ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2018 High of 87 Low of 77 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CHRISTMAS TREES: BUGS OR HUMBUG? WORLD | PAGE 10 BRITISH, EU LEADERS TO MEET AS BREXIT DEADLINE LOOMS Road User Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town, P.O. Box 74, KY1-1102 Tel. 949-8699 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life Enjoy comprehensive cover with free roadside assistance, $200 deductible, zero windscreen deductible and many other free benefits! Ask for a quote! Border control merger a ‘multi-year’ project JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The merger of Immigration and Cus- toms into a joint border control agency could take years to implement, Premier Alden McLaughlin said Wednesday. Though the new agency will be estab- lished on Jan. 1 under the leadership of the current Collector of Customs Charles Clifford, the premier acknowledged there was much work to be done before the new “intelligence- led” approach to border control could be fully implemented. He said “tremendous amounts of training and cross-training” needed to take place, as well as the introduction of new technology. Eventually, existing customs and immigration officers will perform dual duties. Speaking as he tabled the Customs and Border Control Bill in the Legislative As- sembly on Wednesday, Mr. McLaughlin said the ultimate aim was to create a “single checkpoint” at the border for the majority of passengers and goods, while establishing more robust, secondary checks for high-risk passengers. The bill is part of a package of legisla- tion being brought during this session to re- configure how the Cayman Islands deals with border control, workforce management and immigration issues. Mr. McLaughlin said changes would be incremental. “There remains a lot of work to be done after that date [Jan. 1] to complete the merger and re-engineer our border control business processes. The merger is therefore a multi- year project,” he said. HEALTH CITY PARTNERS WITH NFL ALUMNI Health City Cayman Islands is bringing its services to former professional American foot- ball players in a partnership with NFL Alumni. The nonprofit organization for retired NFL players, coaches, team staff and their families is marketing Health City Cayman Islands to its members as another option for medical care. NFL Alumni representatives visited Health City Cayman Islands in June to tour the facility. “We are pleased to partner with Health City Cayman Islands,” said the organization’s CEO Elvis Gooden in a press release. “We are constantly seeking the most advanced afford- able health- and wellness-related offerings to benefit the quality of life of our members. Partnership with Health City Cayman Islands will provide our members with another excel- lent medical resource.” NFL Alumni members would be able to benefit from the experience of Health City’s surgeons and medical staff as well as the latest technologies employed at the hospital. In addition to receiving concierge care, pa- tients recover “in the secure and tranquil set- ting of Grand Cayman,” the organization said. $50K REWARD OFFERED IN 2010 MURDER CASE New developments in a nine-year- old murder case have led police and Crime Stoppers to offer a $50,000 re- ward for information relating to the murder of Courtney Spence, 32, who was shot dead in the parking lot of Progressive Distributors in Industrial Park, George Town, in January 2010. For more on this story, see page 7. First Christmas trees arrive on island MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Hurley’s market will be bathed in the scent of pine as Christmas trees arrive at the store this weekend, after the trees are inspected for bugs and cleared. The store’s marketing representative Scot Kristal said 1,000 mostly pre-ordered trees were being inspected by Department of Agriculture officials and will be ready for pickup starting Saturday. Overall, fresh Christmas trees will be harder to find in Cayman this year, as other retailers have dropped out of the market. Every Bloomin’ Thing is the only other com- pany selling the traditional holiday fixture. Mr. Kristal said Hurley’s more than dou- bled the number of trees it ordered com- pared to last year. “We knew that with other importers choosing not to bring trees in, we tried to bridge that gap,” he said, adding that there will still be about 1,200 fewer Christmas trees available islandwide. One of the biggest sellers in the past has been Cost-U-Less. Last year, the store brought in about 1,000 trees, said manager Joe Thorne. This year, it has none. “We’re going to be out of that business permanently,” Mr. Thorne said. “The island regulations are strict. And that’s good. I agree with all of them. But it’s been difficult for the suppliers in the U.S. to meet them.” In addition, he said, by the time the De- partment of Agriculture announced regula- tions for this year, most of the annual tree crop had already been bought, leaving little to choose from. Inspecting the trees is a labor-intensive process, Mr. Thorne said. Last year, he said, PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Hurley’s worker Jamal McLaughlin unloads Christmas trees at an inspection station on Walkers Road. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22, 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) AIR STRIKE (R) 4:15 I 10:00 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (PG13) 12:15 I 3:20 I 6:30 | 9:45 VIP THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB A NEW DRAGON TATTOO (R) 1:15 | 7:00 | 9:50 THE GRINCH (PG) 12:20 I 1:15 VIP | 2:35 | 4:00 3D | 9:30 FANTASTIC BEASTS THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (PG13) 1:00 3D | 3:45 VIP | 6:50 VIP NOBODY’S FOOL (R) 4:50 | 7:25 WIDOWS (R) 12:50 | 3:45 | 6:50 | 9:40 Search under way for girl’s lost bear CITA reaches out to members to look for missing toy JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com A family from Illinois vis- iting the Cayman Islands is desperate to find their little girl’s favorite “Bunny Bear” stuffed animal. Zoe Hoffman’s parents think their daughter might have lost it on the airplane or in the vicinity of the Owen Roberts International Airport after exiting a Delta Air Lines flight around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8. Zoe’s father Brian Hoff- mann said his 10-year-old daughter is heartbroken. “She had it with her on the plane when we landed and when we got to Hertz car rental company, she re- alized it was not in her carry on. It was kind of a rough start to our vacation,” Mr. Hoffmann said. He said Zoe is very at- tached to the cute little brown bear because it was a gift from her grandmother Rosalind Holden the day she was born. “It’s a cute little brown teddy bear dressed in a pink bunny costume,” said Mr. Hoffman, describing the cuddly toy. “It’s pretty unique. Zoe was really very mad at herself for losing Bear … we just made the best of our vacation, but she was just heartbroken. Zoe put on a brave face but un- derneath it all, we all knew Zoe was really sad,” Mr. Hoffmann said. While on island, the family contacted Delta to see if they had found the toy. “They were nice and kept telling us they were looking, and they would contact us if it showed up. Up until today [Tuesday], no one has called and said they found it,” he said. While on island, the family also got in touch with the Cayman Islands Tourism As- sociation about the missing toy. CITA then got involved in the search for Bunny Bear, is- suing an advisory asking its members to keep an eye out for the cuddly creature in the hopes that a “Caymankind” reunion could be arranged. The Hoffmann family are now back in Illinois after ending their vacation to the island on Nov. 12. Zoe is back at school, but she is still sad, according to the family. “It’s starting to hit home that she might never get him back, but she is still holding out hope,” Mr. Hoffmann said. “I showed our daughter the emails that people were searching for her lost Bunny Bear right before she left for school and her smile, with her eyes tearing up with gratitude, was priceless,” Mr. Hoffmann said. “It’s pretty amazing what everyone is doing to help us locate Bear.” For any tips or sightings of Mr. Bear, contact CITA at info@cita.ky or 949-8522. The search continues for Zoe Hoffman’s missing ‘Bunny Bear.’ “It’s a cute little brown teddy bear dressed in a pink bunny costume.” BRIAN HOFFMANN IDENTIFICATION OF STOLEN ITEMS LEADS TO CHARGES Police have secured two burglary charges against one individual after owners of stolen property identified items through photos pub- lished by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. The RCIPS published images of the recovered items on its website on Nov. 2 and issued a statement requesting the public view and possibly identify them. “SThanks to these pos- itive identifications, the police have managed to secure two charges for bur- glaries as far back as 2016,” police said. The RCIPS believes there are more objects within this group of items that may have been stolen and is encouraging mem- bers of the public who have had property stolen either during burglaries or other- wise to view these items. Anyone who believes items on the site (www.rcips/news) belong to them can contact DC 344 Gomes at 926-2965 or DC 198 Mendez at 916-1621. National Trust to hold underwater lecture The National Trust is in- viting the public to attend a unique lecture where they can learn about Cayman’s reefs, wrecks and marine life while inside a different kind of classroom – the Nautilus semi-submarine. National Trust Council Member Jason Washington will lead a discussion about the delicate marine life found in the waters of the Cayman Islands while the subma- rine takes its passengers on a tour of the reef and wrecks in the George Town harbor. Mr. Washington, who has been involved in the water- sports industry in Cayman for more than 20 years, was honored in the 2017 Inter- national Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. He also spear- headed the creation of the Cayman United Lionfish League, which helps con- trol and eradicate lion- fish in Cayman. Adults and children are welcome to attend the lec- ture, which will be held on Friday, Nov. 23. Boarding from Rackam’s Waterfront Restaurant and Bar will be at 4:45 p.m., with departure at 5 p.m. sharp, organizers said. The lecture costs $10 for children under 12, $15 for adult Trust members, and $45 for adult non-members (includes 2019 National Trust individual membership). Pre-registration and payment is required. Contact community@nationaltrust.org.ky to reserve a space. COLLECTED BOTTLE CAPS TO FORM EYE-CATCHING MURAL Cayman students have come up with a unique way to help the environment and inspire the community to re- duce, reuse and recycle by collecting used plastic bottle caps and turning them into a work of art. The schoolchildren are planning to create a large, eye-catching and vibrant public mural out the bottle caps they collect. The Cayman Bottle Cap Drive is running at most schools on Grand Cayman, with students col- lecting plastic bottle caps from home, from around their communities and by beachcombing. On March 23 next year, students and community volunteers will gather at the Cayman International School for a “Grand Cap Clean Up” of all the discarded caps collected. “Grand Cayman is a beau- tiful island. If we want to protect our island home, we need to build new habits as a community. You are officially invited to join us as we make small daily changes and col- lect small plastic caps,” said Jessica Mittelman, an el- ementary art teacher at Cayman International School. Ms. Mittelman said sci- entists have predicted that by the year 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans, and that people in Cayman and around the world are rethinking the fu- ture of plastic by choosing to take action. In Grand Cayman, res- idents are already imple- menting eco-friendly prac- tices and displaying both resourcefulness and environ- mental awareness, she said. Local artists, including John Broad, Kaitlyn Elphin- stone and Marc Laurenson, will be part of the mural de- sign and installation. The public is invited to participate by collecting plastic caps and/or donating food or raffle prizes to the Grand Cap Clean Up event. For more information, visit @CaymanBottleCapDrive on Instagram, or email jessica.mittelman@cis.ky. Microplastics and plastics littering the beach behind Lovers Wall in East End. - PHOTO: SUBMITTED A lecture on the coral reefs and wrecks found in George Town harbor will be held on board the Nautilus semi-submarine on Friday.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2018 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” On Tuesday’s editorial page, we published in full Department of Agriculture Director Adrian R. Estwick’s lengthy response (1,186 words) to our Nov. 6 editorial regarding the restrictions and impediments his depart- ment imposed on the importation of Christmas trees. We chose not to respond on Tuesday to Mr. Estwick’s response in order to give him a platform to make his case without comment or criticism from our editorial board. However, now that Mr. Estwick has had his uninter- rupted say, we feel compelled to address a number of his assertions that we feel were, at best, misleading. Let’s begin with this: Mr. Estwick wrote, “It is unfortunate that the Compass editorial team chose to publish an editorial based on hearsay without checking and verifying the facts with the Department of Agriculture.” In fact, the Compass did attempt to contact his department when reporting the initial story, published a day before the editorial appeared. Those requests for comment and information were never responded to. Additionally, when preparing Mr. Estwick’s letter for publication, our editors contacted the Department of Agriculture by both telephone and email to clarify a minor discrepancy in the letter. After receiving a confirmation of our inquiry, we advised the depart- ment of our deadline. To date, we are still awaiting any response whatsoever. Further, the Compass made two subsequent follow-up calls to the department’s land lines, which also went unanswered. Finally, we placed yet one more call to the cellphone of a DoA spokes- person who also did not respond. Now to the specifics: Mr. Estwick accuses the Compass of publishing a story and/or editorial based on “hearsay.” Hardly. In the absence of comment from the Department of Agriculture itself, Compass reporters contacted, and quoted directly, multiple vendors who previously have imported Christmas trees to this island, most of whom were no longer doing so. Trees4Life’s response was typical. They canceled their annual Christmas tree sale for charity because the DoA’s directive came “too late in the season.” Other importers specifically cited shifting regulations as the reason they will not be importing live trees this year. It takes six to 10 years to grow a Christmas tree for harvest. Christmas has been celebrated on Dec. 25 since 336 A.D. As Mr. Estwick himself wrote, the DoA has recorded interceptions of pests in shipments of trees since at least 2015. More to the point, DoA should have known upon discovering “live pests” in last year’s shipments that an alternative strategy was needed. Yet, the department did not update rules for importing fresh Christmas trees until May, nor did it share those rules with importers until June. We do not fault Mr. Estwick, or his department, for being zealous in their mission to keep these islands free of invasive species, insects or other undesirable critters. However, we must ask whether the DoA’s “zero tolerance” policy toward bugs in Christmas trees also applies to their remit to control the feral dogs and cats that plague our islands. We would also point out that the DoA’s record on animal cruelty cases is well documented – and shameful. A Compass investigation revealed that out of more than 100 cases investigated by the DoA in 2016 and 2017, the department forwarded exactly one case for criminal prosecution. Mr. Estwick can write as many words as he wishes, but the important quantitative measure is not words but Christmas trees. This year, only 1,500 Christmas trees will be avail- able for sale in Cayman, half the number of the previous year. Something is clearly wrong here, and Mr. Estwick and his department need to figure out what it is and fix it … Noel, Noel! Christmas trees: Bugs or humbug? THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS This Thanksgiving, ample servings of amusement WASHINGTON – Never one to use a scalpel when there is a machete at hand, the president denounced the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, a dunder- headed move but a reason for giving thanks today be- cause it elicited from Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., 2018’s most exquisitely mixed metaphor: “He shot from the hip with a sledge- hammer instead of using a scalpel.” Sifting this year’s other detritus, let us also be thankful for the following amusements: Finding fresh reasons for indignation is a challenge in fury-saturated America, but Halsey, a singer, rose to it, saying that hotels’ “white people shampoo” fur- thers the “disenfranchise- ment” of people of color. A Dutch man, 69, noting that advanced thinkers think gender fluidity is real, won- dered why not age, too, and demanded that all records of his birthdate be revised to say he is 49 because that is how he “feels.” To Abelard and Hel- oise, and Romeo and Ju- liet, add another torrid ro- mance, that of Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump, the latter saying of the former, “He wrote me beautiful let- ters and we fell in love.” Listening to testimony she disbelieved, Rep. Anna Eshoo, D., Calif., responded, “I may be elected but I’m not a fool.” Under Utah’s “free- range” parenting law, par- ents need not fear being sentenced to parenting classes if they allow their children to go alone to buy bread at the corner market. The California professor who said of Barbara Bush, “I’m happy the witch is dead,” and said Bush was a racist who raised a war criminal, also said she, the professor, could not be fired because she has tenure in her $100,000 job instructing California’s young. Yale’s ban on pets in dorms was bent to accom- modate “emotional support animals,” which are needed when Yalies are micro-ag- gressed by culture-appro- priating Halloween cos- tumes. Frontier Airlines found the limits of its pa- tience, disembarking a woman and her emotional- support squirrel. By the grace of their government, and over the objections of some worry warts, Oregonians in some rural counties got per- mission to pump their own gas. Combating oc- cupational-licensing lu- nacy, Missouri said hair braiders could skip the mandatory 1,500 hours of training and instead watch a video. North Carolina had second thoughts about the 12-count criminal in- dictment against Tammie Hedges for practicing vet- erinary medicine without a license when, during Hur- ricane Florence, she offered shelter and first aid to pets left behind by their evacu- ating owners. Praise the Lord and pass the scissors: When Nike used national anthem- kneeler Colin Kaepernick in ads, an Alabama pastor re- ceived a standing ovation from his congregants when he shredded Nike mer- chandise. In another sign of contemporary religious courage, at a Maryland clinic providing late-term abortions, four Christian pastors and a rabbi gath- ered not to protest but to bless those who dismember babies: “May they always know that all that they do is for Thy glory.” First things first: San Francisco, where feces of the homeless soil the streets, banned the sale of fur and mandated that 30 percent of public art fea- turing nonfictional people depict women. New York’s Legislature banned police officers from having sex with people in custody. A mystery: Young Amer- icans were found to be having less sex. Mys- tery partially solved? One in four Americans said they are “almost con- stantly” online. It was reported that in the first six months of last year pedestrian deaths in traffic declined, except in states that have legalized recreational marijuana. Pe- destrian deaths nationally are significantly higher than a decade ago, per- haps because drivers and pedestrians are digitally distracted: The number of smartphones in use tripled between 2010 and 2016. Anything we can do they can do bigger: Eclipsing its previous record of $25.3 billion in sales in a 24-hour period, the Chinese internet company Alibaba sold $1 billion worth of stuff in the first 85 seconds and $30.8 billion during the day. Sci- entists said that they were almost certain that bones found on a Pacific island in 1940 were those of avi- atrix Amelia Earhart, who disappeared in 1937 while attempting to circumnavi- gate the globe. The government revised the official death toll from last year’s Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. It was 2,975, not 64. Awarding him the Medal of Freedom, the White House said that Babe Ruth, of the Red Sox, Yankees and, for 28 games, the Braves, played for four teams. Close enough for government work. Aretha Franklin, dead at 76, was shown R-E-S-P-E-C- T by the president, in his fashion: “I knew her well. She worked for me.” George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2018, Washington Post Writers Group GEORGE F. WILL GEORGE North Carolina had second thoughts about the 12-count criminal indictment against Tammie Hedges for practicing veterinary medicine without a license when, during Hurricane Florence, she offered shelter and first aid to pets left behind by their evacuating owners. The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2018 Ad sponsored by Pinnacle Media Ltd A bright new future for a legendary Cayman charity keep watching jasmine.ky to learn moreThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, NOV. 22 LITTLE CAYMAN VEHICLE INSPECTIONS: The Department of Vehicle Licensing will be on Little Cayman today from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the District Administration Building. NAU CLOSURE: The Needs Assessment Unit’s Cayman Brac office will be closed all day today. The Grand Cayman office also will be closed today from 2 p.m. for a staff meeting. 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. SATURDAY, NOV. 24 PINK LADIES CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: The annual bazaar will be held at the Arts and Recreation Centre in Camana Bay. 2-5 p.m. $5 entrance ticket includes homemade tea. The event will feature country kitchen, handmade crafts, a plant sale, white elephant, kids’ arts and crafts, book sale, musical entertainment, a silent auction and raffle prizes. SINGING CHRISTMAS TREE: Today and tomorrow. 6-8 p.m. Lions Centre. Free event. TURKEY TROT: The annual Meals on Wheels Turkey Trot 5K and 10K begins at 6:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn. 6 a.m. check-in. See www.caymanactive.com for more information. ROTARY MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA: Rotary Central’s 23rd Music Extravaganza will be held tonight, 7-11:30 p.m. at Royal Palms. $25 per ticket. Featuring Dr. Bob’s Experiment, Fyah Squad and Altered Minds. Look for Rotary Central members and their sellers at supermarkets, A. L. Thompson’s, Royal Palms Beach Club and Funky Tang’s. First prize $40,000, second prize $4,000, six prizes of $1,000. Sellers prizes up to $1,000. For ticket information, call 527-7711. BRAC BREEZE FUSION: The Brac Breeze Fusion 5K Walk/Run starts at 6:30 a.m. on South Side Public Beach. Visit www.caymanactive.com for more information. GT BULK WASTE COLLECTION: The Department of Environmental Health will begin its collection of bulk waste in the district of George Town today. SCHOOL BAZAAR: St. Ignatius Catholic School holds its 7th annual Arts and Craft Bazaar, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Loyola Hall. CHURCH MEMORIAL WALK: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church in West Bay invites all to attend its Annual Memorial Walk. 6:30 a.m. Meet at the church at 6:15 a.m. for transportation to Centennial Towers. SANTA PAWS: 10 a.m. to noon. Dart Family Park, South Church Street. Take a picture with Santa Claus and your pet. Registration fee is $25. All proceeds benefit the cats and dogs at the Cayman Islands Humane Society. Call 949-5189 for more details. DINNER, DRINKS AND DRAG: 6-11:30 p.m. Marriott Beach Resort. Cayman Aids Foundation presents the second annual Dinner, Drinks and Drag. The headline act for the evening is Monét X Change, one of the stars of RuPaul Drag Race Season 10. SUNDAY, NOV. 25 EPIC JOURNEYS: Concert by Cayman National Choir and orchestra. The Westin Ballroom. Family matinee 2 p.m. Tickets $15 and $7.50. Features Cayman Youth Choir. Full concert, 7:30 p.m. Tickets $25 and $10. Visit www.eventpro.ky for tickets. FOUNDER’S DAY SERVICE: Boatswain Bay Presbyterian Church holds it 88th anniversary “Founder’s Day” service at the church. 11 a.m. All are also invited to attend the church’s anniversary concert “Singspiration” at the church at 7 p.m. MONDAY, NOV. 26 DR. HORTOR’S TOMBSTONE: All members of the public, especially those who donated to the purchase of a tombstone for the late Dr. William Alfred Conrad Hortor, are invited to view the recently installed tombstone between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. today at the West Bay Cemetery, across from the fire station. CAYMAN ARTISTS: 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. Today, 5 p.m., is the deadline. For more information, contact public.engagement@ nationalgallery.org.ky. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 28 CIVIL SERVICE CREDIT UNION AGM: The 43rd annual general meeting of the Civil Service Association Co-operative Credit Union will be held today at 5:30 p.m. at the Family Life Centre. THURSDAY, NOV. 29 LIGHT UP A LIFE: Cayman HospiceCare’s Light Up A Life ceremony will be held this evening at Cassia Court in Camana Bay. Starts at 5:30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to dedicate a light in memory of a loved one on HospiceCare’s Community Memorial tree. The tree will shine brightly with hundreds of lights dedicated to someone special over the Christmas season. The ceremony will include music by the Cayman National Choir, a special blessing, a moment of silence and an opportunity for every guest to place their lights on the tree. To sponsor a light, HospiceCare is asking for a minimum donation of CI$10 per light. FRIDAY, NOV. 30 DEPT. OF EDUCATION SERVICES CLOSURE: The Department of Education Services will be closed today for a staff function. The office will resume normal hours on Monday, Dec. 3. SATURDAY, DEC. 1 PARADE OF LIGHTS: Boat parade, Christmas concert, Santa, festive holiday markets, and fireworks display at Camana Bay. 5-9 p.m. Watch boats aglow with bright lights parade through The Harbour to a festive soundtrack of carols. This year’s theme is Christmas Around the World. Boat participation is free and there will be two chances to win $1,000 and two general admission KAABOO tickets. Sign up at www.cayman27.ky. SANTA LANDING: The Kiwanis Club presents the annual Santa Landing at Airport Park. 1-4 p.m. Santa is expected to “land” at 2 p.m. Every child will be gifted with a new book from Santa and can enjoy free food/drinks. Entertainment includes bungee trampolines, bouncing castles, face painting and music. Call 947-8630 or visit www.kiwanis.ky for more information. HOLIDAY CHARITY TRUNK SALE: CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank – Walk for the Cure Holiday Charity Trunk Sale, 6-10 a.m., at the bank’s parking lot. Deadline for registration is noon, Friday, Nov. 30. All registration fees will benefit the Cayman Islands Cancer Society in support of financial aid patients in need. Call 815-2405 or 815-2407 to reserve a space. Entry fee $25. SUNDAY, DEC. 2 DINNER CONCERT: Organized by the East End Seventh-day Adventist Church. At The Ritz-Carlton, 7 p.m. Entertainment by international artist Carey Sayles and local performers. Tickets are $150 each, available at SDA Conference office, off Walkers Road; or call Constance Ebanks at 525-0941. Proceeds for Pathfinders and Pioneers Fire Adventure. MALE VOICE CHRISTMAS CONCERT: The Male Voice Choir Concert will begin at 7 p.m. at Elmslie United Church. MONDAY, DEC. 3 ROTARY CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING: The Rotary Club of Grand Cayman will hold its annual Christmas Tree Lighting, 5-7 p.m. Heroes Square, George Town. GENERAL INTEREST 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. LIFE ON THE COLONY: Exhibition of artwork by Gordon Solomon at the National Gallery. Through Dec. 5. For related events and school tours, email education@nationalgallery. org.ky. 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. The Singing Christmas Tree can be seen, for free, on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 24 and 25, at the Lions Centre, at 6-8 p.m. - PHOTO: COURTNEY PLATT7 LOCAL NEWS JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A 60-year-old caregiver accused of stealing the life savings of her elderly client more than a decade ago has been extradited from the Cayman Islands to Hawaii to face trial for the crime. Rosemarie Bodden, also known by her married name of Rosemarie Delatorre, was arrested in Grand Cayman during a police warrant sweep in August last year. She left the islands on Oct. 17, the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Cayman Islands confirmed. According to court re- cords, she is due in court in Maui in December for a hearing ahead of a trial on multiple charges, including identity theft, forgery and using a stolen credit card. Ms. Bodden had fought the extradition on health grounds. But a magistrate ruled in June that it would not be “unjust or oppressive” to return the defendant back to the U.S. Acting Governor Franz Manderson, in one of his last official duties before re- linquishing the role to in- coming governor Martyn Roper, approved the final extradition order. U.S. Mar- shals accompanied Ms. Bodden on the flight to Ha- waii, according to news re- ports in the U.S. She is accused of stealing more than $70,000 from an elderly woman she had been caring for in Hawaii. Dates of the alleged offenses are between 2006 and 2008. Ms. Bodden failed to attend her trial in Hawaii in September 2011 and a warrant was is- sued for her arrest. During an extradition hearing in the Cayman Is- lands, lawyers for Ms. Bodden, who alleges her em- ployer’s daughter committed the thefts, argued that she was suffering from physical and mental health issues and should not be extradited. Defense attorney Jona- thon Hughes said she was currently taking 10 different medications daily. She was frail and her support net- work was here in Cayman, including her family and her doctors, he said. At an earlier hearing, Cayman Islands Grand Court heard that Ms. Bodden had used four different names and three passports over the past 10 years. CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2018 sales@tomlinsonfurniture.ky | www.tomlinsonfurniture.ky | 9 Walkers Road | At the 4-Way Stop by GT Hospital A D I VIS IO N O F Tel: 949-5383 Bedroom Sets, Mattresses, Rugs, Accessories... EARN EXTR A % OFF LOTS OF GIVE AWAY S COMB O DEALS GET A FREE GIFT WITH EVERY PURCHASE Sienna Sofa colors available Mocha or Ebony only $399 3pc. Coffee Table Set now $299 Gray bookcase/display shelving was $555 now $325 6 Drawer Chest Mahogany Solid wood from Brazil $299 (was $450) COMBO Deal: Your choice Azalea or Daisy 8 pc. Queen Bedroom set includes Mattress and Boxspring for only $2,400 Solid Wood throughout. Sealy Essential King Mattress now $399 Freeport - Pillow top or firm Mattress Queen now $ 325 9pc. Dining Table Set - Dining Table & 8 chairs (only 4 shown) was $3,875 now $1,999 $50,000 reward offered in unsolved 2010 murder case JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Nearly nine years after Courtney Spence was shot and killed in the parking lot of the George Town ware- house where he worked, a $50,000 reward is being of- fered for information leading to a conviction in the un- solved crime. Police have reopened the case after “new informa- tion,” which they declined to specify at this time, came to light. Cayman Crime Stop- pers has partnered with the police and is offering the cash reward in an effort to help bring the gunman to justice. Jamaican national Mr. Spence, who was 32, had just completed a shift at Pro- gressive Distributors when he was shot around 11 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010. A security guard heard the shots and found his body lying in the parking lot shortly afterward. At the time, police said the killing bore the hallmarks of a deliberate, premeditated attack on Mr. Spence. Friends and colleagues described the victim as a hard-working man who did not appear to have any enemies. Deputy Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton said in a statement that he was hopeful the crime could still be solved. “We are optimistic about this case at this time, given certain developments. We know that there are people out there who know what happened and could have information that help us bring those responsible to justice, and we are asking those people to come forward now,” he said. “This was a violent and heinous crime, and when- ever we as a community have a chance to bring to justice those that commit such acts, and closure to the families of victims, we must do so. If you have any information, please tell us directly or through Crime Stoppers.” A police spokeswoman said detectives were re- viewing case files on some unsolved serious crimes. She said, “Over the pas- sage of time, circumstances change and that can help make a case more solvable. There are detectives as- signed to this right now. They are going through some of the older cases and looking at them to see if some new information comes to the surface.” Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers on- line at www.crimestoppers. ky/home/ or through the Miami-based call center at 800-8477(TIPS). Only tips submitted through Crime Stoppers are eligible for the reward. To speak with officers directly about this case, call 649-3008 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. during the week. Tips can also be submitted confidentially through the police website at www.rcips.ky/submit-a-tip. According to court records, she is due in court in Maui in December for a hearing ahead of a trial on multiple charges, including identity theft, forgery and using a stolen credit card. Courtney Spence was shot dead in January 2010. Following some new developments, police are appealing for people with information about the case to come forward. - PHOTO: RCIPS Caregiver extradited to Hawaii At the time, police said the killing bore the hallmarks of a deliberate, premeditated attack on Mr. Spence.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS E. coli outbreak linked to romaine The Department of Envi- ronmental Health has issued an advisory urging members of the public, restaurant op- erators, wholesalers and re- tailers not to purchase, eat, serve or sell romaine lettuce, because of potential E. coli contamination. DEH officers have made contact with all wholesalers and local supermarkets throughout the Cayman Is- lands to ensure the removal of all affected products from their shelves. All forms of ro- maine lettuce, such as whole lettuce, pre-cut lettuce and salad mixes that include ro- maine lettuce are included in the action. The advisory was prompted by a Center for Disease Control warning is- sued Tuesday. Local markets have pulled the product from their shelves. The warning says 32 people in 11 U.S. states and 18 in two Canadian prov- inces were sickened between Oct. 8 and 31. “Thirteen people were hospitalized, including one person who developed hemo- lytic uremic syndrome, a type of kidney failure. No deaths have been reported,” the CDC statement said. The alert advises con- sumers to throw out any ro- maine lettuce they may have in their homes and to clean refrigerator surfaces where the greens were stored. Joe Thorne, manager of Cost-U-Less in Grand Cayman, said the romaine the store removed from its pro- duce section has been placed in quarantine. He is waiting to see if back-tracing ef- forts by the CDC will deter- mine whether or not the let- tuce is safe. Customers who purchased romaine lettuce can return the product to the store, he said. The CDC alert said ro- maine lettuce with E. coli O157:H7 bacteria had been identified. E. coli is a common bacteria found in the human digestive system. Its pres- ence in food/water is an in- dication of faecal contamina- tion. In rare circumstances, the organism may result in more severe illnesses such as adult kidney failure, bleeding, and seizures. The CDC ad- vises that if anyone has eaten this product and is experi- encing any of these symp- toms, contact a medical pro- vider immediately. Members of the public are advised to throw away salad mixes if they are uncertain whether romaine lettuce is an ingredient. Also, wash and sanitize drawers or shelves in refrigerators which have been used to store romaine lettuce. For further information concerning local efforts, contact the DEH at 949-6696. For other details, visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov. Consumers are being advised not to eat romaine lettuce following an E. coli scare. The premier noted that the Cayman Islands gov- ernment had received tre- mendous support from the U.S. and the U.K., which made a similar transi- tion to create its own border agencies. He said the challenges facing Cayman were be- coming more complex and the transition would help modernize the island’s border security. “When you consider that we are merging all of the border control functions of these two agencies, in- cluding their existing in- telligence units, you begin to appreciate this merger, coupled with focused intel- ligence and risk manage- ment training and the op- portunity for smarter staff deployment, will create the platform for more effective border control in these be- loved islands. “The scale, scope and complexity of national se- curity is transforming. The Customs and Border Control Bill will further support the government in providing the public with a modernized border control framework to manage inherent security risks and to improve na- tional security.” Legislators were still debating the bill at press time Wednesday. With opposition mem- bers, including Arden McLean, indicating at least partial support for the bill in the early stages of the debate and the govern- ment’s strong majority in the house, it was expected to pass without issue. Mr. McLean said he was “not big on compliments,” but acknowledged the gov- ernment deserved credit for bringing the proposed merger to the house. He said he was disap- pointed to see it was not accompanied by new un- derpinning legislation for the planned new Coast- guard, which will remain under the auspices of the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service and ultimately the governor. He added that he sup- ported the plan to bring in a new helicopter for that unit, and praised the ap- pointment of Robert Scot- land as head of the Coast- guard and of Mr. Clifford as head of the Customs and Border Control agency. “I have a lot of confi- dence in those two indi- viduals that this is going to work, but it is going to take a while,” Mr. McLean said. “It is important for all of us to give those two new agencies the opportu- nity to work.” every third tree had to be shaken out to see if any insects were present. If they were, the trees had to be separated from the rest of the stock and fumi- gated before sale. With the process coming just as stores are preparing for Black Friday, he said, “There’s just not enough hours in the day.” The inspection process, im- plemented in 2015 is aimed at preventing the introduction of invasive species to the island. “Many insects are non-host plant specific, also known as polyphagous, which means they will feed on a wide range of host plants,” Department of Agriculture Director Adrian Estwick said in a statement. “When introduced into a new environment, they may adapt and over time become a pest of plants on which they were never previously recorded as a pest. This is true of many of the scale insects, a pest group common to pines.” He cited the effects of the Pine Tortoise Scale insect, which is believed to have been introduced on Christmas trees and which has become a major pest in the Turks and Caicos Islands in particular, placing a significant threat on pineyard ecosystems. “To date, no viable control for the pest has been found and if the current trends continue the likely outcome is the complete loss of that coun- try’s native pine,” he said. He added that DoA staff had been “working arduously to ensure the public can have Christmas trees while consid- ering the short and long-term effects on our environment.” Ricky Handal, owner of Every Bloomin’ Thing, said al- though there will be fewer trees coming to Cayman, it may be enough to meet demand. “In years past,” he said, “I think we’ve had too many trees.” His store will have 400 trees, which will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Despite the extra work and frantic pace selling the trees involves, he said, he enjoys it. “It’s happy,” he said. “It’s that time of the year. I like it.” He was expecting his trees to arrive in port by Thursday and to be at his store by no later than Monday once they were inspected. He said he was not sure of the exact price he will be charging for the trees, but added that it would be close to the prices at Hurley’s, which run from $50 to $90 for trees ranging from 5 feet to 8 feet tall. Mr. Kristal said he ex- pected all of Hurley’s trees to be pre-ordered by the time they arrived at the store. “We are not anticipating being able to sell any to walk-up customers,” he said. He also warned customers that even with 25 employees working the tree lot, there will probably be a line. “Be prepared for a wait,” he said. “I hope people will just be patient. We’ll be going as fast as we can.” NFL Alumni helps re- tired players in their post-ca- reer lives by providing a net- work to connect with former teammates and coaches and through a package of medical, business and legal services. As part of this offering, access to Health City’s med- ical services is now mar- keted to the approximately 5,000 NFL Alumni mem- bers, which include retired players, coaches, front of- fice executives, spouses, and cheerleaders, as well as avid fans. “We are delighted to join forces with NFL Alumni to provide world-class medical care to members and their families, just one hour away from the United States,” said Health City Cayman Islands Clinical Director Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil. “Our proven commitment to patient-cen- tered care, quality outcomes, and transparent bundled pricing makes this a perfect partnership.” Border control merger a ‘multi-year’ project CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 First Christmas trees arrive on island CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Health City partners with NFL Alumni NFL Alumni representatives visited Health City Cayman Islands in June. From left, NFL Alumni Baltimore Chapter President and former Super Bowl Champion Kyle Richardson, NFL Alumni CEO Elvis Gooden Sr., Health City’s Shomari Scott displaying Super Bowl rings, and NFL Alumni President and three-time Super Bowl Champion Bart Oates. All forms of romaine lettuce, such as whole lettuce, pre-cut lettuce and salad mixes that include romaine lettuce are included in the action. Premier Alden McLaughlinThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2018 Israeli minister: Trump peace plan waste of time A top Israeli Cabinet minister says President Trump is wasting his time trying to push for Israeli-Palestinian peace. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked says that peace is currently impossible and that Trump should focus his energy elsewhere until the Palestinians are ready to compromise. Copper Falls Steakhouse Invites You to Enjoy a Traditional American anksgiving with us ursday November 22, 2017 from 5:30 to 10:30pm For CI$32.00 Turkey with Herb Stu ng and Gravy Cranberry Sauce Julienne of mixed vegetables Garlic Mashed Potatoes Pumpkin Pie And Included: Beer, Martini or Highball Garlic Mashed Potatoes Pumpkin Pie And Included: Beer, Martini or Highball Reservations recommended, please call 945-4755 A Rare Steakhouse, Very Well Done We Have Gi Certi cates Available For Your Christmas Present Needs Trump thanks Saudis after defying calls to punish prince WASHINGTON (AP) – Pres- ident Donald Trump on Wednesday publicly thanked Saudi Arabia for plunging oil prices amid criticism over his decision not to further punish the kingdom for the killing of U.S.-based colum- nist Jamal Khashoggi. Trump, who made clear in an exclamation-filled state- ment Tuesday that he feels that the benefits of good re- lations with the kingdom outweigh the possibility its crown prince ordered the killing, tweeted that it’s “Great!” that oil prices are falling. “Thank you to Saudi Arabia, but let’s go lower!” he wrote from his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, where he’s spending the Thanksgiving holiday. The international crude benchmark, Brent, has fallen under $65 per barrel from a four-year high of over $86 in early October as the U.S., Saudi Arabia and Russia have all stepped up output. The president on Tuesday condemned the brutal slaying of Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Is- tanbul as a “horrible crime … that our country does not condone.” But he rejected calls by many in Congress, including members of his own party, for a tougher re- sponse, and he dismissed re- ports from U.S. intelligence agencies that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman must have at least known about such an audacious and intricate plot. “It could very well be that the crown prince had knowl- edge of this tragic event,” the president said. “Maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!” In many ways, the state- ment captured Trump’s view of the world and foreign policy, grounded in economic necessity. It began with the words “America First!” fol- lowed by “The world is a very dangerous place!” It came after weeks of de- bate over whether the presi- dent would or should come down hard on the Saudis and the crown prince in response to the killing of the Saudi col- umnist for The Washington Post who had criticized the royal family. The U.S. earlier sanc- tioned 17 Saudi officials sus- pected of being responsible for or complicit in the Oct. 2 killing, but members of Con- gress have called for harsher actions, including canceling arms sales. Trump said “foolishly canceling these contracts” worth billions of dollars would only benefit Russia and China, which would be next in line to supply the weapons. Critics, including high-ranking officials in other countries, denounced Trump’s statement, saying he ignored human rights and granted Saudi Arabia a pass for economic reasons. Asked by a reporter if he was saying that human rights are too expensive to fight for, Trump responded, “No, I’m not saying that at all.” But then he switched the subject to the “terrorist na- tion” of Iran rather than any actions by Saudi Arabia. The U.S. needs a “counter- balance” to Iran, “and Israel needs help, too,” he said. “If we abandon Saudi Arabia, it would be a terrible mistake.” The mistake was Trump’s, said Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, contending the administration has “blinders on” in comparing Iran and Saudi Arabia. “It’s a sign of weakness not to stand up to Saudi Arabia,” Paul said. “Sometimes when you have two evils, maybe you don’t support either side.” Republican Lindsey Graham, the South Caro- lina senator who is close to Trump, also disagreed with the president’s statement, saying America must not lose its “moral voice” on the inter- national stage. “It is not in our na- tional security interests to look the other way when it comes to the brutal murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi,” Graham said. Likewise, Rep. Adam Schiff, ranking Democrat on the House intelligence com- mittee, said to suggest that U.S. silence can be bought with arms sales “undermines respect for the office of the presidency, the credibility of our intelligence community and America’s standing as a champion of human rights.” Trump’s statement, is- sued just before he pardoned the Thanksgiving turkey at the White House and left for the long holiday weekend in Florida, underscored his world view of putting U.S. in- terests – both financial and geopolitical – above all else. He told reporters on the South Lawn that oil prices would “skyrocket” if the U.S. broke with the Saudis, and he was not going to “destroy” the world’s economy by being “foolish with Saudi Arabia.” Asked about any per- sonal financial involvement, he said: “Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with me. What does have to do with me is putting America first.” Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, mocked Trump’s announcement, tweeting that Trump “bizarrely devotes the FIRST paragraph of his shameful statement on Saudi atrocities to accuse IRAN of every sort of malfeasance he can think of.” Zarif went on to joke that “perhaps we’re also re- sponsible for the California fires, because we didn’t help rake the forests– just like the Finns do?” He appeared to be referring to recent re- marks in which Trump sug- gested raking the forest floor prevented fires in Finland and would have helped to prevent California’s devas- tating wildfires. Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, called Khashoggi’s killing “a hu- manitarian issue” and said it should not be covered up for the sake of maintaining trade ties with Saudi Arabia. “It concerns a murder,” Cavusoglu said. “It is not pos- sible to say, ‘Our trade will increase. Let’s cover this up. Let’s ignore it.’” Trump said King Salman and Crown Prince Mo- hammed both “vigorously deny” any knowledge of the planning or execution of the killing. He also said the CIA has not made a conclusive determination about whether the crown prince ordered it. A U.S. official familiar with the case told The Associated Press last week that intelli- gence officials had concluded that the crown prince, the kingdom’s de facto leader, did order the killing. Others fa- miliar with the case, however, have cautioned that while it’s likely the crown prince had a role, there continue to be questions about the degree. “We may never know all of the facts surrounding the murder of Mr. Jamal Khashoggi,” Trump said. “In any case, our relationship is with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. They have been a great ally in our very impor- tant fight against Iran.” Saudi prosecutors say a 15-man team sent to Is- tanbul exceeded its au- thority when the lead nego- tiator in the team decided to kill Khashoggi for refusing orders to return. The Saudis say the agents dismembered his body, which has not been found. Democrats on Capitol Hill called on the CIA and other top intelligence agencies to publicly report what it has learned about the killing. The CIA had no comment on the president’s state- ment. However, former Di- rector John Brennan, a fre- quent Trump critic, tweeted: “Since Mr. Trump excels in dishonesty, it is now up to members of Congress to ob- tain & declassify the CIA findings on Jamal Khashog- gi’s death. No one in Saudi Arabia – most especially the Crown Prince –should es- cape accountability for such a heinous act.” Trump said he knew some members of Congress would disagree with his decision. He said he would listen to their ideas, but only if they were focused on U.S. na- tional security. Late last week, a bipar- tisan group of senators in- troduced legislation that calls for suspending weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, for sanctions on people who block humanitarian access in Yemen or support the Houthi rebels, and mandatory sanc- tions on those responsible for Khashoggi’s death. Democrats harshly crit- icized Trump’s decision Tuesday and called on Con- gress to cut off arms sales to Saudi Arabia and end support for Saudi Arabia’s war against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen, which is facing a humanitarian crisis. “Standing with Saudi Arabia is not ‘America First!’” said Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, where Khashoggi lived. “President Trump has sided with a mur- derous regime over patri- otic American intelligence officials.” Democrat Dianne Fein- stein of California, a member of the Senate intelligence committee, said Khashoggi was killed by agents of the Saudi government in a “pre- meditated murder, plain and simple,” and she said she would introduce legislation requiring intelligence agen- cies to release an unclassified public assessment. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defended Trump’s decision, saying, “We are de- termined to ensure that we continue to make sure that we take care of the American people in all of the strategic decisions we make about with whom we work with around the world.” The president opened his eight-paragraph statement chastising Iran for its proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen, its activities in Iraq, its backing of the Syrian gov- ernment of Bashar Assad and its support of militant groups, which Riyadh has pledged billions to fight. President Donald Trump speaks to the media before leaving the White House in Washington, Tuesday. - PHOTO: APNext >