ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2018 RUNNERS GEAR UP FOR MARATHON More than 1,000 people have signed up to take part in Sunday’s Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon, Half-Marathon and 4-Person Relay. Among the runners this year are people who have recovered from injuries and sur- geries, individuals who are adding Cayman’s marathon to their large and growing tally of worldwide marathons, and a couple who will do the run the morning after getting married. The race begins at 5 a.m. Sunday at the George Town waterfront. Organizers are en- couraging members of the public to come out and support the event, which raises charitable funds for the Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, the Cancer Society and other organizations. As of Monday this week, 102 full mara- thoners, 810 half-marathon entrants, and 67 relay teams had registered, with at least another 100 expected to sign up the day be- fore the marathon, in “the usual flurry of last-minute entries,” organizers said in a press release. Last year, more than 1,200 people took part. This year, between visiting runners, their families and supporters, the race is bringing close to 700 visitors to the island, orga- nizers said. “It’s our 16th year, and every year keeps getting better,” said Race Director Rhonda Kelly. “The support we receive from the com- munity, our sponsors, volunteers, local run- ners and overseas runners – some who fly here every year just to run our race – is over- whelming at times. “This event is so inspirational and at times so emotional. We are just thrilled to be a part of the triumphs and powerful moments that a lot of our local and visiting runners will expe- rience this Sunday. We count it an honor to be a part of their stories.” Runners’ stories The marathon’s organizers highlighted the journeys of some of the runners taking part in Sunday’s event. Among the runners will be 69-year old Brent Weigner who is doing his 166th mara- thon. Mr. Weigner, from Cheyenne, Wyoming, Bermuda courts reverse same-sex marriage ban Ruling could impact Cayman case JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Bermuda’s courts have le- galized same-sex marriage for the second time in a landmark ruling that could impact the battle for marriage equality in the Cayman Islands. Citing the island’s religious heritage and bolstered by a ref- erendum that came out against same-sex marriage, the Bermuda government has fought a long legal battle over the issue. The country’s Court of Appeal ruled Friday that an attempt to introduce “civil partnership” leg- islation as an alternative to mar- riage for gay couples was not sufficient to meet rights guaran- teed under Bermuda’s constitu- tion. It also ruled that passing legislation on religious grounds was outlawed by the constitu- tion, which guarantees a right to freedom of conscience. The Bermuda government has now exhausted its legal op- tions within the territory to op- pose same-sex marriage. It has 21 days from Friday’s ruling to decide whether to chal- lenge the ruling in the Privy Council in London. Campaigners in the Cayman Dr. Hortor honored with unveiling of headstone KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com An official viewing was held Monday to unveil the headstone that marks the resting place of Dr. William Alfred Conrad Hortor, who was one of Cay- man’s first medical doctors and served here from the mid-1930s to his death in 1960. Only six people showed up to the unveiling in West Bay Cemetery, but all of them were directly or indirectly impacted by Dr. Hortor. “Each one of us have had personal experiences of his treatments. He saved my life because I had blood poi- soning – what’s now known as sepsis – and I became un- conscious,” said Betty Ebanks, who helped spearhead the ef- forts to obtain a headstone for Dr. Hortor. “That’s when I was about 8 years old.” Kenrick Welds, who helped Ms. Ebanks with the initiative, said that Dr. Hortor stitched his eye once after he was hit by a cyclist on his first day of school. Mr. Welds’s brother, Jones Conrad Welds, said he was de- livered by Dr. Hortor. The Welds brothers and Ms. Ebanks were just a few of the hundreds treated by Dr. Hortor, who was appointed as the government medical of- ficer in December 1936 and was the jurisdiction’s only doctor at the time. Dr. Hortor made sure ev- eryone on the island was cared for, Ms. Ebanks said. He lived in West Bay and often walked between the districts to make house calls, she said. About twice a month, a clinic would be held in East PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Attending the unveiling of Dr. Hortor’s headstone in West Bay Cemetery Monday evening were, back row, from left, Brittanni Seymour, Jonathan Welds, Jones Welds and Grace Wright; front row, Kenrick Welds and Betty Ebanks. - PHOTO: KEN SILVA PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 20 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » RARE SEABIRDS MAKING NESTS FROM PLASTIC DEBRIS Plastic debris is altering the lives and habitats of seabirds in Cayman Brac. Plastic Free Cayman’s Cassandra MacDowell indicated that the island’s brown boobies have begun using pieces of plastic and other ocean de- bris to build their nests. Recently, around 15 volunteers from the charity cleared nearly 800 pounds of trash from a stretch of beach that serves as a popular nesting site on the south side of the island. For more on this story, see page 7.2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - WEDNESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) ROBIN HOOD (PG13) 12:45 VIP I 3:55 I 7:00 VIP I 10:00 CREED II (PG13) 1:00 I 3:25 VIP I 7:05 I 9:40 VIP BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (PG13) 12:30 I 3:30 I 6:30 THE GRINCH (PG) 12:15 I 2:30 I 4:45 I 9:30 RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET (PG) 1:00 I 3:50 3D I 7:10 3D I 9:45 FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (PG13) 12:50 3D I 3:35 I 6:45 I 9:45 WIDOWS (R) 7:00 I 9:50 Prosecutors seek sanctions against El Chapo lawyers NEW YORK (AP) – Pros- ecutors asked a judge on Tuesday to sanction the defense team for Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman for fa- cilitating “unauthorized” contact between the Mex- ican drug lord and his wife during his federal trial in Brooklyn. The U.S. Attorney’s Of- fice for the Eastern Dis- trict of New York filed heavily redacted court pa- pers citing surveillance footage in which Guzman’s wife, Emma Coronel, was seen in possession of a cell- phone in violation of court- house policy. Prosecutors said the “impermissible” contact happened “in concert with an attorney visit to the de- fendant following two trial days last week.” The judge instructed de- fense lawyers to respond by week’s end to prosecutors’ complaints about them. Be- fore testimony resumed, U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan said he will take up the issue next week after seeing the defense’s re- sponse. He said any imme- diate concerns had already been resolved. Lawyers for Guzman did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Guz- man’s wife was back in her regular spot in the court- room gallery. Federal authorities have imposed tight security measures throughout Guz- man’s proceedings. Tues- day’s court filings referred to a “determination by the Attorney General that com- munications and contacts between the defendant and other persons could result in death or serious bodily injury to others.” U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan, citing se- curity risks, ruled that Guzman could not even hug his wife before the trial got under way, even as he praised the infa- mous drug smuggler for good conduct in solitary confinement. The request for sanc- tions came as the trial entered its third week. The jury heard testimony Monday that Guzman or- chestrated massive co- caine shipments that made him so rich he could pay multimillion-dollar bribes to a powerful po- lice commander. Miguel Angel Martinez told the jury that he worked for Guzman in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and that the Sinaloa cartel paid $10 million in drug money bribes at least twice to Guillermo Gonzalez Calde- roni, a top law enforcement official in Mexico City. Calderoni, in exchange, tipped off the cartel about investigations and of- fered other protections that helped keep Guzman from getting caught, Mar- tinez testified. Cayman’s Eric Bush visits Northern Ireland Cayman Islands Repre- sentative to the U.K. and EU Eric Bush attended the Dem- ocratic Unionist Party annual conference in Belfast last week, promoting the islands as he met with various gov- ernment officials. This is the first year that the Cayman Islands has at- tended the conference. The aim was to identify oppor- tunities for more political engagement, branching out into Ireland. A day of meetings and government visits on Friday preceded the Saturday conference. At the conference Mr. Bush and Deputy Repre- sentative Charles Parch- ment met with Arlene Foster, MLA and DUP leader, Wil- liam Humphrey MLA, Councilor Ian McCrea and Jim Shannon MP. “This has been a great op- portunity to meet with DUP leaders and members, to re- mind the Northern Ireland government and the gen- eral public in Northern Ire- land that the Cayman Islands is a British Territory and to discuss similar challenges and current affairs relating to Northern Ireland and the Cayman Islands,” Mr. Bush said in a statement. “I was encouraged to speak to Wil- liam Humphrey about the po- tential of setting up a Friends of Cayman chapter within Northern Ireland. “We intend to continue to forge new links with Gov- ernments outside of West- minster,” he added, “and look forward to the positive ben- efits this will bring to the Cayman Islands.” Security concerns arise as Argentina hosts G-20 BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) – Argentine authorities say that Buenos Aires will be an armored city when world leaders arrive for this week’s G-20 summit. But se- curity failures that marred a soccer championship and deeper unrest over an eco- nomic austerity program are now raising concerns about the country’s ability to en- sure safety. About 22,000 police and security agents will guard U.S. President Donald Trump and other leaders from the Group of 20 industrialized and emerging nations during the two-day meeting that starts Friday. At least another eight U.S. aircraft and up to 400 American military per- sonnel and civilians are ex- pected to provide security. “We’re working on every detail,” said Argentine Secu- rity Minister Patricia Bull- rich, at a press conference addressing G-20 concerns. “We don’t have disagree- ments, and even less so in these types of operations where we work in teams.” Even with beefed up se- curity, however, the Argentine government will inevitably be facing demonstrations that could potentially draw thou- sands of activists, some of whom might be coming from other parts of the world. Anarchist and anti-capi- talist groups have announced that they will stage protests under the slogan “Get Out G-20, Get Out IMF,” while messages posted on social media are demanding the ouster of Trump and other leaders, such as Brazil’s far- right President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, who will take of- fice on Jan. 1. The summit comes just days after an inopportune soccer-related incident also threw public security mea- sures into question. Critics say that police on Saturday failed to prevent an attack on players from the Boca Juniors soccer club when River Plate fans hurled stones and other objects at their team bus as they were headed to play a champi- onship match. Several players, including the team captain, were in- jured when a bus window shattered, while others were affected by tear gas and pepper spray used by police to contain violence. Fans also vandalized cars and other property near the stadium, ultimately leading to the postponement of the Liberta- dores Cup final. Argentina is the first South American country to host the G-20 summit, and officials have the added chal- lenge of ensuring that chaos is better contained than it was at last year’s meeting in Hamburg, Germany. At that summit, an almost 15-square-mile “no-protest zone” encompassing the air- port in Hamburg was blocked off as clashes broke out be- tween police and protesters. Authorities have reiter- ated that they will crack down on any effort to disrupt the gathering and will not tolerate violence. “Whoever manifests does so in the framework of peace and free expression and not in that of violence,” said Min- ister Bullrich. Regardless, unrest is al- ready bubbling beneath the surface. Earlier in November, two attempted attacks using homemade devices were made on a judge’s home as well as the mausoleum of a police chief; false bomb threats on a bank and a train station added to the sense of unease. Argentines have also taken to the streets in mass in recent weeks to demand solutions to the country’s economic crisis and reject government austerity mea- sures implemented in re- sponse to currency and infla- tion problems. The crisis has forced Pres- ident Mauricio Macri’s gov- ernment to seek a $56 billion credit line with the Interna- tional Monetary Fund this year and has been a source of discontent for those who have bad memories of a 2001 crisis when banks froze de- posits and people were pro- hibited from withdrawing their savings. Macri, a pro-business conservative who came into office in 2015, had prom- ised to trim Argentina’s fiscal deficit, reduce poverty and curb inflation. On Monday, he said he re- gretted the violent acts be- fore the soccer game and tried to calm fears about the summit. Cayman’s Eric Bush meets DUP Leader Arlene Foster last week in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Reception planned for Cayman students in UK Cayman students studying in the United Kingdom are invited to attend the Gov- ernment Student Reception Dec. 8 at the Cayman Is- lands Government Office in London with Premier Alden McLaughlin. The event, which features a Caribbean buffet dinner, was previously sched- uled for Dec. 1. Parents are asked to make sure their students are aware of the event, and are registered with Cayman Connection UK. Students should RSVP by Dec. 6. by emailing the CCUK at hello@caymancon- nection.org. The reception offers the opportunity to meet fellow students and Cayman Is- lands Government Officials. The premier will give up- dates on the delegation visit to the U.K., and current af- fairs and updates from the Cayman Islands. More details can be found at www.cigouk.ky/studentreception18.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 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 Sunday, the European Union bestowed its blessing on a 585-page “withdrawal agreement,” also known as the “divorce papers” for the U.K.’s formal withdrawal from the EU, and a 26-page non-binding “Political Declaration” intended to guide future U.K.-EU relations. Now U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May’s work begins at home, where she must convince her fellow Britons in Parliament to sign off on the deal negotiated with Europe. She will probably fail – and deserves to. No one in the United Kingdom voted for a “soft Brexit,” the inedible concoction comprised of backroom deal-doing and anti-democratic compromise that is now being touted by Mrs. May and her supporters (who are abandoning her in droves). Mrs. May has staked the future of her govern- ment, her political career and her country on this putrid porridge upon which she has pledged her “heart and soul” and dared Parliament to “take-it-or-leave-it.” Likewise, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker declared, “It’s the best deal possible. The European Union will not change its fundamental position.” The opponents to Mrs. May’s Brexit deal are vocal, numerous and growing. They include leaders of rival political parties, Conservatives who favor a “hard Brexit,” others who remain unsure of the wisdom of withdrawal, and several opportunity-minded individuals interested in securing accommodations at 10 Downing Street. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called the Polit- ical Declaration, intended to make the Brexit agreement more palatable, “26 pages of waffle” and vowed that his party would not support it. Conservative MP Mark Francois called it “political camouflage.” Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson told the media he felt Britain was “on the verge of making a historic mistake.” On the right-hand side of this page, we publish a column by Cayman Financial Review editorial board member Daniel J. Mitchell, who writes: “Theresa May was not a Brexit supporter. She failed to play some very strong cards and she basically worked to come up with a fake Brexit.” Let us recall the events that have led us to the present moment. The Brexit bramble grew from a colossal political miscalculation. Prime Minister May’s predecessor David Cameron courted Tory hardliners by promising a refer- endum on Brexit, in the belief that voters would choose “Remain” over “Leave.” He bet wrong, and Mr. Cameron made his own “political Brexit” – pronto. Enter Mrs. May who stepped up and stepped into the breach. Having learned little to nothing from the political wreckage bestowed upon the country by her predecessor, Mrs. May also called for a general election to strengthen her government. Big mistake. The result was a significant erosion of her party’s power and the emboldening of her political opponents. And so here we are, with a humiliating Brexit proposal on the table, Mrs. May’s government teetering on the brink of stability, and marketing sloganeers and political advisers trying to put a positive spin on the entire 585- page mess. As Prime Minister May should have known, oftentimes events – and how individuals respond to them – deter- mine their legacy. They emerge, sometimes bloodied but victorious, as leaders, or in the alternative, as mere aster- isks in the annals of history. From our vantage point, Mrs. May may not be headed for an epitaph of ignominy – certainly she has been “adequate” during difficult times – but history ultimately will render a verdict that she was the leader who would not lead. On June 23, 2016, British voters cast their ballots to withdraw the U.K.’s membership in the European Union. Mrs. May’s legacy will be that she refused to, or was unable to, implement the democratic wishes of her countrymen. Brexit proposal: EU’s final offer. May’s final stand WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Theresa May is sabotaging Brexit I just spent several days in London, where I met with journalists and experts at think tanks to find out what’s happening with Brexit. I think voters in the U.K. made the right decision for the simple reason that the Brussels-based European Union is a slowly sinking ship based on centraliza- tion, harmonization, and bureaucratization. Membership already in- volves onerous regulations, and remaining a member of the EU would mean – sooner or later – sending ever-larger amounts of money to Brus- sels, where it then would be used to prop up Europe’s failing welfare states. Get- ting out may involve some short-term pain, but it will avert far greater pain in the future. At least that was the theory. The reality is that the Tory-led government in London has made a mess of the negotiations. The newly announced deal is not a real Brexit. Writing for the Telegraph newspaper, Dan Hannan, a British member of the Eu- ropean Parliament, sums up why the deal is a joke: “The deal, as one Italian newspaper puts it, represents ‘a resounding victory for the EU over Her Majesty’s sub- jects.’ Yet there was nothing inevitable about this climb- down. On the contrary, there is something extraordinary, awe-inspiring even, about the slow-witted cowardice that led British negotiators to this point … the disas- trous acceptance of the EU’s sequencing, which meant that all British leverage, in- cluding the exaggerated fi- nancial contributions, would be tossed away before the EU even began to discuss trade. … Can you blame Eurocrats for gloating? Britain will be subject to all the costs and obligations of EU member- ship with no vote, no voice and no veto. “Unbelievably, Britain has given the EU a veto over whether it can leave these ar- rangements: unlike EU mem- bership itself, we have no right to walk away. Brus- sels will run our trade policy, our economy, even elements of our taxation for as long as it likes. … Leavers never did “own” this process. From the start, it has been con- trolled by those who wished it wasn’t happening, and who defined success as salvaging as much as they could of the old dispensation.” That final sentence is key. Theresa May was not a Brexit supporter. She failed to play some very strong cards and she basically worked to come up with a fake Brexit. It remains to be seen whether Parliament will approve this humiliating package. The House of Commons will vote in about two weeks and here’s how the U.K.-based Times describes the pos- sible outcomes if the plan gets rejected: 1. The prime minister could bring the deal back for a second vote; 2. Ms. May could resign or face a confidence vote; 3. Ms. May or her suc- cessor could support a second referendum; 4. Supporters could push for a no-deal or “man- aged” no-deal Brexit; or 5. Negotiators could pursue the “Norway option.” I will be disappointed but not surprised if this deal is enacted. It’s even possible it will be approved on the first vote. The crowd in Brussels does not want a good deal, even though it would be positive for the economic well-being of EU member nations. They have an ideo- logical desire to turn the Eu- ropean Union into a techno- cratic superstate and they deeply resent the British for choosing self-government and democracy. As such, the goal is to ei- ther maneuver the British government into a humili- ating surrender (Theresa May was happy to oblige) or to force a hard Brexit, which would probably cause some short-term economic disruption. But there was also resis- tance on the British end to this option since it ostensibly (but perhaps not necessarily) requires free movement of people. In other words, it might mean unchecked mi- gration from EU/EEA na- tions, which arouses some nativist concerns. The anti-Brexit crowd (the “remainers”) tried to win by arguing that a vote for Brexit would cause an eco- nomic collapse. That “Project Fear” was exposed as a joke (and was the target of some clever humor). And the new version of Project Fear is similarly dis- honest. I thought the global- warming Cassandras were the world’s worst when it comes to exaggeration, but they are amateurs compared to the anti-Brexit crowd. One of the behind-the- scenes aspects of the Brexit debate is that the eurocrats in Brussels are scared that the U.K. will become more market-oriented once it has escaped the EU’s regula- tory clutches. And just as the EU has gone after Ireland and Swit- zerland for supposedly in- sufficient taxation, it also now is trying to ham- string the United Kingdom. All the more reason to es- cape and become the Singa- pore of Europe. Daniel J. Mitchell, chairman of the Center for Freedom and Prosperity, is on the Editorial Board of the Cayman Financial Review. DANIEL J. MITCHELL Theresa May was not a Brexit supporter. She failed to play some very strong cards and she basically worked to come up with a fake Brexit.The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2018 Now it’s even more convenient to move your shipments with us!!! Visit our new location at 131 MaClendon Drive next to Art Nest behind Yello Near the Airport behind Priced Right Visit our new location at 131 MaClendon Drive next to Art Nest behind Yello Near the Airport behind Priced Right 6 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS OUR OFFICE WILL BE CLOSING AT NOON PLEASE BE ADVISED FRIDA DAD Y AYA , Y,Y DECEMBER 7,7,7 2018 FRIDAY , DECEMBER 7, 2018 Grand Court orders winding-up of reinsurer KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Grand Court has granted the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority’s peti- tion for the winding-up of Beechwood Re, a reinsurance firm being sued for fraud in the U.S., and with ties to a hedge fund whose former executives are facing civil and criminal fraud charges in the U.S. Grand Court Justice Nich- olas Segal made the order to wind up Beechwood Re after acknowledging evi- dence that the reinsurer has had a “history of regulatory breaches,” appears to have been involved in a fraudu- lent scheme, and faces mul- tiple lawsuits. Beechwood Re has finan- cial ties to the U.S. hedge fund Platinum Partners. Alle- gations against the two enti- ties include that they shared mutual beneficial owners, who enriched themselves by siphoning Beechwood Re as- sets that should have been distributed to other parties. According to CIMA’s winding-up petition, the reg- ulator first became aware of allegations of fraud and crim- inal activity against compa- nies associated with Plat- inum Partners – including Beechwood Re – in 2016. CIMA also stated that Beechwood Re breached mul- tiple local regulations by failing to file annual returns and failing to maintain min- imum capital and solvency requirements. After multiple alleged breaches, CIMA appointed accountants from Deloitte to serve as control of the affairs of Beechwood Re in July 2017. In a March 27 report on the state of Beechwood Re, the controllers found that the reinsurer was likely to run out of cash to meet its obligations within several months, according to CI- MA’s petition. Given that report, CIMA stated that it decided to re- voke Beechwood Re’s license and apply for the Grand Court to order the company to be wound up. The Grand Court’s order appoints the Deloitte control- lers as Beechwood Re’s liq- uidators, and allows them to participate in the mul- tiple legal proceedings taking place in the U.S. Grand Court Justice Nicholas Segal made the order to wind up Beechwood Re after acknowledging evidence that the reinsurer has had a “history of regulatory breaches,” appears to have been involved in a fraudulent scheme, and faces multiple lawsuits. 34 businesses recognized as Chamber Champions The Chamber of Commerce rec- ognized 34 businesses as Chamber Champions for their overall contri- butions to the activities of the busi- ness association this year at an ap- preciation ceremony at the Wharf Restaurant last week. The 34 members who quali- fied as Chamber Champions spon- sored numerous initiatives, such as the annual Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Busi- ness Excellence Awards, the Golf Classic, and contributed funds and thousands of volunteer hours to the Earth Day Roadside Cleanup. They also sponsored the Careers Education and Training Expo, spon- sored the Economic Forum, sup- ported Chamber awards for high school achievers, and participated in information and advocacy meetings, such as the Legislative Luncheons. Their owners and management invested in their staff by enrolling them in seminars and workshops at the Chamber’s Professional De- velopment and Training Centre, Mentoring Cayman and Leadership Cayman programs, according to the Chamber. These members also spon- sored promotions on the Cham- ber’s website, monthly eblasts and the 2019 Chamber desktop calendar, which is distributed to more than 2,500 desktops each year. Members in the top category of Chamber Advocate invested staff hours and contributed more than $10,000 in kind or in sponsor- ship over the past year. The eight top companies are Cayman Na- tional Corporation, Cayman Turtle Centre, Dart, Deloitte, EisnerAmper, Kirk Freeport Ltd., Michael Armand Hammer and Hammer Foundation, and Yello Media Group. Presenting the awards, Chamber CEO Wil Pineau said, “These busi- nesses contribute millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours to support community, Chamber and civic activities that improve the quality of life for us all.” Six members were presented with awards as Chamber Advisors, having invested between $7,500 and $9,999 last year: Caribbean Alliance Insurance Company Ltd., Caribbean Utilities Company Ltd., Cox Lumber, Kensington Management Group Ltd., RBC Royal Bank (Cayman) Ltd. and Walkers. The next group, Chamber Stew- ards, contributed $5,000 to $7,499 during 2018: Appleby (Cayman) Ltd., British Caymanian Insur- ance, Broadhurst LLC, Burger King/ Burger Holdings, Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Ltd., Cayman First Insur- ance Company, Cayman Islands Na- tional Insurance Company (CINICO), Davenport Development Ltd., Green- light RE, Island Heritage Insurance Company, Kirk Office, KPMG, Ma- ples and Calder, Mourant, Picture This Studios, Provenance Properties Cayman Islands, Saxon Insurance, Strategic Risk Solutions and Water Authority Cayman. An additional 87 businesses and organizations contributed from $1,000 to $4,999 during 2018 and are listed in the Year in Re- view report. LIFE DONATES TO CHILDREN’S LIBRARY Literacy Is For Everyone, known as LIFE, has do- nated more than 100 books to the Cornerstones Inclu- sion Unit’s reading library. The unit is part of the Department of Education Services’ Behaviour Sup- port Services. The donation is the latest in a series of do- nations made by LIFE to the unit. The Cornerstones In- clusion Unit supports stu- dents from Key Stage 1 to Key Stage 4, and staff within the units help stu- dents to acquire the skills needed for them to rein- tegrate into their main- stream classes. LIFE’s Erin Galatopoulos and Marilyn Conolly, second and third from left, with staff and students of the Cornerstones Inclusion Unit. Caribbean Alliance’s Senior Underwriter Latoya Webb, center, accepts a Chamber Advisor award from outgoing President Paul Byles and Acting Chief Officer Tamara Ebanks from the Ministry of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure. The 34 members who qualified as Chamber Champions sponsored numerous initiatives, such as the annual Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching, Business Excellence Awards, the Golf Classic and contributed funds and thousands of volunteer hours to the Earth Day Roadside Cleanup.7 LOCAL&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2018 One Honeywell Lynx touch wireless residential/ commercial security alarm panel with 4.3” full colour touchscreen display Three wireless door/window contacts (white) One Honeywell pet immune motion sensor (up to 40Lbs.) One 4 button remote keychain Full installation and demonstration 12 months parts warranty WIFI module for the mobile Apps. Honeywell Lynx Intruder Alarm Package Includes: The Honeywell intruder system is linked to our 24/7 monitoring centre to keep your family and your property safe. Upon system activation our experienced monitoring station staff will handle the situation. The Total Connect app allows you complete control of your security system from your mobile device. To find out more about this special offer contact the Security Centre on 949-0004 or email info@security.ky *The free alarm system and installation is available to new clients when signing up for a 12 month monitoring contract ($660 residential - $860 commercial). 24/7 Alarm Monitoring Secure and protect your property with the Honeywell Lynx intruder protection system. Controllable from your mobile device. Rare seabirds making nests from plastic debris JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com On a rocky stretch of beach on Cayman Brac, a rare seabird has made its nest on a carpet of plastic bot- tles, broken pipe and other ocean debris. Around 15 volunteers for the charity Plastic Free Cayman cleared nearly 800 pounds of trash from a short stretch of beach on the south side of the island Sunday. The beach is a popular nesting site for the island’s regionally important brown booby colony. Cassandra MacDowell, the Brac coordinator for Plastic Free Cayman, said the sheer amount of debris was having an obvious effect on the birds. “Some of the birds had built their nests out of de- bris, using small pieces of plastic. It is a big problem,” she said. The charity established a presence in the Brac ear- lier this year and has held multiple cleanups at various points around the island. Ms. MacDowell said the majority of trash collected appeared to have been swept on to the island’s beaches from overseas. She said the sheer amount of it was concerning and would require concerted and consistent efforts from vol- unteers to control. “I was very excited that so many people came out to help clean up this weekend,” she said. Among the debris col- lected were scores of plastic bottles, bottle caps and nylon fishing line, in some cases broken down so significantly it was impossible to remove. Ms. MacDowell urged anyone who wants to do their bit to keep Cayman’s beaches clean to go to the Plastic Free Cayman website and volun- teer to help out or take the charity’s “345 pledge” to re- duce use of plastics. For more information, visit www.plasticfreecayman.com. Brown boobies on Cayman Brac have begun using plastic debris in their nests. - PHOTO: JANE HAAKONSSON CYCLE PATH PLANNED FOR ESTERLEY TIBBETTS HIGHWAY The National Roads Au- thority and a subcontractor will begin installing a cycle path along the Esterley Tib- betts Highway from Friday. The work is expected to con- tinue until Tuesday, Dec. 4. Initially, sections of the southbound lane will be coned off to facili- tate the work, and then the northbound lane. During the roadwork, drivers are asked to watch for traffic diversions and are asked to drive with caution in order to ensure their safety and that of the work crews. UN RELEASES $9.2 MILLION FOR VENEZUELA RELIEF GENEVA (AP) – The United Nations has released $9.2 million for food, medi- cine and other help for Ven- ezuelans through an emer- gency relief fund, the first such assistance during the country’s deepening political and economic crisis. The move to unlock the Central Emergency Relief Fund for various U.N. agencies since mid-November marks a breakthrough because such U.N. emergency funding for a country generally requires the approval of its government. President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly denied that Venezuela needs outside aid, pinning blame for the coun- try’s woes on what he calls imperialist countries, like the United States and some Eu- ropean Union members plot- ting an invasion. A once-wealthy oil-nation, Venezuela has been in the grips of an economic crisis for at least five years under two decades of socialist rule. Masses are migrating from the country, while millions staying behind struggle to af- ford scarce food and medicine. The latest sum of U.N. funds, disbursed Monday, in- volves $2.6 million for nutri- tion support for young chil- dren, pregnant women and lactating mothers. Separately, the U.N.’s In- ternational Children’s Emer- gency Fund announced Monday that since August it’s broadened existing programs, delivering 130 tons of medi- cines, health and nutrition supplies for 350,000 women and children. UNICEF has had a presence in Venezuela since 1991. The supplies are being delivered in agreement with the government, the U.N. says, noting that nearly 12 percent of the population is undernourished. UNICEF is pouring $32 million into its programs in Venezuela, said Christo- pher Tidey, a New York-based UNICEF spokesman. That pays for 2.5 million doses of measles vaccines and an- timalarial treatment for 150,000 children. “It’s really an expan- sion of the work we were al- ready doing,” Tidey said, “And taking into account that the economic crisis is making it harder for families to give the support they need for their kids.”The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The family of the late Arthur B. Hunter regret to announce his passing on Wednesday, 21 November 2018. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, 1 December 2018 at the Elmslie Memorial United Church. Interment will follow in Spotts Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Jasmine (formerly Cayman HospiceCare) or Meals On Wheels The family of the late Arthur B. Hunter regret to announce his passing on Wednesday, 21 November 2018. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, 1 December 2018 at the Elmslie Memorial United Church. Interment will follow in Spotts Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Jasmine (formerly Cayman HospiceCare) or Meals On Wheels The family of the late Arthur B. Hunter regret to announce his passing on Wednesday, 21 November 2018. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, 1 December 2018 at the Elmslie Memorial United Church. Interment will follow in Spotts Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Jasmine (formerly Cayman HospiceCare) or Meals On Wheels End and Dr. Hortor would be driven there. He often stayed there until midnight to make sure everyone was seen, Ms. Ebanks said. Along with those treated by Dr. Hortor, others never met the man but neverthe- less have had their lives impacted by his efforts. Brittanni Seymour, for instance, had a great grandmother who was trained to be a nurse by Dr. Hortor. Ms. Ebanks ex- plained that Dr. Hortor helped get Cayman’s first set of nurses certified. “She wouldn’t have been a nurse without his training,” Ms. Seymour said of her great grandmother, Geraldine Grant. Kenrick Welds said he was happy to honor Dr. Hortor, but was disap- pointed that it took some three years to raise roughly $3,100 for the headstone – Churchill’s Funeral Home also made a donation and placed the headstone at Dr. Hortor’s grave about two weeks ago. “I thought it was going to happen in less than six months because of how well known he was,” Mr. Welds said. The engraved words on the headstone read: “His memory lives on through the sharing of his medical expertise and his undivided devotion to the people of the Cayman Islands from 1936 until his death. He fulfilled the call to ‘serve one another in love.’” Dr. Hortor, who hailed from England, was among the early pioneers of medi- cine who was honored in the 2015 Heroes Day. His name is also included in the Wall of Honour in Heroes Square in George Town, which was unveiled during the Cayman Islands Quincentennial cel- ebrations in 2003. He arrived in Grand Cayman in 1936 on board the Cimboco from Jamaica. and remained in Cayman for the rest of his life. Islands see the decision as a victory that could in- fluence how the matter is dealt with here. Cayman Islands-based researcher and campaigner Leonardo Raznovich said the Ber- muda decision removed the possibility that religion could be used as a justifi- cation for a same-sex mar- riage ban. He said it was the “final blow” in an al- ready “fatally wounded” case and urged Cayman’s government to “stop this circus” and allow same-sex couples to marry. While not binding on Cayman, he said, the Ber- muda judgment was a “highly persuasive” prec- edent from a fellow over- seas territory. In a written analysis of the decision, Mr. Raznovich told the Cayman Compass that the Bermuda Court of Appeal confirmed two ob- vious principles of law for countries with secular con- stitutions, like Cayman and Bermuda. “These are that the legis- lature’s freedom to legislate is constrained in that it must not pass legislation that is inconsistent with the funda- mental rights and freedoms of the Constitution. Further, nor can the legislature use religion to justify matters of general legislation. “The Court of Ap- peal then decided unani- mously that the revoca- tion of same-sex marriage was decided by the Bermu- dian Legislature on reli- gious grounds and, hence, it was for this reason unconstitutional.” He said the court also confirmed that a deeply held belief in marriage was protected under the sec- tion of the Bermuda con- stitution which guarantees freedom of conscience and belief. This aspect was im- portant, he said, because it established that belief in marriage – whether it re- lates to opposite or same- sex marriage – was a pro- tected right, regardless of whether it was specifically stated in the constitution. Rod Attride-Stirling, one of the lawyers in the Bermuda case, made the same point in media inter- views following the case. He said the ruling would set a “massive prec- edent” for other jurisdic- tions where gay marriage is not yet legal. “This case is revolutionary because every country that has a freedom of conscience pro- vision, which is most now, has a fully new avenue of approach,” he told reporters outside the courtroom. The Bermuda courts first ruled in May 2017 that the country’s Human Rights Act, amended in 2013 to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orien- tation, meant that same-sex marriage was legal in Ber- muda. In July of the same year, a new government was elected and immedi- ately repealed the right of same-sex couples to marry, instead introducing civil partnerships as an alter- native. The Supreme Court ruled in June that this was unlawful. That decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal Friday. The Cayman Islands, which has a slightly dif- ferent legislative frame- work, is about to get its own test case on the issue. Ch- antelle Day, a Caymanian lawyer, and her partner Vickie Bodden Bush have been granted leave to apply for a judicial review of the Cayman Islands govern- ment’s decision to refuse their application to marry. The case is scheduled to be heard early next year. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Bermuda courts reverse same-sex marriage ban CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dr. Hortor honored with unveiling of headstone SOCCER BUS ATTACKER FOUND GUILTY OF ATTEMPTED MURDER BERLIN (AP) – A German court on Tuesday con- victed a man of 28 counts of attempted murder in last year’s attack on the Borussia Dortmund soccer team’s bus and sentenced him to 14 years in prison. The Dortmund state court found the defen- dant, who has been identi- fied only as Sergej W. in line with German privacy rules, guilty of 28 counts of at- tempted murder as well as bodily harm and setting off an explosion, the dpa news agency reported. Dortmund defender Marc Bartra and a police officer were injured when three explosions hit the team’s bus as it left a hotel in the western German city for a Champions League game on April 11, 2017. Tuesday’s verdict ended an 11-month trial that fea- tured testimony from players and then-Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel. Prosecutors alleged that W. took out a loan to place a bet that Borussia Dort- mund’s shares would drop in value, then bombed the bus and tried to disguise the attack as Islamic ter- rorism. Dortmund is the only German soccer club whose shares are listed on the stock exchange. The blasts shat- tered a window of the bus and hit Bartra with shrapnel, leaving the team without the Spanish defender for about a month after he had to un- dergo surgery on a broken bone in his wrist. The verdict fell short of prosecutors’ call for a life sentence. However, defense lawyers had argued that W. should be convicted only of setting off an explosion and given a much lower sentence. Scientists: New president may smother Brazil’s rainforest SAO PAULO (AP) – Scientists warn that Brazil’s president- elect could push the Amazon rainforest past its tipping point – with severe conse- quences for global climate and rainfall. Jair Bolsonaro, who takes office Jan. 1, claims a man- date to convert land for cattle pastures and soybean farms, calling Brazil’s rain- forest protections an eco- nomic obstacle. Brazilians on Oct. 28 elected Bolsonaro, a far-right candidate who channeled outrage at the corruption scandals of the former gov- ernment and support from agribusiness groups. Next week, global leaders will meet in Poland for an in- ternational climate confer- ence to discuss how to curb climate change, and ques- tions about Brazil’s role in shaping the future of the Amazon rainforest after Bol- sonaro’s election loom large. New Brazilian government data show the rate of defor- estation – a major factor in global warming – has already increased over the past year. Brazil contains about 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest, and scientists are worried. It’s nearly impossible to overstate the importance of the Amazon rainforest to the planet’s living systems, said Carlos Nobre, a climate scientist at the University of Sao Paulo. Each tree stores carbon absorbed from the atmo- sphere. The Amazon takes in as much as 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year and releases 20 percent of the planet’s oxygen, earning it the nickname “the lungs of the planet.” It’s also a global weather- maker. Stretching 10 times the size of Texas, the Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest. Billions of trees suck up water through deep roots and bring it up to their leaves, which release water vapor that forms a thick mist over the rainforest canopy. This mist ascends into clouds and eventually be- comes rainfall – a cycle that shapes seasons in South America and far beyond. By one estimate, the Am- azon creates 30 to 50 percent of its own rainfall. Now the integrity of all of three functions – as a carbon sink, the Earth’s lungs, and a rainmaker – hangs in the bal- ance. On the campaign trail, Bolsonaro promised to loosen protections for areas of the Brazilian Amazon designated as indigenous lands and na- ture reserves, calling them impediments to economic growth. “All these reserves cause problems to develop- ment,” he told supporters. He has also repeatedly talked about gutting the power of the environmental ministry to enforce existing green laws. “If Bolsonaro keeps his campaign promises, defor- estation of the Amazon will probably increase quickly – and the effects will be felt ev- erywhere on the planet,” said Paulo Artaxo, a professor of environmental physics at the University of Sao Paulo. An illegally deforested area is seen earlier this year on Pirititi indigenous lands as Brazilian government agents inspect Roraima state in Brazil’s Amazon basin. - PHOTO: IBAMA VIA APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2018 UN: No sign of emissions peak in sight The UN is warning the gap is widening between current greenhouse gas emissions and the levels needed to stop catastrophic global warming. It said in order to limit global warming to 2.7 Fahrenheit this century, emissions need to drop 55 percent by 2030 compared to 2017 levels. The family of the late David Jonathan Ebanks, Jr. regret to announce his passing on Wednesday,14th November, 2018. A memorial service will take place 4:30 p.m. Thursday, 29th November, 2018 at Agape Family Worship Centre. A musical prelude will begin at 3:30 p.m. Prior to the service. In lieu of owers donations may be made to The David Jonathan Ebanks, Jr. Music Foundation. Mueller: Manafort lied after guilty plea Prosecutors with Special Counsel Robert Mueller said Monday that Paul Manafort breached his plea agreement, accusing President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman of lying repeatedly to them in their investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Manafort denied doing so intentionally, but both sides agreed in a court filing that U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the Dis- trict of Columbia should set sentencing immediately. The apparent collapse of Manafort’s cooperation agreement is the latest stun- ning turnaround in his case, exposing the longtime Re- publican consultant to at least a decade behind bars after he pleaded guilty in September to charges of cheating the Internal Rev- enue Service, violating for- eign-lobbying laws and at- tempting to obstruct justice. The filing also indicated that Mueller’s team may have lost its potentially most valu- able witness in Manafort, a top campaign official present at discussions at the heart of the special counsel’s mis- sion to determine if any Americans conspired with Russia’s efforts to sway the U.S. election. Still, prosecutors may know more about Manafort’s interactions than he realized, allowing them to catch him in alleged lies. Separately Monday, con- servative author Jerome Corsi, who has ties to a long- time Trump adviser, said he rejected a deal offered by Mueller to plead guilty to one count of perjury because, he said, he did not intentionally lie to investigators. It was not clear what the men already have told inves- tigators or whether their lack of cooperation would mark a significant setback for Muel- ler’s investigation. As part of his plea agree- ment, Manafort promised to tell the government about “his participation in and knowl- edge of all criminal activities.” Prosecutors did not elaborate on areas where they contend Manafort lied or what evi- dence led them to that con- clusion. A Mueller spokesman declined to comment. “After signing the plea agreement, Manafort com- mitted federal crimes by lying to the Federal Bureau of Inves- tigation and the Special Coun- sel’s Office on a variety of sub- ject matters, which constitute breaches of the agreement,” prosecutors wrote. “The gov- ernment will file a detailed sentencing submission to the Probation Department and the Court in advance of sentencing that sets forth the nature of the defendant’s crimes and lies.” Manafort disputes that characterization. His attorneys write in the joint filing that he “has provided information to the government in an effort to live up to his cooperation obligations.” A Manafort spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Manafort pleaded guilty Sept. 14, on the eve of jury se- lection for his trial in Wash- ington, to two charges – con- spiring to defraud the United States and conspiring to ob- struct justice – admitting to years of financial crimes re- lated to his undisclosed lob- bying work for a pro-Russian political party and politician in Ukraine. Under the agreement with prosecutors, Manafort faced a maximum prison sentence of 10 years in the District case, not counting a sentence for his August conviction in Virginia for bank and tax fraud. The longtime lobbyist also was ordered to forfeit an esti- mated $15 million he hid from the IRS but was permitted to keep some property held with relatives. In return for his coopera- tion, he hoped to have pros- ecutors recommend leniency, possibly slicing years off his term of incarceration. If he is found to have breached the deal, he would lose any sentencing credits for acceptance of responsibility, prosecutors said. Evidence of other crimes could also sub- ject Manafort to an increase in the seven-to-10-year sen- tence he faces in Virginia. He is set to come before U.S. Dis- trict Judge T.S. Ellis of Alexan- dria, Virginia, for sentencing in February. Before his plea, Manafort vigorously fought the charges. His defenders had long in- sisted that he would not co- operate with Mueller and that he did not have informa- tion that would incriminate the president. But in plea papers, Manafort agreed to cooperate “fully and truthfully” with the investigation by the Office of Special Counsel, including participating in interviews and debriefings, producing any documents in his control, testifying, and agreeing to delay sentencing until a time set by the government. Monday’s filing came after Manafort talked in detail to prosecutors before his plea, and despite numerous visits by him and his lawyers since to prosecutors’ offices. Kevin Downing, an attorney for Manafort, said at the time of the plea that it included a full cooperation agreement. “He wanted to make sure his family remained safe and live a good life,” Downing said out- side the courthouse. “He has accepted responsibility.” © 2018, The Washington Post Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign chairman, leaves the Federal District Court in May after a hearing in Washington. - PHOTO: APNext >