ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2019 High of 86 Low of 73 Smooth to slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 WHY WE CARE ABOUT SCHOOL INSPECTIONS LOCAL | PAGE 5 GOVERNMENT EARMARKS $2M FOR BT CHURCH Regulated in the Cayman Islands as a licensed insurer by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Generali Worldwide is a trading name of Utmost Worldwide Limited. Registered Head Office address: Utmost Worldwide Limited, Utmost House, Hirzel Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands GY1 4PA. Regulated in Guernsey as a licensed insurer by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission under the Insurance Business (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 (as amended). Incorporated in Guernsey under Company Registration No. 27151. For a partnership that you can trust contact donovon.kellyman@ihs.ky Your health means the world to us. www.generali-healthcare.com Appeals court puts same-sex marriage rights on hold HEALTHCARE COSTS A ‘MASSIVE SOCIAL ISSUE’ WARNS PREMIER Government spends $6 million on sensitive lands Judges order stay of historic judgment JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Same-sex couples will have to wait a few months longer to find out if they have the right to get married in the Cayman Islands. The Court of Appeal agreed on Wednesday afternoon to delay implemen- tation of last month’s historic judgment legalising same-sex marriage. That decision means Caymanian Ch- antelle Day and her partner Vickie Bodden Bush, who brought the successful chal- lenge to the territory’s marriage laws and had planned to get married this week, will have to delay their wedding. Government is appealing Chief Jus- tice Anthony Smellie’s decision to legalise same-sex marriage and applied for a “stay” to prevent gay and lesbian couples from getting married until the conclusion of that appeal. A panel of appeals court judges agreed to that request, saying government had demonstrated that the appeal was National insurance considered as costs spiral JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Government is investigating a national health insurance system among a number of potential solutions to curb spiralling healthcare costs. Premier Alden McLaughlin told lawmakers he believed CINICO, government’s insurance com- pany, should be opened up to everybody and Health Minister Dwayne Seymour said the possi- bility of national insurance was one of the ideas up for discussion. They were speaking as legislators voted to ap- prove another $11.3 million in spending on cov- ering emergency healthcare costs at tertiary in- stitutions, either overseas or at CTMH Doctors Hospital and Health City, for people without full insurance coverage. Politicians on both sides of the house agreed that the cost of covering medical expenses for this group, which includes elderly and indigent people, was becoming unsustainable. Government initially budgeted around $11 million for this expense in 2018 and ended up spending almost three times that amount. They had budgeted $10 million again for 2019 and Monday’s vote in Finance Committee now takes that to just over $21 million so far for this year. Bodden Town West MLA Chris Saunders, who has repeatedly called for healthcare reform to move to the top of government’s agenda, said the cost of private sector insurance premiums for the elderly was often more than their monthly MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands government now owns a little piece of Hell. Lands Minister Juliana O’Connor-Con- nolly informed the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday afternoon that a section of the Hell formation in West Bay was among 16 plots of land acquired by the govern- ment in the past year. Just over $6 mil- lion was spent on the real estate, which includes sites across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. The parcels include a 350-foot stretch of ironshore in East End incorporating the Blow Holes. O’Connor-Connolly said the government paid $295,000 using envi- ronmental protection funds for that piece of real estate. Other parcels included beachfront property in North Side adjacent to Bo Miller Beach, South Sound’s Bel Air Pond, a “key mangrove” area in Barkers and seven beachfront or ironshore pieces of land in Cayman Brac. The land was purchased, O’Connor- Connolly said, for the “purpose of pro- tecting the environment”, as well as maintaining public access to Cay- man’s beaches. The government allocated $10 million last year for such purchases. O’Connor- Connolly said her fellow Legislative Assembly members nominated 48 The government now owns the oceanfront land where the Blow Holes are, in East End. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Vickie Bodden Bush, left, and Chantelle Day, the couple at the centre of the same-sex marriage case, arrive at court on Wednesday. They have been forced to postpone plans for their wedding after the Court of Appeal’s decision. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL®IONAL THURSDAY APRIL 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. - THURSDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) PET SEMATARY (R) 1:20 I 4:20 I 7:15 I 9:50 TRIPLE THREAT (R) 1:15 I 3:45 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 6:30 VIP 7:00 I 9:35 VIP I 10:00 A MADEA FAMILY FUNERAL (PG13) 7:25 US (R) 4:00 I 9:50 ARE YOU TIRED OF THE HASSLE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET YOUR ONLINE PURCHASES DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR? Mthingz.com has the solution! We are the largest online retailers in the Caribbean, and we are now offering DELIVERY TO YOUR DOOR WHETHER YOU LIVE IN CAYMAN OR ANYWHERE IN THE CARIBBEAN! Now that that’s solved, You may resume your online shopping Visit us at mthingz.com for the largest and best selections of your favorite products You’re Welcome! Safari guide to speak at Trust talk African safari guide, nat- uralist and wildlife photog- rapher Lex Hes will host the first of the National Trust’s Speaker Series of 2019. Hes will share stories and ideas about how ecotourism and pristine natural areas can thrive in concert with one another. The ‘Ecotourism and Con- serving Wildlife Populations’ Foreclosure public input ends April 30 MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Public comments are due by April 30 on a discus- sion paper released last year about whether the laws gov- erning the enforcement of mortgage-securities over land should be reformed. In the paper, the Law Reform Commission re- viewed the need for potential changes to the foreclosure rules in Cayman at the re- quest of the attorney general. Following the 2008 finan- cial crisis, an increase in the number of foreclosures and repossessions attracted much public criticism. “The dominant theme of the public commentary has been the level of hardship, it is claimed, that has been experienced by the owners of residential property, who have been affected by these procedures,” the Law Reform Commission said. The commission’s discus- sion paper noted that the number of foreclosures de- creased significantly in re- cent years. There were 67 forced sales involving homes, businesses and land plots last year, compared with 116 in 2015. But the paper also stated that the law does not strike the best balance be- tween the interests of lenders and borrowers and should be reformed. Under current rules, there are no foreclosure statutes, even though the term is widely used colloquially. As a result, lenders cannot take possession of a mortgaged property before it is sold. Lender rights are pro- tected by creating a charge over the property under the Registered Land Law. The charge instrument is signed by the borrower, acknowl- edging that if terms of the loan agreement are not com- plied with, the lender has the right to force a sale. The Law Reform Com- mission expressed doubt that typical borrowers are fully aware of the terms and that, therefore, the law might not provide the necessary safeguards. The report also stated that enforcement notices could contain more information, for instance which steps a bor- rower should take to remedy a payment default. While the law strikes a balance between lender and borrower rights, they do not have equal bargaining power. The only legal recourse for borrowers is often to take the lender to court, which in a fi- nancially distressed situation is very difficult. The report further criti- cised that lenders tend to market a distressed prop- erty in a forced sale as ‘fore- closure’ or ‘bank sale’, which often depresses the value of the property even more. If such a sale involved a third party, for instance an employee of a lender, the transaction, although legal, would “no doubt attract a very high degree of suspi- cion”, the report said. In its public consultation, the Law Reform Commis- sion asks more generally if any reform should be made by amending the Registered Land Law or by including foreclosure provisions in a wider consumer protection legislation. The paper is available on the Law Reform Com- mission’s and the govern- ment’s website. Submissions should be forwarded to the Director of the Law Reform Commission either electronically to jose.griffith@gov.ky or in writing, by post or hand-delivered to 4th Floor Government Administration Building, Portfolio of Legal Affairs, 133 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman, P.O. Box 136, Grand Cayman KY1-9000. In this photograph taken by safari guide and wildlife photographer Lex Hes, tourists check out lions at a safari park in Africa. Speaker Series takes place at The Lodge at the Strand Shopping Centre from 6 to 7 p.m on Thursday, April 11. Hes was born and ed- ucated in Johannesburg and has been involved in the world of wildlife for the past 30 years. He has previously spoken at the Smithsonian in Wash- ington, D.C. Previously a guide at the world-famous Lon- dolozi Game Reserve, Hes is now a popular freelance nature guide. The general public is invited. Happy hour food and drink specials will be provided. There is also a $10 admission fee. Email cchilds@nationaltrust. org.ky for more information. CASTRO WARNS CUBANS TO BRACE FOR SHORTAGES HAVANA (AP) – Commu- nist Party leader Raúl Castro warned Cubans on Wednesday that they should brace for worsening short- ages due to Trump adminis- tration policies, but said the island won’t return to the extreme deprivation of the post-Soviet period. In his first speech to the nation in more than three months, Castro said that US pressure on Venezuela and Cuba could lead to serious shortages increasing sharply in coming months. It has become hard to find basic goods such as chicken, cooking oil, eggs and flour throughout Cuba this year, due largely to a lack of hard currency to buy imported goods or equipment to pro- cess domestic products. State-run newspapers cut their page count last week due to shortages of news- print, and Castro indicated that the government would engage in further cutbacks due to cash shortfalls. “We’ve taken a series of decision to focus the devel- opment of the economy, and to resist and overcome the new obstacles imposed by the hardening of the economic siege,” Castro said. “We need to be aware of growing problems, and the situation could grow worse in the next few months.” Cuba’s centrally planned economy has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in in- come in recent months due to problems in deals with leftist allies and former allies. Bra- zil’s new right-wing Presi- dent Jair Bolsonaro cancelled a contract employing thou- sands of Cuban doctors late last year. The collapse of Ven- ezuela’s economy is believed to cost additional hundreds of millions in cutbacks to aid to Cuba, although neither country releases figures. Castro spoke at a cere- mony in which a new con- stitution, approved in a Feb- ruary referendum, went into effect. The National Assembly is now expected to pass a series of laws updating el- ements of the Cuban state, ranging from the electoral system to the family code. Cuban officials say there are no major economic re- forms pending for one of the world’s last Soviet-style sys- tems, despite the increasingly tough situation. While he warned of wors- ening shortages, Castro said that the hunger and des- peration that hit Cuba after the fall of its Soviet patron in 1991 would not return, thanks to Cuba’s diversified economy – with nearly 5 mil- lion tourists a year and direct investment from Europe, Asia and Latin America. “It’s not about returning to the harshest phase of the Special Period of the ‘90s,” Castro said. “Today it’s a dif- ferent scenario in terms of the diversification of the economy, although we do have to be prepared for the worst.” Raul Castro - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2019 The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – Opinion & Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited 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” If we want the best for our children, we must demand the best from our schools. To that end, school inspections offer a critical per- spective and valuable information about what schools are doing well and where they need to improve. In the case of Clifton Hunter High School, which recently received its second “weak” rating from the Office of Education Standards, the ‘to-do’ list may seem daunting. Certainly, it was disappointing to learn that inspectors found the school had failed to make satisfactory progress addressing most of the deficien- cies identified last year. We hope school administrators, teachers, students and parents take the report’s findings and recom- mendations as a call to greater action. As the saying goes, ‘failure is not an option’. Transforming Cayman’s schools to 21st Century centres of educational excel- lence will not be easy, but it must be done. For years, many of our government schools have struggled with low expectations, academic under-per- formance and lukewarm commitment from students and families – evidenced by chronic absenteeism and behavioural issues. Although performance gaps have been slowly closing, our local public school students continue to lag behind UK peers in performance on standardised tests. Particularly troubling to us has been the fact that so many prominent Caymanian families, who have access to government education, choose instead to send their children to one of our islands’ private schools. This historically has even been true for leaders in Cayman’s public sector, including the edu- cation ministry. While one cannot fault any parent for making deci- sions they feel are in their child’s best interest, all our children deserve access to the best possible education – one which gives them a firm foundation in core skills and concepts, encourages them to explore aptitudes and interests, and nurtures their development as our islands’ future citizens and leaders. Education is one of the largest and costliest func- tions of our government, and with good reason. An educated and qualified workforce is the cornerstone of our continued collective success. In an increas- ingly global economy, they must be fully equipped for competitive employment not only here but around the world. The new school inspection framework, com- pleted late last June after months of discussions and feedback from government officials, school teachers and administrators and the public, sets appropriately high expectations for our school communities. Now it is up to us to reach the bar. Every two years, inspectors will assess schools and rate their progress on a four-point scale ranging from weak to excellent, with poor-performing schools receiving additional reviews. With this roadmap in hand, school communities – including administrators, teachers, students and families – must uphold their end of the bargain. Aim high, act boldly and strive for excellence. Nothing less will do. Why we care about school inspections THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS IPOs creating crisis in San Francisco KATHERINE BOYLE At 12:30 Pacific time on a recent Friday afternoon, a small crowd gathered at the foot of San Francisco’s tallest, shiniest office tower. Onlookers stared at a tempo- rary stage decked out with a banner that read, “Cele- brating 20 Years of Sales- force!” Onstage, flanked by backup dancers, stood a man dressed in a full black suit singing a familiar tune: “They can’t, they won’t, they never will … stop the party.” “Is this Pitbull?” I asked a middle-age man in a corpo- rate-branded Patagonia vest. He just nodded as he stared ahead. “Y’all having a good time out there?” Pitbull asked to silence. A good time should not be hard to come by in San Francisco, but do not blame us for being antsy. As if $24 lunch salads, multiplying tent cities and two-hour commutes across the Bay Bridge were not worrisome enough, the city at the heart of the global tech revolution is now at the breaking point – and bracing for another wave of wealth to hit. With Bay Area-based tech compa- nies scheduled to hold initial public offerings this year, the city of instant million- aires is about to have thou- sands of even newer million- aires. And many residents of this city – secretly and not- so-secretly – fear that 2019 is the year San Francisco becomes a truly impossible place to live. Initial public offerings should be causes for celebra- tion, and not just for those ringing the bell at the stock exchange. These public and soon-to-be-public compa- nies – the likes of which in- clude Lyft; Slack; Postmates; Pinterest; Uber; and Levi Strauss, a San Francisco stalwart founded during a different Gold Rush – will allow everyday investors across the country (finally!) to partake in the fruits of a decade of consumer in- ternet innovation. Similarly, universities, pension funds and non-profits will see windfalls that will under- write important work across the country. But most of the initial employees and early inves- tors in these unicorns live here in San Francisco, one of the most densely popu- lated metropolitan areas in the United States. In the months after these compa- nies go public, it will be fair to ask: How much wealth can one city take? You could say this crisis is not San Francisco’s fault, at least not entirely. It did not anticipate the smart- phone, the app store or the consumer internet revolu- tion that made San Fran- cisco a magnet for young people seeking burritos and taxis at 3 a.m. It was not prepared for global interest rates to hit record lows and remain there, making late- stage venture capital a lu- crative asset class where companies could stay pri- vate longer, raising funds not from public markets but from individual and insti- tutional investors. It didn’t anticipate the worst reces- sion since the Great Depres- sion and the surge of ex- cess labour to power the gig economy. Nor did it notice the emergence of cloud com- puting that made startups easier to launch from a studio apartment rather than a suburban garage. But it did adopt – and then cling to – closed- minded housing policies for decades, stunting construc- tion and stifling growth even as repeated waves of young people poured into the Bay Area over the past 20 years to build the next big thing. San Francisco, very liter- ally, was not built (or zoned) for this many people or this much good fortune. A family of four making nearly $120,000 in San Fran- cisco is now considered low- income by the Department of Housing and Urban Develop- ment. According to a recent report from rental website Zumper, the median market monthly rent for a one-bed- room here has hit an all- time high of $3,690 – nearly $45,000 a year. There are so- cial-impact startups, such as Landed, helping the under- paid and underappreciated – like teachers and nurses – afford housing in the region. Meanwhile, if you are looking to buy a single- family home, good luck: Al- though there are about 100,000 vacant homes in San Francisco and neigh- bouring communities, many are not for sale; some have been bought, likely as an in- vestment, and simply left empty. (It is not uncommon to find apartment buildings here that are one-fourth to one-half empty, an experi- ence that is a little eerie, not to mention inefficient.) Those with the means to buy a home in these parts will find it challenging to lock one down, and the most-discussed topic among young people is: Will I ever be able to afford the apart- ment I am renting? The irony of this extreme concentration of wealth is that tech was supposed to solve this problem and allow people to innovate anywhere. Instead, this superconcentra- tion of new wealth is likely to push talented people and their employers out of the area in search of more sus- tainable lifestyles – meaning the wealth is pushing people out of San Francisco, not the democratisation of tech. It will also ensure that bashing tech companies is going to be the safest political sport for politicians in the months leading up to the 2020 elec- tion. Candidates on both the left and right will lift a page from the early 20th cen- tury election playbook, when Standard Oil was depicted as an octopus, dexterous enough to parry Republicans and Democrats. No one’s weeping for big tech, but the war on Silicon Valley will not solve the re- gion’s housing crisis, either. And regulation won’t stop a financial culture that will continue to mint more uni- corns and, thus, more Bay Area millionaires. We can only hope that a crisis of wealth will lead to better housing policy in the United States’ tech capital, and that some of tech’s victors will make an exit from this lavish party and take their wealth, their angel invest- ments, their networks and their knowledge to commu- nities outside a fatigued city that simply was not pre- pared for this Big One to hit. Katherine Boyle is a venture capitalist at General Catalyst in San Francisco. © 2019, The Washington Post Writers Group. No one’s weeping for big tech, but the war on Silicon Valley will not solve the region’s housing crisis, either.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2019 Government earmarks $2M for BT church Total taxpayer cost to build Church of God hall is $4.5 million KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com It will take another $2.04 million on top of the $2.5 mil- lion already spent for govern- ment to complete the Church of God Bodden Town, the large concrete structure on Sham- rock Road that is intended to serve as a multipurpose hall and hurricane shelter. Legislators approved the funds to complete the project during Finance Committee proceedings on Monday. Before the vote, Opposi- tion Leader Ezzard Miller asked why another $2 mil- lion is needed when work on the building structure is largely finished. “This seems like a lot of money, so can we get a break- down of what we’re doing?” Miller asked. “Because that building already has a roof on it, windows and doors on it.” Public Works Department acting director Niasha Brady said the money is to complete the existing building and as- sociated works, including a parking lot and civil works. Brady said $215,000 will also be spent on consultants to conduct structural engi- neering work on the site. Miller asked why struc- tural engineering needs to be done when such work was pre- sumably conducted when the structure was first built. He also asked why consultants are being hired instead of having Public Works staff do the work. Brady responded that the work is being done again be- cause “this is just part of the due diligence to make sure what we have there at the current structure is meeting [Planning Authority] require- ments”. The Public Works De- partment does not have in- house structural engineers, and so government has hired the same consultants that originally worked on the Church of God project. Miller asked for a com- plete quantity-survey break- down of the church’s costs. Infrastructure Minister Joey Hew agreed to provide the breakdown, but asked legis- lators to keep the information secret because the project has not been tendered yet. Bodden Town representa- tive Chris Saunders thanked Hew for pushing on with the project, saying it is some- thing that will be useful to his constituents. He asked for a timeline for the develop- ment, and Hew said it should start in August and take six to eight months to finish. The Church of God pro- ject is a part of the now-de- funct Nation Building Fund, a community infrastructure programme under the gov- ernment of then-Premier Mc- Keeva Bush that distributed some $13.2 million to various causes, including more than $5.2 million to 26 churches. Of the churches that re- ceived funds for construction, some returned all or some of the money, and most – such as the Church of God Bodden Town – have been unable to finish the projects they started with government’s as- sistance and assurances. In July 2015, then-Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick issued a scathing report on multiple aspects of the pro- gramme, including poor ac- counting practices and a lack of record-keeping for 15 of the church projects reviewed. “Without any accounta- bility back to Government, the risk that funds provided to churches were used for purposes other than the in- tended purpose was high,” according to the report. After government an- nounced last year that the pro- ject will resume, a joint state- ment issued by the Premier’s Office, Hazard Management and the Planning Department por- trayed the church hall project as a hurricane shelter project. “In an ongoing effort to in- crease the total capacity of emergency shelters across the Cayman Islands, work con- tinues to be done to the Church of God in Bodden Town. Up- dates such as a new roof and windows are currently being installed at the church in order for the building to function safely as an approved Govern- ment hurricane shelter,” ac- cording to the statement. The proposed assembly hall at Bodden Town Primary School is also being developed and is expected to provide shelter space for 322 people. “Together, both locations would create space for an additional 872, which would bring the total capacity of emergency shelters in the district to approximately 1,127 persons,” according to the government statement. Cost estimates were also not provided for the primary school assembly hall project, and government has not is- sued any tender documents for that development. The Church of God project is a part of the now-defunct Nation Building Fund, a community infrastructure programme under the government of then- Premier McKeeva Bush that distributed some $13.2 million to various causes, including more than $5.2 million to 26 churches. The Church of God building on Shamrock Road, Bodden Town, pictured here in November 2018, is still under construction. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 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. THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, APRIL 11 DEPT. OF VEHICLE & DRIVERS LICENSING: The Department will be closed 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. 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, Strand Shopping Centre, West Bay Road. 6-7 p.m. $10 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. FRIDAY FISH FRY: Final fry for 2019 Lent. 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. 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 colour; there is no charge. APRIL 20-22 CARIFTA GAMES: The 48th CARIFTA Games will be held in Cayman over the Easter weekend and will involve 28 countries and 66 events at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. The Games are contested in two age categories: under-17 and under-20 girls and boys. Each country enters two athletes per event; up to six athletes for relays (including two substitutes) and three athletes in the combined events. For more information and to purchase tickets, priced at between $10 and $55, visit www. caymancarifta2019.ky. GENERAL INTEREST COMMENTS DEADLINE FOR MORTGAGE REFORM: The Law Reform Commission advises that the deadline for public comments is Sunday, April 30 on the discussion paper, The Enforcement of Mortgage-type Security Over Real Estate: Is Reform of The Law Necessary? The paper was prepared to consider whether it is necessary to reform the law relating to the enforcement of mortgage-type securities over land and, in particular, over residential properties. This request follows concern about the recent number of such procedures, known as foreclosures. View the paper at www.lrc.gov.ky or www.gov.ky or collect a copy from the Offices of the Commission. Submissions should be forwarded to the Director of the Law Reform Commission either electronically to jose. griffith@gov.ky or in writing, by post or hand delivered to the LRC office at 4th Floor Government Administration Building, Portfolio of Legal Affairs, 133 Elgin Avenue, George Town, Grand Cayman, P.O. Box 136, Grand Cayman KY1-9000. 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. 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www. caymancompass.com/events. The Cayman Islands Cadet Corps carry the Cayman flag at the opening ceremony of the CARIFTA Games in 2010, the last time Cayman hosted the games. The 2019 CARIFTA Games will be held at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex on April 20-22.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2019 ASTASTASTEREREREASTER EASTER EASTER RUNRUNRUNCCCBRUNCHBRUNCHBRUNCH all youall youall youll ll ll an eatan eatan eatcan eat can eat can eat at at at GUY GUY GUY UYUYUY ARARARVEVEVEY’Y’Y’HARVEY’SHARVEY’SHARVEY’S $45$45$45$$$444 www.guyharveys.ky for reservations either email: info@guyharveys.ky or phone: 946 9000 Sol donates to diabetes group Throughout the past month, and up until Friday, April 12, fuel company Sol has been donating 5 cents from every gallon of Esso fuel purchased to the Cayman Islands Diabetes Association. To further boost dona- tions, the company held the 345 Diabetes 5K Walk/ Run last month as part of its Esso Help Cayman campaign to raise aware- ness of the disease that af- fects more than 400 million people worldwide. Runners and walkers clad in blue T-shirts set out from Barcam Service Sta- tion on March 16, where Diabetes Association repre- sentatives offered compli- mentary diabetes screen- ings during and after the event, using the HbA1c test. Sales and Marketing Manager Rosalind Rob- inson said in a press re- lease, “We are very pleased with the turnout this year. It proves that Cayman is more than willing to ‘Step Up’ when it comes to raising awareness for diabetes.” MLA: ‘Cheque fees are against the law’ MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com East End MLA Arden McLean used the debate of amendments to the Bills of Exchange Law on Tuesday to criticise the fees commonly charged by banks for han- dling cheques. McLean said there “ap- pears to be collusion” of Cay- man’s retail banks when it comes to the fees involving the presentation of cheques. He argued that banks have “no authority to do that” and were in violation of the law. He claimed that the law was very specific, in that banks would have to pay the face value of the cheque to the payee and were not al- lowed to deduct a fee. Especially, if the cheque were presented to the cheque- issuing bank, there was no reason for a fee, McLean said. “It is their client and they have all the informa- tion,” he said. If banks charge a fee, it should be based on an agreement with their cus- tomer, who is writing the cheque, and not the recip- ient, he added. McLean cited two re- cent incidents when he was charged $5 and $10 for cashing a cheque. The fee may be nom- inal for one cheque, but for workers on a minimum wage who get paid by cheque every other week, the amount would add up and have a sig- nificant impact, he said. The East End MLA asked government to warn the banks that they are in con- travention of the law and that there should be the pos- sibility of prosecution unless they resolve the issue. The Cayman Islands Bankers Association did not comment on the alle- gations, stating that it was a commercial decision by member banks whether and how much to charge for pro- cessing cheques. The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority does not appear to see an issue with banking fees for cheque handling. The banking regulator publishes a schedule of the fees charged by local re- tail banks on its website to help the public compare the costs involved in banking transactions. According to the latest fee schedule released in February 2019, retail banks charge up to $3 for cheque cashing and up to $5 for local cheque de- posits depending on the bank and the type of account. However, several banks do not charge a fee at all. Local bank drafts cost be- tween $5 and $10, depending on the bank. Drafts are dif- ferent from cheques, because they are prepaid and guar- anteed by the bank. Unlike cheques, they cannot bounce. Cheques are created by an account holder and drawn against a bank account and, therefore, take longer to process. Government is proposing to amend the Bills of Ex- change Law to allow banks to accept the digital image of a cheque to facilitate elec- tronic clearing. Currently, cheques must be physically delivered to a bank. This process signifi- cantly delays the transfer of funds if two banks are involved. Brac seaman gets help with wheelchair ramp JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com A former seaman on Cayman Brac is having a much easier time getting out of his house after a ramp was installed at his home with the help of an assis- tance programme for seniors. Davelee Tibbetts, 87, who lives with his wife Ruby in Creek, suffers from some health issues and has lost his mobility. His home was not wheel- chair friendly, so the Brac Public Works Department, under the direction of the Dis- trict Administration’s housing assistance programme for seniors, set about making his home more accessible. “Without the help of these wonderful guys, I would never have had the joy of get- ting the Tibbettses out in the yard,” said their caregiver Lisa Davis-Harris. According to a PWD spokesperson on the Brac, the department sent the work out to tender and successful bid- ders Safe Heaven Construction company carried out the work. To express her gratitude to PWD for their assistance, Harris personally hand deliv- ered a thank you note to Brac District Commissioner Ernie Scott in his office on Monday. Harris said the new wheelchair ramp will give Ruby and Davelee Tibbetts the opportunity to get out of the house more often. “I find it very rewarding for the couple because when the ambulance comes, there is a less chance of them getting hurt dragging the wheelchair over the steps,” Harris said. Scott said the staff from Public Works deserved all the praise for their involvement. “I am happy to receive this appreciation note for what we have done for the Tibbetts family …. The thanks and appreciation re- ally goes to the team from Public Works and I will make sure it’s passed on in due course,” he said. Davelee Tibbetts, who is also a retired pastor, spent more than 30 years working at sea on bulk car- riers as a chief engineer, be- fore returning to Cayman Brac where he worked as a plumber. He was an assistant pastor at Red Bay, and then a pastor in Cayman Brac. Retail banks typically charge up to $3 for cheque cashing and up to $5 for local cheque deposits. Caregiver Lisa Davis-Harris hand delivers a thank you note from the Tibbetts family to Brac District Commissioner Ernie Scott in his office. - PHOTO: SISTER ISLANDS NEWS AGENCY Founder and president of Movers for Life, and local ambassador for the Help Cayman Initiative, Winston Sobers, left, kept the crowd moving during the walk.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 parcels of land as potential purchases. Not all of the properties nominated qualified as environmentally sensitive, she said. Two market evaluations were conducted on each parcel and, where landowners were inter- ested in possibly selling, the ministry engaged in negotiations to find an agreeable price be- tween the two evaluations. Some of those ne- gotiations are ongoing. “Some of the evaluations by some of the property owners were deemed, in their opinion, not to be a reasonable price,” she said. “But we want the property and we’re trying to do it within the legal parameters that we have.” O’Connor-Connolly was requesting authori- sation to continue purchasing additional par- cels with the $3.9 million remaining from the original allocation. She received that approval. THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Government spends $6 million on sensitive lands Appeals court puts same-sex marriage rights on hold Healthcare costs a ‘massive social issue’ warns premier arguable. President of the Court of Appeal Sir John Goldring said the court accepted the point raised by attorney Reshma Sharma on behalf of the attorney general that it risked creating a legal anomaly if same-sex couples were allowed to marry and the chief justice’s decision was later overturned on appeal. A mixed crowd of friends and family of the two women and opponents of same- sex marriage packed the public gallery as the decision was announced. “Praise the lord, thank you, Jesus,” one woman shouted at the conclusion of the case. “Bigots,” another member of the gallery shouted in response. A small group sang reli- gious songs outside the court in apparent celebration of the decision. The Court of Appeal deci- sion was exclusively focussed on government’s application for a stay. The panel will hear the substantive appeal at its next sitting in August. Announcing the decision, Justice Goldring said the judges had read and consid- ered the “moving and detailed” affidavit of Day and was in “no doubt” of the prejudices she and her partner faced. But, he said, there were cogent grounds for a stay to be put in place. “The chief justice’s judg- ment concerns the institution of marriage in the Cayman Islands and, as Sharma says, it can’t be right that there is legal uncertainty pending the final decision of this court,” Justice Goldring said. He said the court was also conscious of the administra- tive changes that may be re- quired to give effect to the judgment legalising same- sex marriage. “It is not without hesita- tion”, he said, “that we have concluded that the interests of justice do require a stay in this case, pending the deci- sion of this court.” In an initial hearing be- fore the Court of Appeal on Tuesday afternoon, govern- ment argued that Chief Jus- tice Smellie’s decision should not be given effect until the appeals process had been exhausted and there was “no legal question over the status of marriage in the Cayman Islands”. Sharma said the Cayman Islands government main- tained that the country’s Constitution defined mar- riage as between a man and a woman and would argue on appeal that the chief justice had overstepped his powers by revising the Marriage Law directly, to create what she described as “a new species of marriage”. She said the question of marriage was a serious social issue and requested a stay until the appeal was decided. David McGrath, repre- senting the couple, said gov- ernment’s grounds for appeal were simply a rehash of argu- ments that had been unsuc- cessful at trial. He said they were “totally without merit” and had “no chance of suc- cess”, and it would be unfair to his clients to deny them the “fruits of their judgment”. He said government had not contested the substan- tive finding of the chief jus- tice that, by refusing access to marriage for same-sex cou- ples, it was in breach of mul- tiple rights guaranteed under the Constitution. These in- clude the right to a private and family life and the right to freedom from discrimination. He said, “Bearing in mind the applicants seek to perpet- uate an exclusion to marriage that the chief justice has de- scribed as an indefensible anomaly, the stay should not be granted.” Justice Goldring said the government did not have to prove that it had a realistic chance of success on appeal to be granted a stay. He said it simply had to prove that it had an arguable case. He said the Court of Ap- peal would hear that case at its next session in Au- gust and make a decision on whether the chief justice’s ruling should stand. Government has raised seven grounds of appeal to the ruling, including its as- sertion that Section 14(1) of the Constitution operates as a de facto ban on same- sex marriage. That section reads: “Government shall re- spect the right of every un- married man and woman of marriageable age (as deter- mined by law) freely to marry a person of the opposite sex and found a family.” They will also seek to argue that the chief justice gave insufficient weight to the negotiations that resulted in the wording used in the Con- stitution and that he erred in believing that the clause of the Marriage Law, which de- fined marriage as between a man and a woman, was passed on religious grounds. A further ground of ap- peal involves government’s claim that the chief justice exceeded the scope of his powers of modification under Section 5(1) of the order which brought the Constitu- tion into effect. pension. He said the amount government was spending on medical care for the uninsured was simply unsustainable. McLaughlin acknowl- edged it was a significant and growing problem. He said the number of people that had to be declared “medi- cally indigent” – because they did not have sufficient insurance and were unable to afford the “huge costs of significant medical care overseas” – was growing. He added that the islands’ pensions scheme was “wholly inadequate” making it difficult for people to live in Cayman after they retire. “These two things have cre- ated and continue to create a massive social issue,” the pre- mier said, “and, as you would ex- pect, everybody turns to govern- ment to fix it”. He said pension contribu- tions from workers and their employers would likely need to increase significantly for people to be able to sustain themselves in retirement. McLaughlin also acknowl- edged that government needed to find some way to ensure eve- ryone in the islands, whether employed or retired, was en- rolled in some kind of insurance programme to avoid government being hit with the huge annual cost of funding care. “All we need is one signifi- cant economic downturn, gov- ernment’s revenues fall off, and we are in huge problems; loads of people are going to go without medical attention at all because government is not going to be able to fund it,” he said. Health Minister Seymour and chief officer Jennifer Ahearn said consultants had been as- sisting the ministry in coming up with a Standard Health In- surance Contract that could be made available for everyone over 65. Seymour said this would in- volve government subsidising premium costs for a specially targeted insurance programme for seniors. The negotiations have not yet led to a suitably priced pro- gramme, he acknowledged. Opposition legislators ques- tioned the wisdom of segre- gating the elderly – typically the least healthy portion of the population – into its own in- surance group. Saunders said the risk should be spread to avoid costs getting out of control and said oppo- sition legislators were willing to work with government to- wards finding solutions for what he described as a huge na- tional problem. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Bodden Town West MLA Chris Saunders, who has repeatedly called for healthcare reform to move to the top of government’s agenda, said the cost of private sector insurance premiums for the elderly was often more than their monthly pension. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A mixed crowd of friends and family of the two women and opponents of same-sex marriage packed the public gallery as the decision was announced. Chantelle Day, left, and Vickie Bodden Bush leave court with their lawyer Ben Tonner on Wednesday after hearing they must wait for the right to get married. Opponents of same-sex marriage gather in a prayer circle outside court following Wednesday’s ruling by the Court of Appeal to stay the implementation of an amendment to the Marriage Law. - PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Politicians Anthony Eden and Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, who have vocally opposed Chief Justice Anthony Smellie’s same-sex marriage ruling, leave the court building on Wednesday. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 11, 2019 Former Peruvian president faces detention A judge in Peru has ordered the 10-day detention of former President Pedro Pablo Kucyznksi as part of a money laundering probe into his consulting work for the company at the heart of Latin America’s biggest graft scandal involving Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. Churchill’s Funeral Home Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Andrew Jefferson, who passed away on Sunday, April 07, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at The Church of God at West Bay, 108 Captain Reginald Parsons Drive, on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Interment at: Boatswain Bay Cemetery May asks EU for Brexit delay, but Macron says no guarantee BRUSSELS (AP) – European Union leaders were deciding Wednesday whether to save Britain from a precipitous and potentially calamitous Brexit, or to give the foot- dragging departing nation a shove over the edge. Prime Minister Theresa May pleaded with the 27 other EU leaders at an emergency summit to delay Britain’s exit, due on Friday, until June 30 while the UK sorts out the mess that Brexit has become. Some were sympathetic, but French President Em- manuel Macron struck a warning note. “Nothing is decided,” Macron said, insisting on “clarity” from May about what Britain wants. “What’s indispensable is that nothing should compro- mise the European project in the months to come,” he said. At a pre-dinner meeting in Brussels, May made the case for the delay. She be- lieves that a June 30 deadline is enough time for Britain’s Parliament to ratify a Brexit deal and pass the legislation needed for a smooth Brexit. But British lawmakers have rejected her divorce deal three times, and attempts to forge a compromise with her political opponents have yet to bear fruit. May spoke to the 27 EU leaders for just over an hour, before they met for dinner without her to decide Brit- ain’s fate. In contrast to some testy recent summits, there were signs of warmth and even humour. May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel were filmed laughing over a tablet bearing an image showing the two of them speaking to their re- spective Parliaments on Wednesday wearing similar blue jackets. Many leaders said they were inclined to grant a Brexit delay, though they suggested a longer delay would likely be needed, given the depth of Britain’s political disarray. Luxembourg Prime Min- ister Xavier Bettel said he hoped for “an intelligent extension”. “If it’s a longer extension there is no lunch for free, so we need to know why,” he said. May signalled she would accept a longer extension, as long as it contained a get-out- early cause should Britain end its Brexit impasse. “What is important is that any extension enables us to leave at the point at which we ratify the withdrawal agreement,” May said as she arrived in Brussels. She added that she was hopeful it could be as soon as May 22 – a key date since that would avoid the need for Britain to participate in elections for the European Parliament. Several months have passed since May and the EU struck a deal laying out the terms of Britain’s departure and the outline of future re- lations. All that was needed was ratification by the British and European Parliaments. But UK lawmakers re- jected it – three times. As Britain’s departure date of March 29 approached with no resolution in sight, the EU gave Britain until Friday to approve a withdrawal plan, change course and seek a fur- ther delay to Brexit, or crash out of the EU with no deal to cushion the shock. If no extension material- ises Wednesday, Britain will leave the bloc Friday with no deal, unless it cancels Brexit independently. Economists and business leaders warn that a no-deal Brexit would lead to huge disruptions in trade and travel, with tariffs and cus- toms checks causing gridlock at British ports and possible shortages of goods. A disorderly Brexit would hurt EU nations, as well as Britain, and all want to avoid it. “I don’t anticipate that the UK will leave this Friday,” Irish Prime Minister Leo Var- adkar said. “I’m very confi- dent that there will be an ex- tension agreed today. What’s still open is how long that ex- tension will be and what the conditions will be.” But the bloc’s patience is wearing thin. Macron, in particular, has become increasingly exasper- ated with the political division and uncertainty in Britain, and has laid out conditions for agreeing to a new delay. They include a “credible prospect” of some kind of solution to the British political deadlock, a promise that Britain won’t keep asking for more delays, and guarantees that Britain would not be involved in fu- ture EU decisions while its Brexit drama is playing out. Several leaders also said they would require assur- ances of good behaviour in return for another delay. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said the EU leaders’ decision would hinge on “what her plan is now to get that withdrawal agree- ment through Parliament, and how we can get guaran- tees that in the meantime the United Kingdom will stay as a loyal partner”. The British government insists it will not be obstruc- tive, since it wants to keep close ties to the bloc. But pro-Brexit British politicians have said Britain should be disruptive. Conservative law- maker Mark Francois said that if the UK remained in the bloc, “then in return we will become a Trojan Horse within the EU”. British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves after a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Tuesday. - PHOTO: AP Red Cross regains entry to Venezuela jails, military prisons CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – The International Committee of the Red Cross has re- gained access to prisons in Venezuela, including highly guarded military facilities where dozens of inmates con- sidered political prisoners are being held, as President Nicolas Maduro seeks to counter mounting criticism of his government’s human rights record. The fact that the visits in- clude military prisons, which had not been previously re- ported, was confirmed to The Associated Press by a human rights lawyer and family members of those detained. International Red Cross President Peter Maurer on Wednesday wraps up a five- day visit to Venezuela, where the Geneva-based group is among international or- ganisations trying to carve out a space to deliver badly needed humanitarian aid and technical assistance free of the winner-take-all poli- tics contributing to the coun- try’s turmoil. Red Cross representa- tives visit prisons every year in more than 100 coun- tries, following an estab- lished protocol allowing it to verify conditions of confine- ment and hold private con- versations with inmates in which they can voice com- plaints and send messages to loved ones. But the group had been denied access in Venezuela at least since 2012. The renewed visits in Venezuela began March 11 when a Red Cross delega- tion visited a model prison in Caracas, the Simon Bolivar Center for the Formation of New Men. Eighty-seven for- eigners are being held. But more significant was the visit two weeks later to the military-run Ramo Verde prison outside Caracas, which holds 69 people the opposition considers polit- ical prisoners. Sandra Hernandez, whose husband, Sgt. Luis Figueroa, has been jailed at Ramo Verde since January for leading a military uprising against Ma- duro, was present last week when a white-coloured vehicle emblazoned with the interna- tional Red Cross logo pulled up to the prison entrance. She was there for her once-a-week visit, delivering basic staples – pasta, rice and cheese – that have become harder to afford since she was fired from her $7-a-month job as a teacher in what she said was retaliation for her husband’s opposition to the government. She said that if not for remittances sent by a rela- tive in Spain, her husband could starve on the scant ra- tions provided by prison authorities. While her husband told her he was not among the small group of prisoners al- lowed to speak with the Red Cross representatives, she was hopeful the visit would help improve dire conditions for all inmates, many of whom she said are suffering from lack of medical attention and claim to have been tortured. The AP was unable to independently verify those claims. “It’s very important they talk to prisoners and see first- hand what’s happening in- side,” she said. Red Cross officials de- clined to comment and the group has made little mention of the prison visits, saying only in a Tweet that it had begun visiting jails under the auspices of civilian peniten- tiary authorities. It made no mention of the visits to the military-run facilities. The or- ganisation commonly avoids describing such visits, except in a “confidential dialogue” with officials Prisons Minister Iris Varela has said the visit to the civilian facility, and others to come, were part of an effort to share with the world Venezue- la’s positive experience reha- bilitating inmates. Left unsaid by both sides was that the Red Cross had also secured access to mili- tary detention facilities. The majority of people held at the Ramo Verde are military personnel accused of plotting to overthrow Maduro. Many more, including five oil executives with US passports, are being held in the base- ment jail of the military coun- terintelligence headquarters in the capital. “This is an important first step, but make no mistake, it’s also an attempt by Ma- duro to gain legitimacy with the international community,” said Alfredo Romero, a human rights lawyer who was told of the Red Cross visit by prison workers when trying to visit clients at Ramo Verde. “It’s not in itself going to change the government’s willingness to improve conditions.” A senior government offi- cial played down the signifi- cance of the Red Cross visits, describing them as part of a broader push to work more closely with several interna- tional agencies, including the World Food Programme and the Pan American Health Or- ganization. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorisation to discuss those talks publicly.Next >