ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2019 High of 87 Low of 73 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 AT LONG LAST, AN UPDATE ABOUT ELECTRONIC RECORDS WORLD | PAGE 9 TRUMP’S FORMER LAWYER MICHAEL COHEN TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS Regulated in the Cayman Islands as a licensed insurer by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Incorporated in Guernsey under Company Registration No. 27151. Registered Head Office address: Generali Worldwide Insurance Company Limited, Generali House, Hirzel Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands GY1 4PA. Head Office: Regulated in Guernsey as a licensed Insurer by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission under the Insurance Business (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 (as amended). Generali Worldwide Insurance Company Limited is part of the Generali Group, listed in the Italian Insurance Group Register under number 026. Call us to learn how we can support your business today. For more on our health insurance plans contact donovon.kellyman@ihs.ky CALICO’S BARKERS PLAN WILL NOT WORK, REPORT WARNS Dart open to amending plans after report JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Plans to remove 180,000 square feet of sea- grass to create a swimming area at Barkers beach are unworkable and should be rejected, the Department of Environment has advised. The Coastal Works Application was sub- mitted by Calico Jack’s owner Handel Whit- taker as part of a plan to move the popular beach bar to West Bay. The plan was backed by the Dart group, which owns the land. The Department of En- vironment has highlighted multiple concerns about the proposal and has advised Cabinet it should not be approved. A report to Cabinet, posted on the DoE’s website this week, suggests the proposal would cause significant habitat loss within a Replenishment Zone, which is a protected area. It adds that the plan is simply not fea- sible and would not achieve the desired ef- fect of creating a tourist-friendly beach off Barkers. Representatives of the Dart group and Mr. Whittaker have indicated they are open to amending their plans in the wake of the re- port. A spokeswoman for Dart said the com- pany had met with the DoE this week to begin “dialogue on possible alternative options.” The DoE report suggests that the Barkers coastline is not suitable for the kind of com- mercial development envisaged. Animal patrols preach responsible dog ownership JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Police and animal control officers did not have to look too far to find loose or unregistered dogs as they pa- trolled the Rock Hole area Wednesday. Amid a rise in “ferocious dog” at- tacks, both on humans and other pets, police have partnered with the Department of Agriculture to go into impacted neighborhoods to preach a message about responsible dog ownership. Some of the animals they en- countered did not appear too fe- rocious. One puppy wandered out of its driveway to greet the offi- cers. In other homes, muscular dogs strained against leashes or sheltered in kennels, unconcerned by the offi- cers’ presence. Despite the relative calm, many of the dogs were unregistered and sev- eral of them were unleashed. Even the most passive dog can be a problem in the wrong situation, ac- cording to Acting Sergeant Jonathan Kern, who is leading the joint opera- tion along with the DOA’s Animal Con- trol Officer Erik Bodden. The two men, accompanied by staff from the DOA, handed out pam- phlets to owners in the neighborhood, registered dogs on the spot and gave advice to pet owners. Sergeant Kern said there had been a significant rise in incidents in- volving stray or loose dogs over the past few months. He said it was im- portant that pet owners kept their dogs under control and under their care, rather than letting them roam. “We are starting off with an edu- cation campaign on responsible dog ownership because we have had a worrying increase in the number of Police helicopter out of action after aborted takeoff The police helicopter is out of action after sustaining damage during an aborted takeoff Tuesday. Engineers were still assessing the extent of the damage Wednesday afternoon and the cause of the incident remains under investigation. A police spokeswoman said there had been a reported technical failure immedi- ately after takeoff. No one was injured in the incident. “The sudden aborted takeoff caused the tail of the helicopter to strike the ground, causing damage,” she said in a statement. The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday while the helicopter was lifting off for a routine deployment. Later Tuesday, po- lice, government and safety officials were assessing the damage, along with Police Commissioner Derek Byrne. The U.K. Air Accident Investigation Board is tasked with investigating the cause of the incident. Senior engineers from the helicopter manufacturer Airbus were scheduled to arrive on island Wednesday to assess the damage and conduct their own investiga- tion. Meantime, the helicopter remains out of service. “The period of downtime for the heli- copter is unknown, pending damage assess- ment and the availability of replacement parts,” the police spokeswoman added. A second helicopter, purchased with as- sistance from the U.K. government as part of a larger plan to expand the fleet and improve search and rescue capability in the region, is expected to arrive on island late summer. Acting Sergeant John Kern and Animal Welfare Officer Erik Bodden greet a dog at the entrance to a home in Rock Hole. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » Police and Cayman Islands Airports Authority officials examine the police helicopter after it was damaged when its tail hit the ground at Owen Roberts International Airport on Tuesday. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 LOCAL®IONAL THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 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. - THURSDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD (PG) 1:30 I 4:05 3D I 6:40 I 9:15 3D HAPPY DEATH DAY 2U (PG13) 1:40 I 4:50 VIP I 7:00 I 10:10 VIP FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY (PG13) 1:45 I 10:00 ALITA BATTLE ANGEL (PG13) 2:00 VIP I 4:10 3D I 7:20 VIP I 9:30 TOTAL DHAMAAL (PG) 12:30 I 3:30 I 6:30 I 9:30 THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART (PG) 4:25 I 7:00 WHAT MEN WANT (R) 1:15 I 4:00 I 6:50 I 9:40 NICARAGUA FREES PRISONERS AHEAD OF TALKS WITH OPPOSITION MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) – The government of Nica- raguan President Daniel Ortega on Wednesday re- leased dozens of people who had been arrested in last year’s crackdown on street protests. The releases came just hours before talks between the government and oppo- nents were scheduled to begin, seven months after the last round of dialog broke down and the gov- ernment broke up protest roadblockades. Rights groups estimate that at least 770 people have been arrested in re- lation to the anti-govern- ment protests that broke out last April over pen- sion reforms and quickly escalated to demands that Ortega step down. Several vans car- rying people in in- mates’ uniforms left the Modelo prison in Ma- nagua Wednesday. Fami- lies and lawyers of sev- eral prisoners said the released inmates had turned up at their homes. However, there was no clear information on the number released. Some of the inmates waved small blue-and- white Nicaraguan flags, a frequent gesture in last year’s protests. Govern- ment supporters prefer the red-and-black banners of Ortega’s Sandinista party. The previous round of talks, from May 16 to July 9, was attended by stu- dent, business and civic groups organized in the Civic Alliance. Many of the leaders of the 2018 protests that led to the talks have been arrested or gone into hiding or exile. The Civic Alliance del- egation to the talks at- tended a Mass early Wednesday before heading to the venue, a business in- stitute south of the capital. Report slams Colombia for promoting officer tied to slayings BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – Human Rights Watch is de- nouncing Colombia’s govern- ment for appointing at least nine officers to key army po- sitions despite credible evi- dence implicating them in se- rious human rights violations during the country’s long civil conflict. The human rights orga- nization released a report Wednesday condemning the government of President Ivan Duque for promoting Gen. Nicasio de Jesus Martinez Espinel as army chief and promoting eight other offi- cers linked to abuses. The men are “credibly im- plicated” in what is known as the “false positive” scandal, in which security forces killed several thousand civilians during the height of the mili- tary’s offensive against leftist guerrillas and counted them as rebels to inflate combat deaths to obtain coveted bo- nuses, the group said. “The Colombian govern- ment should be investigating officers credibly linked to ex- trajudicial executions, not ap- pointing them to the army’s top command positions,” said Jose Miguel Vivanco, Amer- icas director for Human Rights Watch. He said their appoint- ments send a troubling mes- sage to troops: “That engaging in these abuses may not be an obstacle for career success.” Martinez Espinel de- nied any wrongdoing and in response to the report said he trusted fully in Co- lombia’s justice system to clear his name. “God and my subalterns know how we’ve acted,” he said. It’s not the first time Human Rights Watch has ac- cused Colombia’s government of turning a blind eye to war- time violations in making army promotions. In 2017, the group expressed concern that four colonels and one general strongly linked to the extraju- dicial killings were on a list of candidates for promotions. Colombian courts have convicted hundreds of mostly low-ranking soldiers for their roles in the “false posi- tive” killings but more senior army officers have largely es- caped unscathed. The country’s special peace tribunal is also re- viewing the cases. The court was established following the signing of a 2016 peace deal with the former Revolu- tionary Armed Forces of Co- lombia to end Latin America’s longest-running armed con- flict. Those who fully confess to any crimes are unlikely to spend any time in jail. Human Rights Watch notes that Martinez Espinel was second-in-command of the 10th Brigade during years for which prosecutors have opened investigations into 23 killings. The group said a docu- ment it had obtained indi- cates Martinez Espinel cer- tified the payment of about $400 to an informant who provided information leading to “excellent results” in which two purported guerrillas were killed. Martinez Espinel said he had “no idea” if he had made the payments. Human Rights Watch said courts concluded the two dead were Hermes Carillo, an indigenous civilian, and 13-year-old Nohemi Pacheco. Two soldiers and a former paramilitary were convicted in 2011 of abducting them from their home, murdering them and putting weapons on their bodies so that they appeared to be rebels killed in combat. Under international law commanders can be held re- sponsible for crimes carried out by subordinates that they knew about or should have known about. Train collision in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro injures 9 RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – Two commuter trains collided just north of downtown Rio de Ja- neiro on Wednesday morning, leaving nine injured. Firefighters worked for over six hours to rescue the train’s driver, who was caught under the wreckage. About a dozen firefighters crowded around the point where the two trains were mashed together, working over a narrow opening to free the driver, at one point bringing in a welder. The Rio fire department confirmed the driver was still alive. According to Globo television, the driver was at- tached to an oxygen bal- loon to help him breath and his family was present at the station. One train smashed into the back of another at 6:50 a.m. local time at the Sao Cristovao station, local train authorities said. The Rio fire department said that the eight other injured people were brought to hospitals. The cause of the accident was under investigation. CORRECTION A story that appeared in the Wednesday, Feb. 27 edi- tion of the Compass carried the incorrect date for the up- coming CUC West Bay Sunrise 5K run. The run, which will raise funds for the Sunrise Adult Training Centre and the Cayman Islands Athletic Association, will be held on Sat- urday, March 2. Rights groups estimate that at least 770 people have been arrested in relation to the anti-government protests that broke out last April. Firefighters work on the wreckage of two commuter trains that collided Wednesday in Sao Cristovao station, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. – PHOTO: AP Sentencing delayed in Customs officer’s cocaine case SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Sentencing was adjourned in the cocaine importation case of Customs officer David Karl Lobo on Wednesday due to the delayed arrival of so- cial inquiry reports and sen- tencing submissions. The court heard that re- ports for Mr. Lobo and linked defendants Lesme Perez Ruiz and Alan Taylor Domin- guez had not been completed on time. Justice Linda Dobbs al- lowed for an adjournment to give defense counselors more time to review the social in- quiry reports and form their sentencing submissions. Justice Dobbs heard sen- tencing recommendations from Patrick Moran, the di- rector of the Office of Public Prosecutions, and resched- uled defense submissions for March 27. Sentencing for Mr. Lobo, Mr. Perez Ruiz and Mr. Dominguez will occur on March 29. The court also decided that the sentences of couriers Yoandry Morales Molina and Jose Fererini could be de- cided by Justice Dobbs. Mr. Molina and Mr. Fererini had been charged in Summary Court, but they will be sen- tenced in Grand Court in the interest of expedience. “There is a mechanism available to court to ensure that all defendants are dealt with together,” said Justice Dobbs. “This would not only reduce delay and save public funds but would ensure there is consistency of sentence, particularly with regards to the importation offense.” Mr. Lobo was found guilty of importation of cocaine after a lengthy jury trial. Mr. Dominguez and Mr. Perez Ruiz both pleaded guilty to importation and conspiracy to import cocaine, and Mr. Molina and Mr. Fer- erini pleaded guilty to impor- tation of cocaine. Mr. Moran said Wednesday that Mr. Domin- guez and Mr. Perez Ruiz are entitled to substantial reduc- tions in their sentence due to assistance and testimony provided to the prosecution. Mr. Lobo, he said, is entitled to no discount due to his conviction. Mr. Moran said that the sophisticated nature of con- cealment was an aggravating factor in the crime, and he told Justice Dobbs that Mr. Lobo’s profession did not ap- pear to have made a signifi- cant difference in the com- mission of the crime. “His position as a serving customs officer does not ap- pear on the face of it to have played any role in the com- mission of the offense,” he said.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2019 Scholarship to pursue A level Studies CUC is proud to offer a scholarship for Caymanian students seeking to pursue Advanced Level (A level) studies at a local high school. The scholarship will be awarded with a particular focus on students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Applicants must: Have already obtained, or expect to obtain, during the current school year, adequate academic qualifications to be accepted into Advanced Level (A level) studies or equivalent; Be Caymanian or hold Caymanian Status; Be involved in school and/or volunteer activities; Provide references. The scholarship will also provide an opportunity to gain hands-on work experience and develop further skills, which will benefit the successful applicant in their studies and possible future career with CUC. Interested persons can download the Scholarship Application Form from the Company’s website and review the General Rules and Guidelines (“Scholarships” section under the “Careers” tab) at https://www.cuc-cayman.com/careers/scholarships. Applications should be addressed to the Manager Human Resources and submitted via e-mail to careers@cuc.ky no later than Friday, April 12, 2019. For more information on these and other scholarship opportunities, please contact CUC’s Human Resources & Employee Development Department via e-mail at careers@cuc.ky. Students invited to apply for a CUC Scholarship The Environmental Management System at the North Sound Road Power Plant is registered to ISO 14001 Campaign launched to raise $1 million for new school gym MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com St. Ignatius Catholic School is hoping to raise $1 million in the next 18 months as the final finan- cial piece in constructing a $5.5 million gymnasium, of- ficials said. The other $4.5 mil- lion needed is in place, and school officials hope to break ground on the two-story, 23,000-square-foot sports complex sometime in the next two months. The gym will be the largest project ever under- taken by the school and will include a basketball court, which can also be used for other sports and community activities, as well as 10 class- rooms on its second floor, one of which will be used for drama classes. The Rev. Suresh Rajaian, head of St. Ignatius, said the building will also benefit the community at large. When needed, he said, “We are going to turn it into a hurricane shelter, because we do not have enough hur- ricane shelters on the island.” He said he also expected community groups would use the gym for evening sports practice. Church functions and even dances may be held there, he said. “We have been serving the community for 47 years,” he added. “It is our community.” The gym is designed pri- marily as a space for phys- ical education and organized practices, but does have seating capacity for 300-500 people, the Rev. Rajaian said. The new space, particu- larly new classroom space, will also allow for new uses of existing space on the campus, he said. A brochure on the project says it will include such things as art, drama and dance space, a computer lab, an additional science lab, a media center, a sixth-form study area and room for after-school care. The brochure also says that top donors will be recog- nized by having their names engraved on plaques that will be attached to a “giving tree” that will be installed in the new building. The Rev. Rajaian said plans for the new gym are currently under review by the government. He’s anxious for approval of the plans. “Once the plans are in my hand,” he said, “immediately, we will break ground.” The gym is designed primarily as a space for physical education and organized practices, but does have seating capacity for 300-500 people. This architect’s rendering shows the $5.5 million sports hall St. Ignatius Catholic School plans to construct. MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com The ticket fiasco that frus- trated many festivalgoers who tried to take advantage of a pre-sale for KAABOO 2020 tickets last week, should soon be rectified, the com- pany’s chief brand and mar- keting officer Jason Felts said late Tuesday. Many of those who tried to buy tickets made mul- tiple payment attempts be- cause the ticket website con- tinued to say those payments had not gone through. In many cases, each transaction was recorded as a pending charge with the bank being used. As a result, those cus- tomers often ended up with potential charges for many more tickets than they in- tended to buy. Hours after the tickets went on sale on Feb. 21, ac- tivity on the website was suspended and remains so. In his Tuesday email, Mr. Felts said, “Most orders have now been processed, and any duplicates refunded, as of end of day today.” One ticket issue remains unresolved. Tickets priced at the first-tier, or cheapest, level, CI$200, were quickly unavailable and the basic two-day pass price went to CI$260. Later, the price for the pass dropped to CI$200 again. Those who bought at the higher price have won- dered if they will be able to recoup the difference. Addressing that question in a Wednesday email, Mr. Felts said the company was “sorting through that now. We will find a solution and all will be happy.” As for those who have not yet been able to buy tickets, but want to, he said, “We are still determining when we will go back on sale and will keep everyone abreast via so- cial and email.” KAABOO says most ticket problems corrected Duran Duran were the closing act in KAABOO Cayman 2019 on Feb. 16. Organizers are trying to work out glitches with the sale of tickets for next year’s festival. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKEThe 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” This week the public finally has been made privy to some basic details about the long-promised launch of digital court records. As the Compass reported on Wednesday, docu - ments show the online platform could be up and running in April, the culmination of a project that has been ongoing for more than two years. That is good news for proponents of an open and efficient court system – which should be all of us. By law and as a matter of democratic principles, court documents, with few exceptions, ought to be easily accessed by an interested public. The courts are a powerful public institution that simply must operate in the clear light of day. In fact, it was concerns over access to court records that brought the initiative into public view in the first place, after a court clampdown on records made international headlines in the spring of 2017. That unwanted attention led to a meeting of the Grand Court Rules Committee the following June, after which court administrator Suzanne Bothwell assured the public that efforts were “currently under way to make available online, on the Judicial Website, free of cost, the inspection of all public registers, including unreported judgments.” As time passed, updates were few and far between. Each time a Compass reporter inquired about the project and its progress, he or she was met with vague replies. In fact, it was not until the Compass filed a request for documents under the Freedom of Information law that the most basic details emerged – as we reported on Wednesday. None was particularly controversial; nor could they have been difficult to compile. We have learned that judicial administrators had enlisted the services of a Canadian firm in 2016 to convert Cayman’s analog court records to digital. Going forward, the software will allow for digital record- keeping of cases and warrants, and will enable elec- tronic payments, online calendars and docket sched- uling, as well as details about training and costs for implementation and maintenance. There is nothing controversial, proprietary or oth- erwise confidential about Cayman’s movement to digital court records – something countless court systems have done around the world over the past two decades. Not only will online court records make it easier for the public and interested parties to keep track of court actions, it will also enable a host of sta- tistical analyses that have, to date, been difficult if not impossible to compute. It is more than a bit ironic that the public has had such a difficult time obtaining meaningful updates about such a significant project that was intended, in large part, to bolster transparency. As this editorial board has written, there appears to be a misapprehension in some corners of government that the Freedom of Information Law is prescriptive – that it lays out the terms and conditions for providing the public with public information. In fact, it is the opposite: Absent a compelling justification for privacy, the public has a right to know how government is carrying out our work. A truly transparent government would bombard its citizens with public information – regardless of whether they asked. At long last – an update about electronic records THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS LETTER TO THE EDITOR A rebuttal to premier’s Chamber address Premier McLaughlin again stated at last week’s Chamber of Commerce lun- cheon that no public money will be used to build the pro- posed cruise berthing facili- ties. This statement may be technically correct, however, it is misleading. Taking into consideration the accounting principle, substance over form, while public money might not be allocated to pay for the facility up front, i.e., the initial capital, the cost is actually a loan to Cayman which will be repaid to one or more private companies in the future from port, or other, as determined by the govern- ment, receipts out of future public money. The premier refers to the cruise lines building bigger and bigger ships – again, correct but misleading. The cruise lines are building a few bigger ships, however, as supported by the cruise in- dustry order book for new vessels, the majority (69 per- cent) of new ships on order between 2019 and 2027 are for the smaller vessels with passenger capacity under 4,000, all of which can tender. The largest class ships with passenger capacity over 6,000 represent 9 percent of new ships on order during this period. The cruise industry recognizes there is a limited market for the novelty [of] new larger ships, and pub- licly available industry re- views indicate cruise visitors prefer the smaller vessels, no- tably under 3,000 passengers. Further, of the announced destinations for the 28 ships on order with passenger ca- pacity of over 5,000, only one is scheduled to sail the Ca- ribbean, in contrast with six to sail in China, and five to sail in Europe and Asia. We do need to innovate, but it is wrong to think that bigger is better, that mul- tiple millions of cruise visi- tors and more of the same for more crowds is the way to go. Where is the innova- tion in that? What we actually need to do is protect our cruise tourism by enhancing our of- fering, improve the experi- ence of our current visitors and make ourselves a dis- tinct and unique destination, stand out from the crowd. And we can do this without incurring hundreds of mil- lions of dollars of debt to the cruise lines and losing control of our cargo and cruise port. If one of Cayman’s tourism industry goals re- mains to convert cruise vis- itors to stayover visitors, we need to improve our of- fering, with a focus on quality of experience rather than downgrading it through overcrowding. The premier saying that “the developers will do their best to keep the environ- mental impact to a minimum” is of little comfort to anyone who has even a basic un- derstanding of the environ- mental impact assessment report and/or understands the nature of the limitations clearly stated in the report. At the moment, George Town harbor and its surrounding is enviable, with clear wa- ters and beautiful Carib- bean sand, full of snorkelers, swimmers, glass-bottom boats and submarines. All of this will disappear from dredging during construction and under the silt from bow thrusters and fuel pollution from huge ships at perma- nent, dockside berths. A high cost for current and future Caymanians to pay in terms of lost ecosystem services, loss of cultural and historic shipwrecks, loss of scenic coastline, and lost tourism revenue for the businesses currently operating there. So many construction jobs and business opportunities, but for whom? The government has failed to disclose the type of new job opportunities that they claim will be made avail- able, how they have evalu- ated the economic benefits, and are reluctant to share with the public the business opportunities. They say the project will yield $245 million in eco- nomic benefits. An inter- esting figure. Where does this come from and, more importantly, who does it go to? Given that the cost of the project has been projected to exceed US$250 million and we know that this will rise again (and again), most likely to well over US$300 million. Where’s the economic ben- efit in that? To use the words of our premier, “This comes down to a question of judgment – do the benefits outweigh the costs?” This should be a question asked to the citizens of this country, whose chil- dren and grandchildren will be the ones most impacted. In an informed democracy, the government should enact the will of the people. Katrina Jurn on behalf of Cruise Port Referendum (CPR) Cayman Cruise ship passengers board a tender to return to their ship in George Town harbor. Government officials are promoting a cruise pier project as a way to boost Cayman’s tourism sector and diversify the economy. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2019 Please be advised that the Cayman Compass will not be published on Wednesday, March 6th, 2019 For more information call 949-5111 or email sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com EDITION DEADLINE Wednesday, March 6 th No Publication Thursday, March 7 th Friday, March 1 st Friday, March 8 th Monday, March 4 th Home alarms issued to Prospect, Red Bay residents The Prospect Red Bay Community Emergency Re- sponse Team has distributed some 1,000 free home alarm systems to local residents over the past several weeks. The group gave out the alarms following communi- tywide assessments it carried out to address “areas of vul- nerability” within the com- munity. The alarms were a part of a Community Mitiga- tion Project supported by the Cayman Islands Red Cross, according to a press release from the Prospect Red Bay CERT group. Residents of Prospect and Red Bay received the home alarms at a gathering at the Seafarers Hall and were given detailed instruc- tions on installation and op- eration. Community members who were unable to collect the alarms were assisted by members of the CERT who delivered and installed the alarms in their homes. “To date, the Prospect Red Bay CERT has distributed ap- proximately 1,000 alarms to residents of our community,” says Prospect Red Bay CERT leader Sabrina Turner. “The drive was very well attended, and a great sense of gratitude was displayed by everyone who came to get them.” Since 2011, the Red Cross and Hazard Management Cayman Islands have been training CERTs to prepare communities for, and assist in the response to, disasters. Established CERTs compete annually as part of the CERT Challenge to keep the teams engaged and ready. One of the tools the Red Cross provides the CERTs is the Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment training, “which teaches CERTs to survey and observe the community and identify its strengths and weaknesses, hazards and vul- nerabilities, and to use that information to prepare for di- sasters and emergencies,” the release stated. As the winners of the CERT Challenge, the Pros- pect Red Bay CERT put for- ward a proposal for a Com- munity Mitigation project based on their Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment findings. Over the course of several weeks, members of the Prospect Red Bay CERT conducted the assessments by walking through the neighborhoods, going house- to-house, and knocking on doors to speak with and survey residents. “One of the challenges identified by the community was minor burglaries, which pose an especially great threat to the elderly and the vulnerable in the community. To battle this issue, the CERT members proposed the use of simple-to-use alarms for the most vulnerable homes within the community,” the release stated. The Red Cross’s Disaster Management Program had specific funds that were made available for commu- nity mitigation projects to help empower communities to become more resilient and to address vulnerabilities. “Over the years, we’ve trained CERTs in West Bay, Bodden Town, Windsor Park, North Side, North Sound Gardens and Prospect,” says Jondo Obi, director of the Cayman Islands Red Cross. “The CERTs are a crucial component to disaster pre- paredness, management and response, as they live and breathe their communities, and are essentially the first responders in the event of a disaster – especially ones which are immediate and the community has no advance warning [of].” Ms. Obi added, “The CERTs work every day to- wards empowering people in the community to feel they have the skills to work to- gether as a group and build a strong and resilient commu- nity – in day-to-day life and in times of crisis.” Home alarms are still available for Prospect and Red Bay residents who have yet to receive them, and can be collected during the Pros- pect Red Bay town meeting, held every first Monday of the month at Seafarers Hall at 7 p.m. Cayman Islands Red Cross Disaster Manager Eddie Sepp Tinling-Miller, left, and Prospect and Red Bay CERT leader Sabrina Turner hand out an alarm to a Prospect resident. Cayman prepares for Honouring Women Month The Ministry of Commu- nity Affairs’ Gender Affairs Unit has donated $9,000 to the Family Resource Centre to help pay for activities to mark the 20th anniversary of the observance of Hon- ouring Women Month in the Cayman Islands. The unit will be partici- pating in many of the Hon- ouring Women’s Month activities. “The Gender Affairs Unit and the FRC essentially share the same goals in ad- vocating for gender equality and highlighting the role of women in society. We both appreciate the importance of government agencies working collectively towards common objectives, especially those which will impact not only women and their families but the community as well,” Se- nior Policy Analyst (Gender, Diversity and Equality) Kar- lene Bramwell said in a press release. “Many of the campaigns and programmes that the Family Resource Centre runs; particularly those for March’s Honouring Women Month, are designed to promote greater equity and social co- hesion in the wider com- munity. Therefore it is en- tirely natural that we support one another,” the ministry’s Deputy Chief Officer André Ebanks said. Mr. Ebanks presented the check, following a tour of the Family Resource Cen- tre’s temporary offices at Walker House in George Town on Friday. Among the events being planned for Honouring Women Month will be a screening of the local pre- miere of “Captain Marvel” on March 8, International Wom- en’s Day, at the Camana Bay Cinema, hosted by the Family Resource Centre. There will also be an Honouring Women Month luncheon held at the Kimpton Seafire resort on March 15. For the Honouring Women Month events schedule, visit the Family Resource Centre’s Facebook page, email frc@gov.ky or call 949-0006. Deputy Chief Officer André Ebanks presents program facilitator Anne-Marie Diaz with a $9,000 check from the Ministry of Community Affairs for March’s Honouring Women Month activities. Community members who were unable to collect the alarms were assisted by members of the CERT who delivered and installed the alarms in their homes.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS “There are still many un- knowns with respect to the land-side development as- sociated with these works and this will likely serve as a ‘gateway’ project to further development in Barkers,” the report from the DoE’s tech- nical review committee warns. “As the proposed works will cause significant adverse impacts on the environment and will not succeed in cre- ating the intended Seven Mile Beach experience, the Depart- ment of Environment does not believe that the proposals are justified nor that they will live up to the expectations of the developer or create the predicted economic benefits.” Cabinet has final decision- making authority over the ap- plication, filed by Mr. Whittak- er’s company, Adventures in Taste, which seeks approval for the “removal of sea grass to facilitate swim beaches” over an area equivalent in size to around three football fields and stretching across a 1,300- foot parcel of beach. It also includes plans for a T-shaped pier stretching 300 feet into the ocean, with a 120-foot dock for tour boats and visiting pleasure craft. The DoE also raised con- cerns about increased boat activity in relation to the pier impacting marine life. From a practical perspec- tive, the report suggests the prevailing weather conditions, including consistent, direct onshore winds, will make the creation of a pleasant swim- ming beach impossible. “A direct onshore wind means that the water quality will be poor and dead sea grass and regular Sargassum [seaweed] beaching events will continually fill the ex- cavated area. The site will be least suitable during the height of the tourism season, when north-east winds are most common and when an alternative to Seven Mile Beach would be needed most,” the report stated. According to the report, removing the sea-grass beds would cause significant ad- verse effects for a number of key species, including conch and lobster. It would also destroy live coral, cause beach erosion, impact a turtle nesting beach and potentially affect plans for a national park on the rest of Barkers. The report also highlights approximately 117 letters of objection to the proposal from members of the public, as well as a hand-signed pe- tition with 365 objections and an online petition with 2,678 objections. An overriding public con- cern is that this would be a gateway project opening the way to unsustainable devel- opment in an area that has traditionally been left un- touched, the report notes. The DoE also noted that significant information about the scale of the land-side de- velopment, management of tourist numbers and the op- erating procedures in rela- tion to the beach facility were missing from the application. “It should be borne in mind that we have not had access to the plans for the land-based facility, nor have we been provided with any concrete data regarding pre- dicted level of footfall or use of the area as a result of the development. There have been a very large number of objections and valid con- cerns raised by a wide cross section of the community re- garding the application, and the DoE strongly recom- mends that these objections are considered in full. Calico Jack’s Mr. Whit- taker, whose lease on Dart- owned land on Seven Mile Beach runs out next year, has previously indicated he wants to move the bar to Dart land in Barkers and create a Rum Point-style attraction on the western side of the island. Dart said in a statement to the Compass Wednesday that it was open to discus- sions over alternative plans. It stated, “Dart and appli- cant Handel Whittaker pre- sented the application for a Coastal Works Licence at Barkers to caucus last week. It was recommended that we meet with the Department of Environment. At the meeting yesterday, we discussed the report and began dialogue on possible alternative options. “Dart remains committed to striking the balance be- tween meeting the demands of a growing tourism in- dustry and environmental sustainability, and will work collaboratively with the De- partment of Environment to find a solution that meets these dual objectives.” dog bites from stray and loose dogs, especially in the past week,” he said. “We want people to make sure they are taking care of their dogs properly. “The biggest way to fix this problem is for every dog owner to take responsibility for their own dog. Then the problem goes away. “It is not the dog’s re- sponsibility to look after itself, but unfortunately it is the dog that will take the blame and face the consequences if there is an incident.” He said it was manda- tory for owners to register their dogs. That enables the DOA to trace stray dogs to an owner and also holds the owner legally account- able for their dogs. “I think it is important that people realize we are here to educate and to give them a free opportunity to register their dogs,” Ser- geant Kern added. Mr. Bodden said the owners in Rock Hole had been receptive to the mes- sage, with several dogs registered on Wednesday morning. He said there would be an ongoing cam- paign to encourage people to take better care of and have more control over their animals. “It is a partnership with the police,” he said. “We work closely with the com- munity officers and where there is a problem we go into that neighborhood and see what we can do to educate and deal with these matters.” Police and DOA were also handing out leaf- lets highlighting the legal responsibilities of dog owners to keep their ani- mals leashed in public and otherwise confined within the owner’s property. The leaflet also includes guidance for owners on their responsibilities to feed, provide shelter and protection for their ani- mals and to avoid nui- sance behavior, as well as what to do and who to call in case of a dog bite or other incident. Animal patrols preach responsible dog ownership CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Calico’s Barkers plan will not work, report warns CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 US Supreme Court seems inclined to retain cross on public land WASHINGTON (AP) – The Su- preme Court seemed inclined Wednesday to rule that a 40-foot-tall cross that stands on public land in Maryland is constitutional, but shy away from a sweeping ruling. The case is being closely watched because it involves the place of religious sym- bols in public life, but the particular memorial at issue in the case is a nearly 100-year-old cross that was built in a Washington, D.C., suburb as a memorial to area residents who died in World War I. Even before arguments in the case, it appeared that the memorial’s supporters, in- cluding the Trump adminis- tration, had the upper hand based on the court’s decision to take up the matter and the court’s conservative makeup. But on Wednesday even some of the liberal justices sug- gested that they could join a narrow ruling upholding this particular memorial, even as they talked about the cross as a major symbol of Christianity. Justice Elena Kagan noted that the cross became a par- ticular symbol associated with those killed in World War I while Justice Stephen Breyer asked about the im- portance of historical context to this case. The bigger question might be whether there are enough votes to rule in a way that would allow governments to erect more religious sym- bols on public property. But several conservative jus- tices sounded skeptical of adopting a broad approach advocated by the lawyer for The American Legion. The veterans’ organization raised money for the cross and com- pleted it in 1925. The cross’s challengers include three area residents and the District of Columbia- based American Humanist Association, a group that in- cludes atheists and agnostics. They argue that the cross’s location on public land vi- olates the First Amend- ment’s establishment clause, which prohibits the govern- ment from favoring one re- ligion over others. They say the cross should be moved to private property or modi- fied into a nonreligious mon- ument such as a slab or obe- lisk. The group lost the first round in court, but in 2017 an appeals court ruled the cross unconstitutional. In addition to The Amer- ican Legion, the cross’s de- fenders include Maryland officials who took over main- tenance of the cross nearly 60 years ago to preserve it and address traffic safety concerns. Maryland officials say that the cross does not violate the Constitution be- cause it has a secular pur- pose and meaning. Those defending the cross say a ruling against them could spell the “doom of hun- dreds of war memorials that use crosses to commemorate the fallen.” Justice Samuel Alito picked up on that con- cern during arguments, telling a lawyer for the American Humanist Asso- ciation that there are lots of cross memorials all over the country and asking: “Do you want them all taken down?” The Supreme Court has been criticized for being less than clear in explaining how to analyze so-called pas- sive displays, like Maryland’s cross, that are challenged as violating the Constitu- tion’s establishment clause. In 1971 the court announced a test for use in such cases, which asks whether the gov- ernment’s action has a sec- ular purpose, advances or in- hibits religion or fosters “an excessive government en- tanglement with religion.” But in the decades since, the court hasn’t always followed that test, and several former and current justices have criticized it. Justice Neil Gorsuch asked Wednesday if it was not time to get rid of the test, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested that lower courts deserve more clarity from the Supreme Court. Monuments that are sim- ilar to Maryland’s cross, meanwhile, have met with a mixed fate at the high court. For example, on the same day in 2005 the court upheld a Ten Commandments monu- ment on the grounds of the Texas state Capitol while striking down Ten Command- ments displays in Kentucky courthouses. Justice Breyer, whose vote made the differ- ence in the outcome in both cases, said the Texas display had a primarily nonreligious purpose while the history of the Kentucky courthouse displays demonstrated a government effort to pro- mote religion. A decision in the Mary- land case is expected by the end of June. The particular memorial at issue in the case is a nearly 100-year-old cross that was built in a Washington, D.C., suburb as a memorial to area residents who died in World War I. Visitors walk around the 40-foot Maryland Peace Cross, dedicated to World War I soldiers, Wednesday in Bladensburg, Maryland. – PHOTO: AP7 HEALTH NEWS 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2019 NOTICE Cayman Compass will be closing to the public at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1st. Due to a private function Study links weight, heart conditions and overall health Nearly one in five people surveyed as part of a Cleve- land Clinic report do not be- lieve their diet is related to their heart health. The clinic conducted the survey in the United States as part of its “Love your Heart” consumer education cam- paign in celebration of this February’s Heart Month. The study found most people understand that there is a connection be- tween a healthy heart and healthy weight, yet most are not doing enough – or any- thing – to combat their own weight issues. The report showed that less than half those sur- veyed (43 percent) had tried to make dietary changes to lose weight and 40 percent of those who describe them- selves as overweight or obese say they are not careful about which foods they eat. “Part of the problem may be that most people aren’t sure what to eat for heart health. Nearly one-in-five (18 percent) surveyed believe their diet has nothing to do with their heart health, and a mere 14 percent knew that a Medi- terranean diet is healthiest for heart health,” according to a press release detailing the re- sults of the survey. The survey also revealed that people do not fully un- derstand the impact excess weight has on their heart and overall health. The over- whelming majority of those surveyed (87 percent) failed to link obesity to cancer, while 80 percent did not link obesity to atrial fibrillation. More than half also did not know that obesity is linked to high “bad” cho- lesterol levels (54 percent) or coronary artery disease (57 percent) and two-thirds (64 percent) did not know it can lead to a stroke. “It seems we are not grasping that the leading causes of death and dis- ability – stroke, cancer, cor- onary artery disease – are all adversely affected by in- creased weight,” said Dr. Steven Nissen, chairman of cardiovascular medicine at Cleveland Clinic, in the press release. “We need to do a better job of educating patients and the public about the major consequences of carrying ex- cess weight and the benefits of losing weight. A patient only needs to lose 5 percent of their body weight to start seeing important health ben- efits,” he added. Most surveyed believe their metabolism is det- rimental to weight loss – 60 percent of women and 46 percent of men surveyed say their metabolism is working against them. Ac- cording to Dr. Nissen, “Once you’ve been overweight, your body tries to hold on to that excess fat, making it more difficult to lose weight. It’s best to work with your physi- cian to develop a steady long- term weight loss plan that will help you keep off the pounds. Quick weight loss programs are not effective.” Almost half surveyed (45 percent) falsely believed that all types of fat put them at equal risk for heart dis- ease; however, numerous studies have shown that fat stored in the abdomen is the most dangerous. And while 44 percent of those surveyed said they were most likely to turn to their physician for nutri- tion advice, only a quarter (28 percent) have told their doctor they’d like to lose weight. Even less (22 percent) say they have discussed heart health in relation to their weight with their doctor. Iinterventional cardi- ology specialist Dr. Robert Cubeddu from Cleveland Clinic Florida will join other experts at the Cayman Heart Fund International Sympo- sium next month. The online survey was conducted among a national probability sample con- sisting of 1,002 adults aged 18 and older, living in the continental United States. Anti-vaxxers face backlash as measles cases surge The resurgence of measles across the United States is spurring a backlash against vaccine critics, from con- gressional hearings probing the spread of vaccine misin- formation to state measures that would make it harder for parents to opt out of immu- nizing their children. In Washington state, where the worst measles out- break in more than two de- cades has sickened nearly 70 people and cost over $1 mil- lion, two measures are ad- vancing through the state legislature that would bar parents from using personal or philosophical exemp- tions to avoid immunizing their school-age children. Both have bipartisan sup- port despite strong anti-vac- cination sentiment in parts of the state. In Arizona, Iowa and Min- nesota, lawmakers have for the first time introduced sim- ilar measures. The efforts have sparked an emotional, sometimes ugly response from those protesting what they see as efforts to trample on their rights. Opponents of the Arizona bill, which died quickly, have described the toll of stricter vaccine re- quirements as a Holocaust and likened the bill’s sponsor, who is Jewish, to a Nazi. In Vermont, legislators are trying to do away with the state’s religious exemption four years after eliminating the philosophical exemp- tion. In New Jersey, where lawmakers have sought un- successfully to tighten reli- gious exemptions, a bill to re- peal it entirely was recently amended on the General As- sembly floor. While it’s too early in the legislative season to say how many of the state efforts to tighten vaccine exemptions will be signed into law, some public health advocates say the rash of vaccine-prevent- able illnesses is creating a shift in public thinking. “The wave is starting to turn back,” said Michelle Mello, a professor of law and health research and policy at Stanford University. Diane Peterson of the Im- munization Action Coalition, a Minnesota nonprofit group, said “there is a growing con- sensus for state authorities to make the bold move to re- quire all children to be vac- cinated, with the only excep- tion being those who cannot be given the vaccine for med- ical reasons.” Amid mounting public pressure, websites that have been a platform for the anti- vaccination movement’s misleading claims are also making changes. Pinterest has blocked all searches on vaccinations to stop the spread of misinformation, while Facebook is consid- ering removing anti-vaccina- tion content from its recom- mendations. YouTube said it is also pulling ads from anti- vaccine videos, claiming they violate its policies against “harmful or dangerous” acts. The U.S. House and Senate have scheduled rare bipar- tisan hearings this week and next to investigate the rea- sons behind recent outbreaks. © 2019, The Washington Post Dr. Steven Nissen, chairman of Cardiovascular Medicine at Cleveland Clinic HEART HEALTH SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD NEXT MONTH The 12th Annual Interna- tional Symposium, organized by the Cayman Heart Fund, will be held at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Re- sort on Thursday, March 15. At the symposium, pre- senters from several inter- national hospitals, including Baptist International, Cleve- land Clinic, Holy Cross and Jackson Memorial, will dis- cuss the latest achieve- ments, scientific updates, new technology approaches and guidelines required to improve patient care in cardiology. “The aim of the confer- ence is to stimulate new ideas for treatment and an- alyze the current market for the future direction and clinical uses of various techniques in the diagnosis, prognosis and management of common heart diseases,” organizers said in a press release. “As in past years, the medical conference will provide the ideal forum to share novel ideas on crucial issues and trends in the area of cardiology.” Dr. Bella Beraha, sym- posium organizer and vice chair of the Cayman Heart Fund, said she was looking forward to welcoming the medical community to the event. Organizers are inviting doctors, nurses, students and all healthcare allied personnel are to attend the symposium. Continuing Medical Education certifi- cates will be awarded at the end of the conference. Last year, 180 attendees attended the symposium. For more information, contact the Cayman Heart Fund at 916-6324 or info@caymanheartfund.com. “ As in past years, the medical conference will provide the ideal forum to share novel ideas on crucial issues and trends in the area of cardiology.” ORGANIZERS, International SymposiumThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or nonprofit organizations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be faxed to 949-2662, brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Rd. or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, FEB. 28 LIONFISH CULLING: Today is the deadline to register for the next lionfish culling tournament organized by Cayman United Lionfish League. It will be held on March 2 and 3. Registration is at The Lodge in the Strand. More information on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ CullCaymanUnited LionfishLeague. BABY SHOW: This is the deadline for registration to take part in the annual Baby Show at the Agriculture Show, Ash Wednesday. March 6. Enter the little ones, boys and girls; ages 0–48 months. For more information, call 929-9932. ROAD WORK: Water Authority-Cayman advises the motoring public of a partial closure of Lawrence Blvd. this week. The turning lane from West Bay Road into Lawrence Blvd. will be closed to facilitate the installation of new wastewater infrastructure. A diversion will be in place to allow road users access to Lawrence Blvd. Representatives of the Authority will be on hand to direct traffic. Traffic signs will be posted, and motorists are asked to drive with caution to ensure their own safety and the safety of workers. CONCERT AT LIBRARY: Cayman Arts Festival and the Cayman Islands Public Library Service present a one-hour concert at the George Town Public Library (historical building). The concert, 6-7 p.m., includes classical music, in addition to poetry and readings from local poets and writers. Tickets available at the door, $20 for adults, $5 for children. The event is part of a monthly series. There will be only 75 tickets per event. ROTARY OLYMPICS: The Rotary Club of Grand Cayman will host backyard games, including Giant Jenga, Connect 4, Twister and Cornhole, among others, today to raise funds to help send the Cayman Islands Special Olympics team to compete in the World Summer Games in the United Arab Emirates next month. 5:30 p.m. at Sea Alissa, the Thompsons’ home at 702 South Church Street. Register online at www.caymanactive.com. $120 for teams of four; $35 for individuals. PUBLIC INPUT: Today is the last day for the public to share feedback about the National Planning Framework, which sets out long-term goals for land use and physical development as part of the Development Plan for Grand Cayman. More information at www. plancayman.ky. Printed copies of the document can be viewed at the PlanCayman Information Counter, located in the lobby of the Government Administration Building. SATURDAY, MARCH 2 LIGHT UP THE NIGHT: The ninth annual Breast Cancer Foundation beach walk takes place tonight at 7 p.m. Walk along the beach from Royal Palms to The Ritz-Carlton and back. Bring the whole family. Dogs are welcome. Entry is $25, which includes entry into a raffle draw. Register before the walk at www. breastcancerfoundation.ky or on the night at 6 p.m. at Royal Palms. For more information, call 923-1135. WEST BAY 5K: The Caribbean Utilities Company will host a fun run and walk this morning to raise money for the Sunrise Adult Training Centre and the Cayman Islands Athletic Association. Everyone is welcome. Starts and ends at Ristorante Pappagallo, Conch Point Road, West Bay. Walkers start at 6:30 a.m. and runners start at 7 a.m. Check-in time is 5:30 a.m. to receive numbers and race chips. $15 for adults and $10 for under 17s. Register online at www.caymanactive.com. DOA PLANT NURSERY CLOSURE: The Department of Agriculture’s Plant Nursery will be closed from today, through Wednesday, March 6. TUESDAY, MARCH 5 DOA SALES AND OFFICE CLOSURE: The Department of Agriculture’s administration and sales sections in Lower Valley will be closed today in preparation for tomorrow’s Agriculture Show. Normal opening hours will resume on Thursday, March 7. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6 AGRICULTURE SHOW: The 52nd annual Cayman Islands Agriculture Show will be held today at The Grounds, Lower Valley. Gates open at 7 a.m. ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE: St. Ignatius Catholic Church (Walkers Road), 8 a.m. noon, 6 p.m. Christ the Redeemer (West Bay) 10 a.m. Stella Maris (Cayman Brac) 11 a.m. FRIDAY, MARCH 8 WALK IN HER SHOES: 5 p.m. Camana Bay. Men don high heels to raise funds for Cayman Islands Crisis Centre. Participants can register at www.cicc.ky/ awalkinhershoes2019. DRAMA SOCIETY AGM: The Annual General Meeting of the Cayman Drama Society takes place at Prospect Playhouse, 7 p.m. Happy Hour at 6:30 p.m. SUNDAY, MARCH 10 COMMONWEALTH DAY: The annual church service in observance of Commonwealth Day. 4 p.m. at St. George’s Anglican Church, 64 Courts Road (off Eastern Avenue, behind former Cox Lumber). All are welcome. Attendees are asked to be seated by 3:45 p.m. The theme this year is “A connected Commonwealth.” RSVP on or before March 2 at 949-5583 (the church office). GENERAL INTEREST SUMMER INTERNSHIP: With the development of Cayman Enterprise City in the Special Economic Zone, training opportunities exist for young people through the Summer in the City Internship Program. Registration is currently open, and the application deadline is March 17. For more information on this program, visit www. caymanenterprisecity.com/ enterprise-cayman/intern- in-the-city or contact Bianca Mora, Public Engagement Officer at CEC, at b.mora@ caymanenterprisecity.com. LOCAL HARVEST MARKET: Local farmers sell their produce and farmed goods at Camana Bay on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Heliconia Court (located next to Scotiabank). SPECIAL OLYMPICS: Be a volunteer for athlete training at Truman Bodden Sports Complex. Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. for track, bocce and football, and Thursdays, 5:30 p.m. for basketball. Swimming on Wednesdays at the Lions Pool 10-11 a.m. or on Saturdays at the Cayman International School pool, 9:30 a.m. Email soci@candw.ky or call 916-2600. COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8 p.m., West Indies Wine Company. Join the Cayman Chess Club for a complimentary chess class and open challenges weekly. Anyone can learn to play and enjoy chess, even beginners. ART OPEN CANVAS: At KARoo Restaurant in Camana Bay, Wednesdays 7-11 p.m. Artists of all levels are welcome to come and enjoy painting and socializing with other artists. Includes use of easels, lights, space, beverage ticket. No fee. For more information, contact info@visualartcayman.com or jar.was@gmail.com. VISUAL ARTS SOCIETY: Adult Open Studio available to those who want to work independently in an inspiring atmosphere. Wednesdays for adults, 9 a.m. till noon. Thursdays Adults and Youth, 10 a.m. till noon. Watler House Art Studio, Pedro St. James. Fee is $5/$15 pp for ceramics. $15/$25 pp non-members. Includes use of studio, glazes and ceramic tools. Clay available $30 per bag/fee for kiln usage. To register, call 546-9422 or email info@visualartcayman.com. SEAFARERS HALL: The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association wishes to inform the community that the hall is now available for rent every day of the week, including Saturdays. THRIFT SHOP: One Dog at a Time’s New To U shop is now located at JJT Warehouses, Row 2, Unit 2 on Industrial Way. Open every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Variety of items available, including men’s, women’s, children’s and baby clothes, shoes, household, electrical items, CDs, DVDs, books, home furnishings, toys, games, furniture, baby cribs, car seats, dog beds and more. BETHESDA COUNSELLING CENTRE: Caters to all who seek help. Open Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 68 Mary Street. Appointments available Saturdays and late evenings. Owned and operated by the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Call 946-6575. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK LOFT: North Sound Road. Open Monday 12:30-4 p.m.; Tuesday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers needed for front desk a few hours per week. For more information, email humanesocietybookloft@ candw.ky or call 946-8053. Donations of books, games, CDs, stationery, DVDs, cards etc. in good condition needed. CLUBS, ORGANIZATIONS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Meets daily to help with drinking problems. Call 926-9044 or visit www.caymanaa.org. NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS: Is available for substance abuse help. Call the info line at 929–NANA (6262). AL-ANON GROUP MEETING: Are you troubled by someone’s drinking? Al-Anon Family Groups can help. Call 928-8843 or email caymanalanon@gmail.com for meeting times. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ-centered 12-step recovery group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Tuesdays, 7:15 p.m. For details, contact Vanessa Gilman at 946-2422, or visit www.overcomersoutreach.org. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at ADACI’s office, 4th floor, Cardinall Plaza, 30 Cardinall Ave., George Town. Call 924-4170 or email info@adacayman.com. GRAND CAYMAN TOASTMASTERS: Club meets each Thursday 6-7:15 p.m. on 3rd Floor, George Town Public Library. Visitors and guests welcome. Contact George R. Ebanks at 322-9369 or Grand Cayman Toastmasters club on Facebook. Email info@ toastmastersclub2686.org. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre. Email lionsclubgcm@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at Elizabethan Square (corner unit). Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7 a.m. every Wednesday at George Town Yacht Club, 612 North Sound Road. Visit www.rotarysunrise.ky or info@rotarysunrise.ky. KIWANIS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets first and third Wednesdays of the month, 12:30 p.m., at The Wharf Restaurant. Projects include promoting well- being of children in the community and schools. Email president@kiwanis.ky or view www.kiwanis.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The ninth annual Breast Cancer Foundation beach walk, ‘Light Up The Night,’ takes place on Saturday, March 2, at 7 p.m. Participants will walk along the beach from Royal Palms to The Ritz-Carlton and back. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2019 Turkish president holds talks with Jared Kushner Turkish officials say President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is meeting with Jared Kushner for talks that are expected to center on his planned Mideast peace initiative. Details of Kushner’s plan will be unveiled after the April 9 Israeli election. Cohen alleges President Trump knew in advance of WikiLeaks plan WASHINGTON – Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former fixer and personal lawyer, testified Wednesday that Trump knew in advance that the anti-se- crecy organization WikiLeaks planned to publish hacked Democratic National Com- mittee emails. Appearing before the House Oversight Committee, he provided a date for claim Stone told Trump he was in contact with Julian Assange. In his written testimony, Cohen merely said that he heard Trump confidant Roger Stone tell Trump he had been in contact with Assange in July 2016, shortly before the publication of stolen emails by WikiLeaks. Pressed to provide an exact date in oral testimony, he told lawmakers that he believed the conversation occurred on either July 18 or 19, likely the second day. That would place it three days before WikiLeaks published internal Demo- cratic Party emails on July 22. Rep. Thomas Massie, Re- publican of Kentucky, noted that Assange had claimed publicly in June that he had damaging material about Clinton. “I’m not saying you have fake news. I’m saying you have old news,” he said. (He did not address Cohen’s assertion that he heard Stone claim had been in personal contact with Assange.) Stone, responding to Co- hen’s allegation that he talked with Trump in July 2016 about WikiLeaks re- leasing hacked Demo- cratic emails, said in a text Wednesday: “Mr. Cohen’s statement is not true.” Other early highlights: ■■ Cohen sparred aggres- sively with GOP law- makers, who have questioned his cred- ibility and motives for coming forward. ■■ He detailed how deeply and personally involved Trump was involved in the scheme to pay off an adult film actress who alleged she had an affair with Trump. ■■ He described how he, like many in Trump’s orbit, had long sought to protect the presi- dent, but made clear: “I am not protecting Mr. Trump anymore.” ■■ He has suggested federal prosecutors are investi- gating unspecified crim- inal allegations involving the president that have not been made public. Early in his testimony, Florida Rep. Debbie Was- serman Schultz, who chaired the Democratic National Committee when it was hacked by the Russians during the 2016 election, pressed Cohen on whether Trump was capable of “col- luding” with Russia to win the 2016 election. Cohen said, “yes” – though he initially hesitated, noting that answering such a ques- tion would be pure specula- tion on his part. “I’d rather not answer that question,” he initially said, but later agreed: “Trump’s de- sire to win would have him work with anyone.” Cohen was responding to a question from Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who chaired the Democratic National Committee when it was hacked by the Russians during the 2016 election. Cohen was unable to an- swer the Florida Democrat’s question about whether Trump knew about the DNC hacking before it hap- pened. But he confirmed that Trump’s children likely also knew about the Trump Or- ganization’s attempt to build a Trump tower in Moscow during the 2016 election. “The company was in- volved … which meant the family was involved,” he said. Wasserman Schultz con- tinued: “Is it possible the whole family is conflicted or compromised with a foreign adversary in the months be- fore the election?” Cohen answered yes. Wasserman Schultz, who resigned her DNC position following the hacking and release of internal emails, asked Cohen if he thought Trump was so desperate to win that he would collude and coordinate with Russia or a foreign power. “It calls on so much spec- ulation …” he trailed off. “Mr. Trump, he’s all about win- ning and will do what is nec- essary to win.” He continued: “I wouldn’t use the word ‘colluding.’ Was there something odd about the back-and-forth praise with President (Vladimir) Putin? Yes. But I’m not re- ally sure that I can answer that question in terms of col- lusion. I was not part of the campaign. I don’t know the other conversations Trump had with other individuals.” Cohen has alleged – amid a stream of potentially dam- aging revelations about the president – that Trump knew in advance that the anti-se- crecy organization WikiLeaks planned to publish hacked Democratic National Com- mittee emails, and he will describe the president as a “racist,” a “conman” and a “cheat,” according to a copy of his written testimony. The WikiLeaks allega- tion is perhaps the most ex- plosive in the written testi- mony, speaking to the core of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into whether the Trump campaign coor- dinated with Russia to in- fluence the election. Mueller already has alleged that Rus- sian military officials hacked the emails before they were published online by groups including WikiLeaks. In other morning testi- mony, Cohen provided to Congress three documents called “statements of finan- cial condition,” which he said Trump had prepared to show potential lenders that he was worthy of a loan. Cohen said that these three statements – from 2011, 2012 and 2013 – were shown to Deutsche Bank, as Trump sought a loan to purchase the Buffalo Bills football team. Trump, in the end, did not buy the team. These statements were not rigorously audited finan- cial documents. Instead, they amounted to Trump’s own es- timates about what he was worth and what he owed. Trump himself was the main source of the data. But the 2013 state- ment showed something remarkable. That year, Trump rapidly increased his own estimate of his net worth – from $4.6 bil- lion to $8.6 billion. The reason was not a new building or a big busi- ness success by Trump. In- stead, Trump simply assigned a massive dollar value – $4 billion – to his own brand, and then counted that brand among his assets, as if it was a building or a golf course. The result was that his net worth nearly doubled. In his statement, Cohen said that these statements were part of a pattern of Trump exaggerating his net worth, when it benefited him. “It was my experience that Mr. Trump inflated his total assets when it served his purposes,” Cohen said. Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican and the panel’s ranking Republican, made clear in his first exchange with Cohen what Republi- cans line of attack will be at the hearing: Cohen is a dis- gruntled employee, upset that he could not get a job in the Trump White House. Jordan opened his ques- tioning of Cohen by walking the president’s former per- sonal lawyer through a litany of wrongdoing – including tax and bank fraud – to which he has pleaded guilty, but has nothing to do with Trump. He highlighted a Twitter ac- count that he said Cohen had created, “Women For Cohen,” that seemed to promote Co- hen’s personal brand. “Was that done to pro- tect the president?” Jordan sneered. Cohen asserted a woman at an outside firm, RedFinch, had created the account to help blow off steam during the heart of the high-stakes presidential campaign. “We were having fun,” Cohen said. Jordan then turned to his main line of attack. “You worked for [Trump] for 10 years, Mr. Cohen. How long did you work in the White House?” Jordan asked. “I never worked in the White House,” Cohen responded. “That’s the point, Mr. Cohen, isn’t it?” Jordan asked. “You wanted to work in the White House. You didn’t get brought to the dance.” Cohen insisted he was of- fered White House jobs and said he could tell a story of Trump “reaming out” chief of staff Reince Priebus because Trump wanted him to work in the White House coun- sel’s office. “Mr. Jordan, all I wanted was what I got, to be per- sonal attorney to the presi- dent,” Cohen said. Also in earlier testimony, Cohen said “there is no doubt” in his mind that Trump was acutely aware that Stormy Daniels, an adult-film ac- tress, was being paid to keep silent about an alleged af- fair she had with the presi- dent, payments orchestrated through Cohen. He brought a series of check images with him to show how and when Trump incrementally reimbursed him for the $130,000 pay- ment to Daniels – showing that Trump was intimately involved with the scheme, even while president. One check for $35,000, dated March 17, 2017, was is- sued from a trust account be- longing to Trump, and signed by his son, Donald Trump Jr. Another check, dated Aug. 1, 2017, was from Trump’s per- sonal account – and signed by the president himself. Cohen said the payments were made directly because they were “declaratively a retainer for services that would be provided for the year of 2017.” But “there is no retainer agreement,” he noted. Cohen also said Wednesday that while he pursued a possible Trump Tower project in Moscow as Trump was running for pres- ident, he briefed the pres- ident’s children, Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump, on several occasions, as well as Trump himself. In naming Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr., Cohen was clearing up a mystery in court records filed as part of his plea – which noted he had briefed Trump family members about the project but did not identify them by name. Cohen said he briefed the Trump children about 10 times, as well as reporting back to Trump every time he had a discussion about the project. “After each communi- cation that I had, I would report back to him,” Cohen said. Trump has claimed in the past he had no business involvement in Russia; Co- hen’s testimony takes direct aim at that. Cohen himself has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about the matter, and he said Wednesday he did so “in furtherance of my protection of Mr. Trump.” “I am not protecting Mr. Trump anymore,” he said. Wednesday morning, Trump Jr. offered his first re- sponse to Cohen’s testimony on Twitter. He has not ad- dressed any of Cohen’s di- rect accusations, including Cohen’s claim that he signed one of the checks to Cohen reimbursing him for his pay- ments to Daniels. Instead, Trump Jr. brought the snark, tweeting, “This sounds like a breakup letter … and I’m keeping your sweatshirt.” Earlier from Hanoi, Pres- ident Trump had weighed in via Twitter: “Michael Cohen was one of many lawyers who represented me (unfortu- nately),” Trump wrote on Twitter. “He had other cli- ents also. He was just dis- barred by the State Supreme Court for lying & fraud. He did bad things unrelated to Trump. He is lying to re- duce his prison time. Using Crooked’s lawyer!” © 2019, The Washington Post Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, is sworn in to testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee about his behind-the-scenes knowledge of Trump’s activities, including possible criminal conduct, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday. - PHOTO: APNext >