ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2019 High of 86 Low of 72 Smooth to slight with wave heights less than 2 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 GOOD RIDDANCE TO DERELICT VEHICLES SPORT | PAGE 14 CAYMAN NORCECA TEAMS ANNOUNCED NO POLICY FOR ALERTING PUBLIC TO OCEAN BACTERIA SPIKES MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com In October, levels of faecal bacteria in the waters surrounding the east end of Grand Cayman were found to be nearly 50 times greater than accepted safety standards. The information on the sample tests was made available following a Freedom of Infor- mation request. Although there are beaches and dive sites throughout the areas sampled, no public no- tification of the extreme levels of enterococci bacteria was issued. No subsequent testing of the water has been conducted. The Department of Environmental Health is responsible for sampling the waters of des- ignated public beaches around the island each quarter. But that testing often does not get done. The same is true of follow-up testing when bacteria levels are high or suspected of being high. Enterococci is measured in the number of observed colony forming units per 100 milli- litres of water. The US Environmental Protec- tion Agency has established a safe limit of 35 units of enterococci per 100 mL. Florida is- sues a public advisory when levels exceed 70 LEGISLATORS NEARLY VOTE DOWN OFREG FUNDING McTaggart breaks tie to pass $1.3M spending package KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Voicing their displeasure with the regu- latory body, lawmakers nearly voted against $1.3 million in supplementary spending to- wards the Utilities Regulation and Compe- tition Office during Friday’s Finance Com- mittee hearing. The vote was over whether the Utilities Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg) should receive an additional $1.3 million to fund its fuels-regulation operations, which in- clude safety inspections and market analysis. OfReg Acting CEO Duke Monroe explained that this funding is needed because his of- fice does not generate any revenue from the fuels sector. OfReg has looked to introduce a KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com The total estimated cost of the Owen Roberts International Airport upgrade was nearly $68 million as of last week, an in- crease of some $14 million from original contract prices. In response to a Cayman Compass records request, the Cayman Islands Airports Au- thority stated that the esti- mated cost of the airport devel- opment was $67,792,499 as of Thursday, April 4. The project should be finished by the end of June, and a final estimated cost will be released then, according to the CIAA. The project’s total estimated cost was $53.8 million as of Au- gust 2016. Government had a budget of roughly $55.7 million for the project when it began, and increased the scope of the work by about $2.6 million once it began, according to records provided by the CIAA. “As the project unfolded, the CIAA identified opportunities for increased passenger experience, safety, operational efficiencies and building enhancements,” the CIAA records state. “This figure represents these scope increases.” The remaining roughly $9.5 million of expenditures were due to cost overruns because to de- sign errors and omissions, un- foreseen issues, client changes, and tenant changes, the CIAA’s records state. Before the CIAA released its records last Thursday, the most recent estimate of the airport project’s cost was around $64 million – a figure that came from an August 2018 report from the Office of the Auditor General. According to that report, the Airports Authority made mul- tiple changes to the project after it started, including upgrading the hurricane-impact windows, adding canopies to protect pas- sengers and baggage from the weather, upgrading banners on the roof, landscaping around the airport, and adding other de- signs such as the duty-free mall and the CIAA offices. The report, released in Jan- uary, estimated that these changes added nearly $5 million to the redevelopment price. “Almost $5 million of these cost increases are as a result of additions in scope made to the project after contracts were signed, including hurricane-rated Airport development costs rise to nearly $68M Primary students show off athletic skills Cayman’s primary school children raced across finish lines, jumped over bars, took giant leaps and flung heavy metal spheres across impressive distances at last week’s Inter-Primary Track and Field Championships as a roaring crowd of supporters looked on. The games took place at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex in George Town on Thursday and Friday. For more photos, see pages 6 and 7. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »2 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY APRIL 9, 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 - 640-FILM (640-3456) PET SEMATARY (R) 1:20 I 4:20 I 7:15 I 9:50 TRIPLE THREAT (R) 1:50 I 4:20 I 6:50 DUMBO (PG) 1:00 I 4:35 I 6:50 HOTEL MUMBAI (R) 1:30 I 9:30 CAPTAIN MARVEL (PG13) 3:40 VIP I 10:00 SHAZAM! (PG13) 12:30 VIP I 12:50 I 3:50 I 7:00 10:00 I 10:15 VIP A MADEA FAMILY FUNERAL (PG13) 7:25 US (R) 4:00 I 9:50 CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA: 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (G) 7:00 VIP CORRECTION A story on page 1 of Monday’s Cayman Compass in- accurately reported that a prison officer remains on duty after being charged with offences in relation to a rape al- legation. The officer’s offences – assault occasioning ac- tual bodily harm and threatening to kill – are not related to any rape allegations. This error stems from an inaccu- rate interpretation of statements made Friday in the Legis- lative Assembly, when Deputy Governor Franz Manderson was asked whether there are any prison officers currently charged with criminal offences. In response to that ques- tion, Manderson said, “One has been charged with rape, and the other has been charged with two offences arising out of the same incident: assault occasioning actual bodily harm and threatening to kill.” A Compass reporter under- stood this to mean that all three offences were related to the same incident, when in fact the rape and the other two charges were from separate incidents. The Compass re- grets the error. Show of support for gay community JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Colourfully clad and waving rainbow flags, more than 100 people gathered in George Town Sunday to show support for Cayman’s LGBT community. The marchers included a mix of Caymanians and other residents of all races and sexual preferences. Some carried banners with slogans like ‘Tolerance of intolerance is cowardice’ and ‘We were all born to be loved’. The ‘Out of our Shells’ march was originally in- tended as a celebration of the Grand Court ruling that le- galised same sex marriage, according to Billie Bryan, of Colors Cayman, which organ- ized the event. She said it had developed into a more general display of solidarity for the LGBT community following a week in which alternative lifestyles have come under attack. The march culminated with a congregation on the steps of the Legisla- tive Assembly, where Cay- man’s elected politicians unanimously voted to ap- peal the historic court ruling last week. Bryan said she was dis- turbed to hear some of the comments during that debate but was encouraged by the support on Sunday. “It was a really great ex- perience,” she said. “We got a lot of support and more par- ticipation than we expected. “It was supposed to be a celebration and a way to congratulate Chantelle and Vickie (the same-sex couple who won the legal battle) but I also made a speech to say that we will have to fight to defend our rights,” she said. Bryan said there were many LGBT people who were still afraid to come out and be themselves in Cayman because of fears of how they may be treated by their family, church, friends and even employers. In the current climate, she said, it was brave for people to show up in public to dem- onstrate on the issue. “It was encouraging to see so many people. We are stronger together,” she said. More than 440 on cancer registry SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com The number of people reg- istered in Cayman’s cancer registry increased by 20% last year, compared to 2017, bringing the total number to 443, according to cancer reg- istrar Amanda Nicholson. “In the past, I don’t even know if people knew there was a local cancer registry,” said Nicholson. “I think we’ve done a good job about getting the word out in the media over the last few years.” The CanReg 5 registry, which launched in Cayman in 2010, was developed by the World Health Organization for worldwide use. The reg- istry contains “largely demo- graphic” information about local patients, and is used to diagnose trends in cancer frequency and in efficacy of treatment. As of now, the top five most commonly reported forms of cancer in Cayman are breast cancer, colon cancer, cancers of the blood, prostate cancer and ovarian cancer. Nicholson said that breast cancer has been found to affect one in every eight women around the world. The registry, which allows Cayman to diagnose what it is doing right and what it needs to improve in treating cancer locally, will only in- crease in efficiency as more people join the rolls, she said. “Quality cancer data is central to the nation’s fight against cancer, and cancer registrars are the first link in capturing that data,” Ni- cholson said. “The informa- tion collected is largely demo- graphic in nature and allows us to see how this disease is impacting our community.” The latest data on Cay- man’s registry figures come during Cancer Registrars Week, April 8 to 12. Informa- tion on registries allows re- searchers, healthcare pro- viders and public health officials to better monitor pa- tients and treatments, which leads to more effective re- search and screening, ac- cording to Cayman’s Health Services Authority. Nicholson said there is very little information avail- able regarding local cancer statistics and that every regis- trant does their part to further knowledge in the community. “We still don’t know how many individuals are diag- nosed within our country each year, which types of cancer are most common, or whether our cancer rates are higher or lower than those of other Caribbean countries,” she said. “The Cayman Islands Cancer Registry hopes to answer these questions.” LGBT rights supporters gather outside the Legislative Assembly on Sunday afternoon. Chloe Beth Hawkins had a question for government during Sunday’s rally in George Town. Amanda Nicholson, cancer registrar, right, and Jennifer Weber of the Cancer Society display a cancer registry poster. Ex-Mexican President Fox says gunmen tried to storm his home MEXICO CITY (AP) – Former Mexican President Vicente Fox says armed men tried to storm into his house, just months after President Andrés Manuel López Ob- rador cut off security for the country’s ex-presidents. He reported Saturday’s incident on Twitter without giving details. He has a large ranch in the central state of Guanajuato. Fox also tweeted: “I hold President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador directly re- sponsible for the security of myself, my family and my belongings.” López Obrador re- sponded via Twitter that he has instructed Defence Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval to create a secu- rity detail to protect Fox and his family “but without the excesses” of prior administrations. López Obrador disman- tled the Mexican equiva- lent of the U.S. Secret Ser- vice after being sworn in as president Dec. 1. Fox was president in 2000-2006. Former Mexican President Vicente Fox3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2019 949-5111 | sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com LONG WEEKEND Please by advised there will be NO NEWSPAPER on Good Friday, April 19 and Easter Monday, April 22 EDITION DEADLINE April 18 Monday April 15 April 19 HOLIDAY NO PUBLICATION April 22 HOLIDAY NO PUBLICATION April 23 Tuesday April 16 April 24 Wednesday April 17 April 25 Wednesday April 17 April 26 Tuesday April 23 Inspectors give second ‘weak’ rating to Clifton Hunter MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Government inspec- tors say Clifton Hunter High School has made some, but not enough, progress since they last visited the school six months ago and rated it as ‘weak’, the lowest of four pos- sible grades. The school was given a weak rating again in the Office of Education Stand- ards’ follow-up report. Among six recommenda- tions the school was given in the last report, it has made satisfactory progress on only two, inspectors determined. The school is failing to meet established stand- ards in student achievement, school curriculum, student assessment and controlling classroom behaviour. It has made satisfactory progress in improving teaching quality and making sure students are in age-appropriate grades. There was no re- sponse to an email to Prin- cipal Pauline Beckford re- questing comment. Peter Carpenter, director of the Office of Education Standards, said even though it has only been six months since the previous inspection, he and his staff wanted to see more progress in meeting the recommendations they had previously outlined. “In the time available, we anticipate certain levels of progress,” Carpenter said. “We have to have signs of growth.” He said he hopes the groundwork is being laid for better results in the future. “We were encouraged by the two areas (deemed sat- isfactory),” he said. “We do think teaching is get- ting better and, if that con- tinues, we’d expect to see improvement in student achievement.” Achievement, the report said, is a continuing problem across the board. “At the end of term 1 in [the] 2018-19 academic year, the school’s own internal in- formation showed that at- tainment in Key Stage 3 was still weak in English, math- ematics and science for all year groups,” the report said. “Inspection information from lesson observations and from a review of students’ exercise books agreed that attainment remained weak in all three core subjects.” While satisfactory pro- gress was seen in a couple of areas – the school’s in- ternal assessment showed satisfactory performance in mathematics and sci- ence for Key Stage 3 – in all other areas, it was below ac- cepted standards. “Teaching in mathematics and science had improved from weak to satisfactory,” the report said, “however, in English there had been no improvement. A number of other subjects were observed during the follow-through inspection, including infor- mation technology, business studies, art and drama and in these subjects teaching was satisfactory or better.” But the report also found that faculty was failing to im- plement new tools for raising performance. “Teachers had received ad- ditional training on a range of classroom teaching tech- niques aimed at improving students’ progress,” it said. “However, as yet, these tech- niques were not being used consistently.” A survey of only 20 par- ents found just 42% felt the school is doing a satisfac- tory job. Of the 555 students surveyed, 59%, were satisfied with the education they were being provided. In a survey of 51 fac- ulty and staff members, 88% thought the school was doing a good job. However, staff also said the school was not well led (50%), they did not have adequate resources (56%) and were equally split (44%) on whether the school does enough to support its professional growth. Because it was rated as weak, inspectors will re- turn to the school within six months. A copy of the full survey can be found at www.oes.gov.ky. “ In the time available, we anticipate certain levels of progress. We have to have signs of growth.” PETER CARPENTER, director, Office of Education Standards There has been a changing of the guard at the YMCA of the Cayman Islands. Former vice chairman David Watler has been named the chapter chairman of the YMCA, and he takes over for Andrew Johnson, who leaves after completing a three-year term. The YMCA reached a formal agreement with the Cayman Islands Little League Association during Johnson’s tenure that allows the organ- isation to assume manage- ment of local fields, programs and operations. The YMCA also opened up its Ropes Challenge Course, which is a team-building and leadership training facility brought about by funds from the Deputy Governor’s 5K Challenge. “The continued growth and vitality of our Y has been supported and guided by a talented group of servant leaders in our community,” said Johnson as part of an of- ficial press release. “As board chairman, I was honoured to serve with such a special group of dedicated individ- uals who sincerely believe in the mission of the YMCA, living out our core values of ‘caring, honesty, respect, re- sponsibility and faith’. “We simply could not have the impact we do without their commitment of time, re- sources and energies. I am retiring with a sense of ac- complishment and refreshed excitement to hand the reins to David, who provided ex- cellent support as Vice Chair the past three years and is poised to lead our board with awesome passion and sharp organisation and leader- ship skills.” Watler joined the YMCA Board in March of 2015, and he was elevated to Vice Chairman in February of 2016. He served as chairman of the YMCA’s Philanthropy Committee for two years. “It is a pleasure and honour to be asked to serve as chairman of such a great organisation with a 175- year history,” said Watler. “I am thankful for the prior Chairmen, Andrew Johnson and Pastor Randy von Kanel, and their leadership in forming and growing the Y in Cayman and our amazing board and staff for their sup- port and guidance. “There are many social is- sues in the Cayman Islands but there are also just as many opportunities to ensure our youth, adults and seniors have facilities, programmes and guidance through sports, healthy living education and life skills to be the best they can be and contribute posi- tively to our community. We look forward to partnering with other organisations and the government to continue to expand these facilities and programmes on island to meet these needs.” Garth Arch will serve in the role of vice chairman during Watler’s stewardship of the YMCA. For more information about the YMCA Cayman Islands, visit www. ymcacayman.ky, email info@ ymcacayman.ky or call 926-9622. CAYMAN ISLANDS YMCA NAMES NEW CHAIRMAN YMCA vice chairman Garth Arch, chairman David Watler and outgoing chairman Andrew Johnson. Government school inspectors have issued their latest report on Clifton Hunter High School. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion & Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited 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 PUBLISHER KATHLEEN CAPETTA EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” Since the beginning of this year, 184 derelict vehicles have been deposited at the George Town Landfill, according to the Department of Environ- mental Health. Ninety-three of those were disposed of thanks to a DEH initiative to rid Grand Cayman of the hulking heaps. In recent weeks, the DEH has not only deployed its own fleet of grab trucks but also has enlisted the help of a private company to help get a leg up on the problem. We say it is effort well spent. It was just a year ago when it seemed wherever one looked, one was likely to find the carcasses of cars, vans, trucks and other former forms of trans- portation scattered throughout our beautiful island. Abandoned in vacant lots and along roadsides, some- times dangerously close to busy lanes of traffic, these ramshackle remnants would languish for days or even weeks. The blight was more than unsightly, it was a real public nuisance – attracting animals, insects and other debris, enticing thieves who would strip the broken- down wrecks of saleable parts, or vandals intent on smashing glass and generally raising Cain. More than a few junkers were left so close to roadways, they threatened the safe flow of traffic. In short, it was a terrible mess. It was not the first time our little island had suffered from a growing accumulation of abandoned vehicles – which has been an intermittent problem at least as long as the Compass has been publishing. But it only added to the confusion when the DEH began limiting their acceptance of cars and scrap metal at the landfill, due to space and safety concerns. Now those concerns have apparently been addressed, and owners are once again encouraged to dispose of old vehicles there. They can drop derelict vehicles at any landfill without paying a fee for disposal. Alternately, they can ask the DEH to retrieve the vehicle from private property for $75. It is good to see DEH aggressively attacking our islands’ plague of derelict cars. In a statement, DEH Acting Director Richard Simms said it is his depart - ment’s intent to keep aggressively tackling the problem. We encourage them to keep up the pace. But at the end of the day, as this board has written, it is owners’ responsibility to properly dispose of derelict vehicles and to do so immediately – not the next week or even a few days after the vehicle breaks down. Abandoning old cars and trucks is a violation of the Cayman Islands Litter Law, punishable by up to a $500 fine or six months’ imprisonment. We encourage readers to report any vehicle that seems unlicensed or abandoned to the DEH for removal. They can do so by calling DEH at 949-6696 or emailing dehcustomerservice@gov.ky. Good riddance to derelict vehicles TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Venezuela’s health crisis is the hemisphere’s problem MAC MARGOLIS It’s hard to cross a plaza or park in metropolitan South America without run- ning into ‘The Liberator’ Simon Bolivar, sword raised atop a bronze horse. But who remembers Ar- noldo Gabaldon? The Ven- ezuelan epidemiologist fought malaria with maps, field laboratories, quinine and armies of door-to-door fumigators, making Ven- ezuela a pioneer in eradi- cating malaria in densely populated areas. Gabaldon would be sweating in his bed net- ting today. Half a century on, Venezuela is a hothouse for malaria again, but also communicable miseries from HIV/AIDS to Zika. Forgotten diseases such as diphtheria and measles rage. Leprosy, tuberculosis and typhoid fever are back, alongside emerging mos- quito-borne viruses, such as dengue, Zika and chi- kungunya. New HIV in- fections jumped 24% from 2010 to 2016. Now the worst humani- tarian crisis in the Amer- icas risks becoming a hem- ispheric emergency, as nearly 3 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants ferry their pathogens across the continent. Venezuela’s failing health is no surprise: The disastrous Nicolas Maduro government has made the economy and national infra- structure a shambles. Serial blackouts and scarce sup- plies have devastated hos- pitals, where nursing staff are forced to ventilate in- tubated patients manually and to reuse disposable sur- gical gloves. A third of Venezuelan physicians have left the country since 2014, ac- cording to the Venezuelan Medical Federation. Add to that the toll of global human folly: Severe droughts likely linked to disruptive climate change have forced Venezuelans to store water at home, a per- fect swarm for Aedes ae- gypti, the mosquito that spreads dengue, chikun- gunya, yellow fever and Zika. By 2016, all four strains of dengue were cir- culating countrywide. Venezuela’s per person funding for populations at risk of contracting malaria was the lowest in the Amer- icas after Peru and French Guiana. So depleted is pri- mary care that pregnant Venezuelans prefer risking their lives and fleeing the Bolivarian republic to giving birth at home. But when such migrants travel, they also carry ills that Venezuela’s neighbours thought they’d beaten. After logging just one case of measles between 2008 and 2015, Brazil re- ported more than 10,000 infections last year. Most patients bore D8 geno- type measles, the domi- nant strain circulating in Venezuela. The Vene- zuela epidemic has also been linked to outbreaks in Argentina, Colombia, Ec- uador and Peru. The World Health Organ- ization reckoned that a Ven- ezuelan malaria outbreak was responsible for 84% of the increase in infections in the Americas in 2017. Ven- ezuela alone kicked in 53% of all reported cases region- ally in 2016 and 2017. Fortunately, Venezue- la’s neighbours are better prepared to deal with dan- gerous outbreaks. In recent decades, many have made strides in fighting debili- tating and lethal diseases. But Venezuela’s collapse has also left health profes- sionals in the dark; the Min- istry of Health stopped pub- lishing its once-respected health bulletin in 2016. For Venezuela’s neigh- bours, that disappear- ance makes evaluating and treating refugees a deadly guessing game. Dealing with viruses like dengue is especially vexing. Spread by highly adapt- able mosquitoes that breed in still clean water, bite by day and flourish in crowded quarters, dengue travels well and is wondrously adapted to chaotic urban Latin America. Six epi- demics hit Venezuela from 2007 to 2016, compared with four epidemics in the pre- vious 16 years, according to a recent study in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Venezuela’s statistical blackout and chronic under- reporting of infections also mean that the country’s ac- celerating outbreaks point to a wider threat. What’s worse is that many people – including most of those infected with dengue and up to 80% with malaria – carry disease but do not fall ill. Not surprisingly, dengue and malaria are flaring on the Colombian border, a no-man’s land where out- laws lurk, wildcat miners dig for gold and then take their winnings and con- tagions back home, and holdout guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the National Liberation Army roam. “It’s a hard place to work if you’re a physician or health worker,” said Martin Llewellyn, who studies vector-borne diseases at Glasgow University. “It’s an open sore right on a crit- ical border.” When contagions spread, so does misery. Dengue alone cost $18.42 billion globally in 2016 – double the burden from 2013 – due to death, poor health, dis- ability, and treatment and rehabilitation, Shepard found in a recent study. And Venezuela did not even make his top ten most af- flicted nations. Fortunately, scientific ad- vances are bringing prom- ising new tools. A dengue vaccine is undergoing ad- vanced clinical trials, and mosquitoes weaponised to carry virus-inhibiting Wolbachia bacteria are in the works. Science alone will not stop the emer- gency, however. Bottom line: Venezuela’s dysfunction has become a life-threatening export as well a risk to regional sta- bility and prosperity. En- couragingly, diplomacy in the Americas is more ro- bust than ever before, with virtually all of Venezuela’s neighbours pressuring the Maduro regime to stand down, allow in more hu- manitarian aid and atten- uate the suffering. Let’s hope they suc- ceed: The best monument Latin America could build to Arnoldo Gabaldon would be to restore his home- grown legacy. Mac Margolis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Latin and South America. He was a reporter for Newsweek and is the author of ‘The Last New World: The Conquest of the Amazon Frontier.’ © 2019 The Washington Post Writers Group. Fortunately, Venezuela’s neighbours are better prepared to deal with dangerous outbreaks.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2019 Police commissioner hears from Brackers JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com Commissioner of Po- lice Derek Byrne was on Cayman Brac last week to meet with residents and hear their concerns at a commu- nity meeting. Among the feedback from Brackers was they want po- lice officers to follow up with them when they have been victims of a crime and they want more policing of traffic problems. Brac residents called for more active policing when it came to cyclists riding on the wrong side of the road, having no lights, and wearing dark clothes. They also called for police to address speeding in 25 mile per hour zones; a lack of radar guns in police cars, and a lack of po- lice hand-held radar guns. The meeting was held at the Cayman Brac Aston Rutty Centre on Thursday, April 4. Over the past couple of months, Commissioner Byre said he and his senior com- mand team have been re- ceiving some complaints about the level of policing service on Cayman Brac. The idea was to meet the com- munity and find out. “Thank- fully, it was a large turn- out,” he said. “It was a really mixed bag coming out of the meeting … some really positive com- ments about individual of- ficers and, unfortunately, some very negative commen- tary, as well,” he said. The message for him now was to listen, he said, adding that things will have to change to deliver the service that is required on the Brac. The commissioner said he would be making his officers aware of the comments made at the meeting. It wasn’t all negative com- ments though. One elderly lady thanked the police for sending a patrol car to check on her periodically and for making sure she was alright. Resident Zoe Vassel said she was pleased with the results she had gotten from the police. She also said she found the meeting very helpful and asked that more meetings like this be held so residents can voice their opinions to police and also hear what the police have to say. Jacqueline Carpenter, head of media and communi- cations with the RCIPS, said police wanted to hear from members of the commu- nity about what they need and what they were felt they were not getting from the police, but the police ser- vice also had a lot of devel- opments it wanted to share with the community. Among the developments she shared was the launch of the police digital platform which enables easier commu- nication with the public. Police Sergeant Aston Fer- guson said of the meeting, “The crowd wanted service and they wanted to hear, and they took full advantage of the opportunity … it was re- ally impacting on us.” Additional reporting by the Sister Islands Agency Camilo Osvaldo Naranjo, 34, was charged with possession of two- tenths of an ounce of the illegal drug. Commissoner of Police Derk Bryne talks to resident Zoe Vassel at the community meeting at the Aston Rutty Centre on Cayman Brac Thursday. - PHOTO: SISTER ISLANDS NEWS AGENCY Police helicopter in first Medevac The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service used its new Airbus H145 heli- copter for a medical evacu- ation for the first time over the weekend. The helicopter flew a cardiac patient from Faith Hospital on Cayman Brac to Grand Cayman on Sat- urday afternoon. The hospital sent the re- quest for the medical evac- uation just after 2:30 p.m. The police helicopter was al- ready in the air when the re- quest came through and ad- justed its flight plan to land on the Brac, police said. After the patient landed in Grand Cayman, he was taken to Health City hos- pital by ambulance and was stable upon arrival. “Of all the benefits having a helicopter has brought to Cayman in recent years, the capacity to render medical evacuations to our residents on the Sister Islands is one of the most critical,” said Acting Superintendent Brad Ebanks, head of specialist operations. He added, “We have a strong partnership with the [Health Services Authority] and are glad that the expe- dited arrival of the new and larger helicopter enables us not only to continue this lifesaving activity, but also to evacuate two patients at once if necessary.” An ambulance awaits a patient at the Cricket Oval in George Town after the police’s new helicopter was used in a medical evacuation from Cayman Brac on Saturday. - PHOTO: RCIPS Man allegedly drove into sea with cocaine Bail denied for charges that include dangerous driving CAROL WINKER cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Bail was denied on Monday for a man charged with possession of cocaine which was recovered after he allegedly drove his ve- hicle into the North Sound last Wednesday after- noon, April 3. Camilo Osvaldo Naranjo, 34, was charged with pos- session of two-tenths of an ounce of the illegal drug, and dangerous driving on Sparkys Drive. Naranjo appeared be- fore Magistrate Adam Rob- erts, who refused bail after hearing what led to the de- fendant’s arrest. Crown counsel Darlene Oko told the court that two police officers were in an unmarked police car in the area around the Caribbean Utilities Company building when their attention was drawn to a rental vehicle. A police press release stated that the officers noticed the silver Toyota Camry was being driven erratically. The officers manoeu- vred their vehicle to stop the other car, driven by Naranjo, Oko said. His ve- hicle hit the police vehicle and he sped off towards the Barcadere Marina dock. Other vehicles on the road were forced to get out of the way, Oko indicated. Naranjo was observed driving his car into the sea, which caused the vehicle to stop. He then exited the vehicle with a green and blue box. He was observed biting into the package, bursting it open, Oko said. This caused white powder to fall into the water and Naranjo allegedly used his hand to disperse this powder. Other police attended the scene and collected seaweed with a white res- idue. The vehicle driven by Naranjo was exam- ined and there was white powder on the front seat. Officers also seized $1,800 in cash, Oko said. Police said the driver was taken to hospital for medical treatment prior to his arrest. Oko advised that this defendant had a previous conviction for posses- sion of cocaine with intent to supply. She described Naranjo as a person with a large quantity of cocaine running from the police and endangering the public in the process. Defence attorney Clyde Allen said that when a number of cars “swooped” on Naranjo, he panicked and drove away. Once in the water, he slipped and fell, receiving an injury to his forehead. The magistrate said he was satisfied that Naran- jo’s driving was for the sole purpose of avoiding detec- tion. He remanded the de- fendant in custody until the next mention, set for Tuesday, April 16. DEH steps up enforcement on derelict vehicles Cayman’s Department of Environmental Health has been taking abandoned and derelict vehicles off local roads, removing 93 of them since March 4. “We have been able to sig- nificantly reduce the number of vehicles that pose an im- mediate threat to public health,” said Richard Simms, the acting director of the De- partment of Environmental Health. “We intend to reduce the population of derelict ve- hicles even further as the programme continues.” The DEH has temporarily enlisted the aid of Bodden’s Heavy Duty Equipment to supplement its existing fleet of operational grab trucks. Simms has discouraged people from disposing of der- elict vehicles in public spaces or in a manner that could be harmful to public health. Residents are urged to dispose of unwanted cars at the George Town Landfill, where they can be taken care of free of cost. The Cayman Islands Litter Law defines a derelict vehicle as any vehicle that appears to be abandoned due to its condition. That includes any vehicle that is without an engine, wheels or other critical parts and that has remained unli- censed during the preceding six months. The Cayman Islands Litter Law also states that people who deposit litter in a public place and cause that place to be defaced with litter is guilty of an offence and li- able upon conviction to a fine of $500 or imprisonment for six months. For more information, call the DEH at 949-6696 or email dehcustomerservice@gov.ky. DEH collector Patrick Rankine removes a derelict vehicle from a George Town roadside. An ambulance awaits a patient at the Cricket Oval in George Town after the police’s new helicopter was used in a medical evacuation from Cayman 6 LOCAL NEWS Check out these photos and others by visiting caymancompass.com/photogalleries or on facebook.com/caycompass (and don’t forget to tag yourself and your friends!) TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS M ore than 700 young athletes from across Cayman took part in the Inter-Primary Track and Field Championships. Youngsters in var- ious age groups competed in a series of events, including the long jump, high jump, shot put, sprints and relays, at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on Thursday and Friday. Red Bay Primary was the ultimate winner of the team championships. A Prospect Primary School student takes part in the relay. Hundreds of youngsters from across Cayman took part in the track meet. School kids cheer on their classmates and friends. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Students of Red Bay Primary School get ready for a cheerleading routine. Prospect Primary cheerleading squad show their support. The runners feet barely touch the ground as they race towards the finish line. A Red Bay Primary School runner takes part in a relay race. Young sprinters cross the finish line after the relay. Skill and determination were on display from all the 7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2019 Sir John A. Cumber Primary School cheerleaders entertain the crowd at the sports meet. Runners barrel down the track at one of the many exciting races at the Inter-Primary Championships. Raising the bar. A Triple C student participates in the high jump. A determined Prospect Primary School runner races forward with the relay baton in hand. The schools turned out their best runners for the events.Young students power across the finish line at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on Friday.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or non-profit organisations. 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 Road or emailed to cwinker@pinnaclemedialtd.com at least three days in advance of publication. TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, APRIL 9 BULLYING: The Ministry of Community Affairs and the Alex Panton Foundation host a presentation on bullying at John Gray Memorial Church in West Bay. 6:30-8 p.m. All are invited. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 DEPT. OF VEHICLE & DRIVERS LICENSING: The Department will be closed Wednesday, April 10, and Thursday, April 11, to facilitate staff training. The DVDL will resume normal hours on Friday, April 12. The public is reminded that online services are available using the online portal www. eservices.gov.ky. THURSDAY, APRIL 11 NATIONAL TRUST SPEAKER SERIES: African safari guide, naturalist and wildlife photographer Lex Hes will host the National Trust’s first Speaker Series event for 2019, where he will share stories and ideas about how eco-tourism and pristine natural areas can thrive in concert with one another. At The Lodge, the Strand Shopping Centre, West Bay Road. 6-7 p.m. $10.00 admission. Email cchilds@nationaltrust.org.ky for more information. STREET MEETING: All Nations United Pentecostal Church presents a Street Meeting at Mr. Renny’s Shop, Boatswain Bay, West Bay, 7-9:30 p.m. All are invited. FRIDAY, APRIL 12 DCI CLOSURE: The Department of Commerce and Investment advises the public that their office will be closed on this day to facilitate staff training. DCI will resume normal business hours on Monday, April 15. SATURDAY, APRIL 13 CHAMBER EARTH DAY CLEAN-UP: The Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Earth Day Clean-up, at 7-10 a.m., with a complimentary breakfast held at the CUC Energy Efficiency Forum and Fair at the ARC, Camana Bay at 9–11 a.m. to reward the hard work of all volunteers. Teams of volunteers can sign up online at www.caymanchamber.ky/ earthday.html. Each volunteer team will receive trash bags and plastic gloves. T-shirts are distributed on a first- come, first-serve basis, so register early to have the best chance of claiming a limited edition Guy Harvey- designed shirt. COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP: A clean-up of North Sound Estate and North Sound Garden will be held today, in celebration of Earth Month, from 6 a.m. until noon. The meeting point is at the ICCI College car park where bags, gloves and street maps will be handed out. Free T-shirts for the first few to sign in on the day. Call 321-9443 for more details. TUESDAY, APRIL 16 SEAFARERS ASSOC: The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association advises all members that there will be a General Meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Ave. Prospect. Buses will be provided from West Bay Town Hall at 6 p.m. A bus route has been added in George Town, leaving the Public library parking area at 7, stopping at Cayman Compass building and the Airport Fosters. The bus is marked Bobo $1 Public transport and is blue in color; there is no charge. GENERAL INTEREST WOMEN’S ANNUAL RETREAT: The Women’s Ministry of Church of God Chapel in George Town invites all women to the annual retreat Friday, April 26, 7-9 p.m., and Saturday, April 27, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Family Life Centre. Guest speaker is Militza Matute. Cost is $25 and includes light breakfast and lunch. Register at 949-9393 or cogcgt@candw.ky or flcoff@ candw.ky. FRIDAY FISH FRY: Fridays during Lent until April 12. St. Ignatius School Canteen. Dine in or carry out, 5-8 p.m. Fried or baked fish and trimmings, $7 to $12. Proceeds in aid of parish religious education and youth ministry. LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS: Applications are being accepted for the Ministry of Education’s local scholarships. Eligible Caymanian students and adults are invited to apply until April 30. Funding is available for Year 12 students to pursue studies in A-level and BTEC Level 3 Extended for two years, and Year 13 students to pursue studies in Advanced Placement, CAPE and International Baccalaureate courses. Government will also award scholarships for certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s and law degree programmes at ICCI, UCCI, UWI Open Campus, St. Matthew’s University and the Cayman Islands Law School. The online application for local scholarships may be accessed at www.education. gov.ky/scholarships. For more information, contact the Scholarship Secretariat at 244-2482 or email scholarships@gov.ky. 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 socialising 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 Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays 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, 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, ORGANISATIONS 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-centred 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 second and fourth Monday at Cayman Academy Canteen, Walkers Road, 6-7:30 p.m. Contact Sashoy Duncan at 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. safeharbourlc.com. MUSLIM PRAYER: Islamic Society of the Cayman Islands advises 5 times salaat/prayer at the Masjid. Fajr at 6 a.m. Dhuhr at 1:15 p.m. Asr at 5:15 p.m. Maghrib at 7 minutes after sunset. Isha at 8 p.m. website isci.org.ky. For more Community Calendar events, visit www. caymancompass.com/events. Volunteers pick up garbage and plastic debris from a local beach in the 2017 Chamber of Commerce Earth Day Clean-up. This year’s clean-up will be held on Saturday, April 13. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY APRIL 9, 2019 units. Beaches in Massachu- setts are closed when levels exceed 100 units for a single water sample. In California, the level is 104 units. On Oct. 31, 2018, sam- ples from Bodden Town Public Beach were meas- ured at 1,733 units. Two other beaches, East End Her- itage Beach and North Side Public Beach had readings of 1,533 units and 1,300 units respectively. Laboratory manager An- toinette Johnson said the de- partment does not have an established policy on issuing public warnings or closing beaches. Before taking such action in response to elevated bacteria levels, subsequent tests would be done. “It would take more than one sample,” she said, before the department would issue an alert or move to close a beach area. “The fact that a second sample wasn’t done could have been (that) the conditions weren’t right for us to do one right away.” She said conditions such as rough seas or recent rain- fall, resulting in runoff or overflow from septic tanks near beaches, can hamper gathering acceptable samples and also elevate levels of the bacteria. Conditions at the three test sites were listed as either choppy or rough. Those same conditions, she said, may have kept the de- partment from getting any follow-up readings. The Department of En- vironmental Health keeps track of any reports from local hospitals regarding ill- ness that might be connected to environmental factors, Johnson said. “Nothing of the sort” was reported in the time period surrounding October’s tests, she said. The department lacks adequate personnel to make sure testing of Cay- man’s beach waters takes place on a regular basis, she said. When samples are taken, old lab equipment sometimes keeps lab per- sonnel from getting accu- rate readings. The lab, she said, is not meeting the recommenda- tions established by the World Health Organization for frequency of testing. Johnson said the elevated levels recorded in October were likely due to an influx of sargassum and its sub- sequent decay. A large in- flux of the seaweed had been reported three weeks prior to the testing. Sargassum harbours many small ma- rine animals and the decay of those animals can result in elevated enterococci bac- teria levels. The tests from the three sites were the only quantifi- able results falling outside accepted limits in the past two years of testing. However, there were two occasions – in March 2018 and May 2017 – when the laboratory reported the units in the samples were too numerous to count. On the first occasion, it was deemed the samples were vi- able and that the levels were ‘unsatisfactory’. Sets of tests taken in May 2017 and February and April 2018 show readings well below the accepted 35-unit threshold. With the exception on one reading of 10 units at Eden Rock, all results were zero or in the single digits. Johnson said that if and when a spike cannot be re- lated to external condi- tions, the department would take action. “Every rainfall event will affect our results,” Johnson said. “If we see a spike at a particular beach and we can’t relate it to rough seas or recent rainfall, [additional testing would follow]. Any changes that are persistent, we would insist on a sanitary investigation.” That could include inspec- tion of nearby septic tanks or other waste facilities that might contaminate the water. Johnson said residents and visitors should have confidence in the safety of local waters. In her years in the lab, she said, she could not recall an instance of an illness being tied to rec- reational swimming off the beaches. “We’ve had one or two mild infections with pools,” she said, as well as some tied to groundwater. “But nothing with recreational use.” glass and canopies,” stated Auditor General Sue Win- spear, adding, “Making changes to the scope of a project after a contract has been signed is not good practice.” Other cost overruns were attributed to pro- ject delays. For example, flaws in the designs of the elec- trical works led to an eight-week delay in con- struction starting for Phase 2 of the project, according to the report. Awarding the contract for the baggage-han- dling system was also 10 months late due to poor quality of tender mate- rials, the report states. “These delays have re- sulted in the project being rescheduled on more than one occasion and have contributed to increased costs,” the report states. “registration fee” regime in the fuels sector, but that has not been implemented. Pre- mier Alden McLauglin added that the fuel-regulation op- erations will continue to be funded by government be- cause OfReg does not want to add taxes to the fuels sector, which would increase prices for consumers. The supplemental appro- priation nearly failed. The vote was split – with seven in favour and seven against the funding – until Finance Committee chair Roy McTag- gart voted in favour of the spending to break the tie. Before the vote, multiple legislators voiced their dis- pleasure that OfReg has cost millions of dollars while failing to control the price of fuel. Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller pointed out that OfReg has recently launched a study to see what colours the terri- tory’s fuel pumps should be. He questioned why the $1.3 million appropriation is going towards studies like this. “Why are we spending money through OfReg to identify on the gas pumps what is a 50- or what is an 80-percent fuel octane?” Miller asked. Monroe responded that his office has received com- plaints of misfuelling, where customers pick up the wrong nozzle and pump the incor- rect type of fuel into their ve- hicles. Sol Petroleum has dif- ferent coloured nozzles on its regular, premium and diesel fuels than Rubis and Refuel, Monroe explained. This can sometimes con- fuse customers, according to OfReg. The outcome of Of- Reg’s study will include clear labelling requirements for the type and grade of fuel avail- able, standardised colour coding of dispensing hoses to denote types and grade of fuel, and standardised nozzle sizing by type of fuel. “What is the cost of this study to determine what col- ours the nozzles should be?” Miller asked, to which the premier replied that there is no specific cost attached to the work. Miller further questioned why work on this is being conducted when OfReg is not controlling the price of fuel. Monroe responded that OfReg’s strategy towards fuel costs is letting market com- petition determine the prices, but multiple legislators criti- cised that strategy, saying it has not worked. “If we’re paying for some- thing with the objective of lowering costs, and the costs aren’t going down, it means in essence that we’re paying for nothing,” MLA Chris Saunders said. “The real question, then, is: What’s the use? At this point, we should look at closing it down – bar- ring the quality inspections.” East End MLA Arden McLean made similar state- ments about shutting down some of OfReg’s operations. “When authorities delib- erately abuse their ministers and give them poor advice, it is time to shut them down,” he said. “It would be like the attorney general giving me bad advice because I don’t know anything about law.” Premier Alden McLaughlin admitted that OfReg has ex- perienced “teething issues” since being consolidated from the territory’s legacy regula- tors in January 2017. OfReg ran a nearly $1.5 million op- erating deficit in 2017, and has spent millions of dollars on travel expenses and con- sultancy fees. However, the premier said OfReg’s new CEO should be coming on board “shortly”. The new CEO should be given a chance to assess OfReg’s operations him- or herself be- fore the regulator completely changes its strategy towards the fuels sector, he said. McLaughlin, McTag- gart, Barbara Conolly, Joey Hew, Juliana O’Connor-Con- nolly, Tara Rivers, Dwayne Seymour and David Wight voted in favour of the OfReg appropriation. McLean, Miller, Saunders, Bernie Bush, Alva Suckoo, Kenneth Bryan and Anthony Eden voted against it. Legislators nearly vote down OfReg funding CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Airport development costs rise to nearly $68m CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 No policy for alerting public to ocean bacteria spikes Sanders quiets his critics as he becomes a 2020 front-runner DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Ver- mont Senator Bernie Sanders is quieting critics who ques- tioned whether he could re- capture the energy of his upstart 2016 campaign, sur- passing his rivals in early fundraising and estab- lishing himself as an in- disputable front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination. Less than two months into his second White House bid, no other declared candidate in the crowded Democratic field currently has amassed so many advantages: a $28 million war chest, a loyal and enthusiastic voter base and a set of clearly defined policy objectives. That puts Sanders on markedly different footing than during his first White House run, creating new chal- lenges for a candidate whose supporters relish his role as an underdog and an outsider. He now carries the weight of high expectations and will face heightened scrutiny over everything from the cost and feasibility of his government- funded policy proposals to his tax returns, which he has not yet released. He initially blamed “mechanical issues” for the delay, and his cam- paign now says he wants to wait until after the April 15 tax filing deadline to fulfil his promise to release a decade worth of returns. Sanders has largely em- braced his new front-runner status. More than any other candidate, he draws explicit comparisons with President Donald Trump in his cam- paign remarks, previewing his approach to a general election face-off with the in- cumbent Republican. Be- hind the scenes, Sanders is also building out a larger, more diverse campaign op- eration, responding to criti- cism that his 2016 organisa- tion skewed too heavily white and male. Campaign officials say the 2020 campaign staff – roughly 100 people and growing – is majority female and 40% people of colour. Still, Sanders’ mes- sage and style hasn’t changed from 2016, when he stunned many Democrats by mounting a formidable chal- lenge to Hillary Clinton and besting her in more than 20 primary contests. After briefly acquiescing to his advisers’ suggestions that he reveal more about his upbringing and per- sonal history, Sanders has re- turned to his comfort zone: delivering lengthy campaign speeches chockablock with the same policy prescriptions he campaigned on during the 2016 campaign. In Daven- port, Iowa, on Friday night, Sanders spent 63 minutes outlining his views on health- care, criminal justice reform and economic inequality. “With your help, we are going to complete what we started here,” Sanders told the 1,200-person crowd, re- ferring to his virtual tie with Clinton in the 2016 Iowa caucuses. Sanders’ approach under- scores his belief that his suc- cess in 2016 was not a fluke or simply a function of being the next best alternative to Clinton. His advisers argue the populist economic mes- sage Sanders has espoused for years, often in obscurity, has now been embraced not only by a slew of his Demo- cratic rivals, but also Trump. “Donald Trump cam- paigned on economic terms as faux Bernie Sanders. It was taking his language and selling it to the Amer- ican people,” said Faiz Shakir, Sanders’ campaign manager. “And now how do you de- feat faux Bernie Sanders? You defeat him with real Bernie Sanders.” Sanders owes some of his fast start to the fact that he never really stopped running for president after the 2016 campaign. Our Revolution, the political group Sanders launched after the campaign, has collected information on voters and held events in early voting states since the last election. Sanders was also active in the 2018 mid- terms, throwing his support behind progressive Dem- ocratic candidates across the country, though many were defeated. Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during the National Action Network Convention in New York, Friday, April 5. - PHOTO: APNext >