ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY, 30 MAY 2019 High of 87 Low of 76 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 SEEK SOLUTIONS AS COST OF LIVING CONTINUES TO RISE LOCAL | PAGE 5 HUMANE SOCIETY SHELTER AT FULL CAPACITY FOR CATS AND DOGS 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. www.generali-healthcare.com For a partnership that you can trust contact donovon.kellyman@ihs.ky Your health means the world to us. www.generali-healthcare.com New home awaits uprooted tree Dart workers remove a kapok tree from a property in Vista del Mar earlier this month. The large tree, which is expected to grow to a height of 100 feet, was moved to the Dart nursery for care and will be transplanted onto a roundabout near Camana Bay. For more on this story, see page 7 . - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PORT REFERENDUM Elections chief to address meeting NGO BLAMES TERRITORIES FOR TAX SYSTEM FAILURE MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Tax Justice Network has placed the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda and Cayman at the top of a list that the tax campaigners call “the 10 most corrosive tax havens in the world”. The Corporate Tax Haven Index ranks countries by their “complicity in global corpo- rate tax havenry”, the tax advocates say. The Tax Justice Network blames the UK and its controlled network of satellite jurisdic- tions for aggressively undermining the ability of governments around the world to meaning- fully tax multinational corporations. The research claims an estimated $500 billion in corporate tax “is dodged” each year globally by multinational corporations. The top ten jurisdictions listed as corporate tax havens were allegedly responsible for more than half of the world’s “corporate tax avoid- ance risks” as measured by the index. The 10 jurisdictions are the British Virgin JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Elections supervisor Wesley Howell will speak at a public meeting Thursday evening on the cruise port referendum issue amid uncertainty over if and when a public vote on the controversial issue will take place. The Cruise Port Referendum campaign announced last week that it had hit the threshold required to trigger a referendum on whether or not government should pro- ceed with plans for a cruise and cargo port in George Town harbour. A people-initiated referendum, in which the public uses its constitutional power to force a national vote in circumstances where the government opposes such a move, is un- precedented in the Cayman Islands. The pressure group is hosting a meeting from 6pm on Thursday at the Town Hall in George Town with Howell and Caymanian historian and former politician Roy Bodden slated as guest speakers. Department of En- vironment director Gina Ebanks-Petrie was also invited to speak, but the move was blocked by ministry officials who suggested the campaigners could address any ques- tions to her in writing. Organisers hope that Howell will outline the process that will take place to verify the petition signatures and make the arrange- ments for a vote. The campaigners said in a statement, “Fol- lowing a meeting between CPR Cayman and the Elections Office, the petition is currently being prepared to be delivered to [the] Elections Office to begin the official verification process. “The collection of signatures remains ongoing to safely exceed the minimum requirement, and registered voters who have not yet signed the petition are encouraged to sign right away to be a part of Cayman Islands history in the making.” Premier Alden McLaughlin said last week that the campaigners’ declaration that their petition had hit the target of 25% of the elec- torate – around 5,300 signatures – was “pre- sumptive and premature”. Government has consistently argued that holding a referendum would delay the port development to such a degree that it would torpedo the project, regardless of the result of the vote. It is currently in the final stages of negotiations with three consortiums bidding on the project, and has separately negotiated (AP) – Edward Seaga, a former Jamaican prime minister who shaped the island’s post- independence politics and cultural life, died Tuesday at 89. Seaga, Jamaica’s prime minister from 1980 until 1989, was the only remaining member of the generation of leaders who drafted the con- stitution when the Caribbean island gained independence from Britain in 1962. His political career began in the late 1950s and he won a parliamentary seat in 1962. He was West Kingston’s representative for 40 con- secutive years and held a parliamentary seat longer than anyone in Jamaica’s history. Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin said in a statement that he was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the former prime minister. “He will be remembered as a great and respected Caribbean Leader and as one of Jamaica’s outstanding politicians,” McLaughlin said. “He was the only remaining FORMER JAMAICAN PM EDWARD SEAGA DIES AT 89 PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL®IONAL THURSDAY, 30 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 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 KIDS CLUB: OVER THE HEDGE (PG) 10:00 (SAT ONLY) CULTURE AT THE CINEMA: THE TRAGEDY OF KIND RICHARD THE SECOND(R18) SAT ONLY: 8:00 • 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) ALADDIN (PG) 12:50 I 4:25 3D I 7:20 I 9:05 3D UGLY DOLLS (PG) 1:00 I 3:15 I 5:30 POKEMON DETECTIVE PIKACHU (PG) 1:25 I 4:00 I 6:30 JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM (R) 1:15 VIP I 3:45 I 6:45 I 8:15 VIP I 9:50 BRIGHTBURN (R) 12:30 I 2:50 I 5:10 I 7:30 I 10:15 THE HUSTLE (PG13) 9:50 AVENGERS: END GAME (PG13) 12:30 I 4:20 VIP I 7:45 Marl Road apologises to Archer Former finance minister accepts settlement JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The website Cayman Marl Road has been forced to publish a public apology to former Finance Minister Marco Archer over a story which alleged he had acted dishonestly in his handling of a stamp duty waiver. Marl Road has accepted the story, published in August 2017, was inaccurate and pub- lished the apology Wednesday, bringing to an end a long-run- ning court dispute. Archer had sued blogger Sandra Hill for defama- tion, initially seeking finan- cial damages. Lawyers for the former minister also proposed a po- tential jail sentence for Hill at one stage in the proceed- ings over alleged breaches of a court injunction pre- venting her from repeating the allegations. According to a consent order, filed by the Grand Court Tuesday, Archer has agreed to accept a full public apology, bringing the dis- pute to an end. The order in- dicates that any compensa- tion or court costs order will be stayed, meaning Hill faces no financial penalty so long as she does not repeat the al- legations and complies with the order to make a full and frank apology. Both parties will pay their own legal costs. The court specified the wording of the apology, which appeared on the Marl Road website Tuesday, signed by Hill. It read, “On 23 August 2017, I published a post under the headline ‘Archer accused of abuse of office in stamp duty fiasco’. In that post, I stated and insinu- ated that Mr. Marco Archer, the former Minister of Fi- nance of the Cayman Islands, acted dishonestly, abused his power and misconducted himself in his profession and office, when handling a request for a stamp duty waiver. I accept fully that I was wrong to do so. “I sincerely and unreserv- edly apologise to Mr. Archer for publishing allegations which it is accepted are un- founded and completely un- true. This error in judgment is something I deeply regret. I have taken stock, and have reviewed, and adjusted my editorial policies to ensure an error of this nature does not happen again. “I completely retract the untrue allegations and apol- ogise for my mistake and for any distress caused to Mr. Archer by publication of the story.” Cayman takes a drenching during 3 days of downpours Rainy weather lingered over Cayman Wednesday and more showers were expected to fall through Thursday morning. The Cayman Islands Na- tional Weather Service esti- mated Wednesday morning that 1.47 inches of rain fell on Cayman over a three- day period. Up to an inch more of rain was expected to fall through Wednesday afternoon and into Thursday morning. While the showers may have dampened beach plans for many, cruise ships still made their scheduled stops in George Town on Wednesday. The Carnival Horizon brought nearly 5,000 tourists, while the Liberty of the Seas arrived with a reported 4,198 passengers aboard. The broad, low-pressure system affecting Cayman brought wet weather to much of the western Car- ibbean. The US-based Na- tional Hurricane Center forecast showers and thun- derstorms over the region for the next several days and a tropical wave approaching north Atlantic waters by late in the week. The upper-level system was expected to move west of Cayman with a gradual decrease in winds and moderate wave heights in coming days, according to the Cayman Islands National Weather Service. Iguana cull passes 660,000 Grand Cayman’s green iguana cullers turned in an- other strong performance last week, delivering more than 22,000 of the invasive lizards to the George Town landfill. Last week’s total of 22,235 brings the number of culled iguanas to 660,923 (as of 25 May) – more than halfway to the target number of culling 1.3 million iguanas by the end of 2019. Following a prolonged lull during the first few months of the year, cullers have removed at least 22,000 iguanas per week during four of the past five weeks. The Department of Envi- ronment programme began in late October 2018. Cullers are being paid $4.50 a head, rising to $5 if they meet monthly and an- nual targets, in an effort to wipe out the invasive species in Grand Cayman. 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000 Week 1 (Oct. 29-Nov. 3) 23456789101112131415161817192021 22 2524 23Week 30 (May 21-25) 2627 2829 Green iguana cull update Iguanas culledTotal culled Pace to reach 1.3 million Despite grey clouds and scattered showers, cruise ships still made their scheduled stops in Grand Cayman on Wednesday. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY Marco ArcherSandra Hill MAN SENTENCED TO 8 YEARS FOR WIFE’S DEATH ON HONEYMOON MIAMI (AP) – A man whose wife disappeared while they honeymooned at sea was sentenced by a federal judge to eight years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Lewis Bennett, 42, apol- ogised to the family of Is- abella Hellman during a Tuesday hearing before US District Judge Fed- erico Moreno in Miami. He waived his right to appeal. Defence attorneys sought a 7-year sentence, a year lower than the max- imum number spelled out in a plea agreement reached last November. Bennett was originally charged with murder, with investigators alleging he intentionally tried to sink the boat, but later dropped the charges. “It’s not because I ex- pect that he will commit this crime again,” Judge Moreno said. “Sentencing is for punishment.” Before Moreno an- nounced his decision, Ben- nett, a dual citizen of Aus- tralia and the United Kingdom, asked the judge that he let him get out of prison sooner so he could continue to raise the cou- ple’s daughter, who was an infant when the mother vanished. Emelia Ben- nett turns 3 in July and is being raised by his parents in Scotland. “If you may permit me to be with my daughter as soon as possible,” Ben- nett said. “I want to bring her up in a manner that is respectful to my wife’s wishes.” But Moreno sided with prosecutors and chose eight years in prison as the sentence and three years on supervised release. Archer had sued blogger Sandra Hill for defamation, initially seeking financial damages.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 30 MAY 2019 OFFICE CLOSURE FOR RELOCATION CAYMAN BRAC OFFICEThe 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” “The news is grim. Figures show the cost of living in the Cayman Islands is still increasing. And there aren’t any promises on the horizon of the trend reversing any time soon.” – Compass editorial, 10 March 2006 For more than a decade, this editorial board has written about the high cost of living on our beautiful islands. Year after year, sometimes even more fre - quently, it has noted that basic goods and necessities have gotten progressively more expensive, called on readers to be thrifty and called on government leaders to do what they can to control growing costs – while acknowledging that might not be very much. It has floated ideas for potential relief, such as reducing or eliminating duty on household necessities or lowering the cost of energy and fuel. It has encour- aged residents to stretch their money in creative ways, recommending everything from buying local meat and produce, to cutting back on alcohol and tobacco, to being mindful of electricity use. But still, today, many are feeling the pinch, and no wonder. As the Compass reported this week, recently released figures from the The Economics and Sta- tistics Office Consumer Price Index show that the average inflation rate reached 3.3% last year. That bump follows a 2% increase in 2017. Even the rela- tively bright spot of 2016, a rare year during which we experienced deflation (0.6%) was a short reprieve from steadily growing costs. Indeed, a Compass graph of annual inflation rates between 2000 and 2018 show only three years of deflation – 2009, 2015 and 2016. In every other year, averaged costs rose, from as little as 0.28% in 2010 to an astonishing 7.29% in 2005. Digging deeper into the figures, we find the ‘usual suspects’ well-familiar to us from years of tracking this issue: Since 2008 food prices have increased by more than 34%, household equipment and clothing by more than 23% and 22%, respectively. Transportation costs are up 20%, education, more than 17%, and health- related costs, nearly 7%. Interestingly, during the same period, housing and energy costs shrank. We understand that these broad-brush figures gloss over fluctuations in inflation and differences in individual households’ spending habits and needs. Still, it must be acknowledged that life on our islands is getting progres- sively more expensive. For those people whose incomes have risen concurrently, the increases may have gone largely unnoticed. Those whose incomes stayed steady or declined are getting squeezed. Which leads us again to the question: What, if anything can be done? The answers, while imperfect, remain largely unchanged. Government could mind its own spending to reduce the need for revenues, which would enable it to exempt or lower the duty for foods and other necessities or reduce the number and size of fees paid by residents. Individuals can similarly watch their spending, or actively seek opportunities to grow their earning potential. In all likelihood, it will take some combination, as well as other creative ideas, to ease the pressure of rising inflation for those who are genuinely worried about making ends meet. Seek solutions as cost of living continues to rise THURSDAY, 30 MAY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS The self-destructive disdain of the left HUGH HEWITT US President Donald Trump has an ace in the hole for the 2020 election: The media elite cannot keep their contempt for Trump voters under wraps. On Sunday, New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd penned a sentence that perfectly encapsulates this disdain for fellow citizens. “Mitch McConnell, Barr and almost everyone else in the G.O.P.,” Dowd opined, “have made themselves numb to [Trump’s] abhorrent ac- tions because of self-interest”. There you have it: In Dowd’s world – and Dowd is one of the tribunes of the Manhattan-Beltway media elite – almost every person who supports Trump today does so because of self-in- terest. Read “self-interest” as “greed” or a “lust for power or position”, or however you care to read it. By Dowd’s as- sessment, no one can pos- sibly support Trump without being corrupt. Ignored is the fact that Trump has delivered on his crucial pledges concerning the judiciary and defence spending. Trump has put 100- plus judges on the federal bench, including two on the Supreme Court, 41 on federal circuit courts (with two more confirmations pending), and dozens and dozens on fed- eral trial courts. He’s strongly supported dramatic increases in defence spending. The roaring economy, and the tax cuts and deregula- tion that power it, speaks for itself. But for Dowd and her colleagues in New York, Wash- ington, Los Angeles and Sil- icon Valley, none of this record matters. To support Trump is to be morally flawed. Let’s face it, most of the media thinks most of Trump sup- porters are stupid or evil. In- credibly, secular elites have appointed themselves judges of moral character. Trump’s record is far from perfect, of course. The alu- minium and steel tariffs on allies were awful choices. The pipeline of nominees to the circuit courts has in- explicably run dry. There is still no serious, detailed plan to get to the 355-ship Navy fleet Trump promised. Most of his supporters wish for him to lay off Twitter and his personal attacks on op- ponents, even when those op- ponents swing at him daily. They would prefer the pres- ident take his “no collusion, no obstruction” win and pocket it while talking end- lessly about the economy, the judges, the defence budget and deregulation. Still, there are far more positives than negatives. De- spite his biggest mistakes – the media are not the “enemy of the people” and should not be labelled thus; his indif- ference to staffing the gov- ernment is sometimes mad- dening and a few of his appointees were simply not qualified – Trump has gen- erally kept the promises he made during the campaign. Dowd’s damning indict- ment calls to mind Hillary Clinton’s “basket of deplor- ables” comment. Americans outside of New York City, Washington, Los Angeles and Silicon Valley deeply re- sent the contempt these elites have for ordinary people. That contempt, when openly displayed, always boomerangs. Dowd is chan- nelling the left’s searing dis- dain for the “great silent ma- jority”, which was there in the days of Richard Nixon and which showed up again in 2016. For 50 years the left has been flipping off the apo- litical as well as the quiet moderate and conservative citizens who go to work and church, who raise families in somewhat prosaic fashion. But who also vote. Regularly. To be accused of sup- porting Trump for evil rea- sons is, of course, to be ac- cused of doing evil. To refuse to acknowledge the legiti- mate principles and poli- cies that motivate millions of Trump voters is to brand all Trump supporters as without principles. This contempt of the left for ordinary Americans is not new. We saw it directed at President George W. Bush (the stupid cowboy) his fa- ther (“the wimp factor”), Pres- ident Ronald Reagan (an- other cowboy) President Gerald Ford (“played football without a helmet”) and Pres- ident Richard Nixon (“Tricky Dick” decades before Water- gate). The media conveniently forgets that every Republican president has had to cam- paign and govern against both the Democrats and their auxiliary troops in the Man- hattan-Beltway media elite. Insults and invective are not how you win elections, though they are great at win- ning applause and hand- shakes from other elites. Hugh Hewitt, a Post contributing columnist, hosts a nationally syndicated radio show and is author of ‘The Fourth Way: The Conservative Playbook for a Lasting GOP Majority.’ © 2019, The Washington Post. President Donald Trump walks over to speak to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, on Friday, 24 May, before boarding Marine One for a short trip to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, and then on to Tokyo, Japan. - PHOTO: AP.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 30 MAY 2019 Humane Society shelter at full capacity for cats and dogs SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com There’s no more room at Cayman’s leading animal re- lief agency. A representative for the Cayman Islands Humane So- ciety said Wednesday that the shelter is currently housing 157 animals and that it does not have any more space to accept cats and dogs. Jason Jairam, assistant shelter manager for the Hu- mane Society, said the fa- cility is currently holding 99 dogs (53 puppies and 46 adults) and 58 cats (40 kit- tens and 18 adults). There are even more animals currently staying with foster families, and Jairam said the shelter is frequently full. “It usually happens around this time of year, from April to July. It’s the mating season,” he said. “It’s the cats and dogs season, as we say locally. We’ve done over 10,000 spay and neuter surgeries at the shelter – cats and dogs – and we work along with the community. Even though there’s a fee, we do it [for] free if you don’t have money, because we don’t want you to bring us seven puppies in a few weeks.” The Humane Society pro- vides veterinarian clinics on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and people who make ap- pointments can get spay and neutering and heartworm testing on those days. Jairam said that despite the presence of several other animal relief agencies like Canine Friends, CARE and One Dog at a Time, there’s still an overabundance of an- imals that need homes. “You’d think we’d have seen an improvement,” he said. “But sometimes, it’s even worse. If you go check the pound, they’re full up with dogs and puppies. We’ve been getting litter after litter.” The Humane Society has many people who volunteer to help take care of the ani- mals or to give the dogs a walk on a weekly basis, but Jairam said it can always use more help. That help also comes in the form of foster families who open up their homes to dogs and cats on a temporary basis. “We always need fosters,” he said. “Fosters play a vital role in the shelter and to help the animals socialise. If the animal’s had a rough life, fos- tering plays a role in making the animal more adoptable. “When they come back to the shelter, they get adopted pretty fast because they’re house-trained and they’re good with kids. Even if people can’t commit to adopt, they can come in and foster. We get kittens that are a few days old and they need bottle-feeding for sev- eral weeks.” JELLYFISH PUT THE STING IN STINGRAY CITY JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Environment officials in- sist there is no cause for serious concern after two people were taken to hos- pital after being stung by jel- lyfish at Stingray City ear- lier this week. The Department of Envi- ronment received multiple re- ports of swimmers and snor- kellers being stung by jellyfish in the North Sound, at the Sandbar and near the sound’s barrier reef on Monday, According to the DoE, the jellyfish in question are likely to be ‘sea wasps’ (Carybdea alata), a 2-3 inch species that is nearly transparent. “They are occasionally found off the coastal wa- ters of Florida, Bahamas and other areas of the Car- ibbean. Sea wasps are rare in Cayman. However, recent weather conditions may be responsible for bringing them into near-shore waters,” a statement from the DoE read. Though the DoE advises swimmers and snorkellers to be cautious, deputy director Tim Austin said the jellies – a relative of the more potent box jellyfish – are not a cause for serious alarm. The sting can cause a reaction in some people, but in most cases the impact is similar to a severe wasp sting. Austin said the jelly- fish are attracted to light and have been known to sting people night-diving by torchlight. “They are normally in the open water, but we had some strange weather recently which may have brought them into the North Sound,” he said. “We haven’t had any more reports of people being stung since Monday.” The department advised anyone going to the Stingray Sandbar or near the barrier reef to be cautious. “These small jellies are not easy to see and can de- liver a painful sting that leaves welts and redness if they contact bare skin. Home treatments can in- clude pouring white vinegar on sting areas, however, if the victim’s reaction to the sting persists or becomes severe, it is advised to seek proper medical attention immedi- ately,” the DoE stated. Sea wasps typically in- habit shallow water at night, float near coral reefs, and are attracted by lights. Sea wasps are transparent and almost impossible to spot in the water. - PHOTO: ANDY ZOHOURY There are currently 99 dogs, including 53 puppies and 46 adults, housed at the Cayman Islands Humane Society. - PHOTOS: SPENCER FORDIN The Humane Society is urging local pet owners to make sure their animals are spayed and neutered. “ If you go check the pound, they’re full up with dogs and puppies. We’ve been getting litter after litter.” JASON JAIRAM, assistant shelter manager, Humane SocietyTHURSDAY, MAY 30 ROAD WORKS: Water Authority – Cayman advises the motoring public of restricted access to Maclendon Drive (off Dorcy Drive) through to Friday, 31 May. Access will be restricted from 9am to 4pm. During this time, local access only to businesses and residences in the area will be available, and representatives of the Authority will be on hand to direct traffic. Traffic signs will be posted in the general vicinity and all motorists are asked to drive with caution. CHILD MONTH: Snuggle & Read, Prospect Primary School, 6:30-9pm. DISASTER PLANNING: As part of Senior Month, Hazard Management Cayman Islands will hold a Disaster Planning Preparedness session at the Church of God Chapel in Bodden Town, 10am to 1pm. CRUISE PORT REFERENDUM MEETING: George Town Town Hall. 6-8pm. The public are invited to attend for the latest updates on the petition for a people’s initiated referendum on the proposed cruise port. Email cprcayman@gmail. com for more details or visit the Facebook page @CPRCayman, or call or WhatsApp 328-8187. CHILD MONTH: Snuggle & Read, Cayman Academy, 6-8pm. Trivia Game Night, Cayman Brac, Aston Rutty Civic Centre, 6-9pm. FRIDAY, 31 MAY CHILD MONTH: Trivia Game Night, George Town Town Hall, 6-9:30pm. SATURDAY, 1 JUNE CHILD MONTH: Cupcake Wars, The Ritz-Carlton hotel, 10am to noon. For further information, contact Dept. of Children and Family Services, 949-0290. MONDAY, JUNE 3 HEALTHY LIVING NIGHT: 7-9pm at Seafarers Hall. Booths and services organised by Prospect Red Bay Community Group. Free admission. THURSDAY, 6 JUNE HIGH SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY: All former students of St. Ignatius High School are invited to our 25th anniversary social 5:30-7pm in Loyola Hall. Admission is free. RSVP to sicaymanalumni@gmail.com. SATURDAY, 8 JUNE OCEAN DAY, ENVIRONMENT DAY: World Ocean Day Clean-Up and Girl Guides Environment Day. All are invited to join the Girl Guides, Plastic Free Cayman and Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation at South Sound Community Centre for a beach cleanup and Environment Fair. Beach cleanup, 8-9:30am. Bring a reusable water bottle, gloves and a hat. Bring a mug/ plate or bowl for refreshments at the fair, 9:30-11am. In the spirit of being waste free, no plates or cups provided. GENERAL INTEREST CELEBRATE CAYMAN: Celebrate Cayman Coat of Arms memorabilia will be on sale in the lobby of the Cayman Islands Government Administration Building 11am to 2pm every Tuesday and Thursday through the month of June. Items on sale are Celebrate Cayman Umbrellas $25. Neckties $25. Bandanas/ Scarfs $15. Puzzles 35pcs/200 pcs $10. Plates, $35. Bistro Mugs, $10. Car Flags, $10. ‘I CAN QUIT’ SMOKING CESSATION CLASSES: The Public Health Department reminds smokers who wish to quit the habit that there are still some spaces left for upcoming smoking cessation classes. Classes start on June 5, from 5:15-6:45pm every Wednesday for seven weeks in the Public Health Department. Location will be Smith Road Centre, second floor. For more information or to sign up, contact the Public Health Department on 244-2889/244-2621, or email sarah.hetley@hsa.ky or nola.sanderson@hsa.ky. COUNSELLING SERVICES: The Family Resource Centre and the Counselling Centre have moved. They are now with the Department of Counselling Services at their new home on Mary Street, at 87 West Apollo House. Hours are Mondays and Fridays from 9am to 1pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am to 7pm, and Wednesdays 9am to 4pm. PIRATES WEEK VENDORS: Food and craft vendors interested in participating in the upcoming Pirates Week Festival can reserve stalls starting Monday, 3 June. Food Festival dates are 8, 9 and 11 Nov. A valid DEH Food Handling Certificate must accompany completed application forms. All food vendors must use biodegradable containers and utensils (available from Pirates Week Festival office – limited supply). Space is limited, please register early. Download the application form at www. piratesweekfestival.com/participate. To learn more call 949-5078 or info@piratesweekfestival.com. LOCAL HARVEST MARKET: Local farmers sell their produce and farmed goods at Camana Bay on Wednesdays from 10am to 3pm in Heliconia Court (located next to Scotiabank). COMMUNITY CHESS: Tuesdays 5-8pm, 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 7-11pm. 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, 9am till noon. Thursdays Adults and Youth, 10am 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: Cayman Islands Humane Society Thrift Shop. Located in Venetia Plaza, next to China Village. The Thrift shop is open Tuesday – Saturday 9am to 2pm. Closed on Sunday and Monday. The phone number is 945-5596 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 8am to 5pm and Wednesdays 10am to 2pm. 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, 9:30am to 5:30pm 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 12:30-4pm; Tuesday-Friday, 9:30am to 4pm; Saturday 9:30am to 4:30pm. 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, 7:15pm. 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 6-7:15pm 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, 6-7:30pm. Contact Sashoy Duncan at 939-8847 or email eminentoratorstoastmasters@ gmail.com. Visitors and guests welcome. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30pm at the Lions Community Centre. Email lionsclubgcm@hotmail.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30pm at Elizabethan Square (corner unit). Members of the public are invited to attend. ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN SUNRISE: Service club meetings 7am 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, 12:30pm, 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, 6:30pm, Pedro Castle Road, Savannah. Para transporte, llamar al teléfono no. 946-2422, email: cibaptist@candw.ky. SPANISH WORSHIP SERVICE: First Baptist Church, Crewe Road, 6:30-8:30pm. Third Sunday of each month. HARBOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH: Meets for Divine Worship and Fellowship at South Sound Community Centre, South Sound, Sundays at 10am www.safeharbourlc.com. MUSLIM PRAYER: Islamic Society of the Cayman Islands advises 5 times salaat/prayer at the Masjid. Fajr at 6am. Dhuhr at 1:15pm. Asr at 5:15pm. Maghrib at 7 minutes after sunset. Isha at 8pm website www.isci.org.ky. CATHOLIC CHURCH: St. Ignatius, Walkers Road, Mass 6pm Saturday; 8am, 11:30am, 6pm, Sundays. Christ the Redeemer, West Bay, Mass 9:45am, Sunday. JOHN GRAY MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH: Sunday worship for the family and Children’s Church, 10am. BOATSWAIN BAY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Sundays. 10am. Christian Education for all ages; 11am, Morning Worship with nursery for youngsters; 7pm, Evening Worship. Visit www.bbpca.org. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The 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, 30 MAY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Former students of St. Ignatius Catholic School are invited to attend the high school’s 25th anniversary social at Loyola Hall on Thursday, 6 June.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 30 MAY 2019 Power outages tied to upgrades Emergency responders give CPR lessons GT POWER OUTAGE SCHEDULED The Caribbean Utilities Company says recent power outages east of Prospect are happening because the company is working on putting a better system in place. The company stated in a press release this week that it has been upgrading its substations and, during the transition period, the system is more susceptible to power disruptions. In the long run, it says, the upgrades will increase capacity and reliability to customers in the affected districts. The most recent outage occurred, in part, because the Bodden Town substation is offline for refurbish- ment. Customers who would nor- mally be supplied from the Bodden Town substation are being supplied from the Frank Sound or Prospect substations, and are exposed to a greater risk of outages. Lighting strikes on equipment and downed power lines were some of the events that played into the recent outages. The substation is expected to be back online by the end of June. Customers in the Savannah, Newlands, Lower Valley, Bodden Town, Frank Sound and East End areas experienced interruptions to their electricity service between 3:32-7:41am on Sunday, 26 May. Crews worked throughout the early hours to replace equipment and re- store service. Approximately 3,250 customers were affected, according to CUC. Under normal circum- stances, less than half this number of customers would have been af- fected, the utility company said. CUC completed similar up- grades to the South Sound, North Sound Road and Rum Point Sub- stations in October 2018, March 2019 and April 2019, respectively. In June, construction of a new Prospect substation is expected to commence, with completion ex- pected in 2020. CUC is able to com- plete the construction with min- imal exposure to outages, as the existing substation will remain in service throughout the construc- tion period. Major upgrades to the Frank Sound substation are planned for 2021. Following this programme of upgrades and refurbishments to the eastern substations, CUC will be able to meet foreseeable load growth with increased reli- ability for its customers, the com- pany stated. Emergency Medical Ser- vices staff taught members of the public last week how to perform hands-only CPR and how to stop bleeding, as part of an education initiative. The Health Services Au- thority emergency responders held safety sessions at Hur- ley’s Market, the Airport Fos- ter’s Food Fair, Tukka and Eagle Ray’s Bar & Grill on 21-22 May, as part of events to mark Emergency Medical Services Week on 19-25 May. The theme of this year’s week was ‘Beyond the Call’, and fo- cussed on showing members of the public how they can potentially save a life prior to the arrival of EMS. As well as the CPR ses- sions, the responders also demonstrated the importance and proper usage of car seats. “Each session’s turnout was excellent. It’s reassuring to know that people are interested in learning and being more proactive about life-saving practices,” said EMS Manager Stephen Duval in a press re- lease. “CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of sur- vival and hands-only CPR, when executed correctly, can be just as effective as conven- tional CPR. A person can die in 5-10 minutes due to uncon- trolled bleeding. The stop the bleed training our team dem- onstrated can save a life.” He added, “Using the cor- rect car seat or booster seat can also be a lifesaver. We wanted to re-emphasise the importance of basic car seat safety and ensure that all chil- dren are buckled up the right way on every ride.” To recognise the efforts of EMS staff, a Recogni- tion Luncheon and Awards Ceremony was held on Friday, 24 May, at the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort. All EMS staff were pre- sented with certificates of appreciation, and special awards for outstanding ser- vice went to Kendal Connor, Michael Blackburn, Alvaro Obando and David Hurlston of Cayman Brac. David ‘Jayse’ Wilson was awarded the title of EMS Officer of the Year. “We honour our EMS pro- viders, whose selfless devo- tion and outstanding efforts help save countless lives each year,” HSA CEO Lizzette Year- wood said. “As the first link to emergency medical care, EMS personnel are a crucial component of our healthcare system. This month, and al- ways, we express our un- ending gratitude and respect to the fine men and women of our EMS staff for their con- tinued dedication to excel- lence in emergency care.” Randyke Gardens, Halifax Road affected CUC is advising its customers in the Randyke Gardens area and on Halifax Road off the Linford Pierson Highway in George Town that they will experience inter- ruptions to their electrical ser- vice on Thursday and Friday. Areas affected on Thursday, 30 May, between 9-10:30am, in- clude Rankin Drive, Dykewood Drive, Candlenut Close, Randyke Way and Concord Avenue. The following day, Friday, 31 May, customers on Halifax Road will be affected from between 9am and 2:30pm. Motorists are asked to drive with caution when in the Ran- dyke Gardens area on Thursday and Halifax Road on Friday as CUC will have a number of trucks and personnel in the area. CUC said the interruptions were necessary to facilitate re- quired overhead infrastruc- ture upgrades. Customers who would normally be supplied from the Bodden Town substation are being supplied from the Frank Sound or Prospect substations, and are exposed to a greater risk of outages. “ CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival and hands-only CPR, when executed correctly, can be just as effective as conventional CPR.” STEPHEN DUVAL, EMS manager The CUC headquarters in George Town. Paramedic Jennifer Kelly trains a member of the public how to stop a bleed at one of last week’s education sessions. From left, David ‘Jayse’ Wilson (EMS Officer of the Year), Alvaro Obando (Outstanding Service), Stephen Duval (EMS Manager), Kendal Connor (Outstanding Service) and Michael Blackburn (Outstanding Service) with their awards at last week’s ceremony. New home awaits uprooted tree To be replanted at Camana Bay roundabout KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Relocating a more than 50-foot tree, roots and all, is no easy task. It takes careful pruning, attention and some heavy equipment. When Vista del Mar property owners Malcolm and Angela Swift, however, learned that the Dart or- ganisation was interested in a tree located on their property, they decided to take on the task. The couple had been de- bating what to do with the kapok tree, also known as a cotton tree, on their prop- erty when they heard that Dart was interested in ac- quiring the same variety for its Camana Bay North Roundabout. The Swifts decided to donate the specimen, na- tive to Central America and the Caribbean, with Dart assuming the relo- cation costs. “[Dart has] borne the considerable cost involved and we are all delighted that this tree will shortly be in its new home where it will have the freedom to grow to a great height and be a landmark for many years to come,” Malcolm Swift said. “I also see this is a small repayment by me to the Cayman Islands for allowing me the privi- lege of working here as an acting Grand Court judge and, since my retirement, granting us residency.” The tree was uprooted and transported earlier this month and is now being cared for at the Dart Real Estate Satellite Nursery. “The tree will soon have a new, permanent home at the Camana Bay North Roundabout where en- hancement works are cur- rently ongoing. The Dart Real Estate and Arboretum Services Ltd. teams exer- cised the utmost care and best horticultural practice when relocating the tree to ensure the highest chances of survival,” said a Dart organisation statement, adding that kapok trees are often incorporated into Dart landscaping due to their resilience and their iconic silhouettes. Kapok trees can reach more than 200 feet in height. Swift said he ex- pected this tree to reach around 100 feet. The tree was uprooted and transported earlier this month and is now being cared for at the Dart Real Estate Satellite Nursery.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 member of the team who drafted the Constitution when Jamaica gained independence from the UK in 1962 and one of the longest serving Members of the Parliament, not just in Jamaica but in the Caribbean, holding his seat in West Kingston for over 43 years. That is no mean feat in politics.” He added, “I knew him personally and have fond memories of our conversa- tions on occasions when he visited Grand Cayman.” Seaga passed away on his birthday in Miami, Florida. Born 28 May 1930, in Massachusetts to Lebanese- Jamaican parents, Seaga renounced his US citizen- ship at a young age to show his loyalty to Jamaica. He studied anthropology at Har- vard University and pub- lished several papers on Afro-Jamaican folklore and Obeah, a religion combining Christian and African rituals. Before entering poli- tics, Seaga was a major re- cord producer who operated the West Indies Record Ltd. distribution company and played a role in introducing ska music to the world. At 29, he was appointed to Jamaica’s upper legisla- tive house by Labour Party founder and Jamaica’s first prime minister, Alexander Bustamante. As opposition leader in the 1970s, Seaga railed against the socialist agenda of then-Prime Minister Mi- chael Manley, saying it crip- pled the island’s fragile economy. When Seaga’s La- bour Party ousted the incum- bent Manley and the People’s National Party’s ‘democratic socialist’ administration in 1980, Seaga described the landslide victory as a “dec- laration against communism in Jamaica”. As Jamaica’s leader, Seaga instituted a pro-Amer- ican, free-market economy, ushering in what many consider the island’s most prosperous era. He was US President Ronald Reagan’s closest Caribbean ally and was able to boost a strug- gling economy that was hit hard by soaring inflation and widespread joblessness. But national debt soared. The run-up to the 1980 elections that vaulted him to power was extraordinarily bloody. Clashes between rival partisans killed nearly 800 people. For some older Jamaicans, Seaga is forever linked with the state-spon- sored political violence of the 1970s, when Jamaica’s two major political factions used gun-toting gangsters to sway voters. In the 1960s, Seaga gained fame for bulldozing an in- famous slum and building Tivoli Gardens, the island’s first public housing project, which he filled with sup- porters of the Labour Party. The politicised complex be- came a hotbed of what Ja- maica calls “garrison poli- tics”, where vote-rich slums become permanent power bases for one party. “Mr. Seaga can be blamed for starting garrison politics but not for the genesis of po- litical violence,” said Chris- topher Charles, a senior lec- turer in political psychology at Jamaica’s University of the West Indies. Following a deadly 1978 military ambush of gang members allied to Seaga’s Labour Party, Jamaica’s leading reggae musicians took the stage at a Kingston concert to support peace. The concert’s highlight was a moment that has become immortalised in Jamaican consciousness: Reggae icon Bob Marley made Seaga and Manley clasp hands over his head and promise an end to the violence. It did not work; things only got bloodier. In 1989, Seaga’s party lost the general election to Manley after he transformed into a centrist. But Seaga re- mained Labour’s leader for many years afterward and he built national institu- tions such as the annual fes- tival celebrations, the Ja- maica Cultural Development Commission and the HEART National Training Agency, among other institutions. Andrew Holness, the cur- rent prime minister from the Labour Party, is a Seaga pro- tégé. First elected to parlia- ment in 1997 at the age of 25, he was a special assistant to Seaga, who was chief of the Labour Party until Bruce Golding took over in 2005. When he resigned from the party, he became a senior research fellow at the Uni- versity of the West Indies. Seaga was married from 1965 to 1996 to the former Marie Constantine, who had been Miss Jamaica 1964. They had three children to- gether – Anabella, Andrew and Christopher – before divorcing. He remarried in 1997 to Carla Vendryes, 30 years younger. The couple had a daughter, Gabrielle, in 2002, when he was 72. Additional reporting by Cayman Compass staff THURSDAY, 30 MAY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS NGO blames territories for tax system failure Islands, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, the Neth- erlands, Switzerland, Lux- embourg, Jersey, Sin- gapore, the Bahamas and Hong Kong. The corporate tax ha- vens had dealt the global corporate tax system a dev- astating double blow, the research claims, by ren- dering statutory corpo- rate tax rates meaningless and triggering a race to the bottom that would further deplete tax revenues. The Tax Justice Network is calling on governments to implement a unitary tax approach that would align the profits of multina- tionals with the location of their real economic activity. Unitary taxation would treat multinationals as a single entity with a single set of worldwide consoli- dated accounts and then apportion the profits to var- ious jurisdictions according to a weighted formula based on the economic presence in each country. Alex Cobham, chief ex- ecutive at the Tax Justice Network, said to curtail the corporate tax avoidance, governments must finally deliver international rules that ensure profits are de- clared, and tax paid, in the places where real economic activity takes place. “Cor- porations should be taxed where their employees work, not where their ledgers hide,” he said. The organisation’s re- search does not mention the OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting initiative, which already had a sig- nificant effect on the ability of international companies to move profits to low-tax jurisdictions. Nor did it take notice of the EU tax blacklist which forced the overseas territo- ries and other offshore cen- tres to introduce economic substance requirements to justify having corporate profits fall under the tax regime there. It, however, attacked the UK as “the world’s greatest enabler of corporate tax avoidance” with “its corpo- rate tax haven network”, saying the country had single-handedly done most of the damage to the global corporate tax system. The UK together with the United Arab Emir- ates, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands also came under fire for their vast networks of double tax treaties, which re- duce withholding tax rates in low income and lower middle income countries to a level that is lower than the one offered by high in- come countries. This “double whammy” of corporate tax avoidance risks and reduced with- holding rates made it dif- ficult for low income coun- tries to stop the flow of tax revenues from their econo- mies, the tax advocates said. It is a matter for debate how much of a problem corporate tax avoidance really is. A recent report by tax campaigner Richard Murphy, a long-standing member of the Tax Justice Network, found that the main problem in Europe is not with corporate tax avoidance, but the much larger onshore tax evasion by individual taxpayers. Murphy estimates in his January 2019 report ‘The European Tax Gap’ that do- mestic tax evasion on the continent is responsible for lost tax revenue of between €750 billion and €900 bil- lion every year. The tax gap from corpo- rate tax avoidance, in con- trast, is only between €50 billion and €190bn a year, according to European Par- liament studies, cited in the report that was prepared for the Socialists and Dem- ocrats Group in the Euro- pean Parliament. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Elections chief to address port referendum meeting $180 million in financial commitments from cruise lines to the development. The Opposition group has backed the referendum cam- paign and accused the pre- mier of being “in denial” over the necessity for a na- tional vote. Newly elected Leader of the Opposition Arden McLean issued a statement Tuesday saying, “The Offi- cial Opposition Members support and applaud the cruise pier campaigners in achieving a historic first. Their determination in the face of the Government ma- chinery operating against them is a triumph for people power and the steadfast be- lief that Governments should work for, work with and not work against its people.” Next steps There are currently no of- ficial protocols or procedures in place outlining how the petition should be handled once it is submitted. The constitution in- cludes scope for a general law to be put in place out- lining the process for refer- enda, but no such law has been implemented. On the two previous occasions that referenda have been held in Cayman, for the implementa- tion of the constitution and over ‘one man, one vote’ elec- tion reform, specific bespoke legislation was introduced by government to allow each vote to take place. Howell has previously told the Compass that the Cabinet and Legislative As- sembly direct the terms of a referendum and the Elec- tions Office is then respon- sible for organising it. Government could seek to contest the validity of the petition or challenge the no- tion that the constitutional provision for people-initi- ated referendums is binding in all circumstances. Legal experts have pre- viously suggested this ap- proach is unlikely to succeed. Andrew Woodcock, of Hampson and Company, told the Compass in February that Sections 69 and 70 of the constitution, which deal with referenda, were unam- biguous and he does not be- lieve they would be open to legal challenge. Woodcock, formerly a lec- turer at the Truman Bodden Law School, said Section 69, which says government “may” call a referendum if the majority of legislators approve, referred only to government-initiated refer- endums and does not, in his view, conflict with the power of the people to force a ref- erendum through Section 70 on matters of ‘national importance’. “The effect of Section 70 is that, where a petition signed by 25% of the electorate is submitted to Cabinet, there is no discretion. A referendum must be called,” he said. “It is for this reason that it is a highly democratic provision. This is particu- larly so in a smaller juris- diction such as ours, where the number of signatures re- quired is relatively small.” Woodcock said the Con- stitution does give govern- ment the power to set the question for a people-initi- ated referendum. “As you would appreciate, the manner in which a ques- tion is phrased can have a very significant political im- pact. Therefore, the provision is not entirely democratically transparent,” he added. He said there was poten- tially some room for argu- ment over whether the issue at hand met the bar for a topic of ‘national impor- tance’. There is no definition of this phrase in the consti- tution, meaning it could be open to interpretation. “There is an argument to say that, whenever 25% of the registered voters … wish to have a matter dealt with at referendum, it must be deemed to be a question of national importance. That is, the mere fact of the interest of such a proportion of the pop- ulation renders it a question of national importance. That, however, is my own view, and is not made clear by the Con- stitution,” he added. Opposition statement McLean, in his state- ment on behalf of the oppo- sition group Tuesday, said the cruise berthing facility was the largest infrastructure project in Cayman’s history. “We all must share this planet and it is disheartening, disappointing and dispiriting to see the Government re- fusing to engage transpar- ently on the financial as well as the environmental impact of this project,” he said. “De- spite being aware that the campaign has reached the re- quired threshold, the Premier is still in denial. “While the real work is yet to come, we are encour- aged that the Caymanian people have demonstrated their intention to embrace participatory democracy, but we must express our disappointment in the Gov- ernment’s abject failure to follow suit.” More information on Thursday’s event is available at CPR Cayman’s Facebook page, by calling 327-5411 or emailing cprcayman@gmail.com. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Former Jamaican Prime Minister Edward Seaga leaves a polling station after voting in the general election, 16 Oct. 2002, in Kingston, Jamaica. – PHOTO: AP Former Jamaican PM Edward Seaga dies at 89The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 NEW YORK (AP) – Democrats will not pick their nominee for another year, but Pres- ident Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden are acting like the 2020 presidential contest is al- ready a two-man race. Almost completely ig- noring his 23 Democratic competitors, Biden has been laser-focussed on Trump – particularly his embrace of racist rhetoric. But it has been Trump’s recent focus on Biden that has surprised both his allies and critics, who believe the Republican president may be unintentionally elevating someone whose candidacy is barely a month old. Trump’s advisers have pri- vately encouraged him to lay off Biden. He has done the op- posite, lobbing more public in- sults at the former vice presi- dent than any other Democrat over the month. Trump’s latest attack was perhaps his most brazen: During a state visit to Japan on Monday, he agreed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s recent descrip- tion of Biden as a “low-IQ individual”. A Biden campaign aide on Tuesday called the comments “beneath the dignity of the office”. The campaign said it waited a day to respond out of respect for Memorial Day, a holiday that honors the ser- vice of military veterans. “To be on foreign soil, on Memorial Day, and to side re- peatedly with a murderous dictator against a fellow American and former vice president speaks for itself,” said Biden deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield. Democrats on the ground in key primary states report that the intensifying feud has strengthened Biden’s ar- gument that he’s best posi- tioned to take down Trump in 2020. For many voters, nothing matters more than electability. And with Trump’s help, Biden is dominating that debate. Regardless of the short- term political fallout, it’s be- coming increasingly clear that Trump and his allies view Biden as their most for- midable opponent. And the anti-Biden assault could be- come more organised and in- tense should Biden maintain his frontrunner status in the coming months. “Trump seems to be ob- sessed with Biden, which suggests that he’s afraid of him,” said Gary Pearce, a longtime Democratic opera- tive based in North Carolina. Trump’s attacks on Biden are not part of an organ- ised strategy, according to three people familiar with the campaign’s thinking who spoke on the condition of an- onymity to discuss internal matters. They described the situation as Trump tweeting and the campaign and the Republican National Com- mittee working overtime to keep up – as evidenced by the delays in both entities in amplifying the president’s message. It’s consistent with Trump’s view of himself as his own political strategist, prioritising his gut over the advice of aides. In recent weeks, the presi- dent has attacked Biden’s in- telligence, his energy level, his history of unwanted touching, his record on crim- inal justice reform and his dedication to Pennsylvania. Trump told Pennsylvania voters during a rally last week that Biden “deserted” them. Biden, a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, left the state as a child when his parents relocated for work. “I’ve never forgotten where I came from. My family did have to leave Pennsylvania when I was 10 – we moved to Delaware where my Dad found a job that could pro- vide for our family,” Biden tweeted. “Trump doesn’t understand the struggles working folks go through.” But Trump went further on Monday when he swiped at the former vice president on foreign soil, choosing Kim’s side over Biden’s when asked about the North Ko- rean leader’s description of the Democrat’s intelli- gence level. “I don’t take sides as to who I’m in favour or who I’m not,” Trump told reporters in Japan when asked whether he was favouring a violent dictator over the former vice president. “But I can tell you that Joe Biden was a disaster.” Trump added: “Kim Jong Un made a statement that Joe Biden is a low-IQ indi- vidual. He probably is, based on his record. I think I agree with him on that.” On Tuesday, Trump claimed that he “was actu- ally sticking up” for Biden in Japan. He said that Kim had referred to Biden as a “low IQ idiot” and that he had “re- lated the quote of Chairman Kim as a much softer ‘low IQ individual.’ “Who could possibly be upset with that?” the presi- dent tweeted. Trump’s swipes against Biden have been the subject of significant internal debate in the halls of the West Wing and his reelection campaign. Several officials, including Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, have expressed reservations that the president is helping Biden, whom they view as his strongest opponent, ac- cording to the three people familiar with the campaign’s thinking. Trump may be high- lighting Biden’s vulnerabili- ties for progressive voters, es- pecially when it comes to his history on criminal justice issues. But in attacking the former vice president, some aides believe Trump risks turning Biden into a cause célèbre for Democratic voters who are most animated by their dislike of Trump. That could prove espe- cially problematic if Biden proves most resistant to the Trump campaign’s en- trenched strategy to paint all of Trump’s opponents as “so- cialists”. Biden’s blue-collar appeal in Michigan, Pennsyl- vania and Wisconsin poses the deepest threat to the president’s path to 270 elec- toral votes. Others in Trump’s orbit are less worried and believe Biden might be the easiest to beat of the Democratic field. “I happen to believe Biden would be the weakest of the general election candidates because he’ll be carrying 47 years of baggage and will have many of same vulner- abilities as [Hillary] Clinton,” said Trump’s 2016 senior communications adviser, Jason Miller. CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 30 MAY 2019 Cuba legalises private Wi-Fi, routers Cuba state media announced Wednesday the legalisation of private Wi-Fi networks and the importation of equipment like routers, eliminating one of the world’s tightest restrictions on internet use. Cuba’s telecoms monopoly, Etecsa, remains the only internet provider on the island. Mueller: Probe did not exonerate Trump WASHINGTON (AP) – Special counsel Robert Mueller said Wednesday he believed he was constitutionally barred from charging President Donald Trump with a crime but pointedly emphasised that his Russia report did not exonerate the president. “If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so,” Mu- eller said. “We did not how- ever make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime.” He cautioned lawmakers who have been negotiating for his public testimony that he would not go beyond his report in the event he ap- pears before Congress. But he also signalled that Congress was the proper venue, not the criminal justice system, for deciding whether ac- tion should be taken against the president in connec- tion with allegations that Trump and aides obstructed the investigation of Rus- sian interference to help the Republican in the 2016 elec- tion campaign. Trump, who has repeat- edly and falsely claimed that Mueller’s report cleared him of obstruction of justice, modified that contention somewhat shortly after the special counsel’s remarks. He tweeted, “There was in- sufficient evidence and therefore, in our Country, a person is innocent. The case is closed!” Mueller’s comments were his first public statements since his appointment as special counsel two years ago. His remarks, one month after the public release of his report on Russian efforts to help Trump win the presi- dency, appeared intended to both justify the legitimacy of his investigation against complaints by the president and to explain his decision to not reach a conclusion on whether Trump had ob- structed justice. Indicting Trump, he said firmly, was “not an option” in light of a Justice Depart- ment legal opinion that says a sitting president cannot be charged. But, he said, the ab- sence of a conclusion should not be mistaken for an exon- eration of the president. “The opinion says the Constitution requires a pro- cess other than the criminal justice system to formally ac- cuse a sitting president of wrongdoing,” Mueller said, referring to the Justice De- partment legal opinion. That would shift the next move, if any, to Congress, and the chairman of the House Ju- diciary Committee, which would investigate further or begin any impeachment ef- fort, commented quickly. It falls to Congress to re- spond to the “crimes, lies and other wrongdoing of Presi- dent Trump – and we will do so”, said New York Rep. Jer- rold Nadler. Trump has blocked the committee’s subpoenas and other efforts to dig into the Trump-Russia issue, in- sisting Mueller’s report has settled everything. Mueller’s statement came amid demands for him to tes- tify on Capitol Hill about his findings and tension with At- torney General William Barr over the handling of Muel- ler’s report. That report found no criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russia to tip the outcome of the 2016 presidential election in Trump’s favour over Dem- ocrat Hillary Clinton. But it also did not reach a conclu- sion on whether the presi- dent had obstructed justice. Barr has said he was sur- prised Mueller did not reach a conclusion on whether the president had criminally ob- structed justice, though Mu- eller in his report and again in his public statement Wednesday said that he had no choice. Barr decided on his own that the evidence was not sufficient to sup- port an obstruction charge against Trump. “Under long-standing de- partment policy, a president cannot be charged with a federal crime while he is in office,” Mueller said. “That is unconstitutional. Even if the charge is kept under seal and hidden from public view that, too, is prohibited.” Mueller, for his part, com- plained privately to Barr that he believed a four-page letter from the attorney general summarising his main con- clusions did not adequately represent his findings. Mueller also appeared to put Congress on notice that he would not break new ground in the event he testi- fies on Capitol Hill. “I do not believe it is ap- propriate for me to speak fur- ther about the investigation or to comment on the actions of the Justice Department be- fore Congress.” “ If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so. We did not however make a determination as to whether the president did commit a crime.” SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT MUELLER Democratic presidential candidate Joe BidenUS President Donald Trump Feud flares up between Joe Biden, Donald Trump Special counsel Robert Muller speaks at the Department of Justice Wednesday in Washington, about the Russia investigation. – PHOTO: APNext >