ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY MARCH 5, 2019 High of 87 Low of 75 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 AGRICULTURE SHOW OFFERS A CHANCE TO RECONNECT LOCAL | PAGE 2 CARE DOG JOG HITS THE ROAD Airport seeks contractor to extend runway KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com With the new Owen Roberts International Airport terminal set to have its grand opening on March 27, government is planning the next upgrade at the facility: the lengthening of the runway, which will allow for larger planes and longer flights. The Cayman Islands Airports Authority is- sued a request for contractors to bid on ex- tending the runway up to 900 feet to just under 8,000 feet in total length. The runway extension had been left out of the original air- port expansion plan – a project that now is estimated to cost at least $64 million due to delays and overruns – and could cost another $20.5 million or more. Making the runway 900 feet longer would entail extending it west toward Crewe Road and removing the ponds and navigational equipment in that area. A jet blast deflector wall would also be built between Crewe Road and the airstrip. Additionally, at the northeast end of the airport, the east apron would be expanded and drainage improvements would be made. The 2014 CIAA airports “master plan” esti- mates that extending the runway to 8,000 feet and strengthening the pavement to support heavier aircraft would cost $20.5 million. That master plan, drafted by Pricewater- houseCoopers and the WSP Group, lays out three alternative scenarios for the runway: keeping it at its current length of 7,008 feet, expanding it to around 8,000 feet, and ex- panding it to 9,200 feet. The plan states that there is not a “clear re- quirement for a runway extension” and that there was not a clear business case from any particular airline for this project. The plan also states that the runway’s current length “provides excellent access to the US, Canada, UK GOVERNMENT PULLS BREXIT BILL DEBATE OVER BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com The United Kingdom government pulled a parliamentary debate on a piece of financial services legislation on Monday after Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man warned against an amendment to the bill that would force the introduction of public beneficial ownership registries in the Crown dependencies. In a joint statement last week, the chief ministers of the three dependencies echoed objections raised by the Cayman Islands and other overseas territories over a similar amendment to the U.K. Sanctions and Anti- Money Laundering Bill in 2018. “We are not represented in the U.K. Parlia- ment, and it is a respected constitutional po- sition that the U.K. does not legislate for the Crown Dependencies on domestic matters without our consent,” the statement noted. The Crown dependency leaders also said they consider the legislation “to be wholly un- necessary in the context of our robust existing approach to the retention and sharing of ben- eficial ownership information,” which ex- ceeded the standards and accuracy of the ex- isting U.K. public register of company owners. The cross-party amendment to the Finan- cial Services Bill is endorsed by 55 members of parliament, including a host of prominent Tory backbenchers. Although it is not sup- ported by the U.K. government, it is deemed likely to pass, if voted on. The amendment also aims to bring the deadline for the establishment of public reg- isters in the overseas territories back to the original date of 2020. Agriculture Show has rich history MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Some things have not changed much in the five decades that Cayman has been holding its annual Agriculture Show. Traditionally held on Ash Wednesday, this year’s show opens at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, marking the 52nd year for the event. While the farming expo has grown to become the largest single-day, self-gener- ated event on Grand Cayman, drawing up to 10,000 people to the fairgrounds in Lower Valley to see the best the farming commu- nity has to offer, the issues those farmers face today have in some ways remained constant over the years. In 1967, the first year in which coverage of the fair appeared in the Caymanian Weekly newspaper, C.D. Hutchings, who had just been appointed senior agriculture officer for the islands, said more needed to be done to make Cayman less reliant on imports. “The problem of increased production of food is one of the biggest that politicians and statesmen have to deal with today,” Mr. Hutchings said at the time. In a recent interview, George Smith, president of the Cayman Agricultural So- ciety – the agency that puts on the show – said it’s important to promote and support local food production. “We need to rely on it more,” Mr. Smith said, noting that the majority of produce PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Public Works Department staff prepare The Grounds in Lower Valley for Wednesday’s Agriculture Show. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY MARCH 5, 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. - TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) A MADEA FAMILY FUNERAL (PG13) 12:40 VIP I 1:10 I 3:45 I 6:30 7:00 VIP (WED ONLY) I 9:20 HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD (PG) 1:30 I 4:05 3D I 6:40 I 9:15 3D FIGHTING WITH MY FAMILY (PG13) 1:15 I 7:20 I 9:55 ALITA BATTLE ANGEL (PG13) 1:10 I 3:35 VIP I 4:10 I 7:00 9:40 VIP I 10:00 THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART (PG) 1:10 I 4:10 I 7:10 WHAT MEN WANT (R) 4:00 I 9:45 CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA: LOVE ME TENDER (PG) 7:00 VIP (TUE ONLY) CARE dog jog hits the road Pet owners and their pooches were up bright and early Sunday to take part in the 10th annual CARE Dog Jog/Fun Run. The runners and walkers, of the two-legged and four- legged variety, set off at 7 a.m. from SafeHaven Drive. Funds from the run will be used for Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts’ com- munity spay-and-neuter campaign and for welfare assistance. The participants, which included some dogs from the Humane Society shelter, ran or walked around the golf course and took a left onto Crighton Drive before turning around near the Holiday Inn. When they returned to Safe- Haven Drive, there were snacks for the humans and doggie biscuits for the pets. COME FOR A DRINK, STAY FOR THE PUPPIES AT PREMIER KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedia.ltd.com. Patrons of the Premier Brew Tap Room in George Town should beware: If they go there on Saturdays, they could end up finding their next furry companion. The organization is holding an animal adoption event every Saturday this month from noon to 3 p.m. Four island puppies from the Cayman Islands Humane Society – Charm, Russ, Aero and Twix – were on the premises on Saturday, wrestling and playing with each other in a fenced-in room between the bar and the retail area. Premier manager Sa- brina Stecyk organized the event. Ms. Stecyk worked for animal shel- ters in Canada and is one of the heads of the charity Cayman Animal Rescue En- thusiasts, known as CARE. She said taking shelter dogs from the Humane So- ciety to public events helps get them adopted because it allows people to spend more one-on-one time with the canines. “The key to adoptions is getting them out there,” she said. “The shelter has 80 dogs, so how do you show- case one specific dog in that situation?” People who go to Pre- mier on Saturday after- noons and want to adopt a canine friend there will still have to go through the normal adoption process from the Humane Society, Ms. Stecyk said. “It’s not come for a drink, leave with a puppy,” she said. “It’s more of a so- cialization thing, and just promoting their adoption.” Premier is partnering with Tito’s Vodka, a Texas brand that runs the pro- gram “Vodka for Dog People,” which raises money for animal shelters. Iguana cull hits 439,000 Last week, cullers re- moved more than 10,000 green iguanas from Grand Cayman. The total number of iguanas culled during the first 18 weeks of the Department of Environment’s program stands at 439,000, as of March 2. Although program man- agers frequently revise weekly totals upward from preliminary reports, if the figure for Week 18 stands, it would be the lowest number of iguanas culled in a week since the program began in late October 2018. However, cullers are still above the pace needed to reach the target number of culling 1.3 million green iguanas by the end of 2019. Cullers are being paid $4.50 a head, rising to $5 if they meet monthly and an- nual targets, in an effort to wipe out the invasive species in Grand Cayman. P a c e t o r e a c h 1 . 3 m i ll i o n t a r g e t Tara Schmarr, Coral and Liz Hartley were among the runners. Tracey Patinoe and Mango The runners pick up speed. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Dogs and their owners were up bright and early Sunday morning to take part in the CARE Dog Jog/Fun Run. The Premier Brew Tap Room is holding an adoption event for puppies every Saturday this month from noon to 3 p.m. The dogs at Premier on Saturday were, from left, Charm, Russ, Aero and Twix. - PHOTO: KEN SILVA “ It’s not come for a drink, leave with a puppy. It’s more of a socialization thing.” PREMIER MANAGER SABRINA STECYK3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY MARCH 5, 2019 Working together to better our communities. A new programme of grants. What could a Dart Grant do for your organisation? We invite registered not-for-profits, based and operating in the Cayman Islands, to apply for one of fifteen new Dart Grants. Awards of financial support will be made for community development projects or programmes in the areas of Education, Youth Development and the Environment. Eligible organisations can apply for one of ten grants valued at up to CI$10,000, four grants valued at up to CI$25,000 and one grant of up to CI$50,000. For more information on this new programme, the selected areas and application process, visit dart.ky/about-us/community or email grants@dartcayman.com dart.ky/about-us/community Transport app Flex nears pilot launch JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Flex, Cayman’s fledg- ling version of transport app Uber, is hoping to launch by the end of this month, ini- tially on a limited basis in the George Town and Seven Mile Beach area with approx- imately 30 drivers. Ultimately, the makers of Flex say they would like to sign up 150 drivers and pro- vide a level of service compa- rable with popular U.S. app- based dispatch services like Lyft and Uber. Entrepreneurs Alex Cowan and Rachel Smyth created Flex to allow residents and tourists to hail a taxi, track its arrival and pay the fare using their smartphones. The business first launched and began recruiting drivers two years ago. But the plan stalled amid a requirement that all its drivers be licensed by the Public Transport Board. The Ministry of Tourism and Transport places a limit on the number of drivers that can be licensed in any given year. Flex has multiple affili- ated drivers on the waiting list and is hopeful that amid consistent increases in tourism arrivals, new licenses will be opened up shortly. Ms. Smyth said the busi- ness had also signed up some existing drivers to use the app. She said a number of drivers were now going through the application process and the launch plans are dependent on their licenses being granted. “We can’t launch without the right number of drivers,” she said. No one from the Public Transport Board or Ministry of Tourism was available to confirm if new taxi licenses would be opened up. Government’s consultants Deloitte have recommended that an “electronic fare cal- culator” – a basic offline app that allows customers to check the fare for a journey – be provided by the Public Transport Board in an effort to stem complaints over in- consistent prices. The consultants said this would not prevent a private sector operator from setting up a more sophisticated app. Mr. Cowan said the Flex app offered more than a simple rate calculator. He said it was a dispatch and payment service with GPS capability to track drivers and an option to rate drivers, among other features. “The offline app [proposed by government] will calculate fares but it doesn’t allow you to track the journey, it doesn’t allow you to hail a ride or to pay, it is just an electronic version of the rate book that allows you to check the price from point A to point B,” Mr. Cowan said. “Although this is some- thing that will indeed assist and alleviate the issue of in- consistent fares, it’s not suf- ficient during this day and age. Flex addresses and pro- vides a structured solution for many of the issues facing the transport industry.” The initial Flex launch will be evenings only, be- tween 4 p.m. and 6 a.m. – aiming to fill a niche in the market, with taxis difficult to find in the evening and early hours of the morning. Ms. Smyth said many of the affiliated drivers were younger Caymanians looking for a second income stream. The app is also open to ex- isting drivers to use along- side more traditional dis- patch services. She said it would open up a new demographic for them. “A lot of younger people don’t use cash any more. They don’t talk on the phone, they are used to doing everything with their smartphone, or- dering food, hailing a cab, they expect it and find it easier to communicate through tech- nology. That’s where Flex comes in,” Ms. Smyth said. “We are not reinventing the wheel, this is something that is working all over the world.” In the longer term, she hopes there will be a gen- erational shift toward em- bracing new technology in the transport sector. During its initial launch phase, Flex signed up more than 100 interested drivers. Many of those are now on the waiting list for li- censes through the Public Transport Board. As more drivers are li- censed, Ms. Smyth expects the business to eventually be- come more viable. “We do need that critical mass of drivers to make it work,” she acknowledged. But she believes the limit placed on licenses is cur- rently restricting the quality of service in Cayman and is hopeful the Public Transport Board will significantly ex- pand the number of licenses. “The island is packed right now and there are not enough taxis on the road. You could easily put another 150 drivers out there,” she said. For more information, visit www.flex.ky. MAN BAILED IN COCAINE CASE CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man with no previous convictions was granted bail on cocaine-related charges after appearing in Summary Court on Monday. Axel Dominguez-Ocampo, 23, was accused of pos- sessing with intent to supply 11.7 grams of cocaine found in several separate bags, plus four other bags of a sub- stance resembling cocaine. Crown counsel Scott Wainwright said police of- ficers executed a search warrant at the defendant’s West Bay residence around 7:15 p.m. on Feb. 28. In a room shared by the defendant and his female partner, officers found a “hold-all” type of bag containing several bags of white powder, which later tested as cocaine. Another occupant of the premises said the bag belonged to Mr. Dominguez-Ocampo. He was not home at the time, but was arrested on March 1. Police then had oc- casion to search his vehicle, where they found four small ziplock bags of white powder resembling cocaine. Other items allegedly in his possession included a clear glass jar with cocaine residue, a spoon with res- idue, a knife, a scale and 11 SIM cards. Cash was also recovered, in the sums of US$140 and CI$946. When arrested and cau- tioned, he reportedly told of- ficers that he was addicted to cocaine and it was all for his personal use. He said the money was his. Mr. Wainwright said the drug paraphernalia sup- ported the charge of posses- sion with intent to supply. In addition, Mr. Dominguez- Ocampo was charged with simple possession of cocaine, consumption of cocaine, pos- session of utensils and pos- session of criminal property. Defense attorney Gregory Burke applied for bail, pointing to Mr. Dominguez- Ocampo’s record of no pre- vious convictions and the fact that he held a full-time job. Magistrate Valdis Foldats granted bail with a surety in the sum of $1,500. He or- dered the surrender of travel documents, the wearing of an electronic monitor and a curfew from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. The matter was set for mention again on March 26.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion & Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. 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” Interesting to read of this month’s visit by Charles and Camilla and the fact that there is to be a National Hol- iday on March 28 to honor the occasion. This gives ev- eryone something to look for- ward to, even the republicans among us, and it will prob- ably help with the traffic also. I have fond memories of previous celebrity visits to the islands – John Lennon and Yoko Ono slipping in quietly in 1978; Muhammad Ali squaring up to Benny Moore and others at the air- port on another occasion; and the time when I intro- duced Buddy Holly’s Crickets to a somewhat bemused set of high school students who had not the foggiest idea who they were. Cayman does this sort of thing rather well, and I am sure that a wonderful time will be had by all. With every best wish. Mike Spragg Readers will want to wake up with the roosters tomorrow to be sure they are at The Grounds in Lower Valley bright and early. They will have plenty of company as islanders flock to the annual Cayman Islands Agriculture Show – one of the year’s most anticipated events. Now in its 52nd year, the “Ag Show” has become a generational tradition as families from town and country look forward to the chance to cel - ebrate and reconnect with our agricultural heritage. Thousands of islanders and visitors will spend the day strolling through the Stacy Watler Agricultural Pavilion, marveling at healthy livestock and fine specimens of pumpkins, peppers, bananas, plantain, callaloo and yams. The Agriculture Show is a feast for the senses, where one can delight in local handicrafts, cast a keen eye over vendors’ offerings, coo over cute babies and soak in local talent. It is a time to see and chat with old friends and neighbors too rarely met in the hurried day to day. It offers a chance to reconnect with our simpler past and grab hold of a serving (or two, or more) of stew beef, turtle, conch or other favorites. Who is counting? After all, this celebration comes only once a year. As today’s Front Page story so clearly recounts, the Agriculture Show has changed over the decades, as have our island and our population. The annual show is a tradition for many, but it is more than a stroll down memory lane. In a world where so much is necessarily compli- cated and fragmented, the Ag Show offers a place for us to come together and enjoy simple pleasures. It also provides an important opportunity to learn more about Grand Cayman’s agricultural present; to get to know the small but thriving network of local growers whose eggs and produce stock our grocers’ shelves and farmers’ markets. Today, although most of our food is grown overseas and harvested from shipping containers, a core group of around 300 dedicated farmers persevere in tilling the soil, nurturing plants and animals, and earning the satisfaction of reaping what they have sown. Wednesday is a day for them and the members of the Cayman Islands Agricultural Society to shine. Who knows, perhaps they will even inspire a few novice gardeners to take home some plants of their own. To get their hands a little dirty. To experience the deep and quiet satisfaction to be found in the simple magic of combining seed, sun, water and soil. Generations ago, Cayman’s population farmed out of necessity. Growing one’s own food was a matter of survival. For all we treasure about Cayman’s heritage, no one would argue that we should ever go back to those days of scarcity and pluck. At the same time, roots grow deep. Cayman’s past is a larger part of our prosperous and cosmo- politan present than we may sometimes be inclined to think. The key is knowing how to honor the values that brought Cayman success – tenacity, self-reliance, strong community – while pushing forward to an even brighter future. Every plant, every person knows to do this intui- tively: To stay firmly planted and keep turning its face to the sun. Agriculture Show offers a chance to reconnect TUESDAY MARCH 5, 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS US economy keeps sprinting ahead ANDY PUZDER The latest numbers con- firm what Americans can see all around them: The Trump economic surge is still in full swing and beating ex- pectations. Following a delay in reporting caused by the longest government shut- down in the country’s his- tory, we finally have the ini- tial Commerce Department data for economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2018. Not only were there no signs of a coming recession, but also actual gross domestic product growth of 2.6 per- cent in the quarter exceeded the 2.3 percent consensus es- timate of economists polled by Reuters. Those initial Commerce numbers provide the first comprehensive look at the economy’s performance for the full calendar year 2018, revealing that, by at least one measure, the U.S. just hit the strong 3 percent growth rate President Donald Trump had promised on the campaign trail. In fact, GDP grew by an impressive 3.1 percent be- tween fourth quarter 2017 and fourth quarter 2018. That growth was significantly higher than the Federal Re- serve’s December 2017 me- dian projection of 2.5 percent growth for 2018. By a different measure – year-over-year growth – the rate for 2018, compared with 2017, was slightly lower, at 2.9 percent. But according to the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the Q4- to-Q4 calculation is more informative, because it is “closer to what is meant in- tuitively in discussions of growth during a certain year.” While year-over-year growth rates “reflect what happened in the preceding year as well as what happened during the year in question,” the CEA explains, the Q4-to-Q4 ap- proach is based solely on how the economy performed during the year in question. The 3.1 percent Q4-to-Q4 growth rate in 2018 means the United States just had its strongest calendar year of eco- nomic growth since 2005, well before the Great Recession. Where did that growth come from? Consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. eco- nomic growth, was robust, driven by the strongest jobs market in decades, the best wage growth in a decade, low energy prices and increased take-home pay resulting from the 2017 tax cuts. With con- sumer spending up and the Trump administration having reined in unfriendly regula- tions, business investment was also strong, accelerating in the fourth quarter and laying the groundwork for fu- ture economic growth. Contrary to the defeatist narrative that many on the left will surely advance, this economic success is a direct result of the president’s pro- growth policies. Naysayers have been pre- dicting a U.S. recession for months, but the latest GDP growth report strongly con - tradicts that pessimistic view. Far from shrinking, the economy is growing at a faster pace than it has in well over a decade. Of course, the naysayers also scoffed at Trump’s promise to create a roaring economy with full employment and a robust manufacturing sector, but that is exactly what his poli- cies have produced. Andy Puzder is the former chief executive of CKE Restaurants and the author of ‘The Capitalist Comeback.’ © 2019, The Washington Post Writers Group. Contrary to the defeatist narrative that many on the left will surely advance, this economic success is a direct result of the president’s pro-growth policies. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Looking forward to royal visitors I send this in the hopes that you will publish it, as I have no other way to get this message to the gracious Cay- manians that assisted me when our cruise ship was docked at Grand Cayman on Feb. 22. Heartfelt thanks to Ernest and Carolyn, convenience store owners, for helping me locate much-needed hearing aid batteries and then driving me to the museum. I learned so much about your island and its people during our time together. I will never forget your kindness. Ann Quebedeaux San Diego, California Thankful for help5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY MARCH 5, 2019 The Insurance Broker for all your Insurance needs Unit# 10B Cayman Falls | P.O. Box 11118 Grand Cayman KY1-1008 Tel: 345-943-2475 | Fax: 345-943-2472 Email: info@cipil.net www.cipil.net Relax You’re with us. Students master chess for tournament More than 120 students from eight local schools par- ticipated in the inaugural Dart Minds Inspired Inter- school Chess Tournament. Hosted by Cayman Inter- national School, the compe- tition was held on Feb. 27 at the Arts and Recreation Centre in Camana Bay. The tournament, which fea- tured round robin and cham- pionship rounds with divi- sions for primary, middle and high school students, lasted for approximately four hours. MLA Barbara Conolly, who attended the event on behalf of the Ministry of Ed- ucation to present the win- ning students with their medals, said chess plays an important role in building ac- ademic and life skills. “As Councillor for Educa- tion, I was pleased to attend the first Interschool Chess Tournament and present the medals to the winners,” Ms. Conolly said in a press release. “It’s never too early for a child to learn how to play chess and I can attest to that as children from the age of seven partici- pated in this tournament. “The game of chess helps children develop crit- ical thinking skills such as problem-solving, cre- ative thinking, strategic thinking and sportsmanship, amongst others.” Dart Education Pro- grammes Manager Glenda McTaggart said she hopes the success of the inaugural tour- nament will encourage the de- velopment of chess clubs at other local schools that do not currently have chess programs. “Playing chess and partic- ipating in chess tournaments can create opportunities for Cayman’s youth to compete at national, regional and in- ternational chess events,” she said, adding that the Cayman Chess Club hosts free chess classes and open challenges every Saturday at 11 a.m. at the George Town Public Li- brary for interested students. Ms. McTaggart said the event’s success depended on the coordinated efforts of volunteers from several local organizations and the sup- port of local businesses. “Volunteers from the Lions Club of Grand Cayman and the Cayman Chess Club oversaw the competition, Kirk Market and Foster’s Food Fair provided sandwiches and snacks, and the staff and se- nior students of Cayman In- ternational School assisted tournament organizer Ste- phen Wise throughout the event,” she said. “Without their enthusiastic, loyal, and capable help, this tournament could not have taken place.” Mr. Wise said he was en- couraged by the level of stu- dent and parent participation in the inaugural event. “The tournament exceeded all our expectations. Enthu- siasm and excitement was clearly evident among all the students and parents who at- tended,” he added. The Primary School Divi- sion was won by Luc Sinton of the Cayman Chess Club, the Middle School Divi- sion by Ryan Heffernan of Cayman International School, and the High School Division by Edmund Pileta of Clifton Hunter High School. Run- ners-up were Arjun Dhanas- ekar of St. Ignatius Catholic School, and Alexander Grover and Tyler Dykstra of Cayman Prep and High School. Also competing in the Medal Round were Kiernan Finch and Ricardo Douglas of St. Ignatius Catholic School, Laia Swaminathan and Lennox Turnham-Wheatley of Cayman International School, Daniel Suico of Triple C School, and Khobika Rajesh Kannan of Cayman Academy. The winners of the 2019 Interschool Chess Tournament with MLA Barbara Conolly, tournament organizer Stephen Wise and Dart Education Programmes Manager Glenda McTaggart, after receiving their awards. Cayman students enter tech competition Cayman students are taking their tech education on the road. A group of Cayman Inter- national students will spend part of their March break at- tending the National FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics com- petition in Kingston, Jamaica. The team of three will compete at Jamaica College from March 7 to 10. FIRST is an organization that sponsors robotics com- petitions around the world to inspire young students to be- come leaders and innovators in the field of science and technology. The students – Caylem Hill, Jack Mcgregor and Carl Abbott – will travel along with teacher and coach Jeff Sz- eryk. They have been working hard on their robot since November. The team will compete in the FTC Rover Ruckus, which challenges students to build a robot that completes certain tasks. This year’s theme is based on a rover landing on an un- known planet and sampling the surrounding area. They have to complete tasks like detaching from the “Lunar Lander,” sampling minerals and returning them. The Cayman team engineered and documented the build over several months. Cayman will see its inau- gural FIRST Tech Challenge, hosted by Dart Minds In- spired, on May 11, at 1 p.m. in the Arts and Recreation Center at Camana Bay. The event is based on the same Rover Ruckus competition that will be hosted by Ja - maica College. Also, the FIRST Global Robotics Competition will be held in Dubai from Oct. 3 to 5, and a Cayman team will be selected from the schools participating in the May competition. The team of three will compete at Jamaica College from March 7 to 10. From left, teacher/coach Jeff Szeryk, Caylem Hill, Jack Mcgregor and Carl Abbott are ready for the Jamaica competition. INDECENT ASSAULT CHARGE SENT TO GRAND COURT Reported victim is juvenile male CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man who appeared in Summary Court on Monday charged with indecent assault had his matter transmitted to the Grand Court, where he was scheduled to appear on Friday, March 22. Magistrate Valdis Foldats heard a bail application from attorney Dennis Brady, but refused it. He remanded the 34-year-old de- fendant in custody but advised him of his right to appeal that decision in the higher court. The magistrate also ordered a pro- hibition on publication of any details that could lead to the identification of the al- leged victim, in this case a male juvenile. The charge was based on an incident said to have occurred last week. MAN CHARGED WITH NEW YEAR’S EVE ROBBERY CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man accused of a robbery that took place on New Year’s Eve had charges against him transmitted to Grand Court, where he was scheduled to appear on Friday, March 22. Nicholas Spence, 31, appeared in Sum- mary Court on Monday. He was charged with stealing a black Samsung Note 8 cell- phone and using force or threat of force against a named individual in order to do so. The incident occurred on Greenwood Drive, George Town, outside a residence. The defendant was alleged to have bran- dished a knife at the time of the robbery and then used the knife to damage two tires on the victim’s vehicle. Value of the damage was less than $3,000. Magistrate Valdis Foldats re- manded Mr. Spence in custody after refusing a bail application by attorney John Furniss.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 TUESDAY MARCH 5, 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS and meat is shipped into the islands. “What hap- pens if America goes to war with Venezuela and they decide no more ships are coming through? “I’m sure we can do a lot more than we are doing cur- rently,” he said, noting the success of local egg farmers who now produce bumper crops. “It’s not even a drop in the bucket.” In 1988, then-Governor Alan Scott said farming pro- duction had declined, in part, because land was being ceded to a booming commer- cial industry. “In recent years,” the story said, “the economic growth and prosperity [have] made farming less attractive.” Mr. Smith said the same concern exists today. “We have lost 300 or something acres from ag- riculture to residential de- velopment,” he said. “If that trend continues, what’s going to happen?” Because of those issues, he said the Agriculture Show remains important as a way to highlight the existing ag- riculture on the island and, hopefully, encourage people to support it. “Because we live on an island, we need to become more conscious of our lim- ited resources,” he said. “We’re trying to get everyone to do their part.” The heart of the agricul- ture show has not changed much either. It’s still packed with livestock exhibits, stands full of tomatoes, cas- sava, peppers and more, handicrafts, baked goods and food stalls selling local conch and turtle recipes. What has changed is the location. The first few years, starting in 1963, the event was held on land behind the George Town Library. After several years, it moved to a spot on Smith Road. And it spent time at the Lions Centre before eventually ending up on a dedicated piece of land in Lower Valley. It quickly attracted atten- tion. In its fifth year, the first for which figures are avail- able, the show drew 2,500 people. Two years later, at- tendance climbed to 3,300. And in 1979, 8,000 people gathered for the show, nearly as many as pour into the grounds these days. But the following year, the show nearly died, hindered by “money, rain, pests and poor soil.” Farming commu- nity veterans said it was only through the efforts of the young people on the steering committee of the Cayman Is- lands Agriculture Fair that the event went forward. That year, 5,000 joined in the celebration. Attendance has fluctuated over the years, and following Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 the show went dormant for four years – thus explaining this year’s 52nd installment of an annual event that began 56 years ago. It came back strong in 1993, with 6,000 coming to the Lions Centre for the show. One thing that fell by the wayside over the years was the parade that went with the show. Some of the early floats were about as creative and basic as one might ex- pect from a small commu- nity. Early photos show such things as a flatbed truck with a palm frond stapled across its front bumper. A float for mosquito control had a car- toon cutout of a mozzie in a hat, standing in what ap- peared to be loads of back- yard debris tossed onto the back of a truck. A float for the Cayman National Bank showed children dressed in white cone-shaped hats and coats scrawled with dollar and pound signs as a repre- sentation of bank digitization. Early entertainment was highlighted by local bands and such things as a young man riding a two-story bi- cycle – clearly a homemade contraption that would not have passed insur- ance muster. Farmer Gary Rankin said it’s important for Cayman to continue the tradition. “It lets the commu- nity know for one week the farmers are still here,” he said. “Hopefully, with the Ag- riculture Show, they will sup- port the farmers.” It also offers the farmers a chance to shine, he said. “There’s a sense of sat- isfaction, just showing the public what’s available,” Mr. Rankin said. “I give credit to all the farmers.” From a business stand- point, it’s effective. “We do see a jump in busi- ness directly after the Agri- culture Show,” he said, cred- iting the rise to more people being aware of what’s avail- able in local produce. He also thinks it generates more interest in farming itself, adding that he is seeing an in- crease in younger people get- ting involved in the business. In a Facebook posting, Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin re- cently promoted the show. A photo shows Mr. McLaughlin standing underneath a palm tree, holding large bunches of bananas and surrounded by produce such as peppers and melons. “It’s one of my favou- rite times of the year, and I’m counting down to Grand Cayman’s 52nd Agricul- ture show,” the premier wrote. “It’s the best place to see people you haven’t seen since last year! Buy some plants, get some good local food and buy locally made crafts.” For Zelmalee Ebanks, whose family runs a North Side farm, the Agriculture Show remains an important part of Cayman culture. But she feels as though it has lost some of its luster. “Years ago,” she said, “it was the event of the year. Now, there are so many events. We just had Coco Fest and they had that KAABOO. It has lost its spotlight on the calendar.” The flavor of the show has changed as well, she said. “I think it has lost some of its uniqueness by becoming so commercialized,” Ms. Ebanks said. She recalls the days when the show featured such things as a maypole, a qua- drille and fishing scenes made especially for the event. The show seemed to have a greater sense of “exuberance” in the past, she said. But she still enjoys it. “My favorite part of the show is looking at the ex- hibits and seeing what is being produced,” she said, re- ferring to new varieties that have been introduced to the island. “There’s always some unique craftwork too.” She had to laugh. “I guess I’m a victim of the commercial aspect,” she said. “I also look forward to making good sales.” Agriculture Show has rich history Quadrille dancers Brian Myers and Rachael Zimmer check out a huge cassava root on show at the 2009 Agriculture Show. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Abshire Bodden of Newlands, who was voted runner-up Livestock Farmer of the Year at the 1993 Agriculture Show, assists judges by attaching winning blue ribbons to cattle. That year’s show attracted more than 6,000 visitors. - PHOTO: CAROL WINKER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Premier Alden McLaughlin posted this photograph on Facebook of some of the produce from his farm, saying he was looking forward to the upcoming Agriculture Show. Judges Marisa Crawford, left, and Delia Ebanks scrutinize entries in the home products contest at the 33rd annual Agriculture Show in 1999. Attendees of the 1967 Agriculture Show check out displays of fruit and jams in the main hall of the Grammar School Grounds, where the show was held that year. Young Walt Watler takes a ride on a steer called King, owned by Melbourne Watler, at the 1967 Agriculture Show.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY MARCH 5, 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 Central and South Amer- ican markets.” However, the master plan also notes that “by maxi- mizing the use of existing airport lands to the west, an 8,000 ft. runway can be achieved, providing long-haul opportunities in the future.” A runway of at least 7,700 feet would support di- rect flights to London based on an 80 percent load factor. An 8,000-foot airstrip would increase that load factor by another 3 to 5 percent and it would provide additional safety for wet runway condi- tions, the master plan states. One airline, British Air- ways, did tell PwC and WSP that a runway of 9,200 feet would “be desirable” for fu- ture route planning for long- haul direct flights to the U.K. and Europe. But making the airstrip that long would require ad- ditional land for construction in North Sound. This would entail considerably more planning and cost, according to the master plan. “Any extension into the North Sound would involve a considerable level of en- vironmental assessment and planning that could be costly both in time and cost to complete the necessary in- vestigations, impact assess- ment and mitigation plan- ning,” the master plan stated. “To this end, the master plan determined that a runway length of 8,000 ft. could be achieved on existing land by extending the runway to the western limits of the airport boundary while reserving land for a 90m x 90m RESA [runway end safety area] at both ends.” A pre-bid meeting and site inspection is scheduled to take place on March 18. The CIAA states in its request for tender that it hopes to have a bidder chosen by June. Pizza company seeks to offer dial-a-beer service JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Takeout diners could soon order a beer with their pizza. Gino’s Pizzeria on West Bay Road wants to make alcohol part of its home delivery ser- vice and has applied for a li- quor license for its vehicle. Lawyers acting for the company appeared before the Liquor Licensing Board at its quarterly session Friday to make the case for such de- liveries. Cline Glidden, rep- resenting Gino’s, said the aim was simply to offer cus- tomers the option of or- dering a six pack of beer, for example, with their take- away order. Grocery store McRuss was also before the board Friday, seeking a liquor li- cense for its Prospect store. McRuss already sells beer, wine and spirits at its George Town location and is looking to offer the same option, seven days a week, at its original location on Shamrock Road. Since the lifting of a mor- atorium on the granting of new liquor licenses, and the clarification of the law on Sunday opening, several con- venience stores have been granted licenses to sell li- quor, including on Sun- days. The law still restricts larger supermarkets from selling alcohol. Representatives of Mojo Sushi in the Bayshore Mall in George Town are also ap- plying for a liquor license. “Thirty percent of Mojo’s cruise ship clientele leave the premises as soon as they re- alize that they don’t sell al- cohol and nighttime business is almost non-existent,” said Mitchell Welds, who spoke for the applicants at the meeting. Mr. Welds was chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board until January 2016. Mojo, which is in the same plaza as the Creperie and Lucky Slice pizza, makes an average of $2.50 from every cruise ship passenger, according to its owners. They believe by offering al- cohol they can increase that amount and take advan- tage of the surge in arrivals in town. Also before the board Friday was Michael Gardner, who operates a mobile disc jockey service known as Desert Eagle Sound from a sound system in his van. He is seeking a liquor license to sell alcohol from the vehicle at events. The board also considered applications from Treats res- taurant, which wants to re- vive its liquor license as it continues to reboot its op- erations after reopening fol- lowing a fire, and The Brew Hut, which will be opening at the renovated airport later this year. Representatives of Shop- Right convenience stores also appeared to seek a liquor li- cense for its new location on Walkers Road and a soon- to-open store in East End, next to the new Health City apartments. The liquor board ad- journed its public meeting Friday afternoon to delib- erate on the applications. In April 2018, the House of Commons unan- imously approved an amendment to the U.K. Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act directing the U.K. government to issue an Order in Council if the deadline is not met. This highly conten- tious move attracted much criticism in the overseas territories, where the attempt by the House of Commons to leg- islate for the territories in a devolved matter was widely regarded as ex- treme, and reminiscent of colonial times. In December of last year, overseas territories representatives negotiated with the Foreign Office an extension of the timeline to 2023, to the dismay of U.K. lawmakers. Tory MP Andrew Mitchell on Monday said the U.K. government’s in- tention to arbitrarily ex- tend that date by no less than three years to 2023 was in flagrant breach of what was agreed by Parliament. Even the 2020 dead- line was late and had only been agreed to because of the effect of hurricanes on some of the territories at the time, he said. Labour MP Margaret Hodge, who together with Mr. Mitchell authored both amendments, said taking the debate of the bill off the order paper was “a blatant, deliberate and arrogant snub of this Parliament.” The amendment “would not just have ex- tended public registers to Crown dependencies but would have reiterated the point over overseas ter- ritories,” she said in the House of Commons. “We were so angered by the action of the For- eign Office that we wanted to reiterate the decision of Parliament, which was passed unan- imously, in the amend- ment that we were pro- posing today. That opportunity to reiterate has been re- moved as well.” She urged the speaker of the house to outline what he can do “to ensure that government does what Parliament tells it to do in legislation.” House Speaker John Bercow said he had no advance notice of what was “a most unusual turn of events.” “It is a rum busi- ness,” he said, “that all of a sudden this busi- ness which was sched- uled for today has been evacuated from Parlia- ment, it has been airlifted from the premises, it has suffered a mysterious and hitherto unexplained disappearance.” The move by govern- ment was “at, the very least, discourteous to the members of Parliament,” he said, adding that he had certainly intended to select the amendment for debate. “That proposal was en- tirely orderly. Whatever others thought of it, out- side this place or even outside this country, it would have been entirely proper for this house to debate and vote on it,” Mr. Bercow said. The Financial Ser- vices Bill is seen as vital in the event that the U.K. exits the European Union without a deal. It is not clear when the bill will be rescheduled for a third reading. However, Mr. Bercow said he would expect the amendment to be part of that debate. UK government pulls Brexit bill debate over beneficial ownership CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Airport seeks contractor to extend runway CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 Gino’s Pizzeria is applying for a license to deliver beer with its pizzas. The Owen Roberts International Airport runway is currently 7,008 feet long, and government is looking to lengthen it by up to another 900 feet. – PHOTO: CHRIS COURTThe 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. TUESDAY MARCH 5, 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS 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. THURSAY, MARCH 7 POST OFFICE CLOSURES: All post offices on Grand Cayman will close at noon today to facilitate a staff function. Normal business will resume on Friday, March 8. FRIDAY, MARCH 8 FILM PREMIERE: As part of Honouring Women Month and to mark International Women’s Day, the Family Resource Centre is hosting a private screening of the local premiere of “Captain Marvel.” Tickets are $10, which includes movie ticket, popcorn and water. Tickets are available at the Family Resource Centre, 3rd Floor, 77 Mary Street. FISH FRY NIGHTS: St. Ignatius Youth Ministry presents Fish Fry Nights every Friday through April 12. 5-8 p.m. in the school canteen. Fried or baked fish with sides. Prices range from $7 to $12. Free desserts while supplies last. All are invited to dine in or take out. Proceeds in aid of parish religious education and youth ministry. 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 ROAD WORK: Temporary roadwork at Shedden Road by Cricket Square. As a part of the continuing road maintenance for NRA, a sub-contractor will carry out well drilling due to the potential for flooding. The public is urged to follow all relevant signs and road markings when driving past the area, or to avoid the location if at all possible. 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 at 949-5583 (the church office). PADDLEBOARD FUN DAY: The second annual Coconut Cup Paddleboard Family Fun Day begins at 8:30 a.m. at Seven Mile Public Beach. For more information, email info@caymanheartfund.com. FRIDAY, MARCH 15 HONOURING WOMEN MONTH LUNCHEON: A luncheon featuring speakers, networking and celebration, with a focus on leadership, empowerment and progress. Noon to 2 p.m. Aurea East, Kimpton Seafire resort. $25 tickets include 3-course lunch, lucky door prizes and raffle. Group bookings available, tables seat 10. RSVP via email by March 6 to hwm@gov.ky or pick up tickets at the Family Resource Centre, 3rd Floor, 33 Mary Street. SUNDAY, MARCH 17 COLOR ME PURPLE RUN: The Family Resource Centre is hosting its annual 5K walk/run as part of Honouring Women Month, 6:30 a.m., Seven Mile Public Beach. All funds support empowerment programs for women and youth in the community. $25 registration includes shirt (for the first 200 paid registrants), raffle prizes and light refreshments. There will be color bombing, breakfast and medals for runners, as well as raffle prizes. Register at www.caymanactive.com/purple. 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, visit www. caymanenterprisecity.com/ enterprise-cayman/intern- in-the-city or contact Bianca Mora, public engagement officer at CEC, at b.mora@ caymanenterprisecity.com. SATURDAY, MARCH 23 RED SKY AT NIGHT: 4 p.m. to midnight. Rescheduled from March 2. More than 100 artists and artisans, delicious food, live entertainment. All tickets will be valid for the new date. Members of the public who are unable to attend today and would like a refund, contact cncf@artscayman.org. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27 BPW AGM: The Annual General Meeting and Annual Candle Lighting Ceremony for the Business and Professional Women’s Club takes place at the upstairs of GTYC Restaurant. Dinner is $50. RSVP at BPWgcm.org. GENERAL INTEREST 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. EMINENT ORATORS TOASTMASTERS: Want to be a better Speaker or Leader? Join a Toastmasters Club. The Eminent Orators Toastmasters Club meets every 2nd and 4th Monday at Cayman Academy Canteen, Walkers Road, 6-7:30 p.m. Contact Sashoy Duncan 939-8847 or email eminentorator stoastmasters@gmail.com Visitors and guests welcome. 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. RELIGIOUS SERVICES EL MINISTERIO HISPANO: de la Iglesia Bautista Cayman Islands te hace una cordial invitación a nuestro culto en español cada Domingo, 6:30 p.m., Pedro Castle Road, Savannah. Para transporte, llamar al teléfono no. 946-2422, email: cibaptist@candw.ky. SPANISH WORSHIP SERVICE: First Baptist Church, Crewe Road, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Third Sunday of each month. HARBOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH: Meets for Divine Worship and Fellowship at South Sound Community Centre, South Sound, Sundays at 10 a.m. www.safeharborlc.com. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. A participant in last year’s Walk In Her Shoes event dons some colorful footwear. This year’s fundraiser for the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre takes place at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 8, in Camana Bay. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSONThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY MARCH 5, 2019 Vandals target Jewish sites in eastern France Vandals have scrawled anti-Semitic graffiti on a former synagogue in eastern France, the latest in a string of incidents that have caused nationwide concern. Vandals also knocked over a monument to a synagogue razed by the Nazis in nearby Strasbourg. Xi firmly in charge as China turns to legislative season Pakistan-India train service resumes as border tensions ease LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) – A key train service with neigh- boring India resumed and schools in Pakistani Kashmir opened Monday in another sign of easing tensions be- tween the two nuclear-armed rivals since a major escala- tion last week over the dis- puted Kashmir region. Pakistan Railways spokesman Ejaz Shah said the train service, known as the Samjhauta Express, left the eastern city of Lahore for India’s border town of Atari, with some 180 passengers on board. Pakistan suspended the train service last week as tensions escalated following India’s airstrike on Tuesday inside Pakistan. India said it targeted militants behind a Feb. 14 suicide bombing in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops. Pakistan retaliated, shooting down a fighter jet the next day and detaining its pilot, who was returned to India two days later. Also Monday, schools in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir opened after seven days of closure amid the height- ened tensions. Raja Jaleel, head teacher at a secondary school in Cha- kothi, which is close to the Line of Control border in the disputed region, said classes resumed but attendance was thin. He lauded the courage of the students who attended, as many of the area’s parents are keeping their children home for their safety. “We have started our day with prayers for peace,” said the head teacher, adding that the students also chanted slo- gans in support of the army. Schools were closed when Indian and Pakistani troops were trading fire across the Line of Control. At least eight civilians and two soldiers have been killed in Pakistani- controlled Kashmir since ten- sions soared following In- dia’s airstrike last Tuesday. The reopening of schools on the Pakistani side of Kashmir and the resumption of the train service amid the lull in the crossfire for the second consecutive day sug- gests that the two nuclear- armed rivals have heeded in- ternational calls to exercise restraint. But Pakistan has not yet opened its airspace for flights to or from the east. Senior civil aviation of- ficial Aamir Mahboob said that there was “no change yet in our aviation policy toward east but the west corridor is open for all flights.” After the suicide bombing on Feb. 14 in the Pulwama district of Indian-controlled Kashmir, Indian jets crossed into Pakistani Kashmir and then into the Balakot sec- tion of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province where they dropped bombs. India claimed its jets struck the militants behind the Pulwama attack. Pakistan denied that any such militant base existed in the area or that was hit by jets. Next day Pakistan shot down two In- dian jets and detained a pilot who landed on the Pakistani side. He was handed back to India in a gesture of peace two days later. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both countries claim the territory in its entirety and have fought two of their three wars over it. The rivals struck a cease- fire deal in 2003 but regularly trade cross-border fire. BEIJING (AP) – A year since effectively making himself China’s leader for life, Xi Jin- ping appears firmly in charge, despite a slowing economy, a trade war with the United States and rumbles of dis- content over his concentra- tion of power. As China’s president and head of the ruling Commu- nist Party, Xi wields more au- thority than any leader since Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s and looms large over the an- nual legislative session that starts Tuesday. Since assuming the party helm in 2012, Xi has elimi- nated rival factions, gutted civil society and brought the party under his firm control by way of a sprawling anti- corruption campaign and the opening of party committees in private businesses and for- eign companies. Still, with the economy’s go-go years firmly in the past and local governments mired in debt, the horizon remains littered with challenges. “Global sources of tur- moil and risks have increased and the external environment is complicated and grim,” Xi told officials in a speech last month. This year’s legislative ses- sion is expected to be con- siderably less dramatic than last year’s, when Xi’s move to amend the constitution to re- move term limits on the pres- idency opened the way for him to remain head of state for as long as he wants. The move reversed a trend toward greater re- straint on the leadership, ad- vertising Xi’s willingness to upend what tenuous rules and structures the party had institutionalized in re- cent decades. Chief among them is the tradition that, by his second five-year term, the leader should begin pointing to a likely successor. Xi has made no moves in this area while arrogating to himself ever- greater authority over gov- ernment, from the economy to foreign policy and the mil- itary. As party general secre- tary, Xi is head of its all-pow- erful seven-member Politburo Standing Committee. “To my mind, the most important question now is: Which norm is the next to fall?” Carl Minzner, a pro- fessor at Fordham Law School in New York City and author of a recent book on Chinese politics, said in an email. For now, though, more immediate concerns predominate. At a wide-ranging news conference Monday, congress spokesman Zhang Yesui reit- erated Beijing’s desire to find a mutually acceptable resolu- tion to the tariff dispute with the U.S. and touted the ad- vantages of a draft law that he said would mark a “funda- mental change” in how China manages foreign investment. While the foreign invest- ment law is the only item on the congress’ agenda, Zhang said its standing committee would be taking on new leg- islation in the areas of drug regulation, veterans’ affairs and protection of the Yangtze River, China’s most important internal waterway. The standing committee meets every two months to deal with the bulk of the con- gress’ legislative chores. As with last year, Zhang declined to disclose the planned increase in China’s defense budget, the world’s largest behind the U.S., but appeared to indicate it would continue the trend of single- digit percentage growth in place since 2016. “When it comes to whether a country poses a military threat to other countries, the key is that country’s military and foreign policies, not how much its defense budget in- creases,” Zhang said. “China’s limited defense spending is for safeguarding the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the country. It is not a threat to other countries,” he said. China’s armed forces have undergone a thorough expansion and moderniza- tion program in recent years, raising concerns in Wash- ington and among its neigh- bors, particularly those sharing overlapping territo- rial claims in the strategi- cally vital South China Sea. China also claims ownership of East China Sea islands controlled by traditional rival Japan and threatens to attack self-governing Taiwan to take control of what it re- gards as a breakaway Chi- nese territory. This year’s legislative session is expected to be considerably less dramatic than last year’s, when Xi’s move to amend the constitution to remove term limits on the presidency opened the way for him to remain head of state for as long as he wants. A Pakistani family waves to their Indian relatives, who are leaving to return to India, after being stranded in Pakistan for a week, at Lahore Railway Station in Pakistan, Monday. - PHOTO: AP Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives for the opening session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, Sunday. - PHOTO: APNext >