ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY APRIL 25, 2019 High of 85 Low of 73 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 A SAFE, DECENT AFFORDABLE PLACE TO CALL HOME WORLD | PAGE 12 BOEING PULLS 2019 FORECAST OVER 737 WOES 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. Call us to learn how we can support you today at 747-2000. Health Insurance cover up to $2,400,000.00 www.generali-healthcare.com OfReg’s budget continues to grow KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com After running a nearly $1.5 million def- icit in 2017, the Utility Regulation and Com- petition Office, known as OfReg, increased its expenses in 2018 and will continue to do so this year. According to the utilities regulator’s 2019 annual plan, OfReg had $4,752,007 of oper- ating expenses in 2018 – up from $4,604,326 the year before – and will incur $5,064,583 in operating expenses this year, as well as $425,830 in capital expenses. OfReg attributed this year’s spending in- creases to additional payroll costs, directors’ fees, training costs, health insurance pre- miums, pension contributions, and IT costs. These increases are being partially offset by reductions in travel expenses, consultancy fees, and legal expenses. OfReg spent nearly $400,000 on travel from when the office was created in January 2017 to May 2018, but has only spent a fraction of that since then, and only has about $80,000 budgeted for travel this year. Despite the steady increase in expenses since 2017, OfReg expects to record a nearly $200,000 operating surplus for 2018 and a nearly $1.5 million operating surplus this year. The surpluses are largely due to more than $2 million in funding from central govern- ment, as well as a number of planned fee in- creases for this year. For the telecommunications sector, OfReg wants to remove the $600,000 cap in regula- tory fees – a move that would require the ap- proval of Cabinet. OfReg does not currently receive fees from WOMAN ON TRIAL FOR FIREARMS VIOLATION DIES MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Madison, Wisconsin woman, who was tried in absentia last week for bringing a firearm and ammunition to Cayman, has died. Carol Ann McNeill-Skorupan, 68, died “un- expectedly” on April 18, according to an obit- uary published by a Wisconsin funeral home. No details about her death have yet been re- leased. Her husband did not respond to a message requesting comment. Her death came a day after a jury in her case was dismissed after it was un- able to reach a verdict. On April 18, the day of her death, a new trial was scheduled for September. McNeill-Skorupan had been arrested in Cayman on Feb. 3, when a .25 calibre handgun and six rounds of ammunition were found in her suitcase at the Owen Roberts Interna- tional Airport. She had arrived as a cruise ship passenger, after boarding the ship in Florida. But on the flight from Wisconsin to Florida, one of her bags had been misplaced. She told authorities, after her arrest, that she had asked Delta Air Lines to send the bag, where the firearm was Discarded fishing line a threat to rare seabirds JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Researchers studying seabird populations in the Sister Islands have discovered evi- dence of the devastating impact of discarded plastic in the ocean. Scientists working on two separate studies have taken gruesome pictures of rare seabirds tangled in fishing line and snagged in the branches of trees around Little Cayman. The research team, which is currently tagging and tracking frigate birds to find out more about their behaviour and range in the Caribbean, hope their work will help in- form international conservation management plans to protect the species. Abandoned plastics, particularly monofil- ament fishing line, have long posed a threat to sea creatures. Just last week, a juvenile green sea turtle was found dead, entangled in fishing line off Duck Pond Cay in North Sound. But the findings of the seabird study team show the extent to which the issue is also impacting life in the skies. Jane Haakonsson, a research officer with the Cayman Islands Department of Envi- ronment, said, “We have seen an alarming number of birds hanging in the trees in the Booby Pond area of Little Cayman.” She said the birds ingested fishing hooks and lines while foraging at sea. When they get back to the roost, they become tangled in the branches and cannot escape. Haakonsson said the problem illustrated the importance of international cooperation to protect seabirds. Frigates may roost in the Cayman Islands, but the satellite tags from a previous Depart- ment of Environment study show that they roam far and wide, foraging in international waters. One bird tracked by the study team was recorded as far away as New Orleans before returning to Little Cayman. Haakonsson said discarded fishing line was a major problem in the waters around Cayman and within the bird’s for- aging radius. “We don’t have commercial fisheries in the Cayman Islands,” she said, “but the wa- ters they are fishing in do. “With species that travel further and PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » Federico De Pascalis, project Ph.D. student, releases a newly tagged juvenile frigate bird. - PHOTO: JANE HAAKONSSON, DOE PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » SPOTTS PIER PLAN FLOATED The Port Authority is investigating options for a second pier that would enable more cruise ships to dock at Spotts when the wa- ters in George Town Harbour are too rough for ships to moor there. For more on this story, see page 7. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL®IONAL THURSDAY APRIL 25, 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) BREAKTHROUGH (PG) 1:25 I 4:10 I 7:15 I 10:00 KALANK (PG) 3:10 I 9:30 CAPTAIN MARVEL (PG13) 1:40 I 10:00 DUMBO (PG) 4:35 I 7:15 THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (R) 4:35 I 10:15 HELLBOY (R) 1:00 I 6:45 SHAZAM! (PG13) 1:30 I 7:15 LITTLE (PG13) 12:30 I 3:50 I 6:50 I 9:45 SCHOOL INSPECTIONS: George Town Primary goes from weak to satisfactory MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com School inspectors say George Town Primary is making progress in ad- dressing shortcomings and has moved from being a weak school to one that is judged as satisfactory. That determination was made in the latest inspec- tion report released last week by the Office of Educa- tion Standards. The report detailed a follow-up visit after George Town Primary was given a ‘weak’ rating six months ago. Inspectors use a four-tiered grading system: weak, satisfac- tory, good and excellent. No Cayman government school has received better than a good rating. In their report, inspec- tors said teacher training and new strategies had led to im- provements at George Town. “There had been a pro- gramme of professional de- velopment for staff and, where necessary, support plans for staff requiring ad- ditional guidance and direc- tion in aspects of their work,” the report said. But more needs to be done. “Although the incidents of weak teaching had reduced since the time of the first follow-through inspection in January 2018, the prin- cipal, Department of Educa- tion Services and Ministry of Education had not yet en- sured consistently effective teaching, particularly in Key Stage 2 (years 4-6),” the re- port stated. Government schools are not in session this week, and Principal Sharon Campbell- Danvers did not respond to a message left on her of- fice voicemail. In a press re- lease, the school stated the improvement has been a team effort involving every staff member. “With a little guidance and many hours of profes- sional development, plan- ning, student conferences, parent conferences and sup- port, we successfully made the necessary improvements,” Campbell-Danvers said. The report said George Town had been given a par- ticular challenge when under- performing teachers were sent there. “The decision to place teachers from other schools who had been identified as requiring support into this school adversely affected the capacity of George Town Primary School to improve at the required pace,” the report said. Part of the school’s success involved close mentoring. “The senior leaders had set aside time for staff to work alongside coaches and advisers from the Ministry of Education and Depart- ment of Education Services and this had helped refine instructional strategies,” in- spectors said. More improvement is nec- essary, the report noted, par- ticularly in regards to Eng- lish instruction in Years 4 and 5, and in student conduct. “Behaviour challenges were still evident in a few classes and this adversely af- fected the pace of students’ learning, particularly in cer- tain Key Stage 2 classes,” in- spectors said. In a survey of 46 parents, 38% disagreed that student behaviour was good at the school. Just 47% said it was good, while 15% were un- sure. One-third of the 18 staff members surveyed said be- haviour was not good among students, but a survey of 93 students found 70% thought behaviour was good. Nearly one-third of par- ents said the school was not handling bullying effectively. On the other hand, 93% of parents said they thought their child was progressing well and 74% thought the school was providing a quality education. A complete copy of the report is available at www.oes.gov.ky. NEW OB/GYN JOINS DOCTORS HOSPITAL Dr. Zbigniew Zwier- zchowski has joined the obstetrics and gynae- cology staff at CTMH Doc- tors Hospital. Dr. Zwierzchowski, known as Dr. Ziggy, has been on island for four years and previously was based at the Health Ser- vices Authority’s Cayman Islands Hospital. He has also worked in Poland, the Nether- lands, Ireland and the United Kingdom. In the field of obstetrics and gynaecology, “Dr. Ziggy combines clinical prac- tice with surgical medi- cine, allowing for new ad- vancements in neonatology to prevent diseases and impact prophylactic di- agnosis,” according to a press release from Doc- tors Hospital. “Bringing new life into this world is the real blessing that comes with this practice,” Dr. Zwierzchowski said in the release. Governor signs up as Red Cross patron Governor Martyn Roper has agreed to become pa- tron of the Cayman Is- lands Red Cross. Earlier this month, the staff and board of the organ- isation hosted the governor and his wife Elisabeth at an informal information session at which the Red Cross intro- duced the Ropers to its pro- grammes and services. According to a Red Cross press release, Governor Roper “formally accepted the invitation to become the Patron of the Cayman Is- lands Red Cross for the du- ration of his term in the Cayman Islands”. During the governor’s visit to the Red Cross prem- ises, Disaster Manager Ed- ward Tinling-Miller provided information about disaster preparedness in the Cayman Islands and the Red Cross’s efforts to raise awareness of and enhance preparedness for all forms of disasters. According to the release, these efforts include: nine 40-foot containers with disaster relief supplies spread across the island districts; training and on- going communication and engagement of the Commu- nity Emergency Response Teams in partnership with Hazard Management Cayman Islands; shelter management training; large-scale disaster sim - ulation exercises; public awareness campaigns; and managing the Red Cross hurricane shelter. First Aid Programme Manager Peter Hughes in- troduced the Red Cross’s First Aid work to Governor Roper. In 2018, the First Aid Programme trained close to a 1,000 individuals in First Aid and CPR. Its volunteers provided first aid support in 58 events, including at the KAABOO festival, the year’s biggest event, in which 82 of 94 instances requiring medical assistance were provided by the Red Cross’s First Aid volunteers. Elisabeth and Martyn Roper, front row, centre, with staff and board members of the Cayman Islands Red Cross. Office of Education Standards Inspectors said teacher training and new strategies had led to improvements at George Town Primary School. TRUMP’S CUBA POLICY WORRIES EU COMPANIES HAVANA (AP) – The Trump administration’s crackdown on business with Cuba’s communist government is causing unprecedented concern among European companies on the island, according to the European Union’s ambassador. “There’s enormous worry,” Ambassador Al- berto Navarro told The As- sociated Press. “There are business- people who’ve been here 20, 30 years, who’ve made bets on investing their fi- nancial resources in Cuba to stimulate commerce, tourism, international ex- change, and many of them tell me that they haven’t lived through a similar situ- ation,” Navarro said in an in- terview at the EU embassy Tuesday afternoon. The Trump administra- tion announced last week that it would allow Amer- icans to sue foreign com- panies whose partnerships with the Cuban government make use of commercial and industrial properties con- fiscated from Americans in Cuba’s 1959 revolution. The measure also allows suits by the large number of Cubans who fled the island and later became Americans. Dr. Zbigniew ZwierzchowskiThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY APRIL 25, 2019 Join the Excitement! The only all-dolphin fishing tournament in the Cayman Islands returns with fun for the whole family. Excitement!Excitem REGISTRATION: April 25th George Town Yacht Club 5pm - 7pm TOURNAMENT: April 27th & 28th 7am - 4pm WEIGH STATION: Barcadere Marina 4pm - 6pm PRIZE GIVING: April 28th George Town Yacht Club 6pm - 8pm 1ST PRIZE: $5000 CASH PLUS A TUDOR WATCH 2nd $2000 CASH 3rd $1000 CASH Learn more or download a registration form at kirkslam.ky KIRK SLAM TOURNAMENT DATES REGISTRATION TONIGHT George Town Yatch Club 5pm - 7pmThe 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” Safe, decent, affordable housing is a critical compo- nent of our development mix. If workers and residents of all income levels cannot afford a place to live, it is not only they who suffer, but our economy as a whole. So it is good to see some developers tapping into the mid-level market, sometimes known as ‘workforce housing’, such as the 75-unit 19 North condo develop- ment between Willie Farrington Drive and the Esterley Tibbetts Highway in West Bay. As the Cayman Compass reported on Wednesday, company leaders say that all but five of the 45 initial units in the project have been sold a full year before they are expected to be habitable. According to its social media postings, Downtown Reach, just off Linford Pierson Highway near George Town, another development targeting a similar demo- graphic, has sold nearly all the units in its first phase of construction, expected to break ground next month. Clearly, as 19 North Development Company director Jonathan Murphy told the Compass, there is signifi- cant demand in this market. “We understand from talking to a number of local businesses that there is a lack of quality, affordable housing solutions that are conveniently located for their employees,” he said, adding that is only expected to continue as the island’s tourist and service indus- tries continue to grow. Too often, discussions of affordable housing focus solely on people living in poverty – an important demo- graphic, to be sure. But when housing costs soar, even full-time workers earning mid-level wages can be priced out of decent places to live. A good rule of thumb, used in many countries around the world, is that housing and related expenses should not exceed 30% of a household’s take-home income. In 2015, the Economics and Statistics Office Household Budget Survey tallied the actual cost for rental housing and imputed costs for owner-occupied housing (in other words, the cost of using the home rather than renting it out or selling it – sometimes referred to as opportunity cost). It found that housing- related costs accounted for 32.9% of the annual con- sumption expenditure on our islands. That was an improvement from the 2007 survey, which recorded housing-related expenses accounting for 39% of expenditures, although not yet what could be consid- ered ‘affordable.’ It is also worth noting that few experi- ences are actually average – for every household that spends far less than one third of its income on housing, there is another which spends significantly more. Government statisticians at the time credited the improvement in housing-related expenditures to an increase in the supply of housing. From what we are seeing and hearing in the community, there still is plenty of room for improvement. Cayman’s draft long-range comprehensive plan includes several provisions that would identify the current balance between supply and demand for affordable housing and help developers fill the gap. They include: encouraging affordable development by modifying planning regulations to allow for smaller lot sizes and higher densities; creating an island- wide affordable housing policy and implementation strategies; creating a forecast for long-term residen- tial demand and associated impacts; and reviewing existing zoning categories, requirements and design standards to help ensure the supply and distribution of residential units are meeting demand. A safe, decent affordable place to call home THURSDAY APRIL 25, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS LETTER TO THE EDITOR Permanent residents and work permit fees Charging work permit fees for permanent resi- dents violates European human rights standards. This is likely to be the de- cision of the Privy Council and the European Court of Human Rights should there be a challenge. Such a holding could raise is- sues of restoration of PR and refund. Moreover, re- voking PR for non-payment of work permit fees also negatively impacts Cayma- nians connected to those who depart. You can apply for PR upon residing in Cayman for eight years. This ensures that, by the time you com- plete the ninth year, the re- sult of your application is known. If the application is unsuccessful, you would have enough time to find your tracks long before the 10th year. The 10th year is crucial because, as per the advice reputedly given by the Attorney General, Eu- ropean principles require that at the end of the 10th year you be given perma- nence, which, at a min- imum, means PR. Incidentally, artificially abridging one’s period of residency for the sole pur- pose of ensuring that they do not reach the 10th year can be legally questionable in relation to some coun- tries. This is because even if you continue to be law abiding and still have a job, you have to leave, just so that you do not achieve permanence. It undermines the principle. That said, I think that artificially ending a per- son’s stay can withstand legal scrutiny in the special circumstances of Cayman. Brexit came about be- cause the majority of UK voters were afraid of being swamped by what they saw as excessive immigration, especially from the ‘wrong’ countries. And yet the pro- portion of foreigners in the UK is nowhere near the pro- portion in Cayman. A pro- gressive court is likely to accept the argument that, since generational Cayma- nians have become a mi- nority in their own country and continue to be pushed to the periphery of the so- ciety, government must be allowed to take extraordi- nary measures. I doubt though that this concession can extend to work permit fees. As an applicant for PR, you first have to obtain the requi- site number of points and pay steep application fees. In addition to the applica- tion fees, you have to pay the work permit fee for the first year of your prospec- tive residency status, even before you know the re- sult. This has given rise to a perception that it is just another way of com- plicating your life. Some people have been unable to raise all the money be- fore expiry of the window during which an applica- tion must be made. Courts have always said that, in exercising power, a public authority must not impose unduly onerous conditions. For example, the courts themselves are not allowed to demand un- reasonable bail conditions. Doing so is tantamount to denial of the right to bail. By the same token, to ask someone to pay work permit fees even when they have no job, which can become even harder to find once they have PR, and tying this to the con- tinued right to keep that status, is wrong in prin- ciple. It raises the issue as to the extent to which their position is permanent at all as compared to work permit holders, quite apart from being an abuse of lan- guage. In effect, government is saying: “We will reluc- tantly let you in through the front door while Uncle Eu- rope is looking from across the pond. But once you are inside, we will find an ex- cuse to unceremoniously ease you out through the back door.” Underlying all these tough conditions are the is- sues of Caymanians feeling marginalised, the mass grants of some years ago and a work permit system that keeps bringing in for- eigners for jobs Cayma- nians can do. To be fair, some Caymanians in gov- ernment and on the relevant boards are complicit in this. But these problems are not solved by revoking PR for persons who have no job but have been here for a long time. There are more effec- tive and just ways of safe- guarding the interests of Caymanians. Legislation requiring that certain jobs be only for Caymanians and PR holders, in that order, is one step. Suitably amending the Public Service Management Law in a number of areas is another. For example, sec- tion 26(1)(f) of the PSM Law provides that where, after applying the criteria for appointment, two or more persons rank broadly at the same level, the Caymanian must be given preference. But this is not enough. Rather it must say that if there is a Caymanian (or, alternatively, a PR holder) who meets the criteria, they must be appointed un- less there is good reason to the contrary other than the superior qualifications of the foreigner. All this would be legal since sec- tion 16(4)(b) of the Constitu- tion allows discrimination in favour of Caymanians in employment matters. There are also non-legis- lative problems such as the psyche of some Caymanian decision-makers. But for that there is no easy cure. It should suffice to say that listening to a famous line from the Bob Marley classic ‘Redemption Song’ may be a good start. Bilika Simamba In effect, government is saying: “We will reluctantly let you in through the front door while Uncle Europe is looking from across the pond. But once you are inside, we will find an excuse to unceremoniously ease you out through the back door.”The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 25, 2019 MINISTRY OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION TOURISM & TRANSPORT C A Y M A N I S L A N D S G O V E R N M E N T MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS YOUTH & SPORTS C A Y M A N I S L A N D S G O V E R N M E N T Web Design and Marketing GRAND CAYMAN ISLANDSThe 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 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 25, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, APRIL 25 BRAC COURT: Today and tomorrow from 10 a.m., Aston Rutty Centre. STREET MEETING: All Nations United Pentecostal Church presents Street Meeting in the Park, Windsor Park, 7-9:30 p.m. All are invited. Contact Robert Johnson at 924-1429 or Allison McDonald at 322-5499 CLASSICAL MUSIC: George Town Public Library. 6-7 p.m. Cayman Arts Festival and the Cayman Islands Public Library Service present monthly one-hour concerts at the historical library building, which include classical music, as well as poetry and readings from local poets and writers. Tickets available at the door. $20 for adults, $5 for children. Only 75 tickets per event. FRIDAY, APRIL 26 WOMEN’S ANNUAL RETREAT: The Women’s Ministry of Church of God Chapel in George Town invites all women to the annual retreat today at 7-9 p.m., and tomorrow, 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, cogcgt@candw.ky or flcoff@candw.ky. SATURDAY, APRIL 27 SPECIAL IMMUNISATION CLINIC: To mark Vaccination Week in the Americas, a special immunisation clinic will take place at the Public Health Department at the Cayman Islands Hospital, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The organisers invite parents to bring any child in need of vaccinations, including those with missed or outstanding doses. For more information, call 244-2648. FULL GOSPEL BUSINESS MEN: The Grand Cayman chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International has its monthly breakfast at 7:30 a.m., at Aroma (formerly Lola’s) restaurant in Camana Bay. There will be open sharing. All are invited. FISH FRY: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Church of God Chapel, West Bay. 388 Town Hall Road. Fundraiser organised by Christian Women Connection. Fish, fritters, fried plantain or breadfruit, $10. Cakes, sodas, water sold separately. For tickets call 328-4117 or 926-2135. PORT PETITION: The petition for a people- initiated referendum on the cruise port will be available for signing at Hurley’s Marketplace from 10 a.m. to noon. To have the petition brought to you at home or at work, call 327-5411. Registered voters are encouraged to sign the petition. Email CPRCayman@gmail.com for more details or visit the Facebook page @CPRCayman. BARGAIN STORE: St. George’s Anglican Church will hold its monthly Bargain Store Sale 7-11 a.m. Located at 64 Courts Road (off Eastern Avenue, opposite Kirk Market), George Town. All are welcome. GARAGE SALE AND CAR BOOT SALE: St. Ignatius Loyola Hall and School Car Park, Walkers Road, 6-11 a.m. No ‘early birds’ please. Clothes, toys, books, household items, art and much more. SUNDAY, APRIL 28 ICCI 5K WALK/RUN: The 19th annual Dr. J. Hugh Cummings Memorial 5K Run/Walk takes place today, with on-the-day registration beginning at 6 a.m. and the walk/run, from the International College of the Cayman Islands campus on Hirst Road to Pedro St. James, starting at 6:30 a.m. Proceeds will support the Dr. J. Hugh Cummings Memorial Scholarship Fund. Registration is $25 for adults, $15 for students and children under 12. First 50 to show up on the day will receive a T-shirt. Refreshments provided. Participants can also register at www.caymanactive.com. LAB WEEK 5K WALK/RUN: 6 a.m. Start Smith Cove. Caribbean Association of Medical Technologists’ (CASMET) Cayman Islands branch, laboratory professionals from HSA and other laboratories across the Cayman Islands have combined efforts to host the Lab Week 5K Fun Walk/ Run. Register online at www.caymanactive.com/ labrun. Registration fee is $20, payable on-site at the event. TUESDAY, APRIL 30 SENIOR ACTIVITIES: The Benefit of Natural Remedies. Webster United Church Hall, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact Flavia Gardner at 926-0490. SENIOR ACTIVITIES: Craft session at East End Civic Centre, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Contact Delmira Bodden at 925-5543. BULLYING: Presentation by the Alex Panton Foundation. 6:30-8 p.m., East End Civic Centre. WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 BULLYING: Presentation by the Alex Panton Foundation. 6:30-8 p.m., North Side Civic Centre. GENERAL INTEREST COMMENTS DEADLINE FOR MORTGAGE REFORM: The Law Reform Commission advises that the deadline for public comments on the discussion paper, ‘The Enforcement of Mortgage- type Security Over Real Estate: Is Reform of The Law Necessary?’ is Sunday, April 30. 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. 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). 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 and a 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Two 5K run/walks will take place early on Sunday morning: The Dr. J. Hugh Cummings Memorial Run/Walk from ICCI; and the Lab Week Run/Walk from Smith Cove.7 LOCAL®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY APRIL 25, 2019 The Management and Staff of Cayman Coating Industries Ltd. would like to inform our valuable customers that due to the passing of Mrs. Selma Eden, Cayman Coating Industries Ltd. will be closed for business on Saturday, April 27, 2019, in order to allow our staff to attend the funeral service. We will be open regular hours on Friday, April 26, 2019 and reopen on Monday April 29, 2019 at 8:00 am. Plan for second pier at Spotts floated JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Port Authority is in- vestigating options for a second pier to allow more cruise ships to use Grand Cayman’s back-up, bad- weather anchorage at Spotts. The plan would be for a small pier, similar to the one that already exists at Spotts, to enable more ships to tender at that location. Citing overcrowding and safety concerns, the Port Au- thority reduced the number of ships simultaneously al- lowed to tender at the Spotts terminal from three to two at the end of last year. That decision meant more ships had to be turned away on days when bad weather made it unsafe to anchor in George Town. Now the Ministry of Tourism has asked port bosses to look at building a second pier in Spotts, ena- bling four ships to tender. Minutes from the port’s board meeting in January indicate, “With the intro- duction of the new policy of only allowing two, in- stead of three cruise ships at Spotts, for safety and other reasons, the Deputy Premier requested that the Port Authority look into the feasibility of adding a second pier to the Spotts facility, which would allow for four ships to call in- stead of two.” Joey Woods, port director, told the Compass, the idea was being evaluated and his staff was in the preliminary stages of information gath- ering and obtaining cost esti- mates for the project. He said it was uncon- nected to wider plans for a new berthing facility in George Town. He said Spotts could not be used most of the year because of prevailing weather conditions, and was only ever intended as a back-up anchorage. He said any redevelopment at the site would likely take years to complete. The Ministry of Tourism has asked port bosses to look at building a second pier in Spotts, enabling four ships to tender. Cruise ship tourists leave Spotts Dock on a day when rough weather in George Town prevented their ships from mooring there. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Indigenous Brazilians gather to protest outside Congress BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) – More than 1,000 indigenous Bra- zilians gathered outside Con- gress Wednesday for an an- nual three-day campout to protest what they see as rollbacks of indige- nous rights under President Jair Bolsonaro. Tents dotted the lawn in front of the National Con- gress, where indigenous leaders sang, danced and sold crafts while wearing traditional feathered head- dresses with their faces painted red and black. The event, known as the Free Land Encampment, began its 15th edition with a sense of animosity towards Bolsonaro, whose policies indigenous leaders are calling the big- gest setbacks to their peoples’ rights in recent history. “This government came in immediately attacking us and our rights in a way we haven’t seen before,” said Paulo Tupiniquim, executive coordinator of the Articula- tion of Indigenous People of Brazil, which organised the event. “We are here to show that we will resist and will not accept our rights being taken away.” The government has called in National Guard forces for security at the en- campment as a “preventa- tive measure”. At the same event in 2017, police shot tear gas at the in- digenous protesters who re- taliated by shooting at them with bows and arrows. “We are not violent. Vio- lent are those who attack the sacred right to free demon- stration with armed troops,” the organisers wrote in a statement protesting the National Guard presence. “They’re trying to take the right to come and go from Brazilians who have walked these lands since long before 1500” the statement read, ref- erencing when European col- onisers first came to Brazil. Before becoming presi- dent, Bolsonaro promised that if he were elected, “not one more centimetre” of land would be given to indigenous groups and likened indige- nous people living in reserves to caged animals in zoos. On his first day as presi- dent, Bolsonaro transferred the authority to designate in- digenous land and to grant environmental licenses for businesses on indigenous re- serves from the government’s indigenous affairs agency to the agriculture ministry. Activists say the move will practically paralyse land al- locations and facilitate op- erations for agribusiness and mining. Bolsonaro’s health min- ister sparked protests across the country last month when he proposed eliminating the federal indigenous health- care programme and putting indigenous healthcare needs in the hands of municipali- ties. Indigenous groups say that the current programme is designed to attend to their specific needs in indige- nous languages. “The government is com- pletely anti-indigenous,” Joenia Wapichana, an indig- enous congresswoman, told The Associated Press at the protest. “The government is not open to us. He is open to those who defend mining and land grabbing, which is his intention.” Before becoming president, Bolsonaro promised that if he were elected, “not one more centimetre” of land would be given to indigenous groups and likened indigenous people living in reserves to caged animals in zoos. Xucuru indigenous people perform a traditional dance on Wednesday during the annual, three-day campout protest known as The Free Land Encampment, to protest what they see as rollbacks of indigenous rights under President Jair Bolsonaro, in Brasilia, Brazil. - PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY APRIL 25, 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS wider, we are looking at in- ternational collaboration on protection.” The latest study, led by University of Liver- pool researcher Rhiannon Austin, looks specifically at frigate birds. The Department of En- vironment is supporting the UK Darwin Initiative- funded project, which will also study frigate colonies in Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands. Researchers have tagged 26 frigate birds in Little Cayman so far. They aim to examine the behaviour of the species in the three main life cycles – fledglings, juve- niles and nesting adults. While nesting pairs are known to roost permanently in Little Cayman, the study team wants to find out if juveniles move between colonies as they search for a mate. “We don’t know much about the life stage prior to becoming nesting pairs,” Haakonsson said. “It would make perfect sense if there was move- ment between the colonies from a genetics perspective, but it would have implica- tions for management. “While we have Booby Pond protected, that only goes so far. If the genetic material is coming from an- other colony, we have to get that protected too.” An earlier study, also a collaboration with the Uni- versity of Liverpool, yielded interesting results about all three types of seabirds on the Sister Islands. The researchers even managed to attach a camera to a frigate bird to get a literal ‘bird’s-eye view’ of its foraging behaviour. Shaky footage shows a bird soaring over Little Cayman and fighting off rivals for its catch. Haakonsson says this footage is one example of why the birds are known as the “pirates of the sky”. She said they had frequently been observed stealing fish from each other or from the boobies, which run a nightly gauntlet as they return to the roost with their fish. The earlier study also provided useful informa- tion about the population sizes and ranges of brown boobies, red-footed boobies and frigates. Haakonsson said frigates were sometimes gone from the nest for weeks at a time, flying hundreds of miles. “None of this was known until we started tagging them,” she added. It is hoped that the pro- jects’ findings will help in- form international coopera- tion over species protection. Haakonsson said the new study would also en- able scientists to pinpoint key fishing grounds for the frigate birds and work with regional partners to protect them. One homegrown problem impacting Cayman’s sea- birds is not going away. She said the birds continue to be preyed on by feral cats. The department had hoped to cull the cats, but that process was paused amid a legal challenge and is still delayed pending the appointment of an Animal Welfare Committee. stored, to a friend’s house in Florida. Instead, it was sent to Grand Cayman, the first stop on an 11-day cruise she was on. McNeill-Skorupan had a concealed weapon permit, but that did not allow her to bring it to the Cayman Is- lands. She had no licence for the weapon here. Cayman’s gun laws carry a mandatory minimum 10-year prison sentence for firearm violations, unless there are extenuating circumstances. McNeill-Skorupan spent three days in jail when she was first arrested, before being released on bail. A judge later gave her permis- sion to travel and she re- turned home. Crown counsel Greg Wal- colm said he expected the case to be listed for hearing in court Thursday. “It is the usual course that, upon confirmation of the death of a defendant, a nolle prosequi is entered to discontinue the matter,” Wal- colm said in an email. the fuels or water sectors, so central government has had to fund those operations. However, OfReg has pro- posed introducing fees to be levied on Consolidated Water and the Water Authority of $570,000 and $689,000, respectively. Central government will continue to fund OfReg’s fuels regulation branch for the foreseeable future. Legisla- tors voted earlier this month to allocate an additional $1.3 million to fund OfReg’s fuels- regulation operations, which include safety inspections and market analysis. Before the vote, Premier Alden McLauglin explained the fuel-regulation opera- tions 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. Legislators nearly voted down the OfReg spending. The vote was split – with seven in favour and seven against the funding – until Finance Committee chair Roy McTaggart voted in favour of the spending to break the tie. Multiple legislators voiced their displeasure that OfReg has cost millions of dollars while failing to control the price of fuel. McLaughlin admitted at the Finance Committee hearing that OfReg has ex- perienced “teething issues” since being consolidated from the territory’s legacy regulators in January 2017. 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 opera- tions him- or herself before the regulator completely changes its strategy to- wards the fuels sector, he said at the time. Discarded fishing line a threat to rare seabirds This image taken by the research team shows a dead booby tangled in fishing line. Frigate birds roost in Little Cayman but roam far and wide, and have been tracked as far away as New Orleans. - PHOTOS: DOE “ We have seen an alarming number of birds hanging in the trees in the Booby Pond area of Little Cayman.” JANE HAAKONSSON, research officer, Department of Environment OfReg’s budget continues to grow CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Woman on trial for firearms violation dies Carol Ann McNeill-Skorupan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Jane Haakonsson, a research officer with the DoE, warns that discarded fishing line is a serious threat to seabirds. US measles cases hit highest mark in 25 years NEW YORK (AP) – Mea- sles cases in the US this year have climbed past 680 to their highest level in 25 years, a resurgence largely attributed to misinforma- tion that is turning parents against vaccines. Health officials in hard-hit New York City on Wednesday reported 61 new cases since late last week, in what would make this the nation’s worst year for measles since 1994, with eight months still to go. Other states are reporting more cases, too. The official nationwide count will not be released by the Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention until Monday. CDC officials said they are reviewing the latest reports. Roughly three-quarters of this year’s illnesses in the US have been in New York state, mainly in two ultra-Or- thodox Jewish communities in Brooklyn and suburban Rockland County. Most of those cases have been in un- vaccinated people. The number of cases is likely to go even higher. Mea- sles is highly contagious and can spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. And in recent days, Jewish families have been gathering for Passover meals. It can take 10 to 12 days for symptoms to develop. The CDC recommends the vaccine for everyone over a year old. The vaccine, which became available in the 1960s, is considered safe and highly effective, and be- cause of it, measles was de- clared all but eliminated in the US in 2000. But it has made comebacks since then, including 667 cases in 2014. Public health experts say some US communities have low vaccination rates because of the spread of bad informa- tion – especially the now-de- bunked notion that the mea- sles-mumps-rubella vaccine is linked to autism – through social media, pamphlets, hot- lines and other means. “Many parents are afraid. And if you want to believe your kid doesn’t need that many shots, there’s plenty of places to find people who agree with you,” said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, former head of the Los An- geles County Department of Public Health. “It’s not so easy to discern what is real and what is not.” For most people, mea- sles is not life-threatening. The most common symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body. However, a very small fraction of people can suffer complications such as pneumonia and a dangerous swelling of the brain. According to the CDC, for every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die from it. No deaths have been recorded this year. On Monday, the CDC put the nationwide count of measles cases at 626. The latest New York City ill- nesses would push the na- tional tally past 680 and closing in on 700, according to an Associated Press re- view of state and na- tional figures. In 1994 there were 963 cases. Up to now, the big- gest single US measles out- break in recent years was in 2014, when 383 cases were reported in the Amish com- munity in nine Ohio coun- ties. But on Wednesday, New York City officials said the outbreak centred in some of Brooklyn’s Jewish neigh- bourhoods has accounted for 390 cases since October.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY APRIL 25, 2019 US WWII bomb causes damage in Germany The controlled detonation of an American World War II bomb in the southern German city of Regensburg has damaged windows and roofs of nearby houses. Some 4,500 residents had to be evacuated from the area before experts performed the detonation. Sri Lanka asks for resignations of top security officials New Zealand and France to call for an end to online terror WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand Prime Min- ister Jacinda Ardern said Wednesday that she and French President Emmanuel Macron will host a meeting in Paris next month seeking to eliminate acts of violent extremism and terrorism from being shown online. Ardern said she and Ma- cron will ask world leaders and chief executives of technology companies to agree to a pledge called the “Christchurch Call,” named after the New Zealand city where dozens of people were killed in attacks on mosques last month. Ardern did not release any details of the pledge, saying they were still being developed. She said she’d been talking with representatives from companies including Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and Google along with world leaders and felt they could reach consensus by keeping the pledge tightly focused. “This isn’t about freedom of speech,” Ardern said. “It’s specifically focussed on erad- icating those extreme acts of terrorism online.” The man accused of fa- tally shooting 50 people in two Christchurch mosques on March 15 livestreamed the attack on Facebook after mounting a camera on his helmet. The chilling 17-minute video was copied and viewed widely on the in- ternet even as tech compa- nies scrambled to remove it. Ardern said the shooter had used social media in an unprecedented way to pro- mote an act of terrorism and hate. She said nobody would argue that a terrorist had the right to livestream the murder of 50 people. “No tech company, just like no government, wishes to see violent extremism and ter- rorism online,” Ardern said. “And so we have a starting point that is one of unity.” In an opinion piece in the Washington Post last month, Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg called for governments and regulators to play a more active role from in policing the internet. “As part of this, we have a responsibility to keep people safe on our services,” Zucker- berg wrote. “That means de- ciding what counts as ter- rorist propaganda, hate speech and more. We con- tinually review our policies with experts, but at our scale we’ll always make mistakes and decisions that people disagree with.” In his op-ed, Zuckerberg did not directly address problems with lives- treaming, although he did say it was impossible to remove all harmful content from the internet. Ardern said Macron had played a leadership role among the Group of Seven major economies in trying to eliminate online terrorism, and his role would comple- ment her experience from the recent Christchurch at- tacks when they co-chair the May 15 meeting. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) – Sri Lanka’s president has asked for the resignations of the de- fence secretary and national police chief, a dramatic in- ternal shake-up after secu- rity forces shrugged off in- telligence reports warning of possible attacks before Easter bombings that killed over 350 people, the presi- dent’s office said Wednesday. It was not immediately clear who would be replacing them, but President Maithri- pala Sirisena said during a televised speech Tuesday that he planned to change the head of the defence forces within 24 hours. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, which struck Christians worshipping in three churches and people at three luxury hotels. Au- thorities remain unsure of its involvement, though many suspect experienced foreign militants were ad- vising, funding or guiding the attackers. Sri Lanka’s junior defence minister has blamed break- away members of two ob- scure local extremist Muslim groups, and said many of the suicide bombers were highly educated and came from well-off families. “Their thinking is that Islam can be the only reli- gion in this country,” Ruwan Wijewardene told reporters. “They are quite well-educated people,” he said, adding that at least one had a law degree and some may have studied in the UK and Australia. Leaders have vowed to overhaul the country’s se- curity apparatus after ac- knowledging that some in- telligence units were aware of possible attacks before the Easter bombings. U.S. Ambassador Alaina Teplitz told reporters that “clearly there was some failure in the system”, but said the U.S. had no prior knowledge of a threat before the attacks, the worst violence in the South Asian island nation since its civil war ended a decade ago. Teplitz called that break- down in communication “in- credibly tragic”. Government statements about the attacks have been confused and some- times contradictory, with po- lice spokesman Ruwan Gu- nasekara telling reporters Wednesday that there were nine suicide bombers – two more than officials said one day earlier. One of the additional sui- cide bombers was the wife of another bomber, Gunasekara said. The woman, two chil- dren and three policemen died in an explosion as au- thorities closed in on her late Sunday, hours after attacks were launched against three churches and three hotels. The ninth suicide bomber has not been identified, though two more suspects were killed in a later explosion on the outskirts of Colombo. Gunasekara said 60 people have been arrested so far. A team of FBI agents and U.S. military officials were helping in the investigation, Teplitz said. Officials say all of the main suicide bombers were Sri Lankan. “We are conducting inves- tigations at the moment to see if there is any direct link to any international organi- sations,” Wijewardene said. The Islamic State group’s Aamaq news agency released an image it said showed the attackers’ leader standing amid seven others with cov- ered faces. It provided no other evidence for its claim. The group, which has lost all the territory it once held in Iraq and Syria, has made a series of unsupported claims of responsibility for various attacks around the world. Sri Lankan authori- ties had earlier blamed a local extremist group, Na- tional Towheed Jamaar, whose leader, alternately named Mohammed Zahran or Zahran Hashmi, became known to Muslim leaders three years ago for his in- cendiary online speeches. On Wednesday, Wijewardene said the attackers had broken away from National Tow- heed Jamaar and another group, which he identified only as “JMI.” Teplitz declined to discuss whether U.S. officials knew about National Towheed Jamaar or its leader before the attack. “If we had heard something, we would have tried to do something about this,” Teplitz said. The country has been on heightened alert since the attacks, with police setting off a series of controlled ex- plosions of suspicious ob- jects. No more bombs were found Wednesday. On Tuesday, in an address to Parliament, Wijewardene said “weakness” within Sri Lanka’s security system had led to the failure to prevent the bombings. “By now it has been estab- lished that the intelligence units were aware of this at- tack and a group of respon- sible people were informed about the impending attack,” Wijewardene said. “However, this information has been circulated among only a few officials.” In a live address to the nation late Tuesday, President Maithripala Sirisena said he also was kept in the dark on the intelligence about the planned attacks and vowed to “take stern action” against officials who failed to share the information. He also pledged “a complete restruc- turing” of the security forces. “ This isn’t about freedom of speech. It’s specifically focussed on eradicating those extreme acts of terrorism online.” JACINDA ARDERN, New Zealand Prime Minister A priest conducts rituals during a mass burial for Easter Sunday bomb blast victims Wednesday in Negombo, Sri Lanka. – PHOTO: AP New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media at her electorate office In Auckland, Wednesday. - PHOTO: APNext >