ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY DECEMBER 6, 2018 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 BritCay Holiday office hours The management and staff at BritCay extend sincere holiday good wishes to you, your family and your friends. Our offices will be closing at noon December 24th and 31st. Call 949-8699 www.britcay.ky cgigrp COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY AT SMITH COVE SHUT DOWN JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A tour company offering snorkel trips to Smith Cove has been moved off the beach amid public outcry about commercial activity encroaching on the popular site. Residents and beachgoers raised con- cerns earlier this week about the appear- ance of beach vendors at the site. One com- pany, Anchor Tours, was offering trips to the beach, providing snacks, snorkel gear and sun loungers. Images, posted by beach access cam- paigners, show around 25 chairs being set up at the site under the supervision of a tour guide. The tours appeared to be being pro- moted on board visiting cruise ships. Morne Botes, one of the campaigners in- volved with an earlier Save the Cove campaign to prevent a condo complex being built on land next to the beach, said residents feared a repeat of the situation at Seven Mile Beach over the last few years, where commercial vendors had taken over public areas. He said Smith Cove was gifted to the gov- ernment by the Webster family for public use and carried protective covenants that out- lawed commercial use of the site. The main beach, part of a half-acre plot, was gifted to the governor for public use for a peppercorn price in 1978 on condition that “no trade or business whatsoever” is carried out KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Gas prices reached a four-month low as of Monday, falling to an average of $4.76 per gallon, according to the latest data from the Utility Regulation and Competition Of- fice (OfReg). Gas prices in Cayman rose throughout the summer – peaking at $4.85 in July – and have been falling incrementally since then. During that time, average diesel prices rose 3 cents from $4.55 in July to $4.58 as of Monday, according to the OfReg data. While gas prices in Cayman have fallen by 9 cents since July, average prices have fallen much more drastically in the U.S. over that same period, from US$2.79 per gallon in mid-July to US$2.35 as of Monday. This drop has coincided with a drop in the price of oil from around US$71 per barrel in mid-July to US$50.78 as of Nov. 30. At a Legislative Assembly Finance GAS PRICES FALL, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS IN U.S. Trek to South Pole to benefit Cancer Society MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Guy Manning has scaled the highest peaks on all seven con- tinents. He’s cycled the length of Great Britain and was part of a four-man team that crossed the United States. But he has never skied cross-country. He plans to learn while trek- king to the South Pole. “I’ll have a couple of days to practice before we leave,” he said, talking about his arrival next month at a base camp on the 89th parallel, 69 miles from the pole itself. When he does leave, he will spend 12 days with a small group of adventurers slipping along the polar plateau to the southern tip of the globe and back. If he completes the trip, he’ll have taken the next-to-last step in the Explorers Grand Slam, with only a journey to the North Pole left to do. He will also have raised more money for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society. Starting with his 2013 climb of Mount Everest, where he raised $100,000 for the local charity, Mr. Manning has turned his adventures into fundraising efforts for the Cancer Society. He is currently chairman of the board for the organization. “It’s much more rewarding to do it for charitable causes. It makes it a much more Cayman ranks top for underwater photography The Cayman Islands has been ranked as the Caribbean’s top destination for underwater photography by the readers of Scuba Diving magazine. The island also ranked as the best spot for advanced diving and among the best overall dive destinations in the region in the magazine’s annual readers poll. Ellen Cuylaerts, Cayman’s re- nowned wildlife photographer, said it was no surprise that the island was well ranked among underwater snappers. She said first-class facili- ties, professional boat crews and a wide range of marine sub- jects made the waters around Cayman an endlessly interesting place to take pictures. “The best wide-angle subjects are our famous southern sting- rays who show up every day at dawn, and due to the shallowness of the Sandbar and Stingray City, even beginning photographers with a small camera can get the most amazing shots by working with the available light,” she said. Ms. Cuylaerts said the wreck of the Kittiwake, Eden Rock and Devil’s Grotto, where tarpons chase silversides in a network of underwater caves, were other fa- vorite spots for photographers. A coral spawning event is captured on camera in the Cayman Islands. – PHOTO: ALEX MUSTARD A stingray cruises at the surface of choppy water at the North Sound sandbar. – PHOTO: ELLEN CUYLAERTS PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY DECEMBER 6, 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) BACKTRACE (R) 9:45 ROBIN HOOD (PG13) 12:45 VIP I 4:00 I 7:00 VIP I 9:30 CREED II (PG13) 1:00 I 4:00 VIP I 7:20 I 9:40 VIP THE GRINCH (PG) 12:15 I 5:05 3D I 7:20 THE POSSESSION OF HANNAH GRACE (R) 1:00 I 3:15 I 5:30 I 7:40 I 10:15 RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET (PG) 2:30 3D I 9:35 FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD (PG13) 6:45 Rape trial halted after defendant pleads guilty to other charges SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com The trial of Brandon Ja- mahl Beckett came to a sur- prise conclusion Wednesday, when prosecution and de- fense attorneys halted the trial to enter new pleas. Mr. Beckett pleaded guilty to wrongful confinement, as- sault causing actual bodily harm and causing inten- tional harassment, alarm or distress. He had also faced charges of raping and threat- ening to kill the complainant, but the Crown offered no evi- dence on those charges. Justice Linda Dobbs in- structed the jury of six women and one man to re- turn guilty pleas on the charges of wrongful confine- ment, assault causing actual bodily harm, and intentional harassment, and return not guilty verdicts on the charges of rape and threats to kill. The trial had begun in Grand Court Tuesday, during which the complainant tes- tified for several hours, de- scribing the attack inside her home and her efforts to get away. She had been scheduled to be cross-ex- amined by the defense Wednesday morning but that did not occur following the acceptance of the defen- dant’s guilty pleas on the three charges. The charges stem from an incident that took place on Oct. 31 and the early morning hours of Nov. 1, 2017. The court heard Tuesday that the complainant had met Mr. Beckett on Tinder and that they had a two-week relation- ship before the events that brought them to court. The complainant told the court Tuesday that Mr. Beckett had allegedly raped her and con- fined her in her home. She said Mr. Beckett had taken her cellphone but she managed to alert friends on Facebook who then contacted police for her. When police arrived at her door the first time, she said, Mr. Beckett turned off the lights, forced her onto the ground and held her by the neck and mouth. Getting no response, the police left. When the com- plainant then tried to leave the premises, she said, Mr. Beckett punched her in the face. The court heard that the police attended the complain- ant’s home three times be- fore successfully entering the apartment and arresting the defendant. Mr. Beckett, represented by defense attorney Jonathon Hughes, is expected back in Grand Court on Dec. 14 for sentencing. RCIPS investigate TCI police shooting KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two detectives from the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service are in the Turks and Caicos Islands this week to investigate a shooting by police there. According to the Turks and Caicos Weekly News, the shooting occurred during an illegal fishing operation at sea on Nov. 24. During the operation, two vessels were report- edly intercepted and eight Dominican nationals were arrested in connection with illegal fishing. While the eight people were being arrested, one shot was fired by a police officer from on board a po- lice boat, causing one of the arrested people to receive a gunshot injury to the upper arm, the Turks and Caicos Weekly News reported. This person received medical attention and was later released, according to the news site. The RCIPS detectives were sent to investigate at the request of the Turks and Caicos governor. TCI Police Commis- sioner James Smith re- portedly said the inves- tigation will determine whether his force’s pol- icies, procedures and training were followed. CAYMAN MARKS DAY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES Staff and students of the Sunrise Adult Training Centre donned yellow T- shirts Monday to celebrate the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. The group traveled to George Town to join Deputy Governor Franz Manderson on the steps of the Gov- ernment Administration Building to mark the day. Sunrise has a busy few weeks planned in the lead-up to the Christmas holidays. On Wednesday, Dec. 12, it is inviting the public to a Sunrise Family Christmas Service. The event takes place in the John Gray Memorial Church Hall from 6:30 p.m. The theme of this year’s service is “Jesus is the Light of the World,” and all Sun- rise clients will be featured in the program. While at- tendance is free, Sunrise ex- tends its appreciation for any donations the public may wish to make. Acting Governor Franz Manderson, far left, joins other officials and the staff and students of the Sunrise Adult Education Centre in front of the Govenrment Administation Building Monday to mark International Day for Persons with Disabilities. DOWNTOWN ROAD CLOSURE Cardinall Avenue and Harbour Drive, be- tween Shedden Road and Fort Street, will be closed Thursday and Friday night to facilitate the Prowess Music Concert. The closures will be in effect both nights from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. During the closures, one lane will re- main open between the Port Authority entrance and Fort Street, for access to Port Authority and El- mslie Memorial Church. SHOTS FIRED IN WEST BAY A man was arrested Tuesday after police in- vestigated reports of shots fired on Adonis Drive in West Bay on Monday night and again early Tuesday morning. Officers found a car at the scene that appeared to have sustained damage from a bullet. A man was arrested on suspicion of causing fear or provocation of violence, being drunk and disorderly, and criminal trespass. He remained in custody Wednesday afternoon. CAL’s new Boeing MAX 8: To the Brac and back Brac MLAs and Ministers Moses Kirkconnell and Juliana O’Connor-Connolly flew ‘first class’ to the Brac yesterday in Cayman Airway’s brand new airplane, the Boeing 737 MAX 8. The ministers were accompanied by about 60 passengers, most of them Cayman Airways executives and staff members. The plane took a ‘sightseeing tour’ of Little Cayman and the Brac before setting down at the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport for a short stay that included food and refreshments, optional taxicab tours of the island, and a walk-through of the airplane for Cayman Brackers who were onsite to welcome the new aircraft to their shores. - PHOTO: DAVID R. LEGGEThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 6, 2018 CaymanCompass.com/Contests CAYMAN COMPASS MARATHON PHOTO CONTEST $1,000 Prize Package ~ A Royal Flush IV Treatment from Reviv Grand Cayman ~ Dinner and drinks for 4 from Tahu ~ Bose Soundsport Wireless Headphones from Cayman Health MOST FACEBOOK REACTIONS WINS! VO TE B Y 10 A .M . FR ID AY , DE CE MB ER 7 TH !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” The Law Reform Commission is inviting public comment concerning several suggested modifications to the Cayman Islands’ “foreclosure” regime. Although as a rule we advocate for swiftness in government action, this particular subject – which concerns fun- damental issues such as home ownership and private property rights – demands careful deliberation. Home ownership has long been a symbol and sign of financial security in Cayman, ever since men returned from the sea to hand-build wattle-and- daub homes for their families. For many, if not most people, their home will be the largest purchase in their lifetime, and the repository of the greatest portion of their personal wealth. It is critical that laws governing mortgages and forced sales of property be simple, clear and fair. When it comes time to put pen to paper, all parties involved in a mortgage transaction – lenders, attorneys and borrowers – must understand their rights and respon- sibilities according to the contract and under the law. The Law Reform Commission’s report comes amid an accumulation of anecdotal evidence from members of the public who feel – vehemently – that they have suffered hardships as a result of Cayman’s foreclosure laws. However, it appears that, at least statistically, the urgency of Cayman’s foreclosure issue has somewhat waned. The commission’s recently released discus- sion paper notes a steady decline in home mortgage defaults and subsequent property repossessions over the past two years. The number of residential foreclosures dropped from 27 in the second quarter of 2016 to only nine in the first quarter of 2018, according to official statis- tics. The value of those repossessions dropped from 2.82 percent of the total value of residential mort- gages to 2.0 percent over the same period. Careful readers will observe that in the first para- graph of this editorial, we placed the word “fore- closure” between quotation marks. That’s because Cayman’s current law does not technically provide for a foreclosure – if properly defined as an entity taking over the title to a property and becoming the regis- tered owner. Put another way, a bank cannot assume ownership over a property even if a borrower stops making payments on the mortgage. Instead, lenders rely on section 72 of the Registered Land Law to create a charge on a mortgaged property – then, if the borrower defaults, the lender has the right to force the sale of the property, which up until the point of sale remains legally the property of the borrower, not the bank. In the discussion paper, the commission questions whether borrowers adequately understand lenders’ legal rights in regard to forced sales, whether the current legislation causes the incurrence of too many legal fees (passed along to the borrowers, who as a rule are already in financial distress), and whether a bank-forced sale advertised as a “Bank Sale” or “Foreclosure” arti- ficially deflates the true “market value” of a property (primarily to the disadvantage of the borrower). Tales of lost homes are often poignant and full of sorrow. From the standpoint of policy and principle, though, the ultimate responsibility for understanding and adhering to contractual commitments falls upon the individuals who are signing on the dotted line. Yes, legal contracts (including mortgage documents) can be lengthy and abstruse. Lawyers who can trans- late legalese into plain English can be expensive. But when it comes to a significant financial and emotional investment, such as the purchase of a home, it is abso- lutely mandatory that you know exactly the commit- ment you are making. When what appears to be a good deal has pre- sented itself, it can be difficult to walk away from the negotiating table. But if you do not understand what you are signing – don’t sign it. A closer look at our country’s ‘foreclosure’ law THURSDAY DECEMBER 6, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS The battle against death and taxes Want to live longer? Your odds improve if you are a rich, well-educated Asian or European woman accoun- tant who engages in mod- erate exercise. If you are an overweight retired profes- sional football player, your odds of having a shorter than average life span are high. Olympic athletics have a longer than average life span, while athletes who en- gage in contact sports have shorter than average life spans. Contact sports fre- quently cause a variety of damage to the bone and skeletal system, as well as to the brain, whose effects grow over-time. There actually was a re- cent British study whose au- thors claimed that accoun- tants do have longer life spans, without a good ex- planation as to why – so feel free to congure up your own explanation. I have no- ticed that many of my fellow economists seem to have lived unusually long lives, particularly those who won Nobel prizes. Being president of the United States, at least in re- cent times, is associated with a longer life span. Pres- ident George H.W. Bush en- gaged in a vigorous life- style, including sky diving in his 80s, and having his plane shot down from under him in World War II – and yet he managed to live to be 94. Both Presidents Reagan and Ford lived to be 93, and Jimmy Carter is still alive at 94. It is intuitively obvious and empirically shown that people in rich coun- tries tend to live longer than the average person in a poor country. It can be seen in the accompanying table that those of Chinese ethnicity in Singapore and Hong Kong live consider- ably longer on average than those who live in mainland China. As China has grown from a poor county to a low middle-income country, life spans have also greatly in- creased. It would be ex- pected that if China com- pletes its economic journey to becoming a high-income country, the average life span in China would ap- proach those living in Hong Kong and Singapore. There are a number of very-low-population juris- dictions (under 500,000), where people have on av- erage very long life spans, which are not included in the table. The average person in Monaco lives an incredible 89.4 years, but there are only 39,000 people in the principality. The res- idents of Macau, San Ma- rino, Andorra, Iceland and Guernsey live on average from 82.7 to 84.6. None of these places have a highly intrusive government, and several have no income taxes – which should re- duce stress. Average life expectancy is a good proxy for how ef- fective a healthcare system is. It is often noted that the United States spends far more, both as a per- centage of GDP and in abso- lute dollars per capita, than any other nation, yet only ranks number 43 in terms of life expectancy. Given in- ternational norms, the U.S. should be able to improve its overall health and spend half as much per capita. Yet, most of the proposals that the political class is discussing would likely in- crease healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP, with no reasonable assur- ance of improved outcomes. One great tragedy is that life spans have been decreasing for the last couple of years in the United States because of overdoses and addictions to opioids. Singapore arguably has the world’s most cost-effec- tive healthcare system. On the basis of absolute dollars spent, rather than as a per- centage of GDP, Hong Kong, South Korea, Israel and Italy do about as well. A number of countries do an ade- quate job of providing gen- eral healthcare but rely on other countries – most often the United States – to supply both discretionary and ex- traordinary healthcare. The deficiencies and queuing in the Canadian system are in part alleviated by Cana- dians going to the United States for care they cannot get in Canada. Medical tourism is growing in many parts of the world, where first- rate doctors can perform a number of difficult proce- dures for far less cost and at higher quality than can be found in many people’s home countries. This is pos- sible because they can avoid many unnecessary govern- ment regulations and man- dated procedures. Some places in Southeast Asia have been in the medical tourism business for de- cades, but now even places like the Cayman Islands have joined in by building world-class private hospi- tals with excellent doctors and support staff. For at least three de- cades, renowned scientists have been claiming that within five to 20 years the key to the aging process will be unlocked, and aging will not only be stopped, but re- versed. It is frustrating for us, members of the Com- mittee Against Death and Taxes, that our progress has been so slow on both fronts. It is getting to the point that, if we do not “cure” death, the fight against taxes will be ir- relevant for most of the com- mittee members. Richard W. Rahn is chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth and Improbable Success Productions. © 2018, The Washington Times, LLC. RICHARD W. RAHN5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 6, 2018 Premier opens Joint Ministerial Council meeting in London MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com The two-day Joint Ministe- rial Council meeting between British Overseas Territo- ries and the U.K. government began Tuesday at Lancaster House in London with wel- come remarks from Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin, as president of the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association. Premier McLaughlin thanked Lord Ahmad, the minister with responsibility for Britain’s overseas territo- ries, for his work on behalf of the territories, and expressed his thanks to U.K. minis- ters who attended the meet- ings despite important Brexit debates taking place in the House of Commons. The day’s meetings fo- cused on discussions about the U.K.’s exit from the Euro- pean Union and related con- tingency planning, including updates on the domestic parliamentary process, trade policies and develop- ment funding. Discussions included spe- cialist details of overseas territories-related environ- mental work through the De- partment of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, an overview of planning for a “no deal” Brexit scenario, trade policies following Brexit, and potential changes to funding through the Over- seas Development Fund. Overseas territory leaders were again advised that EU funding that supports envi- ronmental and other proj- ects in the territories will be guaranteed by the U.K. until 2020. However, it was noted by some overseas territo- ries leaders that this would still lead to problems for projects that need longer- term funding. Cayman has benefited in the past from EU funding for projects including post-Ivan housing, the Doppler radar project and the Blue Iguana Recovery Program. U.K. officials gave assur- ances to territories that have trade arrangements with EU countries, stating that the in- terests of the territories are considered together with those of the U.K. in the dis- cussions on trade. Each overseas territory is listed by name in the pro- posed EU withdrawal agree- ment, indicating that the U.K. is taking the territories and Crown Dependencies into consideration in a deal with the EU. A government press re- lease noted that there was “a lively discussion” about British Overseas Territories citizens, during which the U.K. agreed to address cer- tain issues that may impact travelers to countries like the United States. Because BOTC passports are now electroni- cally coded with the same electronic code as British passports, there have been occasional problems with some airlines. It was re- quested that BOTC passports should be encoded with a identifier for each territory to avoid the issue in the future. “Today’s agenda was busy but productive, with a lot to get through on the Brexit agenda,” Mr. McLaughlin said at the end of Tuesday’s meeting. “We are grateful for the attendance of those from the U.K. Government who were able to give us updates as far as possible given the uncertainty of the day caused by the Brexit debates in the House of Commons.” Post-hurricane support Minister for Financial Ser- vices and Home Affairs Tara Rivers, who also attended the meeting alongside Attorney General Samuel Bulgin, spoke with Lord Bates, the minister of state for international de- velopment, about the work done by the U.K. to press for funding in support of over- seas territories damaged by hurricanes and other nat- ural disasters. She said more should be done and was assured that the U.K. government intends to work with the Organisa- tion for Economic Co-opera- tion and Development to help foster a greater understanding of the needs and vulnerabili- ties of small island countries. Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands were un- able to qualify for support from the U.K.’s $13 billion foreign development aid pro- gram after they were devas- tated by successive hurri- canes last year, because they were deemed too wealthy under an income per capita formula set by the OECD. The U.K. ultimately di- verted US$74 million in di- saster relief from sources outside of its approved aid budget and campaigned for changes to the formula to free up more funds to sup- port its territories in the af- termath of natural disasters. Under the new rules, agreed at a meeting of the OECD’s Development Assis- tance Committee in October, countries can become re-eli- gible for official development assistance if their income levels fall back below a per capita income threshold of $12,055 for one year. However, this is still unlikely to benefit all but the poorest territories. Premier Alden McLaughlin, front row, second from right, joins Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, the minister with responsibility for Britain’s overseas territories, and other overseas territories leaders, ministers and officials for a group photograph on the first day of the Joint Ministerial Council meeting in London on Tuesday.The 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 DECEMBER 6, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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 for more information. CHRISTMAS CAROLS: All are invited to a Christmas caroling event by local performers, hosted by the North Side district at Ronald Forbes Playing Field. 6:30-8 p.m. Free admission and refreshments. CHRISTMAS CRAFT MARKET: Visual Arts Society Christmas Craft Market. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Paseo, Camana Bay. Get started on holiday shopping and browse homemade art, jewelry, crafts, ornaments, fine art photography, silk scarves and more for Christmas gifts with a local twist. 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 with the registration fee. Register on www.caymanactive.com/ jingle. $25 pre-registration and $30 day of the event. CANDLE LIGHT SERVICE: John Gray Memorial Church, West Bay, 7 p.m. PROUD OF THEM NOMINATIONS: Today is the deadline for receipt of nominations for the 10th round of the Proud of Them initiative, in which members of the public can nominate young people between the ages of 10 and 25 in the fields of academics, careers, business, sports, culture or community. Nomination forms are available at the link on www.gov.ky. 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 BLOOD DONOR DRIVE: Cayman Islands Blood Bank and pediatric therapy clinic KidsAbility are hosting a blood donor drive in the run-up to the Christmas season, a time of year when the demand for donations increases. 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Smith Road Centre Lobby. 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. CHRISTMAS SERVICE: The Sunrise Adult Training invites the public to a Sunrise Family Christmas Service at the John Gray Memorial Church Hall from 6:30 p.m. The theme of this year’s service is “Jesus is the Light of the World,” and all Sunrise clients will feature in the program. While attendance is free, Sunrise extends its appreciation for any donations the public may wish to make. 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. NATIONAL TRUST CHRISTMAS MINGLE: The National Trust is inviting all its members and volunteers to join the annual Christmas Mingle. 6:30-9 p.m. at Mission House, 63 Gun Square Road, Bodden Town. FRIDAY, DEC. 14 DCI CLOSURE: The Department of Commerce and Investment will close early, at noon, today to facilitate its staff Christmas luncheon. DCI’s main office will reopen on Monday, Dec. 17 at 8:30 a.m., and the counter will reopen at 9 a.m. For more information, call 945-0943 or email info@dci.gov.ky. SUNDAY, DEC. 16 NORTH SIDE CHRISTMAS DINNER: North Side will be hosting its annual Christmas dinner for the community today at 4:30 p.m. at the Craddock Ebanks Civic Center. For more details, contact Alex Johnson on 916-8232. CHRISTMAS CONCERT: The Cayman National Choir will perform its annual Christmas Concert at Elmslie Church in George Town today at 7:30 p.m. Free entry. Attendees are advised to arrive early to get a seat. 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. BT SENIORS CHRISTMAS DINNER: A Christmas dinner for the seniors of Bodden Town will be held at the Nurse Josie Centre, Cumber Avenue, today at 6 p.m. To schedule a pick-up, call 945-3281. THURSDAY, DEC. 20 CLASSICAL MUSIC AT LIBRARY: Cayman Arts Festival and the Cayman Islands Public Library Service present monthly one-hour concerts at the old George Town Public Library. 6-7 p.m. Includes classical music, poetry and readings from local poets and writers. Tickets available at the door, $20 for adults, $5 for children. Please note that there will only be 75 tickets available per event. SUNDAY, DEC. 23 CHOIR CANTATA: “Christ has Come.” John Gray Memorial Church, West Bay, 10 a.m. MONDAY, DEC. 24 SPOT BAY CHRISTMAS HOMECOMING: The Spot Bay Committee on Cayman Brac presents Christmas caroling on foot and door-to-door gift distribution to seniors starting at 7 p.m. GENERAL INTEREST SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Be a volunteer for athlete training at Truman Bodden Sports Complex. Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. for track, bocce and football, and Thursdays, 5:30 p.m. for basketball. 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 rent 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 HOLIDAY MARKET: Wednesdays and Saturdays at Camana Bay. Throughout the holiday season, the Farmers and Artisans Market returns, infused with Christmas cheer. Located in Heliconia Court (the new courtyard next to the building containing Scotiabank). 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The final market of the year will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 19. There will be no market on Wednesday, Dec. 5 due to set up for the NKY Fashion Week event. THRIFT SHOP: One Dog At A Time’s “New To You” Thrift Shop is open Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 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 Street. 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. For more information, 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. Contact George R. Ebanks at 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 annual Jingle Bell Walk/Run takes place on Sunday, Dec. 9. CHRISTMAS SERVICES The Cayman Compass on the Tuesday and Thursday before the Christmas holidays will publish listings of churches’ Christmas services. Anyone who wishes to have their services included should email editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com or call 815-0081.7 LOCAL NEWS KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Accountants took a break from crunching numbers to learn about emotional in- telligence and other skills Tuesday and Wednesday at the Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants’ annual summit. Jen Shirkani, author of the book “Ego vs. EQ,” spoke about emotional intelligence both days, defining the term as a set of skills that in- cludes one’s ability to recog- nize one’s own impulses and moods, to read situations ac- curately, and respond most appropriately depending on the situation or person they are dealing with. Such skills are often over- looked by businesses in favor of technical skills, but can be crucial to advancing one’s ca- reer and turning a profit, ac- cording to Ms. Shirkani. Ms. Shirkani explained that emotional intelligence obviously helps with sales or other areas of business that rely heavily on human interaction. Having emo- tional intelligence is also key to keeping employee mo- rale high in an office, which can improve a business’s bottom line. The speaker provided ev- idence to support her as- sertions. According to Ms. Shirkani, the professional services firm Grant Thornton UK incorporated emotional intelligence into its leader- ship training program, and reported a “35 percent rev- enue increase and a 16 per- cent lift in client satisfaction.” A study at a large U.S. ac- counting firm found that partners there with “signifi- cant strengths in self-man- agement” and strong social skills contributed more to the firm’s profit than part- ners without those skills, Ms. Shirkani said. Employees with higher emotional intel- ligence quotients also make more income and success- fully choose careers that keep them engaged, she added. Methods to measure emo- tional intelligence include the “EQI 2.0” survey, where a person answers 133 ques- tions and receive scores on various aspects of their emo- tional intelligence. There are several other surveys and methods to measure emo- tional intelligence. The good news for people with low emotional intel- ligence is that – unlike IQ, which is largely genetic – they can be trained to im- prove this skill set, according to Ms. Shirkani. Ms. Shirkani told the au- dience about when she was coaching a manager of a business to improve his emo- tional intelligence, using the story as an example of how bosses should not interact with their staff. She said the boss had multiple employees quit on him, including his entire of- fice team quitting together while he was on vacation. “When I asked him, ‘Why do you think your turnover is so high,’ and he said, ‘You know, it’s so hard to find good people these days,’” Ms. Shirkani said. However, the speaker said she identified one of the major problems when she saw him interact with one of his em- ployees, angrily berating them when some paperwork was not ready. This was juxta- posed against how he treated his customers, with courtesy and with a personal touch. Ms. Shirkani said the em- ployees likely hated their boss because they saw how he treated them versus how he treated his customers. “We can deal with a jerk who’s a jerk all the time to everybody, because we don’t take it personally. But once they saw that he could be gracious and patient … it killed his credibility every time.” she said. “So we have to realize, people are watching us.” Ms. Shirkani was one of a full slate of speakers who made presentations during the two-day summit. Other presentations in- cluded Deloitte expert Andres Gil speaking on cybersecurity and data privacy, Pricewater- houseCoopers director Chris Bailey speaking on managing effective teams, IBM execu- tive Jim Collins speaking on how artificial intelligence is reshaping financial services, and Kalar Consulting founder Manj Kalar speaking on new industry standards. Remarks were also made by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson and Finance Min- ister Roy McTaggart. CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 6, 2018 Author Jen Shirkani speaks about emotional intelligence at the Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants’ annual summit. - PHOTO: KEN SILVA Accountants at annual summit get lesson in emotional intelligenceThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY DECEMBER 6, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS at the site, according to land transfer documents reviewed by the Cayman Compass. Barbara Conolly, MLA for the area, said she had acted swiftly to shut down the Smith Cove tours. She said she had alerted the Public Lands Commission and met with the tour guides and advised them they were breaking the law. “We told them that is not going to happen. They will have to change their tour,” she said Tuesday night. “The bottom line is there cannot be any commercial activity, and it has stopped as of today.” Ms. Conolly said she had also been in touch with the police and Department of Commerce and Invest- ment to keep checks on ac- tivity at Smith Cove over the next few weeks. “Those covenants were set up from the get-go to prevent commercial activity on the land. The problem is no one has been out there checking,” she said. From January, she said, a new inspector would be ap- pointed under the Public Lands Law with a remit to monitor activity on public beaches. Though the law does create scope for vendors to obtain licenses to operate on public land, that process is currently restricted to Public Beach at Seven Mile Beach. Ms. Conolly said there may be some future oppor- tunities for businesses to op- erate at other island beaches, within certain parameters agreed through the Public Lands Commission, but she said that could not include Smith Cove. “It is special and it has to remain that way,” she added. Ms. Conolly said she em- pathized with the tour op- erators. She said they were young men who were trying to develop their business and sincerely believed they had the right to operate at that location. “I was disheartened for these young men because they are trying to make an honest living and provide opportunities for others,” she said, “but we can’t allow commercial activity at Smith Cove. Period.” Commercial activity at Smith Cove shut down CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 worthwhile endeavor,” Mr. Manning said. His expedition to De- nali in 2016 raised an- other $100,000. Smaller amounts came from the cy- cling events. He hopes to reach the $100,000 mark again with his trek to the South Pole. Jennifer Weber, opera- tions manager of the Cancer Society, said the money Mr. Manning has raised makes a sizeable impact on the sup- port the charity can pro- vide for cancer patients. The organization is operating on a $400,000 budget this year, she said. “Every time he does one of these things, it’s huge fun- draising for us,” Ms. Weber said, as well as being atten- tion grabbing. “It absolutely raises awareness of what we do and gets the word out.” She said the need for the charity’s services is growing. “When Guy climbed Mount Everest, we had 56 financial aid patients,” Ms. Weber said. “[Three] years later, when he completed the seven summits, I think we had more than double that. Now we have about 400 patients.” It has become popular in recent years to tie charitable fundraising to adventure- oriented events. Organizers of an upcoming kiteboard race from Little Cayman to Grand Cayman are hoping to raise about $200,000 for the Cancer Society, Ms. Weber said. “You can take anything you love and use it to help others,” she said. Mr. Manning, she said, has done even more. He first approached the Cancer So- ciety before his Everest climb. “His mother had breast cancer and he reached out to us,” she said. “The next thing we knew, he was volunteering.” Mr. Manning said being involved in the charity pro- vides added motivation. When he climbed Everest, he carried a list of all of the pa- tients that were being helped by the Cancer Society at that time. He plans to carry a similar list to the South Pole. “When you’re having a tough moment and you need a little bit extra to keep you going, it’s good to have that,” he said. He may have plenty of such moments. The tem- perature at the South Pole in January rarely climbs above -13 degrees Fahren- heit. Windchill, which is common, can bring that down to -40 F. Mr. Manning and his teammates will be wearing special masks that warm the air and keep their lungs from being damaged by the freezing air. The expedition will be trekking for 10 hours each day, with the team members each hauling a sled with their gear behind them. It’s hard work, Mr. Man- ning said, but it cannot be too hard. The effort has to be below a level that causes one to sweat, he said, be- cause the sweat will quickly freeze and contribute to hy- pothermia. He also wor- ries about frostbite, having suffered damage from his climb on Everest. The trip, he said, is costing him $63,000. Successful completion of the expedition, will leave only the North Pole standing between him and mem- bership in the elite Grand Slam club. There are just 63 people who have climbed the highest summits on all seven continents and reached both poles. Ms. Weber said she won- ders what Mr. Manning will do for an encore. “I suspect he’ll be calling in a couple of months to say, ‘I’m going to Mars.’” Committee meeting last month, Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller criticized OfReg’s stated policy of having competition set fuel prices. Mr. Miller said that despite the new gas station Refuel opening last year, the new competition has done little to lower prices. “In fact, the prices have gone up,” he said. Duke Munroe, OfReg’s chief fuels inspector and fuel markets director, responded that the Refuel gas station has consistently had 20- to 30-cent lower average prices than its competitors. Mr. Munroe said Refuel’s lower prices are causing “unease” among its competitors. He added that he expects the competition to cause further price decreases in the future, and that a “breaking point” could be when other entrants capture more market share. Mr. Miller asked what OfReg was doing to at- tract more companies to the market, and Mr. Munroe said OfReg is seeking to lower bar- riers to entry. He added that OfReg is making sure that new applicants to the fuel markets are not connected to the incumbent players. Gas prices fall, but not as much as in US In 2010, Guy Manning was part of a team that climbed Mount Vinson, Antarctica’s highest peak. He’ll be back on the continent next month to tackle the South Pole. Trek to South Pole to benefit Cancer Society Officials confirm that the rental of sun loungers is banned at Smith Cove. Six percent of Cayman Islands protected under conservation law JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Just over 6 percent of land in the Cayman Islands has been protected from de- velopment and other threats since the National Conser- vation Law was established five years ago, officials con- firmed this week. The law, passed in De- cember 2013, created the framework for the first public protected areas in the ter- ritory. Since then, Cabinet, the National Conservation Council and the Department of Environment have col- lectively moved to designate 4,111 acres of land for pro- tected status under the law. Booby Pond on Little Cayman, the Crown-owned land at Barkers, and large swathes of land in the Cen- tral Mangrove Wetlands are among the areas preserved for future use so far. Though no new funds were allocated for land pur- chases in the 2018/19 budget, Environment Minister Dwayne Seymour said gov- ernment was working with the Department of Environ- ment and others to identify areas that could be protected in the future. Gina Ebanks-Petrie, di- rector of the DoE, said the long-term aim was to protect one-fifth of Cayman’s land mass. The National Conser- vation Law allows for gov- ernment to purchase land for preservation or enter into agreements with private landowners. “Ideally, we want to have a minimum 20 percent overall protected land area, in line with international recom- mendations,” Ms. Ebanks- Petrie said. “We are delighted that the initial transactions for the protected areas have now been completed. This has al- ways been one of the core purposes of the National Conservation Law. These new protected areas now safe- guard several areas that Cay- manians have always valued for their natural beauty and the spectacular diversity of flora and fauna there.” Fred Burton, the DoE’s terrestrial resources unit manager, said the protection of such large areas in such a short space of time was a “monumental advance.” “It could not have been possible without the full sup- port of our elected officials and the implementation of the National Conservation Law,” he said. Premier Alden McLaughlin spoke about Cayman’s pro- tected areas at a United Kingdom Overseas Territo- ries Association meeting in London earlier this week, stating that the government had recently added 634 acres to the land under protection in the Cayman Islands, bringing the total to 4,111 acres – equivalent to 6.3 percent of Cayman’s total landmass. The protected areas were all identified from public nom- inations that were received and considered by the Na- tional Conservation Council. For privately owned land, the DoE contacted the landowners to ask if they were interested in selling to government for protected area purposes. Those nominations ad- vanced only with landowners’ consent and consultation with adjacent landowners, as well as the wider public. Cabinet members had the final say on all protected area nominations. Minister Seymour said work would continue to iden- tify suitable sites to be con- sidered for purchase for pro- tection. Funding for such transactions is typically drawn from the Environ- mental Protection Fund. “It’s a fitting tribute, as we approach the 5th anniver- sary of the National Conser- vation Law’s passage on Dec. 13, 2013 to celebrate these protected areas, now pre- served for our children and grandchildren to learn about and enjoy,” Mr. Seymour said. “While we recognize the im- portance of development, we have to strike a careful bal- ance between progress and the need to safeguard our en- vironment for future genera- tions of residents and visi- tors to enjoy.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Gina Ebanks-Petrie, director of the DoE, said the long-term aim was to protect one-fifth of Cayman’s land mass.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 6, 2018 EU steps up fight against Russian ‘fake news’ European Union authorities want internet companies including Google, Facebook and Twitter to file monthly reports on their progress eradicating Russian-backed ‘fake news’ from their platforms ahead of elections next year. EU officials unveiled the measures on Wednesday. The family of the Late Hebe Macartney Affectionately known as “Nurse Hebe” regrets to announce her passing on Saturday, 24 November, 2018. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Friday, 7 December 2018 at Wesleyan Holiness Church, West Bay. UK Parliament and government face off in Brexit showdown LONDON (AP) – Britain’s House of Commons on Wednesday opened Round Two in the bruising battle between lawmakers and Prime Minister Theresa May’s government over her Brexit deal. The Conservative govern- ment is struggling to con- vince skeptical legislators that the divorce deal it has struck with the European Union is a good one ahead of a vote in Parliament next week that could sink the agreement and possibly cost May her position. Opening the second of five days of debate, Home Sec- retary Sajid Javid told leg- islators they should back the agreement in a Dec. 11 vote to safeguard Britain’s vital security relationship with the EU. “No one can pretend that this deal is perfect in every sense,” Javid acknowledged. But he said the alternative was “an uncooperative no- deal” Brexit that would shut Britain out of EU security tools and EU data-sharing organizations. “It is my belief that the deal on the table is the best option available in ensuring a smooth exit from the Euro- pean Union,” Javid said. May is struggling to keep the Brexit deal on track after her Conservative government was dealt a double blow by Parliament. In a historic first, legis- lators on Tuesday found the government in contempt of Parliament for refusing to publish legal advice it re- ceived from the country’s top law officer about the Brexit agreement. The government had ar- gued that such advice is cus- tomarily kept secret. But it bowed to defeat Wednesday and released the reasoning from Attorney General Geoffrey Cox. The main thrust of Cox’s advice was already known – the government released a 43-page document about it Monday in a bid to fend off the contempt motion. But the defeat demonstrated the fra- gility of May’s government, which does not have a ma- jority in Parliament. The legal advice also provided fuel to oppo- nents of May’s deal, who dislike a “backstop” provi- sion in the Brexit agreement that would keep Britain in a customs union with the EU to guarantee an open border between EU member Ireland and the U.K.’s Northern Ireland. The backstop is intended as a temporary measure, but pro-Brexit lawmakers say it could leave Britain tied to the EU indefinitely and un- able to strike new trade deals around the world. The legal advice con- firmed that Britain cannot unilaterally opt out of the backstop, which requires an agreement by both sides. Cox advised there was a risk the U.K. might become stuck in “protracted and repeating rounds of negotiations.” The border backstop is strongly opposed by Northern Ireland’s Demo- cratic Unionist Party, which props up May’s minority government. The Protes- tant, pro-British DUP says the deal weakens the bonds of the United Kingdom by treating Northern Ire- land differently than the rest of the country for cus- toms purposes. DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said the backstop “is totally unacceptable to unionists throughout the United Kingdom and it must be defeated.” May’s deal is in trouble because politicians on both sides of Britain’s EU mem- bership debate oppose it. Pro-Brexit lawmakers say it keeps Britain bound closely to the EU, while pro-EU pol- iticians say it erects barriers between the U.K. and its big- gest trading partner. A defeat in the Dec. 11 vote would leave the U.K. facing a messy, economically damaging “no-deal” Brexit on March 29 and could topple the prime minister, her gov- ernment, or both. In another blow to May, two dozen Conservative law- makers voted with the op- position Tuesday to force an amendment to Brexit plans giving lawmakers more say over what happens next if the Brexit deal is defeated by British lawmakers. Pro-EU legislators say the amendment makes the pros- pect of a “no-deal” Brexit less likely, because Parliament can direct the government to take that option off the table. Brexit-supporting leg- islators worry that oppo- nents of Brexit in Parliament may try to water down the terms of departure from the EU, or even reverse the deci- sion to leave. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said Wednesday there was “a real danger that the House of Commons, which has a nat- ural ‘remain’ majority, may attempt to steal Brexit from the British people.” Fox said that would be “a democratic affront” to the 52 percent of British voters who opted in a 2016 referendum to leave the bloc. Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May leaves Downing Street in London, Wednesday. - PHOTO: AP In a historic first, legislators on Tuesday found the government in contempt of Parliament for refusing to publish legal advice it received from the country’s top law officer about the agreement. UK’s key services sector barely growing amid Brexit concern LONDON (AP) – Britain’s hugely important services sector is struggling in the face of Brexit, a closely watched survey showed Wednesday, as Prime Min- ister Theresa May strives to get the support of Parliament for her deal with the Eu- ropean Union. In a monthly survey of a sector that accounts for around 80 percent of the British economy, financial in- formation firm IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply found activity levels at their lowest since July 2016, just after the country voted to leave the European Union. The sector barely grew during November according to the survey. The so-called purchasing managers’ index, a gauge of business activity, fell to 50.4 points in No- vember from 52.2 the pre- vious month. That means the index is just above the 50- point level that separates ex- pansion from contraction on a 100-point scale. “A sharp deterioration in service sector growth leaves the economy flat-lining in November as Brexit concerns intensified,” said Chris Wil- liamson, chief business econ- omist at IHS Markit. Optimism in the sector was also at its lowest level since the Brexit vote, again because of an intensification of anxieties related to the exit from the EU. Although the British economy managed to avoid falling into a recession after the Brexit vote, as many forecasters predicted, it has slowed significantly. Business investment has been particularly weak as ex- ecutives wait for clarity as to Britain’s future economic re- lationship with the EU. Many economists think this year’s economic growth will be the lowest since 2009, when the economy was in recession following the global finan- cial crisis. With Brexit day looming – March 29, 2019 – and May struggling to get sup- port from lawmakers for her agreement with the EU, con- cerns have grown that Britain could crash out of the EU with no deal. That could re- sult in tariffs on British ex- ports, restrictions on workers’ movements and onerous and costly border controls. The Bank of England warned last week the British economy could shrink by 8 percent in a matter of months if the country crashes out of the EU with no deal and no transition period to new trading arrangements with the EU. May’s deal with the EU, which involves maintaining close ties for trade in goods, faces defeat on Dec. 11, and that is likely to further stoke uncertainty. Several alterna- tives have been mooted in Parliament but it’s unclear whether any other proposal would win enough support. One of the worries is that consumers could start to be- come cautious, too, especially in the run-up to the crucial Christmas trading period. Pantheon Macroeco- nomics’ chief U.K. economist Samuel Tombs says “Brexit uncertainty is draining mo- mentum from the economy.” An anti Brexit campaigner waves a European Union flag in Westminster in London. - PHOTO: APNext >