months in prison. • For buying or selling lottery tickets, or assembling for lottery results – increase the current $40 fine and two months’ imprisonment to a $5,000 fine and a year in prison. • For using premises for gambling, publishing lottery numbers or handling money resulting from gambling activities – increase the current $400 fine and one year imprisonment to a $10,000 fine and three years in prison. • For keeping a gaming house, conducting a lottery or participating in a lottery – increase the current $100 fine and six months’ imprisonment to a $20,000 fine and three years in prison. Do these punishments meet the test of proportion- ality, or even rationality, relative to other crimes? According to a government statement, “Police Intelli- gence reports between 2015 and 2018 show that there has been a steady increase in the number of incidents involving persons engaged in different forms of illegal gambling activities. This includes what is colloquially referred to as “numbers” or “lottery.” “These statistics also suggest a strong connection between certain crimes and gambling activities. This is evidenced by the number of reported robberies including firearm-related robberies, assaults and other violent crimes that have been proven to be gambling related.” Let’s pause for a re-read of the previous paragraph. It includes such phraseology as “strong connection” and cites “a number of reported robberies … that have been proven to be gambling related.” What is the evidence for such assertions? Whenever causality is stated or implied, careful thinkers always seek to examine the underlying evidence. In this case, we doubt that any such evidence exists – certainly not to the extent that it would justify such a draconian increase in the penalties that are being proposed. As former MLA Osbourne Bodden observes in a letter to the editor published on the right side of this page, “the numbers game has been entrenched in these islands for many years now,” with participants from nearly all walks of life. Do officials really intend to implement life-altering punishments on thousands of otherwise law-abiding citizens (yes, they include grandmothers, churchgoers and perhaps even some law enforcement officers) who spend a few dollars on lottery tickets in hopes of sudden good fortune? If we may ask a humble, but simple, question: Why? WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL BOARD President Donald Trump is often wrong to depict the United States as a victim of the international institutions it helped to construct, out of enlightened self- interest, in the postwar world. There are exceptions, however. One is the presi- dent’s recent decision to withdraw the United States from the Universal Postal Union, an international or- ganization that has, indeed, evolved from a mechanism to promote global communica- tion into a small but mean- ingful source of unfair eco- nomic advantage for China. Established in 1874 and more recently absorbed into the U.N. system, the UPU sets the terms and conditions by which the world’s 192 na- tional postal services carry one another’s letters and packages across borders. Al- most half a century ago, in 1969, the more developed members of the UPU agreed to charge poorer nations a dis- counted fee to process small packages (those weighing less than 4.4 pounds). At the time, China was poor and isolated – a non- factor in Asia-U.S. postal flows. Today, China is an ex- port powerhouse, whose e- commerce businesses ship $354 billion worth of goods worldwide, much of it through the mail and much of it to the United States. De- spite recent modest reforms, China’s postal system still enjoys most of the benefits of the 1969 arrangement. In some cases, this means that it can be cheaper to ship a small package from China to a final U.S. destination than to ship the same item from one part of this country to another. U.S. businesses and the Postal Service have com- plained about this anomaly for years. It has proved ex- tremely difficult to remedy, in part because of the internal decision-making processes at the UPU. By giving the UPU a year’s notice that the United States plans to withdraw, Trump leverages the United States’ clout as the processor of nearly half the world’s mail and follows through on the notice his representatives gave to the UPU at a Sep- tember meeting. In this case, the president speaks not only for himself but also for a wide cross section of U.S. interest groups and simple fairness. © 2018, The Washington Post TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS LETTER TO THE EDITOR Legalize numbers games I have read of the plans in the upcoming November sitting of the Legislative As- sembly to increase penalties for illegal gambling quite sig- nificantly from where the old laws have these tariffs cur- rently, and this gives me great cause for concern. My under- standing is that this is being proposed by the Portfolio of Legal Affairs with the support of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, where it is linking the current numbers game to other crimes being carried out. I am not con- vinced of this latter fact, nor of any great change or spike in the way numbers are nega- tively affecting our society. However, what I am con- vinced about is for the need for us to stop the hypocrisy in Cayman. When someone buys a number with the hope of making some financial gain for a relatively small in- vestment, is it really that dif- ferent from someone buying a “legal” raffle ticket from a service club or other entity, with the hope/chance of fi- nancial reward or winning a car, TV, trip, etc.? Are we going to make this illegal as well? The playing field has to be level, folks, so pray tell me the difference here. For those who may not be aware, the numbers game has been entrenched in these islands for many years now (for 40-plus years, Belizean, Honduran and, more re- cently, Jamaican numbers are played), and many at the lower economic spectrum in Cayman benefit daily from their little winnings – church people play, police play, courts staff play, prison of- ficers play, and lawyers, doc- tors, politicians and civil ser- vants play. All people play! Let’s be real and honest here. To stiffen these penalties now, we run the risk of crimi- nalizing many otherwise law- abiding citizens in Cayman. Is this our goal? The prison is already full of our people, in many cases, for trivial mat- ters. It also will take more police and court time away from serious crimes and is- sues that are more deserving of their attention. Instead, why do not we look once and for all at the “evil” we are trying to man- date against and say, “Hold on, shouldn’t we instead le- galize this numbers game and have licensed sellers, in- dividuals and businesses, and make good revenue off of what is already happening, and which tougher legisla- tion will not stop? Could we not then use these funds in a segregated fund towards education, healthcare, etc., for our people?” In 2000, when the then- Leader of Government Busi- ness, Hon. Kurt Tibbetts formed a committee (the Fiscal Advisory Group) to look into alternative rev- enue streams for these is- lands I was lucky to be a part of it. A national lottery and the numbers game were just two areas we looked at. We met with the top guy in the numbers game in Cayman at the time and he explained his business and how much he made a week – it was mind blowing and nothing to sneeze at, and this was 18 years ago! He agreed to being licensed and felt that heavy license fees would be wel- comed by sellers over pros- ecution for something we could not stop in any event. Any unlicensed sellers, who would then likely be few and far apart, could be prosecuted and dealt with accordingly. Along came the 2001 political coup and that initiative died and, sadly, was never revived. Folks maybe, just maybe, a light bulb will go off in someone’s head after reading this, and stop this waste of judicial and legislative effort to criminalize more of our people. All progressive coun- tries in the world have na- tional lotteries, or some form of chance to improve one’s lot in life through scratch cards or buying numbers. I rest my case on this for now and will sit back and wait with interest on what transpires in the upcoming sitting in November. The de- bate on this level of hypocrisy should be quite interesting. Osbourne Bodden Trump right on Universal Postal UnionThe 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 • TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2018 WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31 SEAFARERS: The Seafarers Association wishes to inform all members that there will be an October Costume Party at 7 p.m. in the Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Ave. Prospect. Come prepared to share your memories of days at sea. Buses will be provided from West Bay Town Hall at 6 p.m. A bus route leaves the George Town Public library parking area at 7 p.m., stopping at the Cayman Compass building and the Airport Foster’s. The bus is blue and marked Bobo $1 Public Transport. There is no charge. THURSDAY, NOV. 1 MOVEMBER: Official registration night, or “MOpening Night” at King’s Head Pub in Camana Bay, 5:30-10:30 p.m. Participants are invited to sign up and get sponsorship to grow impressive moustaches throughout the month. The closing ceremony and judging of best moustaches will be held on Nov. 30, at 6:30 p.m. at The Lodge at the Strand. Other related events will be held throughout the month. For more information, visit www.MOvember.ky. TOBACCO LICENSES: Tobacco license holders are reminded of the 5 p.m. deadline today 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. In Grand Cayman, applications must be submitted at the Business Licensing Counter, first floor, Government Administration Building. In the Sister Islands, submit to DCI Senior Licensing Officer, Lolita Bodden-Arch, in the Bodden and Bodden Building on Cayman Brac. FRIDAY, NOV. 2 CRAFT FAIR: The Church Mice at St. Alban’s have collected a large variety of locally made arts and crafts. All are invited today, 3–6 p.m. at the church, 461 Shedden Road. An attic treasure stall is also featured. Craft Fair continues tomorrow, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. SATURDAY, NOV. 3 FESTIVAL OF THE SEAS GALA: This fundraiser and awards ceremony hosted by the Central Caribbean Marine Institute begins at 6 p.m. at Grand Old House. The event includes food, a silent and live auction, and a guest speaker. Call 948-1094 or email rsvp@reefresearch.org for more information. CRAFT FAIR: The Church Mice at St. Alban’s have collected a large variety of locally made arts and crafts. All are invited, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church, 461 Shedden Road. An attic treasure stall is also featured. BRITISH SCHOOLS FAIR: Cayman families can meet representatives of leading British boarding schools for the annual British Schools Fair Cayman Islands at the Marriott Beach Resort. 2-6 p.m. Drinks reception and informal seminars begin at 2 p.m. FEED OUR FUTURE ISLAND ROAST: Starting at 6:30 p.m., the Island Roast will be held at Coral Beach (shoes optional). Tickets are $175 per person and includes entry, food and drinks, music and dancing. For tickets and information, call 916-0923 or email info@ feedourfuturecayman.org. SUNDAY, NOV. 4 CAYMAN ISLANDS TRIATHLON: Begins at 6:45 a.m. from Seven Mile Public Beach. There are two distances to choose from and a team relay option. Register at caymanactive.com. For more information, visit www.triathlon.ky. CAR TREASURE HUNT: One Dog At A Time fundraiser. Don your thinking hats and cram your car with participants for this fun event. A variety of clues are given with additional challenges on the way to keep everyone amused. Tickets are $40 per team, payable in advance, or $50 on the day. The hunt starts at 2 p.m. from Rackam’s. The team with the most points wins a prize. Contact info@odaat.ky or call 917-8284 for more details. TUESDAY, NOV. 6 U.K. SCHOLARSHIPS: Today is the deadline to apply to the Chevening Secretariat for U.K. government scholarships to study in the U.K. in 2019/2020. Applications are 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. FRIDAY, NOV. 23 MOVEMBER GOLF TOURNAMENT: Also known as “MOpen.” Players are invited to take part in this tournament at the North Sound Golf Course. 12:30 p.m. until sunset. For more information, visit www.MOvember.ky. 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. 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. 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. 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, call 546-9422 or email info@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. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at ADACI’s office, 4th floor, Cardinall Plaza, 30 Cardinall Ave., George Town. Call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman.com. GRAND CAYMAN TOASTMASTERS: Club meets each Thursday 6-7:15 p.m. on 3rd Floor, George Town Public Library. Visitors and guests welcome. The local contact is George R. Ebanks, 322-9369 or Grand Cayman Toastmasters club on Facebook. Email info@ toastmastersclub2686.org. ROTARACT BLUE OF CAYMAN: Meets Wednesdays 6 p.m., at Royal Palms Beach Club, West Bay Road. Contact rotaractblue@gmail.com or www.rotaractblue.org. LEO CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 6:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. For more information, contact Secretary Letisha Allen at 924-2819. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. Email lionsclubgcm@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabethan Square (corner unit). Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7 a.m. every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. Visit www.rotarysunrise.ky or info@rotarysunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30 p.m., at The Wharf Restaurant. Projects include promoting well-being of children in the community and schools. Email president@kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis.ky. OPTIMIST CLUB: Meets first and third Tuesdays at the Hibiscus Conference Room, Cayman Islands Hospital at 6:30 p.m. Learn more at www.optimistcayman.com. PARENT AND TODDLER PLAY GROUP: For children from 2 weeks to 4 years. Meets Mondays 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the South Sound Community Centre. Children must be accompanied by parent or helper. Toys, activities, light refreshments provided. $6 per session per family. Email sspg@foxwood.ky. HEARTS THROUGH HANDS: Meets Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. to noon at The Family Life Centre, Room 10, Academy Way. Women make crafts for charity and missions. Call 946–3067 or 947–1863. THE WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE: Breast-feeding Clinics every Thursday 10 a.m. to noon in the Women’s Health Centre. Phone 244–2649. CAYMAN BRIDGE CLUB: Meets Tuesdays 7 p.m. at Comfort Suites, West Bay Road; Fridays, 9 a.m. at the Rugby Club. For further information, contact Helen Haines at 947-3217 or Alex Wood at 947-3693. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The annual MOvember events kick off Thursday, Nov. 1, with the official registration evening at the King’s Head Pub in Camana Bay. MOvember aims to highlight men’s health issues.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Governor Martyn Roper inspects a guard of honor outside the Legislative Assembly following his swearing-in ceremony Monday. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Governor Martyn Roper, right, chats with Premier Alden McLaughlin, center, and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson on the tarmac of Owen Roberts International Airport. Martyn and Elisabeth Roper descend the airplane ramp upon their arrival. Premier Alden McLaughlin introduces Governor Martyn Roper to government officials and elected Members of the Legislative Assembly shortly after the governor touched down at Owen Roberts International Airport. Governor Martyn Roper meets Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2018 contention between Cayman and the U.K. – saying it had been a “difficult area” in the relationship for some time. He said recent progress on some aspects of that issue were a “positive signal that we can together solve conten- tious issues.” He said it was an “honor and a privilege” to take on the role and he would seek to be an advocate for the territory, wherever possible. “I will always strive to do my utmost for the Cayman Islands. I will fight your corner, as a friend, to the best of my ability and help London to understand your point of view,” he added. Earlier, Premier McLaughlin gave a welcome speech that included multiple references to the challenges ahead. He cited pressure from the U.K. over “gay mar- riage” and the “constitutional overreach” of the U.K. par- liament in seeking to man- date public beneficial owner- ship registries as two issues of contention. Though he extended a warm welcome to Mr. Roper, who he noted shared his love of “books and bicycles,” he said he had no doubt their relationship would have its ups and downs. He said, “Your role is not an easy one. I fully un- derstand the challenges of walking that line between your responsibility as a rep- resentative of the Queen and your role in helping to protect, defend and help the Cayman Islands con- tinue to prosper.” He added that he hoped Mr. Roper would be able to walk that line effectively and join a “relatively short list of very good governors” of the Cayman Islands. Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush also wel- comed him to the “district of West Bay,” where the gover- nor’s mansion is located. Mr. Bush also alluded to some of the political squabbles in the Legislative Assembly and suggested Mr. Roper may not need to involve himself in those local disputes, telling him in colloquial terms, “A cockroach has no business at a rooster fight.” Governor’s arrival Mr. Roper, whose last post was as deputy head of mis- sion for the U.K. in Beijing, China, arrived in Cayman just after midday, stepping off the plane into a typically warm afternoon. He briefly reviewed the police guard before he and his wife were personally in- troduced to members of the Legislative Assembly, senior government officials and the governor’s staff. The wel- come ceremony lasted just 15 minutes, before Mr. Roper was whisked away to Gov- ernment House ahead of the official swearing-in cere- mony later in the day. He said the sight of his new surroundings, the governor’s mansion on the fringes of Seven Mile Beach, was a moment that he would never forget. Speaking to the media at the airport, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, who has been acting governor for the past five months, said, “We are excited to welcome him to the Cayman Islands and show him all the good things we are doing. “We want to tap into his considerable experi- ence and expertise in civil service reform.” Mr. Manderson said he had enjoyed stepping into the role on a temporary basis but was now anxious to get back to his regular duties. He believes a Cayma- nian could be a governor in a British territory, but not nec- essarily in the Cayman Is- lands itself. He said it had been possible for him to make decisions that were in the best interest of both coun- tries, but there would occa- sionally be areas where there was conflict. “Some issues are probably better dealt with by someone who comes in for a time and then leaves,” he added. Asked if he knew why Mr. Choudhury had been re- called, he declined to discuss the issue, saying, “We are here to welcome Mr. Roper.” A career diplomat, who has held senior posts in Brazil, Algeria and China, Mr. Roper’s resume also in- cludes work on Overseas Ter- ritory issues in London and a stint at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. He was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2013 on his return to the U.K. from his posting in Algeria. He is married to Elisa- beth, has two children, aged 26 and 22, and enjoys cy- cling, reading and tennis, ac- cording to a brief biography released by the FCO. Governor Martyn Roper receives a salute from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. Martyn Roper sworn in as Cayman’s 14th governor CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Leader of the Opposition Ezzard Miller greets Cayman’s new governor. From left, Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush, Elisabeth Roper, Governor Martyn Roper, Premier Alden McLaughlin and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Mexicans nix partly-built $13 billion airport Voters in Mexico have rejected completion of partly-built new airport for Mexico City, opposing it by a 70 to 29 percent margin. It’s unclear if the unofficial referendum, backed by Mexico’s president-elect, will effectively end the $13 billion project, which is already about one-third built. Indonesia: Survivors unlikely from Lion Air plane crash KARAWANG, Indonesia (AP) – A Lion Air plane crashed into the sea just minutes after taking off from Indo- nesia’s capital on Monday, likely killing all 189 people on board. The accident was a blow to the country’s aviation safety record after the lifting of bans on its airlines by the European Union and U.S. The search and rescue ef- fort has recovered human re- mains, and based on their condition, one of its top of- ficials said they are not ex- pecting to find any survi- vors. More than 300 people including soldiers, police and fishermen are involved in the grim search, retrieving air- craft debris and personal items such as a crumpled cellphone, ID cards, bags and photos from the seas north- east of Jakarta. The accident involving a new plane has stunned In- donesia, and President Joko Widodo ordered the trans- port safety commission to in- vestigate. He urged Indone- sians to “keep on praying” as rescuers search for victims. An air transport official, Novie Riyanto, said the flight was cleared to return to Ja- karta after the pilot made a “return to base” request two to three minutes after taking off. It plunged into the sea about 10 minutes later. Weather conditions were normal but the aircraft had experienced a technical issue on its previous flight. Lion Air said the jet, on a 1 hour and 10 minute flight to Pangkal Pinang on an is- land chain off Sumatra, was carrying 181 passengers, in- cluding one child and two ba- bies, and eight crewmembers. It said there were two for- eigners on board the plane: its pilot, originally from New Delhi, and an Italian citizen. Distraught friends and relatives prayed and hugged each other as they waited at Pangkal Pinang’s airport and at a crisis center set up at Jakarta’s airport. Indonesian TV broadcast pictures of a fuel slick and a debris field in the ocean. At the search agency’s headquarters in Jakarta, family members arrived, hoping desperately for news. Feni, who uses a single name, said her soon-to-be- married sister was on the flight, planning to meet rela- tives in Pangkal Pinang. “We are here to find any information about my younger sister, her fiance, her in-law to be and a friend of them,” said Feni. “We don’t have any infor- mation,” she said, as her fa- ther wiped tears from red- dened eyes. “No one provided us with any information that we need. We’re confused. We hope that our family is still alive.” Indonesian Finance Min- ister Sri Mulyani also arrived at the agency and met with its chief, seeking information about 20 ministry staff who were on the flight after at- tending a ministry event in Jakarta. Photos circulating online showed the distraught minister trying to comfort stunned colleagues. The search and rescue agency said the flight ended in waters off West Java that are 100 to 115 feet deep. The agency’s chief, Mu- hammad Syaugi, told a news conference that divers are trying to locate the wreckage. Weather conditions for the flight were safe, ac- cording to the Indonesian meteorology agency. It said clouds associated with tur- bulence were not present and winds were weak. The Boeing 737 Max 8 was delivered to Lion Air in mid-August and put in use within days, according to avi- ation website Flightradar24. It was leased from China Minsheng Investment Group Leasing Holdings Ltd., ac- cording to the official China News Service. Malindo Air, a Malaysian subsidiary of Jakarta-based Lion Air, was the first airline to begin using the 737 Max 8 last year. The Max 8 re- placed the similar 800 in the Chicago-based plane maker’s product line. Lion Air president-director Edward Sirait said the plane had a “technical problem” on its previous flight from Bali to Jakarta but it had been fully remedied. He didn’t know specifics of the problem when asked in a TV interview. The pilot of Flight 610 had more than 6,000 flying hours while the co-pilot had more than 5,000 hours, according to the airline. “Indeed there were reports about a technical problem, and the technical problem has been resolved in accor- dance with the procedures released by the plane manu- facturer,” he said. “I did not know exactly but let it be in- vestigated by the authorities.” Boeing Co. said it was “deeply saddened” by the crash and was prepared to provide technical assistance to Indonesia’s crash probe. The Transport Ministry said the plane took off from Jakarta at about 6:20 a.m. and crashed just 13 minutes later. Data from FlightAware showed it had reached an al- titude of only 5,200 feet. The crash is the worst airline disaster in Indo- nesia since an AirAsia flight from Surabaya to Singa- pore plunged into the sea in December 2014, killing all 162 on board. Indonesian airlines were barred in 2007 from flying to Europe because of safety con- cerns, though several were allowed to resume services in the following decade. The ban was completely lifted in June this year. The U.S. lifted a decadelong ban in 2016. Lion Air, a discount car- rier, is one of Indonesia’s youngest and biggest air- lines, flying to dozens of do- mestic and international destinations. In 2013, one of its Boeing 737-800 jets missed the runway while landing on Bali, crashing into the sea without causing any fatalities among the 108 people on board. A member of Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency inspects debris believed to be from Lion Air passenger jet that crashed Monday off Java Island at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta, Indonesia. – PHOTO: AP Treasury chief says UK faces new strategy in no-deal Brexit LONDON (AP) – Britain’s Treasury chief warned Sunday that plans to end eight years of austerity could be sidetracked by a “no-deal” Brexit as he prepared to re- lease his latest spending plan to the House of Commons. On the eve of his budget speech Monday, Philip Ham- mond pledged that the end was in sight for the budget cuts implemented by a se- ries of Conservative-led gov- ernments after the global fi- nancial crisis, reiterating a commitment made by Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this month. But Hammond cautioned that the govern- ment’s plans could be thrown off track if Britain fails to se- cure a deal that protects trade with the European Union. “If we were to find our- selves in that situation, then we would need to take a dif- ferent approach to the future of Britain’s economy,” he told Sky News. “We would need to look at a different strategy and, frankly, we’d need to have a new budget that set out a different strategy for the future.” Government workers and the public are agitating for the government to end years of austerity that have slashed funding for everything from defense and law enforcement to schools and transporta- tion as May and her prede- cessor sought to close the budget deficit. Teachers re- cently marched through cen- tral London to call for in- creased funding, as police warn that they do not have the resources to combat rising crime and the military shrinks. Amid the demands for money, the government is pushing ahead with plans to roll out a new comprehensive welfare program that critics say will leave the most vul- nerable worse off. Hammond may get some help in meeting the demands from an unexpected increase in tax revenue. The indepen- dent Office of Budget Re- sponsibility on Monday will slash its forecast for govern- ment borrowing, reducing the deficit by about 13 bil- lion pounds (US$16.9 bil- lion) during the current fiscal year, the Financial Times re- ported last week. The revision is likely to help Hammond deliver on a government pledge to in- crease funding for the Na- tional Health Service by 20 billion pounds a year by 2023 without raising taxes. Ahead of the budget, the gov- ernment has announced a 1.5-billion-pound package to help small retailers and a 30-billion-pound investment in the transport network. But Hammond said fur- ther details on which pro- grams would get more money would have to wait until next year – after Brexit talks are completed. If the negotia- tions collapse, a no-deal sce- nario would represent a “very big transition” in the way the economy operates. “If our businesses are no longer able to trade with Eu- ropean Union neighbors, if their supply chains are cut off, they will have to find dif- ferent markets and different ways of doing business,” he told the BBC. “The economy will change. It will have to restructure itself over a pe- riod of time and that will be a fairly major transition.” Britain’s Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond says the country will need a new economic strategy if it leaves the European Union without a deal. – PHOTO: AP The crash is the worst airline disaster in Indonesia since an AirAsia flight from Surabaya to Singapore plunged into the sea in December 2014, killing all 162 on board.9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY OCTOBER 30, 2018 Trump calls media ‘Enemy’ after shooting, bomb plot WASHINGTON (AP) – Presi- dent Donald Trump esca- lated his attacks on the news media Monday following a week of election-season vio- lence, arguing that “fraudu- lent” reporting was contrib- uting to anger in the country and declaring that the press was the “true Enemy of the People.” Trump tweeted: “There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccu- rate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news.” He added that the media “must stop the open & obvious hos- tility & report the news accu- rately & fairly.” The president’s comments came after a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue that left 11 dead and a mail bomb scare targeting Demo- crats and CNN. The violence rattled a deeply divided na- tion and prompted questions about whether Trump should tone done his rhetoric. CNN President Jeff Zucker said another suspicious package addressed to CNN was intercepted Monday at an Atlanta post office. Zucker announced that there was no imminent danger to the CNN Center. Trump strongly con- demned the Pittsburgh attack as an act of anti-Semitism and has denounced political violence and called for unity. But with eight days to go be- fore the midterm elections, he has continued to hold his po- litical rallies, complete with harsh criticism of Democrats and the media. At a rally Saturday night, Trump was somewhat muted but still offered his stan- dard campaign attack lines, including citing Hillary Clinton and Rep. Maxine Waters, both of whom were targeted in the bomb plot. On Twitter on Sunday, he savaged billionaire busi- nessman Tom Steyer, another target of the mail bombs. The man arrested in con- nection with the mail bomb plot, Cesar Sayoc, was a fer- vent Trump supporter. The White House has pushed back against the sug- gestion Trump should change course. White House coun- selor Kellyanne Conway said on CNN on Monday that Trump was “trying to heal the country.” Asked about Trump’s comments since the massacre, she pointed to Wa- ters’ and Steyer’s criticism of the Republican president and went on to say Trump was seeking unity. “The president’s not trying to reach his base by denouncing anti-Semitism and asking everybody to rise above hate, he’s being the president of all Ameri- cans,” Conway said. Trump has said he will travel to Pittsburgh, but the White House has not offered any details on his plans. He contended on Saturday that it was important to keep going with his political rallies, ar- guing that to do otherwise would be to let “evil” win. He is planning an aggressive campaign schedule during the final days leading up to the Nov. 6 elections. Throughout his campaign and presidency, Trump has been an unrelenting critic of the media. Last week, the New York offices of CNN, the cable network frequently at- tacked by Trump and his supporters, was evacuated after receiving an explosive device and an envelope con- taining white powder. While stopping short of blaming Trump’s rhetoric for inspiring the attacks, Jeff Zucker, the president of CNN Worldwide, contended there was a “total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seri- ousness of their continued attacks on the media.” President Donald Trump points to the audience as he speaks during a campaign rally in Charlotte, North Carolina. – PHOTO: AP Before shooting, anti-Semitic incidents were on rise NEW YORK (AP) – Swastikas scrawled into Jewish stu- dents’ notebooks. Headstones toppled and desecrated by vandals at Jewish cemeteries. Jews falsely blamed for chal- lenges facing the nation. The shooting rampage that killed 11 people at Pitts- burgh’s Tree of Life Syna- gogue on Saturday is being decried as the deadliest at- tack on Jews in U.S. history, allegedly carried out by a vir- ulently anti-Semitic gunman. The carnage, however unprec- edented, is not an aberration. Year after year, decade after decade, anti-Semitism proves to be among the most entrenched and pervasive forms of hatred and bigotry in the United States. Jews make up only about 2 percent of the U.S. popula- tion, but in annual FBI data they repeatedly account for more than half of the Ameri- cans targeted by hate crimes committed due to religious bias. The Anti-Defamation League identified 1,986 anti- Semitic incidents in the U.S. in 2017, up from 1,267 in 2016, and also reported a major increase in anti-Semitic on- line harassment. Anti-Semitism surfaces often in the research con- ducted by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks var- ious U.S. hate groups, including neo-Nazis, white nationalists, skinheads and others. “They’re all anti-Semites – that’s the tie that binds them,” said Heidi Beirich, director of the center’s Intelligence Project. “They believe Jews are pulling the strings behind bad things happening in this country.” Of the thousands of anti- Semitic incidents in the U.S. in recent decades, only a handful were deadly. Among the most recent: –In June 2009, a gunman who had anti-Semitic writ- ings in his car killed a se- curity guard while trying to enter the U.S. Holocaust Me- morial Museum. –In April 2014, Frazier Glenn Miller Jr. fatally shot a 69-year-old man and his 14-year-old grandson at a Jewish community center in suburban Kansas City, then killed a woman at the nearby Village Shalom re- tirement center. Long before those inci- dents, many synagogues and Jewish organizations in the U.S. had been ramping up se- curity measures. Fifteen years ago, the Anti- Defamation League issued a 132-page guidebook titled, “Protecting Your Jewish Insti- tution: Security Strategies for Today’s Dangerous World.” It includes detailed ad- vice on controlling access to the premises, and also urged leaders of institutions to think carefully about whether or not they wanted to hire armed guards. After hearing news of the Pittsburgh shooting, President Donald Trump speculated that the death toll would have been smaller if an armed guard had been in the building. Stephen Cohen, a co-pres- ident of one of the congrega- tions that used the Tree of Life Synagogue, said leaders of the facility had conducted active shooter drills in the past, and considered themselves well- trained in how to handle se- curity crises. However, a rabbi- emeritus at the synagogue, Alvin Berkun, said guards – while used during the major Jewish holy days – were not on duty Saturday. Many U.S. synagogues do employ armed guards; others have taken alternative mea- sures to tighten security. “I doubt there’s a syna- gogue in the US that doesn’t think seriously about security,” said Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center. “It’s re- ally sad that you can’t go to a house of worship without thinking you’re taking your life in your hands.” Anti-Semitism has deep roots in many places far from the U.S., including Western Europe. In Germany, which re- corded 1,453 anti-Semitic in- cidents in 2017, police of- ficers are often stationed outside synagogues and other Jewish institutions. Similarly in France, where anti-Semitic violence increased by 25 per- cent last year, police and mil- itary patrols are deployed to help protect synagogues. Matthew Berger of Hillel International, a worldwide Jewish student organization, said there has been an in- creased focus on security in recent years. “By and large, we want to be an open and engaging com- munity,” he said. “We work tirelessly to balance that de- sire to be available and open with the security needs of our community.” According to the Anti-Def- amation League, anti-Semitic incidents on college and uni- versity campuses in the U.S. nearly doubled in 2017, rising to 204 from 108 in 2016. At K-12 schools, 457 anti-Semitic incidents were reported, in- cluding swastika graffiti and playground bullying. In a separate report, re- leased last week, the ADL said far-right extremists have ramped up an intimidating wave of anti-Semitic online ha- rassment against Jewish jour- nalists, political candidates and others ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm elections. ADL researchers analyzed more than 7.5 million Twitter messages from Aug. 31 to Sept. 17 and found nearly 30 percent of the accounts re- peatedly tweeting derogatory terms about Jews appeared to be automated bots. But ac- counts controlled by real-life humans often mount the most “worrisome and harmful” anti- Semitic attacks, sometimes orchestrated by leaders of neo-Nazi or white nationalist groups, the researchers said. Jews make up only about 2 percent of the U.S. population, but in annual FBI data they repeatedly account for more than half of the Americans targeted by hate crimes committed due to religious bias. Bomb suspect set for Florida court appearance MIAMI (AP) – The Florida man accused of sending packages containing ex- plosive material to promi- nent Democrats and other opponents of President Donald Trump is due to make his first court ap- pearance Monday. An initial hearing is set in Florida federal court for Cesar Sayoc, 56, who faces five federal charges. The hearing will come hours after a 14th package was intercepted, this one in At- lanta and addressed to CNN. Another was deliv- ered to the cable network’s New York offices last week, causing an evacuation. On Monday, bomb squads from the FBI and Atlanta police responded to a “suspicious package” at a post office in downtown At- lanta. The FBI did not iden- tify to whom the package was addressed, but CNN President Jeff Zucker an- nounced that a suspicious package addressed to the cable television network was intercepted Monday at an Atlanta post office. Authorities did not im- mediately say who might be responsible for sending the most recent package, but law enforcement of- ficials have said they be- lieve the packages were staggered and more could be discovered. The network said that the “package looks similar in appearance to the wave of pipe bombs that were mailed last week to promi- nent Democrats around the country, including two that were addressed to CNN’s New York bureau.” Sayoc was arrested Friday outside a South Florida auto parts store after investigators said they identified him through fin- gerprint and DNA evidence. Sayoc is being prosecuted in New York, so his Florida hearing will likely be brief and process-oriented. The main issue will be whether he waives extradition to New York and whether he seeks release on bail. He is accused of sending bubble-wrapped manila en- velopes to Democrats such as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden. The packages were intercepted from Delaware to Cali- fornia. At least some listed a return address of U.S. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, former chair of the Demo- cratic National Committee. She represents the Florida district where the former male stripper, pizza driver and strip club DJ lived in an older van covered with bumper stickers praising President Donald Trump, and disparaging Demo- crats and CNN. “There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news.” PRESIDENT TRUMP, via TwitterNext >