ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY, 23 JULY 2019 Vendor village nearing completion at Seven Mile Public Beach JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Work on the final phase of a $3 million project to en- hance Public Beach and create a ‘vendor village’ for licensed traders begins next month. The project, a partnership be- tween developer Dart Real Es- tate and the government, was part of the National Roads Au- thority agreement that led to the construction of the Kimpton Seafire resort and construc- tion of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway extension. Dart has surrendered its leasehold interest in the par- cels of land east of the beach to the government and is working PET-FRIENDLY HURRICANE SHELTERS COULD SAVE HUMAN LIVES Hazard Management looks to boost shelter space JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The first pet-friendly hurricane shelters will open their doors to Cayman Islands resi- dents in the event of a storm this summer. New protocols mean shelters at John Gray High School and Clifton Hunter High School will be able to accept dogs and cats for the first time. The new provision comes amid fears that animal lovers would ignore evacuation warn- ings to stay with their pets – even in the event of a severe hurricane. Danielle Coleman, of Hazard Management Cayman Islands, said, “We know there are a lot of people that won’t leave their pets and ‘Little Light of Mine’ shines on Harbour Drive George Town’s Har- bour Drive has a new splash of colour. The Diamonds In- ternational building is now home to the latest work by mural artist Amandalynn. She de- scribed the eye-catching display, titled ‘Little Light of Mine’, as a tribute to the beauty of Grand Cayman. In less than a week, the San Francisco-based artist managed to bring together four storeys worth of art, creating a larger-than-life trop- ical garden in the heart of downtown. “The image is part of my Lullaby series and I have a fine art exhibition on display now through the end of August, with the same image and theme,” she told the Cayman Compass. In her role as KAABOO’s artistic di- rector, Amandalynn brought several other works of street art to Cayman last year, in- cluding a towering dis- play of butterflies and foliage painted on the side of the Camana Bay underpass. She expects to complete her Dia- monds International in- stalment this week. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Workers build a pathway at the Public Beach area, as part of the Dart Real Estate enhancement project. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY2 LOCAL®IONAL TUESDAY, 23 JULY 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 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 10:00 (SAT ONLY) CULTURE AT THE CINEMA: THE TRAGEDY OF KIND RICHARD THE SECOND 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. - TUESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) CRAWL (R) 4:40 | 7:20 | 10:00 SPIDER-MAN FAR (PG13) FROM HOME 12:45 3D | 3:45 | 6:50 3D | 9:50 VIP | 9:50 TOY STORY 4 (G) 1:30 | 4:00 | 6:30 | 9:00 MEN IN BLACK (PG13) INTERNATIONAL 1:35 | 4:20 | 9:50 THE LION KING (2019) (PG) 12:30 | 1:00 VIP I 1:50 | 3:30 3D | 4:10 VIP | 6:45 | 7:05 3D | 9:30 3D CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA: (PG13) SAY ANYTHING...(1989) 7:00 VIP Students immerse themselves in Caymanian traditions At its Immerse Summer Camp last week, students ages 9‑13 got to grips with many elements of Cayman’s traditions and culture. During the 15‑19 July camp, participants learned how to cook and bake Cayman delicacies, make rope, plait thatch and dance one of Cayman’s traditional dances. Since its launch in 2017, participation in the Im‑ merse Summer Camp, which was started under the coordi‑ nation of Brian Watler Jr. and Shenice McField, has tripled. On the first day of camp last week, campers toured the National Museum and its collections storage facility. Alvin McLaughlin demon‑ strated how to cook Cayman‑ style beef and was joined by McField, who showed campers how to make maca‑ roni pudding. On Tuesday, Watler taught the students the traditional Quadrille dance, and they were treated to a cassava‑ making demonstration by McLaughlin. Well‑known for her gen‑ erational peppermint candy recipe, Rose Myles demon‑ strated how to make the tra‑ ditional candy treat, which the campers got to enjoy afterwards. Campers also toured the Mission House and Pedro St. James in Bodden Town, and learned about early living in the Cayman Islands. McLaughlin and Jeralow Rankine, both seafarers, showed the students how to twist rope made from Cay‑ man’s silver thatch palm and how to make fishing nets, while Rose May Ebanks and Marcie Hydes taught the campers about thatch work and the importance of pre‑ serving the local heritage. The theme for next year’s Immerse Summer Camp has already been chosen – ‘Cay‑ man’s Maritime Heritage.’ Everyone wants a little taste of the cassava cake.Campers gather around to learn how to make cassava cake. TICKETS ON SALE FOR MISS CAYMAN UNIVERSE PAGEANT The Miss Cayman Uni‑ verse pageant will be held in the main ballroom at The Ritz‑Carlton resort on Sat‑ urday, 17 Aug. The 2019 theme for the pageant this year is ‘A Mag‑ ical Affair’. “This year’s six contest‑ ants: Mahalia Seymour, Sa‑ mantha Dixon, Mariah Tibbetts, Aleka Beckford, Francine Wright, and Kadejah Bodden have been working tirelessly on runway and fit‑ ness training, in addition to their upcoming etiquette training session. They are very much looking forward to the event and we are excited to introduce them on the big stage,” said Derri Dacres, the committee’s chairwoman. Tickets are on sale by com‑ mittee members, at Funky Tang’s or Sand Angels for a price of $25, which includes a welcome drink and canapes. There will be a limited amount of tickets available at the door. Visit www.missuniversecayman. com to learn more, or follow the pageant on Facebook @Miss Cayman Islands Universe and instagram @officialmissuniversecayman. NAU EARLY CLOSURE The Needs Assess‑ ment Unit will close early on Thursday, 25 July, for a staff meeting. The unit’s offices in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac will close at 3pm, the NAU advised. Normal office hours will resume on Friday. Daniel Ducent and Fraya Dilbert wear traditional Cayman costumes. Brian Watler shows Ethan Dilbert how to plait thatch. COSTA RICA OFFICIALS SAY TAINTED ALCOHOL KILLED 19 MEXICO CITY (AP) – The Costa Rican Health Min‑ istry says it has confirmed 19 deaths from consump‑ tion of alcohol tainted with methanol. The ministry said in a Friday report that the inves‑ tigation continues, but so far it has counted 14 men and five women who have died after drinking adul‑ terated liquor since early June. The victims ranged from 32 to 72 years of age. Government officials have seized around 30,000 bottles from brands sus‑ pected of containing meth‑ anol, with names like ‘Aguardiente Molotov’ and ‘Guaro Gran Apache.’ Aguar‑ diente translates to English as ‘fire water’. Both it and guaro are traditionally dis‑ tilled from sugar cane. TROPICAL DEPRESSION FORMS OFFSHORE FROM SOUTH FLORIDA MIAMI (AP) – A tropical depression has formed in warm waters off South Florida. The National Hurricane Center says the depression emerged Monday about 120 miles southeast of West Palm Beach, with top sus‑ tained winds of 30 mph, and was moving north‑ west at 13 mph. Forecasters urged people in northwest Bahamas and on Florida’s Atlantic coast to keep an eye on the storm’s progress.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 23 JULY 2019 Cayman experiences dry year and a half Long-term drying expected across region KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Cayman Islands built up a rainfall deficit of 6.21 inches over an 18‑month period, according to data provided by the National Weather Service. Measurements taken from January 2018 to June 2019 show Grand Cayman has fallen below the 30‑year rainfall average for 11 of the past 18 months. That brings Cayman 8% below the 30‑year average of 74.47 inches for an 18‑month period. The cumulative rain‑ fall over that time span was 68.26 inches. For 14 of those months, at least one third of the total monthly rainfall came in one day. During five of those months, more than half of the total rainfall came in one day. The wettest single day over the past 18 months was 21 May 2018 with 3.84 inches, followed by 9 Sept. 2018 with 3.41 inches and 6 Jan. 2019 with 3.33 inches. In the long term, the Cayman Islands can ex‑ pect shorter but heavier rain events, explained Winston Gall, a Cayman Islands Na‑ tional Weather Service fore‑ caster. He described the pro‑ jection as an anticipated effect of climate change. Such events are not ex‑ pected to resolve rainfall def‑ icits, however. Overall, the Caribbean can expect a general drying of the region, explained Col‑ orado‑based climate scien‑ tist Jhordanne J. Jones, an alumnus of the University of the West Indies at Mona’s Climate Studies Group. While 18 months of data cannot speak to larger trends, Jones said climate research indicates, “We’ll definitely get fewer rainfall events, since there’s a projected drying of the Caribbean in general.” With warming sea and land temperatures, she said, the heat will provide fuel and intensity to the rain events that do occur. 0 2 -2 -4 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Jan 2018Feb 2018Mar 2018Apr 2018May 2018Jun 2018Jul 2018Aug 2018Sep 2018Oct 2018Nov 2018Dec 2018Jan 2019Feb 2019Mar 2019Apr 2019 Source: Cayman Islands National Weather Service May 2019Jun 2019 RAINFALL (inches) 2018-19 rainfall vs 30-year average Rainfall (inches)30-year averageDeficit 18 STUDENTS INTERNING AT CUC THIS SUMMER Caribbean Utilities Com‑ pany is hosting 18 stu‑ dents as part of its annual vocational and internship programme. The high school and col‑ lege students are getting a taste of the variety of ca‑ reer options available at CUC. According to the utili‑ ties company, some of the students have been assigned to the corporate setting in areas such as human re‑ sources and corporate com‑ munications, while others are working in hard hats and boots on the engi‑ neering side, in the compa‑ ny’s power plant. This year the programme, which extends through July and August has nine univer‑ sity students and nine high school students. Enyer Rivers, a student at the University of South Wales, who is working in the Human Resources Depart‑ ment, said in a press release that he would recommend the summer internship to his friends and that he is confi‑ dent that if he returns home next summer, CUC will be his top choice for a possible summer internship again. Recent high school grad‑ uate Jayden Downey said in the release, “Ever since I’ve been here at CUC, I know for sure that I’m leaning to‑ wards a career in electrical engineering.” Pierce Serrant, a high school graduate who has previously interned at CUC, said, “I’m having a lot of fun working in … Informa‑ tion Technology here at CUC. I’ve made a lot of connec‑ tions here and the people are lovely.” Each year, the interns are also invited to partake in var‑ ious community service out‑ ings, especially the annual event with the Sunrise Adult Training Centre. ‘Lunch and Learn’ ses‑ sions are held weekly to allow the students to build basic professional and inter‑ personal skills, as well as to promote teamwork and cohe‑ siveness among coworkers. Some of CUC’s summer interns gather at the utility company’s headquarters. Man charged with robbery Romario Desmond Brown, 19, was remanded in custody Monday when he appeared in Summary Court charged with rob‑ bery, following an inci‑ dent in which a man was robbed of his cellphone at a hotel. The matter was trans‑ mitted to the Grand Court and will be heard on Friday, 26 July. Brown, of George Town, was arrested on Saturday following a report of a rob‑ bery in which a cellphone was stolen from a man at Margaritaville Resort on West Bay Road. According to a po‑ lice press release, Brown was arrested shortly after a 911 dispatch, just be‑ fore 5:30am. Police said an off‑duty RCIPS officer in the vicinity immedi‑ ately responded and saw a man in a vehicle an‑ swering the description of the suspect speeding on Eastern Avenue. The officer followed the vehicle and provided commentary to other re‑ sponding officers from uni‑ form, Firearms Response and K‑9 Units, who ulti‑ mately apprehended the man on Eastern Avenue. Police said the victim did not require med‑ ical treatment following the incident. The Law Courts Building in downtown George Town. - PHOTO: CHRIS COURT4 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY, 23 JULY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Golfing around the world, from Cayman KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman national team golfer Justin Hastings teed up his ball on a par-4 hole that sloped gently upwards to the pin, 361 yards away. Swinging at 111 miles per hour, Hastings launched the ball 283 yards straight ahead, setting himself up for an 80-yard chip shot to birdie the hole. “That was exceptional,” an announcer commented on the shot. No, Hastings was not playing in a tournament on Cayman or anywhere else. Instead, he was playing with teammate Aaron Jarvis on the newly built indoor golf simulator on Ashgo Street in George Town. The facility, known as the Cayman Golf Lab, boasts two SkyTrak simulators pro- grammed with more than 30,000 courses modelled after real-life ones. It also has putting greens, and tall grass surrounding the greens for pitching practice. Cayman Golf Lab joins The Ritz-Carlton as the only indoor golf facilities on island. Cayman Golf Lab owner Brad de Schiffert said his facility will be open to the public, and will also be used by the territory’s best golfers for practice. The golf lab will have a soft opening today, Tuesday, 23 July, and will host an open house on 3-4 Aug. De Schiffert said he plans to have public leagues, where people can come in at sep- arate times and golf their nine holes, and then go on- line to see how they scored compared to other Cayman residents they are com- peting against. The golf instructor will also hold clinics, and the course will be open to people who just want to come in and smack a few golf balls. De Schiffert said he thinks his facility will help unlock untapped golfing talent in Cayman by allowing more people to golf for longer. Golfing 18 holes normally takes four hours, but can take about as little as one hour in one of the simula- tors, he explained. Addition- ally, people can practise after dark, and also play when the heat outside is unbearable in the middle of the day. Hastings agreed that the Cayman Golf Lab should help him improve his game. “It’s awesome. It’s not out in the heat, so you can come in here and relax and have a good time. I think it will help my game quite a bit,” he said. “It has all the numbers you need to evaluate your game and your swing, and I think I’ll be able to use it pretty well and hopefully see the results.” The Cayman Golf Lab simulators are similar to the new one US President Donald Trump set up in the White House. Trump is fa- mous – and infamous in some circles – for spending hours working on his game. But one not need be a golfing expert to use the Cayman Golf Lab – though novices may see different re- sults than stars like Hastings and Jarvis. When this reporter tried to use the simulator, for ex- ample, he hooked the ball to the right – hitting a pole and going behind the screen, to the amusement of Hastings, Jarvis, and de Schiffert. “Where’d the ball go?” Hastings asked. “It’s long gone,” said his coach. “I already know I’m putting padding on the cor- ners to protect the beam from getting hit.” Airport blast wall planned, wells drilled MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@pinnaclemedialtd.com Recently drilled wells are designed to keep the section of Crewe Road that skirts the end of the runway at Owen Roberts International Airport from flooding during heavy rains. The new wells are par- ticularly important because plans for improving the air- port’s runway call for filling in the ponds on both sides of the road that currently handle much of the overflow in such events. The 100-foot deep wells, marked by capped white pipes along the road, were sunk in recent weeks during nighttime operations. And a large concrete underground catch basin will be built in the coming weeks as part of the drainage system, said Edison Jackson, a senior engineer for the National Roads Authority. “The airport now have plans to construct a new blast wall at the western end of the runway,” Jackson said. “The construction of the blast wall will involve filling in the existing ponds, which will no longer act as a soak away for stormwater.” The airport runway im- provement project, which also includes enlarging and strengthening the runway,is in the pre-construction phase. Bids on the project closed in May and officials are in the process of nego- tiating a contract, with con- struction expected to begin in October. The blast wall portion is a slanted wall designed to de- flect the energy and exhaust from jet engines as planes get ready for takeoff. In an email, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority said the 10-foot high blast wall “will begin on the southern end of the runway and wrap around the perim- eter fence to approximately opposite the Mango Tree”. Jackson said the addi- tion of a left-hand turn lane at the newly constructed roundabout at Crewe Road and Printer Way required five additional wells on the east side of the road. The original plans for the project did not include the extra lane. “With the implementa- tion of that, we had to ad- dress the drainage,” he said, adding that the current overflow ponds are not al- ways adequate. “That sec- tion has traditionally been [a flooding] issue.” In addition to the wells – a total of 25 were established along the project’s length – and the catch basin, Jackson said, “We will be installing curbing to direct the road stormwater into the wells. Additionally, at the request of [airport officials] the NRA will be constructing a length of guardrail along a signifi- cant portion of the airport pe- rimeter fence in that section.” The work is part of a larger project connecting the Cayman National Bank roundabout to Crewe Road and widening the road be- tween Printer Way and Dorcy Drive, which began last year. Jackson said construction should be completed in the next two months. While the new wells may help keep the roadway clear and the extension may relieve some traffic congestion, it all may be short-lived. Jackson said the Cayman Islands Airports Authority would like to eliminate cross traffic near the runway. “We’re under constant pressure from the airport to close that road,” he said. This is one of several wells that were recently drilled to improve drainage on Crewe Road near the airport. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS 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” Justin Hastings practices at Cayman Golf Lab. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY Cayman Golf Lab owner Brad de Schiffert in front of one of the lab’s golfing greens. - PHOTOS: ALVARO SEREY5 LOCAL®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 23 JULY 2019 Coral reef restoration research gets charitable boost ‘Stuff the Bus’ school drive begins next week The fifth annual ‘Stuff the Bus’ drive, which col- lects school supplies, be- gins next week. Caribbean Alliance Insur- ance, alongside media partner Hurley’s Media and trans- portation partner Whittaker’s Transportation, is hosting the drive, which begins Friday and continues until 17 Aug. Every year, the campaign attempts to fill a yellow school bus with various school supply donations to support school-aged children between the ages of 6 and 16. Since it began in 2015, the initiative has collected more than 27,000 school supply items. Organisers hope that the total number will in- crease to 45,000 after this year’s event. Recipients of supplies in the past have included the Cayman Islands Cancer Society, the Special Needs Foundation, the Needs As- sessment Unit, and several other charities. This year, donations will go to the Department of Ed- ucation, the Department of Children and Families, the Family Resource Centre, the Crisis Centre, and the Boys and Girls Homes. For the first time, a por- tion of the collected items will be transported to char- ities in Cayman Brac. Also this year, Stuff the Bus will be providing some support to the Education Department for help with the roll-out of new interactive classrooms in primary schools across the islands, organisers said. “Stuff the Bus is a great way for the community and businesses to get involved and to do some good and make an impact,” said Aleisha Lalor, Cayman Islands branch manager of Caribbean Alli- ance Insurance. “We started this event five years ago to help sup- port underprivileged families with basic school supplies, but each year we learn more about the changing needs of students, so we try to add new components to enhance the campaign and meet those identified needs. We also get other businesses and individ- uals involved, so that together we can truly support kids in need in ways that are going to make an impact for them.” During the three week campaign, anyone who wishes to buy and donate school supplies can do so by purchasing items and drop- ping them off at Caribbean Alliance Office at 203 Alissta Towers, Hurley’s Media in Camana Bay, or directly in the Stuff the Bus donation collection boxes located at Buy Smart, Foster’s at Coun- tryside and Cost-U-Less. For more information, or to organise a collection drive to support the event, visit Stuff the Bus on Facebook or Instagram @StuffTheBusCayman, or contact Aleisha Lalor at aleisha.lalor@caribbeanalliance.com or 949‑9744. The Central Caribbean Marine Institute has received a US$68,000 donation from the AALL foundation to sup- port its coral restoration field work. The funds will provide a boost to CCMI’s Coral Resto- ration Programme, launched in 2012 in partnership with the Cayman Islands Depart- ment of Environment. The in- stitute now has three nurs- eries that support coral restoration research dedi- cated to improving interven- tion strategies in Cayman and across the Caribbean. “The AALL Foundation funding comes at a critical time for CCMI, as our re- search programme is working hard to unlock the secrets of coral resiliency, embarking on a deliberate five-year re- search agenda to grow a more resilient and robust community of corals,” said CCMI President Carrie Man- frino in a press statement. “CCMI and our marine field station in Little Cayman affords modern laboratory facilities, an unspoiled coral reef ecosystem, and signifi- cant scientific affiliations – which are key to building CC- MI’s capacity to advance the frontiers of knowledge about coral regeneration. We are deeply thankful to the AALL Foundation for this support.” AALL trustee Sophia Harris said the donation is part of the work the founda- tion has worked to support over the past 30 years. “It is hoped that with the increased awareness of the endangerment of our reefs and our very ecosystems, in general, CCMI and indeed any initiatives to improve these conditions, will gain more support,” Harris said in a press statement. “It is hoped that the work they do will not only positively impact Cayman but will ultimately provide useful data and research, globally. We are confident that our funding this year to CCMI is an excellent chari- table contribution and in- vestment in improving our ecosystem and therefore our own future.” Focus on CCMI restora- tion efforts was renewed in December 2018 during a pri- vate dinner hosted in London by the institute’s patron, Prince Edward. “With increasing water temperatures threatening coral reef health, the team know they must progress their restoration efforts at pace, to be able to contribute to protecting coral reefs in the Cayman Islands and across the Caribbean region,” a CCMI press release said. From left, Aleisha Lalor, Latoya Webb and Sabrina Dennis‑Elgueta of Caribbean Alliance help out with last year’s Stuff the Bus drive efforts. Part of the work in building the resilience of coral reefs is coral outplanting, as seen in this photo of staghorn coral. - PHOTO: CCMI U.S. ACCUSES VENEZUELAN JET OF AGGRESSIVE ACTION OVER CARIBBEAN CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – US authorities on Sunday said that a Venezuelan fighter jet “aggressively shadowed” an American intelligence plane flying in international airspace over the Caribbean, under- scoring rising tensions be- tween the two nations. The US Southern Com- mand said that Venezuela’s action demonstrates reck- less behaviour by President Nicolás Maduro, whose government accused the US plane of entering Vene- zuelan airspace. US authorities said their EP-3 plane was performing a multinationally approved mission on Friday and the Venezuelan SU-30 fighter jet closely trailed the plane, which the US says endan- gered its crew. The response by the Venezuelan fighter jet “un- dermines int’l rule of law & efforts to counter illicit trafficking”, US authorities tweeted, providing video of what they said was the Russian-made jet. The Trump adminis- tration and more than 50 other nations back opposi- tion leader Juan Guaidó’s attempt to oust Maduro, whom they accuse of leading the country into a historic crisis. The socialist leader maintains support from countries including Cuba, China and Russia. “This latest action also demonstrates Russia’s ir- responsible military sup- port to the illegitimate Ma- duro regime and adds to Maduro’s growing legacy of reckless and negligent be- havior,” US officials said in a statement. Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López said the US plane entered Venezuelan air- space without prior noti- fication, violating interna- tional rules. He said the flight also endangered commercial flights from Venezuela’s main airport. Upon identifying the plan as a US electronic in- telligence gathering air- craft, the fighter jet es- corted it from the region, Venezuelan authorities said, adding that there have been 76 such inci- dents this year. “The Armed Forces of Venezuela firmly reject this type of provocation on the part of the United States of America,” Pa- drino López said in a state- ment. “We will continually be alert to watching over the tranquility of the Ven- ezuelan people.” Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, who is a harsh critic of Maduro, is- sued a warning to Vene- zuela while tweeting video images of the fighter jet. “Venezuela only has 3 fighter jets that can fly,” Rubio said on Twitter. “If they ever harmed any US aircraft they would soon have zero.” This image extracted from video shows a Venezuelan SU-30 fighter jet over the Caribbean. – PHOTO: APThe 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. TUESDAY, 23 JULY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, 23 JULY CONSTITUENCY MEETING: Premier Alden McLaughlin and MLA Austin Harris are hosting a joint constituency meeting for Red Bay and Prospect at the Seafarers Association hall on Victory Avenue. There will be a presentation by the Ministry of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure on proposed road improvements for the area, and other national and constituency issues will also be discussed. 7‑9pm. SATURDAY, 27 JULY PUB QUIZ: Eco Divers Reef Foundation will host its monthly pub quiz at the Hard Rock Cafe at 7pm. Entry is $10 per player, up to six players per team. Afterwards, a raffle will be held, sponsored by Cayman Spirits Company. This month’s questions will feature a ‘Star Wars’ theme. Call Hard Rock at 947‑2020 to reserve a table. All funds are used to support the volunteer programme for the Eco Divers Reef Foundation coral management programme. For more information, see the Cayman Eco Divers page on Facebook. BOOK SALE: The Humane Society’s Book Loft will hold a sale outside A.L. Thompson’s from 9:30am to 2pm. Three books for $1. All proceeds go to the animal shelter. CHILDREN’S FUN DAY: Takes place from 2‑6pm at the Savannah Playing Field on Pedro Castle Road. Free for children ages 5‑11. Activities include bouncy castles, face painting, a magic show and emergency responder vehicles on display as well as a drum circle. Finger food will be provided. MEN’S FELLOWSHIP: The Grand Cayman chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International is having its monthly breakfast today at 7:30am, at Aroma (formerly Lola’s) restaurant in Camana Bay. MONDAY, 29 JULY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: The Church of God Chapel West Bay will hold a Vacation Bible School, from today through Friday, 2 Aug. The theme is ‘The Mane Event’. 6‑8pm. Ages 5‑12. Call 928‑1506. FRIDAY, 2 AUG. CIMA STUDENT MIXER: The Cayman Islands Monetary Authority is hosting a student mixer today at the Marriott Beach Resort, 3‑5pm. This interactive platform will give college‑ bound students (ages 16–25) a chance to meet potential employers, learn about the importance of the financial services industry and how it contributes to the standard of living in the Cayman Islands. The event will include refreshments, prizes and giveaways. For more information or to RSVP, visit www.cima.ky. CULTURE READING CHALLENGE: The Cayman Brac Heritage House and Cayman Brac Public Library Culture Reading Challenge takes place from 2‑15 Aug. Call 948‑0563. SUMMER FOOTBALL CAMP: The Sports Department of Cayman Brac hosts a summer football camp 2‑5 Aug. from 8:30am to noon for ages 7‑16. Call 948‑8382. SUNDAY, 4 AUG. ASTRONOMY VIEWING: The Cayman Islands Astronomical Society holds its monthly public astronomy viewing session at 7:30‑9:30pm, on the lawn at Pedro Castle, where it will be keeping a close‑up view of the waxing crescent moon, Jupiter and Saturn, as well as any shooting stars from the Perseids meteor shower, one of the brighter meteor showers of the year. They occur every year between 17 July and 24 Aug. and tend to peak around 9‑13 Aug. Event will be cancelled if there is more than 50% cloud cover. MONDAY, 5 AUG. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: The Good News Baptist Church will hold a Vacation Bible School on 5‑9 Aug. The theme is ‘Incredible Race’. 6‑8:30pm. Ages 4‑12. Call 926‑3249. WEDNESDAY, 7 AUG. STROKE AND STRIDE: The first of a three‑part series of fundraiser races to support young triathletes and community charities will be held today for swimmers and runners. The swim distance increases each week while the run stays the same at 2 miles. Participate in 1, 2 or 3 of the races – individually or as a team. Race 1 is held today and consists of a 40e swim and a 2‑mile run; Race 2 is on 14 Aug., a 600‑metre swim and 2‑mile run; and Race 3 is on 21 Aug., an 800‑metre swim and 2‑mile run. All races begin at 5:45pm at Sunset House. Entry fees are: Individuals, $15 per race/$35 for all 3; Teams, $25 per race/$60 all 3. Triathlon Association Membership required and is available for $15 at registration. YOUNG MEN AT RISK: The Community Affairs Ministry and the Alex Panton Foundation host a presentation on Young Men at Risk from 6:30‑8pm at the South Sound Civic Centre. SUNDAY, 11 AUG. ENVIROWALK: The rescheduled EnviroWalk Environmental 5K Walk/Run, sponsored by Miss World Cayman Islands, F45 and Flowers Bottled Water, will be held at 7am at SafeHaven. The previous planned event was postponed due to the weather. All are invited. Bring your water bottle, hats, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes. The entry fee is $25 for adults and $12 for those 12 and under. SATURDAY, 17 AUG. CHARITY TRUNK SALE: All registration fees will go to benefit the Cayman Islands Cancer Society. The sale will be held at the parking lot of the CIBC FirstCaribbean Main Street branch. 6‑10am. Sellers should arrive by 5:30am and be set up no later than 6am. Vendor entry fee is $25. The deadline to register a space is 2pm, Friday, 16 Aug. Call 815‑2405 or 815‑2407 or email shadden. mclaughlin@cibcfcib.com or joy.anglin@cibcfcib.com to reserve a space. GENERAL INTEREST YMCA SUMMER CAMPS: 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. 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. 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. 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. ART AT THE STRAND: Every Saturday, from 3pm to sunset, the Visual Arts Society hosts a local art market featuring artists displaying arts, crafts, paintings, prints, hand‑ crafted jewellery and ceramics for sale in front of the Lodge/Eco‑Den, who is offering 2‑4‑1 drinks, pub food and homemade treats, smoothies, and speciality coffees/teas. For more information or to become a displaying artist, 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. ‘Star Wars’ Stormtroopers ‘invade’ Seven Mile Beach in July 2016 to promote the Cayfilm festival. Stormtroopers, Jedis, Ewoks and droids are expected to feature largely in a quiz at the Hard Rock Cafe on Saturday, 27 July, to raise funds for coral reef conservation. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSONThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 23 JULY 2019 would put themselves at risk to stay with them. “We have to be able to look after pets in order to look after people. This is very important for the pro- tection of human lives, not just animal lives.” The locker rooms at both high schools will be adapted to accommodate pets. There is space for 30 dogs or 60 cats at John Gray and 15 dogs or 25 cats at Clifton Hunter. Pets, like people, will be allocated space on a first- come, first-served basis. Coleman said govern- ment was looking to in- crease the number of spaces for pets as part of a more general effort to create more shelter space. Currently, there is room for 5,120 people at a net- work of shelters across the Cayman Islands in the event of a hurricane or an- other natural disaster. “It is definitely a se- rious challenge, but we are doing everything we can to find new shelter space,” said Coleman. Once the new John Gray High School is complete, it will be able to accom- modate more than 5,000 people in an emergency sit- uation – nearly five times the capacity it can hold at the moment. A new shelter is also planned at the Church of God in Bodden Town, where government is in- vesting more than $2 mil- lion to complete a multi- purpose hall and shelter. Coleman said a network of 185 trained volunteers was on hand to man the shelters if a hurricane hits. Hazard Management is also working with private sector businesses to ensure they have hurricane plans for their staff. Coleman acknowledged that not everyone, human or animal, would be able to find space in a government shelter, and urged people to have a back-up plan. “The important thing is to be prepared and to have a plan in place,” Coleman said. “Don’t leave it till the last minute. Have a back- up option so you know you have a family or friend’s house in a safe location where you can stay.” A 2017 paper published in the American Journal of Public Health highlighted a lack of options for pets as a major weakness in disaster evacuation planning. “During a disaster, many pet owners want to evacuate their pets with them, only to find that evacuation and sheltering options are limited or non- existent. This disregard for companion animal welfare during a disaster can have public health consequences,” study au- thor Robin Chadwin, a veterinarian and asso- ciate at the UC Davis In- ternational Animal Wel- fare Training Institute wrote in the paper. “Emergency planning for companion animals during disasters is a global need in communities with a significant pet population, and will increase resilience and improve public health,” the study noted. It cited polls where 16.2% of participants said that they would not evac- uate without their pets and 8.1% said they would stay at home with their pets during an evacuation. An- other study found that 44% of people who refused to evacuate during Hurricane Katrina did so in part be- cause they refused to leave their pets behind. Governor Martyn Roper, who reviewed Cayman’s hurricane preparation plans earlier this month, said the pet-friendly shelters were a welcome addition to the island’s facilities. For more information on preparing for hurricane season, go to www.caymanprepared.gov.ky. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Pet-friendly hurricane shelters could save human lives Some hurricane shelters now are accepting pets, a departure from previous practice on island. on new facilities at the site, under the guidance of the Public Lands Commission. The development aims to improve the recreational areas at the beach and pro- vide order and supervi- sion to the sometimes cha- otic commercial activity in the area. Improvements to the soccer and volleyball courts, including the addition of spectator areas, and new toilet facilities with disa- bled access are also part of the plan. The structures are ex- pected to be complete at the end of the month, at which time the final phase of the development will commence, with a completion target of the end of September. The final phase includes upgrades to the existing parking areas, with the ad- dition of designated food vendor parking spots. An increase in commer- cial activity at the beach, including deck chair and water sports rentals, has been a concern for visi- tors and residents for some time. The development of 16 stalls for vendors is part of a wider plan by government to move the traders off the beach itself. Public Lands Commis- sion Chief Inspector Win- some Prendergast said the new vendor area will allow the regulatory body to better manage commercial activity on Public Beach. “The redevelopment of the Seven Mile Beach Park will better facilitate public use of the beach for rec- reational purposes as in- tended,” she said. “All approved vendors will, where practical, be re- located and restricted to the purpose-built Vendor Vil- lage designated area or the car park, to the benefit of beachgoers.” With the completion of the third phase, private ve- hicles will no longer be able to drive directly on to the beach. While work takes place in the parking areas, tempo- rary parking will be made available on the empty lot to the east of the existing parking lot. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Vendor village nears completion at Seven Mile Beach Trump seeks Pakistan’s help to end Afghanistan war WASHINGTON (AP) – Presi- dent Donald Trump brought the leader of Pakistan to the White House on Monday to discuss a peace deal in neighbouring Afghanistan, breezily declaring he could end the longest US war in a week but does not want to wipe the country “off the face of the earth”. Afghanistan topped the agenda as Trump met with Prime Minister Imran Khan, with the president saying he hoped Pakistan would use its influence with the Tal- iban to advance a peace deal and help end the nearly two- decade old US war. But even as he talked up diplomacy and the prospects of peace, Trump claimed he could also easily win a war that began when the US went after Osama bin Laden and his Taliban supporters fol- lowing the 11 Sept. 2001, ter- rorist attacks. “I could win that war in a week. I just don’t want to kill 10 million people,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “If I wanted to win that war, Af- ghanistan would be wiped off the face of the earth. It would be gone. It would be over, lit- erally, in 10 days.” Nonetheless, sitting alongside Khan, Trump said he wanted a peaceful resolu- tion. “So we’re working with Pakistan and others to extri- cate ourselves.” The pleasantries in the Oval Office were an abrupt change from when Trump cut millions of dollars in aid to Pakistan, saying the only thing it offered the United States was “lies” and “deceit”. Khan has bashed Trump too, but now says Pakistan is also eager to work with the United States to end the war. The United States wants Pakistan to use its leverage to get the Taliban to nego- tiate with the Afghan govern- ment and agree to a peaceful future for their country. US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad has been holding talks with the Taliban for months, but so far the militant group has re- fused to talk directly to the Afghan government. There has been no let-up in ter- rorist attacks during the US- Taliban talks. “It’s the closest we’ve been to a peace deal,” Khan told Trump. “And I hope in the coming days we will be able to urge the Taliban to speak to the Afghan govern- ment and come to a polit- ical solution.” Trump’s casual comments about wiping Afghanistan off the map will likely unsettle Afghans, who have fought against the Taliban alongside their US and NATO partners for years. Afghans also are wary of Pakistan’s involve- ment in their country’s fu- ture. For years, the Afghans have accused Pakistan of creating instability in their country by giving militants a safe place from which to stage attacks across the two countries long, porous border. As the war has ground on, relations between the US and Pakistan have gone up and down. Now, both countries say they want to smooth tensions. Their meeting was much more than a courtesy call. Khan travelled to Washington with Pakistan’s top military official and the head of the country’s powerful Inter-Ser- vices Intelligence agency, or ISI, which has a long his- tory of connections to mili- tant groups. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday in Washington. – PHOTO: AP A building at the site was under construction last month. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 TUESDAY, 23 JULY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Mexico announces 5 unknown reefs in Gulf Researchers in Mexico say they have discovered five previously unknown coral reefs off the country’s Gulf coast. The reefs collectively cover an area of more than 2,700 underwater acres, and scientists are asking for them to be protected against oil extraction and development projects. Britain’s May chairs emergency session on seized tanker Voting closing in race to become UK’s new prime minister LONDON (AP) – Voting was closing Monday in the race to become Britain’s next prime minister, as critics of likely winner Boris Johnson condemned his vow to take Britain out of the European Union with or without a divorce deal. Members of the governing Conservative Party had until 5pm to return postal bal- lots in the contest between Johnson and Jeremy Hunt to lead the party. The winner will be an- nounced Tuesday, and will take over as the na- tion’s leader from Prime Minister Theresa May the following day. Johnson, a populist former mayor of London, is the strong favourite. Several members of May’s government have said they will resign before they can be fired by Johnson over their opposition to his threat to go through with a no-deal Brexit if he cannot secure a renego- tiated settlement with the EU. Most economists say quitting the 28-nation bloc without a deal would cause Britain economic turmoil. The UK’s official economic watchdog has forecast that a no-deal Brexit would trigger a recession, with the pound plummeting in value, bor- rowing soaring by 30 bil- lion pounds (US$37 billion) and the economy shrinking 2% in a year. Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Monday that a no-deal Brexit would be “an act of eco- nomic self-harm that runs wholly counter to the na- tional interest”. EU leaders insist they will not reopen the 585-page withdrawal agreement they made with May’s govern- ment, which has been re- peatedly rejected by Britain’s Parliament. Foreign Office Minister Alan Duncan quit Monday, lamenting in his resigna- tion letter that “we have had to spend every day working beneath the dark cloud of Brexit”. Other government minis- ters, including Treasury chief Philip Hammond, are set to resign on Wednesday. The new prime min- ister will preside over a House of Commons in which most members op- pose leaving the EU without a deal, and where the Con- servative Party lacks an overall majority. Opposition parties are preparing for an early elec- tion which could be trig- gered if the government loses a no-confidence vote in the coming months. The centrist Liberal Dem- ocrats, who have seen a surge in support thanks to their strongly anti-Brexit stance, were set to declare the winner of their own leader- ship contest on Monday. LONDON (AP) – British Prime Minister Theresa May chaired an emergency se- curity session on Monday to discuss how to re- spond to Iran’s seizure of a British-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting of security ministers and officials dis- cussed how to secure ship- ping in the sensitive region, which is vital to the world’s oil supply. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt plans to brief Parlia- ment on the Friday seizure of the Stena Impero tanker and its crew of 23, now in a heavily guarded Iranian port. Iran released new video showing the ship’s crew for the first time on Monday, an apparent attempt to show they were unharmed. None of the 23 are British nationals. The crew is mostly Indian, and includes Filipino, Rus- sian and Latvian nationals. May’s official spokesman, James Slack, said Iran seized the ship under false and il- legal pretences and it needs to release it and its crew im- mediately. Iranian officials have suggested the seizure was in response to Britain’s role in seizing an Iranian oil tanker two week earlier. Slack said giving an indi- vidual naval escort to all UK- flagged ships is not an op- tion because of the volume of traffic. But he denied cuts have made the Royal Navy too small. “We have the largest mil- itary budget in Europe, and we are investing in a world- class Royal Navy,” he said. Britain is considering a number of options to raise the economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran but offi- cials say military operations are not being considered at the moment. Britain is also seeking support from key Eu- ropean allies in an effort to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping. One-fifth of all global crude exports passes through the narrow waterway, which lies between Iran and Oman. Maritime industry publica- tion Lloyd’s List said there are currently no UK-flagged ships heading to the Persian Gulf and eight UK-flagged vessels anchored there after a government advisory to such vessels to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker crisis is un- folding in the final days of May’s leadership. The Con- servative Party plans to name her successor Tuesday, and the new prime minister – either frontrunner Boris Johnson or Hunt – is expected to take office Wednesday. Friday’s seizure of the Stena Impero came amid heightened tensions be- tween the US and Iran stemming from President Donald Trump’s decision last year to pull the US from Iran’s nuclear accord with world powers and reinstate sweeping sanctions on Iran. Iranian officials say the seizure of the British oil tanker was a justified re- sponse to the Royal Navy’s role impounding its Grace 1 supertanker with some 2 mil- lion barrels of crude off the coast of Gibraltar, a British overseas territory located on the southern tip of Spain. Iran’s government spokesman Ali Rabiei said Monday that there are diplo- matic solutions to the current crisis, but he also defended Iran’s actions. “When you illegally seize a ship in Gibraltar … we don’t deem it as necessary to show tolerance,” he said. “Some countries have asked for the immediate release of the British tanker. Well, we ask those countries to make the same request to Britain first.” Britain says it acted law- fully off the Gibraltar coast to prevent illegal oil ship- ments to Syria that would have violated European Union sanctions while Iran broke international maritime law by forcing the Stena Im- pero to change course and go to Iran. Britain says the tanker was in Omani waters at the time, which Iran disputes. In the newly released video on Monday, the Stena Impero crew is seen dressed in red uniforms and seated around a table onboard as an unidentified Iranian man is heard thanking them for their cooperation. A camer- aman is heard telling them not to look at the camera. It was not clear if the crew was under duress to take part in the filming. Other choreographed shots show a man checking on the ship, the crew sharing a laugh and talking next to a coffee machine inside the ship. The crew’s chefs are seen preparing food. Another video released by Iran’s state broadcaster shows Iran’s flag hoisted on the ship’s bridge. Meanwhile, officials in Gi- braltar say the ship’s crew has been kept on board the vessel since its seizure 4 July. Four Indian crewmembers, including the ship’s cap- tain, were arrested, but not charged, and were then bailed. Gibraltar says they have been in contact with their families are receiving consular sup- port. The crew is comprised of Indian, Pakistani and Ukrainian nationals. As the nuclear deal be- tween Tehran and world powers unravels, the US has expanded its military pres- ence in the region, while Iran has begun openly exceeding the uranium enrichment levels set in the accord to try to pressure Europe into al- leviating the pain caused by the sanctions. European nations are trying to save the nuclear deal and have tried to come up with ways to keep trading with Iran but have run smack into Trump’s sanctions, which also target Iranian oil exports. Britain is adding to its military profile in the re- gion but it does not have the naval resources that would be needed to protect all of its shipping interests. More than 400 transits through the Strait of Hormuz were made last year by UK asso- ciated ships. On Sunday, an audio re- leased by maritime secu- rity risk firm Dryad Global showed that a British frigate was too far away from the targeted tanker to keep it from being diverted into an Iranian port, despite UK efforts to keep it from being boarded. In the audio, a British naval officer from the HMS Montrose patrolling the area is heard telling the Iranian patrol boat: “Please confirm that you are not intending to violate international law by unlawfully attempting to board the MV Stena.” His words did nothing to deter the Iranians. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard released video of the seizure, showing Iranian commandos in black ski masks and fa- tigues rappelling from a heli- copter onto the vessel. May’s official spokesman, James Slack, said Iran seized the ship under false and illegal pretences and it needs to release it and its crew immediately. The winner will be announced Tuesday, and will take over as the nation’s leader from Prime Minister Theresa May the following day. A speedboat of the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard moves around the British-flagged oil tanker Stena Impero, which was seized on Friday by the Guard, in the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, Sunday. – PHOTO: AP Conservative party leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt Conservative party leadership candidate Boris Johnson9 WORLD®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 23 JULY 2019 We sadly announce the passing of Steven Robert Roessler Loving father and grandfather, who passed away on Saturday, July 6th 2019 ALL OUR LOVE TO YOU DAD ALL OUR LOVE TO YOU DAD Please send any condolences to srroessler19@gmail.com ALL OUR LOVE TO YOU DAD ALL OUR LOVE TO YOU DAD ALL OUR LOVE TO YOU DAD ALL OUR LOVE TO YOU DAD Puerto Ricans gather for massive protest to expel governor China lashes out at Hong Kong protest targeting its office HONG KONG (AP) – China on Monday harshly criticised a weekend demonstration in which eggs were thrown at its office in Hong Kong, ac- cusing the demonstrators of violence without mentioning a violent attack against pro- testers and civilians the same night. A group of protesters tar- geted China’s Liaison Office on Sunday night after more than 100,000 people marched through the city to demand democracy and an investiga- tion into the use of force by police to disperse crowds at earlier protests. The official People’s Daily newspaper, in a front-page commentary headlined “Cen- tral Authority Cannot Be Challenged,” called the pro- testers’ actions “intolerable”. Later Sunday, protesters trying to return home were attacked inside a subway sta- tion by assailants who ap- peared to be targeting pro- democracy demonstrators. At least 45 people were injured, and 15 remained hospitalised Monday afternoon, including one man in critical condition, the Hospital Authority said. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said allegations that po- lice had colluded with the as- sailants were “unfounded”. The office of a pro-Bei- jing lawmaker was sur- rounded Monday and van- dalised by about 100 people who believed he had shaken hands the previous day with the attackers. Protesters wrote memos and stuck them on legislator Junius Ho’s office, damaged glass panels at the entrance and destroyed a surveillance camera. No one appeared to be in the office. In a separate clash Sunday night, another 14 people were injured when police used tear gas to clear protesters in cen- tral Hong Kong. Police said on their official social media ac- counts that protesters threw bricks and petrol bombs at them and attacked the police headquarters. The attack on the Liaison Office touched a raw nerve in China. China’s national em- blem, which hangs on the front of the building, was splattered with black ink. It was replaced by a new one within hours. “These acts openly chal- lenged the authority of the central government and touched the bottom line of the ‘one country, two sys- tems’ principle,” the gov- ernment’s Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office said in a statement Sunday. Lam repeated the same statement to reporters Monday, adding that the vandalism “hurt the na- tion’s feelings”. The “one country, two systems” framework, under which the former British colony was returned to China in 1997, allows Hong Kong to maintain a fair degree of autonomy in local affairs. Demonstrators fear the pro- Beijing government in Hong Kong is chipping away at their rights and freedoms. A group of pro-China law- makers held a news confer- ence Monday appealing for a halt to the violence, saying it was a blow to Hong Kong’s reputation and was scaring away tourists and investors. They also urged police to tighten enforcement against the protesters, whom Regina Ip, a former security secre- tary, called “rebels”. “The violent attack on the Liaison Office … is a direct affront to the sovereignty of our country,” Ip said. She said the police were “overstretched” when asked why it took at least a half- hour for police to arrive at the suburban train station where protesters were attacked. Video of the attacks in Hong Kong’s Yuen Long neighbourhood showed pro- testers wearing the move- ment’s black shirts being beaten by men in white shirts wielding steel pipes and wooden poles. Those under attack retreated into the trains, intimidated by the gangs of men waiting for them outside the turnstiles. The attackers then entered the trains and beat the people inside as they tried to defend themselves with umbrellas. They eventually retreated. One of the men in white held up a sign saying “Pro- tect Yuen Long, protect our homes.” Subway passengers filmed by Stand News and iCABLE angrily accused police of- ficers of not intervening in the attack. Stand News re- porter Gwyneth Ho said on Facebook that she suffered minor injuries to her hands and shoulder, and was dizzy from a head injury. Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post reported that several people were bleeding fol- lowing the attacks, with seven sent to the hospital. The growing tumult in Hong Kong has fuelled fears that China’s People’s Libera- tion Army may intervene. A Chinese army brigade said Monday that it held an anti-terrorism exercise in southern Guangdong prov- ince. The 74th Army Group did not refer to Hong Kong in its social media state- ment, but military commen- tator and retired officer Yue Gang said that troops would be dispatched to the semi-au- tonomous territory if needed. “To deface the Chinese na- tional emblem is like acting as an enemy to 1.3 billion Chinese people,” Yue said. “They must be deterred.” SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Waving flags, chanting and banging pots and pans, tens of thousands of Puerto Ri- cans filled a central ex- pressway Monday to demand the resignation of Gov. Ri- cardo Rosselló in what ap- peared to be the biggest pro- test on the island in nearly two decades. The demonstration came 10 days after the leak of 889 pages of obscenity-laced on- line chats between Ros- selló and some of his close advisers. In the conversa- tions, they insulted women and mocked constituents, including victims of Hur- ricane Maria. The leak has intensified long-smouldering anger in the US territory over per- sistent corruption and mis- management by the island’s two main political parties, a severe debt crisis, a sickly economy and a slow recovery from Maria, which devas- tated Puerto Rico in Sep- tember 2017. “The people have awak- ened after so much outrage,” said 69-year-old retired nurse Benedicta Villegas. “There are still people without roofs and highways without lights. The chat was the tip of the iceberg.” Jannice Rivera, a 43-year- old mechanical engineer who lives in Houston but was born and raised in Puerto Rico and flew in solely to join the protest, said: “This is just the beginning. Fi- nally, the government’s mask has fallen.” The crowd surged through along the Americans Ex- pressway highway despite the punishing heat – toddlers, teenagers, professionals and the elderly, all dripping in sweat and smiling as they waved Puerto Rico flags large and small and hoisted signs. One group dragged a port- able karaoke machine and chanted, “Ricky, resign!” “This is to show that the people respect themselves,” said Ana Carrasquillo, 26. “We’ve put up with corrup- tion for so many years.” Rosselló, a Democrat, an- nounced Sunday evening that he would not quit, but sought to calm the unrest by prom- ising not to seek re-election in 2020 or continue as head of his pro-statehood political party. That only further an- gered his critics, who have mounted street demonstra- tions for more than a week. “The people are not going to go away,” said Johanna Soto, of the city of Carolina. “That’s what he’s hoping for, but we outnumber him.” The territory’s largest newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, added to the pressure with the front-page headline: “Gov- ernor, it’s time to listen to the people: You have to resign.” Organizers labelled the planned road shutdown “660,510 + 1” – which repre- sents the number of people who voted for Rosselló plus one more – to reject his argu- ment that he is not resigning because he was chosen by the people. In a video posted Sunday night on Facebook, Rosselló said he welcomed people’s freedom to express them- selves. He also said he is looking forward to defending himself as Puerto Rico’s leg- islature begins exploring impeachment. “I hear you,” he said. “I have made mistakes and I have apologized.” The demonstrations in this territory of more than 3 million American citizens represent the biggest protest movement on the island since Puerto Ricans rallied to put an end to US Navy training on the island of Vieques more than 15 years ago. Monday was the 10th consecutive day of protests, and more are being called for later in the week. The is- land’s largest mall, Plaza de las Américas, closed ahead of the protest, as did dozens of other businesses. The up- heaval also prompted at least four cruise ships to cancel visits to Puerto Rico, and many officials worry about the effect a resignation would have on the already fragile economy. Puerto Rico is strug- gling to restructure part of its $70 billion in debt under federal supervision and deal with a 13-year reces- sion through school closings, cutbacks in infrastructure maintenance and other aus- terity measures. At the same time, the is- land is trying to rebuild from Maria, which caused more than $100 billion in damage, threw Puerto Rico into a year-long blackout and left thousands dead, most of them succumbing during the sweltering aftermath. Also, the island has seen a recent string of arrests of Puerto Rico officials on cor- ruption charges. Those ar- rested included the former education secretary. In the conversations, they insulted women and mocked constituents, including victims of Hurricane Maria. The growing tumult in Hong Kong has fuelled fears that China’s People’s Liberation Army may intervene. Demonstrators protest against Gov. Ricardo Rossello in San Juan, Puerto Rico. – PHOTO: APNext >