ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019 High of 85 Low of 73 Moderate to rough with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 SHIPPING REGISTRY HOLDS CAYMAN’S BANNER HIGH LOCAL | PAGE 2 RUNNERS TAKE CANCER FUNDRAISER IN THEIR STRIDE UK lawmakers vote for Brexit changes EU: Current deal ‘best’ to ensure orderly Brexit LONDON (AP) – The European Union says that the current agreement with the U.K. remains the “best and only way” to ensure an orderly Brexit, after British Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to try to overhaul the deal. May says Parliament has made its wishes clear and that she will now seek “legally binding” changes to the Brexit withdrawal agreement reached with the EU. She spoke after British lawmakers voted to try to renegotiate the Brexit divorce agreement with the EU to remove a contentious Irish border measure. The House of Commons voted 317 to 301 to seek to replace the Irish border “backstop” that keeps the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland free of checkpoints. British lawmakers also passed a non-binding motion calling on the government to rule out leaving the European Union on March 29 without a divorce agreement. However, EU Council President Donald Tusk’s office said that the “backstop” on the Irish border which Britain seeks to renego- tiate is “not open for renegotiation.” The EU did leave other options for nego- tiation open. Tusk spokesman Preben Aamann said that “if the U.K.’s intention for the future partner- ship were to evolve, the EU would be prepared to reconsider its offer and adjust the content and the level of ambition of the political dec- laration,” referring to the political text to com- plement the legal withdrawal agreement. EU leaders have ruled out reopening the Brexit deal. French President Emmanuel Ma- cron said the agreement – 585 pages of legally binding text – “is the best accord possible. It is not re-negotiable.” The Brexit process has grown increasingly DART HEADS TO COURT OVER BRITANNIA BEACH AND GOLF RIGHTS JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Dart group is seeking to free itself from restrictive agreements guaranteeing home owners in the luxury Britannia Estates development the right to use golf, tennis and beach facilities associated with its properties. Dart bought the old Hyatt hotel, the Beach Suites and the Britannia golf course in 2016. When those properties were first devel- oped, restrictive agreements that provided golf, tennis and beach access for home- owners in the neighboring Britannia develop- ment were registered against the title to the properties. In a writ filed with the Grand Court Friday, lawyers acting for Dart argue that those agree- ments were simply contractual arrangements that should not be legally binding on Dart as the new owner. They claim the Registrar of Lands, listed as a defendant in the lawsuit along with various Britannia strata groups, should never have officially registered these rights as “incum- brances” that transferred with the ownership of the properties. The dispute has been rumbling for more than two years, with multiple meetings held between Dart and the homeowners in an ef- fort to find a resolution to the impasse outside the courtroom. Dart said in a press statement that it is now seeking a declaration from the Grand Court on the “correct legal status” of the agreements. The effect of the lawsuit, if successful on all points, would be to remove any legal ob- ligation for Dart to provide any services or Gov’t hiring dispute to be settled in combined hearing KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Grand Court will hear two judicial review applica- tions in an ongoing dispute be- tween the Ministry of Education and the Civil Service Appeals Commission, involving a sit- uation where a non-Cayma- nian was hired to be the minis- try’s human resources director over a Caymanian who was al- legedly similarly qualified. The dispute involves two judicial review applications: One by the education ministry seeking to overturn a Civil Ser- vice Appeals Commission order to make the Caymanian the min- istry’s HR director; and the other by the Caymanian job applicant, seeking to enforce the appeals commission ruling. A hearing date for the applications has not been set. The dispute stems from Sep- tember 2017, when a non-Cay- manian was hired to be the ministry’s HR director. The Cay- manian who was passed over took her case to the Civil Service Appeals Commission, arguing that the ministry had “acted un- fairly or in a biased manner” in making the hiring decision. On Dec. 20, 2017, the ap- peals commission, chaired by former Deputy Governor Don- ovan Ebanks, agreed that there was evidence that the ministry “acted unfairly toward the [Cay- manian job applicant] during the selection phase of the recruit- ment process.” The commission ordered that the Caymanian applicant be of- fered the post as of Feb. 15, 2018, and that she receive addi- tional compensation for pay she would have received if she had KAABOO Cayman grounds take shape The KAABOO Cayman site is taking shape as fencing and tents are erected at the grounds near the Kimpton hotel. Organizers on Tuesday released setlists for both days of the upcoming festival, Feb. 15-16, as well as announcing transportation plans for concertgoers. For full story, see page 3. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 »2 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 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) THE MULE (R) 1:00 I 4:00 I 7:00 I 9:40 CARGO (R) 4:10 I 10:00 GLASS (PG13) 12:45 VIP I 3.15 I 6:40 VIP I 9:45 AQUAMAN (PG13) 1:10 I 4:15 I 7:10 I 9:35 VIP DRAGON BALL SUPER: BROLY (PG) 12:45 I 3:45 VIP I 7:20 I 10:10 BUMBLEBEE (PG13) 2:00 I 4:40 I 7:35 I 10:15 THE UPSIDE (PG13) 1:15 I 7:05 Runners take cancer fundraiser in their Stride Hundreds of runners and walkers joined this year’s Stride Against Cancer on Grand Cayman on Sunday. Participants on the western end of the is- land, which included young and old, and lots of four- legged friends, took off from the starting line on Seven Mile Public Beach early in the morning. The first runners, taking part in the half marathon, set off at 6 a.m., and covered 13.1 miles from Caribbean Paradise on South Sound Road and back. An hour later, the bigger group, taking part in the quarter marathon, took off down West Bay Road and turned around at The Wharf restaurant. Among the runners pounding their way down West Bay Road were Cayman Islands Governor Martyn Roper and Minister of Com- merce Joey Hew. North Side held its own Mini Stride on Sunday, from Kaibo to the site of the old Driftwood Bar & Grill. Little Cayman also got in on the act, holding its “Little Stride” on Saturday morning from the Southern Cross Club to Salt Rock Dock and back. All the funds raised in the three runs will go to the Cayman Islands Cancer Society. Jennifer Weber, the chari- ty’s operations manager, said next year will be the 25th anniversary of the Cancer Society and she plans to launch an even bigger push for Stride next year to mark the occasion. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CLOSE ON WEDNESDAY A number of govern- ment departments and sections will be closed to the public on Wednesday morning as staff meet to prepare for mergers of Immigration, Cus- toms and the National Workforce Develop- ment Agency. The Department of Im- migration’s Headquarters and Cayman Centre will be closed, as will the Cus- toms Department’s Ad- ministration and Courier Offices, the Parcel Post and Freight Security Ini- tiative Building. The National Work- force Development Agency and Passport and Cor- porate Services Office will also be closed on Wednesday morning. Those departments will reopen at noon. The Customs Depart- ment’s Collection Office – along with its seaport and airport sections – will re- main fully open, as will Immigration’s border con- trol section. All the listed develop- ments and sections will resume normal business hours on Thursday. SHAMROCK ROAD SURFACE AND DRAINAGE WORK UNDER WAY The National Roads Authority and its sub- contractors will be car- rying out road paving works on Shamrock Road from Midsummer Drive to the Dr. Tomlinson Round- about to upgrade the drainage and deteriorated road surface. The work is sched- uled for Tuesday and Wednesday this week, and will continue on Feb. 13-19, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day. The NRA is advising drivers to watch for traffic diversions and to drive with caution to ensure their safety and that of the work crews. Call 325-6004 or email nra@nra.ky for more information on the project. Hundreds took part in Sunday’s annual Stride Against Cancer. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Runners stride up West Bay Road early on Sunday. Government Minister Joey Hew, left, and Governor Martyn Roper were among the runners in Sunday’s Stride. Pets also got in on the act. When young people become good readers in the early grades, they are more likely to become better learners throughout their school years and beyond. Kids who read, SUCCEED It all starts with newspapers3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019 KAABOO releases schedules KAABOO Cayman has released setlists for both days of the upcoming fes- tival, Feb. 15-16, as well as announcing transportation plans for concertgoers. Rico Rolando kicks off the main stage music per- formances the first day at 1:15 p.m. with a half-hour set. Set times increase along with the profiles of the bands as the day pro- gresses, ending with the Chainsmokers giving an hour and a half concert be- ginning at 10:15 p.m. On day two, Matt Brown gives a 10-minute perfor- mance at 12:10 p.m., while Duran Duran caps off the day, playing from 10:30 p.m. to midnight. Hour-long sets by co- medians such as Wanda Sykes, Norm Macdonald and Kevin Nealon are scheduled throughout both days. A slate of chefs, most of whom will have 45-minute presentations, is also on tap. There have been some last-minute changes to the lineup. Los Lobos, the Eng- lish Beat and comedian Tom Green have pulled out in recent days. The complete schedule can be found at www.kaa- boocayman.com. Transportation to and from the festival grounds was recognized as a lo- gistical challenge from the start. Organizers have arranged for VIP and paid parking, as well as shuttle service from a number of locations. Here is a rundown: Seven Mile Beach shuttle bus Recommended by orga- nizers as the best option. Shuttle stops: Mar- garitaville, Mitzi’s and the Westin resort. Cost: US$10 round trip, per person, per day. Frequency: Run- ning continuously during KAABOO hours. Camana Bay park and ride Cost: US$10 per car to park at Camana Bay. Directions: Park in south Camana Bay, entering through Nexus Way, then take a shuttle to KAABOO. Kimpton south parking lot Cost: US$25 per car, per day. Passes are on sale online. Taxi/public bus Drop-off: A taxi or public bus will be available for drop-offs at the KAABOO Transportation Hub, which is on site and next to a gate that leads into KAABOO. No private vehicles: Private ve- hicles will not be permitted to drop off/pick up in the KAABOO Transportation Hub. Pedestrian access Walk on the beach (do not walk through the Kimpton) or along the path on the west side of Esterley Tibbetts Highway and down Raleigh Quay to enter KAABOO just south of Tiki Beach. Access KAABOO from the east side of Esterley Tibbetts Highway via an access path on the southeast side of the bridge; follow the signage to cross beneath the bridge. Organizers caution pe- destrians not to cross Es- terley Tibbetts Highway on foot. There is easy walking access on either side of the highway. Parking for premium pass holders Yacht Club Cost: Parking pass in- cluded in two-day pass price. One parking pass per order will be distributed. Parking pass must be picked up ahead of time, with your wristband, for entrance into the Yacht Club. Royal Palms Beach Club A specific shuttle bus for attendees with VIP passes will be available. Email amplify@kaaboocayman.com for more information. POLICE CAR DAMAGED, OFFICER INJURED IN HIT AND RUN A police officer suf- fered minor injuries when a vehicle traveling at high speed collided with the police car in which he was traveling Sat- urday morning. Police said the collision occurred around 3:30 a.m. when the police car had turned from Sticky Toffee Lane onto Batabano Road in West Bay. A car coming in the opposite direction lost control and skidded into their path, colliding with the right front section of the police car and then hitting a fence post. The driver left the scene of the accident, police said. The police car received extensive damage as a re- sult of the collision and the officer was treated for minor injuries. Other officers responded to the scene and con- ducted an investigation. Later that day, police ar- rested a 22-year-old West Bay woman on suspicion of leaving the scene of an ac- cident. The suspect was re- leased on police bail. The previous night, po- lice had made an arrest after another driver left the scene of an accident. Around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, police responded to a report of a collision in the parking lot of a res- taurant on South Church Street. In that accident, the driver of a blue Suzuki Swift reversed into a Mit- subishi Nativa and left the scene without exchanging information. Police obtained descrip- tions of the car and driver, and then located a man and vehicle nearby that fit those descriptions. The suspect, a 35-year- old Bodden Town man, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. The suspect pro- vided a breath sample of .210 percent, twice the legal limit, and is currently on police bail. “Leaving the scene of an accident only compounds the consequences you will face for reckless behavior on the road,” said Inspector Ian Yearwood, head of the Traffic and Roads Policing unit in a statement. “And this is not just about legal consequences, but also about the callousness of failing to show concern for those you have hit. Taking responsibility for your ac- tions is always the better thing to do.” KAABOO organizers have announced the schedule for acts as work to prepare the site for the festival continues. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion & Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” No multimillion-dollar advertising campaign could equal the sight of a mega-yacht flying the Cayman Islands flag while cruising off the coast of an exquisite location or moored in one of the world’s most prestigious ports. Cayman’s “red ensign” has proven to be one of our country’s most powerful marketing devices, making Cayman synonymous with the very idea of luxury. Perhaps what makes the red ensign such an effec- tive strategy is that it promotes Cayman: 1) to a much- desired demographic (wealthy investment class), 2) where they tend to congregate (exclusive desti- nations), and 3) via their own valued status symbols (mega-yachts). Many of the world’s most impressive, and expen- sive, vessels fly the Cayman flag, for practical reasons that are far more substantive than “brand awareness.” Insiders praise the speed and efficiency of our system, in which registry, safety and administration all are handled by a single entity. They recognize the flex- ibility allowed through Cayman’s Merchant Shipping Law, including registration types and ownership struc- tures, and the freedom to employ competent crew- members of any nationality. They appreciate Cayman’s tax neutrality and competitive fee environment and respect the technical expertise of Cayman’s Maritime Authority. Vessels registered in Cayman are consid- ered British, entitling them to British Consular services and Royal Naval assistance around the world. We welcome the news that the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry continues to grow, with 2,215 reg- istered vessels as at the end of last year, including 1,897 pleasure vessels and 318 commercial ships. As the Compass reported on Tuesday, Cayman’s dominance of this important market is expected to continue. Currently, owners have reserved names for 84 vessels, and about 45 percent of superyachts (longer than 98 feet) being built are under supervision of the Cayman registry. Perhaps because the shipping registry caters to such elite (and therefore numerically few) clientele, this segment of Cayman’s financial services sector is often overshadowed by other components of the industry. However, the registry can be considered a peer to lines of business such as company registration, banking and trusts, insurance and securities – and often plays a complementary role to these and other services. As is true categorically for the financial services industry, Cayman’s shipping registry supports a host of related businesses, including maritime consultants and service providers that handle administrative details and assist with financing and insuring the vessels, and with hiring capable crews. Elaborating upon Cayman’s strong seafaring tradi- tion, our shipping registry and related businesses open a range of maritime career opportunities, including naval architecture, marine engineering, maritime administration and other fields. Every year, the Maritime Authority (in partnership with the Ministry of Education) awards scholarships of up to $20,000 to young Caymanians pursuing under- graduate or postgraduate study in naval architecture, nautical or marine engineering, survey and adminis- trative studies at overseas institutions. Applications for this year’s awards are due Thursday (Jan. 31). For more information, visit www.cishipping.com/our-organ- isation/maritime-scholarships. Shipping registry holds Cayman’s banner high WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Negotiating with China may prove a fool’s journey At their Dec. 1 meeting in Buenos Aires, Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump agreed to launch yet another round of intense trade nego- tiations. Xi’s primary motiva- tion was to avoid an escala- tion in U.S. tariffs aimed at leveraging Beijing to imple- ment reforms. The Americans want to re- dress problems in four areas: market access for U.S. ex- ports; the treatment of for- eign investment in China and forced technology transfer; the broader protection of U.S. intellectual property in China including state-enabled in- tellectual property theft; and export subsidies. Much of this ground has been covered in past nego- tiations that yielded agree- ments that Beijing ultimately failed to honor. And much on the U.S. list flies in the face of Beijing’s Made in 2025 program to achieve global dominance in the chip- making and software tech- nologies that define artificial intelligence. True to form, Chinese of- ficials emerged from the Buenos Aires refusing to even admit they accepted the U.S. agenda. They character- ized these latest talks as fo- cusing on eliminating the limited tariffs the U.S. has al- ready imposed in exchange for beefing up purchases of U.S. agricultural products and energy. However, the U.S. tariffs are blamed for toughening economic conditions, and Xi, facing internal pressures from within the Communist Party for souring relations with the United States, now seems willing to address a broader range of issues. China’s mercantilist pol- icies, espionage and dis- criminatory private behavior are so embedded in the cul- ture of its authoritarian, so- cialist government and pri- vate sector it is hard to see how any agreement reached by the March 1 deadline can fundamentally resolve com- mercial tensions. And given the failure of past agree- ments, U.S. Trade Represen- tative Robert Lighthizer has placed unusually high em- phasis on verification mecha- nism for compliance. Ultimately, the winners will be Beijing and large U.S. multinationals, like Google and GM, who are so intoxi- cated with penetrating Chi- na’s large markets that they abandon national loyalty. And Wall Street financial houses, who arrange for the financing that outsources American jobs and recycles the dollars that China steals through its bilateral trade surplus into ownership of American businesses, real estate and securities. Those decadent interests are effectively represented in the Trump administration by Goldman Sachs alumni Sec- retary Steven Mnuchin. It is noteworthy, for ex- ample, that he was re- warded by Xi for brokering the Buenos Aires armistice with concessions loosening restrictions on the activities of U.S. banks in China. Those will further both Beijing’s and Wall Street’s agendas to move U.S. factories to the Middle Kingdom and do nothing to alleviate American complaints about China’s high-tech kleptocracy. It is important to rec- ognize Trump is negoti- ating with a repressive crim- inal regime. Beijing persecutes its Muslim and Buddhist minor- ities, harvests prisoners’ or- gans for transplant, tightly controls internet content, and monitors the actions and thoughts of its citizens to compel ideological purity and robotic behavior. Those should elicit cries of outrage and support for more substantial American policies punishing Chinese violations of human rights and inter- national commitments from activists like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and congres- sional Democrats generally. However, either they are too enamored with Chi- nese socialism or too bent on defeating Trump in 2020 to voice any support for his efforts. It all smells of decay, and Beijing may have time on its side. The midterm shellacking Republicans took after Trump campaigned so vigor- ously on their behalf likely confirmed in Xi’s mind that the president will soon be a lame duck and just needs to be slow-walked a bit longer. Still Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton both prom- ised to slap on big tariffs to move China to open its markets or at least unilater- ally reduce the $360 billion bilateral trade imbalance, and Xi is miscalculating if he believes he will have an easier time with the next U.S. president. In the end the current talks could produce a large and complex text that yields little significant progress in reducing the trade imbalance and only a temporary hold on some of China’s more egre- gious offenses. The 2015 agreement to end state-sponsored commer- cial espionage offers a cau- tionary tale. For a few years, Beijing redirected its pirates toward more vulnerable tar- gets in Asia and Europe but then, when President Barack Obama left office, resumed directly stealing American in- tellectual property. If that repeats with the agreements that come out of the current round of ne- gotiations, historians may conclude Buenos Aires was Trump’s Munich moment. Peter Morici is an economist and business professor at the University of Maryland, and a national columnist. © 2019, The Washington Times, LLC. PETER MORICI It is important to recognize Trump is negotiating with a repressive criminal regime.5 LOCAL®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019 One Honeywell Lynx touch wireless residential/ commercial security alarm panel with 4.3” full colour touchscreen display Three wireless door/window contacts (white) One Honeywell pet immune motion sensor (up to 40Lbs.) One 4 button remote keychain Full installation and demonstration 12 months parts warranty WIFI module for the mobile Apps. Honeywell Lynx Intruder Alarm Package Includes: The Honeywell intruder system is linked to our 24/7 monitoring centre to keep your family and your property safe. Upon system activation our experienced monitoring station staff will handle the situation. The Total Connect app allows you complete control of your security system from your mobile device. To find out more about this special offer contact the Security Centre on 949-0004 or email info@security.ky *The free alarm system and installation is available to new clients when signing up for a 12 month monitoring contract ($660 residential - $860 commercial). 24/7 Alarm Monitoring Secure and protect your property with the Honeywell Lynx intruder protection system. Controllable from your mobile device. Officer sues RCIPS over fractured skull Police never caught person who threw rock KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com A police officer who suf- fered a serious head injury while on duty in 2013 is now suing the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service, claiming that the RCIPS was negligent in failing to provide him with proper headwear protection. The officer, constable Fitzroy Talbert, was re- sponding to an incident at the Pirates Cove Bar in East End around 1 a.m. on March 22, 2013. Although he was pro- vided with a bulletproof vest, Mr. Talbert did not receive any form of protective head- wear, his lawsuit states. The RCIPS also did not conduct a risk assessment of the in- cident reported at the Pirates Cove Bar before sending of- ficers there, according to his lawsuit. When Mr. Talbert and an- other constable exited their police vehicle, they noticed a large crowd gathering out- side the bar. Mr. Talbert’s lawsuit states that he no- ticed a number of individuals there that “were of interest” to the police. But suddenly and without warning, an unidentified person threw a rock at the officers, striking Mr. Talbert and fracturing his skull. Mr. Talbert was knocked un- conscious and immediately taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital for treatment. There, he received emer- gency surgery to remove a part of his skull and bone fragments that had gone un- derneath brain tissue, his lawsuit states. Police arrested a 19-year-old man in relation to the incident a few days later, but the teenager was never charged. Police con- firmed on Tuesday that no one was ever charged. Since the incident, Mr. Tal- bert has undergone exten- sive medical and rehabilita- tive treatment. Other effects from the incident have in- cluded seizures, severe head- aches, difficulties speaking and walking, deterioration in eyesight, muscle spasms, memory loss, depression, a loss of self-confidence, short- ened concentration span, and an inability to exercise, according to his lawsuit, which is posted on the site OffshoreAlert. “Had the [RCIPS] provided the Plaintiff with protec- tive headwear equipment at the time of the incident, his head injuries could have been avoided,” his lawsuit states. Mr. Talbert, who is still a constable, is seeking gen- eral and special damages, as well as claims for medical treatment costs. Since the incident, Mr. Talbert has undergone extensive medical and rehabilitative treatment. FIVE CARS BROKEN INTO OVERNIGHT IN BODDEN TOWN Police are investigating thefts from five vehicles that occurred overnight on Sat- urday in the Savannah Av- enue area of Bodden Town. The break-ins occurred on Savannah Avenue, Jim Bodden Avenue, Lancelot Drive and Harvest Avenue, and various quantities of cash and personal items were taken from the cars, po- lice said. In two of the break- ins, the thieves smashed a window to gain entry, and in another the locking mecha- nism on the door was dam- aged. The other two vehicles had been left unlocked. The RCIPS is reminding the public to avoid leaving valuables in their vehicles, especially overnight and where they are visible to pedestrians. “We have increased our patrols in the area in re- sponse to these incidents, which we are actively in- vestigating,” said Acting In- spector Fernando Soto, area commander for the eastern districts. “We ask those in the community to report any suspicious persons or ac- tivity, especially during over- night hours.” Anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the Savannah area is asked to contact the Bodden Town Police Station at 947-2220. DEFENSE CASE AT EL CHAPO TRIAL CLOCKS IN AT 30 MINUTES NEW YORK (AP) – After a prosecution that spanned 11 weeks and had its share of bombshells, the defense case at the U.S. trial of Mex- ican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman clocked in on Tuesday at a mere 30 minutes. Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman called one witness and en- tered one document into ev- idence before resting the de- fense’s case. The jury was sent home for the day with closing arguments set to begin on Wednesday. Guzman could face life in prison if convicted of drug and murder conspiracy charges that his lawyers say are fabricated. It’s not unheard of for de- fense lawyers to call few or even no witnesses. But Guz- man’s fleeting defense was striking because it followed a sweeping one by the gov- ernment that featured 56 witnesses, including col- orful cooperators who de- scribed how the notorious boss of the Sinaloa cartel ran his cocaine-dealing empire with an iron fist. There were tales of Guzman running naked through an underground tunnel to evade a manhunt, of hefty cash bribes to top Mex- ican government and military officials and of the defendant personally torturing and as- sassinating his enemies in fits of rage. Prosecutors described the evidence as overwhelming, noting in a court filing Monday that it included wit- ness testimony, text mes- sages, recorded calls, drug seizures and handwritten letters that the government says prove Guzman “was a member of a narcotics con- spiracy as one of the leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel.” By contrast, jurors watched Lichtman briefly question an FBI agent about a 2017 de- briefing of one of Guzman’s cocaine suppliers – govern- ment witness Jorge Cifuentes – who has given shifting ac- counts about his claim that a U.S. intelligence officer once revealed sensitive investiga- tive information with him. The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS surreal since Parliament re- jected May’s divorce deal two weeks ago, leaving Britain lurching toward a cliff- edge “no-deal” departure from the bloc. Businesses fear economic chaos if Britain crashes out of the bloc without a deal regulating the terms of the divorce. The amendment ruling out a “no-deal” departure passed 318 votes to 310 on Tuesday night. It is not le- gally binding but has polit- ical force as an expression of the will of Parliament. Trying to break the Brexit deadlock, earlier on Tuesday May urged lawmakers to send the EU an “emphatic message” that they would not accept an Irish border guar- antee in the withdrawal deal – a provision May and the EU both approved late last year. The House of Commons debated and voted Tuesday on competing proposals for next steps that have been submitted by both pro-Brexit and pro-EU legislators. May insisted her agree- ment could still win Par- liament’s backing if it was tweaked to alleviate concerns about the Irish border mea- sure, known as the backstop. The backstop would keep the U.K. in a customs union with the EU in order to remove the need for checks along the border between the U.K.’s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland after Britain leaves the bloc. The border is crucial to the divorce deal because it will be the only land frontier between the U.K. and the EU after Brexit, and because the free flow of people and goods underpins both the local economy and Northern Ire- land’s peace process. Opposition to the back- stop by pro-Brexit lawmakers – who fear it will trap Britain in regulatory lockstep with the EU – helped sink May’s deal on Jan. 15, when Par- liament rejected it in a 432 to 202 vote. May vowed to go to Brus- sels and seek “significant and legally binding change” to the backstop. May’s office said that might include an end date to ensure it is temporary or an exit clause for Britain. Both those ideas have been repeatedly rejected by the EU. Ireland’s European Affairs Minister, Helen McEntee, said British politicians needed to show “a bit of realism.” “There can be no change to the backstop. It was ne- gotiated over 18 months with the U.K. and by the U.K.,” she said. May’s approach drew praise from “hard-Brexit”- backing lawmakers who have often opposed her. Conserva- tive lawmaker Steve Baker, a member of euroskeptic fac- tion the European Research Group, said the group had agreed to back the amend- ment “to see if the PM can land a deal that will work.” But the idea was scorned by their pro-EU colleagues. Green Party legislator Caroline Lucas accused May of chasing “heated-up fanta- sies that have already been rejected by the EU.” Lawmakers voted on a total of seven Brexit proposals Tuesday, including the border change supported by May and several measures that seek to rule out a “no-deal” Brexit. Parliamentarians backed two of those proposals. Much of the business world says a no-deal Brexit would cause economic chaos by eliminating existing EU trade agreements and im- posing tariffs, customs checks and other barriers be- tween the U.K. and the EU, its main export market. Most members of Parlia- ment oppose leaving without a deal, but they rejected sev- eral proposals that tried to wrest control of the Brexit process from the govern- ment and give it to Parlia- ment so that lawmakers can stop Britain crashing out of the EU without a deal. A motion by Labour Party lawmaker Yvette Cooper that sought to postpone Brit- ain’s departure was defeated, 321 votes to 298 votes, after some Labour members sided with the government, wor- ried about being seen as ob- structing Brexit. Tuesday’s votes will not mark the end of Britain’s tur- moil over Brexit. May said if she has not struck a new Brexit deal by Feb. 13, Parlia- ment would get to vote, again, on what should happen next. rights of access to Bri- tannia owners. Dart closed the golf course and the Beach Suites in 2016. The Beach Suites is on the brink of reopening as an unbranded boutique hotel but the golf course re- mains closed. Paul Simon, an attorney who previously represented the Britannia owners, said Tuesday he had not seen the court filing and could not comment. Mr. Simon outlined the concerns of the Bri- tannia owners following the sale of the amenities to Dart in 2016. In a press statement at the time, he said, “The home owners at Britannia have over the course of the last 30 years, bought their prop- erties in good faith with the knowledge that there are certain rights registered in their favour to use the fa- cilities at the Britannia Golf Club and Grand Cayman Beach Suites.” Dart has not outlined its long-term plans for the properties. Lawyers for Dart indicate in the lawsuit that some of the facilities in question no longer exist. For example, the tennis courts linked to the Hyatt property have not been restored since Hur- ricane Ivan. In a press statement Tuesday, Dart said: “There has been a disagreement between Dart and the Bri- tannia residents as to the correct legal status of the re- strictive agreements. “Over the course of the last two years, there have been meetings and commu- nication between Dart and Britannia representatives to discuss options for reso- lution of the issue, but the parties failed to reach an agreement.” The proceeding will permit the participation of the three Britannia strata corporations and all Bri- tannia landowners who choose to participate. Dart asserts in its legal application that the then Registrar of Lands improp- erly performed his legal du- ties by registering these types of agreements on the relevant property registers and that Dart is entitled in law to have the restrictive agreements removed from the property registers of the acquired properties. The statement adds, “The Cayman Islands has a reli- able and respected land ti- tles system which has been at the core of the jurisdic- tion’s appeal to both local and international prop- erty investors. In addition, Cayman courts are interna- tionally recognized for deliv- ering fair and thorough de- cisions in complex disputes. “Dart has every confi- dence that the Grand Court will appropriately consider and decide the important legal issues involving the restrictive agreements and that such decision will give clarity to what Dart regards as an open legal issue in this jurisdiction.” been hired for the human re- sources job at the date it was first awarded, in late Sep- tember 2017. The appeals commission also ordered that the non-Caymanian be re- moved from his position, ef- fective Feb. 14, 2018. However, the Ministry of Education did not comply with the appeals commis- sion’s orders, and filed a legal challenge to the commission’s order in May, seeking to have the Grand Court nullify the orders – a filing in which the ministry called the commis- sion’s orders “outrageous” and “in defiance of logic.” In May, the Grand Court accepted the ministry’s ap- plication to have a judi- cial review, but a hearing date has not yet been set for the dispute. In October, attorneys Na- tasha Bodden and Clayton Phuran filed another judi- cial review application on be- half of the Caymanian job ap- plicant, seeking to have the Grand Court enforce the ap- peals commission’s orders. In that application, the Caymanian calls former Edu- cation Ministry Chief Officer Christen Suckoo’s decision not to hire her “unlawful.” She also called the hiring process “unfair.” One of the ministry’s rea- sons for hiring the non-Cay- manian was because that ap- plicant had prior experience as a HR manager of a large team of employees. However, the non-Caymanian’s only relevant experience was his seven months as the minis- try’s acting HR director, ac- cording to the Caymanian ap- plicant’s challenge. The Caymanian’s judi- cial review application also stated that she scored 4.5 points higher than the non- Caymanian during a panel interview. The Caymanian scored the highest of all ap- plicants, while the non-Cay- manian scored fourth highest of five shortlisted candidates, according to the judicial re- view application. “The Plaintiff scored the highest and the only sug- gested excuse for not ap- pointing her is the basis that the successful, non-Cayma- nian candidate had experi- ence with a large team, which was gained by the same acting in the open position for seven months, during the time of the recruitment pro- cess,” the Caymanian’s judi- cial review application states. “The experience gained in such circumstances should not be a relevant factor for consideration, it was unfair advantage gained by an un- fair process.” On Thursday, Justice In- grid Mangatal accepted the Caymanian’s judicial re- view application, and or- dered that both applications be heard concurrently. She also ordered that a directions hearing for both matters be set on the “first convenient date” after March 11. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Gov’t hiring dispute to be settled in combined hearing UK lawmakers vote for Brexit changes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Dart heads to court over Britannia beach and golf rights Homes line the now-closed Britannia Golf Course. There is an ongoing dispute over the use of the land. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 WORLD®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 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 Trump friend Stone pleads not guilty in Russia probe case WASHINGTON (AP) – Roger Stone, a longtime adviser and confidant of President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges in the Russia investigation after a publicity-filled few days spent torching the probe as politically motivated. The political operative and self-proclaimed dirty trickster appeared for his arraignment at the federal courthouse in Washington. He faces charges that he lied to lawmakers, en- gaged in witness tampering and obstructed a congres- sional investigation into pos- sible coordination between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Stone made no public statements as he arrived for the hearing in a black SUV. He waved to a small crowd of supporters chanting that he did nothing wrong and holding up glowing photos of him. And he largely ignored a group of protesters yelling “Lock him up” and carrying signs reading “dirty traitor.” Stone was arrested early Friday at his Florida home. He appeared in federal court in Washington amid new signals about special counsel Robert Mueller probe’s endgame. Mueller’s continued in- terest in hearing from Stone aide Andrew Miller, who is fighting the grand jury sub- poena, indicates the special counsel could be pursuing additional criminal charges against Stone or others re- lated to WikiLeaks’ release of hacked material during the 2016 election. A self-described dirty trickster, Stone is the sixth Trump aide charged in Muel- ler’s investigation. The indict- ment does not accuse Stone of coordinating with Russia or with WikiLeaks on the re- lease of hacked Democratic emails. But it does allege that he misled lawmakers about his pursuit of those com- munications and interest in them. The anti-secrecy web- site published emails in the weeks before the 2016 presi- dential election that the U.S. says were stolen from Demo- crats by Russian operatives. Stone, who has alleged without evidence that the FBI used “Gestapo tactics” in arresting him, said he did nothing more than exercise his First Amendment rights to drum up interest with voters about the WikiLeaks disclo- sures. He said he never dis- cussed the issue with Trump. “That’s what I engaged in. It’s called politics and they haven’t criminalized it, at least not yet,” Stone said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” “All I did was take pub- licly available information and try to hype it to get it as much attention as possible, because I had a tip, the infor- mation was politically signif- icant and that it would come in October,” he added. It’s unclear whether Muel- ler’s prosecutors will look to have Stone locked up pending trial or whether they will simply recommend condi- tions that would allow him to remain free on bond. It’s also possible that U.S. Mag- istrate Deborah Robinson might impose a gag order to prevent Stone from dis- cussing the case. WASHINGTON (AP) – The spe- cial counsel’s Russia probe is “close to being completed,” the acting attorney general said Monday in the first of- ficial sign that the investiga- tion may be wrapping up. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker’s com- ments were a departure for the Justice Department, which rarely comments on the state of the investiga- tion into whether President Donald Trump’s campaign coordinated with Russia during the 2016 presiden- tial election. “The investigation is, I think, close to being com- pleted,” Whitaker said Monday at the end of an unrelated news confer- ence in Washington. He said he had been “fully briefed” on the probe. Whitaker did not elabo- rate or give any timetable for the end of a nearly two-year investigation that has shad- owed Trump’s presidency. So far, special counsel Robert Mueller has charged 34 people, including several close to the president. But he has yet to accuse anyone close to the Trump cam- paign of conspiring with the Kremlin to hurt Demo- crat Hillary Clinton and help Trump win the election. Whitaker, who is seen as a Trump ally, took over the Jus- tice Department – and over- sight of the Mueller probe – after former Attorney Gen- eral Jeff Sessions resigned at Trump’s request in November. Whitaker has drawn criti- cism for not recusing himself from the Russia investiga- tion, even though he has pub- licly criticized it in the past. According to Justice Department regulations, Mueller has to provide a re- port to the attorney general at the conclusion of his in- vestigation laying out his prosecution decisions. The evidence so far shows that a broad range of Trump associates had Russia-re- lated contacts during the 2016 presidential campaign and transition period, and several lied about the com- munication. Those contacts, according to Mueller’s indict- ments and U.S. intelligence agencies, occurred while the Russian government carried out a multifaceted effort to influence the 2016 presiden- tial campaign and attempt to sway it Trump’s way. MUELLER PROBE IS ‘CLOSE TO BEING COMPLETED,’ ACTING AG SAYS Former campaign adviser for President Donald Trump, Roger Stone, arrives at Federal Court, Tuesday in Washington. - PHOTO: AP8 WORLD®IONAL WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS US sanctions add pressure on Venezuela’s embattled Maduro CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – International challenges to the legitimacy of President Nicolas Maduro’s govern - ment began to bite harder on Tuesday as the United States handed control over Venezuela’s U.S. bank ac- counts to opposition chal- lenger Juan Guaido and Russia announced it expects Venezuela to have problems paying its debts. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo certified that Guaido, the congressional leader who has declared him- self interim president, has authority to take control of bank accounts that Venezu- ela’s government has in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any other U.S.-in- sured banks. Pompeo said the certi- fication will “help Venezu- ela’s legitimate government safeguard those assets for the benefit of the Venezu- elan people.” Guaido has been recog- nized as the nation’s rightful leader by two dozen nations that contend the re-elec- tion of socialist President Nicolas Maduro was a sham, in part because his stron- gest opponents were barred from running. Violent street demon- strations erupted last week when Guaido during a mas- sive opposition rally in Ca- racas declared that he had assumed presidential powers and planned to hold fresh elections, ending Maduro’s “dictatorship.” The United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Argen- tina, Peru, Ecuador and Par- aguay have officially ac- knowledged Guaido as the legitimate interim head of Venezuela, while countries including Russia and China back Maduro. Inside Venezuela, Maduro holds the reins of power with the armed forces still loyal despite an opposition push to lure their support by pro- posing amnesty for anybody who supports Guaido’s tran- sitional government. Maduro accuses the United States of leading an open coup to oust him and ex- ploit Venezuela’s oil reserves, the largest in the world. On Monday, the U.S. hit Venezuela’s state-owned oil company with sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on Maduro to leave office. Guaido said in an inter- view with CNN in Spanish on Monday that Venezuela’s opposition-controlled con- gress had approved a mea- sure asking foreign nations to ensure the country’s assets aren’t “looted” by Maduro. Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Sergei Storchak told Rus- sian state news agencies Tuesday “there will probably be problems” for Venezuela in paying its debts. Storchak said Venezuela owes Russia $3 billion, with repayments twice a year of around $100 million, with the next due in March. Russia also has extensive commer- cial interests in Venezuela, including state oil company Rosneft’s partnership with Petroleos de Venezuela SA, which was placed under U.S. sanctions Monday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kremlin shares the view of the Venezuelan government that the sanctions are “illegal” and sees them as a tool of unfair competition on part of the United States. In Spain, state-owned shipbuilder Navantia said it has called back four Spanish technicians from Venezuela who were readying for final delivery a navy patrol ship sold 14 years ago to the Ven- ezuelan government. A company spokesman said the recall does not change the shipbuilder’s plan to deliver the vessel, which is called Eternal Commander Hugo Chavez. It is the last of eight similar ships that the former Venezuelan leader bought from Spain in 2005 for $1.4 billion. Record-breaking cold coming to the Midwest MILWAUKEE (AP) – Extreme cold and record-breaking tem- peratures are crawling into parts of the Midwest after a powerful snowstorm pounded the region, and forecasters warn that the frigid weather could be life-threatening. Minneapolis Public Schools officials have canceled classes through Wednesday, when the region is expected to experience frigidly low temperatures not seen in a quarter century. Hundreds of Michigan schools were closed Tuesday, including in Detroit, while Chicago Public Schools canceled Wednesday classes because of the antici- pated cold snap. “You’re talking about frostbite and hypothermia issues very quickly, like in a matter of minutes, maybe seconds,” said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the Weather Prediction Center. Subzero tempera- tures began Tuesday, but Wednesday is expected to be the worst. Wind chills in northern Illinois could fall to negative 55 degrees Fahr- enheit, which the National Weather Service called “pos- sibly life threatening.” Min- nesota temperatures could hit minus 30 degrees F with a wind chill of negative 60 F. The potentially record- breaking low temperature forecast in Milwaukee is negative 28 degrees F, with a wind chill as low as nega- tive 50 F. The current record of minus 26 degrees F was set in 1996. “That’s 40 degrees below normal,” Hurley said. The unusually frigid weather is attributed to a sudden warming far above the North Pole. A blast of warm air from misplaced Moroccan heat last month made the normally super chilly air temperatures above the North Pole rapidly in- crease. That split the polar vortex into pieces, which then started to wander, said Judah Cohen, a winter storm expert for Atmospheric Envi- ronmental Research. One of those polar vortex pieces is responsible for the subzero temperatures across the Midwest this week. National security adviser John Bolton listens as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin speaks during a press briefing about Venezuela at the White House, Monday. - PHOTO: AP The United States, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Paraguay have officially acknowledged Guaido as the legitimate interim head of Venezuela, while countries including Russia and China back Maduro. Tow truck personnel work to remove an overturned semi in the median of Interstate 90 Monday southeast of Rochester, Minnesota. – PHOTO: AP9 WORLD®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30, 2019 INVITATION TO AUDITION FOR PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITY AT RED SKY AT NIGHT 2 MAR 2019 Come out and audition to appear on one of the many stages located throughout the event! ALL MUSICAL GENRES, STYLES AND TYPES ARE WELCOME! Auditions are limited to 90 seconds HARQUAIL THEATRE OPEN AUDITIONS - SAT 2 FEB – 10AM TO 5PM & SUN 3 FEB – 1PM TO 4PM TO REGISTER AND FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL CNCF@ARTSCAYMAN.ORG OR CALL (345) 949-5477 Most in US see nation on wrong track PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) – The state of the union is dark. A large majority of Ameri- cans say they are pessimistic about the state of the country and few expect things will get better in the year ahead, according to a poll released Tuesday by The Associ- ated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. A week before President Donald Trump delivers his assessment of the nation in a State of the Union speech to Congress delayed by a re- cord-setting government shutdown, the survey found just 28 percent of Americans think the country is headed in the right direction. Meanwhile, 70 percent say America is headed the wrong way. That is up from 59 per- cent in December, with the percentage of those saying the country is on the wrong track now at its highest point in about a year. A majority of Ameri- cans, 52 percent, also believe things are going to get worse over the next year. While Democrats are far more likely than Re- publicans to feel negative about the direction of the country, even Republican pessimism is on the rise. The poll found 55 percent of Republicans and just 9 percent of Democrats think the country is headed in the right direction. A month ago, 69 percent of Republi- cans and 16 percent of Dem- ocrats said the same. Jim Wadkowski, an 80-year-old self-described conservative from Fountain, Colorado, said he approves of the job Trump is doing but sees the nation going the wrong way. “All they do is fight. If one party thinks it’s good, the other thinks it’s bad. If the president thinks it’s good, the party opposed to him thinks it’s bad,” he said of the na- tion’s leaders. “They don’t do anything for the people.” The remarkable level of national gloom is even be- ginning to extend to how Americans view the economy, once a relative bright spot in America’s mood. Since De- cember’s swoon in the stock market, a slim majority of Americans still has positive feelings about the national economy, but many expect it to decline in the next year. The AP-NORC survey was conducted during the longest government shut- down in U.S. history, the re- sult of Trump’s desire to de- liver on his campaign vow to build a wall along the U.S.- Mexico border running head- long into the commitment of House Speaker Nancy Pe- losi and House Democrats to stop him. When Trump delivers the State of the Union address delayed by that political fight next month, he will speak to a nation both in need of a pep talk and deeply skep- tical of him as a messenger. The survey found that 34 per- cent of Americans approve of the way Trump is handling his job as president, com- pared with 65 percent who disapprove. Carrie Montgomery, a 40-year-old learning spe- cialist from Pawtucket, said she blames Trump for what she sees as an in- crease in “people’s bold- ness in speaking hatefully to other people.” “I’m concerned about the oppression and hatred that the president drives in this country – the safety of citi- zens and their ability to ac- cess their basic human rights,” she said. Trump’s approval rating is near his all-time low as pres- ident, as measured by AP- NORC polling since he took office two years ago. But the survey finds the nation’s pes- simism reaches beyond the recent budget standoff and its opinion of the president, as doubts about the economy appear to be growing. For the first time since February 2018, Americans are significantly more likely to disapprove of Trump’s han- dling of the economy than approve. In October, and for much of the last year, about half of Americans ap- proved of Trump’s handling of the economy. Democrats are staunchly negative in their ratings of the president overall and on most issues, but about 2 in 10 had approved of the pres- ident on the economy last year. Now, only 14 percent of Democrats do so. Americans in gen- eral feel better about the state of the economy than about the country in gen- eral, but also find increasing anxiety about what will happen in the next year. About half of Ameri- cans, 53 percent, describe the economy as generally good. But looking ahead, they are more likely to ex- pect the economy to get worse than better, 44 per- cent to 27 percent. Another 27 percent expect no change. A month ago, Americans were evenly divided on whether the economy would im- prove or worsen. The poll shows 8 in 10 Republicans call the cur- rent economy good, while just 37 percent of Democrats say the same. And 56 per- cent of Republicans expect the economy to get better in the next year, while 67 per- cent of Democrats expect it to get worse. Early in 2018, 68 per- cent of Republicans expected the economy to improve and 50 percent of Democrats ex- pected it to worsen. The poll found 55 percent of Republicans and just 9 percent of Democrats think the country is headed in the right direction. A month ago, 69 percent of Republicans and 16 percent of Democrats said the same. BRAZIL ISSUES 5 ARREST WARRANTS IN DEADLY MINE DAM COLLAPSE BRUMADINHO, Brazil (AP) – Brazilian authorities issued arrest warrants Tuesday for five people in connection with a dam collapse that killed at least 65 people as it plastered part of a city with reddish-brown mud and iron ore mining waste. The orders were issued in Sao Paulo and in the state of Minas Gerais, where the collapse happened. They came as rescue crews began a fifth day searching for sur- vivors or bodies, and some families began burying their dead. Local media reported the warrants included three em- ployees of Vale, the mining company that owned and operated the waste dam that collapsed. In a statement, Vale said it was collaborating with au- thorities in the investigation. However, a spokeswoman could not immediately con- firm that those being sought worked for the company. In ordering the ar- rests, Minas Gerais judge Perla Saliba Brito wrote that the disaster could have been avoided. It’s not believable that “dams of such magnitude, run by one of the largest mining companies in the world, would break sud- denly without any indication of vulnerability,” the judge wrote in the decision, ac- cording to news portal UOL. The dam was part of an iron ore production complex. Vale is the world’s largest producer of the ore, which is the raw ingredient for steel. A woman covered in mud protests against Brazilian mining company Vale at the entrance of the company office, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday. – PHOTO: APNext >