ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2018 High of 88 Low of 76 Slight with wave heights 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 LICKING THE GOVERNMENT’S STAMP DUTY ISSUE LOCAL | PAGE 3 7 CUBANS APPEAL ASYLUM DENIALS Limited progress on welfare reform JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three years after an audit report high- lighted systemic flaws in the Cayman Islands welfare system, government has made little progress in rectifying the situation, according to an update from the auditor general. A comprehensive report in 2015 found that Cayman’s various welfare programs had de- veloped in an ad hoc manner over several de- cades, lacked an overall strategy, and in some cases lacked underpinning legislation. The re- port recommended government implement a proper, coordinated national strategy for spending on social assistance. A progress report, published this week, cov- ering various recent reports and recommenda- tions made by the auditor general, suggests government has done little to implement the recommendations of the 2015 report on gov- ernment programs that support those in need. Among other concerns, the report high- lighted how there were no measures to track the impacts of programs or reassess long- term recipients of government aid, and staff were left with significant personal discre- tion over poor relief payments. It warned that many people in need may be falling through the cracks while others were being paid un- necessarily, and recommended government de- velop a proper social assistance strategy for the $50 million it spends annually on welfare. In a follow-up report last year, the au- ditors said little had been done to rectify the situation. Now the situation has been highlighted again in a new report, called “Follow-up on past PAC recommendations,” which assesses STUDY: CAYMAN BROADBAND AMONG MOST EXPENSIVE KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman has the third most expensive broadband internet in the Caribbean and the 12th most expensive in the world, with an av- erage price of US$158 per month for services, according to a study released Tuesday from researchers at the U.K.-based Cable.co.uk. The rankings were a slight improvement from a similar study conducted last year by the same organization. That 2017 study had Cayman ranked fifth most expensive globally and the second most expensive in the Carib- bean, with an average price of US$175. The cheapest broadband of 195 countries listed in the study is the Ukraine, at US$5 per month, and the most expensive is Mauritania at US$768 per month, according to the study. Saint Martin has the cheapest broadband in the Caribbean at an average package price of about US$24, while Haiti was ranked the most expensive at US$207. Other comparable jurisdictions included the British Virgin Is- lands (US$141 per month) and Antigua and Barbuda (US$177). Cable.co.uk stated that the Caribbean has some of the most expensive internet services in the world, due mostly to its geography. “Caribbean nations and territories sit al- most universally in the most expensive end of the table, largely thanks to their problem- atic geography,” the study stated. “Caribbean nations have been more hesitant in adopting fixed-line broadband solutions, largely fa- vouring mobile broadband and 3G/LTE solu- tions as a means to get online.” Cable.co.uk ranked Cayman as the fastest internet in the Caribbean last year with an Quarry owner, philanthropist Richard Christiansen dies MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com There was no mistaking when Richard “Dick” Chris- tiansen arrived somewhere. Those that knew him said his loud, friendly voice usu- ally preceded him. “You knew that Dick was in the room,” said Gi- useppe Gatta, owner of the Lighthouse restaurant and a friend of Mr. Christiansen. “Dick was louder than the dynamite he was using at the quarry.” The owner of an East End quarry for many years, Mr. Christiansen died Friday at Health City Cayman Is- lands, shortly after falling at his home in Breakers. He was 88. If Mr. Christiansen’s voice was big, Mr. Gatta said, his heart was bigger. The restaurateur said Mr. Christiansen was known for his generosity. He regularly helped people who were down on their luck or who needed a little extra help. He saw the quarry owner give money to fami- lies whose children needed computers, and to people who could not afford to fix their broken-down cars. “Some people were gen- uine in asking him for things and some people took advantage,” Mr. Gatta said. “Dick knew, but it was Cayman hosts sailing championship Following a week of international sailing clinics, with eight coaches and more than 35 sailors from Cayman, the U.K., U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and Antigua, the Cayman Islands Sailing Club hosted the AIMA Youth Regatta for both Optimist and Laser classes on Oct. 28 on the North Sound. Matheo Capasso won four of the five races to take the national title for the third year in a row. Jaspar Nielsen won the first of the five races and finished second overall. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » Dick Christiansen passed away on Nov. 2. He was 88.2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - WEDNESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (PG13) 1:35 I 4:00 VIP I 7:00 VIP I 9:35 THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS (PG) 1:20 I 3:45 I 6:40 I 9:10 HALLOWEEN (2018) (R) 1:00 VIP I 4:35 I 7:05 I 10:00 VIP VENOM (PG13) 1:10 I 7:10 NOBODY’S FOOL (R) 1:00 I 7:25 I 10:00 A STAR IS BORN (R) 12:30 I 8:00 HUNTER KILLER (R) 4:10 I 9:45 JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN (PG) 3:35 I 5:45 EXPERTS: PUERTO RICO AT RISK AMID LACK OF DISASTER PLAN SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – More than a year after Hur- ricane Maria caught Puerto Rico’s government wildly unprepared, officials ac- knowledge they still have not come up with a plan to cope with the next such di- saster – and it’s not clear when they will. The U.S. territory’s government insisted for months that it had a com- plete, updated disaster plan, saying it was kept se- cret due to protect informa- tion about vulnerable in- frastructure and officials’ private contact details. But a suit filed by Puerto Rico’s Center for In- vestigative Journalism led officials to concede last month that that plan does not deal with catastrophic events such as hurri- canes and earthquakes, prompting outrage on an island where many blame government bungling for the estimated 2,975 deaths linked to Category 4 Hur- ricane Maria, which hit in September 2017. “The government has clearly failed the people and hid the fact that the plan was under revision,” said Nazario Lugo, a former executive director of Puerto Rico’s emergency manage- ment agency and president of the island’s Association of Emergency Managers. “We are talking about the lives of people. Someone is not going to react the way they’re supposed to. This is a team effort, and when the team is not in tune, when it’s not in position, it fails,” he said. “Lives are lost.” Wild dogs at home at the quarry JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com As excavators dig marl from the Bodden Town quarry, a small group of dogs wanders amid the mounds of rock, seeking shelter from the sun in the length- ening shadows. These are the quarry dogs, a semi-wild pack that has made its home at the site. To the quarry workers, who provide them with food, love and attention, they are wel- come visitors. But they remain a wild population, operating as a pack and are difficult to sep- arate or domesticate. Animal welfare charity Cayman Animal Rescue En- thusiasts, known as CARE, was called in recently after the pack expanded, when a litter of puppies was born. Concerned about the un- checked expansion of Cay- man’s feral dog population, CARE workers opted to trap, spay and neuter, and release the animals. Over the course of sev- eral months, the charity was able to “fix” all the dogs at the quarry, six adults and four puppies. The dogs were also vaccinated and dewormed. Lesley Agostinelli, one of the founders of CARE, said the animals would have been difficult to socialize, having grown up in the wild. Given the already strong demand for homes for unwanted dogs in Cayman, she said a deci- sion was taken to leave them at the quarry. “It is a safe location for them,” she said. “There is a fresh water pond. The quarry workers feed them and are happy to have them there.” She said studies in Italy had shown that spay, neuter, vaccinate and release was an effective way of control- ling feral dog populations. She believes there are other packs around the island, par- ticularly at the George Town landfill, where the same ap- proach could be taken. Observing the quarry dogs at close quarters proved an interesting case study. Some of the dogs, like the pack leader who they named Shaggy, were friendly and fa- miliar with people, coming close to be petted and to beg for food. Others were more wary, avoiding people alto- gether. One of the dogs took four months to catch. Through their work at the quarry, Ms. Agostinelli said CARE had established con- nections that enabled them to spay and neuter more dogs belonging to quarry workers and their neighbors. She said there were many people out there that wanted to do the right thing but were simply not aware of the ben- efits of spaying and neutering pets, and the consequences of not doing so. The bulk of CARE’s work is aimed at community spay and neuter with the aim of finding a long-term so- lution to the island’s feral dog issues. Dominican Republic opens Beijing embassy after dropping tied with Taiwan BEIJING (AP) – The Do- minican Republic opened its embassy in Beijing Sat- urday, months after cutting ties with Taiwan amid a Chi- nese diplomatic offensive that aims to politically iso- late the island it claims as its own territory. Speaking at a ribbon-cut- ting ceremony, Chinese For- eign Minister Wang Yi said the Caribbean island nation’s decision to switch diplomatic relations to Beijing “serves the fundamental interests of the Dominican people and completely conforms to the trend of the times.” Also present was Domin- ican President Danilo Medina. Both the Dominican Re- public and El Salvador broke diplomatic ties with Taiwan earlier this year as Beijing steps-up up diplomatic and economic pressure on Tai- wanese President Tsai Ing- wen, who has refused to en- dorse its stand that Taiwan is a part of China. Only 17 mainly small, de- veloping countries still rec- ognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation. Taiwan split from mainland China during a civil war in 1949. China con- siders the self-governing is- land to be part of its territory. China rolled out the red carpet Friday for the second time this week for a Latin American leader whose country recently switched its allegiance from Taipei to Beijing. Medina of the Dominican Republic met with Chinese President Xi Jinping after a formal welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People. The summit came one day after a similar cere- mony and meeting for Sal- vadoran President Salvador Sanchez Ceren. A pack of dogs has made the Bodden Town quarry their home. – PHOTOS: KIRALEE HARNETT Shaggy, the pack leader, was the most friendly of the quarry dogs. CORRECTION In an article titled “200 students graduate from UCCI,” a student was misidentified in a photograph that ap- peared on page 9 of Monday’s Cayman Compass. The cap- tion should have read: “Garima Chawla shakes hands with UCCI President Roy Bodden after receiving her post-grad- uate certificate in primary education.”3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2018 One Honeywell Lynx touch wireless residential/ commercial security alarm panel with 4.3” full colour touchscreen display Three wireless door/window contacts (white) One Honeywell pet immune motion sensor (up to 40Lbs.) One 4 button remote keychain Full installation and demonstration 12 months parts warranty WIFI module for the mobile Apps. Honeywell Lynx Intruder Alarm Package Includes: The Honeywell intruder system is linked to our 24/7 monitoring centre to keep your family and your property safe. Upon system activation our experienced monitoring station staff will handle the situation. The Total Connect app allows you complete control of your security system from your mobile device. To find out more about this special offer contact the Security Centre on 949-0004 or email info@security.ky *The free alarm system and installation is available to new clients when signing up for a 12 month monitoring contract ($660 residential - $860 commercial). 24/7 Alarm Monitoring Secure and protect your property with the Honeywell Lynx intruder protection system. Controllable from your mobile device. 7 Cubans appeal asylum denials KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Seven Cuban migrants who were denied asylum by government have appealed their cases to the Grand Court, where a two-day hearing began on Tuesday. The Cubans are repre- sented by attorney Alastair David, who argued to Grand Court Justice Ingrid Man- gatal that his clients did not have a fair hearing in front of the Immigration Appeals Tribunal, which denied their asylum applications. Mr. David said they did not have access to an attorney at their initial hearings, and that the Immigration Appeals Tribunal did not follow inter- national conventions when considering their applications. The attorney further argued that the Immigration Law may be unconstitutional be- cause it allows government to grant asylum to refugees, but not to allow “limited leave” to stay here for non-refugees who may have their rights vi- olated if they’re returned to the country they fled. Rights violations could in- deed be in store for the seven migrants if they are returned to Cuba, Mr. David said. The attorney explained that Cuba is a place that pun- ishes political dissent and dis- loyalty, imposes arbitrary pun- ishments on people, has harsh prison conditions, and inter- feres with other basic rights. “This is all directly rele- vant to all of the appellants,” Mr. David said. “They all ex- pressed concerns that they will be returned to Cuba and imprisoned.” Mr. David said one of his clients – who has been in Cayman for several years – was imprisoned in Cuba for five months for refusing to work for the government. His client had refused to go into the Cuban military because he said he was against the government. “They work you like a slave, and I’m not a slave,” that Cuban told the Immi- gration Appeals Tribunal, ac- cording to Mr. David. After being imprisoned, the Cuban decided to flee his country. He made three at- tempts, failing on his first two before making it to Cayman on the third. Between his failed attempts, he hid to es- cape further punishment from government, Mr. David said. Despite these factors, gov- ernment concluded that there was “objectively no” risk that this migrant would be harmed or persecuted if he were re- turned to Cuba, Mr. David said. “Based on what?” the at- torney asked. “I’ll drum this in: This is why attorneys are needed in these cases.” Mr. David added that in its decisions – the Immigration Appeals Tribunal made its decision on the Cuban men- tioned above in April 2017 – the tribunal did not mention several important issues that human rights conventions say must be considered. “We don’t know their view on Cuba, we don’t know what they think will happen if he returns. We don’t know if they believe that Cuba views him as a dissident,” he said, refer- ring to the appeals tribunal. Mr. David was scheduled to go through the circum- stances of each of his clients on Tuesday. The Immigration Appeals Tribunal will have a chance to respond to the challenge on Wednesday. If the Cubans’ legal chal- lenge is successful, the Grand Court does not have power to grant asylum but would send the cases back to the Im- migration Appeals Tribunal with orders to reconsider the applications. Mr. David men- tioned that he might push for new members to be on the next tribunal, too. ‘Half sentence’ was right for robber, 15 CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com If an adult using an imita- tion firearm had robbed the same small store twice in 31 days, he would have received a sentence of 16 years’ im- prisonment after being found guilty by a jury. Last year, a young man, who committed those same offenses at the age of 15, re- ceived a sentence of eight years. This week, the Court of Appeal upheld the sentence. The defendant, referred to as D, robbed a West Bay mini- mart in March and April 2016. He turned 16 a few months later and pleaded not guilty. After trial, the jury’s guilty verdicts were unanimous and Justice Charles Quin passed sentence after receiving social inquiry and medical reports. The appeal court said Jus- tice Quin was clearly right to regard 16 years as the appro- priate sentence for an adult. The U.K. Sentencing Guide- lines for Children and Young Persons set an adjustment of one-half to two-thirds for a young person. Crown counsel Greg Wal- colm, who prosecuted D, brought evidence to show that the teenager had worn a mask and that both robberies had occurred at night. On the first occasion, D had what appeared to be a firearm in his pants waist; on the second occasion, he pointed the weapon directly at the shop clerk. Attorney Keva Reid ar- gued on appeal that the value of the goods stolen was fairly low: cash and cellphones valued at $1,805 the first time, $450 and cigarette pa- pers the second time. The same clerk had been on duty during both rob- beries and had then quit after continuing to have nightmares, the court heard. The owner subsequently shut down the store. The appeal judges said the robberies had lasted a short time but were clearly terrifying. Referring to submissions concerning D, the judges commented, “He has really a wretched background.” Pro- fessional evaluations referred to attention deficit, mood and learning disorders, and diffi- culty with self-control due to personality disorder. The judges said D had been in trouble with po- lice from an early age. At the time of the robberies, D was wearing an electronic monitor in relation to other charges. “No one reading this background can fail to sym- pathize with the difficulties he has faced,” the judges said in their decision. At the Grand Court sen- tencing hearing, Ms. Reid had told Justice Quin about at least three efforts before the robberies to get D into a treatment center abroad. The U.K. sentencing guide- lines set out overarching principles to be considered for young people, noting they are likely to benefit from op- portunities to address their behavior, may far more rap- idly change and benefit from treatment, and for whom heavy punishments are likely to have far greater impact. “All of that is particularly relevant to this young man,” the appeal court said. The appeal was heard by Sir John Goldring, president; Justice John Martin and Jus- tice Sir Alan Moses.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” If there is one place on the planet that should have a simple tax structure, it is the Cayman Islands. So why are lawmakers considering adding more complexity to our country’s stamp duty regime on property purchases? All governments must collect revenue in order to carry out their functions. That is true even in a territory such as Cayman, whose reputation globally is character- ized by phrases such as “low-tax,” “tax-neutral” and (less than accurately, sadly) “tax-free.” This summer, the U.S. government unveiled a long- discussed change to income tax filing; now, many U.S. taxpayers can report their tax obligations on a document the size of a postcard. Cayman can do better than that. The calculations required for stamp duty on property purchases should be able to fit on the back of a postage stamp. Instead, our legislators have shackled developers and homebuyers with a system that grows more convoluted with each attempted fix, tweak and exemption. Lawmakers are prepared to do it again this month by taking up a Stamp Duty Bill, which supporters say will close a long-standing “loophole” that has allowed “pre-construction” buyers to reduce their government fees (sometimes tens of thousands of dollars) by paying stamp only on the value of land purchased, rather than the completed value of the home or condominium the developer has simultaneously agreed to build. The bill’s backers say that the so-called “linked property transaction” – an arrangement where the buyer purchases a plot of land in a development with an agree- ment to buy a finished property in the same development – has robbed government of revenue. Opponents say the bill will increase the cost of new homes and throw cold water on Cayman’s red-hot devel- opment market. (Taxes vs. the economy. Guess where our sympathies lie.) While the Stamp Duty Bill is closing one “loophole,” it is at the same time blowing another one wide open – by substantially expanding concessions for first-time Cayma- nian homebuyers, exempting them from paying duty on land valued up to $150,000 or homes up to $400,000, and also raising the ceiling for stamp duty reductions for more expensive land or homes. These concessions do not apply to certain areas of Grand Cayman, for example, downtown, off West Bay Road, off North Church Street or on the water. In summary, the general stamp duty rate for property transfers in Cayman is 7.5 percent of the purchase price (or the assessed value of the property, whichever is higher). However, depending on who you are (first-time Cay- manian homebuyer or not), what you are buying (land or completed home) and where the property is located, your total stamp duty obligation could be 0, 2 or 7.5 percent. (And under the new bill, “linked property transactions” for purchases of less than $300,000 would be subject to a new, 3 percent stamp duty rate.) Also, a relatively “hidden” tax is the additional 1-1.5 percent stamp duty rate on mortgages, again depending on the amount of money involved. Whew. This does not have to be complicated. Here’s an idea: Set a universal stamp duty rate for all property, no matter where it is, what it is, or who’s buying it. Make it, oh, 7 percent. If the new uniform rate brings in more revenue than under the current system, make a downward adjustment – to, say, 6 percent. (Round numbers, please.) If the new rate ends up bringing in less revenue, make another downward adjustment – not to the stamp rate, but to the size and expense of Cayman’s oversized bureaucracy. Licking the government’s stamp duty issue WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Eliminating health threats through philanthropy JUDITH MONROE Last month, the philan- thropy world lost a hero as Paul G. Allen passed away from complications of non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma. While many know Allen from his work in personal computing, business and sports, it was his tireless philanthropic ef- forts to improve and save the lives of thousands that is often unheralded, but critical to public health constituencies. Four years ago, Ebola dominated the headlines as the number of cases in West Africa rapidly grew and the fear of the deadly disease spreading to other parts of the world led to active moni- toring and movement of trav- elers. Ebola is unfortunately again in the news, this time surfacing in a conflict area in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As we think about this current response, there is one lesson we learned in the last one I hope we do not forget in our responses to both large-scale, persis- tent health challenges, such as cardiovascular disease, as well as emergency responses, like Ebola. That lesson is how gov- ernments and the private sector must work in tandem. While government support from the United States and other nations was crucial to stem the tide of Ebola, gov- ernment funding only became available months into the re- sponse. Until then, the gap was largely filled by philan- thropic and private sector do- nors, including Allen. His re- lentless work, along with the contributions of many others, saved thousands of lives. In total, Allen committed $100 million toward the Ebola research and response, including a $12.9 million con- tribution in 2014 to the CDC Foundation, which I lead. Al- len’s early leadership and support helped advance the scientific expertise of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with the on-the-ground applica- tion by ministries of health to establish sustainable emer- gency operations centers in the most-impacted countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. During a public health emergency like Ebola, emer- gency operations centers pro- vide a hub that brings all re- sponse functions together in one location. Allen’s generous contri- bution also provided sys- tems-strengthening infra- structure in support of the emergency operations cen- ters during the Ebola out- break. Examples included providing technical equip- ment for communications, software to accelerate con- tact tracing, staffing and training and much more. Critically, the emergency op- erations centers Allen funded continue to operate in each country, helping to prevent, detect and respond to health threats that safeguard both West Africa and the world. Although I never met Allen in person, I mourn the loss of this extraordi- nary innovator and philan- thropist. I also mourn his death on a personal level. My husband just completed chemotherapy treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He sent me the news about Allen and commented on the similarity in their cases. Spending time this summer at the oncology unit at Emory University Hospital for treatments every three weeks was not our original plan, but we are all subject to health threats – and we all can play a role in helping address these. Whether you are a billion- aire philanthropist, like Allen, a CEO running an interna- tional corporation, a small or mid-size regional philan- thropy, or an individual donor, each of us has the power to join the battle against disease threats and health emergen- cies. We all have a chance to make an impact. Paul Allen leaves behind a legacy of philanthropy, in- novation and impact. His life reminds us of one important fact. That is, when the phil- anthropic, private and public sectors work together, we col- lectively have the means, sci- ence and reach to improve the public’s health and safety. We all have a responsibility to carry on Allen’s legacy – our global public health out- comes will be better for it. Judith Monroe is president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. She previously served as a CDC deputy director and as state health commissioner for Indiana. She wrote this for InsideSources.com. LETTER Cayman Christmas trees Back in the day – 30 years ago – those of us on the Brac and Little Cayman who wanted Christmas trees (which were not imported to the Sister Islands) would hack down our own gorgeous May- pole Agave “trees” and haul them home to decorate for a Cayman Christmas! Alas, the exquisite Agave “flowers” – wooden trees dozens of feet tall – have fallen out of style. Wondering, and asking why? Especially now that Amer- ican Christmas trees are bug- infested and not being im- ported this November. ‘Tis the season! Spray paint your maypoles gold or silver and hang silver or gold snow- flakes and your precious or- naments on the branches – enjoy your Cayman Christmas trees. Nan Socolow Paul Allen leaves behind a legacy of philanthropy, innovation and impact.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2018 Alleged fake NRA workers’ case sent to Grand Court New charge faced by defendants CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Three men who appeared in Summary Court last week accused of pretending to be National Roads Authority workers were formally ad- vised on Tuesday that the charge of personating a public officer can be dealt with only in Grand Court. Patrick Sheridan, 21; David Gammell, 20; and John Quilligan, 22, were first brought to court last week accused of falsely repre- senting themselves as NRA employees and, by virtue of such employment, of painting lines in the CashWiz car park on North Church Street on Oct. 26. Defense attorney James Stenning appeared for them and successfully applied for their bail. On Tuesday, Magistrate Valdis Foldats explained that personation is a Cate- gory A offense, meaning that it can be heard only in the higher court. Mr. Stenning responded, “We want to go to Grand Court at the earliest opportunity.” He noted that the defen- dants were all young men with no previous convictions and their families were very keen to have them return home. Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Quilligan are Irish. Mr. Gam- mell is British. The magistrate said the next mention of new indict- ments would be on Friday, Nov. 16, and he transmitted the case for that date. How- ever, he added, Mr. Stenning was free to schedule a Grand Court hearing before then re- garding bail conditions. The three defendants also faced a new charge – that on Oct. 27 on Dorcy Drive they worked (painting of car parking lines) at Brand Source Home Gallery without a work permit. No details were dis- cussed in court about the actual painting work at ei- ther premises, except that the magistrate did say that the charges of working without a permit would remain in Summary Court. The three men also face a charge of obtaining property – $672 – by deception with intent to permanently deprive the owner of it. That charge was transmitted to Grand Court along with the person- ation charge. Each defendant also faced a new charge – that on Oct. 27 at Dorcy Drive he worked (painting of car parking lines) at Brand Source Home Gallery without a work permit. Police seek owners of recovered property The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service is trying to locate the owners of a va- riety of recovered items be- lieved to have been stolen. The goods, recovered during the execution of search warrants, include jewelry, watches, power tools, electronics, cell- phones and other miscella- neous items. Police are also asking the public to discreetly mark their items or note the make, model and serial numbers of their property in case those items are stolen. The recovered items can be viewed on the RCIPS website, or individuals can arrange to see them in person by contacting DC 344 Gomes at 926-2965 or DC 198 Mendez at 916-1621. Police are searching for the owners of these items. These cellphones are among the items recovered by the RCIPS.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS how effectively the gov- ernment has implemented the Public Accounts Com- mittee’s recommendations, stemming from recent au- ditor general reports. Progress on the rec- ommendations from the May 2015 audit of govern- ment programs supporting those in need is rated as red, on a red-amber-green scale, meaning little has been done to implement the recommendations. The report notes, “The Ministry of Community Affairs has started work to develop a social assis- tance strategy, although timescales are not yet con- firmed. The implementation of most other recommen- dations is dependent on a strategy being put in place. This means that overall limited progress has been made – no change since July 2017.” In its response to the auditor’s concerns, in- cluded in an appendix to the report, the Ministry of Community Affairs indi- cates it has now formed a working group and is re- viewing data, statistics and research, including an “out- line business case” from 2017, with a view to for- mulating a social assis- tance strategy. “The ministry is of the view that the strategy needs to be developed first and that this will sup- port the implementa- tion of all of the other Of- fice of the Auditor General recommendations.” The auditor comments that this is a “sensible ap- proach” but suggests the Public Accounts Committee seek progress updates, in- cluding timescales as the work continues. Overall, Auditor Gen- eral Sue Winspear notes that government’s record on implementing recom- mendations stemming from auditor general reports is “mixed.” Of the eight reports an- alyzed, she said, “Almost all recommendations have been implemented for two reports, but the picture for the other six reports is less positive with only some progress made for five re- ports and limited progress made for the report dealing with social welfare pro- grammes. I am also con- cerned that some of the original recommendations with limited or no progress to date, go back as far as May 2015 and that imple- mentation dates for some recommendations continue to be rescheduled into the future.” just the way he was. He was a man with a big heart in every direction.” Paul Allan said he met Mr. Christiansen shortly after ar- riving in Cayman in 1990. In 1996, Mr. Allan was opening the Bed restaurant and ran into a work permit issue that necessitated leaving the island. “I couldn’t get a flight out,” said Mr. Allan, who now lives in France. “He lent me his plane to go over to Miami.” Mr. Christiansen, who for years almost always had his Pomeranian with him, was known for his love of animals. He helped raise funds for the Humane Society and PAWS. Mr. Gatta, whose home is just across the road from where Mr. Christiansen lived, said his friend always had dogs and cats, as well as some other pets. At one point, he took in a goose that did not have a home. “He said, ‘Giuseppe, you have to come and see this goose,’” Mr. Gatta said. “He would sit in his armchair and the goose would sit down next to him. When he got up, it followed him everywhere. The goose ended up living in the house.” Mr. Christiansen’s philan- thropy also touched the art community. In 1997, he do- nated a 1,200-square-foot of- fice in Alexander Place, as well as operational funding, to get the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands off the ground. Gallery director Natalie Urquhart said offi- cials were saddened to hear Mr. Christiansen had died. “[He] was integral to the formative years of the Na- tional Gallery as founding member of the gallery and generous donor,” she said in a statement. “Without his sup- port, we’d wouldn’t be where we are today and we will be forever grateful.” Filmmaker Frank E. Flowers said he has been gathering material on Mr. Christiansen for more than 20 years. “He was probably the biggest character that most people ever met,” Mr. Flowers said of the Teaneck, New Jersey native, who had worked quarries on other Caribbean islands before coming to Cayman to take the reins of Quarry Prod- ucts, Ltd., in 1982. “He could be cussing one moment and then turn around the next moment with a huge smile and a compliment. He was the craziest character alive, in a good way.” Mr. Christiansen was an explosives expert, he said, so much so that he reportedly once freed a cow that had be- come stuck in an East End ravine by blowing it out with a charge. The story goes that the cow broke a leg in the process, but was otherwise unharmed, he said. “He was a legend of a man,” Mr. Flowers said. An official cause of death has not been released, but Mr. Flowers said Mr. Christiansen had suffered several heart at- tacks in the last few years. Doctors had inserted some stents, but Mr. Christiansen did his best to ignore the problem. Mr. Flowers said he was filming Mr. Christiansen recently when he suffered chest pain while on camera. “I said, ‘You need to go to the hospital,’” Mr. Flowers said. Instead, he said Mr. Christiansen uttered an ex- pletive and said, “Let’s just go to Popeye’s.” Even when he was hospi- talized last week, Mr. Gatta said, Mr. Christiansen seemed unconcerned. Mr. Gatta spoke with him on Thursday, having just returned to Cayman. He said he and his wife said they would come to visit him. “He said, ‘Don’t bother. I’ll be out tomorrow,’” Mr. Gatta said. “He died the next day.” His friends, Mr. Gatta said, will not soon forget the big man’s presence. “He lived a very good life,” he said. “He had a big heart. Big heart.” average speed of 13.15 mega- bits per second (Mbps), but the organization has not re- leased an updated speed study yet this year. After last year’s studies were released, local telecom- munications providers dis- puted their results. “I don’t think the studies accurately reflect what we’re capable of,” Flow Interim Managing Director Danny Tathum said at the time, saying that his company of- fers speeds of 15 Mbps for $106 per month. Likewise, Logic and C3 offer similar packages on their websites. “I laughed at the study because I wish I was making US$170 per cus- tomer,” said Logic CEO Rob McNabb. “We’re selling 5-, 10-, 15-Mbps packages – all under $100.” Nevertheless, government is pushing to improve ser- vices, with the goal of having broadband internet univer- sally available on the island. To that end, Premier Alden McLaughlin said in March that government was plan- ning on building its own fiber network and making the tele- coms companies pay for it. Around the same time of that announcement, the territory’s telecoms regu- lator, the Utility Regula- tion and Competition Office (OfReg), launched a process to determine what manda- tory internet speeds should be offered by Cayman’s tele- communications companies, and by when those speeds should be available. OfReg said it would then deter- mine how the speeds should be provided. OfReg said in March that it planned on making a deter- mination on these issues by the end of September. How- ever, that timeline has not been met, and the telecommu- nications companies strongly oppose OfReg’s proposals. When the initial consulta- tion was launched in March, OfReg proposed to force all telecoms companies to offer broadband internet access services to all residents of the Cayman Islands, with at least one of their broad- band service plans offering an unlimited data allow- ance. The regulator’s pro- posed definition for “broad- band” is download speeds of 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 50 Mbps or higher. OfReg proposed to set a three-year timeline for tele- coms companies to meet these requirements. The regulator’s proposals were not met favorably by the telecommunications com- panies, which objected for a litany of reasons in a public response document posted on OfReg’s website. For instance, Flow criti- cized OfReg for putting the “cart before the horse” by mandating internet speeds without first formulating a plan for how they would be delivered. Flow also stated that OfReg’s speed requirements would be much more strin- gent than those in other de- veloped countries. “You knew that Dick was in the room. Dick was louder than the dynamite he was using at the quarry.” GIUSEPPE GATTA, Lighthouse restaurant owner CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Quarry owner, philanthropist Richard Christiansen dies Limited progress on welfare reform CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Progress on the recommendations from the May 2015 audit of government programs supporting those in need is rated as red, on a red-amber-green scale, meaning little has been done to implement the recommendations. Study: Cayman broadband among most expensive Brazil judge denies his cabinet post is a reward for jailing Lula SAO PAULO (AP) – The judge who is the most prominent face of Bra- zil’s anti-corruption cam- paign denied Tuesday that his appointment as jus- tice minister was a reward for having convicted and jailed a political rival of his new boss. “This has nothing to do with the case of ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva,” Judge Sergio Moro told re- porters at his first news con- ference since accepting the nomination. “I know that some interpreted my nomi- nation as a reward. That is not the case.” Moro is both celebrated and loathed in Brazil for his role in the “Car Wash” inves- tigation, which jailed dozens of business leaders and pol- iticians who participated in schemes to trade public con- tracts and favors for kick- backs and bribes. The most prominent is da Silva, whose conviction re- sulted in him being barred from seeking another term this year, paving the way for President-elect Jair Bolsona- ro’s victory. Many credit the hard- charging judge with ending a culture of impunity, but others feel the probe has fo- cused too much on da Silva’s leftist Workers’ Party, while giving less attention to politi- cians on the right. Those complaints have grown since Moro accepted a position in President-elect Jair Bolsonaro’s cabinet. Da Silva’s attorneys have al- ready filed an appeal al- leging that the appointment proves the judge’s bias. Moro said that he has no intention of ever running for elected office and said his work at the ministry would be “technical.” Moro at times defended Bolsonaro, saying some of the far-right politician’s ex- treme comments had been taken out of context, but he also said the two disagree on some points, such as Bolson- aro’s contention that people who occupy land in pro- test should be considered terrorists. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Richard ‘Dick’ Christiansen was rarely seen without his pet dog.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2018 Uighurs’ supporters march as China faces review Supporters of China’s Muslim Uighur minority are demonstrating in Geneva as the U.N.’s top human rights body examines the country’s rights record. Advocacy groups want the Human Rights Council to press Chinese authorities on issues like use of mass detention centers. Election Day tests Democratic ‘resistance’ in Trump era WASHINGTON (AP) — A tur- bulent election season that tested President Donald Trump’s slash-and-burn political style against the strength of the Democratic resistance came to a close as Americans cast ballots in the first national election of the Trump era. With voters going to the polls Tuesday, nothing was certain. Weather could af- fect turnout, with resi- dents of several states in the Deep South and Mid-At- lantic contending with thun- derstorms, high winds and power outages. Anxious Republicans privately expressed confi- dence in their narrow Senate majority but feared the House was slipping away. Trump, the GOP’s chief mes- senger, warned that signif- icant Democratic victories would trigger devastating consequences. “If the radical Democrats take power, they will take a wrecking ball to our economy and our future,” Trump de- clared in Cleveland, using the heated rhetoric that has defined much of his presi- dency. He added: “The Dem- ocrat agenda is a socialist nightmare.” Democrats, whose very relevance in the Trump era depended on winning at least one chamber of Con- gress, were laser-focused on health care as they pre- dicted victories that would break up the GOP’s monopoly in Washington and state governments. “They’ve had two years to find out what it’s like to have an unhinged person in the White House,” said Wash- ington Gov. Jay Inslee, who leads the Democratic Gov- ernors Association. “It’s an awakening of the Demo- cratic Party.” Democrats could derail Trump’s legislative agenda for the next two years should they win control of the House or the Senate. Perhaps more important, they would claim subpoena power to investi- gate Trump’s personal and professional shortcomings. Some Democrats have vowed to force the release of his tax returns. Others have pledged to pursue im- peachment, although re- moval from office is unlikely so long as the GOP controls the Senate or maintains even a healthy minority. Democrats’ fate depended upon a delicate coalition of infrequent voters — partic- ularly young people and mi- norities — who traditionally shun midterm elections. If ever there was an off- year election for younger voters to break tradition, this is it. Young voters promised to vote in record numbers as they waged mass protests in the wake of the February mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school that left 17 students and staff dead. Democrats drew strength from women and college-ed- ucated voters, who swung de- cidedly against Trump since his election. Polling suggested the Republican coalition was increasingly older, whiter, more male and less likely to have a college degree. Democrats boasted record diversity on the ballot. Three states could elect their first African-Amer- ican governors, while several others were running LGBT candidates and Muslims. A record number of women were also running for Senate, House, governorships and state legislative seats. “The vast majority of women voters are angry, frustrated and they are re- ally done with seeing where the Republican Party is taking them, particularly as it related to heath care and civility,” said Stephanie Schriock, who leads EMILY’s List, a group that help elect Democratic women. “You’re going to see the largest gender gap we’ve ever seen.” While the economy con- tinues to thrive, Trump has spent much of the campaign’s final days railing against a caravan of Latin American immigrants hoping to seek asylum at the U.S. border. He dispatched more than 5,000 troops to the region, sug- gesting soldiers would use lethal force against migrants who throw rocks, before later reversing himself. Voters line up to vote at a polling place in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Tuesday. - PHOTO: AP8 WORLD&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS UN: 200 mass graves left by ISIS in Iraq BAGHDAD (AP) – More than 200 mass graves containing between 6,000 and 12,000 bodies have been found in Iraq from the time of the Is- lamic State group’s three- year reign, U.N. investigators said Tuesday. The 202 graves verified by investigators dot northern Iraq and are a “legacy of ISIL’s terror,” according to a joint report by the U.N. mis- sion to Iraq and the U.N. of- fice for human rights. Findings from the gravesites can be used as ev- idence of the group’s crimes, they said. The graves date from 2014 to 2017 when the mil- itant group, sometimes known by the acronym ISIL, ruled some of Iraq’s largest cities and towns. As the militants swept through Iraq and neigh- boring Syria, they killed cap- tured members of the secu- rity forces en masse, expelled or killed minorities, and en- slaved women from the Ya- zidi sect. The U.N. says the widespread violations could amount to genocide. Several graves found in Iraq’s Salahuddin prov- ince contain the remains of victims of the 2014 Camp Speicher massacre, when the militants killed around 1,700 Iraqi security forces and army cadets. In some cases, the mili- tants dropped their victims or the bodies of their vic- tims in wells or sinkholes in- stead of digging graves. In- vestigators said there could be thousands of bodies in the Khasfa sinkhole south of Mosul, the largest city once under ISIS control. Iraqi authorities have ex- humed the remains of 1,258 victims from 28 graves, ac- cording to the U.N. It urged authorities to identify the remains of all gravesite vic- tims and seek justice for families. It said bodies should be preserved and returned to families. Iraq’s Mass Graves Direc- torate and Martyrs’ Commis- sion could not be reached for immediate comment. Iraq declared victory over ISIS in December last year, but the militants still con- trol pockets of territory just across the border in Syria, and continue to claim re- sponsibility for abductions and bomb blasts around the country. This image released by the Kurdish Regional Government shows a mass grave containing Yazidis killed by Islamic State militants in the Sinjar region of northern Iraq. - PHOTO: KURDISH MASS GRAVES DIRECTORATE VIA AP 6 ARRESTED IN SUSPECTED PLOT TO ATTACK MACRON PARIS (AP) – French secu- rity agents have arrested six people on preliminary ter- rorism charges for allegedly plotting to attack French President Emmanuel Macron, according to a French judi- cial official. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the allegations, said intelligence agents detained the six in three widely scat- tered regions, including one suspect in the Alps, another in Brittany and four suspects near the Bel- gian border in Moselle. He said the plan to target the French president appeared to be vague and unfinalized but violent. Authorities said the six were between 22 and 62 years old and included one woman. It is not known if they were suspected of working together. French presidents have been targeted several times over the decades, including in 2002 when a far-right sym- pathizer tried to attack Pres- ident Jacques Chirac on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris during Bastille Day celebrations. Macron was in the north- eastern French city of Verdun on Tuesday as part of cente- nary commemorations for the end of World War I. The suspected plot was uncovered days before U.S. President Donald Trump and dozens of other world leaders are due in France for commemorations this weekend of the signing 100 years ago of the Nov. 11 armistice that ended World War I. France: 3 found dead in collapsed buildings, search goes on MARSEILLE, France (AP) – Firefighters in the southern French city of Marseille found the bodies of three people in the ruins of two collapsed buildings as the search for victims and sur- vivors continued Tuesday. A man’s body was recov- ered from the rubble after the bodies of another man and a woman were found earlier in the day, a spokesman for the Marseille Firefighters told The Associated Press. Several people remained missing after the adjacent multi-story structures col- lapsed Monday. French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said “air pockets” under the de- bris meant there’s “hope to locate and find someone that can be saved.” Castaner said at the site that 120 police officers and 80 firefighters took part in the search-and-rescue oper- ation, working through the night in the pile of beams and rubble. The two buildings, one apparently vacant and the other housing apartments, collapsed Monday at 9 a.m. local time. Authorities said the vacant building had been deemed substandard. It was not immediately clear why they collapsed, or how many people the apartment building housed. Fire crews working with sniffer dogs later brought down the remains of a third building they feared could topple over on them. Images of the buildings before they collapsed showed that one had five floors and the other six. In the spot where they had stood, a large gap appeared once the dust and debris settled. Cars around Marseille’s famous Old Port on the Mediterranean Sea, were covered with thick dust. Firefighters work with a sniffer dog to locate possible trapped people in the debris of a collapsed building in Marseille, Monday. - PHOTO: AP SPAIN FINDS 17 DEAD MIGRANTS, 100 SURVIVORS AT SEA MADRID (AP) – Spanish rescue workers combed the seas and shores of southern Spain on Tuesday, searching for 17 missing migrants a day after finding the bodies of 17 other migrants who died trying to cross the Medi- terranean in boats departing from North Africa. The Spanish Civil Guard said it had found four bodies of migrants and 22 survi- vors Monday, all men from northern Africa, after their wooden dinghy hit a reef close to the coast, west of the Strait of Gibraltar. The Civil Guard said 13 of the survi- vors were thought to be un- accompanied minors. It also said 17 other people traveling were missing, but could have reached Spanish shores. The Civil Guard on Tuesday resumed the search for them both on sea and land. Earlier on Monday, Spanish maritime rescuers found 80 people, including five women, and recovered the bodies of 13 dead mi- grants in the Alboran Sea, part of the western Medi- terranean migrant route into Europe. The migrants were trav- eling in two different boats, the Spanish Maritime Rescue Service said, adding that they were all transferred to the Spanish enclave of Melilla, which borders Morocco. The U.N. says over 2,160 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year, 564 of them trying to reach Spain. At the Strait of Gibraltar on the western edge of the Mediterranean, Africa and Eu- rope are only 8.7 miles apart but the waters there can be dangerous due to high winds and strong currents. Still, the short distance has made that route the most popular choice for migrants heading to Eu- rope after fleeing violence or poverty at home. Nearly 54,000 migrants have entered Europe this year through Spain, more than the combined migrant arrivals to Italy and Greece, which had been the most popular migrant destinations in pre- vious years. One-fifth of them arrived in October, the month with most migrant arrivals so far this year, according to U.N. statistics. Macron was in the northeastern French city of Verdun on Tuesday as part of centenary commemorations for the end of World War I. Several graves found in Iraq’s Salahuddin province contain the remains of victims of the 2014 Camp Speicher massacre, when the militants killed around 1,700 Iraqi security forces and army cadets. Migrants arrive in late October at the port of San Roque, southern Spain, after being rescued by Spain’s Maritime Rescue Service in the Strait of Gibraltar. - PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2018 The Insurance Broker for all your Insurance needs Unit# 10B Cayman Falls | P.O. Box 11118 Grand Cayman KY1-1008 Tel: 345-943-2475 | Fax: 345-943-2472 Email: info@cipil.net www.cipil.net Relax You’re with us. 180406-Ad-Compass-QrtPg.indd 11/24/18 4:07:09 PM London police arrest 5 men in Grenfell Tower effigy video LONDON (AP) – London po- lice said Tuesday that they have arrested five men over a video that showed a card- board model of Grenfell Tower being burned on a bonfire – an act condemned by bereaved families and sur- vivors of the apartment-block blaze that killed 72 people. The Metropolitan Police force said the men turned themselves in at a police sta- tion late Monday and were arrested on suspicion of a public order offense after al- legedly creating a copy of the fire-ravaged west London public housing tower. The men, who range in age from 19 to 55, remained in cus- tody Tuesday but had not been charged. Survivors of the blaze expressed disgust at the video, which showed a large flammable model marked “Grenfell Tower,” complete with paper figures at the win- dows, being set on fire. Khadijah Mamudu, whose mother and younger brother escaped the June 14, 2017, firestorm, called the burning of the model a “vile act.” Prime Minister Theresa May called the video “ut- terly unacceptable,” and judge Martin Moore-Bick, who is leading an inquiry into the blaze, said it was “shocking and distressing to all those involved.” Although it was not clear when the video was taken, it emerged on social media at a time of year when Britons celebrate Guy Fawkes Day. Many across the country light fireworks and bonfires to mark Fawkes’s failure to blow up Parliament in 1605. Former Nazi SS camp guard, 94, goes on trial in Germany MUENSTER, Germany (AP) – A 94-year-old former SS en- listed man went on trial Tuesday in Germany, facing hundreds of counts of acces- sory to murder for alleged crimes committed during the years he served as a guard at the Nazis’ Stutthof concen- tration camp. Johann Rehbogen was pushed into the Muenster state court trial in a wheel- chair, a wooden cane at his side and briefcase on his lap. He appeared alert and at- tentive as presiding judge Rainer Brackhane asked him questions, answering in slow, concise sentences. Rehbogen is accused of working as a guard at the camp east of Danzig, which is today the Polish city of Gdansk, from June 1942 to about early September 1944. There is no evidence linking him to a specific crime, but over 60,000 people were killed at Stutthof and prosecutors argue that as a guard, he was an acces- sory to at least hundreds of those deaths. The retired civil servant showed no reaction as pros- ecutor Andreas Brendel read the accusations against him, detailing the horrific way prisoners at Stutthof were killed. Some were given le- thal injections of gaso- line or phenol directly to their hearts, shot or starved. Others were forced outside in winter without clothes until they died of exposure, or put to death in the gas chamber. “Anyone who heard the screams from outside the gas chamber would have known that people were fighting for their lives,” Brendel said. Rehbogen, a former SS Sturmmann – roughly equiv- alent to the U.S. Army rank of specialist – does not deny serving in the camp during the war, but has told investi- gators he was unaware of the killings and did not partici- pate in them. No pleas are entered in Germany and Andreas Tinkl, one of Rehbogen’s attorneys, would not comment on his client’s defense. He said Re- hbogen would address the court at some point during the trial, which is scheduled into January. Rehbogen lives in Borken, near the Dutch border. In def- erence to his age and health, the trial is being restricted to a maximum of two hours a day, on no more than two non-consecutive days a week. At the same time, because he was under 21 at the time of his alleged crimes, he is being tried in juvenile court and faces a maximum 10 years in prison if convicted. Seventeen Stutthof survi- vors or relatives of victims have joined the trial as co- plaintiffs, but Brendel said it was unclear whether any would testify in person due to their ages. In one of several state- ments read by their attor- neys, survivor Judy Meisel remembered being forced by the Germans into a ghetto at age 12, where she said she endured hunger, daily humili- ation and terror. “But I was not prepared for what came next,” said Meisel, who today lives in Minneapolis. “Next came Stutthof and I experienced the unimaginable, the hell organized and executed by the SS.” Rehbogen, who was given headphones so he could clearly follow the testimony, showed no reaction as Meisel said the last time she saw her mother, they were both standing among a group of naked women about to be forced into the gas chamber, before she herself was able to break away. “Stutthof was organized mass murder through the SS, made possible through the help of the guards,” she said. Ben Cohen, Meisel’s grandson who came from New York to attend the trial, said hearing her statement with one of her former cap- tors in the same room was both important and moving. “I know her story so well it is emotional every time I hear it, but it takes on more importance than my own emotions now,” he said. The Simon Wiesenthal Center, which helped lo- cate Stutthof survivors for the case, stressed that even more than 70 years after the end of World War II it is not too late to pursue justice. “The passage of time in no way diminishes the guilt of Holocaust perpetrators and old age should not afford protection to those who com- mitted such heinous crimes,” said the center’s head Nazi hunter, Efraim Zuroff. Even though the number of suspects is dwindling, the special federal prosecutor’s office that investigates Nazi war crimes still has multiple cases ongoing. The legal reasoning that being a camp guard is itself enough to be found guilty of accessory to murder, even without specific evidence of a crime, was first used suc- cessfully against former Ohio autoworker John Demjanjuk in 2011. Demjanjuk was convicted on allegations he served as a Sobibor death camp guard. He denied the accusation and died before his appeal could be heard. The 2015 conviction of former Auschwitz guard Oskar Groening using the same argument, however, was upheld by Germany’s top criminal court on appeal. Smoke and flames rise from the Grenfell Tower high-rise building in west London on June 14, 2017. - PHOTO: AP Former SS guard Johann Rehbogen holds his walking stick at the beginning of a trial in Muenster, Germany, Tuesday. - PHOTO: DPA VIA APNext >