ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018 High of 88 Low of 77 Smooth to slight with wave heights less than 2 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 ENSNARED IN CAYMAN’S $50M ‘SAFETY NET’ LOCAL | PAGE 3 YOUNG CAYMANIAN WINS LAURELS AT FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL PremierHealth Think of a number, then think of a health plan. BritCay settled 257,684 health claims in 2017. 97% in 5 working days and 60% automatically. Premier Health is number one for great numbers! British Caymanian Insurance Agencies Limited acts solely as an agent on behalf of Colonial Medical Insurance Company Limited and it does not act as an insurance broker on behalf of its customers. Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE AGENCIES LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life LEGISLATION TO OUTLAW STALKING JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com New legislation aims to make stalking a specific criminal offense in the Cayman Is- lands for the first time. Amendments to the Penal Code combined with a new Stalking Bill go to the Legislative Assembly later this month. The two bills allow people who are being stalked to seek a protection order from the courts, and create a new framework for police to bring criminal charges where necessary. The lack of proper legislation on stalking was highlighted earlier this year, when a young woman complained she was being harassed by an ex-boyfriend. The man had followed her to the Cayman Islands from Canada, moved into the same apartment complex and started showing up at her work. But it was not until he began bombarding her with texts and mes- sages from multiple phones and social media accounts that police began to assemble the ev- idence to prosecute him for harassment. GOVERNMENT ARGUES AGAINST CUBAN MIGRANT APPEAL S KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com The appeal hearing involving seven Cuban migrants seeking asylum in Cayman continued into late Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, with the Cubans’ attorney, Alastair David, and Crown counsel Michael Smith ar- guing over whether the Immigration Appeals Tribunal was correct in denying the migrants’ applications for asylum. Mr. David has argued that the Cubans did not receive a fair hearing of their asylum ap- plications because they did not receive legal aid and because the Immigration Appeals Tri- bunal did not sufficiently explain its reasons for denying their applications. The tribunal needs to spell out in its decisions all of the factors it considered, otherwise the Cubans will not have sufficient information to know if they can appeal the decision, he said. On Tuesday afternoon, Mr. David went into further detail about his clients’ background, and GOVERNOR TOURS SISTER ISLANDS New governor Martyn Roper and his wife Elisabeth spent their first weekend in the Cayman Islands exploring Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. They touched down in Little Cayman on Friday morning, accompanied by a small group of officials, including Chief Officer for the Ministry of District Administration Stran Bodden, Head of the Governor’s Office Mat- thew Forbes, and Policy Adviser Simone Eade. The group toured the Central Caribbean Marine Institute, before heading to the Na- tional Trust Visitors Centre, the police station, the Little Cayman Museum and the Education Services Centre. A public welcome reception, featuring a musical presentation by students of the Little Cayman School, was held at the Little Cayman Command Centre. They then flew to Cayman Brac, where they attended a welcome reception at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre, which featured musical performances from the Layman E. Scott school choir and the school’s steel pan band During the reception, Mrs. Roper was presented with a bouquet of flowers in a thatched bag. The governor was joined by Premier Alden McLaughlin and other guests for dinner that evening. On Saturday, the governor and his party took part in the Cayman Islands Cancer Soci- ety’s annual 5K Stride/Walk before addressing a health fair at the Cayman Brac Beach Resort. They then toured the Water Authority plant, Walton’s Mango Manor, Faith Hospital, the Governor Martyn Roper takes a selfie on his phone with Premier Alden McLaughlin on the edge of the Bluff during a tour of Cayman Brac on Saturday. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 2 » REPUBLICANS MAKE GAINS IN SENATE Democrats take House control WASHINGTON (AP) – Democrats seized the House majority from President Donald Trump’s Re- publican Party on Tuesday in a suburban revolt that threatened what’s left of the president’s governing agenda. But the GOP gained ground in the Senate and preserved key governorships, beating back a “blue wave” that never fully materialized. The mixed verdict in the first nationwide election of Trump’s presidency underscored the limits of his hardline immi- gration rhetoric in America’s evolving political landscape, where college-educated voters in the nation’s suburbs rejected his warnings of a migrant “inva- sion.” But blue-collar voters and rural America embraced his ag- gressive talk and stances. The new Democratic House majority will end the Republican Party’s dominance in Wash- ington for the final two years of Trump’s first term with major questions looming about health- care, immigration and govern- ment spending. “Tomorrow will be a new day in America,” declared House Mi- nority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who would be in line to become the next House speaker. But the Democrats’ edge is narrow. With 218 seats needed for a majority, Democrats have won 219 and the Republicans 193, with winners undetermined in 23 races. Trump addressed the results at a post-election news confer- ence midday Wednesday. The president’s party will maintain control of the executive branch of the government, in ad- dition to the Senate, but Demo- crats suddenly have a foothold that gives them subpoena power PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 »2 LOCAL&REGIONAL Kirkconnell Community Care Centre, Heritage House, Le So- leil Farm, the Sports Field and the new emergency shelter. The group’s last stop was the Bluff, where the governor and premier took time to take a selfie on the cliff’s edge. “Lissie and I have been bowled over by the gener- osity of our welcome in both Little Cayman and Cayman Brac,” said Governor Roper in a press statement. “We now appreciate that the Islands have three distinct identities. What unites them is a shared history. We are both eager to learn more about the history and the future needs of these communities when we return later this year.” The governor went on an- other tour, a less scenic one, on Monday, when he vis- ited Northward prison with Minister for Home Affairs Tara Rivers to review the fa- cility and discuss operational items with the prison’s in- terim director, Steven Barrett, and his team. During the tour, they dis- cussed the formation of the new Independent Mon- itoring Board, which was trained by experts from the U.K. last week, a government press release noted. Governor Roper also dropped into a training ses- sion to meet members of the board and the trainers. The training was led by Sue Bird and Deborah White, who have more than 20 years’ ex- perience working with the U.K. Independent Moni- toring Board. The board will monitor the conditions and treatment of prison inmates in Cayman. Next day, Governor Roper attended his first Cabinet meeting, at the Government Administration Building, where he joined Premier McLaughlin, Deputy Gov- ernor Franz Manderson and other Cabinet members. Later in the afternoon, he continued his individual meetings with government officials and held discussions with Attorney General Sam Bulgin. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - THURSDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (PG13) 1:35 I 4:00 VIP I 8:00 I 9:35 THE NUTCRACKER AND THE FOUR REALMS (PG) 1:20 I 3:45 I 6:40 HALLOWEEN (2018) (R) 1:00 VIP I 4:35 I 7:05 I 9:10 VENOM (PG13) 1:10 NOBODY’S FOOL (R) 1:50 I 4:35 I 7:10 I 10:00 A STAR IS BORN (R) 12:30 HUNTER KILLER (R) 9:45 JOHNNY ENGLISH STRIKES AGAIN (PG) 3:35 I 5:45 Murder appeal begins via video link Brothers are in prison in the U.K. CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal began its session earlier than usual on Wednesday, when attor- neys for Osbourne Douglas and Justin D’Angelo Ramoon began their submissions. Mr. Douglas, 31, and Mr. Ramoon, 26, are appealing their convictions for the murder of Jason Powery in central George Town in July 2015. Mr. Powery, 20, was from West Bay. The appellants, who are brothers, were transferred in June 2017 from North- ward Prison to a jail in the U.K. Their lead attorneys are also in the U.K., re- sulting in the joint appeal being dealt with via video link. The brothers were not part of the video link, but they were connected to it via telephone. Given the time differ- ence between Cayman and the U.K., court was listed to start at 5:45 a.m. local time on Wednesday, with appropriate staff reporting for duty accordingly. Court adjourned around 11:30 a.m. and was scheduled to continue on Thursday, also with an early starting time. The brothers were found guilty of murder in May 2016, after electing to be tried by judge alone. Justice Charles Quin found them both guilty of murder, concluding that Mr. Ramoon had shot Mr. Powery, while Mr. Douglas had handed him the gun and then driven the getaway car. Crown evidence in- cluded two witnesses at the scene, CCTV and forensics. Defense attorneys ques- tioned the character and/ or motivation of the Crown witnesses. Mr. Douglas and Mr. Ramoon, who did not give evidence at their trial, agreed that their images would have been on the CCTV because they lived in the area. The shooting oc- curred outside the Globe Bar near Martin Drive, off Shedden Road. Mr. Douglas, who was sentenced to 34 years im- prisonment, is represented by lead counsel Charles Miskin in the U.K., who is instructed by attorney Laurence Aiolfi, who re- mains in Cayman. Mr. Ramoon, who re- ceived a sentence of 35 years, is represented by lead counsel Sean Larkin in the U.K., with instructing attorney Prathna Bodden remaining in Cayman. Responding to the ap- peals on behalf of the Di- rector of Public Prose- cutions is lead counsel David Perry, assisted by senior Crown counsel Elisabeth Lees. Sir John Goldring, court president, is hearing the appeal with justices Sir Bernard Rix and Sir Alan Moses. The Ropers arrive on Little Cayman. Governor tours Sister Islands CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 WASHINGTON (AP) – Attorney General Jeff Sessions was pushed out Wednesday as the country’s chief law enforce- ment officer after enduring more than a year of blistering and personal attacks from President Donald Trump over his recusal from the Russia investigation. Sessions told the presi- dent in a one-page letter that he was submitting his resig- nation “at your request.” Trump announced in a tweet that he was naming Sessions’ chief of staff Mat- thew Whitaker, a former United States attorney from Iowa, as acting attorney gen- eral. Whitaker has criticized special counsel Robert Muel- ler’s investigation into poten- tial coordination between the president’s Republican cam- paign and Russia. The resignation was the culmination of a toxic re- lationship that frayed just weeks into the attorney gen- eral’s tumultuous tenure, when he stepped aside from the Mueller investigation. Trump blamed the deci- sion for opening the door to the appointment of Mueller, who took over the Russia investigation and began ex- amining whether Trump’s hectoring of Sessions was part of a broader ef- fort to obstruct justice and stymie the probe. Asked whether Whitaker would assume control over Mueller’s investigation, Jus- tice Department spokes- woman Sarah Flores said Whitaker would be “in charge of all matters under the purview of the Depart- ment of Justice.” The Jus- tice Department did not announce a departure for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who ap- pointed Mueller more than a year and a half ago and has closely overseen his work since then. Whitaker once opined about a situation in which Trump could fire Sessions and then appoint an acting attorney general who could stifle the funding of Muel- ler’s probe. “So I could see a sce- nario where Jeff Sessions is replaced with a recess ap- pointment and that attorney general doesn’t fire Bob Mueller, but he just reduces his budget to so low that his investigation grinds to al- most a halt,” Whitaker said during an interview with CNN in July 2017. Asked if that would be to dwindle the special coun- sel’s resources, Whitaker re- sponded, “Right.” In an op-ed for CNN, Whitaker wrote: “Mueller has come up to a red line in the Russia 2016 elec- tion-meddling investigation that he is dangerously close to crossing.” The relentless attacks on Sessions came even though the Alabama Republican was the first U.S. senator to endorse Trump and de- spite the fact that his crime- fighting agenda and pri- orities – particularly his hawkish immigration en- forcement policies – largely mirrored the president’s. But the relationship was irreparably damaged in March 2017 when Ses- sions, acknowledging previ- ously undisclosed meetings with the Russian ambas- sador and citing his work as a campaign aide, recused himself from the Russia investigation. The decision infuriated Trump, who repeatedly la- mented that he would have never selected Sessions if he had known the attorney gen- eral would recuse. The re- cusal left the investigation in the hands of Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller as special counsel two months later after Trump fired then- FBI Director James Comey. The rift lingered for the duration of Sessions’ tenure, and the attorney general, despite praising the presi- dent’s agenda and hewing to his priorities, never man- aged to return to Trump’s good graces. The deteriorating re- lationship became a soap opera stalemate for the ad- ministration. Trump be- littled Sessions but, per- haps following the advice of aides, held off on firing him. The attorney general, for his part, proved determined to remain in the position until dismissed. A logjam broke when Republican senators who had publicly backed Sessions began signaling a willingness to consider a new attorney general. In attacks delivered on Twitter, in person and in in- terviews, Trump called Ses- sions weak and beleaguered, complained that he was not more aggressively pur- suing allegations of corrup- tion against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton and called it “disgraceful” that Sessions wasn’t more serious in scru- tinizing the origins of the Russia investigation for pos- sible law enforcement bias – even though the attorney general did ask the Justice De- partment’s inspector general to look into those claims. The broadsides esca- lated in recent months, with Trump telling a television in- terviewer that Sessions “had never had control” of the Jus- tice Department and snidely accusing him on Twitter of not protecting Republican interests by allowing two GOP congressmen to be in- dicted before the election. Sessions endured most of the name-calling in si- lence, though he did issue two public statements de- fending the department, in- cluding one in which he said he would serve “with integ- rity and honor” for as long as he was in the job. Trump forces out Jeff Sessions as US attorney general Jeff Sessions3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018 Remembrance PUBLIC HOLIDAY Dy t: 949 5111 e: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com EDITION BOOKING DEADLINE Monday, November 12th NO PUBLICATION Tuesday, November 13th Wednesday, November 7th Wednesday, November 14th Thursday, November 8th Thursday, November 15th Friday, November 9th Friday, November 16th Tuesday, November 13th PLEASE BE ADVISED there will be no newspaper on Monday, November 12th Remembrance Day (Public Holiday) Celebrate PUBLICATION DEADLINES: Young Caymanian wins laurels at Florida film festival SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Teri Quappe is making a splash. The Caymanian filmmaker saw her short film, “Inter- loper,” earn the designation of Best Experimental Short Film at the Cutting Edge Film Festival in Pompano Beach, Florida last week. Ms. Quappe’s entry was one of more than 150 films enrolled in the festival, and it beat 21 other applicants in the category of Best Ex- perimental Short Film. Before Pompano Beach, “Interloper” was shown at Cayman’s Poin- ciana Film Festival and in two showings at Camana Bay Cinema. “It was amazing, honestly. We had such big support from Cayman and elsewhere,” Ms. Quappe said. “I was com- pletely surprised. We weren’t even expecting to get into the festival, frankly, since it was my first film. That’s not a normal thing in the industry.” The filmmaker recently graduated with a bachelor of arts in practical filmmaking from Met Film School in London, and “Interloper” was her final film project at the school. It was filmed entirely in November 2017 in and around a small cabin in Scot- land with a crew of six and a budget of $4,000. “Interloper” was shown at the New Zealand Interna- tional Film Festival in June and it will be shown in Nash- ville’s HerStory Cinephilia Society film festival later in November. Ms. Quappe will participate in a question-and- answer session in Nashville. “I’m really excited to be able to go there and talk about the film,” Ms. Quappe said. “And it will really be nice to talk to other film- makers about their films and other women in the industry.” The film was written and directed by Ms. Quappe, and stars Melanie Ebanks as a young woman seeking refuge from a recent violent attack. The woman arrives at a re- mote cabin in the hopes of healing, but she settles in for an unsettling night that brings some unforeseen occurrences. Ms. Quappe said she is also working on a novel. She directed “Jekyll & Hyde” at the Prospect Playhouse a couple of years ago, and next year, she will direct a production of “Into the Woods.” Casting for that musical is expected to start in January, and the play will run next September. Ms. Quappe can be reached at quappe.teri@hotmail.com, and people can learn more about ‘Interloper’ by visiting the short film’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/InterloperShortFilm. Teri Quappe Actress Melanie Ebanks appears in a scene from Teri Quappe’s ‘Interloper,’ shot on location in Scotland. Education authorities have launched an investi- gation into an incident in which a school bus appar- ently struck a dog. A student on board the bus, which was transporting Clifton Hunter High School students, filmed the injured dog and posted the video to social media. The Department of Ed- ucation Services and the Ministry of Education said Tuesday that they had been made aware of the incident. The matter was brought to authorities’ attention by an inquiry from a member of the media. Cellphones are banned from Clifton Hunter High School, but principal Pau- line Beckford said she would be trying to ascertain details about the incident and not the unsanctioned use of a phone. “Given the nature and the seriousness of this incident,” she said, “we will be treating the matter [of cellphone pos- session] sympathetically to enable the incident to be fully investigated.” The school will work to find out the location of the incident so that relevant an- imal welfare agencies can lo- cate the dog and try to pro- vide any appropriate medical treatment. The bus has been identified, and the school has counseling available for the students who were on the bus at the time. All transportation services for Clifton Hunter are con- tracted to private providers. No buses are owned or oper- ated by the government. All service providers are bound by a contract which stipulates that they must re- port any incidents to both the relevant school and the Department of Educa- tion Services. The Department of Edu- cation Services has contacted the service provider in this case, and is in the process of conducting an investigation into the incident. Investigation launched into school bus hitting dog WOMAN ADMITS POSSESSING 1.77 POUNDS OF GANJA CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A woman charged in con- nection with 1.77 pounds of ganja pleaded guilty on Tuesday to simple posses- sion of the controlled drug, but not guilty to possession with intent to supply. Najah Safiyah Lewis Brown, 39, admitted having the ganja in her posses- sion in this jurisdiction on April 30, 2018. She also pleaded guilty to consump- tion of ganja. No details of the charges were aired before Magis- trate Valdis Foldats, but de- fense attorney Greg Burke asked for a case management hearing, which was the set for Dec. 6. On that date, if the intent to supply charge proceeds, a trial date would be set. A student on board the bus … filmed the injured dog and posted the video to social media.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” Three years should have been ample time for the Cayman Islands government to fix the country’s broken social welfare system … or at least get started. Officials had been given a roadmap to reform, in the form of a comprehensive audit from 2015 detailing the major failings of Cayman’s $50 million “safety net” – actually a patchwork of improvised programs, supports and handouts – which lacks an overall strategy, meaningful accountability and, sometimes, any legislative framework. What also seems to be missing is the requisite political will on behalf of our elected leaders … and, apparently, an appropriate amount of concern for proper stewardship of the public funds involved, or for the well-being of the residents who receive the assistance (or those who need assistance, but cannot currently obtain it). A recent assessment by the auditor general shows that government officials have so far failed to develop the primary framework that will be the basis for future reforms. The auditors state, “The Ministry of Community Affairs has started work to develop a social assistance strategy, although timescales are not yet confirmed.” That is a generous way of saying they are still at the drawing board, and they do not have a “due date” by which to hand in their homework. (To this we’ll add a favored expression of ours: The difference between a doer and a dilettante is a deadline.) More specifically, ministry officials told auditors they have formed a working group to review data and outline a business case – work that is preliminary to developing the aforementioned strategy. Auditors say there has been no change since they last updated their observations, back in July 2017. So much for the drawing board. The ministry has not even decided on using pencils vs. crayons. While officials procrastinate, the problematic social programs continue to consume $50 million per year in taxpayer funds – without it being possible to know if those resources are going to the right people, for the right purposes or in the right amounts. Is $50 million too much to be spending on social welfare programs in Cayman? Is it too little? We do not know. Nobody knows. That is the main problem. Clearly, amid all the spending, pockets of poverty persist in Cayman, and fundamental needs (i.e., food and shelter) go unmet in some segments of the population. Of particular concern are the elderly, young children and people with physical or mental disabilities – those who cannot take care of their own needs without assistance from greater society. In a community as prosperous as Cayman, which is rich in terms of collective wealth and charitable benevo- lence, there is no acceptable excuse not to care for our most vulnerable citizens. Our thoughts on social welfare are straightforward: People who are truly in need (and only those people) should receive what they need – no more, no less. At the same time, officials must be vigilant over all expenditures from the public purse, and not waste taxpayer funds on poor management practices, ineffec- tive programs or misallocations to adults of sound mind and body who should be providing for themselves. Cayman’s mantra must always be “self-reliance.” To allow our country to devolve into a welfare state would not only be fiscally unsustainable for our minuscule popu- lation, it would constitute the end of the society created by the “Cayman Miracle.” Ensnared in Cayman’s $50M ‘safety net’ THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The limits of our economic knowledge The good news is that the U.S. economy is now on track to grow more than 3 percent this year for the first time in 13 years. The bad news is that the economy would be growing even faster if it were not for policy mistakes. Business people and in- vestors hate uncertainty, and the more uncertainty, the less prone they are to invest, particularly in new things that have a greater risk. And it is precisely the will- ingness to invest in higher- risk investments that most often has the greatest payoff, both for the individual and the economy. The Trump administra- tion deserves credit for cut- ting back on needless, coun- terproductive and vague regulations that only served to increase uncertainty. It reduced tax rates for busi- nesses and individuals, thus increasing incentives to work and invest. On the other side of the ledger, the administration has greatly increased uncertainty by arbitrarily increasing tar- iffs on a number of coun- tries. Granted, this has led to perhaps some improve- ment in trade treaties – but the continued uncertainty of what the resolution with China will be is an economic drag. The administration has also increased uncer- tainty by failing to rein in federal spending. Rocket scientists and space engineers are able to place the Mars Rover on a far-away planet with great precision, but economists cannot agree on how much growth is possible, let alone hit a target with some rea- sonable precision. During the Obama years, many econ- omists who supported his policies were selling a line that we had reached a “new normal” where the economy could not grow more than two percent a year on a sus- tained basis. Other econo- mists, including this writer, argued that such a limitation was pure bunk. The president has been critical of the Fed for in- creasing interest rates – and most of the economic es- tablishment has sided with the Fed against the pres- ident. (Real estate devel- opers, for obvious reasons, normally favor low interest rates.) The president may have been wrong, but in fair- ness, the Fed has a dismal forecasting record and even former Chairman Alan Greenspan confessed in his book, “The Map and the Ter- ritory,” to having made major policy mistakes. What is the right rate of interest? How does one know that? Why is the government in the business of trying to set interest rates anyway? (The interest rate is the price of money – and most people have learned that disaster normally is the result of government bureaucrats at- tempting to set the price of almost anything.) Students were taught that the interest rate consisted of two compo- nents – the expected rate of inflation and the real rate of return to money. Real rates were normally considered to be in the 2 percent to 3 per- cent range – so if the ex- pected inflation rate was 2 percent, the nominal rate of interest for the safest in- vestments (like government bonds) would be 4 percent to 5 percent. Sounds so simple. But year by year, we have less and less knowledge about the rate of inflation. Back when people spent most of their income on a largely standardized set of goods, it was relatively easy to measure the changes in the price level. A couple of hun- dred years ago, a family may have spent 70 percent of its income on food – flour, corn, rice, eggs, etc. Now the family spends a small fraction of that on largely “prepared” meals. How do you compare the real cost of an old landline with a smartphone – two dif- ferent products? Rather than a small yearly amount of inflation – given the change in what people now buy in goods and ser- vices and the benefits that they obtain, it can be ar- gued we have actually had a massive amount of deflation – meaning a much larger in- crease in living standards than has been reported. Many rant about medical in- flation, but new devices and drugs not only enhance our lives but keep us alive. Is that deflation or inflation? Some economists, like the well-known Canadian economist Michael Walker, argue that, as the popula- tion ages, saving rates rise – and the increasing quantity of saving should cause the real rate of interest to fall. There is also evidence that it now may take less new cap- ital investment (from saving) to obtain a given increase in output. Others argue the opposite. The point is that there is much that economists do not know, but there are some things that good economists do know, and hence policy- makers ought to concentrate on the knowns. For instance, we know that increasing gov- ernment spending as a per- centage of GDP beyond some point is a net drag on eco- nomic growth and employ- ment – and that the United States is well beyond that point, as are most developed countries. Thus the adminis- tration and Congress should reduce spending as a per- centage of GDP. Economic growth, em- ployment and real wages can continue to improve, if policymakers concentrate on removing the known bar- riers to growth, rather than trying to manipulate vari- ables where they lack suf- ficient knowledge and/or control, or creating some new magical government spending scheme. The most successful countries tend to have smaller and simpler government sectors. The les- sons should be clear. Richard W. Rahn is chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth and Improbable Success Productions. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. RICHARD W. RAHN Rather than a small yearly amount of inflation – given the change in what people now buy in goods and services and the benefits that they obtain, it can be argued we have actually had a massive amount of deflation – meaning a much larger increase in living standards than has been reported.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018 Twenty-eight civil ser- vants graduated recently with certificates, associate degrees and bachelor degrees from the Civil Service College. Fifteen of the graduates earned certificates in Public Administration, while eight received their Associate of Arts Degree in Public Admin- istration and five more earned a Bachelor of Science degree. “As the Head of the Civil Service, I am so pleased that the Civil Service College is in- vesting in our employees, who are our greatest asset,” said Deputy Governor Franz Man- derson during the recent grad- uation ceremony. “By helping civil servants to realize their dreams, we secure a better fu- ture for them and the Cayman Islands overall. Our goal is to create an agile civil service which ensures we have the right people, in the right roles and at the right time.” The Civil Service College offers civil servants access to free education, including uni- versity-level courses. Karen Christian, an HR Audit senior, graduated for a second time and now holds an Associate Degree in Public Administration and a Bach- elor’s Degree in Manage- ment with a concentration in Human Resources. “I am so blessed,” said Ms. Christian on earning her newest degree from the Civil Service College. “This experi- ence has provided me with the confidence to apply what I have learned. It was well worth the effort and walking across that stage is so lib- erating. Adapting the atti- tude ‘Yes, I can’ for investing in higher education doesn’t only benefit the individual, but their children and their children’s children and ulti- mately the country. Educa- tion is the passport to the fu- ture that doesn’t expire.” Stephen Atherley, a prison officer, was the Civil Service College’s top scholar for 2018, and he earned his Associate of Arts degree In Public Ad- ministration with honors. “Education and learning are lifelong processes. Per- sonal development is vital,” said Mr. Atherley about his journey in higher education. “This world is ever changing and one needs to keep abreast of current best practices and be familiar with changes and modern technology.” Gloria McField-Nixon, the chief officer for the port- folio of the Civil Service, at- tended the graduation cere- mony and was thrilled to see so many capable graduates sharing the stage. Ms. McField Nixon said the students’ commitment to lifelong learning was “highly commendable,” adding, “I am impressed by the many ways these graduates are already applying what they have learned to fulfill our joint pur- pose, ‘To make lives better.’” Learn more about Lakeeeld College School Local appointments available November 10 - 12, contact Felicia Neil at fneil@lcs.on.ca Naturally inspired to share, to learn, to lead, to innovate—to be their best. From our outstanding facilities to our nurturing staff and challenging programs, the many aspects of Lakefield College School’s nature seamlessly come together to create a truly authentic learning experience. Push for port referendum continues Organizers of a petition calling for a referendum on the cruise project continue to collect signatures in an effort to trigger a national vote. Campaigners have been collecting signatures since late August. They aim to present a petition to Cabinet signed by more than 25 per- cent of the electorate – 5,288 registered voters – calling for a referendum on the planned cruise and cargo port. “The collection of sig- natures is going very well. We are getting close to the threshold required. However, we will be continuing to col- lect signatures in excess of the requirement,” said Ka- trina Jurn, one of the volun- teers involved in the refer- endum campaign. “We will then have to vali- date all signatures to ensure that all who have signed are registered voters, and pick up any potential duplicates. We are confident of surpassing our target and will disclose the numbers once we have gone through the verifica- tion process.” Organizers have made the petition available at var- ious stores and businesses throughout Grand Cayman, and note that civil servants are allowed to sign the peti- tion unless they are directly involved with the project. Ms. Jurn added, “In addi- tion to petition tables at lo- cations across the island, our volunteers have been taking the petition door to door, to make the petition more ac- cessible. We have been over- whelmed by the outpouring of support from the com- munity for the petition, with many people expressing their appreciation for the oppor- tunity to have a say in this issue of significant concern and to exercise their demo- cratic rights as enshrined in the constitution.” Government opposes the idea of a referendum on the port project, and believes it has a mandate from the general election to go ahead with cruise piers in George Town harbor. Officials in the Ministry of Tourism have claimed that organizing a referendum would delay the project to such an extent that it would effectively kill it. For more information on the petition, call 327-5411. Civil Service College nets another class of graduates CIVIL SERVICE COLLEGE GRADUATING CLASS PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION CERTIFICATE Thomas Carter, Mark Anthony Ebanks, Owen Henry, Ana Lester, Tamara Loten, Claudette Maxwell, Samantha McLaughlin, Patricia Mendez, Marcia Myles, Cindy Powery, Gina Rankin-Bustillo, Andrea Singh, Amory Smith, Devin Tatum and Yvonne Walton ASSOCIATE OF ARTS DEGREE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Stephen Atherley, Wade Chase, Claire Fiedtkou, Adrian Neblett, Kimberley Powell, Windell Solomon, Shanna Wallace and Valis Whitelocke BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Karen Christian and Lisa Kelly BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN SOCIAL SCIENCE Tristaca Ebanks, Wendy Mellaneo and Fernando Soto These students are among the 28 that graduated in the latest Civil Service College class.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS to probe deep into Trump’s personal and professional missteps – and his long-with- held tax returns. Trump, emboldened by Republican wins in the Senate and scornful of GOP candidates he felt did not suf- ficiently embrace his support, delivered a stark warning to the new Democratic House majority on Wednesday: In- vestigate me, and I’ll inves- tigate you – and the govern- ment will grind to a halt. Noting that his Repub- lican Party retained control of the Senate on Tuesday, he said that if Democrats in the House come after him, “we’ve got” a thing called the U.S. Senate. Speaking at a wide- ranging White House press conference, Trump, by turns combative and conciliatory, said Democrats and Repub- licans should set aside parti- sanship to work together. It could have been a much bigger night for Democrats, who suffered stinging losses in Ohio and in Florida, where Trump-backed Republican Ron DeSantis ended Demo- crat Andrew Gillum’s bid to become the state’s first Af- rican-American governor. The 2018 elections also exposed an extraordinary political realignment in an electorate defined by race, gender, and education that could shape U.S. politics for years to come. The GOP’s successes were fueled by a coalition that is decidedly older, whiter, more male and less likely to have college degrees. Democrats relied more upon women, people of color, young people and college graduates. Record diversity on the ballot may have helped drive turnout. Voters were on track to send at least 99 women to the House, shattering the record of 84 now. The House was also getting its first two Muslim women, Massachusetts elected its first black con- gresswoman, and Tennessee got its first female senator. Three candidates had hoped to become their states’ first African-Amer- ican governors, although just one – Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams – was still in the running. Overall, women voted con- siderably more in favor of congressional Democratic candidates – with fewer than 4 in 10 voting for Re- publicans, according to Vo- teCast, a nationwide survey of more than 115,000 voters and about 20,000 nonvoters – conducted for The Associated Press by NORC at the Univer- sity of Chicago. In suburban areas where key House races were decided, female voters skewed significantly to- ward Democrats by a nearly 10-point margin. Democrats celebrated a handful of victories in their “blue wall” Midwestern states, electing or re-electing governors in Michigan, Penn- sylvania, Minnesota and in Wisconsin, where Scott Walker was defeated by state education chief Tony Evers. The road to a House ma- jority ran through two dozen suburban districts Hillary Clinton won in 2016. Dem- ocrats flipped seats in sub- urban districts outside of Washington, Philadel- phia, Miami, Chicago and Denver. Democrats also re- claimed a handful of blue- collar districts carried by both former President Barack Obama and Trump. The results were more mixed deeper into Trump country. In Kansas, Democrat Sharice Davids beat a GOP in- cumbent to become the first gay Native American woman elected to the House. But in Kentucky, one of the top Democratic recruits, retired Marine fighter pilot Amy Mc- Grath, lost her bid to oust to three-term Rep. Andy Barr. Trump sought to take credit for retaining the GOP’s Senate majority, even as the party lost control of the House. In a tweet Wednesday, he referred to the election re- sults as a “Big Victory.” History was working against the president in both the House and the Senate: The president’s party has traditionally suffered deep losses in his first midterm election, and 2002 was the only midterm election in the past three decades when the party holding the White House gained Senate seats. Democrats’ dreams of the Senate majority, always un- likely, were shattered after losses in top Senate bat- tlegrounds: Indiana, Mis- souri, Tennessee, North Da- kota and Texas. Some hurt worse than others. In Texas, Sen Ted Cruz staved off a tough chal- lenge from Democrat Beto O’Rourke, whose record- smashing fundraising and celebrity have set off buzz he could be a credible 2020 White House contender. Trump encouraged voters to view the 2018 midterms as a referendum on his leader- ship, pointing proudly to the surging economy at his re- cent rallies. Nearly 40 percent of voters cast their ballots to express opposition to the president, according to Vote- Cast, while one-in-four said they voted to express support for Trump. Overall, 6 in 10 voters said the country was headed in the wrong direc- tion, but roughly that same number described the na- tional economy as excellent or good. Twenty-five percent described healthcare and im- migration as the most impor- tant issues in the election. Nearly two-thirds said Trump was a reason for their vote. The president found par- tial success despite his cur- rent job approval, set at 40 percent by Gallup, the lowest at this point of any first-term president in the modern era. Both Barack Obama’s and Bill Clinton’s numbers were 5 points higher, and both suf- fered major midterm losses of 63 and 54 House seats respectively. Meanwhile, the close of the 2018 midterm season marked the unofficial opening of the next presiden- tial contest. At the time, officers said the lack of specific stalking leg- islation made this type of crime more difficult to prosecute. Now, changes to the legis- lation aim to address that gap. The amendment to the Penal Code outlines patterns of behavior that can be defined as stalking when repeated over time. They include repeatedly watching someone, following them, engaging in unwanted written or verbal communica- tion, intimidating, harassing or molesting the victim. The of- fense carries a penalty of four years in prison in the most ex- treme circumstances. The separate Stalking (Civil Jurisdiction) Bill allows vic- tims of stalking to seek a pro- tection order from the courts. This allows the courts to impose a ban on contacting or communicating with the victim. Breaching a protec- tion order carries penalties of up to a year in prison. In- spector Kevin Ashworth, man- ager of the police Family Sup- port Unit, said the legislation would enable police to better protect victims of stalking. “This allows police to look at patterns of behavior. Often you see lots of activities that aren’t exactly criminal on their own, but taken together as a course of action can amount to stalking,” he said. Passing sentence on Brett Moor, the defendant in the harassment case earlier this year, Magistrate Valdis Foldats said this was the “first case of stalking that we are aware of in the Cayman Islands.” Inspector Ashworth said there were likely several more cases that had not been reported to police or other authorities. He hopes the new legislation will convince people to come forward. “We will be looking to en- courage victims to come for- ward,” he said. “We aren’t running out to arrest people over one text message, but we want to listen to victims’ concerns and investigate. Two incidents are sufficient to in- voke an investigation.” He said civil remedies, like protection orders, provided an early alternative to criminal prosecution. He said the laws also provided means for po- lice to officially put people on notice that their behavior was unwanted and was consid- ered stalking. In some cases, he said, of- fenders were delusional and did not realize until the po- lice became involved that their behavior was unwanted. Such intervention also provides an additional layer of evidence for the courts. “If they persist after they have been told to stop, that is compelling evidence of in- tent,” he added. Inspector Ashworth said work on the bills predated the Moor case. He said the Min- istry of Community Affairs and the legislative drafting de- partment, supported by advo- cacy from the Business and Professional Women’s Club, had been working on the leg- islation for some time. why they should qualify as political refugees. One client, he said, was arrested and jailed for five days for distrib- uting CDs in Cuba with political messages against the government there. According to Mr. David, when the Cuban migrant put this fact in his asylum application, the Immigration Depart- ment did not find the pun- ishment against him to be “disproportionate” – one test for granting someone asylum is whether pun- ishments are propor- tionate to the crimes committed in the mi- grant’s country. “We’ve got a civil ser- vant in the Cayman Is- lands saying, ‘What’s wrong with arresting people for protesting?’” Mr. David said. During the hearing, Mr. David also said that one of the Cubans ad- mitted to the tribunal that he has a conviction for drug trafficking. How- ever, he said, this honesty by his client shows that the tribunal should have believed his other state- ments about being politi- cally persecuted. On Wednesday morning, Crown counsel Smith made his argu- ments, starting with ac- knowledging that Cuba indeed has an oppres- sive government – a “re- pressive Marxist dictator- ship,” he called it. However, not everyone who leaves Cuba does so for political reasons, he said. Some leave for eco- nomic reasons, including one appellant who appar- ently said he was plan- ning on going to Hon- duras and traveling to the U.S. from there. “Furthermore,” Mr. Smith said, “simply not liking your country’s government does not make you, a priori, a ref- ugee. Otherwise, Cayman would be full of U.K. asylum seekers fleeing Brexit and U.S. asylum seekers fleeing Trump.” Mr. Smith then ad- dressed Mr. David’s ar- gument that the Immi- gration Appeals Tribunal did not sufficiently ex- plain its reasons for denying the Cubans’ applications. While admitting that the three- to four-page decisions – compared to decisions that are typi- cally 20 pages or more in the U.K. – are not “exem- plars of judicial drafting,” he said that they were sufficient in explaining why the Cubans should be denied asylum. For the decisions to be unlawful, the Cubans would have to prove that they were “substantially prejudiced” by the lack of details in the judgments, Mr. Smith said. Moreover, having the Immigration Ap- peals Tribunal provide more details would not have altered their deci- sions, he said. Mr. Smith also ad- dressed Mr. David’s argu- ment that the Cubans did not receive a fair hearing because they were de- nied legal aid. He said the Cubans were provided translators for the hearings so they could understand what was going on, and that three of them were repre- sented by a Cuban doctor who lives here. However, Mr. David replied that the Cubans were all detained around the time of their hear- ings, and therefore could not access libraries to prepare for their cases. Even if they had access to libraries, they cannot read the English law text- books, he said. The hearing is sched- uled to conclude by the end of Wednesday. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Legislation to outlaw stalking Government argues against Cuban asylum appeals CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Voters cast their ballots Tuesday at Robious Elementary School in Chesterfield, Virginia. - PHOTO: AP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Democrats take House controlThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 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. THURSDAY, NOV. 8 ‘THE GRINCH’: A special premiere of “The Grinch” will be held at the Camana Bay Cinema at 6 p.m. All proceeds from the movie will be donated to Cayman Food Bank. Tickets must be purchased in advance for $15 at the Camana Bay Visitor Centre. Bring non- perishable food to donate when you purchase your ticket or on the night of the film and receive a voucher for a free small popcorn. Email info@camanabay.com. SISTER ISLANDS POST OFFICES CLOSURE: All post offices on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman will be closed for a staff function. The post offices will resume normal business hours on Friday. FRIDAY, NOV. 9 LIFE ON THE COLONY: Exhibition of artwork by Gordon Solomon at the National Gallery. Today through Dec. 5. For related events and school tours, email education@ nationalgallery.org.ky. SUNDAY, NOV. 11 REMEMBRANCE DAY: The annual Remembrance Sunday ceremony will be held at the Cenotaph outside Elmslie Memorial Church in George Town at 10:45 a.m. On Cayman Brac, the ceremony is outside the Government Administration Building, Stake Bay. Members of the public are invited and are asked to be seated by 10:30 a.m. Individuals or religious organizations who wish to lay wreaths at the Cenotaph, or the Seaman’s Memorial, should contact Chief Protocol Officer Meloney Syms, 244-3612 or email protocol@gov.ky, by Wednesday, Nov. 7. THURSDAY, NOV. 15 FIDDLER ON THE ROOF: Musical opens tonight at St. Ignatius School Hall. Shows are at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. Tickets on sale at the school office. VIP tickets $25. Others are $15 for adults, $10 for students. Family Pass for two shows, $50. $5 discount on all tickets for the matinee. Phone 949-9250 for further details. MOVEMBER INFORMATION NIGHT: November is designated as a month to highlight men’s health. Men (and women) are invited to attend an information evening at the Lions Community Centre, 7-9 p.m. For more information, visit www.movember.ky. PUB QUIZ: 7 p.m. at Fidel’s. Benefits Humane Society. Teams up to six members, $10 each. Contact 949-5189 or sarah.dyer.81@gmail.com. SATURDAY, NOV. 17 HOLIDAY WALK/RUN/ROLL: Organized by Triple C School to include wheelchairs. Registration in advance through www.caymanactive. com or at the school office. Registration on event day at 3:30 p.m. Walk starts at 4:30 p.m. Run starts at 5 p.m. A Christmas tree lighting at the school immediately following, with opportunity to hang an ornament for hope and love. Walk/Run/Roll fee is $25 per person for adults/$20 for students. Corporate and individual event sponsorships are available, visit www.triplecschool.org for details. BOOKS FOR SALE: Large selection at A. L. Thompson’s from the Humane Society Book Loft. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas books both adult and children’s available. CHILDREN’S STORY TIME: At 10:30 a.m. every other Saturday, George Town Public Library. Lasts approximately 45 minutes. Age range is 0 to 5 years. For more information on special programs at the library, call 949-5159. SUNDAY, NOV. 18 ONE DOG AT A TIME FUNDRAISER: Design your own biscuit/treat jar for your favorite dog or cat. ODAAT will be joining Three Girls and a Kiln to design a snack container. The pots have been pre-made, so participants can paint them in their own styles and colors. Nibbles for the event are included. 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-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 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018 Medical Specialisation Scholarships Now Available! Max. CI$125k per annum | 5-year scholarships available | Open to junior Caymanian doctors Call 244.2482 or visit www.education.gov.ky/scholarships for more information about requirements or to download an application form Application process open until 14 November Medical Specialisation Scholarships Now Available! Max. CI$125k per annum | 5-year scholarships available | Open to junior Caymanian doctors Call 244.2482 or visit www.education.gov.ky/scholarships for more information about requirements or to download an application form Application process open until 14 November Medical Specialisation Scholarships Now Available! Max. CI$125k per annum | 5-year scholarships available | Open to junior Caymanian doctors Call 244.2482 or visit www.education.gov.ky/scholarships for more information about requirements or to download an application form Application process open until 14 November Veteran Loxley Banks prepares to place a wreath at the memorial cross at the Elmslie Memorial Church in George Town during an earlier Remembrance Sunday. The upcoming service on Sunday, Nov. 11, will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS ‘Single-use’ chosen as word of the year Collins Dictionary says we’re hearing a lot more of ‘single-use.’ The adjective applied to disposable plastic products has been named the dictionary’s 2018 word of the year. Collins says use of the term has risen fourfold since 2013, as pollution climbs the political agenda. Tusk, May speak on Brexit amid hopes of elusive breakthrough LONDON (AP) – British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Council President Donald Tusk spoke by phone Wednesday amid signs of movement in deadlocked Brexit talks. Tusk tweeted that the pair spoke “to take stock of progress in #brexit talks and discuss way ahead.” Tusk has said he is willing to call a special EU summit if there are new pro- posals from Britain to un- block talks. May’s Cabinet has been inching closer to agreeing a common stance on the key issue – maintaining an open border between EU member Ireland and the U.K.’s Northern Ire- land after Britain leaves the EU. The emerging plan involves keeping the U.K. in a customs union with the EU until a perma- nent trade treaty is worked out, to remove the need for border checks. But some pro-Brexit Cabinet ministers want to see legal advice drawn up by Attorney General Geof- frey Cox before they agree to anything. They fear Britain being locked per- manently into a customs union with the EU, which would limit the U.K.’s ability to strike new trade deals around the world. Opposition Labour Party spokesman Keir Starmer also said the legal advice should be published, because “the public have the right to know precisely what the Cab- inet has signed up to and what the implications are for the future.” Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, but divorce negotiations have been hamstrung by divi- sions within May’s Conser- vative government over how close an economic relation- ship to seek with the bloc. Some ministers, including Treasury chief Philip Ham- mond, want to keep closely aligned with EU rules to avoid barriers to busi- ness with Britain’s biggest trading partner. Pro-Brexit Cabinet members want a cleaner break so that the U.K. can set its own trade policies and sign new deals around the world. A document leaked to the BBC suggests the gov- ernment hopes to bridge the Cabinet divide and strike a deal this month, which would then be put to lawmakers for approval. The memo describes how May would try to win par- liamentary and public sup- port for an agreement be- fore urging lawmakers to “put the country’s interests first” and back the deal in Parliament. The document appears to consist of notes rather than a finished proposal. May’s office did not deny it was genuine but said the docu- ment’s “childish language” and misspellings made clear it “doesn’t represent the gov- ernment’s thinking.” Political pioneers: Voters elect diverse, trailblazing candidates WASHINGTON (AP) – What is already the most diverse Congress ever will become even more so after Tuesday’s elections, which broke bar- riers of race and gender. For the first time, a pair of Native American con- gresswomen are headed to the House, in addition to two Muslim congress- woman. Massachusetts and Connecticut will also send black women to Congress as firsts for their states, while Arizona and Tennessee are getting their first fe- male senators. The high-profile midterm cycle that produced a re- cord number of women con- tenders and candidates of color means a number of winners will take office as trailblazers. The inclusive midterm victories bode well for future election cycles, said Kimberly Peeler-Allen, co-founder of Higher Heights for America, a national orga- nization focused on galva- nizing black women voters and electing black women as candidates. “This is going to be a long process to get us to a point of proportionate rep- resentation, but tonight is a giant step forward for what leadership can and will eventually look like in this country,” Peeler-Allen said. She added that even women of color who were unsuc- cessful will inspire a new crop of candidates, similar to the white women encour- aged to run after Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential election loss. Some of Tuesday’s black female pioneers, like Illinois nurse and Democrat Lauren Underwood and Connect- icut teacher and Democrat Jahana Hayes, were first- time candidates. Others, like Massachusetts’ Ayanna Pressley, were political vet- erans. Most were consid- ered longshots. Several will represent dis- tricts that are majority white and that have been histori- cally conservative, their vic- tories a rejection of conven- tional wisdom on electability and the effects of gerryman- dering that have historically assigned elected officials of color to represent minority communities. Pressley, a Democrat and Boston city councilwoman, will represent Massachu- setts’ 7th Congressional Dis- trict in the next Congress. Pressley stunned the political establishment in September, defeating a 10-term incum- bent in the Democratic pri- mary, and ran unopposed in the general. “None of us ran to make history,” Pressley told sup- porters in her acceptance speech Tuesday. “We ran to make change. However, the historical significance of this evening is not lost on me. The significance of history is not lost on me.” Half a century ago this week, New York’s Shirley Ch- isholm was elected the first black woman in Congress, and several of the black women elected Tuesday have said their campaigns were inspired by her example. Also in the House, Dem- ocrats Ilhan Omar of Min- nesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan will be the first Muslim women to serve in Congress. New Mexico Demo- crat Deb Haaland and Kansas Democrat Sharice Davids were elected the first two Native American women to serve in Congress. Democrat Mike Espy, who will face Mississippi Re- publican Rep. Cindy Hyde- Smith in a December runoff, could become the state’s first black senator since Reconstruction. And regardless of who wins in Arizona’s competi- tive Senate race, the state will elect either Republican Martha McSally or Democrat Kyrsten Sinema as the state’s first woman to serve in the chamber. Also in the Senate, Republican Marsha Black- burn will become Tennessee’s first woman senator. Georgia candidate Stacey Abrams, a Democrat, was in a fierce battle to become America’s first black woman governor, while Demo- crat Andrew Gillum nar- rowly lost his bid to become the first black governor of Florida. Idaho gubernatorial can- didate Paulette Jordan also lost her race to become the country’s first Native Amer- ican governor. In Colorado, Jared Polis will be the country’s first openly gay man elected gov- ernor. In New Jersey, Dem- ocratic Gov. Jim McGreevy, elected in 2001, had been outed as gay while in office. Democrat Ilhan Omar will be the nation’s first Somali-American legislator. - PHOTOS: AP Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley became Massachusetts’ first black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Half a century ago this week, New York’s Shirley Chisholm was elected the first black woman in Congress, and several of the black women elected Tuesday have said their campaigns were inspired by her example. The emerging plan involves keeping the U.K. in a customs union with the EU until a permanent trade treaty is worked out, to remove the need for border checks. British Prime Minister Theresa May, left, speaks with European Council President Donald Tusk in October. - PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018 Migrants weigh whether to stay in Mexico or resume trek to US Vietnam, US complete cleanup of toxic chemical from airport HANOI, Vietnam (AP) – Vietnam and the United States said Wednesday they have fin- ished the cleanup of dioxin contamination at Danang airport caused by the trans- port and storage of the herbi- cide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. The 74 acres of land cleansed of the toxic chem- ical were handed over to Vietnam at a ceremony. Vice Defense Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh praised the U.S. government’s involve- ment in the cleanup. “It is proof that we are opening a future of good co- operation between the gov- ernments of Vietnam and the United States,” Vinh said. “Today marks the day that Danang airport is no longer known as a dioxin hot spot, the day that Danang people can be assured that their health will not be de- stroyed by chemicals left over from the war.” Large amounts of Agent Orange, which contains di- oxin, were stored at Danang airport during the war and sprayed by U.S. forces to de- foliate the countryside and deny communist fighters jungle cover. Vietnamese still suffer from the effects of the spraying. U.S. Ambassador Daniel Kritenbrink called the joint cleanup a significant milestone in the expanding partnership between the two countries. “This project truly is a hall- mark of our countries’ shared vision to be honest about the past, deal responsibly with remaining legacy issues and turn a point of contention into one of collaboration,” he said. Kritenbrink said working together on the issues of the past “builds strategic trust and enables us to fur- ther strengthen our forward- looking partnership that ad- vances shared interests and strong people-to-people ties.” Between 1962 and 1971, the U.S. military sprayed roughly 11 million gallons of Agent Orange across large swaths of southern Vietnam. Dioxin stays in the soil and in the sediment at the bottom of lakes and rivers for gener- ations. It can enter the food supply through the fat of fish and other animals. Vietnam says as many as 4 million of its citizens were exposed to the herbicide and as many as 3 million have suffered illnesses caused by it – including the children of people who were exposed during the war. The U.S. government says the actual number of people affected is much lower and that Vietnamese are too quick to blame Agent Orange for birth defects that can be caused by malnutrition or other factors. Last month, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis vis- ited Bien Hoa air base north of Ho Chi Minh City, the former Saigon, another dioxin hot spot. The U.S. Agency for Inter- national Development will soon begin a soil restoration project at the base that is es- timated to take several years and cost $390 million. MEXICO CITY (AP) – Thou- sands of Central American migrants will take at least a couple of days to rest in a Mexico City stadium as they debate whether to ac- cept offers to stay in Mexico or continue their trek to the U.S. border. Humanitarian aid stepped up Tuesday for the roughly 4,500 Central American mi- grants gathered at the Jesus Martinez stadium after an ar- duous journey that has taken them through three countries in three weeks. Mexico City officials said they are bracing as many as 5,500 migrants at the sports complex as more trickle in. Members of the caravans of migrants, which Presi- dent Donald Trump made a central issue in U.S. mid- term elections, declined to take an immediate decision Tuesday night on whether to definitively stay in Mexico or continue north, opting to re- main in the capital at least a couple more days. “Nobody is in more of a hurry than me to get going (to the U.S. border), but we have to go all together,” said Sara Rodriguez of Colon, Hon- duras. Rodriguez, 34, fled her country with her 16-year-old daughter Emily, after the girl began to draw unwanted at- tention from a drug trafficker. Mexico is offering ref- ugee, asylum or work visas to the migrants. The gov- ernment said 2,697 tempo- rary visas had been issued to individuals and families to cover them while they waited for the 45-day application process for a more perma- nent status. Rina Valenzuela, who is from El Salvdor, listened at- tentively to aid workers from the nonprofit Institute for Women in Migration as they explained the difficulties of applying for and securing asylum in the U.S. Valenzuela decided she would better off applying for refuge in Mexico. “Why go fight there, with as much effort and as much suffering as we have gone through, just for them to turn me back? Well, no,” she said. Meanwhile, hundreds of city employees and even more volunteers were on hand Tuesday to sort dona- tions and direct migrants toward food, water, diapers and other basics. Migrants searched through piles of do- nated clothes, grabbed boxes of milk for children and lined up to make quick calls home at a stand set up by the Red Cross. Employees from the cap- ital’s human rights commis- sion registered new arrivals with biographical data– such as age and country of origin– and placed yellow bracelets on wrists to keep count. The atmosphere at the stadium in Mexico City was more institutional and orga- nized than what migrants en- countered on the road, where townspeople pushed bags of drinking water, tacos and fruit into their hands as they passed through tiny hamlets in southern Mexico. But there were signs that the stadium was already nearing its capacity to hold 6,000 people. Maria Yesenia Perez, 41, said there was no space in the stadium when she and her 8-year-old daughter ar- rived during the night, so the two from Honduras slept on the grass outside. Migrants pitched tents in the parking lot and constructed make- shift shelters from plywood covered with blankets and tarps. Forty portable toi- lets were scattered across the grass. The stadium’s enclosed space and government inter- vention makes it difficult for aid workers to reach the mi- grants, said Nancy Rojas, an Oxfam charity worker who has accompanied the mi- grants for weeks. Four big tents have been set up for women and chil- dren to sleep under with thin mattresses and blan- kets, while men were rel- egated Monday night to concrete bleachers. Tempera- tures dropped below 52 de- grees Fahrenheit during the night in a city some 7,300 feet above sea level and still hundreds of miles from the U.S. border. Several smaller groups were trailing hundreds of miles to the south. Mexico City Mayor Ramon Amieva said the city needs to “re- inforce” to meet the needs of the migrants, especially vulnerable children and pregnant women. Mexico City’s central market supplied 3.5 tons of bananas and guavas to refuel the crowd, plus 600 bottles of water. The human rights commission said it planned to set up more tents and eating areas. Many of the migrants sought treatment for blis- tered and aching feet, respi- ratory infections, diarrhea and other maladies. Trump has seized on the caravan as an election issue and portrayed it as a major threat, though such caravans have sprung up regularly over the years and largely passed unnoticed. He ordered thousands of troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, vowed to detain asylum seekers in tents cities and insinuated without proof that there are criminals or even terrorists in the group. In dozens of interviews since the initial caravan set out from Honduras more than three weeks ago, migrants have said they are escaping poverty and rampant violence. Many are families traveling with small children. Some say they left because they were threatened by gang members or had lost relatives to gang vi- olence. Others say they hope to find work and send money to support relatives back home. Organizers are urging members of the caravan al- ready in Mexico City to await the arrival of stragglers and perhaps even the other cara- vans further back. The idea is to find strength in numbers. The outpouring of support for the caravan that first set out from Honduras on Oct. 13 has inspired thousands of others to march north from Central America. Former Honduran law- maker Bartolo Fuentes, blamed by some for starting the caravan, re-joined the group in Mexico after being detained in Guatemala and deported to Honduras. Fuentes denied leading the movement, saying it was a natural response “to a sit- uation more terrible than war.” He said about 300 to 400 Hondurans leave their country on an average day. “What do we have here then? The accumulation of 20 days” of normal emigration, he said. Mexico is offering refugee, asylum or work visas to the migrants. The government said 2,697 temporary visas had been issued to individuals and families to cover them while they waited for a more permanent status. Large amounts of Agent Orange, which contains dioxin, were stored at Danang airport during the war and sprayed by U.S. forces to defoliate the countryside and deny communist fighters jungle cover. A warning sign stands in a field contaminated with dioxin near Danang airport, during a ceremony marking the start of a project to clean up dioxin left over from the Vietnam War, at a former U.S. military base in Danang, Vietnam. - PHOTO: AP Central American migrants settle in a shelter at the Jesus Martinez stadium in Mexico City, Tuesday. - PHOTO: APNext >