ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2019 High of 89 Low of 77 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 GIVING SCHOOL COMMUNITIES THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED LOCAL | PAGE 6 AN EXHIBIT ‘STEEPED’ IN CAYMAN TRADITION Caribbean police chiefs seek to establish closer ties MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Caribbean police commissioners are meeting in Cayman this week to improve the effectiveness of regional policing in re- sponse to the changing threats from transna- tional crime. In opening the 34th meeting of the Associ- ation of Caribbean Commissioners of Police, RCIPS Commissioner Derek Byrne called the theme of the event “a formidable task” in itself. “It is precisely why we as a collective body of regional police and law enforcement leaders and industry partners come together as key influencers to review current threats, risks and challenges and to assess the impact on regional safety and security,” he said. As new technologies allow criminal enter- prises to become increasingly sprawling net- works, traditional crimes have given way to more sophisticated, technical and multifac- eted crimes that cross borders and require law enforcement agencies in the Caribbean to collaborate. “Law enforcement regionally must adopt a more networked structure to disrupt and dismantle these criminal enterprises,” Byrne noted. Knowing the adversaries and under- standing how they are organised was key to developing a sound response to safety and se- curity challenges. But following the money, confiscating criminal assets and dismantling criminal enterprises also required a new type of highly trained and educated police officer with a completely new set of skills, the com- missioner added. The annual conference brings together senior law enforcement policymakers, secu- rity professionals, government officials and industry partners to discuss crime and secu- rity challenges across the region. PROMINENT CAYMANIAN BUSINESSMAN PASSES KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Prominent Caymanian businessman Jim Wood passed away on Sunday at 3:45am, at the age of 89. Wood was born in Bodden Town on 13 April 1930. From 1951 to 1961, he worked as a mer- chant seaman. Shortly after his return, he started Wood’s Furniture. His son Robert said Wood did not initially plan on getting into the furniture business, but on one trip home, he brought living room furniture with him and sold it to a shipmate. That is how the furniture business was born, said Robert, who now runs the operation. Wood also helped his family run the ter- ritory’s first skating rink, as well as a bar in Bodden Town called The Club. Another Wood bar that was known as Ace Club would later have its name changed to the Zodiac Club, and now the establishment is called The Globe. Additionally, Wood was an active member of the Cayman Islands Seafarers Association. The businessman was a part of a large family – he had 11 siblings – and went on to marry three times and have 10 children, 22 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. His children shared glowing memories of their father, recounting the frequent trips to pick mangoes, go crabbing, visit Miami, and do other fun activities in Cayman. “He’d always take us to old drive-in the- atre, put us in back of station wagon with our blankets and pillows and stuff,” said one of this daughters, Catherine. And when Wood took his children on drives through the hillier parts of North Side, he’d zoom over the hills to make it seem like a rollercoaster ride, said his daughter, Jane. All of the children were allowed to have their own animals – except a cat. Only Wood was allowed to have a cat. ‘It is true exploration’ Divers reached depths of up to 330 feet Monday, making them some of the first, if not the first, humans at these depths in Little Cayman, according to Menno Verschuur of Divetech. The dives took place as part of Innerspace 2019, taking place on the island 18-25 May. See Page 5 for the full story . - PHOTO: MARISSA ECKERT PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL®IONAL WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS BREAKTHROUGH (PG) 1:25 I 4:10 I 7:15 I 10:00 SUN: 4:10 I 7:15 I 10:00 KALANK (PG) 3:10 I 9:00 (SAT ONLY) I 9:30 (NO SAT) SUN: 3:10 I 9:20 LITTLE (PG13) 12:30 I 3:25 (SAT ONLY) I 3:50 (NO SAT) 6:50 I 9:45 SUN: 3:50 I 6:50 I 9:35 DUMBO(PG) 10:30 (SAT ONLY) I 4:35 I 7:15 (NO SAT) SUN: 4:35 I 7:15 CAPTAIN MARVEL(PG13) 1:40 I 10:00 (NO SAT) SUN: 6:30 I 10:00 THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (R) 1:10 VIP I 4:35 I 7:00 VIP I 10:15 HELLBOY (R) 12:35 (SAT ONLY) I 1:00 I 6:10 (SAT ONLY) I 6:45 SHAZAM! (PG13) 1:30 I 3:40 VIP I 7:15 I 9:30 VIP SUN: 3:40 VIP I 4:40 I 6:40 VIP 8:00 I 9:40 VIP (PG) (R18) Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - WEDNESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR (PG13) 1:25 I 4:30 I 9:50 A DOG’S JOURNEY (PG) 12:30 I 3:10 I 6:50 I 9:30 POKEMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU (PG) 1:30 I 4:05 3D I 7:15 THE HUSTLE (PG13) 1:00 I 7:30 I 10:00 JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM (R) 1:00 I 4:00 I 6:45 I 9:00 VIP I 9:45 AVENGERS: END GAME (PG13) 1:10 VIP I 3:35 I 5:00 VIP I 8:00 Foreign Exchange Revenue from Services in 2017, CI$Million ‘Preparedness Day’ marked ahead of hurricane season The Cayman Islands marked the National Day of Preparedness on Monday to highlight the importance of being ready for the up- coming hurricane season and other natural disasters. The day is observed on a public holiday, Discovery Day, so all residents can have the opportunity to re- view their family plans and identify areas that re- quire attention. Cayman is vulnerable to a number of natural haz- ards including hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and floods. With the beginning of hurricane season ap- proaching, it is especially important that residents are prepared, because planning ahead can save lives, the government reminded resi- dents in a press release. Hurricane season starts 1 June. The first named storm of the year – Andrea – is already spinning in the western Atlantic, but poses no immediate threat to land. Cayman plans to test its National Hurricane Plan this week with an exercise dubbed ‘Hurricane Kali’. The annual hurricane ex- ercise is scheduled to take place Thursday and Friday, when all agencies involved in responding to hurricanes will test their response and recovery processes. A press release from Hazard Management Cayman Islands said the ex- ercise will begin at 3pm on Thursday with a meeting of the National Hazard Man- agement Council at the Government Administra- tion Building. As part of the simula- tion, Cayman will be placed under a hurricane ‘Alert’ at 10am on Wednesday in anticipation of a pos- sible impact. ‘Hurricane Kali’ is a tab- letop exercise focussing on the response and recovery activities following an ‘All Clear’. “As the Minister respon- sible for Home Affairs, I therefore urge all residents to not only evaluate your family and business plans, but also identify how you can help to prepare your community and assist in the event that a hazard strikes,” Tara Rivers said in a press release. In addition, the ministry said families can enhance their level of preparedness by taking small steps, such as discussing personal plans with all family members so everyone knows what to do and what to expect; in- stalling carbon monoxide detectors; reviewing home and business insurance to ensure that premiums are up-to-date, and starting an emergency savings fund. Another important step is ensuring hurricane sup- plies are well stocked. Community Emergency Response Teams are re- cruiting volunteers, and res- idents can also become a trained shelter volunteer or shelter manager. “These critical elements of our national disaster preparedness and recovery mechanism are dependent on the support and partic- ipation of the public, and every volunteer makes a dif- ference when a hazardous event occurs,” the press re- lease states. Up-to-date preparedness information will be avail- able in person at Kirk Home Centre and Uncle Bills on Saturday. Representatives of Hazard Management Cayman Islands will be on hand to meet with residents, provide disaster aware- ness information and an- swer questions. More information on improving preparedness and signing up with a CERT Team or as a shelter volunteer is available at visit www.caymanprepared.ky. Subtropical storm An- drea, the first named storm of the Atlantic season, is maintaining a northward heading over the western At- lantic, but meteorologists say it is expected to weaken late Tuesday and dissipate on Wednesday. It’s the fifth consecutive year in which at least one storm has formed before the nominal start of hurricane season on 1 June. The first named storm of the season also ap- peared near Discovery Day weekend in 2018, but a little closer to Cayman. Subtropical Storm Alberto formed near the Yucatan Pen- insula around 25 May. That storm caused cloudiness and showers over the north- west Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center on Tuesday said An- drea was about 295 miles west southwest of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of about 40 mph. The Center says the storm is moving northward at 6 mph. It is likely to turn north- eastward later Tuesday. The centre of Andrea is expected to remain southwest and south of Bermuda in the next day or two. Although there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, the Miami-based Hurricane Center says people in Bermuda should monitor the storm’s progress for the next few days. FIRST NAMED STORM OF HURRICANE SEASON FORMS Four people killed in Honduras plane crash TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) – Four Americans and a Cana- dian pilot were killed when a small plane went down off the coast of Roatan is- land in Honduras, officials said Sunday. Armed Forces spokesman Jose Domingo Meza con- firmed the nationalities of those who died in Satur- day’s crash. The Piper Cherokee Six plummeted into the Atlantic shortly after takeoff from the popular tourist destina- tion of Roatan en route to the port of Trujillo. The mili- tary said in a statement that rescue boats with police di- vers and firemen recovered four bodies within minutes of the crash, and transported another to a hospital, where he died shortly after of in- ternal injuries. The US State Department also confirmed the deaths of four US citizens and Global Affairs Canada con- firmed that a Canadian also had died. They did not re- lease names. Honduran authorities identified the pilot as Patrick Forseth, a Canadian national who developed tourism pro- jects in the Trujillo Bay area. Workers from the Department of Public Works place hurricane shutters on the windows of the Bodden Town Primary School in 2018 prior to the start of hurricane season. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2019 CAMANA BAY WELCOMES RED’S EMPORIUM Located on the Crescent Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. | Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. RedSailCayman.com | +1.345.640.9849 Red’s Emporium, the retail location of Red Sail Sports in Camana Bay, offers affordable fashion for work and play with unique gifts and accessories. Shoppers of all ages will find something for everyone at Red’s Emporium, including the ability to book Red Sail Sports excursions that leave straight from Camana Bay. Dive into Red’s Emporium today for your shopping fix! CAMANABAY.COMThe 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” WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS “When you think about where the rubber hits the road, it’s ultimately that experience between the teacher and the student in the classroom. If you take the decision-making too far away, what happens is it gets delayed.” – Education Council Chairman Dan Scott As we have written, thorough and rigorous school inspections are an important tool in our islands’ ongoing efforts to guarantee access to excellent edu- cation for all our youth. Giving school leaders the authority to make necessary changes and improve- ments will be just as monumental a change. As the Compass reported last week, education offi- cials intend to create school councils and bestow them with some of the decision-making powers that now rest with the Ministry of Education and Department of Education Services, including decisions on how best to address deficiencies identified by school inspectors. As Premier Alden McLaughlin said in his recent strategic policy statement to the Legislative Assembly “Maybe, just maybe, it is not the good people in the Department of Education, many of whom rarely set foot inside a classroom, who are best placed to make decisions about what happens in those classrooms.” Education Council Chairman Dan Scott told the Compass that many details are still being worked out, but that the goal of the councils will be to give stake- holders a direct say in many school decisions. Natu- rally, these councils will have to be carefully calibrated and composed. Still, in broad outlines, we feel it is an excellent idea. Rather than waiting for permission from the Depart- ment of Education, school communities will be empow- ered to make significant changes and improvements, speeding up the process. Establishing governing bodies for our public schools will help engage families, teachers and community members who are directly invested in our students’ success, giving them a stronger voice in decisions. On both symbolic and practical levels, it will empower the community to drive school success, recognising that teachers, parents and school administrators often know best what it will take for a school to thrive. Cayman’s future prosperity depends on highly effec- tive government schools that hold students to high standards of literacy, numeracy and critical thinking. These fundamental competencies are the lynchpin not only to an individual’s professional and personal success, but also the key to developing the skilled workforce upon which our islands’ economy relies. In a global economy, our young people must be competitive not only with their classmates, but with their peers around the world. An excellent education opens doors to opportunity that they would otherwise be denied. Indeed, it is perhaps our greatest duty as a society to make sure that all students have access to an excel- lent education. Giving school communities the tools to succeed Boris Johnson gets his chance to fail, too THERESE RAPHAEL This time it’s for real. Theresa May did not ex- actly say when she would leave 10 Downing Street, but on Thursday she prom- ised to name her exit date in early June. The question is what dif- ference changing leader will make for the Conserva- tive party. After a potentially messy leadership contest (one is already under way), the party will likely rally be- hind a new chief – only to find that the old problems are still with it. When you consider May’s ability to defy polit- ical gravity, it’s tempting to wonder if she means it. She has survived an election dis- aster, a no-confidence vote by her MPs, historic par- liamentary defeats, a long list of resignations, open re- volt from cabinet ministers, and an attempt to change the party rules just so she could be pushed out a few months early. She previously promised to leave before the next elec- tion and then after her Brexit deal won approval from par- liament; now she will step down regardless. It was always possible she would wriggle out of her earlier vaguely worded pledges. But the pressure to give a firm commitment was becoming irresistible. The 1922 Committee of Conserv- ative MPs that presides over leadership selection looked poised to change the rules this time to allow a second confidence vote within a year if May refused to go. Her closest government al- lies, and former advisers, were publicly pressing her to call it quits. An extraordinary meeting of senior Conserv- ative activists from around the country on 15 June is ex- pected to vote to remove her; though non-binding, it would be a humiliating gesture. Her actual departure date depends on how long it will take the Tories to settle on a new leader (a few weeks would seem the minimum given that the party mem- bership is likely to vote on two candidates selected by Tory MPs). Still, Britain will almost certainly have a new Conservative leader, and prime minister, this summer. The timing for the lead- ership battle could not be more awkward. Next week, the Conservatives must en- dure the torture of a Euro- pean Parliamentary election they never wanted, swore to avoid, and in which they will almost certainly be trounced by Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party. After that humiliation, an- other: May has promised to bring her Brexit plan back to parliament for a fourth vote. Her hope is that the Eu- ropean elections will focus minds on getting Brexit over the line. That looks un- likely. If, as Nigel Farage is fond of saying in his stump speeches, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over for the same result, what would four failed votes say? Then, Donald Trump is coming for a state visit in early June; a Brexit-sup- porting president who has reigned defiant will face a lame duck prime minister who failed to deliver it. She will probably have to en- dure his praise for Boris Johnson, a leadership con- tender whom Trump admires, criticism over Britain’s deci- sion to parlay with China’s Huawei, and no doubt other indignities. What will the Conserva- tive Party get in return for dumping yet another leader over Europe? Catharsis, per- haps. The only thing that members seem to agree on at this point is that May should go. There will be hope that her successor can forge a new Brexit policy, or at least unite disparate factions over some souped-up version of the one that has been rejected. That seems wishful thinking. Changing leader will not change the parlia- mentary arithmetic; Britain’s legislature has not been able to agree on any path forward. Neither has the Tory party itself. A large number of its supporters fiercely desire a no-deal Brexit, something parliament has legislated to avoid and another part of the party regards as lunacy. Even so, as I wrote earlier this week, that outcome looks in- creasingly possible. Replacing May does not change the fact that there will be no trade deal with Europe of any kind without an agreement that keeps the Irish border open. It will not suddenly make the European Union allow Britain to choose which of the four single- market freedoms it wishes to have and at what price. When Britain’s current ex- tension expires on 31 Oct., the choice will still be what it is today: pass a deal that looks a lot like the terms of divorce May negotiated, leave without a deal (most likely requiring a new vote) or decide not to quit at all. Of course, the EU could decide to keep extending, but how would that make a Brexit- supporting party leader look? One hears over and over from May’s detractors that she did not really believe in leaving the EU since she herself voted to remain. By choosing a true believer for a leader, the obstacles to Brexit will melt away. That will quickly prove unfounded. May’s departure may be for real. But reality can look a lot harsher closer up. Therese Raphael writes editorials on European politics and economics for Bloomberg Opinion. She was editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe. 2019, The Washington Post New Service. Next week, the Conservatives must endure the torture of a European Parliamentary election they never wanted, swore to avoid, and in which they will almost certainly be trounced by Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2019 The past is paper. The future is paperless. By using our online member portal, employers and members can manage account information anytime, anywhere. Visit www.silverthatch.org.ky for more information or email support@silverthatch.org.ky The future is secure with us. Change of address Reduce submission errors Salary change Automate processes Beneficiary change Increase efficiency Updating marital status Stay organized Divers go to unexplored depths at Little Cayman KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Divetech’s annual dive event ‘Innerspace’ is typi- cally held on Grand Cayman, but organisers wanted to go somewhere unique for the event’s 15th year. That unique spot hap- pened to be some 330 feet be- neath the sea off the shores of Little Cayman. According to Divetech owner Joanna Mikutowicz, the areas explored by In- nerspace attendees over the weekend have likely never been seen by hu- mans before. The environment in the Little Cayman waters is dif- ferent from that found off Grand Cayman, she said. “One of the things that stood out to me is the mas- sive sponges lining the walls,” she said. The grouper there are also more curious, swimming right up to the divers, said Mikutowicz. The coolest thing Miku- towicz said she saw was at about 170 feet deep along Bloody Bay Wall, where the wall is covered in sand that looks as if it’s cascading down like a waterfall. Divetech prepared for this event for more than a year, shipping special equip- ment needed for deep diving to Little Cayman. All that equipment has to come back to Grand Cayman for fu- ture events, but Mikutowicz said the effort was worth it to see the previously unex- plored territory. Innerspace 2019 is taking place 18-25 May. Defendant acquitted in Northward firearm case SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Grand Court jury found Matthew Anthony Whit- taker not guilty Tuesday of possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition out- side Northward Prison in May of 2017. Whittaker was visibly shaken after the verdict and needed a moment to com- pose himself. “Thank you,” he said to Justice Brooks before turning to the jury. “Thank you, and God bless you all.” It took the jury less than two hours to reach the verdict after Justice Patrick Brooks summed up the case. Justice Brooks reminded the jury of evidence they had heard over the course of the trial, recapping the testimony of several prison and police officers, as well as the testi- mony of the defendant and the expert analysis for both the crown and defence. One prison officer testi- fied that he had seen Whit- taker with a chrome firearm in his hands in the Northward parking lot. Whittaker later ran from his car when re- sponding officers arrived, and CCTV footage was shown to the jury in which he ran away from the officers in pursuit. No weapon was found on Whittaker’s person when he was apprehended. A prison of- ficer later found a .22 revolver concealed in a flower pot near prison offices. Justice Brooks told the jury that the crown believes it is a reasonable and inescapable inference that the defendant attempted to conceal the firearm, and he said that the defence believes there are too many gaps in that scenario. Justice Brooks also told the jury that the expert witnesses had come to separate conclu- sions. Both believed that ac- cording to Cayman law, the weapon constitutes a firearm. The defence expert said he was not able to fire the weapon, while the crown’s expert testified that he had gotten it to fire after repeated attempts. The defence ex- pert also said that the bul- lets found in the gun were old and defective, but the crown’s expert believes they were ca- pable of being fired. Justice Brooks told the jury that they had to de- cide whether the weapon is a firearm, whether Mr. Whittaker possessed it and whether he had an intent to possess it. They were charged with making the same judg- ment on whether Whittaker had meant to possess the am- munition inside the gun. Whittaker claimed during testimony that he had been set up and that he had previ- ously had problems with the prison officer who claimed that he had seen him with the gun. After being arrested, Whittaker told police that he had run because he was under the influence of alcohol and because he was behind the wheel of a car without having a proper license. Diving enthusiasts went more than 300 feet deep off the shores of Little Cayman over the weekend. - PHOTO: DIVETECH FACEBOOK6 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS Memories of old Cayman converged with the present on the George Town water- front Saturday. As carnival revellers prepared for a third week of street parades, a dif- ferent showing of Caymanian tradition went on display in the Cayman Islands Na- tional Museum. Mariner, welder and col- lector Alvin McLaughlin un- veiled the museum’s newest exhibit, ‘Steeped in Tradition’, a testament to his work to preserve island heritage. For 32 years, McLaughlin chaired the Pirates Week East End Heritage Committee and during that time, he sought to weave Caymanian tradi- tion and history into the cel- ebration. Part of his work included his antiquities col- lection, an assortment of items that provide a glimpse into the islands’ past. Those items – from Grandpa Obe- diah’s swanky jar and a gas-powered clothes iron to copper kettles and silver pitchers – now make up the Alvin McLaughlin Collection housed at the museum. An East End native, McLaughlin has been dubbed the ‘godfather of Caymanian heritage’ and he has spent a lifetime working to honour the islands’ seafaring history and cultural roots. On Sat- urday, he was joined by others dedicated to preserving island traditions. East End’s Jeralow Rankine displayed his talent in creating hand-woven fishing nets, while Carmen Conolly shared her his toric and colourful embroidery work. Others, such as Rose May Ebanks and Marcieann Hydes, created thatch work. Young is landers joined the fun as well, with children from Edna M. Moyle - - to copper kettles and silver ‘steeped’ in Cayman tradition per kettles and silver rs – now make up the McLaughlin Collection at the museum East End native, ghlin has been dubbed dfather of Caymanian ge’ and he has spent a e working to honour ands’ seafaring history ultural roots. On Sat he was joined by others ed to preserving island ons. East End’s Jeralow ne displayed his talent ating hand-woven g nets, while n Conolly d her hi and colourful idery work. , such as May Ebanks Marcieann , created work ng is s joined n as well, children from Edna M. Moyle Primary School per forming a qua drille dance in tradi tional dress. For more about the museum and the exhibit, visit www. museum.ky. from Edna M. Moyle man traditio Carmen Conolly and Alvin McLaughlin, both of East End, have been life- long friends. Marcieann Hydes of West Bay has been doing thatch work for 62 years. - PHOTOS: ALVARO SEREY Jeralow Rankine displays a hand-woven net. - PHOTO: KAYLA YOUNG The Alvin McLaughlin Collection is an assortment of objects that capture moments of Cayman history. Rose May Ebanks shares her thatch work. Traditional Caymanian thatch work is displayed at the Cayman Islands National Museum on Saturday. An exhibit The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2019 First day speakers from the Federal Bureau of Inves- tigations, the Drug Enforce- ment Administration and the investigations arm of the De- partment of Homeland Secu- rity underlined the critical nature of cross-border coop- eration in dealing with drug trafficking and cybercrime. FBI agent Scott Rottman said that as drug ship- ments originating from South America move North, they are broken down into smaller quantities which are more dif- ficult to track. Most drug deliv- eries are transported by boat across the Pacific to Mexico. Less than a quarter of the il- licit drug movements tracked by US law enforcement are going through the Caribbean. However, Caribbean partner nations in the mari- time interdiction effort had contributed about 39% of the approximately 33 metric tons of illicit drugs that were seized in 2018. In the Caribbean, major drug shipment routes are going through Jamaica, His- paniola and Puerto Rico before making their way in smaller quantities through the Ba- hamas to the US, Brian Boni- fante from the DEA said. After five clandestine lab- oratories were detected in the Dominican Republic, he warned of a growing threat in the Caribbean from illegal opi- oids, such as fentanyl, which has ravaged communities in the United States. As the US administra- tion is directing its focus more strongly on its border with Mexico, Bonifante and Rottman expect activities to shift back to the Carib- bean region. Brian Herbert from Home- land Securities Investigations, in turn, argued that cyber- crime, like the sale of illicit goods on the dark web, equally transcends borders. With the dark web, distrib- utors of illicit goods, like drugs and firearms, now have out- reach to the whole world, not just one street corner, he said. Cayman’s security situation improving Governor Martyn Roper, who together with Cabinet has shared responsibility for Cayman’s security, said the regional dimension of po- licing was central to the suc- cess of police services and law enforcement agencies. “We are proud of the pro- gress made in the security sit- uation in the islands in recent years. It is better today than it has been for many years,” he said, crediting the govern- ment for making the neces- sary resources available, the police services and partners across the region, particularly in Jamaica and the US. The governor highlighted that Cayman is developing an increased capability for foren- sics, ballistics, cyber-cooper- ation, tackling illicit finance and air operations, together with a greater focus on com- munity policing and more child safeguarding. Premier Alden McLaughlin agreed that “here in the Cayman Islands we are on our way to re- ducing crime”. He praised the police commissioner’s will- ingness to engage with the elected officials and listen to the people. Cayman’s new ap- proach included visible and responsive policing, while also recognising the role that the communities themselves play in keeping the areas safe, he said. Cayman had responded to new threats, from cyber- crime to money laundering. And with the Cayman Islands coastguard up and running, and by combining the law en- forcement units of immigra- tion and customs into a single cohesive Customs and Border Control Agency, government had delivered changes to better secure Cayman’s bor - ders and to reduce the threats from drugs, firearms and the illegal movement of people. However, the premier also noted that community safety is not just a policing issue. “I believe the most sig- nificant contribution to long-term crime reduction is the early identification of young people at risk of offending, and supporting them to make more posi- tive choices about their fu- ture,” he said. Caribbean police commissioners meet for the 34th annual conference of their regional organisation at the Marriott Beach Resort this week, to find ways of improving the efficiency of their cooperation. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Caribbean police chiefs seek to establish closer ties CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Hundreds turn out for Braccanal JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com It was a jump-up good time for those at- tending Cayman Braccanal last Saturday. The festivities, which in- cluded parties and a col- ourful parade with hundreds of revellers, were organised by volunteers who make up the Braccanal Committee. The weekend party began Thursday at La Esperanza. A ‘Wet Fete,’ also at La Esper- anza, kicked off the festivities on Friday, where hundreds of people danced the night away to soca music from several DJs. Committee member Lolita Bodden said Braccanal is held every Discovery Day weekend. This year’s parade took the traditional route from Spot Bay to Creek. “We had hundreds of people that came over,” Bodden said. “The purpose of Braccanal is to bring eco- nomic gain and tourism awareness to Cayman Brac.” At the end of Braccanal, any funds generated are put back into the community. “We give to the seniors home [and] youth programs … we don’t do it for money, and all the work is done by volun- teers of the Braccanal com- mittee”, she said. Paraders enjoy the Discovery Day Braccanal. The annual conference brings together senior law enforcement policymakers, security professionals, government officials and industry partners to discuss crime and security challenges.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS NY to close presidential pardon loophole A presidential pardon for federal crimes will not be enough to clear a person of similar state charges under legislation poised for passage in New York. The bill has already passed the state Senate, so passage in the Assembly will send it to Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who supports the measure. Seeking Brexit support, May offers vote on new referendum US delay to Huawei ban gives tech sector time to adjust BEIJING (AP) – The United States is delaying restric- tions on US technology sales to Chinese tech powerhouse Huawei in what it calls an effort to ease the blow on owners of its cellphones and smaller US telecoms pro- viders that rely on its net- working equipment. The Trump administration insists the sanctions are un- related to its escalating trade war with China, and many analysts see it as aimed at pressuring US allies in Eu- rope to accede to Washing- ton’s entreaties to exclude Huawei equipment from their next-generation wireless net- works, known as 5G. The US government says that the ban on selling tech- nology to Huawei, the world’s biggest maker of mobile net- work gear and the No. 2 smartphone brand, will be delayed by 90 days. Shares in tech companies rose Tuesday on the news. The US claims Huawei is a cybersecurity risk and has targeted it against the back- drop of a wider battle with China over economic and technological pre-eminence that has included tariffs on billions worth of trade and limits on business. The founder of Huawei sought to put a brave face on the situation, saying Tuesday that the company has “supply backups” if it loses access to American components. Huawei Technologies Ltd. relies on Google’s An- droid operating system and US components sup- pliers for its smartphones, which are the second-biggest sellers globally. Industry analysts say Huawei might struggle to compete if it cannot line up replacements for Google services that run afoul of the US curbs. Google says its basic ser- vices still will work on ex- isting Huawei handsets. However, the company would be barred from transferring hardware or software di- rectly to Huawei. That would affect maps or other services that require the American company’s support. In Brussels, a senior Huawei European represent- ative lashed out at the ac- tions of the Trump admin- istration and warned that other companies around the world should be worried, too. “This is dangerous. Now it is happening to Huawei. To- morrow it can happen to any other international company,” Abraham Liu, Huawei chief representative to the Euro- pean Union’s institutions, told reporters. China’s government re- peated its promise to defend Chinese companies abroad but gave no details of what Beijing might do. The 90-day grace period announced Monday by Wash- ington could be extended. The Commerce Department said it would allow rural US telecom operators that de- pend on Huawei equipment for “critical services” time to make other arrangements. Companies including Google that supply software can continue to provide updates and cooperation in global 5G network standards planning can also continue. “This license will allow operations to continue for ex- isting Huawei mobile phone users and rural broadband networks,” Secretary of Com- merce Wilbur Ross said in a statement. In a report, the global risk assessment firm Eurasia Group said that if the sanc- tion process helps persuade European network carriers to also shun Huawei equipment, a full ban on purchases of US technology products and ser- vices could be avoided. The move to delay the ban on Huawei may follow a fa- miliar script with the Trump administration, which in its attempt to change the US’s trade relations with major economies like China and Eu- rope has often announced re- strictions or tariffs only to delay their implementation. That increases pressure on the other side but also gives them an incentive to negotiate. It has not always worked. The US has announced new tariffs on European and Chi- nese goods several times, only to see them retaliate with tariffs on US goods. That has raised the stakes in the trade wars, hurting global commerce and eco- nomic growth. As China looks to respond to President Donald Trump’s move against Huawei, Apple makes a prominent potential target for retaliation. Apple is Huawei’s main American rival in smart- phones and its iPhones are assembled in China. The country is also Ap- ple’s No. 2 market after the United States. Attacking Apple might be politically awkward for Chi- nese leaders who have ac- cused Washington of mis- treating Huawei. LONDON (AP) – In a major concession, British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday offered UK law- makers the chance to vote on whether to hold a new referendum on the coun- try’s membership in the Eu- ropean Union – but only if they back her thrice-rejected Brexit agreement. May made the offer as part of a desperate attempt to persuade Parliament to back a divorce deal that will allow the UK make an or- derly, if delayed, departure from the EU. She plans to ask the House of Commons to vote in early June on a withdrawal agreement bill, in what May called a “last chance” to seal a Brexit deal. Soon after that vote, she will give a time- table for her departure as Conservative leader and prime minister. In a speech Tuesday, May said the bill would include “a requirement to vote on whether to hold a second referendum” that would give Britons a chance to approve or reject the terms of Brexit. A referendum is a key de- mand of opposition law- makers who have until now rejected May’s deal. “I do not believe that this is a route we should take,” said May, who has long op- posed a new public vote on Brexit. “But I recognize the genuine and sincere strength of feeling across the House on this important issue.” The Brexit referendum, however, will only happen if Parliament backs the EU withdrawal bill and it be- comes law, something that still seems unlikely, despite May’s last-minute changes. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition La- bour Party, said May’s new bill was merely “a repack- aging of the same old bad deal, rejected three times by Parliament”. Ian Blackford, a lawmaker with the pro-EU. Scottish Na- tional Party, said it was “too little, too late from a prime minister who is headed for the exit door”. May’s tack towards the opposition further angered pro-Brexit Conservative law- makers, who are already fu- rious at her failure to take Britain out of the EU on schedule. They want to replace her with a staunch Brexit sup- porter such as Boris Johnson, a former foreign secretary. “There’s nothing new or bold about this bad buffet of non-Brexit options,” said Ian Duncan Smith, a former Con- servative leader. Conservative lawmaker Owen Paterson, a promi- nent Brexiteer, tweeted that the referendum vote promise was “a direct insult to 17.4m people” who voted in 2016 to leave the EU. Britain voted for Brexit in June 2016 and was due to leave the EU on 29 March, but the bloc has extended the deadline until Oct. 31 amid the UK’s political im- passe. Talks on securing a compromise on the Brexit deal between May’s Con- servatives and Labour broke down last week. May says she will try again the week of 3 June by asking lawmakers to vote on a withdrawal agreement bill implementing the de- parture terms. Outlining what she called a “new Brexit deal”, May tried to win support from both pro-EU and pro-Brexit sides of the House of Commons. To Brexiteers concerned that the need to ensure an open Irish border will keep the UK too closely aligned to EU rules, she offered a promise of unspecified “al- ternative arrangements” to a contentious provision on the border known as the backstop. But most of her conces- sions were aimed at the left- of-centre opposition Labour Party. May promised that Britain would maintain high standards on workers’ rights and environmental protec- tions – both Labour pri- orities – and said UK law- makers would get to decide on what customs arrange- ments should be in place to ensure “as close as possible to frictionless trade” between Britain and the EU. May made the offer as part of a desperate attempt to persuade Parliament to back a divorce deal that will allow the UK make an orderly, if delayed, departure from the EU. The US government says that the ban on selling technology to Huawei, the world’s biggest maker of mobile network gear and the No. 2 smartphone brand, will be delayed by 90 days. Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May delivers a speech Tuesday in London. – PHOTO: AP A child plays with bubbles near a logo for tech giant Huawei in Beijing. – PHOTO: AP9 WORLD®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS WEDNESDAY, 22 MAY 2019 Officials say Iran quadruples production of enriched uranium Accused New Zealand mosque shooter charged with terrorism WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – New Zealand police on Tuesday filed a terrorism charge against the man ac- cused of killing 51 people at two Christchurch mosques. Australian Brenton Har- rison Tarrant, 28, was already facing murder and attempted murder charges from the 15 March shootings. The new charge comes with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment upon con- viction and will be a test case for New Zealand’s terrorism law, which came onto the books in 2002 following the terrorist attacks in the US on 11 Sept. 2001. The New Zealand law de- fines terrorism as including acts that are carried out to ad- vance an ideological, political, or religious cause with the in- tention of inducing terror in a civilian population. Just before the attacks, Tarrant emailed New Zea- land Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and others a mani- festo outlining his white su- premacist beliefs and his de- tailed plans for the shootings. From the outset, Ardern has described the attacks as terrorism. Police Commissioner Mike Bush said in a statement they would not be commenting on the new charges as the case was before the courts. A judge last month or- dered that Tarrant undergo mental health assessments to determine if he’s fit to stand trial. His next court hearing has been scheduled for 14 June, and the mental health find- ings could determine whether he is required to enter a plea at that point. Police also said Tuesday they had charged Tarrant with an additional count of murder, bringing the total number of murder charges against him to 51. That came after a Turkish man who was wounded in the attack died earlier this month in Christchurch Hospital. Police also increased the number of attempted murder charges against Tarrant from 39 to 40. Aside from those who died, at least 47 other people were treated at hospitals for gunshot wounds. Some had minor injuries and were dis- charged within hours. Police told family mem- bers and attack survivors of the new charges at a private meeting attended by more than 200 people. During the attacks, 42 people were killed at the Al Noor mosque, seven were killed at the Linwood mosque and two died later in hospitals. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) – Iran quadrupled its uranium- enrichment production ca- pacity amid tensions with the US over Tehran’s atomic programme, nuclear offi- cials said Monday, just after President Donald Trump and Iran’s foreign minister traded threats and taunts on Twitter. Iranian officials made a point to stress that the ura- nium would be enriched only to the 3.67% limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, making it us- able for a power plant but far below what’s needed for an atomic weapon. But by increasing produc- tion, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the accord. Tehran has set a 7 July deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons- grade levels in a Middle East already on edge. The Trump administration has deployed bombers and an aircraft car- rier to the region over still-un- specified threats from Iran. Already this month, of- ficials in the United Arab Emirates alleged that four oil tankers were sabotaged; Yemeni rebels allied with Iran launched a drone attack on an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia; and US diplomats relayed a warning that commercial air- lines could be misidentified by Iran and attacked, some- thing dismissed by Tehran. A rocket landed Sunday near the US Embassy in the Green Zone of Iraq’s capital of Baghdad, days after non- essential US staff were or- dered to evacuate from dip- lomatic posts in the country. No one was reported injured. Iraqi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasoul told The Associated Press that the rocket was believed to have been fired from eastern Baghdad, an area home to Iran-backed Shiite militias. The Iranian enrichment an- nouncement came after local journalists travelled to Na- tanz in central Iran, the coun- try’s underground enrichment facility. There, an unidentified nuclear scientist gave a state- ment with a surgical cap and a mask covering most of his face. No one explained his choice of outfit, although Is- rael is suspected of targeting Iranian nuclear scientists. The state-run IRNA news agency later quoted Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organ- ization of Iran, as acknowl- edging that capacity had been quadrupled. He said Iran took this step because the US had ended a programme allowing it to exchange enriched ura- nium to Russia for unpro- cessed yellowcake uranium, as well as ending the sale of heavy water to Oman. Heavy water helps cool reactors pro- ducing plutonium that can be used in nuclear weapons. Kamalvandi said Iran had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of the development. The Vienna- based UN nuclear watchdog did not respond to a request for comment. Tehran long has insisted it does not seek nu- clear weapons, though the West fears its programme could allow it to build them. Before Iran’s announce- ment, Trump tweeted: “If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!” Trump’s remarks reflect what has been a strategy of alternating tough talk with more conciliatory statements he says is aimed at keeping Iran guessing at the admin- istration’s intentions. He also has said he hopes Iran calls him and engages in negotiations. He described his approach in a speech Friday, saying, “It’s probably a good thing because they’re saying, ‘Man, I don’t know where these people are coming from,’ right?” But while Trump’s ap- proach of flattery and threats has become a hallmark of his foreign policy, the risks have only grown in dealing with Iran, where mistrust between Tehran and Washington stretch four decades. While both sides say they do not seek war, many worry any miscalculation could spiral out of control. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif soon responded by tweeting that Trump had been “goaded” into “genocidal taunts”. Zarif referenced both Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan as two historical leaders that Persia outlasted. “Iranians have stood tall for a millennia while aggres- sors all gone,” he wrote. “Try respect – it works!” Zarif also used the hashtag #NeverThreate- nAnIranian, a reference to a comment he made during intense negotiations for the 2015 nuclear accord. Trump campaigned on pulling the US from the deal, which saw Iran agree to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Since Trump withdrew America a year ago from the pact, the US has re-imposed previous sanctions and come up with new ones, as well as warning other nations they would be subject to sanctions as well if they import Iranian oil. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told journalists in Geneva that Iran should not doubt the US resolve, warning that “if American in- terests are attacked, they will retaliate”. “We want the situation to de-escalate because this is a part of the world where things can get triggered acci- dentally,” Hunt said. Meanwhile, Oman’s min- ister of state for foreign af- fairs made a previously un- announced visit Monday to Tehran, seeing Zarif, the state- run IRNA news agency said. The visit by Yusuf bin Alawi comes after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Oman’s Sultan Qaboos bin Said last week. Oman long has served as a Western back- channel to Tehran and the sultanate hosted the secret talks between the US and Iran that laid the groundwork for the nuclear deal negotiations. In Saudi Arabia, the king- dom’s military intercepted two missiles fired by the Ira- nian-allied Houthi rebels in neighbouring Yemen. The missiles were intercepted over the city of Taif and the Red Sea port city of Jiddah, the Saudi-owned satellite channel Al-Arabiya reported, citing witnesses. The Saudi Embassy in Washington later confirmed the interceptions. Hundreds of rockets, mortar rounds and ballistic missiles have been fired into the kingdom by the rebels since a Saudi-led coalition de- clared war on the Houthis in March 2015 to support Yem- en’s internationally recog- nised government. Tehran has set a 7 July deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels in a Middle East already on edge. The New Zealand law defines terrorism as including acts that are carried out to advance an ideological, political, or religious cause with the intention of inducing terror in a civilian population. Worshippers prepare to enter the Al Noor mosque a week after the mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand. – PHOTO: AP FILENext >