$ 3 99 M EAL D EALS MONDAY - SATURDAY 9pcs MIXED , 2 Sides & 5 BISCUITS NEW FAMILY SUNDAY Cruise controversy and airport progress as tourism arrivals surge JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Amid another record-breaking year for tourism in the Cayman Islands, one con- troversial development was never far from the headlines. Debate over government’s plans for a cruise berthing facility in George Town harbor was still raging at year’s end, with campaigners claiming they are close to the number of signatures required to trigger a referendum on the issue. The Progressives-led coalition govern- ment has made incremental progress as it seeks to find a consortium of companies willing to design, build, finance and main- tain the project. Tourists look out from the harborfront at five cruise ships that docked in George Town on Wednesday. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » OPPOSITION PLANS ‘ALLIANCE’ AHEAD OF 2021 ELECTION Cayman Islands People’s Alliance could run full slate of candidates JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The coalition of independents led by Leader of the Opposition Ezzard Miller plans to form a political group that will run a can- didate in every constituency at the next gen- eral election. The five legislators that make up the offi- cial opposition – Mr. Miller, his deputy Alva Suckoo and MLAs Anthony Eden, Chris Saun- ders and Arden McLean – plan to formalize their partnership with the formation of a new political entity to be known as the Cayman Is- lands People’s Alliance, according to Mr. Miller. Though they have stopped short of refer- ring to themselves as a new political party, members of the group acknowledge that they are putting together a political organization and actively recruiting candidates to run with them in the next general election. “Now that the two political parties have become one, I think the country deserves an alternative,” Mr. Miller said, referring to the partnership between the Progressives and the Cayman Democratic Party to make up the cur- rent coalition government. Mr. Miller, as leader of the parliamentary group, said he would be looking to run as leader of the group with the hope to be elected premier at the next general election. But he in- sisted it would be a coalition of equals and he could be replaced at any time. He said the group had already has conver- sations with prospective members and would be working hard over the next year to as- semble a slate of candidates in preparation for the 2021 election. “I have always said from the time I took over as leader that I intended to spend about 18 months earning the public’s credibility as leader of the opposition and then I would First Cayman Islands governor turns 100 JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s first governor, Athelstan Charles Ethelwulf Long, celebrated his 100th birthday Wednesday at his villa at The Pines Retirement Home, the senior care facility that has been his home for the past few years. Mr. Long was treated to birthday cake and tea, greetings from fellow residents, birthday cards, hugs, kisses, and visits from members of the Cayman Islands Veterans Association and Cayman’s current governor, Martyn Roper. “Congratulations on getting to 100. Well done,” Governor Roper told Mr. Long as he presented him with a birthday gift. Mr. Roper laughed and chatted with Mr. Long over a cup of tea and told him he was grateful to have met him. Mr. Long thanked the governor for the visit and the gift and said he did not know of anything more he wanted for his birthday. Andrew McLaughlin, president of the veterans association, said he and his fellow veterans were happy to be celebrating with Mr. Long. “He is a long-standing member of the Cayman Islands Veterans Associa- tion and holds the prestigious title of the first governor of the Cayman Islands,” Mr. McLaughlin said. He said Mr. Long had been a prisoner of war in World War II, enduring harsh con- ditions that never broke his spirit. Among his many decorations, he was awarded the Burma Star, his most treasured memento of his years of service to the Crown. “It was a very special moment as the two governors shook hands,” said Mr. McLaughlin, who joined fellow veterans, PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 1 » Cayman Islands Governor Martyn Roper wishes the islands’ first governor, Athelstan Charles Long, a happy 100th birthday on Wednesday. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 2 LOCAL®IONAL FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS CARIBBEANCAFE • 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. - FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) ESCAPE ROOM (PG13) 1:55 I 4:30 I 5:35 I 7:25 I 10:00 SUN: 2:35 I 5:00 I 5:35 I 7:25 I 10:00 MARY POPPINS RETURNS (PG) 12:50 I 3:50 I 6:45 I 9:45 SUN: 3:50 I 6:45 I 9:45 THE GRINCH (PG) 2:30 I 7:05 SUN: 2:30 I 7:05 ELLIOT THE LITTLEST REINDEER (PG) 12:15 I 4:50 SUN: 4:50 AQUAMAN (PG13) 12:45 VIP I 2:05 3D I 3:45 I 6:35 VIP 8:00 I 9:40 3D SUN: 2:30 3D I 3:45 I 6:35 VIP I 8:00 9:40 3D BUMBLEBEE (PG13) 1:00 I 3:55 VIP I 7:00 3D I 9:25 I 9:50 VIP SUN: 3:55 VIP I 7:00 3D I 9:25 I 9:50 VIP KIDS CLUB: KUNG FU PANDA 2 (PG) 10:00 (SAT ONLY) Peru’s attorney general reopens corruption probe LIMA, Peru (AP) – Peru’s at- torney general on Wednesday reversed his dismissal of the lead investigators in a sweeping corruption probe into top officials, retreating in the face of a growing public outcry and a bid by the pres- ident that could remove him from office. Attorney General Pedro Chavarry’s announcement came just two days after he abruptly removed the pros- ecutors, a move that sparked street protests across Peru. The action threatened to derail the investigation into whether several former presi- dents and other high-ranking officials accepted money from the Brazilian construc- tion giant Odebrecht. Despite Chavarry’s re- treat, President Martin Viz- carra pressed forward with his plans to rebuild the at- torney general’s office. He urged lawmakers to declare an emergency in the office, which could pave the way for Chavarry’s removal. Vizcarra walked down a Lima street to the congres- sional building to hand-de- liver the proposed legislation, trailed by a crowd of roughly 2,000 supporters, a sign of his growing support among Peruvians tired of public cor- ruption. He praised Chavar- ry’s reversal of course. “It is good that a deci- sion under such scrutiny has been rectified,” Vizcarra said after leaving Congress, but he added that he would press forward with his drive to root out corruption in the Public Prosecutor’s Office. It was unclear when law- makers might take up the president’s bill. Congress is controlled by the opposition party led by former first daughter Keiko Fujimori, who is among those being investigated. But she backed the president’s pro- posal Wednesday. The fight arose over the Brazilian construction firm Oderbrecht, which has ad- mitted in U.S. court filings to winning public works con- tracts by paying $800 million in bribes to officials across Latin America, including $29 million in Peru. Chavarry reinstated chief prosecutor Jose Domingo Perez and the investigating team’s fiscal coordinator, Ra- fael Vela. In December, they reached an agreement with Odebrecht executives who said they would deliver docu- ments exposing bribes made to officials. Prosecutors say the evi- dence is key to their cases against opposition led by powerful former first daughter Keiko Fujimori and former President Alan Garcia. The agreement was due to be signed in early January. Chavarry made his sur- prise announcement of the prosecutors’ removal in the final hours of New Year’s Eve. He said he removed Perez for questioning his election as attorney general and Vela for supporting him. Chavarry also accused the prosecutors of blocking his request for in- formation on the Odebrecht case, and he said Perez had made statements calling into doubt his objectivity. Prosecutors also have pub- licly accused Chavarry of having ties with criminal or- ganizations made up of mag- istrates and businessmen who bartered power for favors or money – a point Vizcarra used in pitching his proposed legis- lation to Congress. The far-reaching probe in- cludes 40 individual cases, more than 300 people and dozens of companies, all linked to Odebrecht proj- ects in Peru. Peru’s President Martin Vizcarra carries his nation’s flag as he leaves the government palace for Congress, Wednesday. - PHOTO: AP EL SALVADOR MURDER RATE FALLS, STILL AMONG DEADLIEST SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) – Homicides in El Sal- vador have fallen for a third straight year, but the gang- plagued Central American nation remains among the world’s deadliest. Police Commissioner Howard Cotto told journalists Wednesday that the murder rate was 50.3 per 100,000 in- habitants in 2018. That is down from 60.8 the previous year and less than half the 103 recorded in 2015, a nadir for violence in the country. Criminologist Ricardo Sosa called three straight years of drops “an impor- tant achievement” especially compared to the “scandalous” 2015. But he added that more must be done to im- prove security. Many Salvadorans who try to migrate to the U.S. cite violence as their motivation. For comparison, the city of Baltimore recorded a murder rate of 56 per 100,000 inhab- itants in 2017. Mexico’s was around 25 that same year. CAR CRASH CLOSES ROAD The northbound lane of North Sound Road was closed for more than four-and-a-half hours on Thursday morning fol- lowing a two-car collision in which one person was seriously injured. Police said the crash oc- curred around 2:20 a.m. in front of Alissta Towers. A black Ford SUV and silver Lexus, carrying a total of six occupants be- tween them, collided. Police and emergency personnel responded, and the road was closed to traffic. It re- opened at 7 a.m. Police said one person remained in se- rious but stable condition Thursday morning. Police make four New Year DUI arrests Police arrested four people for driving under the influence of alcohol in the early hours of the first day of the year, bringing the total holiday season DUI arrests to 47. Three of the arrests on Jan. 1 came during proac- tive early morning traffic stops, while the fourth person was arrested fol- lowing a single-vehicle colli- sion. At least one person ar- rested that morning had a breathalyzer reading of over twice the legal limit, police said in a press release. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service part- nered once again with the National Drug Council in support of the New Year’s Eve Purple Ribbon Bus Campaign. According to the National Drug Council, more than 1,400 people used the free bus service in Grand Cayman, while several others did so in Cayman Brac. “We are grateful to the members of the public who chose to ride the Purple Ribbon Bus,” said Inspector Ian Yearwood, head of the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit. “By taking advantage of the service and choosing not to drink and drive, they helped to make the roads that much safer for them- selves and other road users.” Mr. Yearwood said po- lice were pleased there had been no serious accidents or road fatalities following the New Year’s Eve celebrations. “Our focus now turns to the rest of 2019, as we continue our proactive ap- proach to cracking down on drunk driving, speeding, and other traffic violations that threaten the safety of our roads.” Three trash trucks out of service Collectors to work double shifts Garbage collectors will be working double shifts through Saturday to catch up on roadside pickups. Three trucks are currently out of service, contributing to more delays in collec- tions, particularly in the eastern districts. Government released a statement Thursday apolo- gizing for delays over the holiday period. “Delays in the schedule arose in late December when three trucks had to be taken out of service,” ac- cording to the statement from the Department of En- vironmental Health. “The vehicles are cur- rently awaiting parts to be shipped from overseas. DEH is currently working with the Department of Ve- hicle and Equipment Ser- vices to ensure that re- pairs take place as quickly as possible.” The DEH expects normal service to resume from Monday. Officials say addi- tional shifts will be added if need be to meet this goal. Staffing and equipment issues have been blamed for long-running issues with roadside garbage collections over the past 18 months. Three of the arrests on Jan. 1 came during proactive early morning traffic stops, while the fourth person was arrested following a single- vehicle collision.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 Disclaimer : FIN Grand Cayman features and amenities are based on current development plans and concepts and are subject to change without notice. Some services and amenities are subject to service-based fees or homeowner fees. ART DECO INSPIRED RESIDENCES WITH UNIQUE FIVE-STAR AMENITIES Priced from US $1.8M Reserve your private tour and discover the last word in luxury + 1 345 326 1400 fin@fingrandcayman.com Guest suites Owners private Aquariva Private wine locker with sommelier service Personal car service & two parking spaces per residencePrivate business centre FIN.cayman fingrandcaymanThe 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. “I want to see buildings’ heights move to 50 stories, even if only for one building, for tourism, residen- tial and commercial businesses to make a mark in the region, so that the wealthiest among the wealthy will work, shop and live there … This can bring a new economy – so that the vagaries of the metropolitan and powerful countries do not threaten our existence and the future for our children can remain sustainable.” – House Speaker McKeeva Bush Skyscrapers on Grand Cayman? Back away from the ledge, and break out the smelling salts – envi- sioning future progress is not for the faint of heart. House Speaker McKeeva Bush’s articulation of support for taller development has provoked pre- dictable gasps from the usual segments of Cayman Islands society. And while we admit that at this point in time it is difficult to imagine one or more 50-story buildings gracing Seven Mile Beach, it’s certainly not unimaginable, and it would be a mistake to dismiss the idea on its face without farsighted contemplation. It was not that long ago that some people were gasping at the idea of the “towering” seven-story Ritz- Carlton, or the nine-story WaterColours, or the twin 10-story Kimpton buildings – each of which, in turn, was supposedly going to obliterate Cayman’s charm and character. Today those projects are familiar landmarks and substantial contributors to our country’s wealth. Our islands’ charm and character? Safe and secure. Of course, a generation ago, few could have pre- dicted 10-story buildings sprouting up along the beach, or the array of hotel projects currently in the works that are enumerated in today’s front-page story. Developments (physical and societal) that seem inconceivable yesterday rapidly become normalized tomorrow. In his long career as an elected leader, Mr. Bush has made many forward-looking policy statements (i.e., on immigration, tourism, healthcare, the economy, etc.) that were initially opposed or denigrated by some, but eventually came to pass – many of them sooner than later, and most for better not worse. The very boldness of Mr. Bush’s approach is, at the very least, the correct posture for our leaders to assume. Although his eyes are on the sky, Mr. Bush’s reasoning is well-grounded. He said, “We must offer something different. We are limited in space except for in the air. Why not go as high as we can go, and we will be saving land.” In other words, there are two ways to build: hori- zontally or vertically. As Mr. Bush points out, Cayman’s small landmass makes for tight quarters, particu- larly in the narrow and densely developed Seven Mile Beach corridor. As we have written before, Cayman’s public sector bureaucracy (and civil service payroll) is too large and costly for our current population to fund. In the absence of significant cuts to government spending (less imaginable than a Seven Mile skyscraper), our country must create new revenue through both popu- lation and economic growth. Within the prime area of Seven Mile Beach, which is already crowded with commercial buildings, developers should be given free rein to explore projects to meet demand from the marketplace. If there is demand for taller structures, then in our opinion, height is just one consideration when determining whether a project would, on balance, benefit our country. Like so many others, we, too, cherish nostalgic memories of Cayman’s past, but preventing the next generation of new construction is not going to bring that past back to life. At the opening of the Kimpton in November 2016, Mr. Bush proposed allowing 30-story buildings in Cayman. His 30-story idea was met with a similar reaction to his new 50-story idea. Our perspective, too, is basically unchanged. As we wrote in an editorial at the time, “for clarity, the Compass is not advocating either for or against Mr. Bush’s proposal. Think of us as still on the Ground Floor …” This newspaper is prepared to offer suitable space to publish the views of those supporting Mr. Bush’s bold proposal – as well as those who hold contrary opinions. Construction on Seven Mile Beach: Is the sky the limit? FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Genocide, slavery and immigration My New Year’s wish is for more Americans and others to learn some basic history and try to get a grip on reality. Someone who writes for The New York Times under the name of Michelle Al- exander recently wrote a column, “Who Deserves Citi- zenship?” One of her choice sentences: “But for slavery, genocide, and colonization, we would not be the wealth- iest, most powerful nation in the world – in fact, our na- tion would not even exist.” Hmm. Both North and South America were colonized by European countries that practiced slavery, and the United States was not the last country in the Americas to abolish slavery. What many now call genocide of the Native Amer- ican people was rarely a de- liberate policy of the colo- nizers. The American Indians had no immunity against many diseases that the Euro- peans inadvertently brought with them – most notably smallpox. The death toll was horrendous – but again, largely as a result of igno- rance. The understanding of germs was still several hun- dred years away. No one knows how many people lived in the Amer- icas when Columbus ar- rived. Most estimates have it in single or low double-digit millions. What is more widely agreed is that there were only about 600,000 left in North America by 1650, meaning that perhaps as many as 90 percent of the pre-Columbus population had perished. By the time the English colonists began to settle in Virginia and New England, most of the mass death had already occurred. The Europeans were no strangers to mass death events. The plague in the 1300s in Europe killed an estimated third of the population. Slavery, as a legal insti- tution in some parts of the world, has only been abol- ished in the last 50 years. From the time that mankind moved from being hunter gatherers to tending crops, slavery had been a near uni- versal institution. At the time of the American Revolu- tion, most of the world prac- ticed slavery or serfdom in one form or another. The an- cient Greeks had slaves, often drawn from neighboring tribes they had conquered. The Romans enslaved many who lived on the edges of the Roman Empire, including some of the German tribes. Slavery was dying out as the United States and other countries moved from pri- marily agriculture to in- dustry. By the time of the Civil War, slavery was only economically important in the cotton fields of the Amer- ican South. Slavery had been slowly made illegal (over a century) in the Northern states, as it became less and less viable as an economic institution. William Wilber- force was able to stir the con- sciences of the English in his crusade to abolish slavery, only after the country had experienced the Industrial Revolution. Slavery persisted the longest in countries like Brazil and others with large plantation agriculture, where it was still of some eco- nomic benefit. Ms. Alexander fails to ex- plain to us why the United States became the wealthiest country, when the “genocide” she blames occurred for the most part before the English colonization, and that slavery was common all through the Americas until the mid-1800s, not long before or after the United States abolished it. Could it be that the Spanish colonizers brought with them institutions that were not conducive to individual ini- tiative and liberty – while the English colonizers brought the concepts of private prop- erty, the rule of law, and in- dividual responsibilities and liberties, and the institutions that supported them? The open borders move- ment is not just a child of the American left but also has many adherents among lib- ertarians. Simply put, their argument is that immigrants have historically brought new ideas and energy to the American economy, making everyone better off. That was largely true before the advent of the welfare state. The re- ality is that some immigrants are value subtractors rather than value adders, thus re- ducing the social and eco- nomic standards for those who are already citizens. Because America cannot accommodate all of those who wish to become U.S. citi- zens, the best thing it can do is continue to admit those who will benefit the country, becoming an even brighter city on the hill for rest of mankind to emulate. Richard W. Rahn is chairman of the Institute for Global Economic Growth and Improbable Success Productions © 2019, The Washington Times, LLC. RICHARD W. RAHN The open borders movement is not just a child of the American left but also has many adherents among libertarians. 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”The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 From the heart At Ogier, we focus on what really matters, inside and outside the workplace. We believe that strong businesses and strong communities go hand in hand and that's why we're so pleased to have been able to support some great local causes in 2018, which include: • Alex Panton Foundation • Alzheimer's and Dementia Association • Big Brothers Big Sisters • Cayman Arts Festival • Cayman ARK • Cayman Islands Humane Society • Chamber of Commerce Earth Day Clean up • Chess in Schools • CIBA Walk for the Cure • CIMRA Toys for Tots Programme • Clifton Hunter High School Book Drive • Feed our Future • Jubilate • Junior Achievement • Kiwanis • Meals on Wheels • NCVO • Operation end hunger • Rotaract Blue Cayman Islands • Special Needs Foundation • Stroke and Stride for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society and The Cayman Islands Triathlon Association • St. Baldrick's Foundation - Hannah's Heroes Fundraiser Our commitment to building long-lasting relationships isn’t just about our clients and our employees, but also extends to our partners in the community - so on behalf of all of us at Ogier, we wish all of our friends in Cayman the very best for the New Year and look forward to continuing to work with you in 2019. Legal services in British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Guernsey Hong Kong Jersey London Luxembourg Shanghai TokyoThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS friends, family and care- givers in celebrating Mr. Long’s birthday. When he was reminded by everyone that he was 100 years old, Mr. Long said, “Oh, very good.” Mr. Long served as the Cayman Islands’ last “admin- istrator,” from 1968 to 1971, before that title was changed to governor, after which he served as Cayman’s first gov- ernor for just a few days. He was sworn in as governor on Nov. 3, 1971. He said at the time, “It is a great honor to me to be the first person appointed to this post, even if only for some nine days.” He left Cayman at the end of his three-year term on Nov. 12, and was replaced by Governor Ken- neth Roy Crook. Born in 1919, Mr. Long was educated at Westmin- ster School of Brasenose Col- lege, Oxford. After serving in World War II, during which he was a prisoner of war for three years, he worked in the Burmese civil service from 1946-47, and in northern Ni- geria from 1948 until 1961, after which he was ap- pointed deputy commissioner in Swaziland. During his swearing-in as administrator of the Cayman Islands on Nov. 12, 1968, Mr. Long said the reputation of the islands had spread very far and was a credit to the local people. In a prescient comment, considering he is still in Cayman more than 50 years later, Mr. Long said at the time, “I feel sure that we will be very happy here. First impressions are frequently correct ones and if that is anything to go by, my wife and I feel very happy today.” After retiring from government service, Mr. Long continued to make a huge contribution to the Cayman people. According to his son Charles, after leaving the post of governor, his father took up several posts. He served as chairman of In- ternational Management Group, chairman of the Public Service Commission, and deputy chairman of the Public Service Pension Board from 1992-96, after which he retired. Smiling from all the at- tention Wednesday, Mr. Long said he was well. “It’s nice to see all you people here,” he said of his visitors. His son Charles presented him with a birthday card that read “Color Your World Happy Today.” Mr. Long was all smiles reading what Charles had written inside, as he took his time to savor the movement. “He can still read without glasses,” Charles said. Everyone took pic- tures, sang happy birthday and enjoyed his company for a while. Former Governor Athelstan Charles Long celebrates his 100th birthday in the company of family, friends and Cayman’s current governor, Martyn Roper. - PHOTOS: ALVARO SEREY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 First Cayman Islands governor turns 100 Romney arrives in Washington, immediately blasts Trump WASHINGTON (AP) – Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP presi- dential nominee and incoming Utah senator, has quickly set himself apart from other Re- publicans in the new Con- gress with a blistering attack on President Donald Trump’s leadership and character. Romney put to rest expec- tations that he would take his time getting his footing in Washington. Instead, in a Washington Post column published two days before Romney was sworn into of- fice, he said Trump’s “con- duct over the past two years, particularly his actions last month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office.” Trump, in a Twitter re- sponse, said he hoped Romney would not follow in the footsteps of Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who often crit- icized Trump and paid the price, opting to retire rather than risk defeat in a GOP pri- mary in 2018. “Would much prefer that Mitt focus on Border Secu- rity and so many other things where he can be helpful,” Trump tweeted. “I won big, and he didn’t. He should be happy for all Republicans. Be a TEAM player & WIN!” Romney’s remarks prompted swift backlash from allies of the presi- dent in the Republican Party – including his own niece, Ronna McDaniel, the chair- woman of the Republican National Committee. McDaniel retweeted Trump’s remarks about Romney and added that the president is constantly “at- tacked and obstructed” by the media and Democrats. “For an incoming Re- publican freshman senator to attack” Trump @realdon- aldtrump as their first act feeds into what the Demo- crats and media want and is disappointing and unproduc- tive,” McDaniel tweeted. GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said the 2020 elec- tion hopes of many Republi- cans in the Senate and House will be tied to Trump. He said that the criticisms were bad for the Republican Party and made it harder to get things done in the Senate. “I don’t think the presi- dent deserves a new senator coming in attacking his char- acter,” Paul said. Romney will be sworn in as a senator on Thursday. By taking on Trump so early in his Senate career, Romney could be picking up where Flake and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., another re- tiring senator, left off. Their retirements left some wondering whether any other Republicans would be willing to publicly criticize the presi- dent. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., noted that almost half the Senate Republicans are up for re-election in 2020 and some may feel the need to push back against Trump. “They just saw what hap- pened in 2018,” Durbin said, referring to Republicans losing the House majority in November. “I think, once they do polling back home, not all of them but many of them will find that independence is being rewarded.” Romney has had his public run-ins with the president be- fore and tried to prevent him from winning the GOP nomi- nation in 2016. In one speech, Romney said there was plenty of evidence that Trump was “a con man, a fake.” In that same speech, he said, “Dishonesty is Donald Trump’s hallmark.” But after the presiden- tial election, Romney eased off the criticism and inter- viewed to become Trump’s secretary of state. Trump picked former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, who lasted about 14 months be- fore Trump fired him. During his Senate cam- paign, Romney insisted that he would agree with Trump on some issues and not be shy about disagreeing with him on others. Romney appears to have more room with GOP voters in Utah to take on the president. More than half the voters in the state, 64 percent, would like to see Romney con- front the president, according to data from AP VoteCast, a survey of midterm voters. Romney, in his opinion column, credited Trump for cutting corporate taxes, strip- ping out what he described as excessive regulation and appointing conservative judges. But he said policies and appointments are only part of being a president. A president, Romney wrote, must also demonstrate honesty and integrity and el- evate the national discourse. “With the nation so di- vided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is in- dispensable. And it is in this province where the incum- bent’s shortfall has been most glaring,” Romney wrote. Trump said during a Cab- inet meeting Wednesday that he was surprised by Rom- ney’s comments. “People are very upset with what he did,” Trump said. He also referenced Romney’s 2012 election loss to President Barack Obama. Republican U.S. Senator Mitt Romney Cayman’s first governor, Athelstan Charles Long, reads a birthday card greeting as he celebrates his birthday at The Pines Retirement Home on Wednesday.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS The family of the Late Joanna Faith Clarke regret to announce her passing on Monday, 24 December, 2018. A funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, 5 January 2019 at Red Bay Church of God (Holiness). Viewing will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, 4 January 2019 at Bodden Funeral Service, 117 Walkers Rd. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page The family of the Late Andrew Jackson regret to announce his passing on Friday, 21st December 2018 in Miami, Florida. A service of thanksgiving for his life will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, 19th January 2019 at Christ Church, 6 Antrim Road, Vineyard Town, Kingston, Jamaica. Internment will follow at St. Mark’s Anglican Church Southfield, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page make an effort to expand the organization in prep- aration for the next elec- tion,” he said. “I would expect that we could come together to put a good candidate in every constituency.” Mr. Miller first refer- enced plans for the “al- liance” in his New Year’s message. He said the group’s focus would be on increasing participatory de- mocracy and increasing op- portunities for those “left behind or neglected.” Elaborating on the con- cept in an interview with the Cayman Compass this week, he said, “It is not a political party in the sense that you don’t have to toe the party line. It is impor- tant that we encourage di- alog and get the brightest and best minds. I want a group of equals, not two or three people running things and everyone else just toeing the line.” The move has been in- spired in part by the chaos that ensued in the after- math of the last election, when a legislature domi- nated by independent mem- bers struggled for several days to form a government. Mr. Suckoo, deputy leader of the opposition, acknowledged that “pre- liminary discussions” had taken place over a more formal political partnership between the independents on the opposition benches. He said the confusion that reigned after the last general election, when a majority of independents were elected, but were un- able to form a government, meant that a new approach would be needed. “At the last election, a lot of people said they wanted independents, but with the negotiations to form a government, we saw the dangers of not being to- tally bound together as a group,” he added. “There is a need, I think, for a closer grouping going into the next election.” He said the details of the partnership had yet to be finalized and dis- cussions will continue in the new year. Three finalists are com- peting in the final stage of the bid process, with cruise giants Carnival and Royal Caribbean already lined up to help fund the development. Government continues to market the project as a major economic boon for the islands that will bring business without impacting government revenue. But a growing band of campaigners has cast doubt on this claim and raised questions over the project, highlighting en- vironmental damage, the po- tential for cost overruns and the threat posed by growing cruise tourism to Cayman’s natural resources. The battle for public opinion has been fought in rival public meetings, on radio airwaves, social media and in bars and coffee shops around the island. The jury was still out at the end of 2018, with the verdict likely to come in early next year. Either the campaigners will reach their target of sig- natures and force a public vote, or government will grant a contract for the project and the work will begin in earnest. The airport Though it dominated the public debate, the cruise berthing facility was not the only major public infrastruc- ture project under the micro- scope in 2018. The renovation of the air- port has been moving toward completion throughout the year. Initially scheduled for a December opening, it has now been pushed back to February as work continues on fitting out shops and bars in the departure lounge. Tourism high season was beset by problems with over- crowding both in the skies and in the terminal, but air- port bosses say this kind of congestion should be a thing of the past now that the ex- panded terminal is complete. Tourists coming through Owen Roberts International Airport next year may still see signs of work in progress, but in terms of functionality, they will find the expansion largely complete. The final bill for that project, initially pitched at $55 million, remains uncon- firmed. Opposition politicians have raised concerns about overspending on the develop- ment and it seems likely that the final cost will be at least $10 million beyond that ini- tial projection. Once complete, the expan- sion will almost triple the ca- pacity of the airport. Arrival figures That extra space con- tinues to be much needed, as Cayman’s tourism boom shows no sign of slowing down. Boosted by the troubles of hurricane-hit island ri- vals in the eastern Caribbean, the islands had recorded a 12 percent increase in stay- over tourism through the end of October. The final figures will not be in until January, but Cayman was on track to sig- nificantly beat the 418,403 visitors that arrived by air in 2017, which was a record in itself. Cruise arrivals mean- while were expected to hit at least 1.9 million, the highest level since 2006. Hotel projects Developers and hoteliers are confident that the stay- over tourism success story will continue. A number of private- sector projects made signifi- cant progress in 2017. Plans for a 10-story, five-star re- sort at the site of the old Pageant Beach hotel were approved in January. Plans for the project, initially headed by Howard Hospi- tality Group but also in- volving New Jersey-based Madison Hill Properties, in- clude 351 rooms and six swimming pools. Luxury hotel chain Hyatt announced a deal to operate the hotel in February, tar- geting a 2020 opening. No start date had been outlined for the construction project by the year’s end, however. A long-discussed plan for a hotel at Beach Bay also took a step forward with the announcement of a part- nership with Mandarin Ori- ental to manage the finished property. There was no word, though, on when construc- tion would begin. One project that made concrete progress is NCB’s boutique hotel. Construc- tion is currently under way on the 60-suite business and wellness hotel. Situated op- posite Kirk Market on North Church Street, it is the first major tourism development in George Town in decades. Opposition plans ‘alliance’ ahead of 2021 election CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Leader of the Opposition Ezzard Miller “ Now that the two political parties have become one, I think the country deserves an alternative.” EZZARD MILLER, leader of the opposition Cruise controversy and airport progress as tourism arrivals surge CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Construction staff erect girders at the Owen Roberts International Airport in May last year. Airport officials anticipate a February completion date. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY Administrators called in for troubled Italian bank MILAN (AP) – Temporary ad- ministrators were appointed to lead Italy’s 10th largest lender, the struggling Carige, as part of a plan to avoid yet another bank bailout in the country. The decision to appoint administrators was taken by the European Central Bank, which regulates banking in the eurozone. It followed the resignation of the bank’s board majority after a failed capital-raising exercise. It- aly’s market regulator sus- pended trading in the bank’s shares for the day. Carige, which is based in the port city of Genoa, failed to win shareholder support to raise 400 million euros (US$457 million) last month as part of a plan to steady the bank. Six small, regional banks have had to be res- cued in recent years, with ordinary savers losing bil- lions of euros. The ECB named three temporary administrators “tasked with safeguarding the stability” of the bank and said the move was “an early intervention measure aimed at ensuring continuity and pursuing the objectives of the strategic plan.” The admin- istrators include the bank’s chairman, Pietro Modiano, and CEO Fabio Innocenzi. Italy’s Interbank Fund for Safeguarding Savings (FITD) said a merger would be nec- essary to pull Carige out of its crisis. FITD chief Salvatore Mac- carone told news agency ANSA that the failure to raise capital “is proof that the overall governance mecha- nism has gotten stuck, and therefore this measure is the only thing that could have been done.” He declined to identify a possible merger partner. Ita- ly’s largest bank, UniCredit, declined to comment on speculation that it would buy the failing bank. The bank, with some 5,000 employees and counting 1 million customers at its peak, launched a clean-up plan in March 2017 after posting losses for four straight quar- ters. But within months it found itself on the verge of bankruptcy. It was saved by a capital increase of 560 million euros. The most recent capital increase plan was opposed by the majority shareholding Malacalza family, with a 27.5 percent share, who said they wanted details on the bank’s business plan and merger options. Maccarone emphasized that the temporary adminis- trators had been appointed due to poor management of the bank, not for losses, noting that the bank main- tained capital buffers after the fund purchased a Carige convertible bond for 320-mil- lion euros last month. It was meant to be the first of a two- phase capital increase.9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY JANUARY 4, 2019 Jury deliberates in customs officer’s drug importation trial SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com The lengthy jury trial of David Karl Lobo, a cus- toms agent accused of being concerned in the importa- tion of cocaine, wrapped up Thursday morning. Justice Linda Dobbs sum- marized the testimony of var- ious witnesses who had ap- peared during the trial, which began on Dec. 10, and in- structed the jury to do its best to reach a unanimous verdict. The jury of five women and two men were given the case at 10:40 a.m. to begin their deliberations. By press time Thursday afternoon, they had not reached a verdict. Justice Dobbs ran through the testimony of several wit- nesses, including the defen- dant and his alleged co-con- spirators Lesme Perez Ruiz and Alan Taylor Dominguez. Mr. Dominguez, said Jus- tice Dobbs, had originally planned to plead not guilty, but then he elected to ac- knowledge his guilt once he saw the full extent of the crown’s case. Mr. Dominguez testified that he had met with Mr. Perez Ruiz and Mr. Lobo inside prison and discussed their cases, and he said that Mr. Lobo had attempted to change his plea. Justice Dobbs reminded the jury that defense attorney Amelia Fosuhene called the veracity of Mr. Dominguez’s testimony into question. Mr. Lobo’s testimony from both the various police in- terviews and his time on the witness stand were also sum- marized by Justice Dobbs. Mr. Lobo had steadfastly and consistently denied involve- ment in any drug deals, said Justice Dobbs, and he told police that he had been in- troduced to Mr. Perez Ruiz by Mr. Dominguez. The defendant admitted that he had sent multiple wire transfers to Mr. Perez Ruiz, and he also said that he had visited Mr. Perez Ruiz at his hotel several times. Mr. Lobo maintained during his testimony that he was interested in buying gold statues from Mr. Perez Ruiz that he believed were “na- tional treasures,” and he said that they would be consid- ered antiques here in Cayman even if they had been stolen. The defendant was also asked about receiving im- ages of what appeared to be drugs on his cellphone, and he said, “You can’t con- trol what people send you on their phone.” Mr. Lobo admitted bringing Mr. Perez Ruiz items such as castor oil and a dig- ital scale, but he said he be- lieved they would be used to prepare the statues for sale. Justice Dobbs summa- rized portions of the cross- examination of Mr. Lobo by Patrick Moran, acting di- rector of public prosecu- tions. Answering Mr. Mo- ran’s allegations that he had taken cocaine to New York to sell it, Mr. Lobo claimed he made a trip there to get en- gaged. He admitted he had not mentioned the event in police interviews and did not have photos of the occasion in his phone. Mr. Lobo also testified that despite the images sent to him by the smugglers, he had pictures of drug sei- zures from all over the Carib- bean due to his position as a customs officer. “I was used by these individuals,” said Mr. Lobo. Justice Dobbs told the jury that the crown would like them to consider the con- tent and frequency of com- munications between Mr. Lobo and his alleged con- spirators, the money trans- fers between them, and the amount of cash found on Mr. Lobo at the time of his ar- rest. The defense, meanwhile, would stress the importance of the burden of proof and would allege that the facts of the crown’s case are open to interpretation. No KAABOO tickets for sale at gate Officials with the KAABOO Cayman festival have an- nounced that no tickets will be on sale at the Feb. 15-16 event. Organizers said anyone planning to attend the two- day concert, featuring such acts as Duran Duran, Zedd, Blondie and Bryan Adams, will need to purchase tickets in advance of the show. The festival, which will be held on a site north of the Kimpton Seafire resort, also features comedy acts – David Spade, Wanda Sykes, Alonzo Bodden and more – an art ex- hibit and gourmet food. It is the largest such event to come to Cayman and is an offshoot of KAABOO Del Mar, a three-day festival that has been held for the past four years just north of San Diego, California. The event is being backed by Virgin Entertainment and Dart Enterprises. Two-day general admission tickets are US$400 per person. Single-day passes are US$275. Visit www.kaaboocayman.com for details. Blondie’s Debbie HarryNext >