ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2018 HomeOptions Pay less for more cover with home insurance Save $250 with your first BritCay buildings insurance policy and a 10% car insurance discount . Many extra benefits, like $1 million liability insurance, are included in your cover. Ask for a quote! 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 Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp 10% discount applies if you have buildings Insurance Remembering legal and financial pioneer Arthur Hunter MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Noted attorneys and Cayman Is- lands legislators were among those paying tribute to Arthur Hunter over the past week, following his sudden death. Mr. Hunter was one of the men most responsible for changing the Cayman Islands from a quiet Carib- bean outpost into a thriving inter- national financial center and along with his father founded the law firm Hunter & Hunter, which is now Ap- pleby (Cayman) Ltd. Mr. Hunter had undergone re- cent surgery to replace a heart valve. During a visit to Health City on Nov. 21, he unexpectedly col- lapsed. Doctors were unable to re- vive him. He was 81. Mr. Hunter, along with at- torney Bill Walker, the founder of Walkers, and Sir Vassel Johnson, penned important revisions to the Companies Law of 1960. “The story I have always been told was that the work was done at Mr. Arthur’s kitchen table,” An- drew Bolton, a partner at Appleby, said in a written statement. “I think it is fair to say that Arthur Hunter was key to the early success of the Cayman Islands, and his influence lives on in the opportunities that the financial sector nowadays gives to so many people, and the pros- perity it brings to the Islands.” A native-born Caymanian, whose family has been on the island for many generations, Mr. Hunter was lauded in the Legislative Assembly last Thursday. Many members re- called their friendships and per- sonal interactions with one of the islands’ leading attorneys. “This country’s lost an icon,” said Finance Minister Roy McTag- gart, who recalled his family and the Hunters camping at Rum Point Arthur Hunter Officials break ground on Enterprise City KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com A plan in the works for some seven years reached a major mile- stone on Wednesday, when gov- ernment and Cayman Enterprise City officials broke ground on the special economic zone’s 53- acre campus. Cindy O’Hara, chief develop- ment officer for Cayman Enter- prise City, said that over the next several months, workers will be clearing, compacting and filling the site in preparation for the con- struction of two buildings in the area between the Cayman Tennis Club on South Sound Road and Fairbanks Road. Construction on the first building will begin around Jan- uary, she said, with the second building starting about a year after that. Ms. O’Hara said people will be able to track the development’s project, starting around January, via a webcam linked to Enterprise City’s website. Ms. O’Hara said she hopes that in two years, a grand opening will be held for the first building, which will serve as the “campus hub.” New Enterprise City compa- nies will likely move into the first building, and established compa- nies that are currently located in other areas of Cayman will move into the second building, she said. The work that started Cayman Enterprise City CEO Charlie Kirkconnell speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the special economic zone’s campus. - PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Premier Alden McLaughlin, third from left, and Cayman Enterprise City CEO Charlie Kickconnell, fourth from left, with government officials and Enterprise City staff, break ground on the special economic zone’s campus Wednesday morning. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29, 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) ROBIN HOOD (PG13) 12:45 VIP I 4:20 I 7:00 VIP I 10:00 CREED II (PG13) 1:00 I 4:00 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 4:10 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 Premier: OfReg was headed toward insolvency Captive insurance conference starts after ‘busy year’ for local industry MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Captive Forum, Cayman’s largest con- ference with 1,485 registered delegates, and the largest captive insurance event in the world, kicked off Wednesday with the opening of its two- day main forum. Proceedings began Tuesday with pre-confer- ence tutorials that attracted a greater number of partici- pants than expected by the Insurance Managers Asso- ciation of Cayman, the orga- nizers of the event. Welcoming delegates, Erin Brosnihan, chairperson of IMAC, said, “Attendance has increased once again this year, which is testament to [the] value of this forum and the strength of this jurisdic- tion as a whole.” She noted that 2018 has been “a busy year” for the local insurance industry. Cayman saw 26 new cap- tive formations to date and the Cayman Islands Mone- tary Authority is reviewing a record number of 20 li- cense applications at the moment, “which we hope to have on the books by the end of December,” Ms. Brosnihan said. Growth in Cayman’s re- insurance sector has been steady after European insur- ance regulation and capital requirements for insurers has taken effect in many ju- risdictions outside of the Cayman Islands, she said. “As the impact of Solvency II set- tles in in Bermuda, Cayman has emerged as a legitimate jurisdiction for non-Solvency II operations.” Cayman currently has 699 licensed captive insurance companies with $16 billion in premiums and $69 billion in assets. Nearly one third, 32 percent, of those captives list medical malpractice as their primary line of cov- erage with another 22 per- cent writing primary workers compensation. Growth in the group cap- tive space has also been “phenomenal in recent years,” the IMAC chair said, citing a recent survey by Cayman Captive magazine, which estimates that ap- proximately 5,000 U.S. com- panies have left the tradi- tional insurance market in favor of a Cayman Islands group captive. Meanwhile, regulatory activity equally increased this year with beneficial ownership and economic substance rules being the predominant issues that leg- islators and industry prac- titioners had to grapple with, she added. Tara Rivers, minister for financial services, added the recent Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s review of Cayman’s anti-money laun- dering regime to this list in her welcome remarks. She said, “Committing to international standards serves an important role for the Cayman Islands, as it continues to support and bolster the sound and solid business that is done in the jurisdiction.” Substance legislation However, it is the EU pro- cess of listing jurisdictions as cooperative or uncooperative in tax matters that is occu- pying government before the end of this year. Although Cayman was deemed generally coopera- tive, the EU is demanding that entities in Cayman must have sufficient substance in terms of bricks and mortar offices, employees and spe- cific activities to be carried out locally to be recognized as domiciled in Cayman for tax purposes. This prompted the Cayman Islands govern- ment to commit to intro- ducing such requirements in local legislation before the end of 2018 to avoid an EU blacklisting. The initiative has led to significant engagement by the Cayman Islands govern- ment both with EU bodies and local stakeholders, in- cluding IMAC, which has been very active in sup- porting the ministry in re- sponding to the EU initia- tive, Ms. Rivers said. Minister Rivers con- firmed to the Cayman Com- pass that government was “working assiduously” on meeting its commitments to the EU and will make an announcement in due course. Asked whether this will mean another sitting of the Legislative Assembly this year, she said “the in- tention was always to have a meeting in December, and we will do that.” KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com After losing some $300,000 by the end of March, the Utility Regula- tion and Competition Of- fice, known as OfReg, was on track to be insolvent by July before government in- jected $1 million into the territory’s regulator, Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin said on Thursday in the Legisla- tive Assembly. OfReg’s financial woes earlier this year followed a nearly $1.5 million operating deficit in 2017. Mr. McLaughlin described the financial difficulties as “teething challenges” for the regulator, which was estab- lished in January 2017. Some of the financial shortfalls stem from the fact that fee structures for the fuel and water sectors have not been put in place, said Mr. McLaughlin. Along with government’s $1 mil- lion cash injection, the pre- mier said another $1.15 mil- lion had to be allocated to OfReg to fund its fuel regu- lation office, due to the lack of fees in place. OfReg told the Com- pass in July that it hoped to be financially self-suffi- cient by the end of the year, but Mr. McLaughlin said on Thursday that fee re- gimes have not yet been considered by Cabinet. Along with a lack of fees, OfReg has also spent more than budgeted on multiple items, including travel, con- sultancies and legal fees. OfReg’s 2017 annual re- port states that it spent $1,052,451 on consultancy and professional fees, which was $177,368 more than the office budgeted for last year. The overspending took place because OfReg needed more consultancy services in the telecommunications sector to handle an increased number of projects, the re- port states. OfReg also spent $243,752 on legal fees last year – nearly $37,000 more than budgeted; $234,233 on travel-related activities, which was nearly double what was budgeted; and $304,630 on “other oper- ating expenses,” which was $49,997 more than budgeted. The budget projected a reduction in travel-related expenses to $116,600 in 2018. But this has not been the case, as records ob- tained by the Compass in July show that OfReg had already spent $132,895 on travel-related expenses from Jan. 1 through the end of May this year. The regulator has spent at least $387,645 on travel-related expenses since it was created in January 2017. OfReg’s financial woes earlier this year followed a nearly $1.5 million operating deficit in 2017. The EU process of listing jurisdictions as cooperative or uncooperative in tax matters is occupying government before the end of this year. Financial Services Minister Tara Rivers Movers for Life reward achievers JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Movers for Life non- profit organization celebrated and rewarded its mem- bers and volunteers for their achievements on Saturday. More than 80 people at- tended the event at the George Town Yacht Club. Several people spoke of their efforts to improve their health. Sayda Hernandez was very happy with the top award for consistency, high level of volunteerism and team sup- port throughout the year. “I thank the Movers team for doing such a great job and providing this motiva- tional support to the entire community,” she said. On the topic “Exercise is health,” Dr. Renisha David pro- vided insight into how studies have shown that even 30 min- utes a day of exercise has seen a significant reduction and impact on many diseases. Movers for Life founder Winston Sobers said the awards and appreciation cer- emony is just one part of the organization’s mandate to provide motivational support for the community. “Today, more than 300 people meet in nine locations around Grand Cayman to connect, network and get fit. “Many are recognizing this is a lifestyle journey and not a quick fix,” he said. Movers for Life volunteers and members show off their awards.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29, 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” “He was a strong believer in the Cayman Islands and the Caymanian people. He never expected to be specially recognized for the things he did. He had no agendas. What you saw was what you got. He was a very, very open and genuine individual.” – David Ritch, Ritch & Conolly Today we join the community in mourning the passing of Arthur Hunter, and we take this opportunity to salute a steadfast pillar of society and pioneer of the Cayman Islands financial services industry. If the rapid ascent of our country from humble fishing village to global power player is described as the “Cayman Miracle,” then Mr. Hunter was among a small handful of “miracle workers” who enabled Cayman’s upward trajectory, from concep- tion to maturation. His most admirable personal qualities translated to his immense professional success, among them, wisdom, vision, loyalty and integrity. We extend our condolences to his family – wife Karen, son Bryan, daughter Desiree, brother George and grand- children – and to the many others who, while unrelated by blood, flourished under his mentorship. A well-lived life, such as that of Arthur Hunter’s, leaves an indelible impression on those fortunate enough to have shared the stage with such a man, if only too briefly. Along with William S. Walker, Sir Vassel Johnson and foundational figures such as Jim MacDonald, John Maples, Doug Calder, Warren Conolly and others – Mr. Hunter can be considered an architect of the visionary legal framework that brought global banking and interna- tional finance to our shores, in the process utterly trans- forming Cayman and its economy. Although he never served in political office himself, Mr. Hunter’s clear-headed guidance helped lead many poli- ticians to the positions they sought – and helped keep them steady and steadfast once they got there. As an attorney at Hunter & Hunter and later head of Appleby law firm, Mr. Hunter was the archetype of an ethical, skilled and dedicated legal advocate. “This country’s lost an icon,” said Finance Minister Roy McTaggart, former managing partner of KPMG accounting firm. Mr. Hunter’s passing at the age of 81 is a milestone marking the end of an era in this territory’s history, as the stalwarts who witnessed the genesis of the modern Cayman grow older and, inevitably, depart this world for the grand undiscovered country. Leaders, such as Mr. Hunter, are each created individu- ally – but they all possess certain immutable characteris- tics that include integrity, principle, fortitude and never- bending adherence to values. True leaders possess insight into current normalities, foresight in action and unwavering commitment to ambi- tious goals. They demonstrate the courage to challenge conventional wisdom, even when their views are unpop- ular or contrarian. Over time, as their wisdom is borne out and their instincts proven prescient, their reputations as leaders grow. As retired U.S. Army General Stanley McChrystal writes in his new book, “Leaders: Myth and Reality,” there is a dearth of understanding of the essential qualities of lead- ership. He calls for the leadership equivalent of Einstein’s general theory of relativity – one which will accurately predict which qualities and strategies will yield success. What we do know is that leaders cannot be coddled into being. They cannot be churned out like products of expensive or elite schools. Their skills are not handed down through genetic prescription. It seems to us that Cayman has been endowed with an disproportionate quantity of extremely high-quality leaders, thus raising this question: Who will replace them after they exit our ethereal stage? Will our new leaders emerge from our political ranks, from our commercial enterprises, from our churches, from our schools? Who will rise up and accept the torch that Mr. Hunter, and his brethren, have now bequeathed to us? Paying our respects to one of Cayman’s ‘Founding Fathers’ THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The democracy myth Would you prefer to live in a country that has a high degree of individual lib- erty but is not a democ- racy, or live in a democracy where individual liberties are curtailed? A major reason for the Brexit move by the U.K. was the feeling among many British that they had lost much of their democracy and liberty to European Union (EU) bureaucrats. In the United States, many are demanding more voter en- franchisement, mainly be- cause of the Electoral Col- lege, which is not based on an equal weighting per person among the states. Before the British handed over Hong Kong to the Chinese in 1997 (albeit with a 50-year treaty speci- fying two political systems – one for Hong Kong and one for China), the residents of Hong Kong enjoyed much in- dividual freedom and basic civil liberties, strong pro- tections for private prop- erty, the rule of law and a competent and honest civil service. What they did not have was democracy be- cause they were British sub- jects ruled (ever so lightly) from London. Under British management, Hong Kong went from a poor place to a rich one – and few objected to the governing system (which was in effect a very benign dictatorship). In recent years, the Chi- nese have reneged on some of their promises in the transfer treaty and have interfered with some of the basic liberties enjoyed by those who live in Hong Kong. This is fueling de- mands by residents of Hong Kong for democracy. In the absence of a benev- olent king, democracy with all its imperfections seems to be the best that man- kind can come up with. Or as Winston Churchill put it: “Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” Governments are cre- ated to protect person and property, and to ensure lib- erty. Democracy is a par- tial means to that end, not the end in itself. Simple ma- joritarian democracies have a record of running over rights of minorities, in- cluding economic minori- ties. From the time of the ancient Greek city-states, democracies have been es- tablished from time to time, but have never lasted. Those longer-lived modern democ- racies have all restricted the voter franchise in one way or another until recent years. In the United States, originally, the voting fran- chise was limited to male property owners. Finland was the first country to give women the right to vote back in 1906, and those very democratic Swiss did not give the women the right to vote until 1971. Under unrestrained de- mocracy, majorities can tax or regulate minorities al- most out of existence, or vote for people who destroy the democracy – as did the Germans in voting for Hitler, and the Venezuelans in voting for Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro. The American Founding Fa- thers were well aware of the failures of previous at- tempts to create democra- cies, which is why they es- tablished the United States as a constitutional federal republic rather than a di- rect democracy. A constitution that limits the powers of the state, con- tains checks and balances, and can only be amended by super-majorities is funda- mentally an undemocratic document. The Founders’ contemporary, Scottish his- torian Alexander Tytler, noted: “A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters dis- cover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.” Political jurisdictions most often lose their dem- ocratic independence be- cause of the unsustainable spending and debt. Coun- tries such as Argentina and Greece have given up part of their fiscal sovereignty to the IMF and to both for- eign government and pri- vate creditors. In the United States, judges have taken power away from elected of- ficials when local govern- ments have gone bankrupt. Some states, such as Illinois, New Jersey and Connect- icut, are facing fiscal crises largely because of too gen- erous and underfunded government employee pen- sions, so it probably is only a matter of time before judges, rather than elected officials, are running these states. Successful democracies require informed and en- gaged electorates who have a reasonable grasp of the issues and access to their representatives. The United States and the EU have grown so large that most citizens no longer have ac- cess to the politicians at the national level who rule much of their lives – hence, the growing discontent with their governments. Democracies seem to work best in smaller polit- ical entities like the Scandi- navian countries and Swit- zerland, where access and influence is still possible by ordinary citizens. The U.S. and other large democracies should engage in a mas- sive devolution of power to the smaller units of govern- ments (i.e. states and towns) to regain legitimacy in the minds of many voters. Many Swiss are suffi- ciently alarmed about the loss of their sovereignty that they recently voted on a referendum that would have required Swiss law to take precedence over interna- tional law and treaties. The proposal went down to de- feat because many thought it was too far-reaching, but even so, about a third of the Swiss population voted for it. (Note: the Swiss Consti- tution, passed in 1848 and somewhat modeled after the U.S. Constitution, re- quires referendums on all major questions – with the requirement that not only a majority of the people vote for the proposal but also that a majority of the can- tons {states} also vote “yes” – which provides an ad- ditional bulwark against irresponsibility). Both too much and too little democracy contain the seeds of its own destruc- tion. Finding the proper balance is an enduring task. Richard W. Rahn is chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth and Improbable Success Productions. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. RICHARD W. RAHN Many Swiss are sufficiently alarmed about the loss of their sovereignty that they recently voted on a referendum that would have required Swiss law to take precedence over international law and treaties. 5 LOCAL NEWS JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Port Director Clement Reid has had his employment terminated by “mutual con- sent,” the Port Authority con- firmed Wednesday. The Port Authority board has declined to comment di- rectly on the circumstances of Mr. Reid’s departure or the findings of its internal inves- tigation into his performance, which has been going on for the past six months. Mr. Reid was suspended from his job in May in the af- termath of a damning auditor general’s report that high- lighted breaches of hiring rules and excessive spending on office upgrades, among a number of concerns. The sus- pected theft of boat engines, which was not reported to police, was also highlighted as a concern by auditors. That theft has since be- come the subject of a police investigation. Mr. Reid is not personally under investiga- tion by the police, the Cayman Compass understands. Following the auditor’s re- port in May, the port board said that it was “generally displeased” with Mr. Reid but opted not to terminate his employment. Around a week later, he was suspended from his job. At the time, chairman Errol Bush said other con- cerns had emerged that were unrelated to the au- ditor’s report. He declined to elaborate. Contacted by the Cayman Compass Wednesday, Mr. Bush refused to comment, referring press queries to Acting Port Di- rector Joseph Woods. Mr. Woods issued a brief emailed comment, stating, “The Port Authority of the Cayman Islands confirms that, by mutual consent, the employment of the Port Di- rector Clement Reid was ter- minated on Nov. 23, 2018. The Board extends its apprecia- tion to Mr. Reid for his many years of service at the Port Authority. No further state- ment will be made in relation to this matter.” Mr. Reid is the third chief executive to part ways with a government-owned company or statutory authority in the past two months without public explanation. CINICO CEO Lonny Tib- betts was dismissed in early October. The insurance com- pany’s board declined to comment or explain his de- parture from the publicly funded government health in- surance company. Paul Parchment, CEO of the National Roads Authority, was dismissed from the Na- tional Roads Authority later the same month. The board released a brief statement through Government Infor- mation Services indicating he had been fired after an “investigation into possible misuse of NRA resources,” but did not give details. Port Director Mr. Reid first came under the microscope in early May after the auditor general released a report de- tailing questionable employ- ment practices and excessive spending at the port. The re- port highlighted overspending on new hires and revealed that more than $130,000 was spent on “office upgrades” for two senior port staffers, in- cluding more than $30,000 for vases, lounge chairs, rugs and “poufs” [ottomans]. At the time, port board chair Mr. Bush stated in a letter to Mr. Reid, seen by the Compass, that he could have been fired on the spot fol- lowing the auditor’s report. “The board is of the view that your conduct is tanta- mount to gross or serious misconduct in the course of your employment which would justify the board in summarily dismissing you without notice.” However, the board stated, following a detailed presen- tation by Mr. Reid explaining his actions in relation to the various matters raised in the auditor’s report, that it would not adopt “such a draconian course” as terminating the di- rector’s appointment. Instead board members issued a written warning. He was suspended a week later. CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2018 UCCI'S PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME featuring FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC UCCI Sir Vassel Johnson Hall Thurday, November 29 6:00 pm Keynote: The Adult Learner and the Workplace Goldie Blumenstyk, Editor, Chronicle of Higher Education YOU ARE INVITED to the soft launch of an initiative that will seek to help adult learners accelerate degree completion by awarding college credits for demonstrated college-level knowledge Email events@ucci.edu.ky to learn more. John Gray swimmers head to Jamaica MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Thirteen swimmers from John Gray High School left Wednesday to compete in Jamaica’s Inter-secondary Schools Sports Associa- tion’s High School and Ter- tiary Institutions Swimming Championships, which takes place Friday. Coach Ryan Mushin said this is the fourth year that John Gray swimmers have taken part in the meet. It is part of an effort, he said, to provide an opportunity for high school students who are interested in swimming but are not necessarily able to commit to the schedule required of a club team. The group works out for an hour twice a week. “There’s been more and more interest,” Mr. Mushin said of the program. This year, six of the swimmers are first-time competitors. Mr. Mushin said getting them through their first swim meet can be a challenge. In the past, he said, he has had ner- vous swimmers try to hide in the bathroom to avoid their events. “I just try to teach them sports responsibilities,” he said. “Show up early for your event. If you sign up for events, make sure you do them. “A lot of them have times from last year,” he said of the veteran members of the group. “I’d like them to shoot to better those. Others, I just want them to have the expe- rience of their first meet.” Most of the swimmers will be competing in four or five events. “The kids have been training hard,” Mr. Mushin said. “They have put in the work and committed to it.” The group will return to Cayman on Saturday. Port Authority terminates suspended director Clement ReidThe 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 29, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, NOV. 29 LIGHT UP A LIFE: Jasmine, previously known as Cayman HospiceCare, will hold its annual Light Up A Life ceremony at Cassia Court in Camana Bay from 5:30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to dedicate a light in memory of a loved one on a 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, Jasmine is asking for a minimum donation of $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. TREASURY DEPT. CLOSURE: The offices of the Treasury Department and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development – Administration will close today at noon for a staff function. The offices will reopen for normal business 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, bouncy 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. LIONS CLUB BRAC CHRISTMAS SHOW: The Lions Club of Cayman Brac hosts a Christmas variety show today, at 7 p.m., at the Aston Rutty Centre. Proceeds will support the annual Christmas gift program for the elderly and children. MARATHON PACKET PICK-UP: Late registration and Packet Pick-Up for Sunday’s Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon. Westin Resort Galleon Ballroom. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. SUNDAY, DEC. 2 CAYMAN ISLANDS MARATHON: The 16th Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon, featuring a full marathon, half-marathon, 4-person relay and Kids Fun Run, begins at 5 a.m. at the waterfront in George Town. 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. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5 PLAN CAYMAN SESSION: The Chamber of Commerce will host a “Be Informed” session on Plan Cayman at its offices in Governors Square, West Bay Road. Members are invited to attend the session, at 3-4:30 p.m. Director of Planning Haroon Pandhoie and Planning Assistant, Policy and Development, Richard Mileham will present an overview of Plan Cayman, including the purpose behind the update, and ways in which the public can be involved. Register online at CaymanChamber.ky. SATURDAY, DEC. 8 HOLY CHRISTMAS CONCERT: St. Ignatius Catholic Church presents soprano Georgina Gatto Deosaran. 7:15 p.m., Loyola Hall. Ms. Gatto Deosaran’s repertoire includes opera, operetta, Broadway, folk and more. An offering will be taken, with all proceeds going to Parish Children’s Programs. Refreshments will be available for purchase. See www.facebook.com/ SopranoGeorginaGatto. SUNDAY, DEC. 9 JINGLE BELL RUN: Cayman Islands Crisis Centre hosts its annual Jingle Bell 5K/10K Walk/Run. The race will start and finish at Holiday Inn, SafeHaven. After the race, participants will get breakfast and pictures with Santa, all included within the registration fee. Register on www.caymanactive.com/ jingle. $25 pre-registration and $30 day of the event. TUESDAY, DEC. 11 CHRISTMAS CONCERT: The Cayman National Choir will perform its annual Christmas Concert at Elmslie Church in George Town today at 7:30 p.m. and again on Thursday, Dec. 13. Free entry. Attendees are advised to arrive early to get a seat. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12 CHRISTMAS CONCERT: St. Ignatius Band concert and Christmas fundraiser. 7 p.m. Grand prize of $25,000 and lots of other prizes, including five US$300 Cayman Airways vouchers. Tickets are $25 and are available at St. Ignatius and from a number of local supermarkets and other businesses. THURSDAY, DEC. 13 SCUBALUMINATIONS: From 6 p.m. Watch Santa arrive at Rackam’s escorted by his underwater reindeer. Get photos with Father Christmas. Dogs very welcome. Bring a donation for rescue dogs, such as dog kibble, tinned food, dog treats, dog toys, etc. Buy gifts for family and friends from the pop-up shops. Meet adoptable dogs. TUESDAY, DEC. 18 CANCER SOCIETY AGM: The Cayman Islands Cancer Society’s annual general meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Chamber of Commerce office in Governors Square. 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. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. Call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail.com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-step recovery group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Tuesdays, 7:15 p.m. For details, contact Vanessa Gilman at 946-2422, or visit overcomersoutreach.org. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at ADACI’s office, 4th floor, Cardinall Plaza, 30 Cardinall Ave., George Town. Call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman.com. GRAND CAYMAN TOASTMASTERS: Club meets each Thursday 6-7:15 p.m. on 3rd Floor, George Town Public Library. Visitors and guests welcome. The local contact is George R. Ebanks, 322-9369 or Grand Cayman Toastmasters club on Facebook. Email info@ toastmastersclub2686.org. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. Email lionsclubgcm@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabethan Square (corner unit). Members of the public are invited to attend. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The 2018 Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon begins at 5 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2018 PHOTO CONTEST LOOK FOR THE CAYMAN COMPASS FLAGS AND ENTER TO WIN ~ A Royal Flush IV treatment from Reviv Grand Cayman ~ Dinner and drinks for 4 from Tahu ~ Bose Soundsport Wireless Headphones from Cayman Health SUNDAY DECEMBER 2ND 2018 INTERTRUST CAYMAN ISLANDS MARATHON CaymanCompass.com/ContestsThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Wednesday is the $38.4 mil- lion phase one of a 25-year, $500 million master plan that will feature office buildings, residential areas, restaurants and amenities. Other features include rooftop greeneries, solar panels, a water-harvesting system, and slick bottom walls to make the buildings “iguana-proof,” said Ms. O’Hara. It is also envisaged that a proposed network of interior roads within the development will link to Fairbanks Road via a new connector road. Ms. O’Hara compared it to Camana Bay, except with more of a “campus- like feel.” Her company, Build (Cayman) Ltd., will be the construction manager, with various aspects of the project being bid out to other companies, she said. “This allows small con- tractors to get a piece of the pie,” she said. Meanwhile, the island’s special economic zone – launched in 2012 to at- tract international com- panies, which do business off island, to the territory – continues to grow. En- terprise City announced in September that its 250th company came on board, and Enterprise City CEO Charlie Kirkconnell said he’s aiming to have 500 sponsored companies here within the next five years. Enterprise City’s contri- bution to the local economy has been US$155 million from 2012 to the end of last year, and is expected to be US$50 million this year alone, he said. “We expect this positive trajectory will continue in the years ahead,” he said. on Easter weekends when Mr. McTaggart was a child. He and others recalled the attorney’s soft-spoken and generous nature. “Over the years,” Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin said, “if you asked him for some- thing, he would swear you to secrecy not to publi- cize from whom you got the contribution.” The son of an attorney, Mr. Hunter was an active Ro- tarian and, according to Mr. McLaughlin, the first district governor from Cayman, over- seeing clubs throughout the Caribbean. He was chairman of the board for a number of prominent companies and government agencies over the years and was an avid boater in his free time. In addition, Mr. Hunter was a correspondent for the Caymanian Weekly news- paper. Early in his career, he wrote about a Bodden Town garden party where the main feature was the competition for Miss Popularity 1966. He was founder of the Cayman Islands Law Society and the first Caymanian to be academically qualified as an attorney. Ramon Alberga is the attorney who oversaw Mr. Hunter’s certification in Jamaica, where he practiced as an articled clerk after at- tending law school in Eng- land. The two men knew each other for 60 years, Mr. Alberga said. “He was a lawyer who loved his profession,” Mr. Al- berga said. “He was a man of great integrity and he played an important part in Cayman.” Attorneys who wanted to practice in Cayman had to apply and be recognized in Jamaica. Once that process was complete in 1960, Mr. Hunter returned to Cayman, where he was appointed clerk of the court and coroner. He also became the country’s first company registrar. In 1965, he entered pri- vate practice partnering with his father, Clifton Hunter, to form Hunter and Hunter, later to become Appleby Ltd. It was while a member of the original firm that he took part in creating the legal structure that would en- tice finance companies to lo- cate in Cayman. “He was very deeply in- terested in the development of Cayman,” Mr. Alberga said. “We talked about it quite a lot.” In 2013, University of Ala- bama professors Tony Freyer and Andrew Morriss pub- lished a paper on the his- tory of Cayman’s financial development. They credited the work Mr. Walker and Mr. Hunter did on the Compa- nies Law as critical to the is- lands’ business community. The paper quotes Mr. Hunter discussing the changes made in the original law. “What really started the ball a-rolling were the bits of legislation offering tax concessions,” and the “idea that we could have a com- pany separate from the in- dividual, that he could shield behind the (company name),” the paper quotes Mr. Hunter as saying. While he ran, but was never elected to office, Mr. Hunter continued to play a role in crafting legislation. Mr. McLaughlin said Mr. Hunter was partly respon- sible for the premier’s polit- ical success. “When I was persuaded to stand for election for the first time in 2000, Mr. Arthur was one of my strongest pro- ponents,” Mr. McLaughlin said. “He spoke on my be- half on many a platform. He assisted me with speeches. The very first speech I had to give on the steps of the court- house, preparing for that, I was shaking like a leaf. He made me present the speech to him three times before I went to the meeting. Those things I will always cherish, always be grateful for and never forget.” He also mentored attorney David Ritch, convincing the young lawyer in 1979 to leave government work and join Hunter and Hunter. Mr. Ritch later started his own firm, Ritch & Conolly. “He taught me that to be a good lawyer was more than just being clever,” Mr. Ritch said. “You had to respect your client. You had to work diligently.” He said a plaque Mr. Hunter kept on the wall above his desk made a lasting impression on him. “It said, ‘Good things co- meth to those who waiteth, as long as they work like hell while they waiteth,’” Mr. Ritch said with a laugh. “Every time I went in his of- fice I saw that. It taught me you had to pay your dues.” He said Mr. Hunter was a spontaneously generous man. “Looking out for everyone was kind of part of his core values,” Mr. Ritch said. “He was a strong believer in the Cayman Islands and the Caymanian people. He never expected to be specially rec- ognized for the things he did. He had no agendas. What you saw was what you got. He was a very, very open and genuine individual. “When someone like Ar- thur passes away,” he added, “you know that’s a void that will never be filled.” Leader of the Opposi- tion Ezzard Miller, speaking in the Legislative Assembly last week, said Cayman owes much to Mr. Hunter. “He had always had a determined yet quiet re- solve and in his own way to keeping the good ship Cayman on an even keel and headed in the right di- rection,” Mr. Miller said. “Those kinds of people, and there are not many of them left, have left a mark on this country that all of us should be grateful [for].” Mr. Hunter is survived by his wife Karen, son Bryan, daughter Desiree, brother George and four grandchil- dren. Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Elmslie Memorial United Church in George Town. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “I think it is fair to say that Arthur Hunter was key to the early success of the Cayman Islands, and his influence lives on in the opportunities that the financial sector nowadays gives to so many people, and the prosperity it brings to the Islands.” ANDREW BOLTON, partner, Appleby Remembering legal and financial pioneer Arthur Hunter Officials break ground on Enterprise City Tourism conference considers future of work JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The tourism industry needs to focus on creating “quality jobs” rather than just quantity, delegates at a Carib- bean Tourism Organization conference heard Wednesday. Both Cayman Islands Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell and keynote speaker Claudia Coenjaerts of the International Labour Organization highlighted the need for the industry to meet its workers’ career aspira- tions rather than simply pro- viding employment. Amid advances in tech- nology, Mr. Kirkconnell said people skills would become ever more vital. He said his government, through the UCCI hospitality school and through scholarship pro- grams, was attempting to prepare Cayman’s young people to take good jobs in the industry. “I would love to see the tourism sector become an employer of choice among young people,” he told a room full of industry rep- resentatives from across the region at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Re- sort Wednesday. “For that to happen, the attractiveness of the industry must be enhanced from being viewed as low paid, long hours, seasonal roles to one which embraces innovation, entrepreneurship and offers pathways for career mobility and acceleration.” His comments were echoed by Ms. Coenjaerts, di- rector of the ILO’s “decent work team.” She said one in 11 jobs worldwide were in the tourism industry, but these were not always the most at- tractive positions. “It is important to know that the quality of jobs is not always good,” she said. “If it [tourism] is to be sus- tainable and help our soci- eties prosper, we must try to create decent jobs. We must really make sure it is a sector where people want to stay and develop their careers.” She said technology was changing the type of work opportunities in the industry, with some careers, such as travel agents, becoming ob- solete, while new opportu- nities for entrepreneurship were being created by the digital economy. Those that survive in the industry will be those with transferrable skills, she said. “Big transitions are taking place,” Ms. Coenjaerts said. “We still need human be- ings, but the nature of the work and the type of jobs are changing. “There is much more need for core skills training. Some jobs will be robotized and what will continue to exist will be jobs that require in- teraction with people. That means you need to have more skills in problem-solving, in interaction, in language and so on.” She said the new economy created problems for govern- ments too, with many new types of employment falling outside the parameters of traditional labor legislation. Citing statistics that show growing wealth inequality worldwide, she said a new “social contract” was needed where workers were able to have satisfying careers in the industry without fear of exploitation. “We need to look and think about creating good-quality jobs, otherwise we will con- tinue to only have workers who only go there as a first step into whatever is going to be their career,” she added. Mr. Kirkconnell, who gave the opening address, said the Cayman Islands was fo- cusing on developing its people to be front and center of the industry. He said, “Tourism is a ser- vice industry and it needs people in order to function. Irrespective of how unique our tourism products might be, without a skilled and mo- tivated workforce it is diffi- cult to deliver [the] quality tourism experience that visi- tors expect.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Claudia Coenjaerts of the International Labour Organization was the keynote speaker at Wednesday’s conference. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER Premier Alden McLaughlin, CEC chief development officer Cindy O’Hara, and CEO Charlie Kirkconnell at Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2018 Archaeologists discover ancient mummies Egypt says archaeologists have discovered eight limestone sarcophagi with mummies inside about 25 miles south of Cairo. The Antiquities Ministry said the mummies date to the Late Period, 664-332 B.C. As shutdown looms, Trump and GOP leaders discuss border wall WASHINGTON (AP) – With a partial government shutdown possible on Dec. 7, President Donald Trump has met with Republican leaders to hash out a spending plan that in- cludes money for Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico. Trump is seeking $5 bil- lion for the wall, which he made a centerpiece of his 2016 campaign and said Mexico would pay for, and he is stepping up pressure on Congress to provide it. Trump said he would “to- tally be willing” to shut down the government if he doesn’t receive the wall money he wants. House Republicans ap- proved $5 billion for Trump’s wall in a key committee, but a bipartisan bill in the Senate allocates just $1.6 billion for the border. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, called Tuesday’s White House meeting “very productive” and said Trump “is very solid with where he wants to go and what he needs to have a secure border.” House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana, took a hard line on the ne- gotiations, saying Democrats will soon face a crucial ques- tion: “Are they going to shut down the government be- cause they don’t want to keep America safe?” Trump said he is consid- ering a backup plan if Con- gress rejects his demand for the $5 billion, possibly in- cluding the continued use of troops and razor wire to prevent migrants from en- tering the country. He told The Washington Post that if he does not get the money, there are other ways he could get it done. But he has expressed im- patience. “I am firm,” he said in an interview published Wednesday in Politico. “I don’t do anything … just for political gain,” Trump said. “But I will tell you, po- litically speaking, that issue is a total winner. People look at the border, they look at the rush to the police, they look at the rock throwers and re- ally hurting three people, three very brave border pa- trol folks – I think that it’s a tremendous issue, but much more importantly, is really needed. So, we have to have border security.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said the Trump administra- tion has not even spent the $1.6 billion Congress ap- proved in the current budget for the wall. With Republicans in con- trol of the presidency, the House and the Senate, “a shutdown is on their back,” Schumer said Tuesday. “Stick to the $1.6 billion.” Democrats and GOP leaders struck a deal ear- lier this year to fund nearly three-fourths of the govern- ment into next year. Left undone, however, is funding for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the border, and a few other agencies. They are now running on stopgap funds set to expire Dec. 7. Complicating border ne- gotiations, Democrats also want to protect special counsel Robert Mueller’s in- vestigation into Russian elec- tion interference and any possible coordination with Trump associates. “I didn’t know Robert Mueller needed protection,” McCarthy told reporters, adding that there’s “nothing out there” for Mueller or Democrats to fear from Trump or his administration. “But I do know the southern end of our country needs protection.” McCarthy, whose party lost more than three dozen House seats in the midterm elections earlier this month, urged Democrats to work with Republicans on the wall and other legislation, in- cluding a long-stalled farm bill, a new tax cut package and criminal justice reform. “The election is over. Let’s put people before politics,” McCarthy said. “We’ve got a problem before us. Let’s solve that problem.” Schumer said Democrats support strong border secu- rity and believe that $1.6 bil- lion for border security, in- cluding physical barriers and technology along the U.S. southern border, “is the right way to go.” White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Trump and GOP leaders discussed a range of legislative priori- ties, including the California wildfires, the farm bill and “the great need for border se- curity at this crucial time,” as well as prison reform and the budget. The group also talked about Monday’s announce- ment by General Motors that it will shutter five plants and slash 14,000 jobs in North America, Gidley said. Trump said he is considering a backup plan if Congress rejects his demand for the $5 billion, possibly including the continued use of troops and razor wire to prevent migrants from entering the country. UK government says Brexit will make the country poorer LONDON (AP) – Britain will be poorer after leaving the European Union than if it had stayed in, no matter what sort of trade deal it has with the bloc, the government said Wednesday – bad news for Prime Minister Theresa May as she tries to sell her Brexit divorce deal to a skep- tical nation. A government assessment estimated that 15 years from the day of departure, GDP will be 0.6 percent lower than it would have been if Britain had stayed in the EU – if the U.K. maintains frictionless trade with the bloc. If it leaves without a deal and there are significant bar- riers to trade, the economy would be up to 9.3 per- cent smaller. The analysis looked at a range of options, from leaving without a deal to staying in the EU’s single market for goods and services. It did not analyze the spe- cific deal agreed upon be- tween Britain and the bloc last week, but estimated that under similar terms the eco- nomic hit would be at the lower end of the range – a de- cline in GDP of between 2.5 percent and 3.9 percent com- pared to staying in the EU. “If you look at this purely from an economic point of view there will be a cost to leaving the European Union, because there will be impedi- ments to our trade,” said Trea- sury chief Philip Hammond. But he said the deal agreed on between the British gov- ernment and the EU, which calls for continued close eco- nomic ties, would minimize the economic damage. May said the agreement “is the best deal available for jobs and our economy, that allows us to honor the refer- endum and realize the oppor- tunities of Brexit.” She added that “this anal- ysis does not show that we will be poorer in the future than we are today.” Supporters of Brexit argue that leaving the EU will bring benefits that such forecasts do not show, such as the power to control immigration and to strike new trade deals around the world. The government assess- ment says new trade deals would do little to offset the economic damage done by Brexit. It estimates that deals with the United States, China and other countries would add only 0.2 percent to GDP after 15 years. The government also says public sector net bor- rowing will increase under all scenarios, from a modest US$1.7 billion rise with a frictionless trade deal to an increase of 2.4 percent, or US$152 billion, under a “no deal” Brexit.” The Bank of England plans to publish its own as- sessment later Wednesday of the economic impact of Brexit under different scenarios. May is battling to per- suade skeptical lawmakers to back the Brexit deal before Parliament votes Dec. 11 to accept or reject it. On Wednesday she was visiting Scotland, which voted strongly to remain in the EU in Britain’s 2016 membership referendum. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says May’s deal is bad for Scotland and her Scottish National Party will vote against it. Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street, London, for the House of Commons to face Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday. - PHOTO: PA WIRE “If you look at this purely from an economic point of view there will be a cost to leaving the European Union, because there will be impediments to our trade.” PHILIP HAMMOND, Treasury chief A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer walks along a wall at the border between Mexico and the United States, as seen from San Diego on Sunday. - PHOTO: APNext >