High of 88 Low of 79 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. LOCAL | PAGE 2 AIRPORT FLOODED AS TORRENTIAL RAINS HIT CAYMAN LOCAL | PAGE 7 SEIZED DOGS TO BE REHOMED AFTER PARVOVIRUS CONTAINED ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2019 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 Contact us to learn more about our new member benefits at 747-2000. Get your Second Medical Opinion for FREE! www.generali-healthcare.com Premier opens diplomatic convocation CONDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR ‘CAYMANIAN UBER’ Developer plans ‘mini Camana Bay’ at Grand Harbour Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin set the stage Wednesday morning for several days of diplomatic discussions with interna- tional leaders converging upon Grand Cayman. In his remarks kicking off the ‘Pre-JMC’ meeting at the Kimpton Seafire Resort, the pre- mier emphasised the need for British Overseas Territories to unite behind common positions on a range of topics in advance of November’s Joint Ministerial Council in London, while also noting that fundamental conditions of that fu- ture meeting are, at this time, unknown. “When we get to London in November, there will be a new prime minister with his own Cabinet, and so potentially the players that we now deal with may very well be changed,” McLaughlin said. “What we do not know, as yet, is whether the October deadline for Brexit will have been met, and so we can only watch and wait as the scenarios continue to play out and work to ensure that whatever the out- come, we in the Territories are able to benefit from opportunities presented,” he said. Topics on Wednesday’s agenda included a joint Caribbean overseas territories-wide oil spill clean-up strategy, oceans policy, fintech and Brexit. A pair of discussion ses- sions were to focus on the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee report, which recommended the British government’s di- rect intervention on hot-button issues in the territories, such as same-sex marriage and enhanced electoral rights in the terri- tories for British citizens. Trade Summit Following Wednesday’s Pre-JMC gathering, the inaugural UK Government and Overseas Legislation planned to assist ride-share start-ups JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The chances of an Uber-style app getting off the ground in the Cayman Islands could hinge on new legislation currently being drafted by government. Director of Tourism Rosa Harris, who is also head of the Public Transport Board, ex- pressed support for app-based ride-share in- itiatives, but insisted such businesses will only be able to use licensed taxi drivers. She suggested Cayman would not open its doors to Uber but could provide support for a Caymanian version, with two fledg- ling local businesses currently in the devel- opment stage. In other jurisdictions, businesses like Lyft and Uber rely on a large contingent of part- time drivers to put enough cars on the road to make the business viable. In the Cayman Islands, taxi drivers are essentially a closed category of employment, with the Public Transport Board regulating if and when new licences can be granted to a waiting list of applicants. Harris said there were two companies, Flex and Cabbie, which either had trade and business licences or had expressed intent to operate app-based ride-share schemes. She said government supported their efforts and was willing to assist them, but would not allow them to use unli- cenced drivers. Speaking at a Chamber of Commerce forum last week, Harris sought to address JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The developers behind a new project in the Grand Harbour area are aiming to create a “mini Camana Bay” after being granted planning permission last week. Harbour Walk, which will feature shops, offices, a restaurant, café and apartments, will break ground next month on a two- year build. Realtor Jeremy Hurst, one of the part- ners in the project, said it aimed to fill a niche in the growing Grand Har- bour community. “Harbour Walk is in many ways a mini Camana Bay in terms of quality and ameni- ties and its mixed use nature,” he said. “This destination location will be a very positive addition to the Grand Harbour area, bringing in amenities and services which aren’t currently available off of the Seven Mile Beach corridor.” The development will also fea- ture a rooftop jogging track, open-air gym and swimming pool, as well as a wine and tapas bar. Hurst said reservations for the apart- ments were going well and the development team was working hard to ensure the right mix of tenants. The developers appeared before the Cen- tral Planning Authority last week, and the project was approved with no public ob- jections. A total of 26 retail and restaurant spaces are slated for the bottom floor, with 62 one- and two-bed apartments on the upper floors. The development also features space for eight offices. This rendering shows an aerial view of the Harbour Walk development. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 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 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) 4:10 I 10:10 CHILD’S PLAY (R) 1:00 VIP | 4:00 | 6:40 VIP | 7:20 | 10:00 MEN IN BLACK (PG-13) INTERNATIONAL 1:40 | 3:50 VIP | 4:45 I 7:30 | 9:50 TOY STORY 4 (G) 12:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 ANNA (R) 12:50 | 4:10 | 7:00 | 9:30 VIP | 10:00 X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX (PG-13) 1:15 | 10:15 SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2 (PG) 1:25 | 7:35 ank you to Dr. De Alwis & Sta for a very professional service. I thought that this surgery would be a complicated one, but they made it very simple and I am now in good health. anks to God, Dr. De. Alwis & Team. Christine Seymour Airport flooded as torrential rains hit Cayman JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Heavy rain caused flooding in parts of Cayman, Tuesday, including at the new multi-million dollar air- port terminal. Images of parts of the newly developed $68 mil- lion terminal inundated with water spread through so- cial media Tuesday as users questioned how such a re- cent development could be flooded so easily. Airport chiefs met Wednesday to get to grips with the problem. A state- ment from the Cayman Is- lands Airports Authority on Wednesday afternoon attrib- uted the flooding to overflow from a 220,000 gallon water cistern and insisted there were no leaks or structural issues with the building. The water tank, supplied by rainwater from the air- port’s roof and primarily used for fire protection and irrigation, was “overwhelmed” by the “extreme weather”, of- ficials said. The overflow from the cis- tern had a knock-on effect on a deep well which also over- flowed, causing the flooding in the terminal. “The flooding was not a result of any roof leaks or water ingress under doors,” the statement read. “At no time was there more than one inch of water in the ter- minal. The main affected areas were a portion of the departure hall and utility rooms. Crews were mobi- lized immediately to miti- gate the cistern levels by using ancillary pumping equipment and to address the flooding clean up.” The statement added that an airport “action team” has been put together to identify flooding causes and solutions. Meanwhile, residents vented on social media and in messages to media outlets. One Compass reader wrote on Tuesday, “After to- day’s heavy rainfall in the [George Town] area for a few hours, the airport departure lounge flooded. Water was also coming through baggage claim. The walkways outside that passengers take were also covered in water; and of course passengers then had to board/deplane in the torrential rain. What I don’t understand is why we had flooding inside the airport?” The heavy rain caused flooding elsewhere across Grand Cayman. At the Humane Society, as the shelter’s cat room and car park filled with water, the or- ganisation issued an appeal over social media for people to foster cats and dogs. Rainy weather conditions are expected to continue at least until Saturday. Images of parts of the newly developed $68 million terminal inundated with water spread through social media Tuesday as users questioned how such a recent development could be flooded so easily. CORRECTION An article published in Business in Brief in Cayman Compass on 26 June incorrectly stated that Giosino Colai- acovo joined the Chamber Pension board of trustees as fi- nance director. In fact, he joined the board as a trustee. He is also a finance director at Flow. Cayman chefs excel in Caribbean competition MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s Bradley McLaughlin had used squid as fishing bait, but he had never had to clean and sauté the mollusc before Tuesday, during the Junior Chef of the Year competition at the Taste of Caribbean event in Miami, Florida. McLaughlin, 17, was up against 13 other chefs from various Caribbean nations – all of whom were older than he – in a competition where they received a ‘mys- tery basket’ that contained both the squid and beef sir- loin. The budding chefs had a community table of ingre- dients they could utilise to come up with a menu fea- turing the beef and seafood. The chefs, McLaughlin said, were given 15 minutes to submit a list of dishes, an hour to prep and an hour to cook. The Caribbean cole- slaw, potato medley cake, garlic and butter squid, pan- seared sirloin and breadfruit chips he prepared earned him a silver medal in the competition. McLaughlin, a member of the Cayman Youth Culinary Programme, was part of a five-person team that came away with the overall gold medal at the nearly week- long event. Cayman repre- sentatives won other top awards including Chef of the Year, winner in the sea- food competition, and a gold medal in the pastry event. Cayman also won a spe- cial award for the best mys- tery bar drink. A student at the Univer- sity College of the Cayman Islands, McLaughlin said he was a bit disappointed that his inaugural performance at Taste of Caribbean did not put him in first place. “My goal was to put Cayman in the gold medal position,” he said. “Next year’s going to be different.” McLaughlin, who hopes to one day have his own fine dining restaurant in Cayman, said he trained once a week for two months preparing for the international event. The training amounted to having other chefs “throw different ingredients” at him. Those included combinations such as fish and pork or scallops and octopus. He said the hardest part of the preparation was cleaning the squid and trim- ming the beef properly. Only one thing went wrong, he said, and that was burning the jus for the beef. “I burned the jus at first,” he said. “I quickly remade [it]. I had to improvise because I couldn’t go back to the com- munity table. I utilised all of my scraps to make some beef stock.” He added some sorrel, which he had on hand, and some beef base before re- ducing it. In the end, he said, everything came out the way he wanted. He was coached along the way by chef Jason Ao, who works at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Ao won the top indi- vidual title at the event and was named Chef of the Year. Dimuth Munasingha won the seafood competi- tion, and a gold medal in the pastry division went to Baranidharan Thiruna- vukkarasu. Cayman Youth Culinary Programme’s Brittney Bodden earned an honourable mention in the beef competition. Cayman’s team of chefs won an overall gold medal in the regional culinary contest. Bradley McLaughlin and Brittney Bodden took part in the Taste of Caribbean culinary competition in Miami, Florida. Areas of the recently opened terminal building at Owen Roberts International Airport flooded on Tuesday during a torrential downpour.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2019 THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 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” Remembering the legacy of Anthony Bourdain JASON REZAIAN Earlier this year, I vis- ited San Quentin prison on the edge of San Rafael, Cal- ifornia, where I grew up. I was speaking with a group of inmates when one of them interrupted me. “I know you and Iran be- cause of Anthony Bour- dain,” he said. His face lit up, and tears welled in his eyes. “I travelled the world with that man. He was like family to me.” I tell that story because it reminds me of what makes him so special to so many people around the world. It’s his rare ability to hu- manise those who are dif- ferent than us by providing a vehicle for telling their sto- ries. I write of him in the present because that im- pact is as profound as ever – even though we will never see a prison episode of ‘Parts Unknown’. Bourdain, though, left an incredible body of work that tells the story, usually two beats ahead, of our times. He also left a large extended universe of characters to keep telling those stories, among which I’m proud to count myself. Several weeks ago, two of his closest friends, chefs José Andrés and Eric Ripert, both of whom immigrated to the United States as adults and went on to become icons in the culinary world, decided to proclaim his birthday, 25 June, Bourdain Day, asking friends, fans and others influenced by Bourdain to mark the occa- sion by raising a glass and sharing it online. They also helped set up a scholarship for students of the Culinary Institute of America – Bourdain’s alma mater – to study abroad and explore their curiosities. I asked Andrés why it was so important for him to honour Bourdain’s legacy at this time. “He was the voice of the voiceless, and we miss him in moments that immigrants in the USA and refugees in the world are under attack,” Andrés told me via text mes- sage from Singapore, where he and Ripert celebrated Bourdain Day by eating chili crabs and drinking beer at a street food stall. I thought of the first en- counter I had with Bour- dain at a mountaintop res- taurant in Tehran. My wife and I joined him to shoot a segment of ‘Parts Unknown’. I was embarrassed by the lacklustre performance the kitchen turned out that day. I had told the kitchen staff before Bourdain and the crew arrived that they were about to serve the most in- fluential person in the his- tory of food journalism. Bourdain was un- fazed, though, by the medi- ocre kebabs. “It’s not always about the food,” he told me, and he meant it. Food, though, was a great connector, and by the end of that meal we were dis- cussing the important role culinary diplomacy can play in breaking down walls of misperceptions between civ- ilisations. He knew why his work mattered. Fortunately, so do we. Bourdain “brought us all closer together”, Andrés told me. He “made us not be afraid of those that were not like us. One story at [a] time.” Jason Rezaian is a writer for Global Opinions. He served as The Post’s correspondent in Tehran from 2012 to 2016. He spent 544 days unjustly imprisoned by Iranian authorities until his release in January 2016. © 2019, The Washington Post Bourdain left an incredible body of work that tells the story, usually two beats ahead, of our times. The late Anthony Bourdain, right, with fellow chef Eric Ripert at 2016’s Cayman Cookout. - PHOTO: STEPHEN CLARKE The most inspiring World Cup story this month isn’t about football MILI MITRA The most inspiring World Cup story this month doesn’t involve the players of the U.S. women’s national team, de- spite their many triumphs. It doesn’t involve a soccer team at all. And it doesn’t even in- volve a team that is winning. The most genuinely feel-good sports story of the moment is the fearless play of the Af- ghanistan national team in the Cricket World Cup cur- rently under way in Eng- land and Wales. Cricket has an esti- mated 2.5 billion followers throughout the world. Most of those fans live in former British colonies, where Afghanistan’s captain Gulbadin Naib celebrates taking the wicket of Australia’s captain Aaron Finch during the Cricket World Cup match between Afghanistan and Australia at Bristol County Ground in Bristol, England, on 1 June. Afghanistan is taking part in its second-ever Cricket World Cup. - PHOTO: AP cricket became a focal point for resistance – anti-colonial and otherwise. Today, many of those countries are cricket powerhouses. But few of them can match the Afghan team’s origin story or the pro- gress it has made in about a decade of play. In only its second World Cup, Afghani- stan has surprised the tour- nament’s viewers by playing an exciting, if reckless, style of cricket that relies more on big swings than game- long strategy. After being trounced in five successive matches, the underdog team came within six balls of de- feating India, ranked second in the world, on Saturday. The match, and the international plaudits the team has re- ceived since, are the culmina- tion of a hard-won fight. Under the Taliban, cricket was banned in Afghanistan along with most other sports. The ban on cricket was lifted in 2000, a year before the US invasion, which subsequently made it difficult for cricket, or any other sport, to take off nationally. Where the game really flourished was in the refugee camps across the border in Pakistan. People – mostly young boys and men, but also some girls – played cricket on the streets with makeshift equipment and no protective gear. The players that form the backbone of this cur- rent Afghanistan team came from refugee camps near Pe- shawar, Pakistan. After beginning to play on a dusty field in Kabul, they began to impress in ICC World Cricket League Divi- sion matches in places such as Tanzania and Argentina. Soon, the team attracted a devoted following and won funding from people in Af- ghanistan, the British gov- ernment and the Asian Cricket Council.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2019 Digital Cayman to advocate for the tech industry MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com A new digital sector in- dustry body, called Digital Cayman, was launched last week with the aim of devel- oping and growing Cayman’s digital economy. The establishment of the non-profit organisation was announced at the Cayman Is- lands Digital Economy Con- ference (CyDEC) on 20 June. “The digital economy is growing rapidly, and the digital revolution is well and truly under way on a global scale,” said Digital Cayman executive board member Chris Wall, owner of Walzzy Creative SEZC, and co-founder of Grappzie, a UK-based digital first mar- ketplace for personalised creativity. “As an industry-led, not- for-profit organisation, Dig- ital Cayman aims to culti- vate Cayman’s dynamic and innovative digital ecosystem to ensure that the Cayman Is- lands adopts and adapts to this ever-changing environ- ment,” he said. The idea for an organisa- tion to support the govern- ment in the development of industry-specific policy and legislation was developed at the 2018 CyDEC conference during a meeting of industry professionals and govern- ment representatives. Paul Byles, Digital Cayman executive board member, founder of the CyDEC con- ference, and director at man- agement consulting company FTS, said, “We’re on a mission to strengthen Cayman’s dig- ital sector by advocating for positive policy changes that will encourage the growth of the digital sector while ad- hering to appropriate stand- ards for risk and reputational management purposes.” Minister of Financial Ser- vices Tara Rivers said at this year’s CyDEC event, “We look forward to engaging with Digital Cayman as we ex- plore new regulatory needs and legislation to ensure that the Cayman Islands remains at the forefront of innovation, and compliant with Interna- tional standards.” Digital Cayman is cur- rently facilitated by a steering committee of 15 technology professionals and industry leaders, and is supported by Cayman’s special economic zone Cayman Enterprise City. John Edge, Digital Cayman committee member and Connection Science Fellow at Massachusetts In- stitute of Technology, said that the growing number of opportunities for the Cayman Islands is significant. “Digital Cayman is a much-needed in- dustry group which will co- ordinate and champion op- portunities to make certain that the Cayman Islands plays a meaningful global role in the data economy through its proven trust and fiduciary services,” he said. CyDEC conference The second annual Cayman Islands Digital Economy Conference at the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa discussed fintech, blockchain, cryptocurrency and digiti- sation topics, and their im- plications for the future of Cayman economy. A day after the announce- ment of Facebook’s own dig- ital currency, Libra, Justin Fisher, CEO and co-founder of VeriBlock, presented the pros and cons of this system and how it will allow billions of users to make financial transactions across the globe in a move that could change the world’s banking system. With the dramatic highs and lows of the cryptocur- rency landscape in recent years, Nolan Bauerle, writer and researcher at CoinDesk delved into the current cryp- tocurrency climate and dis- cussed how far the digital economy has come, finishing on a discussion around arti- ficial intelligence and how it will impact our lives. As the integration of dig- ital technology becomes ap- parent in our everyday lives, Kwaku Aning, director at the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Thinking, discussed how the digitisa- tion of education practices can both improve and hinder our children’s way of learning as we move from ‘old school’ to ‘new school’ systems. Initial coin offerings, or ICOs, remain an opportunity for international financial centres, such as the Cayman Islands, according to Ravi Bahadursingh, barrister at Chancery Lane Chambers, who explored how these risks can be managed and where this structure is headed in the future. Expert panels featuring international and local ex- perts focussed on how reg- ulators should manage the risks associated with fintech and what the future of the digital economy might look like and how our lives are being ‘disrupted’. The conference also brought together students from local schools that re- cently competed in the Dart Minds Inspired ‘Rover Ruckus’ challenge, to discuss the importance of this pro- gramme in Cayman and dem- onstrate their fascinating ro- botic creations. Conference organiser Paul Byles said, “The speakers for this year’s conference truly captured what the digital economy signifies and how these developments will im- pact our way of life and the way we do business in the Cayman Islands.” Conference sponsor Cayman Tech City invited 10 students to attend the confer- ence who had expressed an interest in technology through the CEC ‘Summer in the City’ internship programme. “With an eye to the future, Cayman Enterprise City is in- spiring the next generation to pursue technology-driven ca- reers by connecting students with the experts, supporting forward-looking programs like CyDEC and providing en- gaging learning opportuni- ties within Cayman’s special economic zones,” said Kaitlyn Elphinstone, VP Marketing, Cayman Enterprise City. Chris Wall, Digital Cayman executive board member, announces the new digital sector organisation at the 2019 CyDEC conference.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, 27 JUNE 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS FRIDAY, 28 JUNE STUDENT REGISTRATION CLOSES: The registration for students enrolling in, or transferring to, government schools for the 2019/2020 school year will close today. YOUTH CONVOCATION: A Youth Convocation featuring 22-year-old US motivational speaker and singer Jekalyn Carr will be held at the Law Courts today at 4pm. SATURDAY, 29 JUNE ALL-STAR FOOTBALL: International, regional and local football stars will take part in a match organised by Celebrate Cayman to mark the 60th anniversary of Cayman’s Constitution. Admittance is free. Gates open at 3pm, kick-off is at 6pm, at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. KIDFEST: Family fun day at Pedro St. James in memory of baby Nolan Evans. 2-6pm. Children 13 and under, free; ages 14 and over, $25. Raffle prizes, face painting, complimentary sno-cones and pizza slices, bouncy castle, lawn games, live entertainment, food and drink sales, Kids Zumba. First 50 kids through the gate on the day get a free gift bag. Proceeds go towards helping children with congenital heart defects. FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST: The Grand Cayman chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International is having its monthly breakfast this morning at 7:30am, at Aroma (formerly Lola’s) restaurant in Camana Bay. There will be open sharing. SUNDAY, 30 JUNE TALENT SHOW: The New Self Help Community Foundation presents the annual Xposition of the Arts talent show at the Harquail Theatre. Doors open at 5:30pm, show begins at 6:30pm. Tickets are $10 if prepaid and $15 at the door. Tickets can be bought in advance at Funky Tang’s or Winners Circle Sports. Proceeds go to the Frances Bodden Children’s Home. GOSPEL FEST: A fundraising gospel concert featuring Grammy Award nominated US gospel singer Jekalyn Carr will be held at 6:30pm at the Lions Centre. Gates open at 4:30pm. All proceeds go to fund a scholarship to Northern Caribbean University. ENVIROWALK: A 5K walk/ run will be held this morning at SafeHaven to bring awareness to the environment and to raise funds for the 2019 Miss World Cayman pageant in September. Bring a water bottle, hats, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes. $25 for adults and $12 for 12 and under. MONDAY, 1 JULY PUBLIC HOLIDAY: Today is a public holiday in the Cayman Islands to mark Constitution Day. Fireworks will be held at The Crescent in Camana Bay at 8:30pm. Bring the family to enjoy delicious food and drinks plus live music from DJ Derek at 6:30-9:30pm. VOTER REGISTRATION: The deadline for voter registration for the 1 Oct. 2019 Official Register of Electors has been extended until 8pm today to accommodate the public holiday on 1 July. People seeking to register as electors may do so at the Elections Office in Grand Cayman. Persons seeking to register in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman may contact Registering Officer Ellen Lazzari at 948-1707. Details on voter registration requirements can be found on the Elections Office Website at www.elections.ky. SATURDAY, 6 JULY MANGO SEASON AT MUSEUM: The 4th annual Lookya Mango Season at the Museum will be held today, from 10am to 2pm at the National Museum in downtown George Town. BEACH CLEAN-UP: Plastic Free Cayman holds its monthly community clean-up at Sand Hole Beach, Sand Hole Road in West Bay, at 8am. All welcome. Bring a reusable water bottle, hat and gloves if you have them. Chance to win a trip for two with Red Sail Sports. GENERAL INTEREST EXTENDED ELECTIONS OFFICE HOURS: The Elections Office is extending its office hours to allow individuals to come in to verify their signatures on the Cruise Port Referendum petition. Office hours will run from 8:30am to 6:30pm on Monday to Thursday and 8:30am to 5pm on Fridays. On Saturday, 29 June, the Elections Office will also open between the hours of 10am to 3pm at Smith Road Centre for verification and registration purposes. HIV TESTING: The Health Services Authority, Cayman AIDS Foundation and Cayman Islands Red Cross are offering free HIV testing throughout this week, until Saturday, 29 June. No appointment is necessary. Testing is being carried out at the following locations and times – George Town General Practice Clinic, 24-28 June, 9am-1pm; Bodden Town Health Centre, 24-28 June, 9am-1pm; West Bay Health Centre, 24, 25, 27 and 28 June, 9am-1pm; East End Health Centre, 24-28 June, 1-3pm (Mon), 9am-1pm (Tues-Fri); North Side Health Centre, 25 and 28 June, 9:30am-12:30pm (Tues) and 8:30am-2pm (Fri); Cayman Islands Red Cross, Cayman Corporate Centre, 27 Hospital Road, 1st Floor, 25 and 26 June, 2-4pm; Seven Mile Medical Clinic, 29 June, 9am-noon; Faith Hospital, Cayman Brac, 26 June, 9am-1pm; Little Cayman Clinic, 25 June, 9am-1pm. YMCA SUMMER CAMPS: Registration for YMCA Summer Camps is now open. Camps will take place from 2 July to 23 Aug. across three locations – Field of Dreams, Camana Bay Sports Complex and the Youth Centre at the Cayman Islands Baptist Church in Savannah. Families can also register for Y Fun Days, which are offered Wednesday– Friday, 26-28 June, at Field of Dreams. For more information, visit www.ymcacayman.ky. On-site registration is open weekdays from 9am to 5pm at the Field of Dreams. The Day Camp team can also be reached at ysummercamp@ ymcacayman.ky. To find out about financial assistance, which is available for families in need, email info@ymcacayman.ky. 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/200pcs $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 5 June, 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. SQUASH CLUB: The Cayman Islands Squash Club hosts a social evening for women on the last Tuesday of every month at 6:30pm, and holds squash beginner lessons for adults every Monday at 7pm. For more information, email info@squash.ky. 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; Tues-Fri 9:30am to 4pm; Sat 9:30am to 4:30pm. Volunteers are 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, 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Gospel singer and motivational speaker Jekalyn Carr will take part in a number of events during a visit to Cayman this week, including a Youth Convocation at the Law Courts on Friday afternoon and a concert at the Lions Centre on Sunday evening.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2019 #NOTYOURSPOTKY LAZY IS NOT A DISABILITY. “ I’m running late. ” “ I’ll just be a minute. ” “ I can see my car from the store I’m in. ” It’s easy to be tempted to use a vacant disabled parking spot, but every day people with disabilities can’t find parking spaces when they need them. Seized dogs to be rehomed after parvovirus contained JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Scores of dogs confiscated in Cay- man’s biggest ever seizure of mistreated animals could be put up for adoption in the coming weeks after being given the all-clear following an outbreak of the deadly parvovirus. Eight of the 53 dogs seized died from the virus and the others were kept in quarantine at the Department of Agricul- ture’s shelter. Now officials say there have been no confirmed cases of parvovirus for more than three weeks and vets are confident the outbreak has been contained. The dogs, a mix of small breeds in- cluding Shih Tzu, Yorkshire terriers, Maltese, Dachshund and Pekingese, were seized from a Prospect home in a joint operation between police and the DOA in May. They were being housed in unsani- tary conditions and had serious health issues. Photos provided by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service showed the animals in small cages lined with faeces-smeared paper. DOA deputy di- rector Brian Crichlow said at the time that it was one of the worst cases the department had ever seen. The outbreak of parvovirus combined with the general ill-health of the animals restricted hopes of rehoming them. Adrian Estwick, director of the DOA, said this week, “At present, there are now 45 dogs from the Prospect location remaining at the shelter. All of the re- maining dogs are now in notably better health and condition. “In the coming week, the department will engage with the local animal chari- ties to discuss options for the way for- ward for the rehoming and eventual adoption of the dogs.” He said the timeline for getting the dogs adopted depended on the charities’ resources, availability of suitable foster care, the dogs health in terms of their fitness for vaccination, spay and neuter and “the appropriate legal authorities”. He said the recovery of the dogs and the containment of the virus had been made possible by the hard work of the DOA’s veterinary team and other staff. Eight of the 53 dogs seized died from the virus and the others were kept in quarantine at the Department of Agriculture’s shelter. Police and Department of Agriculture staff removed 53 dogs from a Prospect home last month. Verdict appeal denied in immigration staffers’ cocaine case SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former immigration staffers Stephen Wayne Hurlston and Oscar Lee Watler had their appeal of a conviction for possession of cocaine with intent to supply dismissed in Grand Court Wednesday. Justice Roger Chapple found that Magistrate Kirsty-Ann Gunn’s ver- dict was “entirely permis- sible and justified”, but he allowed more time to con- sider an appeal of the sen- tence of 12.5 years. Hurlston and Watler were arrested in October 2015 after 1.6 pounds of co- caine was found in a yellow package underneath their car, which was parked in a secluded lot near Patrick’s Island. Both men were found standing nearby. Several items – a scale, plastic bags and a razor – were found at the scene of the crime. The scale was found in Watler’s pocket. No DNA was found on an analysis of the drug package, and nothing was found in a search of the suspects’ homes. Defence counsel Norman Hill appealed on the grounds that the find- ings of fact were prema- turely found by the magis- trate, and he alleged that it was an unreasonable ver- dict in light of the evidence. Justice Chapple said it was “abundantly clear” that Magistrate Gunn had followed legal precedent in reaching her decision, and he said there was no way for a police officer to prohibit a suspect from making a spontaneous ad- mission of guilt midway through cautioning them. The verdict was reached, said Justice Chapple, after a careful and detailed anal- ysis of evidence. Watler’s appeal of his sentence stemmed from con- cerns about his health due to his status as a recipient of a kidney transplant. Jus- tice Chapple said the Crown will investigate with North- ward whether conditions are a threat to the inmate’s health before deciding the appeal of sentence. The parties will be due back in court on 19 July.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 Territories Trade Summit is set to take place on Thursday and Friday, co-hosted by Premier McLaughlin and British Overseas Territories Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, who was to arrive in Cayman Wednesday evening. The trade summit agenda includes speeches and panels featuring local, regional and international government of- ficials, plus presentations from private industry, in- cluding the Michelin Guide and Silicon Valley law firm Cooley LLP. Also set to speak are Health City founder Dr. Devi Shetty and Cayman Fi- nance CEO Jude Scott on op- portunities in healthcare and fintech, respectively. Among the trade summit participants are the elected leaders of Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Falk- land Islands, Gibraltar, Mont- serrat, St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha, and Turks and Ca- icos Islands. Jamaica, UK leaders On Friday, Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Hol- ness is scheduled to arrive in Cayman to engage in bi- lateral discussions with Lord Ahmad. Also arriving Friday are members of the UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group for the Cayman Islands – MPs Sir Graham Brady, Sir Michael Fallon and Lord Northbrook, who are visiting in order to learn about Cayman, but also to participate in the 60th an- niversary celebrations of Cay- man’s written Constitution. Lord Ahmad’s three- day visit coincides with the summit and the arrival of British naval ship RFA Mounts Bay, which will per- form a training exercise on Seven Mile Beach on Friday. In his remarks Wednesday morning, the premier praised Lord Ahmad and said he hopes that, regardless of the outcomes of the UK prime ministerial contest and Brexit, that Lord Ahmad con- tinues as overseas territo- ries minister. “I think we can all agree that he has done a stellar job over the past two years and that he has a shown willingness to fight the es- tablishments when needed on behalf of the people in our territories,” Premier McLaughlin said. THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS criticism that the tourism and transport industry had not moved swiftly enough to address concerns about overcharging, inconsistent fares and taxi availability. She said government had specific solutions in mind, but she could not say what those solutions were until new legislation had been drafted. She said that legisla- tion would also consider regulation for ride-share businesses. “I think we should have a Caymanian Uber,” she said, when asked about the possibility of ride-share apps on island. “I would prefer it to stay in the Cayman Is- lands and be a Cayman- owned business. “We support the taxi apps that are proposed. The legislation will also propel those companies by giving them the framework of a new taxi fare scheme, and we will work with them as well.” She did not indicate if the ministry planned to open up additional Public Transport Board licences – something that is con- sidered crucial to allow those businesses to reg- ister enough drivers to be viable. The owners of Flex, speaking to the Cayman Compass in March, said they were working to- wards a pilot launch with around 30 drivers. But their efforts were delayed because a lack of new li- cence slots made it dif- ficult to register drivers. Eventually, they would like to hire around 150 drivers and offer round the clock service. Speaking more gener- ally about concerns over taxis and the level of ser- vice provided, Harris said the Public Transport Board had been working on a solution for the past 18 months as part of a broader review of public transport. She said the board had also heard concerns from taxi drivers that their fares were not high enough. “We have business solu- tions that we are working on, but it is dependent on legislation that is cur- rently being drafted,” she said. Those solutions will not be announced until the legislation is in place, she added. “You can take … reas- surance that the board has heard the public outcry over inconsistent taxi fares,” she said. “We have also heard from taxis that they haven’t had a raise since 2008, and we are trying to balance those concerns.” Premier opens diplomatic convocation Conditional support for ‘Caymanian Uber’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Chamber of Commerce dubs Dart tower ‘high-rise jungle’ JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Business leaders have spoken out against the Dart group’s plans for a so-called ‘iconic tower’ in the Cayman Islands, saying it is “not needed nor wanted” by the larger community. Chamber of Commerce President Chris Kirkconnell said the overwhelming con- sensus of the business group was that Cayman does not need to become a “high-rise jungle”. Dart has highlighted hopes to create a tower that will greatly exceed Cayman’s current 10-storey building height limit. The com- pany has said it would in- vest around $1.5 billion in the building and related in- frastructure. Premier Alden McLaughlin has indicated tentative support for the pro- posal, saying it is something Cayman should take a “long, hard look” at. But Kirkconnell stated at a Chamber of Commerce Economic Forum last week and again in a press re- lease Wednesday that busi- ness leaders do not believe it would be good for the island. “We are already pushing our limits with the current building height restrictions and Caymanians from all walks of life, including mem- bers of the Chamber Council, all seem to agree that a 50-, 80- or 100-storey tower or skyscraper planted directly in the heart of Seven Mile Beach is not only not a sus- tainable way forward for our island, it is not needed nor wanted by the larger commu- nity,” he said. Justin Howe, executive vice president of Real Estate Development and Operations for Decco, Dart’s develop- ment arm, gave the opposite perspective at the Chamber forum as he outlined Dart’s vision for a waterfront building on Seven Mile Beach, within the expanding Camana Bay development. He said a five-star sky- scraper resort that is in- stantly recognisable all over the world would signal strength, attract visitors and potentially draw billionaire investors to Cayman. Howe referred to the ob- servation decks of the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building, the rooftop infinity pool of Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands, or the vertical gardens of the Oasis tower in Dubai as examples of other iconic buildings. “An iconic tower has the potential to be more than just a building. It can become a symbol of Cayman’s standing on the world stage,” he said. Chamber of Commerce President Chris Kirkconnell speaks at an economic forum last week. Business owners want to ditch rollover Business owners would like to see a review of Cay- man’s ‘rollover’ policy, re- quiring work permit holders to either leave the island or apply for permanent resi- dency status after nine years. A survey of Chamber of Commerce members revealed that 70% of respondents do not support the current policy. Chamber President Chris Kirkconnell told delegates at last week’s Chamber of Com- merce Economic Forum, “The survey received a good re- sponse from a cross section of business sizes and from a cross section of the Cayman economy. The respondents re- ally showed us that they are unhappy with the current term limit policy. “At the Chamber of Com- merce, it is one of our key objectives to provide a col- lective voice for our mem- bers. Through the survey, our members have made it clear that the current term limit policy is disruptive to organi- sational stability, does not in- crease available Cayman em- ployees and, while the route to citizenship should be en- couraged, there could be an opt out option to allow indi- viduals to remain here, sub- ject to work permits.” “We plan to work closely with the current adminis- tration to have these con- cerns properly reviewed and addressed.” Delegates gather at Wednesday’s ‘Pre-JMC’ meeting at the Kimpton Seafire Resort. - PHOTO: SUBMITTED “ We support the taxi apps that are proposed. The legislation will also propel those companies by giving them the framework of a new taxi fare scheme, and we will work with them as well.” ROSA HARRIS, head of the Public Transport BoardThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 27 JUNE 2019 Dengue deaths in Brazil up 163% Brazil’s health ministry says deaths from dengue fever in the last six months have risen 163% from the same period last year. A report published Friday said 366 people died from the mosquito-borne disease from 30 Dec. through 8 June. It also noted a total of 1.1 million probable dengue cases. Sadly Missed by Mom, Dad and Family. TWO SAD YEARS WITHOUT YOUD YEARS WITHOUT YOU Cristiano T. D. McKenzie July 29, 2013 - June 27, 2017 It’s sometimes hard to know why some things happen as they do for so much joy and happiness was centered around you It seems so hard to comprehend that you’re no longer here but all the happy memories will help to keep you near You’re thought about with pride, Son with each mention of your name death cannot change a single thing the love will still remain Robert Mueller to testify publicly before two House committees WASHINGTON (AP) – Former special counsel Robert Mu- eller has agreed to testify publicly before Congress on 17 July after Democrats is- sued subpoenas to compel him to appear, the chairmen of two House commit- tees announced. Mueller’s unusual back- to-back testimony in front of the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees is likely to be the most highly anticipated congressional hearing in years, particularly given Mueller’s resolute si- lence throughout his two- year investigation into Rus- sian contacts with President Donald Trump’s campaign. Mueller never responded to angry, public attacks from Trump, nor did he ever per- sonally join his prosecutors in court or make announce- ments of criminal charges from the team. His sole public statement came from the Justice De- partment podium last month as he announced his depar- ture, when he sought to ex- plain his decision to not in- dict Trump or to accuse him of criminal conduct. He also put lawmakers on notice that he did not ever intend to say more than what he put in the 448-page report. “We chose those words carefully, and the work speaks for itself,” Mueller said May 29. “I would not provide information beyond what is already public in any appearance before Congress.” Those remarks did little to settle the demands for his testimony. The two commit- tees continued negotiations that had already been going on for weeks, saying they still wanted to hear from Mu- eller no matter how reluc- tant he was. “When you accept the role of special counsel in one of the most significant inves- tigations in modern history you’re going to have to ex- pect that you’re going to be asked to come and testify be- fore Congress,” House Intel- ligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., told reporters shortly after the announcement. Trump himself simply tweeted, “Presidential Har- assment!” He followed up on Wednesday morning in an interview with Fox Busi- ness Network, saying, “It never ends,” then adding his usual list of grievances against the way the probe was conducted. In the report issued in April, Mueller concluded there was not enough evi- dence to establish a con- spiracy between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia, which was the orig- inal question that started the investigation. But he also said he could not exonerate Trump on obstruction of jus- tice. The report examined several episodes in which Trump attempted to influence the investigation. Democrats say it is now the job of Congress to as- sess the report’s findings. Lawmakers are likely to con- front Mueller on why he did not come to a firm conclu- sion on obstruction of justice. They are also likely to seek his reaction to a drumbeat of incessant criticism from the president and ask for his personal opinion about whether Trump would have been charged were he not the commander-in-chief. Schiff and House Judi- ciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said they is- sued the subpoenas Tuesday, and Mueller agreed to testify pursuant to those subpoenas. In a letter to Mueller accom- panying the subpoenas, the committee chairmen said “the American public deserves to hear directly from you about your investigation and conclusions”. Schiff said there will be two hearings “back-to-back”, one for each committee, and they will also meet with Mu- eller’s staff in closed ses- sion afterward. The Justice Department declined to comment. Mueller’s unusual back-to-back testimony in front of the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees is likely to be the most highly anticipated congressional hearing in years. Former Special counsel Robert Mueller has agreed to testify publicly before two back-to-back House committees. – PHOTO: AP Powell says US economy facing growing uncertainties WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Tuesday the out- look for the US economy has become cloudier since early May, with rising uncertain- ties over trade and global growth causing the central bank to reassess its next move on interest rates. Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Powell said the Fed is now grappling with the ques- tion of whether those un- certainties will continue to weigh on the outlook and re- quire action. Powell did not commit to a rate cut but said the central bank will closely monitor in- coming data and be prepared to “act as appropriate to sus- tain the expansion”. “The crosscurrents have reemerged, with apparent progress on trade turning to greater uncertainty and with incoming data raising renewed concerns about the strength of the global economy,” Powell said. Many economists believe the Fed could decide at its next meeting on 30-31 July to cut its key policy rate, something it has not done since 2008. But markets showed dis- appointment with Powell’s comments, which suggested a rate cut was not certain. That followed separate comments Tuesday by James Bullard, head of the Fed’s St. Louis re- gional bank, who said that he believed a quarter-point cut in July would be suffi- cient as an insurance move against a possible severe eco- nomic slowdown. In addition to disappoint- ment with the Fed com- ments, reports showing a drop in consumer confi- dence and weakness in the housing market added to in- vestor gloom. In an interview with Bloomberg television, Bul- lard said an “insurance cut” of a quarter-point would be enough to protect against a sharper-than-expected slow- down in economic growth and a half-percentage point cut would be “overdone”. Bul- lard last week cast the lone dissent from the Fed’s deci- sion to hold rates steady, fa- vouring instead an imme- diate rate cut. Trump on Monday tweeted that the Fed “blew it” by not cuttings rates at its meeting last week. At that session the Fed kept its policy rate unchanged in a range of 2.25% to 2.5% but dropped a previous pledge to be “patient” in changing rates in coming months. Trump reportedly has considered either firing Powell or demoting him from the chairman’s job but has been told by the White House legal team that he does not have the power to do either. The baseline outlook for the US economy remains favourable for continued growth, Powell said, but “the risks to this favourable baseline outlook appear to have grown”. In early May, Trump more than doubled the tariffs on Chinese goods after US-China trade talks broke down. The president has threatened to essentially hit all Chinese imports with tariffs if China does not meet the adminis- tration’s demands for greater protections for US technology. Trump’s moves sent finan- cial markets tumbling be- cause of concerns the trade conflict could end the current 10-year economic expansion, which in July will become the longest in US history. In addition to rising trade tensions, Powell said since May incoming data has raised new concerns about the strength of the global economy, noting tentative signs that investment by US businesses has slowed from earlier this year. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks on the economy outlook and monetary policy review at the Council on Foreign Relations, Tuesday in New York. – PHOTO: APNext >