ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 2018 High of 89 Low of 73 Seas: Moderate to rough with wave height 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 11th-HOUR SCRAMBLE TO PUSH THROUGH ‘BLACKLIST BILLS’ WORLD | PAGE 8 JUDGE GIVES EX-TRUMP LAWYER MICHAEL COHEN 3 YEARS IN PRISON 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 May survives vote of no confidence LONDON (AP) – British Prime Min- ister Theresa May survived a brush with political mortality Wednesday, winning a no-confidence vote by Conservative lawmakers that would have ended her leadership of party and country. May won the vote of 317 Conser- vative legislators with a 200-117 tally that reflected the discontent within the party over her handling of Brit- ain’s exit from the European Union. Despite the victory, Brexit remains her government’s biggest problem. May is heading to Brussels to seek changed to her divorce deal from the European Union in order to make it more palatable to Parliament. The balloting came after May’s Conservative opponents, who cir- cled the weakened prime minister for weeks hoping to spark a no-con- fidence vote, finally got the numbers they needed to call one. The result was announced to loud cheers from lawmakers gathered in the wood-paneled room where they had voted. Under party rules, May cannot be challenged again for a year. May had earlier vowed to fight for the leadership of her party and the country “with everything I’ve got,” and spent the day holed up in the House of Commons trying to win over enough lawmakers to secure victory. “A change of leadership in the Con- servative Party now will put our coun- try’s future at risk,” May said in a de- fiant statement outside 10 Downing Street on Wednesday morning. She said that ousting her and JANUARY AIRPORT OPENING SCHEDULED JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Airport officials are confident the over- crowding and long delays that impacted vis- itors this year can be avoided during the forthcoming tourism high season, despite an anticipated delay in unveiling completed reno- vations at the Owen Roberts International Air- port in George Town. The official opening of the expanded ter- minal has been pushed back to late January. Even at that point, there will still be work to do to finish the second floor administration and airline office space, and fit out some of the retail stores in the departure lounge. Airports boss Albert Anderson believes enough work has been done, however, to en- sure a smoother experience for passen- gers over Christmas. By the time the busiest part of the tourism season kicks in around Easter, he expects the experience of trav- eling through Grand Cayman’s airport to be greatly improved. After three years of space limitations caused by the construction project and the limited size of the existing terminal, Mr. An- derson believes there are now reasons to be positive. “As far as the terminal is concerned, we have significantly more space this year on both arrivals and departures, which should make the airport experience much better,” he said. “The immigration hall is twice the size it was this time last year, and [the] ticketing, security and departure [areas] are three times bigger than they were. There will still NFL quarterback has stem cells stored in Cayman Down five points to the defending con- ference champion, the New England Pa- triots, with seven seconds to play on Sunday, Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill completed a pass that led to his team scoring a 69-yard, game-winning touchdown – what has been dubbed as the “Miami Miracle.” But one of the most exciting plays in the history of the National Football League may not have occurred if Mr. Tannehill had not come to the Cayman Islands last year for health-related reasons. In 2017, the Dolphins quarterback trav- eled to Grand Cayman and opted for cryo- preservation, a process that preserves cells prone to damage by cooling them to sub- zero temperatures and storing them for fu- ture use. Local clinic Regenexx Cayman han- dled the procedure and earlier this year, Mr. Tannehill received the stem-cell treatment “Regenexx-C,” according to the local clinic. “I have these cells banked in Grand Cayman and I’m able to use those in order to improve my quality of life and be able to enjoy the rest of my life,” Mr. Tannehill said. According to Regenexx Cayman, stem cell cryopreservation is the next step in pro- active healthcare – allowing athletes to save their younger cells for future orthopedic use, when the inevitable aches, pains, and injuries of professional sports set in. Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill at a practice session during a trip to Grand Cayman last year. He received stem cell treatment while on island. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » The majority of Tory MPs voted to retain Theresa May as U.K. prime minister. - PHOTO: AP PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 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) ELLIOT THE LITTLEST REINDEER (PG) 12:40 I 3:05 I 5:25 I 7:45 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 7:20 I 9:40 VIP THE GRINCH (PG) 12:15 I 2:30 I 4:45 I 7:00 INSTANT FAMILY (PG13) 1:15 I 4:10 I 7:10 I 9:50 THE POSSESSION OF HANNAH GRACE (R) 9:15 I 10:15 RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET (PG) 1:35 I 4:10 3D I 6:45 3D I 9:30 Cayman, UK hold constitutional talks MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com The U.K. government will formally respond in the coming weeks to proposed constitutional safeguards made by the Cayman Islands government. Both held talks about changes to the Cayman Is- lands constitution at the For- eign and Commonwealth Of- fice in London on Friday and Monday. The Cayman Islands sought these discussions after the House of Commons and later the House of Lords passed the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act in May. The new law included a clause that threatens to implement public registers of beneficial ownership in the British Overseas Terri- tories through an order in council, if they had not been established voluntarily by Dec. 31, 2020 Because financial services are a devolved area of policy, the step not only breached convention but also disen- franchised the lawmakers and the electorates in the ter- ritories, who have no voting rights in the U.K. and are not represented in the U.K. Parliament. As such, the move might constitute a constitutional overreach by the House of Commons. “Responsibility for do- mestic policy has been de- volved to the territories under the terms of their re- spective Constitution Orders made by Her Majesty in Privy Council,” government said in a press release. “Contrary to long-standing convention the U.K. Parliament sought to legislate for the territo- ries in an area of devolved re- sponsibility by attaching an amendment to the Sanctions and Anti Money Laundering Bill that was making its way through the United Kingdom Parliament.” Government said the con- cern is, therefore, not just about beneficial ownership registers, but about what other areas of devolved au- thority the U.K. Parliament may feel it should interfere in without at least consulting with the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands is seeking safeguards that will confirm that its government has autonomous capacity in respect of domestic affairs, and that the U.K. will not seek to legislate, directly or indirectly for the Cayman Is- lands without consultation. Before the meeting, the Cayman Islands government provided the FCO with pro- posed constitutional changes in draft form. These pro- posals had the backing of the opposition and formed the basis for the discussions. In addition to addressing the main concern, the talks were used to seek a small number of administrative changes to the current Con- stitution Order to improve the operations of the local government and legislature. During the talks, many of the proposed changes were agreed in principle, while some are still under consid- eration by the U.K. “U.K. officials listened and genuinely sought to be helpful whilst asserting that the U.K.’s interests and its ability to ultimately legis- late for its territories must remain paramount,” the gov- ernment said. Deputy Leader of the Op- position Alva Suckoo said, “I believe that while there was some resistance to some of the proposals put forward by the team, we managed to achieve a number of signifi- cant changes which will pre- serve and define the Cayman Islands autonomy in do- mestic affairs.” Britain will formally re- spond in the coming weeks with a Draft Order in Council that will confirm the matters already agreed in principle and provide proposals on how to address the matters that were left to be considered. Once agreed, the results of the negotiations will be published and debated in the Legislative Assembly. If ap- proved by the Legislative As- sembly and subsequently by Her Majesty in Privy Council, the proposed changes are ex- pected to come into effect in time for the 60th anniver- sary constitutional celebra- tions in 2019. In addition to Premier Alden McLaughlin and min- isters Joseph Hew and Tara Rivers, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin, Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller and Mr. Suckoo participated in the talks. They were joined by government’s constitutional advisor in London, Sir Jeffrey Jowell, QC. The U.K. team included the constitutional advisor to the FCO, Ian Hendry; Ben Mer- rick, director of the Overseas Territories; Will Gelling of the FCO; and Greg Reisman, assis- tant legal adviser to the FCO. Cayman Islands Governor Martyn Roper also attended. Lord Tariq Ahmad, minister for the overseas territories, opened the talks on Friday and returned for the closing ses- sion on Monday. Legislative Assembly to debate economic substance bills on Monday MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Legislative As- sembly is set to reconvene on Monday to pass three separate bills caused by the threat of a European Union tax blacklisting and global regulatory pressure. Government last week re- leased the International Tax Co-operation (Economic Sub- stance) Bill, 2018, the Local Companies (Control) (Amend- ment) Bill, 2018 and the Com- panies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2018, following a com- mitment made in December 2017 that it would remedy any shortcomings in its tax systems identified by the EU before the end of this year through legislative changes. The EU claims that Cayman is violating “fair tax” standards by enabling tax structures that attract for- eign profits without any real economic activity locally. The International Tax Co- operation (Economic Sub- stance) Bill introduces a substance test that compa- nies deemed tax resident in Cayman and engage in certain defined activities must pass. To be recognized as tax resident in Cayman and to ensure that profits flowing through these entities re- main untaxed, the companies would have to demonstrate that they have sufficient eco- nomic activity on island in terms of adequate physical office space, management presence and a sufficient number of qualified staff em- ployed locally. The economic activity standards are expected to eventually become a global standard under the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Inclu- sive Framework. The EU further denounced that the different treatment of local and exempted com- panies registered in Cayman enabled the granting of ad- vantages only to non-resi- dents or in respect to trans- actions carried out with non-residents. The amendments to the Local Companies Control Law and the Companies Law aim to put exempted com- panies on the same legal footing as local companies by allowing them to apply for a trade and business license and operate in Cayman. Cur- rently, exempted companies are prohibited from engaging in business on island except to further their activities car- ried on outside of Cayman. The late release of the bills leaves lawmakers little time to debate them, after ex- tensive industry consultation during the drafting of the bills pushed Cayman close to a potential EU blacklisting, if legislative changes are not in effect by Jan. 1, 2019. This is underlined by gov- ernment still having to re- lease guidance notes on the draft legislation, which are expected to provide more de- tail on how the law will op- erate in practice. The EU claims that Cayman is violating “fair tax” standards by enabling tax structures that attract foreign profits without any real economic activity locally. The Cayman Islands and U.K. governments hold constitutional talks in London. Premier Alden McLaughlin, Lord Tariq Mahmood Ahmad and Leader of the Opposition Ezzard Miller.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 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. Veteran observers of Cayman Islands politics will recall that local lawmakers deliberated for the better part of a decade before finally agreeing to make the most elementary of government decisions – changing the speed limit on West Bay Road, from 40 mph to 25 mph. This is the same parliamentary body that has allotted roughly two weeks for consideration of extremely significant legislation governing our country’s most significant sector of the economy – financial services. A year ago the European Union demanded that Cayman and other jurisdictions enact reforms to our financial services sector by the end of 2018 or risk being placed on a “blacklist” for noncompliance. Offi- cials, led by Financial Services Minister Tara Rivers, participated in a series of overseas meetings on the topic. (We were sent a diet of “postcard” press releases, little more than images of Ms. Rivers in the company of various European bigwigs, but never con- taining details of discussions.) Last Thursday, the government published three pieces of legislation – The Companies (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2018; The Local Companies (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2018; and The International Tax Co-Operation (Economic Substance) Bill, 2018. Not only was it the first time the public was informed of the language of the legislation – but also that government shared its “promises to Europe” with the local population, on whose behalf the promises were made. The Legislative Assembly is set to convene Monday, and officials have stated their inten- tion to pass the bills before the end of the year. Time is so short, and the legislative language so abstruse, that we do not feel comfortable right now committing to print our thoughts on the content of the legislation. (We will address the substance – and poten- tial consequences of this legislation – in an upcoming editorial.) Similarly, given the minuscule time frame, it is unlikely that legislators have been able to read care- fully the bills, unlikelier that they have a full under- standing of the proposed changes, and seemingly impossible that they have pondered the potential ramifications to the financial services sector, wider economy and future of the country. We draw no comfort from the ministry’s claims that the bills have been subjected to in-depth consultation with Cayman’s financial services industry, local regula- tors, the EU and OECD. Assuming those discussions took place, they took place behind closed doors – out of sight, and earshot, from either Cayman’s public or stakeholders who were not selected by the govern- ment for consultation. Who was consulted? What was discussed? What concerns were raised? How do the bills address those concerns (or not)? Even during this ephemeral moment of public dis- closure before the parliamentary proceedings, the intent seems to be to set aside meaningful debate in favor of government’s objectives. Cayman Finance, which nominally represents the country’s financial services industry, urged its members to parrot an official statement that Cayman Finance had coordinated with the ministry. Quoting from an advisory sent last Thursday, “Cayman Finance Members and Industry Associations may well wish to hold back on updating clients until both the draft legislation and draft guidance notes are in the public domain.” Cayman Finance said this wagon-circling will present “a unified jurisdictional message as we continue the process with both the EU Code of Conduct Group and the OECD’s [Forum on Harmful Tax Practices].” The question cannot be ignored: When Cayman Finance agreed to accept financial contributions from government, did it from that moment forward forfeit its claims to independence? Of course, if lawmakers have already made their decision on the legislation, why bother debating it – or even reading it? With not nearly enough time to delve into the specific reforms and changes in the three bills, it seems the table is being set in the Legislative Assembly for a simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down on a single question: “Is it the intent of Cayman’s govern- ment to attempt to appease Europe … at any cost?” 11th-hour scramble to push through ‘blacklist bills’ KATHY KIELY There he goes again. Two years ago, I walked away from a good job as a politics editor at Bloomberg News after my maximum boss, Michael R. Bloomberg, decided to dip a well-kept toe into the presidential wa- ters. Within hours, I was in- formed in no uncertain terms why this incipient presiden- tial campaign would be dif- ferent from all of that year’s many other presidential cam- paigns: We would not be covering it. Given Bloomberg’s con- spicuous commitment to openness (his foundation has invested billions in civic transparency efforts, and his dazzling corporate headquar- ters on New York’s Upper East Side has no private of- fices), I always wondered whether the whole mess had not been the result of a gross misinterpretation of the chief executive’s wishes by some overzealous lieutenants. Now we have our answer. “Quite honestly, I don’t want the reporters I’m paying to write a bad story about me,” Bloomberg said in a radio interview last week in Iowa, where he was paying an exploratory visit ahead of a possible 2020 bid for the White House. “I don’t want them to be independent.” You cannot get much more transparent than that. One of the things he’s con- sidering to eliminate the pos- sibility of a bad story by his own news service should he run for president, Bloomberg confided to his Iowa inter- viewer: eliminating the jobs of the people who have been la- boring on an important beat for his news service. “You could say we’re not going to cover politics at all,” Bloom- berg mused to Iowa Radio. What Bloomberg does with his considerable fortune as a private businessman is, quite literally, his own busi- ness. But a potential aspirant for public office opens his ac- tions and opinions to public dissection. Those actions and opinions reveal a disturbing attitude toward the First Amendment – and democ- racy generally. For someone who is holding himself out as a po- litical alternative to President Donald Trump, Bloomberg sounds remarkably like his brassier Manhattan neighbor, at least when it comes to his cynical view of journalism. It’s really not that far a leap from Bloomberg saying he does not “want the re- porters I’m paying to do a bad story about me” to Trump insisting that re- porters in his White House news conferences not be al- lowed to ask “disrespectful” questions. Both men are sig- naling that they shouldn’t have to take a taste of what they’re dishing out. In his Iowa interview, Bloomberg said Silicon Valley needs to get advice from “some good old journalists” about how to be more re- sponsible about what gets published on social media websites. Yet he also repeated one of his favorite alibis for why he doesn’t subject him- self to coverage by his own “good old journalists.” “We’ve always had a policy of ‘we don’t cover our- selves,’” he said. “I believe in my heart of hearts that you can’t be independent, and no- body’s going to believe that you’re independent.” To which I would say: “Balderdash.” (Those of you who have been there can supply the less-printable newsroom equivalent.) To say journalists are in- capable of the independence and the dispassion we pro- fessionally cultivate is to slander us. History, even recent his- tory, is replete with examples of news organizations cov- ering themselves and their owners – sometimes with the tolerance or even com- plicity of management and sometimes not so much. Be- cause here’s the dirty little secret of media ownership: The reporters may get paid by the person with the check- book, but they work for the readers – or the viewers, or the listeners. And for all the undoubted good he has done as a creator of jobs and a philanthropist, Bloomberg’s personal and corporate history is replete with episodes that suggest his sympathies lie with an elite of owners, stars and ce- lebrities and that he does not think they have to follow the same rules as the rest of the worker bees. This is, for example, the chief executive who changed the rules so he could run for a third term as mayor of New York and whose news service, most depressingly for jour- nalists, failed to stand up for the brave reporters and edi- tors who investigated cor- ruption in China, a major market for Bloomberg’s data business. Is it an accident that Bloomberg News ended up harboring two bold- face #MeToo perps – Charlie Rose and Mark Halperin? Both of whom might have been caught a lot sooner had their managers shown less tolerance for behavior that would have been promptly disciplined had it come from anyone with less celeb- rity wattage. At a time when the ad revenue model that has sus- tained journalism is broken, reporters need wealthy, civic- minded patrons more than ever. But not if they view journalists as just another form of corporate minion and not unless the hand that feeds them is prepared to withstand a healthy nip from time to time. In his Iowa interview, Bloomberg talked about the possibility of selling his busi- ness. Here’s hoping he does – at least the part that is engaged in newsgathering. Give the terrific journal- ists who work for you what they deserve, Mr. Bloomberg: Set them free. © 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group. THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Bloomberg still seems to misunderstand journalism 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 find their own way” In his Iowa interview, Bloomberg talked about the possibility of selling his business. Here’s hoping he does – at least the part that is engaged in newsgathering.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 2018 T: 949 5111 E: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com FROM THE MANAGEMENT & STAFF OF PINNACLE MEDIA LTD. PLEASE BE ADVISED OF OUR PUBLICATION DEADLINES & CLOSING HOURS OFFICE HOURS Friday, December 21: 8a.m. – 5p.m. Monday, December 24: 8a.m. – NOON December 25, PUBLIC HOLIDAY: CLOSED December 26, PUBLIC HOLIDAY: CLOSED Thursday, December 27: 8a.m. – 5p.m. Friday, December 28: 8a.m. – 5p.m. Monday, December 31: 8a.m. – NOON January 1, PUBLIC HOLIDAY: CLOSED RE-OPEN FOR BUSINESS TUESDAY, JANUARY 2 & HAPPY NEW YEAR PUBLICATIONDEADLINE Friday, December 21 Tuesday, December 18 Monday, December 24 Wednesday, December 19 Tuesday, December 25 NO PUBLICATION Wednesday, December 26NO PUBLICATION Thursday, December 27 Thursday, December 20 Friday, December 28 Friday, December 21 Monday, December 31Thursday, December 27 Tuesday, January 1 NO PUBLICATION Wednesday, January 2 Thursday, December 27 Thursday, January 3Friday, December 28 Friday, January 4 Monday, December 31 Airports Authority to increase number of air traffic controllers KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Some 20 years ago, a lone air traffic controller directed the planes entering and ex- iting Cayman Islands airspace. As the islands developed, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority started having two air traffic controllers work during a given shift, with one directing inbound traffic and one handling departures. Now, with 34,000 flights coming through Cayman each year and that number on the rise, the authority is looking to hire 13 new people so it can have four controllers on duty per shift, according to Cayman Islands Airports Au- thority CEO Albert Anderson. The new hires will allow there to be one relief person to serve as a backup when the air traffic controllers take their required breaks. A supervisor also has to be on duty for all shifts, Mr. Anderson said. The CEO said having four people on duty during a shift is also required for Cayman by international avi- ation standards. “There are International Civil Aviation Organization regulations that must be met that relate to Air Traffic Controller resourcing, and Cayman is bound by these regulations through the U.K. under the Overseas Territories Aviation Requirements,” he said. “The CIAA must ensure that going forward we have a pipeline of trained controllers to ensure we meet these regu- lations, especially to deal with increasing air traffic.” The CIAA had been dis- cussing the issue of in- creasing the number of air traffic controllers all year, but just started the hiring process in July after receiving ap- proval from its board for the unbudgeted expense. Air traffic control trainees will start at salaries of be- tween $20,000 and $30,000, and will have a starting salary of $46,000 once fully trained. Mr. Anderson said 24 Cay- manians originally applied, but that only three of them passed the test, with one of those candidates choosing another career within the Airports Authority. After another round of testing and interviews, four people were approved for hire. Those people will start as trainees next month. Hiring all 13 controllers will be a phased process over the next couple of years, Mr. Anderson said. Once the authority hires a new person, getting him or her fully certified will be a two-year process, including off-island training and on- the-job training, with the final step being certification and licensing by the Civil Aviation Authority. The Airports Authority ini- tially contemplated cheaper options than hiring new con- trollers, such as having ap- proaching flights being di- rected remotely by controllers from another jurisdiction. However, the authority opted against this because it would be favorable only in the short term, with Cayman losing the skill set in the long run, stated the authority’s May 23 board meeting minutes. An air traffic controller directs an inbound flight to Owen Roberts International Airport. - PHOTO: KEN SILVA YOUNG ENVIRONMENTALIST’S CAMPAIGN ATTRACTS INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A campaign to encourage businesses and consumers in the Cayman Islands to ditch single-use plastics is at- tracting overseas attention. UCCI student Steff Mc- dermot was awarded a grant from an international envi- ronmental foundation for her campaign. She started the “345 pledge” in partnership with Plastic Free Cayman after attending the Ocean He- roes boot camp held in New Orleans in June. The pledge, the name of which plays on Cayman’s 345 international dialing code, challenges consumers to sign up to do three things imme- diately, four things within six months, and five things within a year to contribute to sustainability in the Cayman Islands. The list of options open to individuals includes com- mitting to drinking from re- usable water bottles, refusing plastic straws, patronizing establishments that sign up to the pledge or attending a beach cleanup. Businesses can also sign up to similar commit- ments, including using reus- able cups instead of plastic cups, stopping the use of Styrofoam, and only offering straws on request. Ms. Mcdermot said the grant, awarded through in- ternational organizations Lonely Whale and Cap- tain Planet Foundation, had helped her market the cam- paign and amplify the mes- sage beyond Cayman’s shores through social media influencers. She believes pressure from tourists, as well as res- idents, could help contribute to the ultimate aim of per- suading government to con- sider legislation banning single-use plastics. “The pressure has to come from visitors as well because they are the con- sumers. If they don’t want plastic straws, then the businesses will have to comply,” she said. Dominica just became the first country in the Ca- ribbean to legislate against plastics, banning various items, including plastic straws, cutlery, Styrofoam and carry-out food con- tainers. Jamaica has also brought in a ban on straws and plastic shopping bags, which will come into ef- fect next year. Ms. Mcdermot said her ul- timate aim was to convince the Cayman Islands govern- ment to follow suit. “The reason why this campaign was born is to show government that the community is taking steps to eliminate single-use plas- tics,” she said. Around 500 people have signed up to the 345 pledge so far. The grant has con- tributed to a marketing cam- paign that includes overseas influencers and a mini doc- umentary series is coming out shortly. Ms. Mcdermot also re- ceived an award for her ef- forts from the Captain Planet Foundation. She said she was grateful for the rec- ognition, but is focused on achieving the real reward of policy change. Steff Mcdermot The new hires will allow there to be one relief person to serve as a backup when the air traffic controllers take their required breaks.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 13, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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. CHRISTMAS CONCERT: The Cayman National Choir and Orchestra will perform its annual Christmas Concert, titled “All is Calm,” at Elmslie Church in George Town today at 7:30 p.m. Free entry. Attendees are advised to arrive early to get a seat. BRAC SCHOOLS CHRISTMAS MUSICAL: The Cayman Brac Primary Schools Combined Christmas Musical will be held tonight at the Aston Rutty Centre at 7 p.m. BRAC SUMMARY COURT: Summary Court will be held on Cayman Brac today and tomorrow. FRIDAY, DEC. 14 DCI CLOSURE: The Department of Commerce and Investment will close 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. NWDA CLOSURE: The National Work Development Agency office will close today at noon and will resume normal business hours on Monday, Dec. 17. FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS PRAISE: Join the First Baptist Sanctuary Choir for a musical celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. 7 p.m. in the FBC Sanctuary. Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served afterward in the breezeway. SATURDAY, DEC. 15 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. PROSPECT/RED BAY CHRISTMAS POT LUCK: The Prospect Red Bay Community Group hosts a Christmas pot luck dinner at Seafarers Hall on Victory Avenue at 7 p.m. Bring a dish and your favorite drink to join this evening of fellowship, food, music and raffle prizes. Music by the Regeneration Band and Unitforce Disc. Bus service available for seniors. Call 922-5276 or 922-5287 to arrange transport. CAYMAN MUSEUM EXHIBIT OPENING: The Celebrate Cayman exhibit opens today at the National Museum. Goring Avenue will be closed between South Church Street and the entrance to RBC from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. to facilitate the opening event. WB CHRISTMAS COMEDY SHOW: The Cayman National Cultural Foundation presents the Christmas Comedy Show, a traveling comedy performance that will visit the various districts. Tonight’s show will be at Sir John A. Cumber Primary School in West Bay, 7-9 p.m. Starring Matt Brown, Rita Estevanovich and guests. Admission is free. SUNDAY, DEC. 16 SANTA RUN: Join a parade of Santas in a jolly jog around Camana Bay for some festive, family friendly fun. For more details and to register, visit www. camanabay.com. Proceeds raised will benefit the Camana Bay Christmas Give. Starts at 6:30 a.m. CHRISTMAS CANTATA: Webster Memorial United Church presents “Mary, Did you Know,” a Christmas Cantata at 11 a.m. CROSSROAD UNITED CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: The Crossroad United Baptist Church Christmas Program will be held today at 7 p.m. at Crossroad United Baptist Church Sanctuary. CUSTOMS HOURS: Beginning today, until Dec. 21, and again on Dec. 27 and 28, Customs’ opening hours at its collection office will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will close on Saturday, Dec. 22 and Saturday, Dec. 29. MONDAY, DEC. 17 SENIOR CITIZENS CHRISTMAS PARTY: The Savannah-Newlands CoDAC Senior Citizens group will hold its Christmas Party today, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Pedro St. James courtyard. 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. EE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM: The Church of God Universal at East End presents a Christmas Program this evening at 7:15 p.m. 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. FRIDAY, DEC. 21 BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE: St. George’s Anglican Church hosts a Blue Christmas Service at 7 p.m. CHRISTMAS LIGHTS TOUR: Visit some of Cayman’s best Christmas lights displays. The National Trust’s Christmas Lights Bus Tour leaves the Trust’s Visitor Centre at 6 p.m. SATURDAY, DEC. 22 UWC CAYMAN WINTER SOCIAL: United World Colleges Cayman Islands invites all alumni and supporters of UWC for its annual winter social. A short film titled “We Will Live” starring alum Hailee Robinson will be featured. The Attic, West Bay Road. 3-6 p.m. CUSTOMS COLLECTION OFFICE CLOSURE: Customs’ collection office will be closed today. 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. IMMIGRATION HOLIDAY CLOSURE: The Immigration headquarters, including public counters and the passport and visa offices will close to the public at 11:30 a.m. NAU HOLIDAY CLOSURE: The Needs Assessment Unit offices on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac will be closed from noon today. NWDA HOLIDAY CLOSURE: The National Workforce Development Agency office will close to the public at noon today. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26 DASHING THRU THE SAND: The annual Dashing Thru the Sand run will be held this morning at 7:30 a.m. at Seven Mile Public Beach. THURSDAY, DEC. 27 ST. IGNATIUS ALUMNI SOCIAL: All St. Ignatius graduates and former students are invited to attend the schools’ annual Christmas Social today at 7 p.m. at Sunset House on South Church Street. Anyone who ever attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help or St. Ignatius School is welcome. Catch up with friends, swap stories, and enjoy the sea breeze! SATURDAY, DEC. 29 CUSTOMS COLLECTION OFFICE CLOSURE: Customs’ collection office will be closed today. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Runners young and older, and some with four legs, take part in the annual Santa Run. This year’s run will be held at Camana Bay on Boxing Day. 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 ser- vices included should email editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com or call 815-0081.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 2018 be queues and crowds, but the experience will be much better.” On the busiest days last year, visitors complained they were waiting for hours in lines that snaked outside the terminal. Mr. Anderson acknowl- edged that there would still be lengthy queues on peak days but said the air- port was working with cus- toms and immigration offi- cials to ensure they moved quickly. The additional space will also mean visi- tors are waiting inside rather than in the hot sun. He added, “The amount of space available in the ter- minal will be the biggest change that the travelling public will notice. In addi- tion, [they will notice] self- check-in kiosks for most airlines, flight information displays, more baggage belts at baggage claim and gener- ally a more comfortable ex- perience in the terminal.” Earlier this year, the con- gestion on the ground was reflected in the skies. On one Saturday in March, at least three planes had to be di- verted to Jamaica because the airport was too busy for them to land. Mr. Anderson said the air- ports authority had now be- come a member of CADENA, a regional air traffic man- agement group that works collaboratively to coordi- nate air traffic movements within the region. He said this would tie in with a slot management system to en- sure the airport does not ex- ceed its capacity. Mr. Anderson acknowl- edged the airport would not meet its original target for a December opening. He said the first floor work would not be complete until January. But he believes the work is substantially complete. “We would like to thank the travelling public for their patience over the past three years as we have worked on the expansion of the ter- minal,” he said. “Now that the project is winding down, we look forward to a much more enjoyable experience for all our guests, our air- port partners and our em- ployees, all of whom have contributed to our success in maintaining flight opera- tions while the construction was going on around us.” “A lot of athletes will play through their issues – they might have a nagging hamstring or Achilles – but our goal is to treat prob- lems proactively with or- thobiologics, including cul- ture-expanded stem cells,” said Regenexx founder Dr. Christopher Centeno. “Un- fortunately, you can’t store cultured cells in the U.S., but at Regenexx Cayman, athletes can have their cells extracted, grown to much larger numbers, and cryo- preserved at their current biological age.” Mr. Tannehill, a paid spokesman for Regenexx, is not the first high-profile athlete to have stem cells preserved in Cayman. In 2015, Cayman Olympic runner Cydonie Mothersill was trying to overcome an injury to her Achilles tendon in her ankle. Doctors from Re- genexx took stem cells from Ms. Mothersill’s hip and injected them, along with her own blood cells, into her ankle. “This procedure gave my life back to me,” Ms. Moth- ersill said at the time. She has since retired from competition, but said her injury has recov- ered enough that she can now run and play with her two daughters. NFL quarterback has stem cells stored in Cayman January airport opening scheduled a vote on her replace- ment – a process that could take weeks – could result in Brexit being delayed or even halted. May, who spent Tuesday touring European Union capitals to appeal for changes to sweeten her di- vorce deal for reluctant U.K. lawmakers, has until Jan. 21 to hold a vote on the agree- ment in Parliament, a time- table that could be scuttled if she is replaced. In a bid to win over wa- vering lawmakers, May indi- cated she would step down before the next election, due in 2022. Solicitor-General Robert Buckland said May told law- makers at a meeting that “it is not her intention to lead the party in the 2022 gen- eral election.” Another Tory legislator, Nick Boles, tweeted: “She was unambiguous. She will not be leading the Conservative Party into the next election.” May has not said what she will do if, as many ex- pect, there is an early elec- tion triggered by Britain’s Brexit crisis. The leadership challenge marked a violent eruption of the Conservative Party’s de- cades-long divide over Eu- rope and throws Britain’s al- ready rocky path out of the EU, which it is due to leave on March 29, into further chaos. It comes days after May post- poned a vote to approve the divorce deal to avoid all-but- certain defeat. The threat to May has been building as pro-Brexit Conservative lawmakers grew increasingly frustrated with the prime minister’s handling of Brexit. Many supporters of Brexit say May’s deal, a compromise that retains close economic ties with the EU, fails to de- liver on the clean break with the bloc that they want. Former Environment Sec- retary Owen Paterson ac- cused May of acting like a “supplicant” in dealings with the EU. “She’s not the person to see Brexit through,” he said. Opposition lawmakers expressed astonishment and outrage at the Conser- vative civil war erupting in the middle of the fraught Brexit process. “This government is a farce, the Tory party is in chaos, the prime min- ister is a disgrace,” Scot- tish National Party leader Ian Blackford said during a pugnacious Prime Minis- ter’s Questions session in the House of Commons. British business figures had expressed alarm at the prospect of even more polit- ical uncertainty. “At one of the most piv- otal moments for the U.K. economy in decades, it is unacceptable that West- minster politicians have chosen to focus on them- selves, rather than on the needs of the country,” said Adam Marshall, director gen- eral of the British Chambers of Commerce. Graham Brady, who heads a committee overseeing Con- servative leadership contests, announced early Wednesday that he had received letters from at least 48 lawmakers asking for a vote. That is the 15 percent of Conservative legislators needed to spark a leadership challenge under party rules. May canceled a Wednesday trip to Dublin to meet Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar so she could stay in London and battle for lawmakers’ support. But before it, Cabinet col- leagues rallied to May’s sup- port. Home Secretary Sajid Javid tweeted that a lead- ership contest, with Brexit little more than three months away, “will be seen as self-in- dulgent and wrong.” Justice Secretary David Gauke said: “I think it’s vital for the country that she wins tonight.” He said that if May lost, “I don’t think we will be leaving the European Union on the 29th of March.” EU leaders tried to stay out of the fray. There was no change in plans for May to address them about Brexit at a summit on Brussels on Thursday. The European Parlia- ment’s Brexit point man, Guy Verhofstadt, could not con- tain a note of annoyance, tweeting: “Once again, the fate of EU-U.K. relations, the prosperity of businesses & citizens’ rights are consumed by an internal Conservative party catfight over Europe.” Premier responds to May confidence vote Premier Alden McLaughlin issued a statement congratu- lating British Prime Minister Theresa May after she won a vote of confidence among her Conservative Party col- leagues Wednesday eve- ning in London. Minutes after the re- sults of the vote were an- nounced, Mr. McLaughlin sent out the following state- ment: “I would like to offer my sincere congratula- tions to Prime Minister Theresa May on winning the vote and continuing to lead the Conservative Party and the U.K. Government. I wish her and her Govern- ment every success with the difficult ongoing Brexit negotiations.” He said he had met with the prime minister this year when he visited London. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank her again for meeting with me earlier this year in London to discuss matters surrounding the Cayman Islands consti- tutional arrangement with the U.K. and providing her support for a review of the constitution.” In the vote, 200 Tory backbenchers voted for the prime minister while 117 voted against. She needed a majority of 159 to sur- vive the vote. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Premier Alden McLaughlin May survives vote of no confidence CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CUBA HEALTH MYSTERY: DIPLOMATS HAD INNER-EAR DAMAGE EARLY ON MIAMI (AP) – American diplomats affected by mys- terious health incidents in Cuba showed damage in the inner ear shortly after they complained of weird noises and sensations, according to their earliest medical exams, publicized Wednesday. The detailed findings were published in a med- ical journal nearly two years after what the U.S. calls “health attacks” began – and they shed no new light on a possible culprit. “What caused it, who did it, why it was done – we don’t know any of those things,” said Dr. Mi- chael Hoffer of the Uni- versity of Miami Miller School of Medicine, who led the exams. The U.S. says since late 2016, 26 people associated with the embassy in Ha- vana suffered problems that include dizziness, ear pain and ringing, and cog- nitive problems such as dif- ficulty thinking – a health mystery that has damaged U.S.-Cuba relations. The Miami researchers examined 25 of those people, who reported hearing a piercing noise or experiencing a sensation of pressure before their symp- toms began. The patients failed a variety of tests that detect inner-ear problems associated with balance, what’s called the vestibular system – although there were no pre-symptom med- ical records to compare. Testing of 10 other people who were in the same building at the time of the incidents found they were fine, Hoffer reported in the journal Laryngo- scope Investigative Otolar- yngology. Hoffer also trav- eled to Cuba to check 100 other Americans stationed there, who also turned out to be healthy. Those inner-ear balance problems have been cen- tral to the government’s ongoing health investiga- tion. And earlier this year, a team of doctors at the University of Pennsyl- vania who also examined many of these patients, but months later, reported they suffered a concussion- like brain injury, despite no blow to the head. For doctors, Wednes- day’s paper adds spe- cifics about the pattern of damage, abnormalities in structures involved with sensing gravity and ac- celeration, said Dr. Maura Cosetti of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. She is not in- volved with research re- lated to the Cuba incidents. “This provides an im- portant step in creating a picture of the injury that people sustained,” she said. She added that often people with long-term bal- ance problems also report a “brain fog.” Cuba has adamantly denied any involvement, and even doubts there were attacks. “There’s no evidence that can prove that some- thing occurred in Cuba that could have damaged the health situation of a few U.S. diplomats,” Carlos Fer- nandez de Cossio, Cuba’s director-general of U.S. af- fairs, said Wednesday. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Sir Graham Brady, center, chairman of the 1922 Committee, announces that Theresa May has survived an attempt by Tory MPs to oust her as party leader at the Houses of Parliament in London, Wednesday. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Pope cuts 3 cardinals from cabinet Pope Francis has removed three cardinals from his informal cabinet, two of whom have been implicated in the Catholic Church’s sex abuse and cover-up scandal. Chilean Cardinal Javier Errazuriz, Australian Cardinal George Pell and Congolese Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya have been removed from the so-called Group of Nine, or C-9. France: Suspected gunman named, had long record STRASBOURG, France (AP) – A massive manhunt in- volving hundreds of police and soldiers was under way Wednesday for a suspected extremist who yelled “God is great!” in Arabic during a shooting spree around one of Europe’s most famous Christmas markets. The as- sault in the eastern French city of Strasbourg killed two, left one person brain dead and injured 12 others, au- thorities said. Police union officials iden- tified the suspected assailant as Cherif Chekatt, a 29-year- old with a thick police re- cord for crimes including armed robbery and moni- tored as a suspected religious radical by the French intelli- gence services. The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not au- thorized to publicly discuss details of the large and on- going investigation into the attack that set France on edge anew. Prosecutor Remy Heitz said the suspected gunman was shot in the arm during an exchange of fire with French soldiers during his rampage in the city center on Tuesday. He then took a taxi to another part of the city, boasting of the attack to the driver. There, he exchanged more gunfire with police and disappeared. Heitz said the man at- tacked his victims with a handgun and a knife. Pre- viously, French authori- ties had said the assailant killed three people, but Heitz said two people were con- firmed dead while the third was brain dead. A further 12 people were injured, six of them gravely. Witnesses described shots and screams after the gunman opened fire around the Christmas market Tuesday evening in a city that is home to the European Parliament and considers it- self a capital of Europe – and promotes itself as the “cap- ital of Christmas.” For several hours swaths of the city were under lockdown. Senior Interior Ministry official Laurent Nunez said the suspect had been radi- calized in prison and had been monitored by French intelligence services since his release in late 2015, be- cause of his suspected reli- gious extremism. Nunez said on France- Inter radio that police sought to arrest the man on Tuesday morning, hours be- fore the shooting, in rela- tion to an attempted murder. He was not at home but five other people were de- tained, authorities said. Heitz said police seized a grenade, a rifle and knives during operation. After the evening attack, as police fanned out in their manhunt, officers also detained four associates of the gunman, the prosecutor said. Wit- nesses reported that the as- sailant yelled “God is great!” in Arabic during the attack, he added. The government raised the security alert level and sent police reinforcements to Strasbourg, where hundreds of police and soldiers were involved in the search. A terrorism investigation was opened, but the motive of the attack is unclear. At Chekatt’s apartment, in an outer neighborhood of Strasbourg, the lock of the door was broken at his apart- ment. Police were guarding the building. A neighbor, who asked not to be named because the gunman was still at large, said he was rarely home. She said she last saw him Monday from her window, which looks out on a common hallway, and he was with another man. Young men from the apartment block said they knew him as someone who seemed destabilized by his time in prison. “You can just tell,” said one, lightly touching the side of his head. They, too, feared being publicly named because the gunman is still being hunted by police. The suspected attacker’s more than two dozen con- victions also included crimes in Germany and Switzer- land, according to court doc- uments seen by The Asso- ciated Press. The attack is a new blow to France, which saw a wave of Islamic extremist kill- ings in 2015 and 2016. It came amid a month of pro- tests against President Em- manuel Macron that have blocked roads around the country, led to rioting in the capital and put heavy strain on police. While authorities urged people in the area to stay inside after Tuesday’s at- tack, Strasbourg Mayor Ro- land Ries told BFM televi- sion Wednesday that “life must go on” so that the city doesn’t cede to a “terrorist who is trying to disrupt our way of life.” Many of Europe’s dead- liest terror attacks in re- cent years have taken place in France. In response to Tuesday’s shooting, the gov- ernment decided to take the country’s attack risk up a level on the official threat index. Judge gives ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen 3 years in prison NEW YORK (AP) – Michael Cohen, who as President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and fixer once vowed he would “take a bullet” for his boss, was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for an array of crimes that included arranging the payment of hush money to two women that he says was done at the direction of Trump. The sentence was in line with what federal prosecu- tors asked for. Sentencing guidelines called for around four to five years behind bars, and prosecutors asked in court papers that Cohen be given only a slight break. He is ordered to surrender March 6. Cohen, standing alone at the defense table, shook his head slightly and closed his eyes briefly as the sentence was announced by the judge. U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III said Cohen de- served modest credit for his decision over the summer to admit guilt and cooperate in a federal investigation of ef- forts by Russians to influence the presidential election, but his assistance “does not wipe the slate clean.” “Somewhere along the way Mr. Cohen appears to have lost his moral compass,” the judge said. “As a lawyer, Mr. Cohen should have known better.” Cohen told the judge just before he was sentenced that loyalty to Trump led him astray. “It was my blind loyalty to this man that led me to take a path of darkness instead of light,” he said. “I felt it was my duty to cover up his dirty deeds.” Cohen’s lawyers had ar- gued for leniency, saying he decided to cooperate with in- vestigators rather than hold out for a possible pardon. “He came forward to offer evidence against the most powerful person in our country,” Cohen’s lawyer, Guy Petrillo, told the judge during the hearing. Cohen, 52, pleaded guilty in August to evading $1.4 million in taxes re- lated to his personal busi- nesses. In the part of the case with greater political repercussions, he also ad- mitted breaking campaign fi- nance laws in arranging pay- ments in the waning days of the 2016 election to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal, both of whom said they had sexual encounters with Trump. Cohen became the first – and so far, only – member of Trump’s circle during two years of investigations to go into open court and impli- cate the president in a crime, though whether a president can be prosecuted is a matter of legal dispute. Last month, Cohen also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about Trump’s business dealings in Russia. He admitted hiding the fact that he was negotiating a proposal to build a Trump skyscraper in Moscow well into the presidential cam- paign. He said he lied out of devotion to Trump, who had insisted during the campaign that he had no business ties whatsoever to Russia. The sentence was the cul- mination of a spectacular rise and fast fall of a lawyer who attached himself to the fortunes of his biggest client, helped him get elected presi- dent, then turned on him, co- operating with two intercon- nected investigations: one run by federal prosecutors in New York, the other by spe- cial counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into Russian efforts to influence the race for the White House. At the sentencing hearing, a prosecutor in Mueller’s office, Jeannie Rhee, said Cohen has “sought to tell us the truth and that is of the utmost value to us.” “He has provided consis- tent and credible information about core Russia-related is- sues under investigation,” she said without elaborating. It remains to be seen how much damage Cohen’s cooper- ation will do to Trump. Legal experts said Cohen could get his sentence reduced if he strikes a deal with prosecu- tors to tell them more. The defense team said Cohen’s tax crimes were un- sophisticated, and his cam- paign violations and lies to lawmakers were moti- vated by overenthusiasm for Trump, rather than any ne- farious intent. But the New York-based prosecutors who handled the case had urged the judge to sentence Cohen to a substan- tial prison term and said he failed to fully cooperate with investigators. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicolas Roos said Cohen’s crimes showed a “pattern of deceit, brazenness and greed.” He called for a sentence that sends a message that “even powerful, privileged individuals cannot violate these laws with impunity.” In their court filing, the prosecutors left no doubt that they believe Cohen arranged the hush-money payments at Trump’s direction, saying the maneuver was part of an ef- fort to “influence the election from the shadows.” Trump, who insists the af- fairs never happened, argued on Twitter that the payments to the women were “a simple private transaction,” not a campaign contribution. And if it was a prohibited contri- bution, Trump said, Cohen is the one who should be held responsible. “Lawyer’s liability if he made a mistake, not me,” Trump wrote, adding, “Cohen just trying to get his sentence reduced. WITCH HUNT!” Trump had repeatedly called for a tough sentence for Cohen, whom he labeled a liar. Cohen has had at least seven meetings with Muel- ler’s team, which said in court papers that Cohen pro- vided “relevant and useful” information about attempts by Russian figures to influ- ence Trump’s campaign. Michael Cohen, right, President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, and his children arrive at federal court in New York on Wednesday for his sentencing for dodging taxes, lying to Congress and violating campaign finance laws. - PHOTO: AP9 WORLD&REGIONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY DECEMBER 13, 2018 Trump threatens shutdown in wild encounter with Democrats Ex-judges to ICE: End immigration arrests at courthouses BOSTON (AP) – Dozens of re- tired state and federal judges called Wednesday on U.S. im- migration officials to stop making arrests at court- houses of people suspected of being in the country il- legally, saying immigrants should be free to visit halls of justice without fearing they will be detained. Nearly 70 former judges from 23 states – including federal judges and state su- preme court justices – said in a letter sent to Acting U.S. Im- migration and Customs En- forcement Director Ronald Vitiello that courthouse ar- rests are disrupting the crim- inal justice system. “I just can’t imagine that we are closing our court- rooms to people who have a right to be there. And you re- ally are closing them if you instill fear in people so they cannot come near a court- room,” said Fernande R.V. Duffly, who was born in In- donesia to Dutch and Chi- nese parents and served as an associate justice on Mas- sachusetts’ highest court until 2016. The judges are urging Vi- tiello to add courthouses to the list of so-called “sensi- tive locations” that are gen- erally free from immigra- tion enforcement, like schools and places of worship. They say that only “unequivocal guarantees and protections will restore the public’s con- fidence that it can safely pursue justice in our na- tion’s courts.” The Brennan Center for Justice at New York Univer- sity Law School helped orga- nize the letter, whose signers include judges appointed by both Democratic and Repub- lican governors. Immigration officials have said communities are forcing their hand by refusing to transfer immigrants in local prisons and jails to ICE cus- tody. They also argue that courthouse arrests are safer for agents because people have to go through metal detectors when they enter courthouses. ICE says it’s going into courthouses only for certain targets, like gang members and public safety threats and immigrants who have been previously deported or or- dered to leave. Courthouse arrests hap- pened under Democratic President Barack Obama, but advocates and lawyers across the country have said the practice has increased under Republican President Donald Trump, creating tensions be- tween judges and federal agents in many states. In Massachusetts, a state court judge is under federal investigation after she ap- peared to help an immigrant believed to be living in the U.S. illegally evade an ICE agent who was waiting to pick him up at the courthouse, The Boston Globe reported. WASHINGTON (AP) – In a wild Oval Office confronta- tion, President Donald Trump heatedly threatened to shut down the U.S. government Tuesday as he and Demo- cratic leaders bickered over funding for his promised border wall and offered a grim preview of life in Wash- ington the next two years under divided government. Trump and House and Senate Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer squabbled for more than 15 minutes in the stun- ning, televised encounter. Each of them, especially Trump, in- terrupted the others to ques- tion facts, quibble over elec- tion results and lob insults. Trump questioned Pelosi’s ability to count votes in her own House. She questioned his manhood – after she left the building. The public clash marked Trump’s first meeting with the newly empowered Demo- crats since their midterm vic- tories that put them in con- trol of the House, laying bare the tensions on both sides and suggesting how divided government might work – or not – as the 2020 presidential election nears. Neither the public nor the private face-to-face portion of the meeting appeared to re- solve the wall-funding dis- pute with a partial shutdown looming on Dec. 21. However, Pelosi said Trump called her later in the afternoon and told her the White House was looking at options she and Schumer had laid out. In the public debate, Trump sounded more deter- mined than ever to allow a partial government shutdown unless he gets the billions he wants for his long-prom- ised wall along the U.S.- Mexico border. “I will take the mantle. I will be the one to shut it down,” he declared. Pelosi later crowed that she and Schumer had goaded the president to “fully own that the shutdown was his.” She told Democratic law- makers back at the Capitol, according to an aide who was in the room, that the wall was “like a manhood thing for him … as if manhood could ever be associated with him. This wall thing.” The aide was not autho- rized to speak publicly and commented only on condition of anonymity. While Trump has sug- gested he may be willing to trade with Democrats and has publicly praised Pelosi, he was focused Tuesday on reinforcing his hardline im- migration promises, repeat- edly stressing border se- curity and the wall as a critical part. Democrats were in no mood to sym- pathize, emphasizing their newfound political strength. “Elections have conse- quences, Mr. President,” said Schumer. Trump later called it a “friendly meeting,” saying “I’ve actually liked them for a long period of time and I respect them both. And we made a lot of progress.” The Democrats said they had given Trump two options to keep government open and the responsibility lay with him and Republicans who control Congress. The wall remains the main sticking point in talks. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan acknowledged Tuesday that the GOP-led House has yet to pass legisla- tion that includes the $5 bil- lion in border wall funds that Trump has been requesting. Ryan likely lacks sufficient votes from Republicans who will lose their majority at the end of the month. Trump is seeking far more for his long-stalled border wall than the $1.6 bil- lion the Senate has agreed to for border security, in- cluding physical barriers and technology along the U.S. southern border. Should the two sides not make a deal by Dec. 21, about three-quarters of the govern- ment would continue to have enough money to operate. But departments affected absent a deal include Homeland Se- curity, Transportation, Agri- culture, State and Justice, as well as national parks. Both sides came into the negotiating session primed for battle. After a few nice- ties, Trump dug into Dem- ocrats on the border wall, prompting a stern rebuke from Schumer that the issue at hand was “called funding the government.” Trump soon started scrapping with Pelosi, when she said there should not be a “Trump shutdown.” “Did you say Trump?” the president said, as the two argued over whether Trump had enough Republican votes in the House to support his border wall plan. “The fact is that you do not have the votes in the House,” Pelosi declared. Trump shot back, “Nancy, I do.” Also in a fighting mood, Schumer accused Trump of threatening a shutdown “be- cause you can’t get your way.” Trump heckled Schumer over a previous shutdown, saying “the last time you shut it down you got killed” politically. Pelosi and Schumer both repeatedly asked to make the conversation private, without success, as Trump argued that the public meeting was a good thing: “It’s called transparency.” Trump repeatedly returned to his argument that the border wall is needed for se- curity reasons. He also argued that “tremendous” portions of the wall have already been built. In fact, some barrier renovation has happened, but little wall construction has been completed under Trump. If Democrats refuse to support the wall, the military will build the remaining sec- tions, Trump said. “The wall will get built,” he insisted. Hours after the meeting ended, a Pentagon spokesman said in a statement that “there is no plan” for the mil- itary to build sections of a border wall. But Army Lt. Col. Jamie Davis added that the military may have the power to fund “barrier projects” in national emergencies or to counter the drug trade. Pence, a former House member, sat silently as Trump and the two Democrats bick- ered. He later called the meeting a “good discussion.” Asked to describe the atmo- sphere in the private meeting that followed the public quarrel, Pence said, “candid.” Pelosi and Schumer have urged Trump to support a measure that includes a half- dozen government funding bills largely agreed upon by lawmakers, along with a sep- arate measure that would fund the Department of Homeland Security at cur- rent levels through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. The homeland bill includes about $1.3 billion for fencing and other security measures at the border. If Trump rejects that, Democrats are urging a con- tinuing resolution that would fund all the remaining ap- propriations bills at current levels through Sept. 30. “We gave the president two options that would keep the government open,” Pe- losi and Schumer said in a statement after the meeting. “It’s his choice to accept one of those options or shut the government down.” Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Ronald Vitiello - PHOTO: AP Vice President Mike Pence, center, listens as President Donald Trump argues with House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Democrat-California, during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday. - PHOTO: APNext >