ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2019 High of 85 Low of 73 Seas: Rough with wave heights of 5 to 7 feet. A small craft warning is in effect. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 AN OVERVIEW OF OVERRUNS AT OWEN ROBERTS LOCAL | PAGE 5 NATIONAL TRUST GETS GRANT TO AID BLUE IGUANAS Excessive sick leave contributes to garbage collection delays JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Rampant absenteeism among roadside garbage crews appears to have contributed to repeated failures to collect trash on time over the past 14 months. Records supplied to the Cayman Compass through an open records request show the 47 full-time workers in the Department of Envi- ronmental Health’s roadside collection section took an average of 18 sick days each between November 2017 and November 2018. Two employees each took a total of 10 weeks off sick during that time period. In total, 835 working days – equivalent to a full year’s work for more than three employees – were lost to sickness. Seven employees took more than six weeks off sick and 16 had more than 20 sick days. A Department of Environmental Health spokesperson acknowledged the statistics were “quite excessive.” She said some of the employees had since left the department through “voluntary separation.” She added that others were being moni- tored “to ascertain the genesis of their ab- sences and provide them with any neces- sary support.” The spokesperson made no mention of any serious illnesses or other major incidents or health concerns affecting one or more em- ployees, when asked to explain the high number of sick days. Minister for Environmental Health Dwayne Seymour has previously suggested absen- teeism is a problem in the department. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly in No- vember, he lamented a series of human re- sources issues, which he said government was working to resolve within the confines of civil service legislation. “I don’t hire and fire and I have to respect the process, albeit the process does seem a little long,” he said at the time. “It is embarrassing for our country that we GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO CRITICAL REPORT ON AIRPORT PROJECT KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com A day after the Office of the Auditor Gen- eral released a scathing report about the cost overruns and delays in redeveloping the Owen Roberts International Airport terminal, gov- ernment issued a response, explaining why the project will cost more than $10 million more than what was projected in September 2016. Much of what government stated was al- ready in the audit report, which was drafted last August and estimated the project to cost $64.37 million at that time. For instance, Tourism Ministry Chief Of- ficer Stran Bodden is quoted as saying some $5 million of the cost overruns are attributed to government adding additional features to the project after contracts were signed. Changes included upgrading the hurri- cane-impact windows from 9-pound to 15- pound glass to withstand stronger storms, adding canopies to protect passengers and baggage from the weather, upgrading banners on the roof, landscaping around the airport, and adding other designs such as the duty- free mall and the CIAA offices. Mr. Bodden also said that measures were taken to bring forward the planned installation of new gen- erators to ensure that full emergency power is available to the entire terminal. Mr. Bodden acknowledged that the en- hancements would “marginally” delay the SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com The relative paucity of criminal defense attorneys in Cayman who will accept Legal Aid cases may be due to a host of structural factors unique to the country’s legal landscape. Chief Justice Anthony Smellie mentioned during his ceremo- nial address at the seasonal opening of the Grand Court ear- lier this month that Cayman has just 27 attorneys who will accept Legal Aid cases. Richard Barton, one of those 27 attorneys, said Friday that there are a lot of reasons for that statistic. “I salute the chief justice for acknowledging it and for using that forum – which is a very powerful forum – to highlight the issues nationwide. I want to commend him for that,” Mr. Barton said. “But I think we need to ask ourselves, what are the services we provide as attor- neys in this country? In a pop- ulation of under 100,000 people, Lawyers weigh in on dearth of Legal Aid attorneys YMCA holds Leaders for Youth conference Attendees and trainers from the 4th annual YMCA Leaders for Youth conference gather at the fountain at St. Ignatius Catholic School on Friday. The two-day conference brought together nearly 150 YMCA staff, volunteers, teen leaders and community partners, to learn from each other and grow as leaders in their community. For more on this story, see page 2. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - WEDNESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) GLASS (PG13) 12:30 VIP I 4:20 I 6:30 VIP I 9:55 MARY POPPINS RETURNS (PG) 12:40 I 3:35 I 6:30 I 9:25 AQUAMAN (PG13) 1:10 I 3:25 VIP I 6:50 I 9:30 VIP GREEN BOOK (PG13) 1:00 I 3:55 I 6:50 I 9:45 THE UPSIDE (PG13) 1:15 I 4:05 I 7:05 I 9:55 BUMBLEBEE (PG13) 1:45 I 4:15 I 7:15 I 10:00 The RCIPS Class of 2019 recruits includes eight women and 15 men. Police welcome 23 recruits Twenty-three local re- cruits were sworn as the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service’s Class of 2019 on Monday. The class includes eight women and 15 men, ranging in age from 18 to 40, ac- cording to an RCIPS press release. More than half of the class, 14 members, are Caymanian. “I am encouraged by the backgrounds and impres- sive experience in this re- cruit class, which is nearly three times larger than our class last year,” Commis- sioner of Police Derek Byrne was quoted as saying in the release. He added, “It will be fol- lowed immediately by a second recruit class in May of equal size, which we are already in an advanced stage of selecting, and then by an- other recruitment campaign this fall. These efforts not only bolster the numbers of officers in the Service, but re- fresh the organization with new ideas and more local perspective. The recruits were chosen following a local recruitment drive which concluded last August. After confirmation of minimum qualifications and passage of a written exam, interview, fitness test and vetting, 23 candidates were offered spaces in the re- cruit class. Police said that unlike in previous years, permanent residents or work permit holders residing on island for four years or more were allowed to apply during the recruitment drive, and were considered for places in the recruit class not filled by a Caymanian or those holding permanent residency through marriage to a Caymanian. All Caymanian applicants who passed the vetting, exams and interview were offered a place in the recruit class first before any other applicants. “Recruiting Caymanians continues to be a primary goal of the RCIPS, and I am pleased to note that we have far more Caymanian recruits in this class than last year,” Mr. Byrne said. After the ceremony, the recruits immediately began their 15-week intensive training course. Those who pass the course will grad- uate into operational duty in May and then progress to on-the-job training during a two-year probationary pe- riod. At the end of their pro- bation, the new officers could be posted in various units, such as criminal investiga- tion, traffic, marine, air oper- ations, financial crime, family support, or the K-9 unit, based on operational needs and priorities. “The policing field, like all others, requires new and ad- ditional skills to those in the past, such as a high level of ICT literacy and awareness, and an ability to easily adapt to change,” said Commis- sioner Byrne. “The best po- lice officers of the future will be those who consider them- selves lifelong learners. “But the primary duty of police officers to serve the public has not, and will not, change. Having sworn to per- form this duty, these recruits now have their chance to show us what they can do.” YMCA holds Leaders for Youth conference YMCA participants gath- ered at St. Ignatius Catholic School over the weekend for the 4th annual YMCA Leaders for Youth conference to learn from each other and to grow as leaders in the community. Attendees took part in a two-day workshop that fo- cused on developing the char- acter of teens, overcoming challenging behaviors, dis- covering your inner child, un- derstanding children’s tem- peraments, connecting with parents, personal care, and mental health awareness. The conference also pro- vided leadership training for YMCA program coordina- tors and professionals. It in- cluded trips to Bodden Town, Clifton Hunter, East End and Edna M. Moyle after-school sites for visiting YMCA part- ners from Greater St. Peters- burg, Florida, and the West- field Area Y in New Jersey. Joel Francis, acting chief officer for the Ministry of Education and Youth, in his remarks at the confer- ence’s opening session on Saturday morning, told par- ticipants, “I trust that each of you will come away from this conference with your re- solve strengthened, your en- thusiasm stirred and your creativity increased as you sharpen the tools and skills you already have, in order to launch a successful attack on those distractions and detractors that would try to steal what rightfully belongs to our children and youth – their future.“ He added that the min- istry’s partnership with the YMCA was a successful one and that the Government Extended After-School Pro- gram run by the Y was “a great example of public and private entities coming to- gether and making a mean- ingful impact.” He noted that 100 YMCA staff reach more than 1,300 young people each year at nine sites serving 15 schools across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. YMCA Cayman Islands CEO Greg Smith, in his com- ments, said the Leaders for Youth Conference is al- ways an empowering event for those who serve the community. “We all come with dif- ferent backgrounds, cultures, world views and experiences, [but] we are all united around the Y’s core values of hon- esty, caring, respect, respon- sibility and faith, and this re- alization makes it so much easier to work together to make our country a better place,” he said. He added that the theme of this year’s conference, “Special Forces,” was a powerful one. “Each day we battle against destructive forces that steal opportunities from our children to reach their full potential,” he said. “Just like military elite forces, we have to become militant, cre- ative and single-minded in our efforts to capture the at- tention, engage the hearts, and inspire the minds of our youth so that they can fulfill their purpose on Earth. “I believe participants this year have come away with a renewed sense of commit- ment and determination to make a difference in the lives of Cayman’s children and youth and the general com- munity.” The conference work- shops were led by local com- munity partners, including the National Drug Council, Family Resource Centre, Alex Panton Foundation and inter- national partners. For information about the YMCA Cayman Islands, visit www.ymcacayman.ky, email info@ymcacayman.ky or call 926-9622. HEAD OF EDUCATION TAKES NEW POST AT MINISTRY Changes in leader- ship have taken place at the Ministry of Education during January. Lyneth Monteith, who has been serving as di- rector of the Department of Education Services – first as acting chief in March 2015 before being officially appointed in February 2017 – is now the acting deputy chief officer for the Com- pulsory and Early Child- hood Education Portfolio of the Ministry of Education. She took the post on Jan. 7. The new appointment continues Ms. Monteith’s 37-year career with govern- ment education, beginning as a classroom teacher. Tammy Hopkins, senior school improvement of- ficer for Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, has been named as acting director of the Department of Educa- tion Services. CORRECTION A participant in Sunday’s amateur chef competition at the Cayman Cookout was misidentified in a story titled “Amateur chefs prove equally good” and the accompanying photo in Tuesday’s Cayman Compass. Chris Wall, the hus- band of winner Zoe Wall, was identified on the basis of the name on his jacket, which was borrowed from Eliot Wilkie. YMCA leaders from St. Petersburg, Florida, and New Jersey attend the conference. Lyneth Monteith WINDY WEATHER TO CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY Fresh to strong north- easterly winds and rough seas will continue Wednesday as a stationary front lingers over the Cayman area and its asso- ciated high pressure system builds over the eastern U.S. A small craft warning will remain in effect through Wednesday as wave heights increase to 6 to 8 feet, with swells likely along the west and north coasts of Grand Cayman. According to the Na- tional Weather Service, there will also be a 30 per- cent chance of showers, and winds will be east to northeast at 20 to 25 knots. The outlook is for mod- erate wind and seas from Wednesday evening as the cold front lifts out of the Caribbean.3 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2019 National Heroes Day is a time to celebrate our history, heritage, and be inspired for the future! The Cayman Islands is currently celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Coat of Arms, our first national symbol, as well as what it means to call the Cayman Islands home. At the 2019 National Heroes Day Celebrations, we are honouring the people who pioneered the establishment of the Coat of Arms; recognising some ‘founding’ organisations that have served our Islands for over 50 years; and, celebrating our journey to modern day Cayman Islands. This day is also a time to recognise our National Heroes, connect with our local community, and show national pride. Monday, 28 January 2019 9:00 a.m. Please be seated by 8:30 a.m. Heroes Square | Downtown George Town You are Invited... Parade, Awards Ceremony, Coat of Arms exhibit, live entertainment and local food Dress Code: Business attire Orders, decorations and medals to be worn Contact: nationalevents@gov.ky or call 244-3612 PROTOCOL OFFICE CAYMAN ISLANDS GOVERNMENT NATIONAL 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. No doubt readers are familiar with the saying, “a day late and a dollar short.” At Owen Roberts Inter- national Airport, make that a year late and more than $10 million long. According to a review by the Cayman Islands auditor general, the airport renovation project was projected to cost some $64 million – $10.5 million more than the original budget. While a cost overrun of 20 percent “ain’t bad for government work,” the auditor’s report dates back to August … meaning the airport project will ultimately cost $64 million plus any overruns that occurred in the past five months, plus any additional overruns between now and the airport’s imminent opening (and most likely further budget adjustments after the ribbon-cutting takes place). In other words, the project will be at least $10.5 million over budget, and perhaps significantly more. Auditors attributed the cost overruns to the two usual suspects in any construction project – delays and changes. While it is disappointing to see the airport renovation exceed its budget, we will not take issue with any of the individual changes – including hurricane-impact windows, canopies to shelter passen- gers and baggage, landscaping improvements, etc. – which, if anything, should have been incorporated into the designs (and the budget) from Day One. The airport’s $10 million-and-counting cost overrun hardly qualifies for entry into the Cayman govern- ment’s hall of fame for budget-busting extrava- ganzas. The exemplar in this arena is, of course, the Clifton Hunter High School, the final (official) bill for which was more than $110 million – an astounding $41.4 million over budget (or about 60 percent). The turbulence at Owen Roberts barely registers compared to the fiscal calamities that unfold at airport projects around the world. For example, in Berlin, the construction of a new airport has been under way for more than a decade, with its 6.6 billion euro cost approaching four times the initial projections. Last year, a top executive for Germany’s national airline Lufthansa said the airport will probably never open. Another case study is the Denver International Airport, which opened in 1995, 16 months behind schedule and at a final cost of US$5 billion, nearly double the initial construction estimate. In this broader context, the Owen Roberts renova- tion could be considered somewhat on time and nearly on budget. Even amid the construction cones and plywood, we can see the new airport will be aestheti- cally pleasing and welcoming to arriving and departing passengers. In fact, we welcome this new landmark structure and applaud the scores of people who have brought it to fruition. And yet, we do have apprehensions. First (as we have written previously), the govern- ment’s vision for Grand Cayman’s new airport may not have been sufficiently grand. We are concerned that the nearly complete expansion project may not prove to be expansive enough to accommodate visitor traffic during peak times today, much less five or 10 years in the future. And second, the omission of jetways may prove to be a serious, and unfortunately, irrevocable miscalcula- tion. To retrofit the airport with jetways, we are told, is nearly structurally impossible and financially unfeasible. Two experiences by Compass personnel illustrate both problems: 1) The departure hall recently was jammed beyond capacity when passengers on a number of departing flights could not board their aircraft because of a tor- rential rainstorm. The departure hall was “elbow-to- elbow standing room only” as the passengers who should have been on their planes merged with passen- gers entering the hall from security. 2) In a separate incident, passengers were herded toward their plane despite a downpour so heavy that they had to slog through near ankle-deep water with winds so high that they actually toppled carry-on luggage as passengers waited to ascend the stairs leading to the aircraft. The passengers could not have been more soaked if they had lingered for 10 or 15 minutes in their morning showers. Nevertheless, the passengers remained in a good mood (remember actor/dancer Gene Kelly’s signature performance of “Singin’ in the Rain” in the musical of the same name?) After a marvelous vacation in the Cayman Islands, they weren’t about to let a little rain- storm dampen their spirits. An overview of overruns at Owen Roberts WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Why do people like Lindsey Graham come to Congress? WASHINGTON – Back in the day, small rural airports had textile windsocks, simple and empty things that indi- cated which way the wind was blowing. The ubiquitous Sen. Lindsey Graham has be- come a political windsock, and as such he – more than the sturdy, substantial ele- phant – is emblematic of his party today. When in 1994, Graham, a South Carolina Repub- lican, first ran for Congress, he promised to be “one less vote for an agenda that makes you want to throw up.” A quarter of a cen- tury later, Graham himself is a gastrointestinal chal- lenge. In the last three years he had a road-to-Damascus conversion. In 2015, he said Donald Trump is a “jackass.” In Feb- ruary 2016, he said: “I’m not going to try to get into the mind of Donald Trump, be- cause I don’t think there’s a whole lot of space there. I think he’s a kook, I think he’s crazy, I think he’s unfit for of- fice.” And: “I’m a Republican and he’s not. He’s not a con- servative Republican. He’s an opportunist.” Today, Graham, paladin of conservatism and scourge of opportunism, says building the border wall is an existential matter for the GOP: “If we undercut the president, that’s the end of his presidency and the end of our party.” Well. Six years after its founding, the Republican Party produced the president who saved the nation. The party presided over the flow of population west of the Mississippi, into space hith- erto designated on maps as The Great American Desert. (The Homestead Act of 1862 was enacted by a Repub- lican-controlled Congress.) The Morrill Act of 1862 (Ver- mont Rep. Justin Morrill was a Republican) launched the land-grant college system that began the democra- tization of higher educa- tion and advanced the sci- ence-intensive agriculture that facilitated the urbaniza- tion that accelerated the na- tion’s rise to global pre-emi- nence. The party abetted and channeled the animal spirits that developed the indus- trial sinews with which 20th- century America defeated fascism and then commu- nism. Now, however, Graham, whose mind might not have a whole lot of space for perti- nent history, thinks this par- ty’s identity and survival de- pend on servile obedience to this president. During the government shutdown, Graham’s tergi- versations – sorry, this is the precise word – have amazed. On a recent day, in ninety minutes he went from “I don’t know” whether the president has the power to declare an emergency and divert into wall-building funds appro- priated by Congress for other purposes, to “Time for Pres- ident … to use emergency powers to build Wall.” The next day he scrambled up the escalation ladder by using capitalization: “Declare a na- tional emergency NOW. Build a wall NOW.” Two days later he scampered down a few rungs, calling for his hero to accept a short-term funding measure to open the govern- ment while wall negotiations continue. Stay tuned for more acrobatics. But stay focused on this: Anyone who at any time fa- vors declaring an emergency, or who does not denounce the mere suggestion thereof, thereby abandons constitu- tional government. Yes, such a declaration would be tech- nically legal. However, an anti-constitutional principle would be affirmed. The prin- ciple is: Any president can declare an emergency and “repurpose” funds when- ever any of his policy prefer- ences are actively denied or just ignored by the legisla- tive branch. Why do they come to Congress, these people like Graham? These people who, affirmatively or by their com- plicity of silence, trifle with our constitutional architec- ture, and exhort the presi- dent to eclipse the legisla- tive branch, to which they have no loyalty comparable to their party allegiance? Graham, who is just one percent of one-half of one of the three branches of one of the nation’s many gov- ernments, is, however, signif- icant as a symptom. When the Trump presidency is just a fragrant memory, the po- litical landscape will still be cluttered with some of this president’s simple and empty epigones, the make- believe legislators who did not loudly and articulately recoil from the mere sug- gestion of using a declared emergency to set aside the separation of powers. George Will’s email address is georgewill@washpost.com. © 2019, Washington Post Writers Group. GEORGE F. WILL During the government shutdown, Graham’s tergiversations – sorry, this is the precise word – have amazed. 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2019 Now you can have a fully installed GPS satellite tracking device in your car, shipping container, truck, boat – or even complete vehicle fleet for less than $35 per month with no upfront cost. If your possessions ever get stolen, you can log in through your mobile device to locate it immediately. It can even be given to a family member to ensure you’re aware of their location. To find out more about this special offer contact the Security Centre on 949-0004 or email info @ security.ky Just mention “Sat Trak” to get more information about this great deal. FULLY-FITTED GPS TRACKING UNITS FOR LESS THAN $35 . National Trust gets grant to aid blue iguanas The National Trust is getting some help from a partner abroad. The Blue Iguana Recovery Program is the recipient of a grant worth $212,622 from the Darwin Plus Initiative, a U.K.-based philanthropic or- ganization that helps to pro- tect biodiversity and the nat- ural environment. The Blue Iguana Re- covery Program was launched in 1990 with just 30 blue iguanas, and it has gone on to rehabilitate the species and release more than 1,000 of the animals into the wild. The blue iguana was listed as crit- ically endangered in 1990 and was on the “red list” of the In- ternational Union for Conser- vation of Nature. “Nearly 30 years of dedi- cated effort by the National Trust – coupled with financial support from several local corporations, international grants and the work of count- less volunteers – has saved the Blue Iguana from extinc- tion,” said Nadia Hardie, ex- ecutive director of the Na- tional Trust, in a press release. “We are indebted to the or- ganizations and individuals who have partnered with the Trust to reinstate the wild population of our native land animal and to ensure the continued existence of this majestic creature.” Now, with more than 1,000 blue iguanas in the wild, the National Trust is preparing for Phase II, which means not just saving the species from extinction but giving it a sus- tainable path forward. The blue iguana breeding facility at the Queen Elizabeth II Bo- tanic Park currently houses 70 iguanas. “Our new strategic plan for the program will include a better facility to house the captive iguanas, improved husbandry, and added man- power to monitor the Blue Iguanas now roaming the Trust’s Salina and Colliers Wil- derness reserves in East End,” said Stuart Mailer, the envi- ronmental programs manager at the National Trust. “Phase II will also address challenges such as disease prevention and encroaching predators.” To learn more about the Blue Iguana Recovery Program, visit nationaltrust.org.ky. The National Trust is getting help from abroad in its effort to protect the local blue iguana, which is not found anywhere else in the world. This year’s National He- roes Day celebration will be held in Heroes Square in downtown George Town on Monday, Jan. 28. The day is a public hol- iday in the Cayman Islands. The government has is- sued an invitation to all members of the public to attend the national event, which is being hosted by Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin, Min- ister of Culture Dwayne Sey- mour and Celebrate Cayman. This year’s ceremony will honor the vestrymen and jus- tices of the peace who were instrumental in the cre- ation of the Cayman Islands’ Coat of Arms. The Celebrate Cayman group was estab- lished to organize events marking the 60th anniver- sary of the creation of the Coat of Arms. Premier McLaughlin said in a press release, “On this day, we will come together to pay tribute to the Vestrymen and Justices of the Peace who understood the impor- tance of the Cayman Islands having a visual identity. “The creation of the Coat of Arms was the catalyst to other key events and mile- stones that shaped the nation we know and love today. I look forward to this opportu- nity to honour and celebrate the people who had a vision of success for our country.” More than 60 organiza- tions that have served the community for more than 50 years will also be recog- nized at the ceremony. These include Cayman Airways Ltd., the Cayman Islands Agricul- tural Society and the Hungry Horse Restaurant. Laying of wreaths and a moment of silence will also be observed to commemorate Cayman’s deceased nation builders. Cayman’s national heroes will be honored on the day, as well. There will also be a walk- past by primary and sec- ondary school children in a flag procession, as well as the traditional parade which will include contingents of the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service, the Cayman Is- lands Fire Service, Her Maj- esty’s Prison Service, Cadet Corps, Girls’ Brigade, Scouts and the Seventh-day Adven- tist Pathfinders. The ceremony will be fol- lowed by a Coat of Arms ex- hibit in George Town Library. There will also be local food and live entertainment at the family friendly event. Organizers are asking attendees to be seated by 8:30 a.m. The awards cere- mony will begin at 9 a.m. For more information, contact Protocol Office at 244-3612 or email nationalevents@gov.ky. Heroes Day celebrations to be held Monday The Cayman Islands Coat of Arms, seen here on the islands’ flag, and its creators will be honored at Monday’s National Heroes Day celebrations.6 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Young runner raises funds for education JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A teenage athlete is plan- ning to run around the island to raise money to sponsor the education costs of underpriv- ileged children. Charles-Antoine So- kohl will run 10 miles every day for eight days to raise funds for charity Acts of Random Kindness, which re- cently launched a new educa- tion program. The charity is seeking private and corporate spon- sors to cover the cost of in- tensive, one-on-one tutoring throughout the school year for children who lag behind in school because of their family circumstances. Mr. Sokohl, 18, who is a student at Cayman In- ternational School, said he hoped to raise enough money to personally sponsor at least one child for the full US$11,662.50 cost of the 185 hours of tutoring. He said he was interested in helping such an innova- tive program. “I am still in high school and I understand the need for education,” he said. “The program is for chil- dren who are underprivi- leged or who have special ed- ucation needs. That was something I found interesting because those programs do not really exist on the island. “The minimum goal I am going for is to raise enough money to sponsor one child; hopefully, I will be able to sponsor two. I am in a position to help, so why shouldn’t I?” Mr. Sokohl’s brother Pierre-Louis and poten- tially two of his classmates will run with him in the eight-day challenge, which starts in March. The group will start each morning at 6 a.m. The first leg will start outside XQs restaurant on West Bay Road. They will pick up each day where they finished the last until they have completed a full circuit of the island. Mr. Sokohl, who runs with the 345 athletics club, has started a GoFundMe page for his efforts. ARK’s Mentor Educate Re- inforce program is a part- nership with the Cayman Learning Center, which aims to provide a “fuel injection” to the education of young children who are struggling in school. Private sector sponsors can sponsor the education of a child. They will receive progress updates and report cards and are encouraged to develop a real relationship with the child they support. To help fund Mr. Sokohl, go to www. GoFundMe.com/arc-run-around-cayman. Charles-Antoine Sokohl, left, and his brother Pierre-Louis train at the Cayman International School playing field. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY project’s completion, and Cayman Islands Airports Authority CEO Albert An- derson called the up- grades “reasonable and warranted.” Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell added that the “highest standards of quality and service have not been compromised.” Government’s response, however, did not address Auditor General Sue Win- spear’s criticism that changing the scope of a project after contracts are signed is not good practice. Nor did the report acknowl- edge multiple allegations in the audit report that much of the delays and cost over- runs were due to flaws in the design of the electrical works, as well as poor quality of tender materials. Along with government’s response to the audit re- port, Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller also spoke about the issue Tuesday morning on the Cayman Crosstalk radio show. Mr. Miller and show host Woody DaCosta ques- tioned government for not having the foresight to know that the hurri- cane-impact windows would have to be of the highest quality. Mr. Miller further ques- tioned why such a large glass façade was incorpo- rated into the airport’s de- sign in the first place. “What is the function- ality of the arch and the three triangles?” he said. “We’re in a hurricane zone. We need to have our airport operational for as long as possible and one that can recover as quickly as pos- sible, and you’re going to design an airport with all that glass in it?” The Opposition leader also said he had read board meeting minutes from the Public Works Department, which outline concerns ex- pressed over whether the steel design of the terminal has been wind-tunnel tested. He said he saw no evidence in the board meeting minutes that such testing was ever performed. Mr. Miller added that a Public Accounts Committee hearing will be held on the airport audit report, likely in the first or second week of February. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Government responds to critical report on airport projectThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2019 Kimpton rfceo.ky Seafire Resort Grand Cayman Thursday 28 Feb 2019 Save the Date What are the top global business trends for 2019? Join some of the world’s most thought-provoking experts to explore the threats and opportunities and how they may impact the Cayman Islands. CEO 2019 brings you some of the most exciting speakers on the international conference circuit: Visit our website Braving the Turmoil Dynamic New World A NDREAS E KSTROM I AN G OLDIN N OREENA H ERTZ Professional Surfer, Red Bull Athlete and Motivational Speaker Founding Director of the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford and Professor of Globalisation and Development, University of Oxford. Economist, Best Selling Author and host of her own show, "MegaHertz: London Calling," on SiriusXM Digital Revolution Journalist. M ARK M ATHEWS J AMIE M ETZL Biotechnology Futurist and Geopolitical Expert. Rising geopolitical tensions continue while healthcare braces for a genetic revolution. ROYAL FIDELITY 2019 Media Group have a national problem such as this and it couldn’t be rem- edied as quick as possible.” Mr. Seymour did not re- spond to further requests for comment. Alva Suckoo, deputy Opposition leader, said the sta- tistics on sick leave were con- cerning and provided further evidence of systemic problems within the department. “I have to wonder if man- agement is requiring a med- ical certificate verifying these illnesses and, if they are in- deed legitimate, have they investigated the health and safety conditions within the department? Either way, this is clearly a manage- ment problem and someone has dropped the ball. There is no way this could happen in the private sector without drastic and immediate ac- tion,” he said. Mr. Suckoo, whose New- lands constituency has been among those worst affected by late garbage pick-ups, said it was up to management at the DEH to get to grips with the problem. If there was abuse of the system by some em- ployees, he said, it needed to be stamped out. He said Min- ister Seymour had had long enough to assess the problem and action was now needed. “This problem has per- sisted for more than a year and it is time for the Minister to get a handle on it, own it, and resolve it,” he said. “The country can no longer tolerate this level of service, the threat to health and safety is too se- rious to ignore any longer. “We need action now and if the Minister cannot deliver that, then he needs to step aside and allow someone else to do it.” is there really a dispropor- tionate amount of criminal practitioners?” Chief Justice Smellie pointed out that there are more than 800 attorneys in Cayman and mentioned the shortage of attorneys willing to accept Legal Aid as one of the factors inhibiting the court’s efficiency. The Grand Court adjudicated 71 cases in 2018 and carried over a re- cord 147 cases into this year. That means that the Grand Court carried over two cases for every case it carried to conclusion. Mr. Barton said that the 800 attorneys statistic in- cludes civil, corporate and family attorneys who encom- pass the entire global demand for legal services in Cayman. The demand for criminal de- fense attorneys is much smaller and may be pin- pointed with just a bit of ad- ditional information, he said. Firstly, Mr. Barton said, he’d like to know more about local recidivism rates and what percentage of cases end in conviction, acquittal or a lack of prosecution. Only then, he said, can the legal com- munity ascertain whether there are too many indict- ments or too few defense at- torneys on island. “If we deem [27] to be an undersupply of criminal attor- neys, then what does that say about crime in this country?” asked Mr. Barton of lawyer supply and demand. “It’s easy to say we need 50 more de- fense attorneys, but it’s also important to rehabilitate be- cause the two go hand in hand. If you had 100 criminal defense attorneys in a popula- tion of this size, in my estima- tion, that would be overkill.” Mr. Barton also said that law firms face steep obsta- cles in recruiting experienced practitioners from other juris- dictions. The cost for a work permit, legal certifications, health insurance and pension can rise to above $20,000 per year, and it can be cost-pro- hibitive to pay them back on just Legal Aid cases alone. The current Legal Aid rate is $160 per hour, and attor- neys only get paid upon com- pletion of a case. But what happens when that case gets rescheduled? In many cases, the attorney is left scrambling. Legal Aid, Mr. Barton said, is important for both the de- fendants and the system it- self. Without the attorneys taking those cases, he said, the legal system would de- volve into chaos. “There are a number of criminal matters that aren’t a scheduled Legal Aid offense. You don’t get Legal Aid, but these people still need repre- sentation or they go and rep- resent themselves,” he said. “You deprive them of Legal Aid and they become misdi- rected, and then what next? Delay. Trial dates. Witnesses. Police officers. Misdirection of resources. It stalls the wheel of justice. It’s not necessarily about, ‘How can we give de- fense attorneys more money?’ It’s about efficiency.” Alastair David, an attorney at HSM law firm, said he does not practice in criminal de- fense matters but he has be- come acquainted with the Legal Aid system through his defense of Cuban asylum ap- plicants. In many cases, Mr. David said, foreign clients cannot be expected to under- stand the finer legal points that go into the Refugee Con- vention, and they need an at- torney just to get their argu- ment for asylum across. If they cannot access an attorney for those cases, he said, their rights are obviously being infringed. Many do not speak English, Mr. David said, and regardless of how they feel about the political system back at home, they might not be inclined to trust the gov- ernment here. “They can get Legal Aid for Grand Court but not the Immigration Appeals Tri- bunal,” he said. “They might not know anything about the Refugee Convention and they have to explain why they need asylum.” Mr. Barton said he’d like to know more about judicial statistics in Cayman before coming to a conclusion about the ideal number of crim- inal attorneys in the jurisdic- tion. The bottom line, he said, is that Legal Aid is intrinsi- cally important to the system and it needs to constantly be tweaked to best effect. “There needs to be an in- crease in the Legal Aid rate by at least double,” he said. “And I don’t want to beat up on the Legal Aid director. I think the Legal Aid director is being very efficient in terms of the efficiency and the availability of the checks. I know that de- partment works very hard. “But if you live in a so- ciety where people cannot access justice, it’s no longer a democracy. If you get rear- ended in your car – regard- less of where you work – you’d like to know some- body’s been held accountable. And if you rear-end someone, you’d like to know that justice is proportionate.” Stacy Parke, the director of Legal Aid, was not imme- diately available for comment by press time. Lawyers weigh in on dearth of Legal Aid attorneys CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Chief Justice Anthony Smellie mentioned during his ceremonial address at the opening of the Grand Court for the season earlier this month that Cayman has just 27 attorneys who will accept Legal Aid cases. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Excessive sick leave contributes to garbage collection delaysThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Speed limit talk has Germans fired up A leaked proposal to impose universal speed limits on the Autobahn is causing outrage among car-loving Germans. The idea would limit speeds on the country’s highways to 80 mph. Proponents say this would reduce air pollution, help fight climate change and reduce the number of car accidents. The Family of the Late Arine Loretta Eden affectionately known as “Lerita” regrets to announce her passing on Thursday, 17 January, 2019. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, 27 January, 2019 at Church of God, (Full Gospel Hall) Savannah. Viewing will be held from 2:00 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow in Tall Tree Cemetery. Brexit battle looms as British lawmakers attack May’s ‘Plan B’ Frigid air, high winds sweep the Northeast; at least 7 dead CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Falling temperatures replaced the weekend’s falling snow Monday as bitter cold and gusty winds swept across the eastern United States. The National Weather Ser- vice had forecast that tem- peratures would be more than 20 degrees below normal across the North- east, with wind gusts up to 30 mph and wind chills ap- proaching minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit in northern New York and Vermont. Those wind gusts caused flight disruptions at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Monday and FlightAware reported hun- dreds of delayed flights. And after a few weather-related delays Sunday, Amtrak re- stored all scheduled ser- vice Monday. Atop the Northeast’s highest mountain, the temper- ature fell to minus 23 degrees Fahrenheit Monday morning and dropped to minus 31 later in the afternoon, according to the Facebook page for Mount Washington Observatory, in New Hampshire. Wind chills were hovering around minus 80 Fahrenheit. In New York, Coast Guard crews moved quickly to rescue a 21-year-old man left stranded on an island in the Navensink River after his small boat broke down. The Coast Guard said two mem- bers waded through 34-de- gree Fahrenheit water to bring the man to safety. The air temperature was 7 de- grees with 30 mph wind. The weather contributed to multiple deaths over the Martin Luther King Jr. hol- iday weekend. In suburban Chicago, the temperature was about 14 degrees Fahren- heit Sunday when a 12-year- old girl died after a snow fort collapsed on her. Police in Arlington Heights, Illinois, said Esther Jung had been playing with another girl out- side Rothem Church. Their families began looking for them about an hour later and found them under the snow. The younger girl survived. In Connecticut, a utility company subcontractor died Sunday after being struck by a falling tree while working on a power line in Middle- town. Thousands of homes and businesses in Connect- icut remained without power Monday afternoon as temper- atures dropped below zero in some locations. “This is a reminder of the danger these men and women face on our behalf,” Gov. Ned Lamont said in a tweet. “While many are still out there working today, please join me in acknowl - edging them and sending our thoughts to this per- son’s family.” In Kansas, a snowplow driver was killed when the plow drove onto the shoulder of a road and rolled over, throwing him under the ve- hicle. It was not clear why the driver had moved to the shoulder from the roadway. At least four people have died after shoveling snow. In Wisconsin, the Mil- waukee County Medical Ex- aminer’s Office said a 59-year- old man and a 91-year-old man collapsed and died Sunday in separate incidents after removing snow. In up- state New York, 70-year-old Frank Demasi died Monday after collapsing with a heart attack while shoveling snow. And in southwest Michigan, a man in charge of transporta- tion at a school district also died while shoveling snow. Portage district officials said Mike Westbrook died Sat- urday from a heart attack. Another storm system is already developing over the Rockies that could blanket the same region with more snow by the end of the week. LONDON (AP) – Prime Min- ister Theresa May is deter- mined to get a tweaked ver- sion of her rejected European Union divorce deal through Parliament. British law- makers have other ideas – lots of other ideas. May’s Conservative gov- ernment is headed for a showdown with Parliament next week, when lawmakers get to vote on the prime min- ister’s latest proposal, and can try to amend it to send her in another direction. Here’s how the battle is shaping up: May’s Plan B After the divorce agree- ment struck between the U.K. government and the bloc was resoundingly rejected by Par- liament last week, May held talks with government and opposition politicians and came up with a “Plan B” – one that looked remarkably sim- ilar to her Plan A. May told the House of Commons on Monday that she was aiming to win law- makers’ backing for her deal after securing changes from the EU to a contentious Irish border measure. The bloc insists that it will not renegotiate the with- drawal agreement. And op- position lawmakers say the scale of May’s defeat last week – 432 votes to 202 – shows she must radically alter her deal if it is to have any hope of approval. But Parliament is deeply divided about what changes to make. Pro-Brexit law- makers want to remove the Irish “backstop,” an insur- ance policy that would con- strain British trade policy in order to ensure there are no customs checks be- tween the U.K.’s Northern Ireland and EU member Ire- land. Pro-EU legislators want May to lift her insistence that Brexit means quitting the EU’s single market and customs union. Amid the impasse, one thing is in short supply: time. Buy breathing time Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, with or without a divorce deal. The political impasse over Brexit is fueling concerns that the country may crash out of the bloc without an agree- ment in place to cushion the shock. That could see tariffs imposed on goods moving between Britain and the EU, sparking logjams at ports and shortages of essen- tial supplies. May says the only way to avert a no-deal Brexit is to back her deal, but lawmakers are trying to pause the clock. Groups of “soft Brexit”- backing lawmakers, who want to keep close economic ties to the EU, are planning to use amendments during a Jan. 29 debate on May’s plan to try to rule out a “no-deal” Brexit, delay Britain’s de- parture and put alternative plans on the table. Half a dozen amendments had been filed by Tuesday, most aiming to allow time for Parliament to hammer out al- ternatives to May’s rejected deal. One of the most promi- nent, with support from both opposition and Conservative lawmakers, would give May until Feb. 26 to pass a deal, or see Brexit delayed as Parlia- ment took charge. It will be up to Commons Speaker John Bercow to de- cide which amendments are put to a vote. Any that are ap- proved would not be legally binding, but as an expres- sion of the will of Parliament would be hard for the gov- ernment to ignore. Seek a new referendum A growing group of cam- paigners argues that Brexit has become so divisive, com- plicated and gridlocked that politicians cannot solve it, and the only answer is to ask voters again whether they want to leave the EU. May is strongly opposed to the idea. She said Monday that a new referendum, less than three years after voters opted for Brexit, would “damage social cohesion by undermining faith in our democracy.” But campaigners for a second referendum say it’s the only way to break the logjam. “Two and a half years ago we voted on an abstract idea, that’s the truth,” pro-EU Con- servative lawmaker Dominic Grieve said Tuesday. He said now that the de- tails of Brexit were clearer, the best course was to “go back and ask the public whether they really want what the prime minister has negotiated and offer them the alternative, remain, instead.” Decision time May says she plans to go back to Brussels after Jan. 29 to seek changes to the deal from EU leaders. The bloc in- sists that the legally binding, 585-page withdrawal agree- ment cannot be reopened, though it is more flexible about a non-binding political declaration laying out the framework of future relations between Britain and the bloc. But EU leaders say they will not consider any changes until Britain figures out what kind of Brexit it wants. “I have a terrible sense of deja vu,” EU spokesman Mar- garitis Schinas said Tuesday, before using the words of the Spice Girls to send a message to British politicians. “We expect the U.K. to tell us what they want, what they really, really want,” he said. Temperatures across the northeastern part of the United States are expected to fall to more than 20 degrees below normal. – PHOTO: AP Anti-Brexit supporters hold placards as they demonstrate Monday opposite the Houses of Parliament in London. – PHOTO: AP9 WORLD®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 23, 2019 Cayman Maritime, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, seeks bright, dynamic Caymanians who wish to pursue a successful career in the maritime industry. If this is you and you’re ready to enroll in a programme of study - please consider applying for our annual maritime scholarship. Additional requirements and all application forms can be downloaded from the Ministry of Education, Employment and Gender Affairs website www.eductation.gov.ky/portal/page/portal/mehhome/education/scholarships For more information, please email human.resources@cishipping.com or call (345) 949-8831. Application deadline: 31 January of each year Consideration will be given to undergraduate, postgraduate or professional qualifications in the following disciplines: • Marine engineering • Marine surveying • Maritime administration • Nautical studies • Naval architecture Specialist areas that support the industry will also be considered, including maritime legal services, human resource management, accounting and IT. Applicants must: • Be Caymanian or hold Caymanian Status • Provide proof of residency in the Cayman Islands for 5 years prior to application • Be 18 or older (at Education Council’s discretion) • Provide proof of acceptance at a competitively ranked college or institution • Have a genuine interest in the maritime industry • Possess good interpersonal and communication skills, work ethic and character Visit us at facebook.com/caymanislandsshippingregistry Looking for an exciting career in a leading industry? Set sail with the Annual Maritime Scholarship! www.cishipping.com Trump’s shutdown proposal faces uncertain fate in Senate CHINA DEMANDS U.S. DROP HUAWEI EXTRADITION REQUEST WITH CANADA BEIJING (AP) – China on Tuesday demanded the U.S. drop a request that Canada extradite a top executive of the tech giant Huawei, shifting blame to Wash- ington in a case that has severely damaged Beijing’s relations with Ottawa. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chun- ying said Meng Wanzhou’s case was out of the ordi- nary and Canada’s extradi- tion treaty with the U.S. in- fringed on the “safety and legitimate rights and inter- ests of Chinese citizens.” Hua said China de- mands that the U.S. with- draw the arrest warrant against Meng and “not make a formal extradi- tion request to the Ca- nadian side.” Hua’s remarks came after more than 100 aca- demics and former diplo- mats signed a letter calling on China to release two Ca- nadians detained in ap- parent retaliation for Meng’s arrest. They also follow a re- port by the Canadian news- paper Globe and Mail that the U.S. plans to formally re- quest Meng’s extradition to face charges that she com- mitted fraud by misleading banks about Huawei’s busi- ness dealings in Iran. China detained former Canadian diplomat Michael Kovrig and Canadian entre- preneur Michael Spavor on Dec. 10 in an apparent at- tempt to pressure Canada to release Meng, who was arrested Dec. 1 at the re- quest of U.S. authorities. Meng is Huawei’s chief financial officer and the daughter of its founder, Ren Zhengfei. Huawei has close ties to China’s military and is considered one of the country’s most successful international enterprises, operating in the high-tech sphere where China hopes to establish dominance. The letter signed by ac- ademics and former diplo- mats said the arrests of the two will lead to “less dia- logue and greater distrust, and undermine efforts to manage disagreements and identify common ground. Both China and the rest of the world will be worse off as a result.” WASHINGTON (AP) – Presi- dent Donald Trump’s pro- posal to reopen the gov- ernment, sweetened with immigration provisions that are aimed at mollifying Dem- ocrats but that have alien- ated some conservatives, is headed for Senate action, its prospects uncertain. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will try to muscle through the 1,300- page spending measure, which includes $5.7 billion to fund Trump’s proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, the sticking point in the standoff between Trump and Democrats that has led to a partial government shutdown now in its 32nd day. Meanwhile, another missed paycheck looms for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. Senate Republicans late Monday unveiled the leg- islation, dubbed the “End The Shutdown And Secure The Border Act,” but its pas- sage this week is by no means certain. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the chamber but need Democrats to reach the usual 60-vote threshold for bills to advance. No Democrat has publicly expressed sup- port for the proposal Trump announced over the weekend. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer’s office re- iterated that Democrats are unwilling to negotiate any border security funding until Trump reopens the government. “Nothing has changed with the latest Republican offer,” Schumer spokesman Justin Goodman said. “Pres- ident Trump and Senate Re- publicans are still saying: ‘Support my plan or the gov- ernment stays shut.’ That isn’t a compromise or a nego- tiation – it’s simply more hos- tage taking.” The Republican plan is a trade-off: Trump’s border wall funding in exchange for temporary protection from deportation for some immi- grants. To try to draw more bipartisan support, it adds $12.7 billion in supplemental funding for regions hit by hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters. All told, it would provide about $350 billion for nine Cabinet departments whose budgets are stalled. Other than the wall and immigration-related provisions, the core measure hews closely to a package of spending bills unveiled by House Democrats last week. In exchange for $5.7 bil- lion for Trump’s wall, the leg- islation would extend tem- porary protections against deportation to around 700,000 immigrants cov- ered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals pro- gram, or DACA. Trump has tried dismantling the Obama- era program, which covers people who arrived in the U.S. illegally as children, but has been blocked by fed- eral lawsuits. That figure is substan- tially lower than the 1.8 mil- lion people Trump proposed protecting a year ago in a plan that also included other immigration changes and $25 billion to pay the full costs of building his wall. Trump’s proposal was among several the Senate rejected last February. The new Senate bill would also provide three more years of temporary protec- tions against deportation to around 325,000 immi- grants in the U.S. who have fled countries racked by nat- ural disasters or violent con- flicts. Trump has ended that program, called Temporary Protected Status, for El Sal- vador, which has the most holders of the protected status, as well as for Hon- duras, Nicaragua and several other countries. Democrats said that Trump’s proposal for a three- year DACA extension did not go far enough and that he was simply offering to restore elements of immigration pro- visions he’d taken away. Some on the right, in- cluding conservative com- mentator Ann Coulter, accused Trump of of- fering “amnesty.” “No, Amnesty is not a part of my offer,” Trump tweeted Sunday, in response. He added: “Amnesty will be used only on a much bigger deal, whether on immigration or something else.” While the House and the Senate are scheduled to be back in session Tuesday, no votes have been scheduled on Trump’s plan. McCon- nell spokesman David Popp said the GOP leader “will move” to vote on consider- ation of the president’s pro- posal this week. The bill in- cludes funding for most domestic agencies. House Democrats, mean- while, are pushing ahead this week with their legislation to reopen the government and add $1 billion for border se- curity – including 75 more immigration judges and in- frastructure improvements – but no funding for the wall. On Tuesday, Trump tweeted that Democrats are playing “political games” and repeated his claims that the wall is a solution to drugs and crime – although the Drug Enforcement Admin- istration says only a small percentage of drugs comes into the country between ports of entry. “Without a Wall our Country can never have Border or National Security,” Trump tweeted. “With a pow- erful Wall or Steel Barrier, Crime Rates (and Drugs) will go substantially down all over the U.S. The Dems know this but want to play political games. Must finally be done correctly. No Cave!” The impact of the gov- ernment’s longest-ever shut- down continues to ripple across the nation. The lon- gest previous shutdown was 21 days in 1995-96, when Bill Clinton was president. The Transportation Se- curity Administration said the percentage of its air- port screeners missing work hit 10 percent on Sunday, up from 3.1 percent on the com- parable Sunday a year ago. The screeners, who have been working without pay, have been citing finan- cial hardship as the reason they cannot report to work. Even so, the agency said it screened 1.78 million pas- sengers Sunday with only 6.9 percent having to wait 15 minutes or longer to get through security. Asked in an interview on “Fox News Sunday” whether Trump’s Saturday proposal represented a “final offer,” Vice President Mike Pence said the White House was willing to negotiate. “Well, of course,” Pence said. “The legislative process is a negotiation.” Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou President Donald Trump leaves the podium after speaking about the partial government shutdown, immigration and border security in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, in Washington, Saturday. – PHOTO: APNext >