Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet High of 87 Low of 74 LOCAL | PAGE 5 $1.9 MILLION DECEPTION TRIAL CONTINUES EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 CONSERVATION: ONE DEBT PAID, ANOTHER OWED ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019 2ND ANNUAL FISHING TOURNAMENT BK Big Fish is proud to be partnering with the YMCA of the Cayman Islands. For more information and to pre-register online visit fishcayman.com/events REGISTRATION: Opens at 6 pm on Wednesday, March 20th upstairs at the GTYC & Captains Table REGISTRATION COST: $200 per boat which includes 4 anglers. Each additional angler $100 FISHING: 6:00 am – 4:00 pm Friday – Sunday, March 22 - 24 WEIGH IN: 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm at the Barcadere Marina & Channel Wharf AWARDS PRESENTATION: 7:00 pm on Monday March 25th upstairs at the GTYC 22 ND – 24 TH MARCH 2019 Lindhout brings message of resilience and survival to Power of the Purse event MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Ten years ago, Canadian Amanda Lindhout built a house in the sky. Living in complete darkness for months, her ankles shackled by heavy, rusty chains, forcing her body into a stress position, unable to sit up straight or lie on her back, the house she con- structed in her mind became a safe space – a space to relive past experiences, to imagine having dinner with old friends or to dream about her future. On Aug. 23, 2008, Ms. Lind- hout was visiting Somalia as a freelance journalist on what she believed was going to be a seven-day work trip. She was on her way to report on a camp for people displaced by the conflict in the country, when her vehicle was ambushed by a dozen men armed with Kalashnikovs. The men turned out to be mostly teenagers, who kidnapped Ms. Lindhout and an Australian colleague to extort ransom money. What ensued was an ordeal and suffering too difficult to imagine for the average person. Ms. Lindhout was held captive for 460 days. For ten and a half months, the kidnappers held her, tied-up, in a blacked-out room, punishing her for a failed es- cape attempt. Ms. Lindhout, the keynote speaker at this year’s Power of the Purse event on March 22, says whether she liked it or not, she had to become a survival expert. “What I am able to share with people is much bigger than me PROPERTY SALES HIT NEW RECORD AMID REAL ESTATE BOOM $800 million in sales last year JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Last year was the best on record for the Cayman Islands property market with more than $800 million in total sales, according to a review by surveyors Charterland. The report shows rising house and land prices across most sectors in 2018 as Cay- man’s property boom continued. “We are into unchartered territory in the property market,” said Simon Watson, partner at Charterland, which analyzed every real es- tate transaction in the Cayman Islands in 2018 to provide the review. “It is an interesting exercise to see if the sales figures confirm what the realtors have been telling us throughout the year. This year it absolutely has,” he said. “The market has recovered from the down- turn of 2010 and is now way beyond the pre- vious peak.” He said rising demand and rising prices on Seven Mile Beach were largely a reflection of the strength of the U.S. economy, but the ripple effect is starting to be seen in other sec- tions of the market. Land values rose in Savannah, an enclave of mostly mid-range residential development, for the first time in a decade, the report shows. “The market is booming without a doubt,” Mr. Watson added. “We obviously have to keep an eye on the situation in the U.S., but I can’t see any huge red flags on the horizon right now.” The report indicates there were 1,857 prop- Amanda Lindhout PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Guys in heels strut their stuff for charity JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Scores of men strutted their stuff for charity on Friday, donning high heels to pa- rade through Camana Bay for the annual “A Walk in Her Shoes” fundraiser for the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre. The town center was transformed into a catwalk for the evening as men of all shapes and sizes put their best foot forward for one of Cayman’s quirkier fashion shows. Men in all kinds of elegant foot- wear, from thigh-high red leather boots to chunky platforms, tottered down the street as crowds of onlookers wolf whis- tled, cat called and recorded the evidence on camera phones. Many men chose not only to “walk in her shoes” but to squeeze into her dress and fish net stocking and wear her make up as well, making for an entertaining spectacle. The event, to coincide with International Women’s Day, has a serious side, with all proceeds going to the Crisis Centre, which provides support and shelter to women im- PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » Boys just wanna have fun. Led by Kelsie Woodman-Bodden, Miss World Cayman Islands 2018, around 50 men strut along the Camana Bay catwalk on Friday. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 LOCAL®IONAL MONDAY MARCH 11, 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. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) CAPTAIN MARVEL (PG13) 12:30 VIP I 1:10 3D I 3:25 VIP I 4:05 6:30 VIP I 7:00 3D I 9:30 VIP I 9:50 A MADEA FAMILY FUNERAL (PG13) 1:10 I 3:45 I 6:45 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) 1:55 I 7:20 ALITA BATTLE ANGEL (PG13) 1:10 I 4:10 I 7:10 I 10:00 WHAT MEN WANT (R) 4:30 I 10:00 Nicaragua reveals peace talks agenda, doesn’t budge on vote MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) – Nicaragua’s government an- nounced its agenda Sat- urday for talks on resolving a nearly year-old political standoff, but did not give any ground on a key opposition demand – early elections. A Foreign Ministry state- ment spelled out several points including the strength- ening of electoral institutions; justice and reparations; a re- view and release of some im- prisoned protesters; and nego- tiations about the suspension of international sanctions. It said the government is “committed to the strength- ening of democracy and re- spect for the constitutional order of Nicaragua,” but pointedly noted that the date for the next general election is “established” for 2021. Opponents of President Daniel Ortega demanded he leave office and allow an early, fair vote, during wide- spread protests last year that prompted a govern- ment crackdown. At least 325 people died in the un- rest, according to the Inter- American Commission on Human Rights. On the 770 people the op- position considers polit- ical prisoners, the govern- ment said it would consider freeing both those awaiting judgment and others already convicted. But it added that it would “review their case files, a situation that does not imply impunity.” Talks between Ortega rep- resentatives and the opposi- tion group Civic Alliance re- sumed Feb. 27, and a so-called roadmap for the negotiations was agreed upon last week. Venezuelan hospitals struggle without power CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Many parts of Venezuela re- mained without power and communications on Sunday after several days of the country’s worst blackouts, which forced some hospitals to treat patients without elec- tricity and compounded an economic and political crisis. Power returned to some areas as engineers sought to restore service, but frustra- tion mounted among people already struggling with hy- perinflation as well as short- ages of food and medicine. Witnesses reported over- night protests in a few Ca- racas neighborhoods and the remains of makeshift barri- cades and burned debris were seen at some intersections. Some hospitals have cared for their most critically ill pa- tients with the help of gen- erators, but many have had to operate without power since the blackouts started Thursday afternoon, endan- gering vulnerable patients who rely on oxygen concen- trators, dialysis machines and other equipment. The Venezuelan govern- ment has not commented on the impact of blackouts on the sick, but Julio Castro, a doctor who supports oppo- sition leader Juan Guaido, said a hospital in the city of Maturin reported 15 deaths linked to outages. Castro, who joined Guaido on Sunday at a news confer- ence addressing the energy crisis, noted that Venezuela annually designates March 10 as a day to honor the med- ical profession. “We have nothing to cele- brate,” Castro said. Guaido, the leader of the National Assembly, said it was difficult to assess the impact of power cuts on the sick because of an alleged government cover-up. He de- clared himself interim presi- dent in late January, saying Maduro is an illegitimate leader and should resign so elections can be held. Maduro has described Guaido as a “clown and puppet” in a U.S.- backed plot to overthrow his government. In Caracas, Alexis Reynoso, 46, said he left his home in the Venezuelan cap- ital on Sunday morning to try to buy water and food, but most shops were closed. He said those that were open only accepted cash, but he did not have enough because the bank only allows small withdrawals and debit card payments aren’t possible be- cause of the outage. The government and op- position accuse each other of being responsible for the infrastructure breakdown. Maduro on Sunday tweeted that “multiple cyberattacks” caused the blackouts and disrupted efforts to fix the national grid. He says he hopes power can be restored in coming hours. Guaido and his ally, the United States, say Maduro’s allegations that they sabo - taged the power system are absurd. They say govern- ment corruption and mis- management caused the decay of Venezuela’s infra- structure over many years, a situation that has contrib- uted to the departure of more than three million Venezue- lans from their country in the past few years. “If I could, I would take the little that I have and leave the country,” said Renee Mar- tinez, a 31-year-old Caracas resident. “This is unbearable. Here, everything is scarce and now power is as well.” CRIME BRIEFS CORRECTION In a story that ran on March 8 entitled, “Court Hears Employer Has Made Restitution,” the identity of the de- fendant’s attorney was incorrectly stated. Mr. Lincoln Rob- inson is represented by Richard Barton. Man slashed with machete in home invasion A West Bay man was seriously injured after being attacked in his own home by a masked man wielding a machete. The assailant broke into the home in the Batabano area around 10 p.m. Sat- urday and demanded jew- elry, according to a report from the Royal Cayman Is- lands Police service. A struggle broke out and the victim was struck with the machete. The bur- glar left the home and broke into the victim’s ve- hicle before fleeing on foot with some personal items. The man suffered cuts to his head and arms and was taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital where his condition was described as “serious but stable” on Sunday. The suspect is de- scribed as having brown skin, wearing a dark, long- sleeved shirt or jacket, long pants and had a cloth cov- ering his face. Armed men enter Birch Tree Hill residence Two armed individuals entered a residence in the Birch Tree Hill area of West Bay on Wednesday and de- manded money from the occupants, according to the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service. One of the men report- edly carried what appeared to be a handgun and the other carried a long, metal object. A struggle between one of the men and an occupant of the house ensued, after which the men fled the lo- cation, police reported. No serious injuries were reported as a result of the attack. No arrests have been made. The matter is under investigation. Anyone with information related to these crimes can call West Bay CID on 949-3999, the police confidential tipline on 949-7777 or the Miami- based Crime Stoppers call center on 800-8477(TIPS). A supporter of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro sings a song about the late President Hugo Chavez as she holds an image depicting him during a government rally in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday. - PHOTO: AP Balance for Better on International Women’s Day Civil servants gathered on the steps of the Government Administration Building on Friday to honor International Women’s Day. The photo, organized by the Family Resource Centre, demonstrates the theme ‘Balance for Better,’ encouraging more balanced and equitable relationships between men and women for a better society. The gathering was one of 20 events that have been organized for March’s Honouring Women Month. Police dealt with two home invasions this week. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019 One Honeywell Lynx touch wireless residential/ commercial security alarm panel with 4.3” full colour touchscreen display Three wireless door/window contacts (white) One Honeywell pet immune motion sensor (up to 40Lbs.) One 4 button remote keychain Full installation and demonstration 12 months parts warranty WIFI module for the mobile Apps. Honeywell Lynx Intruder Alarm Package Includes: The Honeywell intruder system is linked to our 24/7 monitoring centre to keep your family and your property safe. Upon system activation our experienced monitoring station staff will handle the situation. The Total Connect app allows you complete control of your security system from your mobile device. To find out more about this special offer contact the Security Centre on 949-0004 or email info@security.ky *The free alarm system and installation is available to new clients when signing up for a 12 month monitoring contract ($660 residential - $860 commercial). 24/7 Alarm Monitoring Secure and protect your property with the Honeywell Lynx intruder protection system. Controllable from your mobile device. Five sentenced for importing ganja Prison terms range from two and a half to three and a half years CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Five men were sentenced on Friday for importing 555.95 pounds of ganja in the early hours of Jan. 25, 2018. The two who pleaded guilty received a full one-third discount, but they had aggra- vating factors, which Magis- trate Valdis Foldats explained before sentencing Yoandy Swaby-Ebanks to 34 months and Terry Christopher Wright to 30 months. The other three men pleaded not guilty, but were found guilty after a trial that concluded last month. These defendants, Oshane Nickoy Ricketts, 29; Andre Wash- ington Robinson, 34; and Nicholas Odell Maxam, 31; all received 42 months. The magistrate said these were stern sentences, but courts in Cayman had to deter and denounce drug offenses because of the many social problems they caused. The lure of fast money from the drug trade did entice individ- uals, but he hoped the mes- sage of stiff sentences would get through to anyone con- templating involvement. The maximum for a first offense of importation is seven years. Magistrate Fol- dats used four years as his starting point. Summing up the case, as presented by Crown counsel Darlene Oko, he said Mr. Swaby-Ebanks and another man were in a boat in the North Sound off the coast of Barkers, West Bay. They met up with another boat that had ganja aboard. The ganja was transferred to the boat Mr. Swaby-Ebanks was in. Mr. Wright, who had been on the delivery boat, went aboard the receiving boat, which headed to shore. They were captured on land, while the unnamed other man escaped. Meanwhile, the delivery boat sped away, arriving in Cayman Brac the next day. The three men on this vessel pleaded guilty to illegal landing, but not guilty to im- porting ganja, saying they were fishermen who had been drifting after their engines failed in bad weather. In passing sentences, the magistrate distinguished be- tween the defendants. He rejected Mr. Swaby- Ebanks’s claim that he was simply out fishing and got caught up with what hap- pened. He said this defen- dant had not been pressured or coerced into taking part. He did plead guilty early and expressed remorse, but ini- tially gave different accounts. The magistrate also consid- ered his record of previous convictions, which raised the 48-month starting point to 51 months. The full one- third discount reduced Mr. Swaby-Ebanks’s sentence to 34 months. Mr. Wright had admitted being in “a financial jam” and was looking to make money. The aggravating factor in his case was a previous con- viction for possession of ganja with intent to supply in 2007, when he also ad- mitted to landing illegally. With the 2018 offense, he was subject to a maximum sen- tence of 15 years. The magis- trate raised his starting point to 51 months. He then considered Mr. Wright’s offer of assistance to the prosecution. He had vol- unteered to be interviewed by police but then did not give any useful evidence when called as a witness in the trial of the three men who pleaded not guilty. The magistrate said the courts wanted to en- courage and reward individ- uals who help bring others to justice, but it was not appro- priate to give a discount for “incomplete” assistance. However, he acknowl- edged, time in custody would be harsher for Mr. Wright than for the other defendants and he had exposed himself and his family to a certain amount of risk. For this miti- gating factor, the magistrate gave a discount of six months, reducing the sentence to 45 months. From this term, he deducted one-third for the guilty plea, reaching the final sentence of 30 months. The three men who pleaded not guilty had no pre- vious convictions, the magis- trate noted. He agreed with defense attorneys that for- eign nationals imprisoned in Cayman were away from the support of family and friends. Allowing a six-month reduc- tion for mitigating factors, he arrived at sentences of 42 months for each of the three. Other offenses, such as failing to provide a urine sample for testing, were ei- ther left on file or met with concurrent sentences because they arose from the same set of facts. The magistrate said time in custody will count. He or- dered the boat to be forfeited to the Crown, the ganja to be destroyed and the non-Cay- manian defendants to be rec- ommended for deportation on completion of their sentences. The magistrate said the courts wanted to encourage and reward individuals who help bring others to justice, but it was not appropriate to give a discount for “incomplete” assistance. MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FIREARMS CHARGES Sentencing set for April 23 CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A man arrested on fire- arms charges last year pleaded guilty in Grand Court on Friday to possessing them without a license. Justin Jahan Gregory, 24, admitted to having a Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver and four .38 cartridges at his residence in the Beach Bay area on June 14, 2018. Defense attorney Jona- thon Hughes requested a pre- sentence social inquiry re- port, which Justice Timothy Own agreed to order. He then set sentencing for Tuesday, April 23, and continued the defendant’s remand in cus- tody until then. No details of the offense were given on Friday. How- ever, when Mr. Gregory was first brought to court on these charges, the magistrate was given some background. The Crown counsel at that hearing said police attended the defendant’s premises around 6:15 a.m. to conduct a search, based on information received. They searched Mr. Gregory’s bedroom, bathroom and closet. The closet was where the items were found. There were six people in the house at the time. The charges against Mr. Gregory are “either way” of- fenses – meaning that they can be tried in the Grand Court or in the Summary Court. It was the Crown that elected Grand Court.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. WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL BOARD Mark Zuckerberg and his company have been plagued over the past few years by a series of scandals prompting critics to urge users to “de- lete Facebook.” Now, Face- book has an answer: It will delete itself. The social network is not going anywhere, of course. But it will become, if a 3,200- word announcement Zucker- berg released last Wednesday is to be believed, much less of one. The site will alleg- edly transform from an open conversations platform to a “privacy-focused communi- cations platform” revolving around end-to-end encryp- tion and commercial transac- tions. The change matters. Years ago, when Face- book was barely out of the dorm room, most Ameri- cans believed world-broad- ening innovations such as social media were inherently good. But openness ushered in ugliness along with the democratization that plat- forms’ founders had prom- ised. Misinformation ran rampant. Consumers paid for these public and open services with their data, in troves. The solution until now for chief executives still committed to early days ide- alism was to build struc- tures shoring up their ser- vices against myriad threats. Zuckerberg is presenting an alternative: give up and try something new. Facebook’s changes may be motivated in part by a de- sire to avoid European regu- lators’ attempts at breaking apart its properties. They may be motivated, too, by de- clining use, especially among young people, and a need to search for alternative rev- enue streams. But the platform is also moving away from what makes it Facebook because being Facebook has become too difficult. Facebook is not giving up on its business, but it is giving up on its vision. Whether focusing more on private conversations and less on public displays will be better for society is hard to say. © 2019, The Washington Post. Anyone who has paid off a mortgage knows the giddy elation of making that final installment. One can only imagine the pure joy of finally satisfying a $50 million obligation, as the Cayman Turtle Centre recently has done. Closing the books on loans that enabled construc- tion of its current facilities will help the center focus full attention on the future – building the tourism product, supporting research and conservation, and helping to educate people about turtles and their unique link to our islands’ past. The Turtle Centre is a valuable asset. It is our islands’ largest land-based attraction, drawing approxi- mately 300,000 visitors each year. Its work has helped bring local green turtle populations back from func- tional extinction, bolstering wild populations through the release of more than 31,000 yearlings to date. Wild turtles, if not exactly common, are making a welcome return to our waters and beaches. Not unimportantly, it employs more than 100 people, with economic effects that reverberate throughout our economy. At the same time, sup- porting the center over recent years has not been cheap – requiring as it has an estimated $9 million annual government subsidy to stay afloat. That number will shrink significantly now that these loans have been paid. Still, it is estimated the center will rely on an infusion of approximately $3 million annually. Managing Director Tim Adam told the Compass his goal is for the center to be self-funding. That is a worthy aim. For all the benefits the center brings to our islands, government has a responsibility to be fiscally prudent. Sustainability is not just important in nature, but in public spending as well. So, congratulations to the Turtle Centre on reaching this milestone. We look forward to its continued success and hope to soon celebrate its first break- even year. –- Ocean Conservation Month kicks off today with a “shark talk” at the Aston Rutty Civic Centre on Cayman Brac. Over the next few weeks, readers will have plenty of opportunities to learn more about sharks and marine conservation by participating in this annual event. There will be other “shark talks,” of course – one of previous years’ most popular events – and opportunities to show off ocean and conservation smarts at Thursday’s pub quiz. One also can join a cleanup at SafeHaven or learn sustainable fishing practices at a fishing clinic. There will be opportuni- ties to view several of the Guy Harvey Ocean Founda- tion’s conservation-themed films, including a new doc- umentary about Cayman’s Stingray City and another featuring local high school students Josh Weaver and Cassandra MacDowell swimming with whale sharks. A complete calendar of events is available at www. guyharvey.com/ghof-ocm/. The theme of this year’s celebration, organized by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and supported by several local sponsors, is “Generations” and there are plenty of ways for all generations to take part. As Mr. Harvey told the Compass last week, “Con- serving marine life is a generational process.” By educating ourselves and using marine resources responsibly, we can leave a clean and safe environ- ment for future generations. If we fail to do so, our children and grandchildren will pay the price. Conservation: One debt paid, another owed 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 EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS QUEEN’S COMMONWEALTH DAY MESSAGE An enduring commitment through times of change QUEEN ELIZABETH II Commonwealth Day has a special significance this year as we mark the 70th anniversary of the London Declaration, when nations of the Commonwealth agreed to move forward together as free and equal members. The vision and sense of con- nection that inspired the signatories has stood the test of time, and the Com- monwealth continues to grow, adapting to address contemporary needs. Today, many millions of people around the world are drawn together because of the collective values shared by the Commonwealth. In April last year, I welcomed the leaders of our 53 na- tions to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and we all witnessed how the Commonwealth vision of- fers hope and inspires us to find ways of protecting our planet, and our people. We are able to look to the future with greater confidence and optimism as a result of the links that we share, and thanks to the networks of coop- eration and mutual sup- port to which we con- tribute, and on which we draw. With enduring com- mitment through times of great change, successive generations have demon- strated that while the good- will for which the Com- monwealth is renowned may be intangible, its im- pact is very real. We experience this as people of all backgrounds continue to find new ways of expressing through action the value of belonging in a connected Commonwealth. I hope and trust that many more will commit to doing so this Commonwealth Day. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth smiles during a visit to the Science Museum in London on Thursday. - PHOTO: REUTERS The end of Facebook as we know it5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019 SPECIALIZED CARE WITHIN REACH. WITH CLEVELAND CLINIC JUST A SHORT FLIGHT AWAY, YOU’RE CLOSE TO WHAT’S BEST FOR YOUR HEALTH. Why? Because you’re close to the best healthcare providers and state-of-the-art medical technology. You’re close to the best facilities and quality of services. And you’re close to the healthcare you deserve. After all, what’s more important than your health? Every life deserves world-class care. $1.9 million deception trial continues Jurors given 180 pages of WhatsApp chats CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Trial continued in Grand Court on Friday for Judith Francia Douglas, who has pleaded not guilty to ob- taining more than $1.9 mil- lion from an American man by falsely representing that the money was required for him to get permanent resi- dence, status and a Cayma- nian passport. The prosecution’s case, conducted by Crown counsel Toyin Salako, is that Ms. Douglas obtained various sums of money from the man between November 2010 and January 2016. Last week the man began his evidence, telling the court that he had been introduced to Ms. Douglas, who told him she was a courier for some officials in government. He said she informed him that she could obtain non-revo- cable Caymanian status for him for $8,000 and, at the end of the process, the majority of the money would be re- turned to him. She provided him with the PR application form and he filled it out, returning it to her with $8,000 in cash. She subsequently advised him of other fees that were required. He said that she provided him with a receipt dated March 15, 2011, which stated, in part, “Fourteen thousand dollars has been received from you for paperwork as our discussion …. Note there is a $2500CI for Certificate law fees which is not in- cluded in dept fees …. ” Under the note was the name “Mr. Roger” and what looked like a signature. A receipt given to him in November 2010, for $11,000 listed “Roger Banks” as “receiver.” Both receipts were on blank paper with no letter- head. The witness said he had never met “Roger Banks.” He submitted to the court a copy of his “Residency and Employment Right Certificate Issued to a Permanent Resi- dent” dated April 5, 2012. He told Ms. Douglas about it be- cause he thought she was the one who got the process done. He continued to give her money requested because he wanted to make the process move forward. He said he had been keeping records of what he paid her. By March 2012, the total was $141,150. The man said he was not looking at the sum total at that time because he was under the stress of breaking up with a partner and getting a small business going on his own. He said Ms. Douglas told him he would be getting a re- fund of $84,000, which was money paid in excess of what was needed for payment to get permanent residence and status. He understood that it was “an accounting issue.” She had explained that the money was in an account that couldn’t be accessed. Ms. Salako asked what was the source of funds he was handing over to Ms. Douglas. He said they came from his personal savings, from the business, loans from friends and sums from family members, which were not de- fined as loans or gifts. Later in his testimony, he said he had sold his home in the United States. He thought the money he was giving to Ms. Douglas was going to the Cayman Islands Government. He thought the money was being held by the people Ms. Douglas was representing from the Cayman Islands Government. On Friday, he began giving evidence about numerous se- ries of WhatsApp chats he had with Ms. Douglas be- tween July 10, 2014 and Feb. 26, 2016. Jurors were pro- vided with binders containing 180 pages of what the man said were messages between him and Ms. Douglas. Among other things, the messages re- ferred to amounts of money, plus times and places to meet. The man was scheduled to continue is evidence on Monday morning. Short-term loan to help kickstart Hyatt project The construction of a 10-story Grand Hyatt hotel at the site of the former Pageant Beach resort will be partly financed through a bridge loan from a fund managed by Bahamas- based Sterling Global Fi- nancial, the company an- nounced last week. The $22.5 million loan will help make the 351- room hotel and residences at the northern end of Seven Mile Beach a reality, Sterling Global said in a press release. The project, initially a partnership between the Howard Hospitality Group and New Jersey- based Madison Hill prop- erties, was given planning approval in 2017. A deal with Hyatt was announced in early 2018, but there has been no update on a time line for construction since then. The Howard group did not respond to requests for comment before the press deadline. Sterling Global Finan- cial Chairman David Kosoy said in the press release that the loan would help facilitate the development. “With the proposal for the Grand Hyatt in Grand Cayman, it took our team 10 days from introduction to advancing a first mort- gage on the project that will generate major eco- nomic thrust to the island and produce a 5-star prop- erty with residences as well as traditional hotel rooms,” the press release stated. The mortgage will be placed through Ster- ling Mortgage Income Fund, it said. The developers of the resort have previously indi- cated it will have 351 guest rooms, studio suites, and multi-room units. It will include six cafes and restaurants, a spa and fitness center, three swim- ming pools, shops and a private screening room. It will also have 25,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event space, making it the largest function space in the Cayman Islands. He thought the money he was giving to Ms. Douglas was going to the Cayman Islands Government. The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS pacted by domestic violence. Some of the men carried posters with the message, “real men empower women” or “real men beat eggs.” Michelle Lockwood, chair of the Crisis Centre’s fund- raising committee, said she was hoping to raise $55,000 by the time all the donations are collected and counted. She said the event was central to funding the critical support the charity provides to vic- tims of abuse in Cayman. ‘We went all out’ Delano Eksteen chose a classic little black dress and blonde wig to take his part in the parade. He was among a group from KPMG that raised more than $6,000 collectively through their participation in the race. He said they had started off promising to wear heels and upped the ante every time the fundraising hit a new milestone. “Once we got up to $5,000, we had agreed to wear wigs, dresses and make-up. We went all out,” he said. His colleague Justin May opted for a flamboyant off- the-shoulder, animal-print number and chunky heels. “It is awesome to raise awareness for all those beau- tiful ladies out there. Now I understand exactly how they feel when they kick off their shoes at the end of the day and just go ‘ah- hhhh,’” Mr. May. Matt Lee and Joe Cor- dero were among a joint group from NCB and Dart working together on the OLEA residential develop- ment, who paired their heels with the regular construc- tion worker garb, complete with hard hats. Mr. Cordero said walking in heels had worked muscles he did not know he had. “I don’t know how women do it,” he added. “It was a lot of fun and a great organization to support.” Taraq Bashir, who took part in the parade with some of his colleagues from gov- ernment, brought some flair to the occasion, with lip- stick and eyeliner, supplied by the Eclipze Hair Design and Day Spa. “Sashaying in heels is a strange feeling. I un- derstand how women feel now,” he said. “I got involved be- cause I want to support the Crisis Centre.” Ms. Lockwood said the concept was designed as a light-hearted way of bringing attention to serious issues and encouraging men to sup- port and empower women. Key sponsors for the event included Dart, The West In- dies Wine Club, Abacus and Caybrew. Guys in heels strut their stuff for charity CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Team KPMG raised over $6,000 by promising to don dresses and makeup as well as high heels. Clayton Price brings some carnival style to the event.Ladies or gentlemen? Team Ritz-Carlton keeps it classy on Friday night. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Many of the men carried messages of support for women. More than 50 men and at least one dog joined the parade. Hard hats and high heels were the look of the night for the team from the OLEA development. Kings of the catwalk. Wilston Bennett and Jouri Haylock take the honors for the ‘best walk.’The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019 erty transfers in 2018, a 9-percent increase on the year before. The total value of those sales was just over $800 million, up 18 per- cent from $679 million the previous year. The highest single value sale was the $45.7-million purchase of a 2.8 acre piece of land fronting Seven Mile Beach. The site is being de- veloped into a luxury, 10- story condo complex to be known as The WaterMark. The sale of the Holiday Inn to a Chicago-based de- veloper for $15.6 million was the next biggest deal on the books. The CIBC Financial Centre in George Town sold for $8.36 million in the third highest value sale of the year. In the residential market, the biggest sales involved major resort prop- erties. An 8,000 square- foot property at The Ritz- Carlton residences sold for $8.15 million, while two properties at the Seafire Residences, next to the Kimpton, sold for $5.83 million and $5.33 million, respectively. The report shows there were fewer sales of Seven Mile Beach condos than in previous years, but the total value – an average of $1.3 million for the 101 sales of beachfront condos – was up significantly. “This would indicate that the decrease in the number of sales is as a result in a lack of inven- tory rather than dimin- ishing demand,” the re- port continues. Looking at future devel- opment trends, an analysis of planning applications to the Central Planning Authority shows a de- crease in the value of ap- proved developments over the last year. Mr. Watson said it was hard to read too much into this figure because one or two major developments, for example the Grand Hyatt planning applica- tion and the NCB boutique hotel in 2017, could distort the figures. He said there was still a high number of projects being approved, though these skewed more to- ward residential develop- ment in 2019. He said the develop- ment appeared to be well spread across all sectors from affordable housing to luxury condos, and he does not believe that there is currently any concern about construction out- pacing demand. and what I went through,” she says. “Because I was really forced to go on a journey with myself, because it was about moment to moment survival, I had to learn to find these ways into myself, to find in me that resilience that we all have in us.” For the best-selling author, who described the circum- stances of her survival in the memoir “A House in the Sky,” the story did not end with her release on Nov. 25, 2009. Hearing that so many strangers had contributed to the ransom that was ultimately paid to secure her freedom, she says, “that was just the message that I needed at that time when I was thinking that humanity was so dark.” That did not mean that transitioning back to everyday life was easy. In fact, it was just the beginning of a new struggle battling the severe ef- fects of post-traumatic stress. “The first initial year after I was coming home was scary, really scary. I was suicidal all the time. I really didn’t know what was happening to my brain and to my body,” Ms. Lindhout says. When one of her kidnap- pers was arrested and she had to face him in court, it was just one incident in a series of events “where the resilience that I found in myself in cap- tivity had to be renewed and strengthened on a daily basis.” Ms. Lindhout realized, “I don’t really have a choice. Life has given me the opportunity to do that. That is what I share with other people.” Nine years later, she says, she is an incredibly optimistic and positive person. Even though her own expe- rience was extreme, Ms. Lind- hout believes it can also be life-changing for other people. “Everybody goes through things that are really chal- lenging,” she says. “I am a living example of what is pos- sible and that anything can re- ally be transformed.” Given that she survived the terrible events of her cap- tivity and is now able to teach something about dealing with pain, Ms. Lindhout says is just an example of how others can bring the same awareness to their different experience of pain. She has learned that pain and joy can live side by side. The Power of the Purse luncheon raises funds for the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, a charity that provides help and a safe shelter for women and their children who are vic- tims of domestic abuse. The purpose of the lun- cheon is also what motivates Ms. Lindhout to speak at the event. In her hometown, she gives occasional presentations for women who live in the local shelter on how to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of violence. “It is something that I have also struggled with and learnt something about,” she says. “This support of the Crisis Centre is part of why I wanted to do this.” Scotiabank’s 5th Power of the Purse Luncheon for the benefit of the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre takes place on Friday, March 22 from 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Property sales hit new record amid real estate boom CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Lindhout brings message of resilience and survival to Power of the Purse event CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mental health facility faces more delays Bids re-opened on project, 2020 opening projected JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Plans for a $1-million mental health facility in East End face further delays with government re-opening the bidding process for construc- tion of the new development. The long-term residential facility, viewed as essential to addressing a gap in health- care provision for people with mental illness, was originally expected to open last summer. Government is now aiming for a 2020 opening. Planning approval has al- ready been granted for a cluster of cottages around a central administration building and an orchard on 15 acres in East End. In October last year, Chief Officer in the Ministry of Health Jennifer Ahearn said government was in the midst of a tender process for the construction of the facility. Now that process appears to have stalled and a new request for proposals has been issued. Government gave no indi- cation of why the initial tender process had been discarded, though it is understood to be connected to labor shortages and increased construction costs amid an islandwide de- velopment boom. The works have now been split into five jobs in an effort to encourage small- and me- dium-sized firms to bid, the Ministry of Health said in a press statement Friday. There are five “packages” of works, including enabling works, con- struction of the three clusters of cottages and construction of the main building. Health Minister Dwayne Seymour said this would make the project more manageable for smaller firms. “We believe that making projects like this accessible to all sizes of business is a crit- ical part of supporting our local economy in a sustainable way,” he said in a statement. Mr. Seymour was not im- mediately available to respond to questions on the matter over the weekend. Contractors have until March 22 to submit bids. Ac- cording to the statement, it is expected that contracts will be awarded to the successful bid- ders on the first three pack- ages this year, with work set to begin in late 2019. The final two packages will be tendered in 2020 and are expected to be completed the same year. Dr. Marc Lockhart, chairman of the Mental Health Commission, told the Cayman Compass earlier this year that he believed the increased con- struction on the island had made it difficult to secure a satisfactory contract with the major contracting firms. “It seems the discussions were not fruitful,” he said in an interview. “It’s very frustrating for me but much more frus- trating for the patients.” Mental health capacity has reached a critical point for Cayman patients, he said. The mental health ward at the Cayman Islands Hospital, the only such unit on the island, has just eight beds. Overflow patients have to be housed in other areas of the hospital while those who need longer-term care are often forced to go off island. So far this year, 13 patients have been sent to Jamaica. Despite the lack of actual construction, Lockhart said he believes ministry officials are committed to the new facility. “The powers that be are very concerned with getting this back on track as fast as possible,” he said. This rendering from Montgomery Sisam Architects shows the planned long-term mental health facility that has been delayed in East End.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS UK dilemma over children of ISIS followers British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt says he is looking for ways to help the children of British citizens who joined the Islamic State group in Syria. Hunt said he and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt are studying how the children could be brought to Britain. No survivors in Ethiopian Airlines crash en route to Kenya ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) – An Ethiopian Airlines flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Ethiopia’s capital on Sunday morning, killing all 157 on board, authorities said, as grieving families rushed to airports in Addis Ababa and the destination, Nairobi. More than 30 nation- alities were among the dead. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash of the Boeing 737-8 MAX plane, which was new and had been delivered to the airline in November. The pilot sent out a distress call and was given clearance to return, the airline’s CEO told reporters. The state-owned Ethio- pian Airlines, widely con- sidered the best-managed airline in Africa, calls itself Africa’s largest carrier and has ambitions of becoming the gateway to the continent. It is known as an early buyer of new aircraft as it assert- ively expands. The airline said 149 pas- sengers and eight crewmem- bers were thought to be on the plane. Kenyans, Cana- dians, Chinese, Americans, Ethiopians, Italians, French, British, Egyptians, Indians, Slovakians and others were among the dead, said the airline’s CEO, Tewolde Gebremariam. The plane crashed six minutes after departing Addis Ababa on its way to Kenya’s capital, plowing into the ground at Hejere near Bishoftu, or Debre Zeit, some 31 miles south of Addis Ababa, at 8:44 a.m. The airline later published a photo showing its CEO standing in the wreckage. Little of the plane could be seen in the freshly churned earth, under a blue sky. The CEO “expresses his profound sympathy and con- dolences to the families and loved ones of passengers and crew who lost their lives in this tragic accident,” the post on social media said. The plane had showed unstable vertical speed after takeoff, air traffic monitor Flightradar 24 said in a Twitter post. Visi- bility was clear. The airline has said 157 people were thought to be on board. State broadcaster EBC reported that 33 nationalities were among the victims. The airline’s CEO said those in- cluded 32 Kenyans and nine Ethiopians. Authorities said other vic- tims include 18 Canadians; eight each from China, the United States and Italy; seven each from France and Britain; six from Egypt; five from the Netherlands and four each from India and Slovakia. Spain’s foreign ministry said two Spanish nationals were on the passenger list. The Ethiopian prime minister’s office offered its “deepest condolences” to families. “My prayers go to all the families and associ- ates of those on board,” Ke- nya’s President Uhuru Ke- nyatta said. The Addis Ababa-Nai- robi route links East Afri- ca’s two largest economic powers and is popular with tourists making their way to safari and other desti- nations. Sunburned trav- elers and tour groups crowd the Addis Ababa airport’s waiting areas, along with businessmen from China and elsewhere. At the airport in Nairobi, worried families gathered. “I came to the airport to receive my brother but I have been told there is a problem,” Agnes Muilu said. “I just pray that he is safe or he was not on it.” “Why are they taking us round and round, it is all over the news that the plane crashed,” said Edwin Ong’undi, who had been waiting for his sister. “All we are asking for is information to know about their fate.” The Boeing 737-8 MAX was new, delivered to Ethi- opian Airlines in mid-No- vember, the airline’s CEO said. Its last maintenance was on Feb. 4 and it had flown just 1,200 hours. The pilot was a senior one, joining the airline in 2010, he said. The Boeing 737-8 MAX was one of 30 being delivered to the airline, Boeing said in a statement in July when the first was delivered. In a statement, Boeing said it was “deeply saddened” to hear of the crash and that a technical team was ready to provide assistance at the request of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board. In October, another Boeing 737-8 MAX plunged into the Java Sea just minutes after taking off from Jakarta, Indo- nesia’s capital, killing all 189 people on board the plane Lion Air flight. The cockpit data recorder showed that the jet’s airspeed indicator had malfunctioned on its last four flights, though Lion Air initially claimed that prob- lems with the aircraft had been fixed. The last deadly crash of an Ethiopian Airlines pas- senger plane was in 2010, when the plane crashed min- utes after takeoff from Beirut killing all 90 people on board. African air travel, long troubled and chaotic, has im- proved in recent years, with the International Air Trans- port Association in November noting “two years free of any fatalities on any air- craft type.” Sunday’s crash comes as Ethiopia’s reformist prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, has vowed to open up the airline and other sectors to foreign investment in a major trans- formation of the state-cen- tered economy. Ethiopian Airlines’ expan- sion has included the recent opening of a route to Moscow and the inauguration in Jan- uary of a new passenger ter- minal in Addis Ababa to triple capacity. Family members of the crashed Ethiopian airlines flight at Addis Ababa international airport Sunday. - PHOTO: AP North Korea goes to polls to rubber-stamp parliament lineup PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) – Millions of North Korean voters, including leader Kim Jong Un, went to the polls on Sunday to elect a new lineup of roughly 700 members for the next session of the na- tional legislature, though the vote was more of an en- dorsement than a competi- tive contest. Voters were presented with just one state-sanc- tioned candidate per seat and cast their ballots not to select but rather to show their approval or, at least theoretically, disapproval of that candidate. The elections, last held in 2014, are for the entire Su- preme People’s Assembly, which on paper is the highest organ of power in North Korea. Its delegates come from all over the country and all walks of life. The can- didates are selected by the ruling Korean Workers’ Party and a couple of other smaller coalition parties that have seats in the assembly. Kim, fresh off his trip to Hanoi for his second summit with President Donald Trump, is a member of the assembly, though his power rests in his complete con- trol over the ruling party, government and military. State media showed footage of him casting his vote at a polling center at Pyongyang’s Kim Chaek University of Technology. As was the custom in the Soviet Union and other com- munist countries, turnout is generally reported at 99 percent or higher. Voting is generally regarded as a duty and responsibility. Simply staying at home is not an option. “I’m very proud to be voting for the first time,” said 19-year-old university stu- dent Kim Ju Gyong, who cast her vote Sunday morning at the Pyongyang Primary School No. 4 polling station. “I feel happy to be a citizen and I want to do my best for the future of my country.” Under North Korean law, citizens can vote from the age of 17. Voting began at around 10 a.m. depending on the loca- tion and continued until late evening. Voters show election officials their ID cards to re- ceive their ballot with the sole candidate’s name on it, which they cast in a private booth. If they approve, they simply put the ballot in the box. If they do not approve, they cross the name out in put it in the same box. But one official told The Associated Press that basi- cally never happens. “No one votes against the candidate,” said Jin Ki Chol, the chairman of an elec- tion committee supervising a polling station at a cable factory in central Pyongyang. Election days have a fes- tive mood. Bands play music as voters wait in line, and there is group dancing for those who have al- ready finished. “The election will strik- ingly manifest the fixed will of our people to firmly trust and uphold to the last Su- preme Leader Kim Jong Un despite storm and stress,” the ruling party’s official daily said in a commen- tary Sunday. The number of deputies in the assembly is based on population – each represents from 30,000-35,000 people. Officials at two polling stations visited by the AP said they were not sure of the exact number this year, or when the results would be announced. Five years ago, 687 deputies were elected and the results de- spite being a foregone con- clusion were announced two days after the vote. The elections are decid- edly not intended to foster policy debates among the general populace or for the voters to change the nation’s course from the bottom up. But for the authorities, they provide a veneer of de- mocracy and a means of monitoring the whereabouts and loyalties of citizens. Being chosen for the as- sembly is a big honor, so the elections are also an impor- tant means for the regime to reward up-and-coming cadres and replace incum- bents who have already served their usefulness. People line up to vote at a polling station in Pyongyang, North Korea, Sunday. - PHOTO: AP9 WORLD®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019 Come take advantage of Puritan Cleaners week day specials on Wednesdays and Thursdays on the selected pre-paid household items: King Comforters and Spreads $21.85 (if laundered) King Comforters and Spreads $24.95 (if dry cleaned) Queen Comforters and Spreads $18.00 (if laundered) Queen Comforters and Spreads $22.85 (if dry cleaned) King Blankets $16.95 Queen Blankets $14.95 Drapery Cleaning : Drapes - Lined $2.19 per pleat Drapes - Unlined $1.74 per pleat Customer on site drapery cleaning can be done by appointments This one month special will commence on Wednesday February 27th thru to Thursday March 28, 2019. Puritan Cleaners - The center for all your laundry and dry cleaning needs including wearing apparels Puritan Cleaners 949-7104 Savannah Countryside 946-1884 Elgin Avenue 949-2452 You feel good when you look good Parliament facing Brexit decisions, more drama and deadline LONDON (AP) – After months of Brexit deadlock, this is it: decision time. At least for now. With Britain scheduled to leave the European Union in less than three weeks, U.K. lawmakers are poised to choose the country’s im- mediate direction from among three starkly different choices: deal, no deal or delay. A look at what might happen: Deal deja vu The House of Commons has a second vote sched- uled Tuesday on a deal laying out the terms of Britain’s or- derly departure from the EU. Prime Minister Theresa May and EU officials agreed to the agreement in December, but U.K. lawmakers voted 432- 202 in January to reject it. To get it approved by March 29, the day set for Brexit, May needs to persuade 116 of them to change their minds – a tough task. Opposition to the deal in Parliament centers on a sec- tion that is designed to en- sure there are no customs checks or border posts be- tween EU member Ireland and the U.K.’s Northern Ire- land. Pro-Brexit lawmakers dislike that the border “back- stop” keeps the U.K. entwined with EU trade rules. May has been seeking changes to reassure them the situa- tion would be temporary, but the EU refuses to reopen the withdrawal agreement. Around 100 hard-core Brexit supporters in May’s Conservative Party look set to oppose the deal unless the backstop is altered. To offset them, May has courted the opposition Labour Party with promises of money for urban regeneration. Oliver Patel, a research as- sociate at the European In- stitute at University College London, says “it’s highly un- likely the deal will be passed. The big question is, what will the margin be?” If, against the odds, law- makers approve the deal, a short delay to Brexit may be needed so Parliament can translate the agreement’s terms into British law. But the U.K. would be on course to leave the EU in the next few months, with a long tran- sition period built in to help people and businesses get used to the new relationship. May will have delivered on her promise of an orderly Brexit – and snatched an as- tonishing political victory from the jaws of widely pre- dicted defeat. Destination no-deal If the deal is rejected, lawmakers expect to vote Wednesday on whether to abandon efforts to secure an agreement and leave the EU as planned on March 29 without a deal. That idea is backed by a phalanx of pro-Brexit pol- iticians, who say it would cut Britain free of EU rules and red tape, allowing the country to forge an indepen- dent global trade policy. But economists and busi- nesses fear a so-called “no- deal Brexit” would hammer the economy as tariffs and other trade barriers go up be- tween Britain and the EU, its biggest trading partner. In the short term, there could be gridlock at British ports and shortages of fresh produce. In the long run, the government says a no-deal scenario would leave the economy 6 percent to 9 per- cent smaller over 15 years than remaining in the EU. Last month, Parliament passed a non-binding amend- ment ruling out a “no-deal” Brexit, so lawmakers are un- likely to go with it now. Delay, delay, delay If lawmakers reject leaving the EU without an agreement, they have one choice left: seek more time. A vote scheduled for Thursday would decide whether to ask the EU to delay Brit- ain’s departure by up to three months. This is likely to pass, since politicians on both sides of the debate fear time is run- ning out to secure an orderly Brexit by March 29. An extension requires ap- proval from all 27 remaining EU member countries. They will probably agree, possibly at a March 21-22 summit in Brussels. But they are re- luctant to grant a delay that stretches past elections for the EU’s legislature, the Euro- pean Parliament, in late May. Crisis deferred Whatever the U.K. Parlia- ment decides, this week will not bring an end to Britain’s Brexit crisis. Both lawmakers and the public remain split between backers of a clean break from the EU and those who favor continuing a close relationship – either through a post-Brexit trade deal or by reversing the deci- sion to leave. May is unwilling to abandon her hard-won Brexit agreement and might try to put it to Parliament a third time, especially if she loses by a small margin on Tuesday. But some law- makers want her to have Parliament consider dif- ferent forms of Brexit to see if there is a majority for any course of action. Maddy Thimont-Jack, a researcher at the Institute for Government think tank, said this week’s votes could force the famously stubborn May to compromise. “If she loses the vote by quite a significant margin again, it really suggests that what she has done is just not going to fly,” Thimont- Jack said. “In which case she will be under a lot of pres- sure to follow what Parlia- ment wants.” Some think the only way forward is a snap elec- tion that could rearrange the forces in Parliament and break the political deadlock. May has ruled that out, but could come to see it as her only option. And anti-Brexit cam- paigners have not abandoned efforts to secure a new ref- erendum on whether to re- main in the EU. The govern- ment opposes the idea, which at the moment also lacks ma- jority support in Parliament. But that could change if the political paralysis drags on. The Labour Party has said it would support a second referendum if other options were exhausted. It all means more twists are coming in the Brexit drama. “No one really believes this is the last chance sa- loon,” Patel said. If the deal is rejected, lawmakers expect to vote Wednesday on whether to abandon efforts to secure an agreement and leave the EU as planned on March 29 without a deal. Prime Minister Theresa May gives a speech at the Orsted East Coast Hub in Grimsby, Lincolnshire on Friday. - PHOTO: PA WIRE India says election to be held in 7 phases in April, May NEW DELHI (AP) – India’s Election Commission an- nounced Sunday that the up- coming national election will be held in seven phases in April and May, as Prime Min- ister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party seeks a second term. About 900 million people are eligible to vote in a stag- gered process that allows the government to deploy tens of thousands of troops to pre- vent outbreaks of violence and the capture of voting sta- tions by party activists. Chief election commis- sioner Sunil Arora said the election will be held April 11, 18, 23 and 29, and May 6, 12 and 19. The votes will be counted May 23. Modi’s Bhartiya Janata Party, or BJP, hopes the gov- ernment’s recent tough stand against Pakistan will help it retain its popularity despite suffering a setback in De- cember when it lost three key state elections to the opposi- tion Congress party. Indian aircraft crossed into Pakistan on Feb. 26, car- rying out what India called a preemptive strike against militants blamed for a Feb. 14 suicide bombing in In- dian-controlled Kashmir that killed 40 Indian troops. Pak- istan retaliated, shooting down two Indian planes and capturing a pilot, Wing Cmdr. Abhinandan Varthaman, who was later returned to India. Since then, Modi and BJP leaders have been projecting the party and its leaders as decisive and tough on na- tional security. Opposition parties, however, have ac- cused Modi and his party of using national security mat- ters to try to influence voters. On Saturday, the Election Commission ordered polit- ical parties to tell their can- didates and leaders not to display photographs of de- fense personnel in advertise- ments as part of their elec- tion campaigns. The commission said armed forces are “apolitical and neutral stakeholders in a modern democracy.”Next >