ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY, 29 JULY 2019 High of 91 Low of 78 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. LOCAL | PAGE 3 POLICE OFFICERS MAKE $1 MILLION GANJA BUST WORLD | PAGE 8 PM BORIS JOHNSON’S AGENDA RAISES UK ELECTION SPECULATION SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY A pair of Carnival cruise ships call upon George Town Harbour. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Verdant Isle preferred bidder on cruise project Contract will not be finalised till petition is vetted JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com The Verdant Isle group has been selected as the preferred bidder for the cruise and cargo port in George Town harbour, though no contract will be signed until the petition calling for a referendum on the controversial project has been fully vetted. Premier Alden McLaughlin made the an- nouncement in the Legislative Assembly Friday afternoon and promised to reveal more information at a press conference, planned for Monday. Verdant Isle Port Partners is a consortium of companies including McAlpine Cayman Ltd., Orion Marine Construction, Carnival Corp. and Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The announcement comes as the Elections Office continues its process of verifying the signatures in the referendum petition. At last count Friday afternoon, 64% of the necessary signatures had been verified. KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Two Cayman Islands resi- dents were found dead this week in southern California. Authorities have yet to re- lease the cause of death of Keith Henderman, 74, and wife Yvonne Blanco, 69. The Lone Pine Cor- oner, located in Inyo County, believes the two had been de- ceased for 24 hours when po- lice located them on Monday, 22 July in a remote area outside Charleston View, near the state line with Nevada. The Inyo County Sheriff’s of- fice reports Henderman and Blanco were found dead outside of a parked Toyota RAV4 that had been rented in Las Vegas. “At this time there is an open investigation in order to deter- mine whether there was foul play involved,” the sheriff’s office said in a press statement. Autopsies of the bodies will be performed outside of Inyo County, the office reported. Henderman and Blanco were frequent faces at Grand Cay- man’s World Gym. Tertius Broderick, owner of World Gym, said the couple had been loyal members there for 10 years. “[They] would always make suggestions on how to make the gym better. They will be missed by all staff as they came every CARIBBEAN AIRLINES APPROVED FOR CAYMAN-JAMAICA ROUTE KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Trinidad’s Caribbean Airlines will begin servicing Grand Cayman, following approval of a route to Kingston, Jamaica. Permission has been granted for the route to run 14 July until 13 Jan. 2020, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority said, adding that the airline has the option to obtain flight per- mission year-round. There is no limit to the number of flights the company will be able to operate. The airline has not confirmed a start date for the new route. Once that date is finalised, the airline will announce the days and times Cayman Islands couple found dead in California Yvonne Blanco, originally from Cuba, poses here in her Laguna del Mar home for a fitness testimonial. Blanco and husband Keith Henderman were regulars at World Gym. - PHOTO: MANUELA NEMES PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY, 29 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 DUMBO (PG) 10:30 (SAT ONLY) I 4:35 I 7:15 (NO SAT) SUN: 4:35 I 7:15 CAPTAIN MARVEL 1:40 I 10:00 (NO SAT) SUN: 6:30 I 10:00 THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (R) 1:10 VIP I 4:35 I 7:00 VIP I 10:15 HELLBOY (R) 12:35 (SAT ONLY) I 1:00 I 6:10 (SAT ONLY) I 6:45 SHAZAM! (PG13) 1:30 I 3:40 VIP I 7:15 I 9:30 VIP SUN: 3:40 VIP I 4:40 I 6:40 VIP 8:00 I 9:40 VIP KIDS CLUB: OVER THE HEDGE (PG) 10:00 (SAT ONLY) CULTURE AT THE CINEMA: THE TRAGEDY OF KIND RICHARD THE SECOND 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. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) PERFECTLY SINGLE (R) 1:55 | 4:20 | 7:30 | 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 7:05 STUBER (R) 1:05 | 4:30 | 7:10 | 10:10 THE LION KING (2019) (PG) 1:00 VIP | 1:30 | 3:30 3D | 4:10 VIP | 7:00 VIP | 9:30 3D Miss Teen contestants prepare for competition KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Five contestants for Miss Teen Cayman Islands gathered at Grand Old House Saturday in advance of the 24 Aug. pag- eant at The Lions Centre, to an- nounce their official sponsors. The teens have been un- dergoing etiquette and public speech training in preparation for the big event, where they will compete for a four-year scholarship donated by the Ministry of Education. Ashley Gooden, 16 of Bodden Town, will be spon- sored by APS Security. “My platform is based on en- couraging both girls and women to step up to the plate and try something new,” Ashley said. “I feel that in Cayman, girls tend to shy away from oppor- tunities like this, so I wanted to be the reason someone would go out there and do something. So my life motto has been as- pire to inspire.” Ashley is completing her A-levels at Cayman Prep and High School. She hopes to be- come a school teacher, as well as a child psychologist. Jada Bodden, 16 of Bodden Town, will be sponsored by Partyville. She wants to pro- mote a platform in support of Cayman’s youth, “because young people are not usually involved in current events or politics that are going on in the country”, she said. “So by doing this, I can make them feel more involved in what’s happening in the community.” Jada is interested in the performing arts, modelling and acting. She is currently pursuing an associate degree at University College of the Cayman Islands. Monina Thompson, 18 of George Town, is supported by an anonymous sponsor who would like to highlight mental health. Monina said participating in the pageant has challenged her to step out of the box, because she is a naturally shy person. “I also want to change up the pageant game,” she said. “I want to let girls know, you don’t have to look a certain way, you don’t have to wear heavy make-up or such ex- CUC OUTAGE ANNOUNCED FOR BIMINI DRIVE CUC has issued an advi- sory that customers on Bi- mini Drive off Shamrock Road in the Grand Harbour area should expect interrup- tions to their electrical ser- vice on Sunday, 4 Aug., be- tween 7am and 1pm. Areas affected include all residential customers on Bi- mini Drive, and commercial customers in the Hurley’s su- permarket complex. Motorists are asked to drive with caution when in Grand Harbour as CUC will have a number of trucks and personnel in the area. CUC attributed the planned outage to overhead infrastructure upgrades. For more information, call 949‑5200 or email service@cuc.ky. DCI CLOSING EARLY WEDNESDAY The Department of Commerce and Invest- ment issued a public no- tice that their office will be closed on Wednesday, 31 July, at 3pm, to facilitate a staff meeting. DCI will resume normal business hours the following day on Thursday, 1 Aug. CAYMAN CARNIVAL ANNOUNCED FOR MAY 2020 After much discussion between the Cayman Is- lands government and rel- evant stakeholders, it has been decided that the Cayman Carnival dates will remain in May for 2020. The discussions have been focussed on making better decisions about how the festival could best be modelled after the suc- cesses of regional partners in hosting a unified car- nival and creating an out- standing experience. The Ministry of Cul- ture received submissions questioning the choice of May to hold Cayman Car- nival, with Bahamas Car- nival scheduled for the first weekend of May; Mother’s Day in the second weekend; and Braccanal on the third weekend. The public hol- iday weekend in June was also explored; however, this was met with con- cerns about the Queen’s birthday parade held in George Town. “This was not an easy task and required many proposals and counter-pro- posals with stakeholders and vested parties,” said Minister Dwayne Seymour. “At this time we believe we have gained the majority buy-in and have made final decisions to accommodate the start of 2020 bookings.” The dates will be as originally announced: The first weekend of May will be Junior Carnival; the second weekend of May will be Cayman Carnival; and the third weekend (Dis- covery Day public holiday weekend) will be Braccanal. “The Ministry will con- tinue to listen to our stake- holders on an annual basis and make adjustments as necessary,” said Seymour. “We would like to thank all parties for their submis- sions, communications and the healthy discussions that have led to this decision. “We encourage all to try to make these dates work and look forward to con- tinued Carnival success for the Cayman Islands,” he concluded. Miss Teen contestants Amelia Lamie, left, Ashley Gooden, Sadé Parchment, Jada Bodden and Monina Thompson pose outside Grand Old House. - PHOTO: LIONS CLUB Cayman Carnival dates will remain in the month of May for 2020. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY travagant dress. Just be yourself.” Sadé Parchment, 17 of Bodden Town, is spon- sored by Impressions Beauty Salon. Sadé has been strug- gling with Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disease that causes bulging eyes. “My high school called me and said they wanted me to participate in [the pageant]. Just seeing that they saw the potential in me, it kind of just encour- aged me to do it. And I decided that I wouldn’t let my disease hold me back,” she said. “I feel that by doing Miss Teen, it will give me confidence and help me to embrace myself, and help others to embrace them- selves as well.” She is studying social studies at University Col- lege of the Cayman Islands and hopes to pursue social work and family law. Amelia Lamie, 17 of Bodden Town, is sponsored by Grape Tree Café. Amelia is interested in art and hopes to become an archi- tect or lawyer. She would like to ad- vocate for organisa- tions that support young women and girls. “She wants all young women and girls to re- member that it doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside, what truly matters is who you are on the inside,” a Miss Teen statement said. Ian Callow of the Lions Club, the event’s sponsor, said that in addition to public speaking training with Toastmasters and et- iquette training, the girls will also have to work to- gether on an opening dance number. “It’s good training for them that they may not get anywhere else,” Callow said. “It’s really fascinating, from the Lions Club point of view, to see the girls when we get them at the beginning … and see what they do for us at the show at the end of August and how they develop.” The pageant will be held 24 Aug. at the Lions Centre. Doors open at 6pm and the event starts at 7pm. The theme this year is ‘Sailing the High Seas’. Ticket sales begin Monday, 29 July and can be purchased from committee members, contestants or at Funky Tang’s. The presale cost is $40 for premium tickets, $25 for general admission and $15 for children. Ticket prices at the gate will differ.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 29 JULY 2019 Police officers make $1 million ganja bust Local police seized a half-ton of ganja worth an estimated $1 mil- lion from a boat that was drifting 50 miles east of Grand Cayman. According to a Royal Cayman Islands Police Service news release, on Wednesday, police sent of- ficers from the Joint Marine Unit, supported by the Air Operations Unit, in response to a report of “a vessel adrift some miles off the coast of Grand Cayman”. At about 4:30pm, po- lice located the boat drifting about 50 miles east of Grand Cayman. “Joint Marine Unit officers aboard the MV Mark Luke came alongside the vessel and observed what appeared to be a substan- tial amount of ganja in nu- merous packages on board,” according to police. Two male Jamaican na- tionals, ages 33 and 59, were aboard the drifting vessel. They were arrested on sus- picion of drug trafficking. Po- lice seized the boat and its contents. The men are in cus- tody while police continue the investigation. According to police, “The packages are estimated to contain over 1,000 pounds of ganja with an esti- mated street value of up to $1 million.” Police estimate that the ganja weighs 1,000 more than pounds and has a street value of $1 million.Police locate the drifting boat some 50 miles east of Grand Cayman. Cayman’s minimum wage to be reassessed KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman’s minimum wage, currently set at $6 an hour, will undergo a re- view process, Premier Alden McLaughlin said Thursday before the Legisla- tive Assembly. The Minimum Wage Advi- sory Committee, with assis- tance from the International Labour Organization, will re- convene to determine if the current minimum wage is still effective and make rec- ommendations for reforms. “This process will also en- tail data analysis on the la- bour market, skills gap anal- ysis, and labour market policies,” McLaughlin said. George Town Central rep- resentative Kenneth Bryan pushed the premier on whether he hopes the min- imum wage will reach a spe- cific amount. McLaughlin said the rate was not up to him or his government to determine on their own. “It is not just something that you just click your fin- gers and say, I think $8 an hour would be a good wage. There’s a process involved,” McLaughlin said. “The minimum wage will be established as the result of the carrying out of these pro- cesses and these surveys, be- cause there is much more in terms of consequence to es- tablishing a minimum wage than simply giving persons a higher minimum wage.” He added that the process would be a technical one that required balancing and con- sideration of the overall eco- nomic impact, including the cost to businesses. The current min- imum wage went into ef- fect on 1 March 2016 under McLaughlin’s previous administration. The rate of $6 an hour is established as the minimum wage for most Cayman Is- lands employees. Service workers who make gratui- ties earn a minimum hourly rate of $4.50 and special calculations apply for live- in household domestics, as well as for employees earning commission. “We are in the very early stages of this reestablishment process,” McLaughlin said. “So it will be for the Min- imum Wage Advisory Com- mittee to indicate once they are established again what the timetable is for them being able to produce the report.” Newlands MLA Alva Suckoo asked if it would be sensible to establish a time- line for the report that co- incides with the upcoming budget process. McLaughlin responded that such a timeline would not be possible, given that the budget is expected to ap- pear before the house in the middle of October. The labour management unit of Workforce Opportuni- ties and Residency Cayman, or WORC, will also contribute to the reevaluation process. OECD BLESSES CAYMAN’S ‘ECONOMIC SUBSTANCE’ RULES Cayman’s tax regime has been deemed as “not harmful” to other countries in a review by the Organi- sation for Economic Co-op- eration and Development. The territory was one of a dozen low- or zero-tax ju- risdictions put under the microscope by the OECD. Cayman Finance wel- comed the news in a press release Friday, stating: “Cayman Finance is pleased to note that the Or- ganisation for Economic Co-operation and Devel- opment (OECD), has com- pleted a review of the Cayman Islands’ domestic legal framework that in- cludes economic sub- stance legislation, and found that the Cayman Is- lands tax neutral regime is not harmful and meets all economic substance requirements. “The review was con- ducted by the OECD Forum on Harmful Tax Prac- tices (FHTP) in June 2019. Cayman was one of 11 ju- risdictions assessed during this round of reviews. “As part of the Inclusive Framework, the FHTP will annually review changes in the legal framework, as well as the implementa- tion of safeguards and en- forcement measures in practice,” according to the news release. “As a premier global fi- nancial hub, it is important that international standard setting bodies, like the OECD, have reviewed Cay- man’s legal framework and independently reaffirmed that we meet all of the relevant international re- quirements and that Cay- man’s tax neutral regime does not pose harm to other countries’ tax bases,” said Cayman Finance CEO Jude Scott. “We continue to support the work of the Cayman Islands Government that ensures the Cayman Is- lands meets all rele- vant international stand- ards implemented by the OECD,” he added. The territory was one of a dozen low- or zero-tax jurisdictions put under the microscope by the OECD. The rate of $6 an hour is established as the minimum wage for most Cayman Islands employees.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. MONDAY, 29 JULY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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” Officials salute Ron Kipp Widely regarded as one of the pioneers who placed Cayman Islands diving on the map, Mr. Ronald (Ron) L. Kipp was a true visionary and his story, like our waters, is one of a kind. Ron was first introduced to diving in 1971 and became a certified dive instructor soon after. His eagerness to explore the waters of the world led him to the Cayman Islands, where he instantly fell in love with our impeccable marine envi- ronment and would become a repeat visitor. A successful businessman with IBM, Ron left his position in 1980 and relocated to the Cayman Is- lands to become the owner of Bob Soto’s Diving Ltd. Ron’s earnest passion for the sport, coupled with his foresight of the sport’s po- tential, led him to begin mod- ernising and expanding his business while marketing the Cayman Islands as a world- class dive destination. Ron quickly became one of the largest dive [operators] in the Cayman Islands, building a PADI five-star operation and influencing scuba diving marketing at home and across the Caribbean region. A natural leader, Mr. Kipp sought avenues to sustain the growth of the sport world- wide. He was an original member of theDiving Equip- ment and Marketing Asso- ciation (DEMA) Industry Or- ganizing Committee and was elected to the DEMA Board of Directors, where he served continuously longer than any other member in the organi- sation’s history. At home, Ron was instrumental in creating the first local scuba diving association and would later help to create the Cayman Is- lands Tourism Association. Ron was a formidable businessman softened with a love for laughter, and [he] had a big heart through his active community and tourism ef- forts. His commitment to de- veloping the sport for future generations cannot be trivial- ised. Because of his efforts and achievements, Mr. Kipp was inducted into International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame in 2012. Ron received one of the nation’s highest recognitions in the Cayman Islands as a pi- oneer in Tourism at the 2017 Heroes Day celebrations. The Ministry and Depart- ment of Tourism join the people across the Cayman Is- lands and around the world in mourning the loss and celebrating the life of one of the great tourism pioneers of our time. Ron was a formidable businessman softened with a love for laughter, and [he] had a big heart through his active community and tourism efforts. Climate science and the Caribbean voice DAVID JESSOP In the last few days new evidence has been published suggesting that scientists are now 99 percent certain that human activity is causing global warming. As if to validate this, temperatures in parts of Northern Europe spiked this week at 44.9 C (113 F), breaking records and con- firming changing patterns that have brought extreme weather and higher tempera- tures often for sustained pe- riods to regions of Africa, the Americas, the Artic and many other parts of the world. Such events graphically il- lustrate the impact and trend of global warming, raising questions as to what the Car- ibbean and other states most at risk can do to ensure that the science is acted on. Earlier this month, a re- search letter published in the scientific journal Nature from scientists at the University of Bern demonstrated that not at any time in the last 2,000 years has there been a period when temperatures have changed so rapidly or widely. Using evidence taken from ice, sediment and trees, the new research indicates that the current warming is unique, taking place on a global scale and in recent decades has accelerated as a result of industrial emissions. Despite this, in many countries populist politicians backed by powerful compa- nies, lobbyists and wealthy individuals who profit from denial, continue to reject such data-backed scientific evi- dence. To make matters worse, the United States is not only withdrawing next year from the global climate change ac- cord reached in 2016 but is also working to weaken multi- lateralism and the institutions that have previously enabled a consensus to be reached on mitigation and adaptation. This presents a problem for the Caribbean. Although CARICOM, Cuba and the Dominican Republic have previously been instru- mental in trying to drive a new global consensus on ad- dressing climate change by working closely with China, the EU, the ACP group and others, the region alone has little ability to influence or change the actions of the US, Brazil, Russia or other na- tions that in one or another way are undermining the rest of the world’s ability to re- duce global carbon emissions. Just as worryingly, the Caribbean, despite its widely recognised vulnerability, has not been able to trigger the international financial sup- port it requires to build the resistance necessary to de- fend and protect its citizens. This is in part because the region is classified by inter- national development agen- cies as consisting of middle- income economies – Haiti is an exception – and thus not eligible for concessional de- velopment assistance. Encouragingly however, in a welcome and underreported address, the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, has publicly recognised the need to find ways to address the plight of the Caribbean and other small states at risk from climate change. Speaking recently in St. Lucia to CARICOM heads of government he observed that the destruction caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria had negated many years of Caribbean development gains. These events, he said, had made abundantly clear to him and others the need to find ways around develop- ment financing constraints. Guterres observed that the Caribbean should be seen as an influential test bed for innovative climate action. This could involve decen- tralised clean energy solu- tions that ensure that power losses after storms will be shorter and less catastrophic, investing more in concrete conservation and resilience measures, and reviewing in- ternational financial mech- anisms relating to climate change. He also commended the region on its wish to be- come the world’s first climate resilient zone and endorsed the idea of a ‘Caribbean Re- silience to Recovery Facility’ able to develop financial solu- tions that support CARICOM members to build resilient communities and nations. Most importantly of all, the UN secretary general rec- ognised that apart from the recurrent costs of climate-re- lated events, the Caribbean and other Small Island De- veloping States (SIDS) faced unique economic constraints “complicated by the diffi- culties (they) face in mobi- lising development finance on affordable and appro- priate terms”. Then, in a welcome refer- ence to the challenge the Car- ibbean faces in having been graduated out of concessional development financing, Gu- terres said: “We join your call, and will take the steps we can, to improve access to develop- ment financing as a priority. I agree with you that eligibility for Official Development As- sistance and other forms of concessional financing should include vulnerability criteria, in addition to Gross National Income per capita.” Vulnerability, Guterres said, “should be recognised by all” and that the speed and predictability of climate fi- nancing, especially for Least Developed Countries and SIDS, should be improved. Guterres appears deter- mined to try to bring more re- sources to SIDS and to change the global mechanisms that determine who is eligible for development assistance. How- ever, this will not be easy. This is because when it comes to climate change multilater- alism and the role played by international institutions is of declining interest to some states, most notably the US. While the UN Secretary General’s words were pow- erful and heartening, global warming is unlike any other issue in as much as it re- quires every nation to agree and for joined up action to follow within a very limited time scale. The world needs to see global greenhouse gas emissions reduced and to work collectively towards ensuring that global tem- peratures do not rise more than 1.5C above pre-indus- trial levels in order to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. Unfortunately, some think differently, so much so that when it comes to climate change the populist trend to- wards Manichean thinking, the denial of interdepend- ence and a failure to act in the common interest sug- gests that the ultimate desti- nation may be uncontrollable migration, food shortages and even wars. For the Caribbean, climate change is existential. Fifty per- cent of the region’s population and almost all its productive enterprise and infrastructure lies within 1.2 miles of the sea. If nothing is done to provide support, very large numbers of people and whole econo- mies will have to face the ef- fects of ever more intense hur- ricanes, rising sea levels, and economically damaging re- lated natural phenomena such as sargassum. Climate change and the science behind it are is- sues on which the Carib- bean has every reason to be taken seriously and its con- cerns addressed. David Jessop is a consultant to the Caribbean Council and can be contacted at david.jessop@Caribbean-council.org.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS MONDAY, 29 JULY 2019 August 2nd & 3rd 50% Cayman Brac $ 5 $ 10 SALE OFF Universal Mats Per Pair Per Box on Selected Floor and Wall Tiles Selected Tiles and Carpet 3436 Spot Bay Rd. Cayman Brac Tel: 948-2665 200 tons of sargassum cleared in 2 weeks NiCE programme extended to continue clearing beaches JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Government is considering hiring full-time crews to keep the island’s beaches sargassum free after unemployed workers in the NiCE programme re- moved 200 tons of the foul- smelling seaweed from Grand Cayman’s coastline in the space of two weeks. Commerce Minister Joey Hew said the programme had been extended for two weeks to allow some of the participants to keep working on clearing the seaweed. “We recognise this is an on- going situation that will require continuous effort,” he said. “The ministry has decided to extend the NiCE programme for a further two weeks as a pilot programme which will involve a small crew with additional equipment. That will allow us to better assess resources to manage the problem in the long term.” Once that process is com- plete, he said government would evaluate the best strategy for keeping the beaches clear. Beaches across the Car- ibbean and Central America have been inundated with sar- gassum in recent years and scientists predict the phenom- enon will continue. In some is- lands and parts of Mexico the tourism industry has been im- pacted with white sand beaches almost permanently covered in seaweed. The impact in Cayman has been less severe, but sev- eral hotels and water-sports businesses have been affected at various times, and residents have complained of public beaches and verges piling up with sargassum. Hew said a task force in- volving multiple government ministries had been set up and was actively working on a long term plan to keep the beaches clear. He said, “The Caribbean and indeed the Cayman Islands have seen significant increase in sargassum influxes and in light of this situation there is a need for a proactive and col- laborative approach. There is no simple solution.” Under questioning from Op- position Leader Arden McLean, Hew acknowledged the bulk of the sargassum collected through the NiCE programme had gone to landfill. He said the Department of Agriculture was examining the possibility of using it for fer- tiliser or feed but this had not been possible on a large scale during the NiCE programme. He said the focus had been on getting the beaches clear, and it would be left to the experts at the DoA to determine the fea- sibility of distributing the sea- weed to farmers in future. He said the high salt content was a potential issue. McLean said Caymanians had been using sargassum on their land for years and sug- gested it should be made avail- able to people who could use it at their own risk. “This is not the first time that stuff came into this country. We gathered it, laid it out and let the rain beat it out and then we used it for fertiliser. All of a sudden now the salinity content is so high? I wonder if the sea has changed,” he said. In all, 486 Caymanians and spouses of Caymanians were in- volved in the NiCE programme, Hew said. He said WORC staff had been on hand during reg- istration to get details from as many people as possible in an effort to get them into training or long term work. ‘Going … going … gone’: NiCE programme workers clear sargassum from a beach in South Sound. After workers removed 200 tons of the odoriferous seaweed from Grand Cayman’s coastline in two weeks, government is considering making sargassum clearing a full-time job.6 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY, 29 JULY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS WRECK ON CREWE ROAD Just about 11:20pm Wednesday, 24 July, po- lice attended a report of a motor vehicle collision that took place on Crewe Road, George Town, be- tween Clarence Drive and Belmont Close. A white Ford F-150 Truck was being driven by a 28-year-old-man of Bodden Town, when the driver of the vehicle lost control and ran into a chain-link fence and wall belonging to two separate residences on Crewe Road. The man did not com- plain of any injuries to the police and no other vehi- cles or persons were in- volved in the collision. The man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of al- cohol following a road- side breath test, as well as several other driving of- fences, including driving without insurance and careless driving. After being booked into custody, an intoxica- tion test was carried out and the results were .212, more than double the legal limit. The man was later bailed pending further investigations. COURT BRIEFS Child burial, cash smuggling, attempted murder, theft KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Child burial trial rescheduled for October Trial for Bodden Town man Travis Jarrel Webb, ac- cused of the attempted murder of a child, was de- layed Friday, pending further mental health evaluations. Defence attorney Oliver Grimwood said he was in possession of expert psychi- atric reports on Webb, but that he had not yet shared them with the Crown. He expected to serve those re- ports to the Crown by Monday, 29 July. Grimwood said, “Webb meets the test,” set out in the psychological and psychiatric evaluations. The Crown will perform its own psychological as- sessment of Webb, expected to take six to eight weeks to complete. Trail was rescheduled from 5 Aug. to 4 Oct. to allow for the Crown’s testing to be carried out. Webb was arrested Wednesday, 21 Nov. in re- lation to a 3-year-old who was allegedly buried alive in Bodden Town. Police at the time reported that the child was found in distress and struggling to breathe. The child was ad- ministered oxygen until an ambulance transported the patient to Cayman Is- lands Hospital. Couple pleads not guilty in cash-smuggling case Andre Carroll Woodman and Sandra Milena Woodman pleaded not guilty on Friday to the charge that they at- tempted to remove criminal property, in this case $9,000 in cash, from the jurisdiction. On 3 Aug. 2018, Sandra Milena Woodman’s sister, Yolanda Pineda, was stopped as she attempted to leave the Cayman Islands for Co- lombia. Authorities found $9,000 strapped to her body, the court heard. Pineda said she was transporting the money for her sister and her sister’s husband, Andre Car- roll Woodman, to purchase a property in Colombia. Charges against Pineda have been dropped. The Woodmans are now facing accusations of money laun- dering, however. When interviewed, the Woodmans said the cash came from their jet ski busi- ness and provided statements of cash deposits and credit card transactions from the business, explained Defence attorney Oliver Grimwood. The Crown is making the case that the Woodmans do not have the resources to justify the amount of cash discovered. Grimwood questioned if the Crown was attempting to connect the cash with drug charges, after a search of the Woodmans’ home uncovered 1.2 grammes of ganja, in- cluding some dust in a glass jar and ganja stuck on the in- side of a toilet bowl. Grimwood said laying charges of possession with intent to supply in con- nection to this case would change the nature of the trial. Andre Carroll Woodman is Caymanian and Sandra Milena Woodman is Colom- bian. Given the couple’s ties to Colombia, Crown counsel Nicole Petite suggested their passports be surrendered as a condition of bail. Justice Roger Chapple ac- cepted Grimwood’s argument against the surrender of their passports. As a condition of bail, the couple will be re- quired to sleep and live at their registered residence in Grand Cayman. Trial was set to begin 4 Nov. Defence attorneys challenge attempted murder charges Applications will be made to drop attempted murder charges against Carlos Ja- meel Bustillo and Daniel Wal- lace Rankine, Justice Roger Chapple heard Friday. The applications are being prepared by defence attor- neys Crister Brady, on be- half of Rankine, and Rupert Wheeler, on behalf of Bustillo. Brady asked the court to delay arraignment on Friday, adding that the case is a “po- tentially cutthroat matter”. The case was scheduled to recommence on 3 Sept. Rankine was taken into custody on Thursday, 20 June and later charged with at- tempted murder in relation to a 26 April shooting on South Church Street. It is not clear when the attempted murder charge was made for Bustillo. Woman surrenders passport in theft case Cassandra Jasmine Ebanks pleaded guilty Friday to theft of more the CI$100,000 and US$100,000. She pleaded not guilty to related charges of forgery and uttering false documents, regarding 35 banks cheques. The offences were allegedly carried out between 1 March 2018 and 13 Nov. 2018. Ebanks was released on bail on the condition that she not contact the Camana Bay dental practice and that she surrender her passport. A judge-alone trail was scheduled for 4 Nov. BRAWL, STABBING ON MARY STREET Just after 5:30am on Thursday, 25 July, police were informed of an inci- dent that took place in the parking lot of a liquor-li- censed premise located on Mary Street, near the in- tersection with McField Lane. Several people were engaged in a brawl in the parking lot that resulted in two men sustaining stab wounds. The men were hos- pitalised, but are be- lieved to have sustained non-life-threatening inju- ries and are stable at this time, according to a police news release. The incident is being investigated by the Crim- inal Investigations Depart- ment and detectives are appealing to anyone who may have been present and witnessed what took place during the altercation, to come forward and speak with the police. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the George Town Police Station at 949‑4222. Tips can also be submitted anonymously directly to police via www.rcips. ky or externally through Crime Stoppers at 800‑8477 or online. Weather and travel woes hit Britain, France LONDON (AP) – The tempera- ture’s dropping but Europe’s troubles are not over: A re- cord-busting heatwave gave way Friday to thunderstorms and hailstorms, bringing the Tour de France to a dramatic halt and causing trouble at British airports and beyond on one of the most hectic travel days of the year. In addition, travellers at London’s Heathrow and Gat- wick airports faced delays because air traffic controllers grounded flights over a tech- nical problem. It marked the second day of travel disruptions in Euro- pean capitals after one of the hottest days in memory, when many places in Western Eu- rope saw temperatures soar beyond 104 degrees Fahr- enheit. Compounding that, the weekend is a big travel moment across Europe as families head off for their summer holidays now that schools have broken up for the academic year. After several hours of flight restrictions over UK airspace Friday, the national air traffic controller NATS said it had fixed the technical issue and would be able to safely increase traffic flow. “Weather is continuing to cause significant unrelated disruption across the country and more widely across Eu- rope, which has further com- plicated today’s operation,” NATS said in a statement. In France, suffocating heat turned into slippery storms Friday – including a hail- storm on the Tour de France route in the Alps that was so sudden and violent that or- ganisers ordered a stop to the world’s premier cycling event. As riders careened down hairpin turns after mounting a 9,000-foot peak, a storm lashed the valley below. A snowplough worked desper- ately to clear the route of slush, but organisers deemed it too dangerous to continue. Weather almost never stops the three-week race, and the decision came on a day of high-drama in which race leader Julian Alaphilippe lost his top spot and accom- panying yellow jersey just ahead of Sunday’s finale. British rail commuters were also facing delays after the heatwave prompted Net- work Rail to impose speed re- strictions in case the tracks buckled. Engineers from the company have been working to get the network back to normal after the track tem- peratures soared to up to 68 F more than the air temperature. OFFICERS CHECK LIQUOR- LICENSED PREMISES On Friday, 19 July, po- lice officers joined with staff from the Depart- ment of Commerce and In- vestment and the Cayman Islands Fire Service to conduct checks of liquor- licensed premises in George Town. The objective of the checks was to determine whether the establish- ments were meeting the re- quirements of their liquor licences, and in particular safety regulations. The checks were carried out by Senior Trade Officer Leith Bodden from the DCI, Acting Senior Divisional Fire Prevention and Inves- tigation Officer Darnley Scott from the CIFS and Police Inspector Courtney Myles of the RCIPS. Five establishments were visited and four of the five were found to have issues that needed to be addressed. Some of these issues were corrected im- mediately, while others are being followed up by the relevant inspectors. The Law Courts Building in downtown George Town. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY George Town Police Station. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 29 JULY 2019 EXPERT CANCER CAREFOR CAYMAN ISLANDS PATIENTS © 2019 IPB CAYMAN ISLANDS PATIENTS Pamela R. Breast Cancer Patient At Cancer Treatment Centers of America © (CTCA), we guide you and your family every step of the way, starting with a 3-5 day initial evaluation to develop your personalized cancer treatment plan. A team of clinicians will work together to provide treatments combined with supportive care therapies designed to help manage side effects, boost your energy and keep you strong during treatment. If 5,292 signatures, repre- senting 25% of the electorate, are verified, the Constitu- tion indicates a referendum should take place. Premier Alden McLaughlin said in the statement on Friday that government will not proceed with finalising the contract before 1 Oct. to allow the verification process to be completed. He said, “This morning the Cabinet of the Cayman Is- lands approved the Ministry of District Administration, Tourism and Transport and the Port Authority proceeding with the cruise berthing and enhanced cargo facility pro- ject on the basis of a bid by Verdant Isle Port Partners as accepted by the Central Ten- ders Committee on Tuesday, 23 July 2019.” Campaigners for a refer- endum on the project said the announcement was an expected part of the pro- cess and welcomed govern- ment’s acknowledgment that the contract should not be finalised until after the pe- tition verification process is complete. Mario Rankin, of Cruise Port Referendum Cayman, said it was now incumbent on government to reveal the full details about the cost of the project, how it would be funded and the full designs. Government has previously indicated that it was not able to give these details while the procurement process was taking place. McLaughlin said Friday that details of the bid will be discussed at Mon- day’s press conference. It is also understood that the winning bidder will be responsible for financing an update to the Environ- mental Impact Assessment on the final design. The de- tails of how that process will take place and other as- pects of how the project pro- ceeds are expected to be re- vealed Monday. Rankin said supporters of the petition should not be discouraged by the an- nouncement that a preferred bidder had been chosen. He said it was an expected part of the ongoing process and, based on the early results of the verification process for the petition, he believes a ref- erendum is now inevitable. He said the fact that the contract would not be signed until after October was an encouraging sign that the pe- tition was now being taken seriously by the political arm of government. “I think we all knew that the Central Tenders Committee was going to make a deci- sion on the preferred bidder. That has been part of the pro- cess for a while and it doesn’t change anything in terms of the petition. I like the fact that the government statement also included a commitment that they won’t be signing anything until after the petition verifica- tion is done. “The work that everybody put in has borne fruit and I am convinced that the verifi- cation process will be com- pleted and that people will get their chance to vote on this in a referendum.” Johann Moxam, one of the most vocal pro-refer- endum campaigners, said he expected the government to now come out with infor- mation about plans for the next stage of the Environ- mental Impact Assessment, including public engagement. He added, “Perhaps the CIG and Ministry of Tourism will now be more open and transparent about the de- sign, estimated total costs, the financing model(s) in- cluding cash and inkind commitments, the upland development and the pro- jected increase in cruise pas- senger arrivals over the next 10-20 years.” of the route, said Dionne Lig- oure, head of corporate com- munications. Caribbean Air- lines also flies to Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Cuba, Curacao, Ven- ezuela, Grenada, Guyana, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vin- cent, Suriname, United States, and Trinidad and Tobago. “Caribbean Airlines is an authentic Caribbean air- line which provides pas- senger and cargo services,” Ligoure said. “Caribbean Airlines will use a Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft with a seating capacity of 150. The interior is configured into two cabins – business class and economy.” The airline’s cargo ser- vice reaches 80% of the Car- ibbean, according to a com- pany statement. The airline was desig- nated by the Jamaican gov- ernment to operate flights be- tween Kingston and George Town, following a memo- randum of understanding between Jamaica and the United Kingdom, according to a CIAA statement. day – except Sundays – and never missed a day un- less they were off island,” Broderick said. “It’s hard to believe that they won’t be around any longer. Just last month, Keith had invited me for a cigar on his balcony to talk about Cuba, as Yvonne was born there and her family left when she was young. They were very curious about how much Cuba had changed and wanted to chat about it.” World Gym fitness in- structor Manuela Nemes de- scribed them as a loving couple who would do their stretches together and often leave the gym hand in hand. She said Blanco recently ad- vised they would be away for the week for travel. “They seemed to be a very united couple like you rarely see at this age,” Nemes said. “He [would] help her with placing a plate or re- moving it from a machine like a real gentleman. They were stretching together even if they were working out separately. “ Despite knee problems, Blanco was dedicated to training and fitness, Nemes said, adding that she was able to attend her core class and continue training for hours after the class was over. “I’ve never seen so much determination and passion for training, strength and consistency. Yvonne was a quiet person while her hus- band was more talkative. We always complimented each other on the colourful outfits and our abs. It was a mutual admiration,” Nemes said. “They seemed ageless in spirit and behaviour, never giving up in situations where some of us would get dis- couraged. Yvonne was also enjoying spin classes where again, she seemed to make no effort while others were out of breath.” Frank Flowers remem- bered them as some of the most consistent and deter- mined members of the gym. “[They] inspired many of us,” Flowers said. The couple is listed for an address at Laguna del Mar. According to a Cayman Islands Gazette, Henderman was granted Caymanian status on 31 Dec. 2003. Henderman appears in a US Federal Register notice from 30 April 1997 of indi- viduals who elected to expa- triate, thus voluntarily losing United States citizenship. State Bar of California re- cords show Henderman held an inactive attorney licence and that he was a UCLA School of Law graduate. He was admitted to the bar in the state of California in 1971. He graduated from the Uni- versity of Southern California in 1967 with a bachelor’s de- gree in political science. Caribbean Airlines approved for Cayman-Jamaica route CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Caribbean Airlines will operate a Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft for its Cayman-Jamaica route. - PHOTO: SUBMITTED Verdant Isle preferred bidder on cruise project CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cayman Islands couple found dead in California CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 NOMINATIONS SOUGHT FOR SCUBA HALL OF FAME The Ministry and Depart- ment of Tourism have is- sued a call for nominations for honourees in the 2019 International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. Honourees are people who have made a signifi- cant contribution to scuba and water sports in the Cayman Islands through de- velopment, promotion, posi- tive environmental impact or education, according to a news release. “World-class diving and the Cayman Islands are syn- onymous around the world, not solely because of our natural environment, but because of the dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to provide an ex- ceptional experience for en- thusiasts,” said Minister of Tourism Moses Kirkconnell. “These individuals make significant contributions to our tourism product, and I encourage everyone in the community to put forward nominations for individuals who deserve recognition.” The International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame recog- nises pioneers who have made outstanding contri- butions to the recreational scuba diving industry. The gala awards dinner takes place on Friday, 4 Oct. To nominate an individual, visit www.nominatedive.com. The deadline for submissions is noon on Monday, 26 Aug. SOURCE: ELECTIONS OFFICEThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY, 29 JULY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Trump predicts sharp rise in US-UK trade President Donald Trump says he’s spoken with new British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the two nations already are working on a new trade agreement. Trump said trade between the two countries had been ‘impeded’ by the UK’s relationship with the European Union. PM Boris Johnson’s agenda raises UK election speculation Nearly 1,400 detained in Moscow protest; largest in decade MOSCOW (AP) – Nearly 1,400 people were detained in a vi- olent police crackdown on an opposition protest in Moscow, a Russian moni- toring group said Sunday, adding that was the largest number of detentions at a rally in the Russian capital this decade. OVD-Info, which has mon- itored police arrests since 2011, said the number of the detentions from Satur- day’s protest reached 1,373 by early Sunday. The over- whelming majority of people were soon released but 150 remained in custody, OVD- Info and a lawyers’ legal aid group said Sunday. Crackdowns on the anti- government protesters began days before the rally. Oppo- sition leader Alexei Navalny was arrested and sentenced Wednesday to 30 days in jail for calling for Saturday’s pro- test against election author- ities who barred some op- position candidates from running in the 8 Sept. vote for Moscow city council. Navalny was unexpect- edly hospitalised Sunday with a severe allergy attack, his spokeswoman said. Kira Yarmysh said Nav- alny, who did not have any allergies beforehand, was taken from the Moscow jail to a hospital in the morning, arriving with severe facial swelling and red rashes. Hours later, she said Nav- alny was in a “satisfactory condition”. Russian police vio- lently dispersed thousands of people who thronged the streets of Moscow on Sat- urday to protest the move by election authorities. Several protesters reported broken limbs and head injuries. Po- lice justified their response by saying that the rally was not sanctioned by authorities. Along with the arrests of the mostly young demonstra- tors, several opposition activ- ists who wanted to run for the Moscow City Duma were arrested throughout the city. Police eventually cor- doned off the City Hall and dispersed protesters from the area, but thousands of demonstrators reassembled in several different locations nearby and a new round of arrests began. Russian police beat some protesters to the ground with wide truncheon swings while others tried to push the police away. Police said the protesters numbered about 3,500 but aerial footage from several locations suggested at least 8,000 people turned out. Dmitry Gudkov, an oppo- sition figure who was barred from running for city council office in Moscow, was de- tained Sunday afternoon as he delivered food to some of the Moscow protesters still in jail. The US Embassy in Moscow on Sunday decried the violent crackdown as “use of disproportionate police force” and the Russian presi- dential human rights council said it was concerned about the police brutality. Russian President Vladimir Putin stayed away from Moscow over the weekend. On Sunday, he led Rus- sia’s first major naval pa- rade in years, going aboard one of the vessels in the Navy Day parade in St. Pe- tersburg, on the Gulf of Fin- land. The parade included 43 ships and submarines and 4,000 troops. LONDON (AP) – With Brit- ain’s departure from the Eu- ropean Union due in less than 100 days, new Prime Minister Boris Johnson is a man in a hurry. But he’s not rushing off to Brussels. The UK leader has no meetings scheduled with EU officials. Instead, he was in central England on Friday, talking about his promise to recruit 20,000 more police of- ficers. In the coming days he will speak on other aspects of a packed domestic agenda that looks suspiciously like an election platform. Britain’s next scheduled election is three years away, but signs suggest Johnson may be preparing for a snap poll within weeks or months to break the Brexit impasse that defeated his predecessor, Theresa May. She resigned after failing, three times, to get Parliament’s backing for her divorce deal with the EU. Johnson won a contest to replace her as Conserva- tive leader and prime min- ister by promising that the UK will leave the 28-nation bloc on the scheduled date of 31 Oct., with or without a divorce deal. But Tim Durrant, senior researcher at the Institute for Government, an independent think-tank, said Johnson “has exactly the same parliamen- tary arithmetic to deal with as May” – no overall House of Commons majority and a set of lawmakers who so far have rejected all attempts to leave the EU either with or without a divorce deal. “He is clearly positioning himself as the person to get Brexit done, and the way to change the parliamentary arithmetic is to have an elec- tion,” Durrant said. Asked Friday if he would rule out calling an election, Johnson said: “Absolutely.” But his predecessor, Theresa May, also insisted she would not hold a snap election – and then did, in 2017. In the House of Com- mons on Thursday, Johnson said Britons had had mul- tiple chances to vote recently, with two elections and an EU membership referendum in the past four years. “The people of this country have voted in 2015, 2016 and 2017, and what they want to see is this Par- liament delivering on the mandate that they gave us” to leave the EU, he said. Laying out his priorities in his first Commons statement as prime minister, Johnson said he wanted Britain to leave the EU with a deal. But he also insisted the EU make major changes to May’s spurned withdrawal agree- ment, including scrapping an insurance policy for the Irish border that has been rejected by UK lawmakers. The EU, which has long said it will not change the agreement, called John- son’s stance combative and unhelpful. Irish Deputy Prime Min- ister Simon Coveney said Friday that Johnson was put- ting himself on a “collision course” with the bloc. “The approach that the British prime minister seems to now be taking is not going to be the basis of an agree- ment,” he said. “And that’s worrying for everybody. “From a Brexit negotiating perspective, it was a very bad day yesterday.” From a British political perspective, however, there’s a logic to Johnson’s moves. Uni- versity of Nottingham politics professor Steven Fielding said the prime minister was pre- paring to blame Brussels if the Brexit talks fail and Britain faces a disruptive no-deal exit. “The most likely scenario is Boris goes off to Brus- sels, Brussels says no, Boris says ‘Brussels is dictating to us. We want to do a deal but they won’t let us do a deal,’” Fielding said. “Ramping all of that up and then saying, ‘Come and support me on the road to our glorious Brexit’ – and call an election.” Fielding said “it makes more sense for him to go to the country before Brexit than after” because of the po- tential upheaval that could follow a no-deal exit. Economists warn that leaving the bloc without an agreement on terms would disrupt trade by imposing tariffs and customs checks between Britain and the bloc. The British government’s fi- nancial watchdog says that could send the value of the pound plummeting and push the UK into recession. British election cam- paigns last five weeks, so Johnson would have to act in September if he seeks a vote before 31 Oct. A snap election needs to be backed by two-thirds of lawmakers in the House of Commons – a threshold that would likely be reached, since opposition parties are eager for one. Parliament does not return from summer break until 3 Sept., though lawmakers could be recalled early if needed. An election could also be triggered if Parliament passes a no-confidence vote in the government, something that needs a simple majority of lawmakers. Johnson’s mi- nority government is vulner- able to such a challenge. Johnson’s first acts in of- fice suggest he may well be laying the groundwork for a national vote. His senior ad- viser is Dominic Cummings, a formidable – and controver- sial – strategist who helped lead the Vote Leave cam- paign to victory in the 2016 EU membership referendum. The Conservatives have cre- ated dozens of campaign- style Facebook ads featuring the new leader. And Johnson is making a plethora of promises that go well beyond Brexit: boosting police numbers, increasing school spending, improving internet speeds, even building electric planes. Johnson has not given details of where the money would come from to pay for these plans, though he has threatened to with- hold a payment of 39 billion pounds (US$49 billion) as part of a Brexit divorce bill that May agreed to if there is no deal. Opponents say the money covers commitments the UK made while a member of the bloc, and must be paid in any event. European Union budget commissioner Guen- ther Oettinger was quoted Friday as telling the German daily Tagesspiegel that failure to pay “would threaten the credit standing of the United Kingdom”. Early elections can back- fire, as May found out when she called a snap poll to strengthen her hand in Brexit talks, only to lose the Con- servative Party majority in Parliament. But Johnson has some advantages. The blustering populist is a better cam- paigner than the uncharis- matic May. He faces an op- position Labour Party that is demoralised and divided over whether to go through with Brexit or support staying in the EU. And he appears far readier than the fiscally cau- tious May to make expensive- sounding promises. Fielding said prime min- isters like Johnson “who are appointed without an elec- tion usually try to go for an early election”. “He’ll want to have his own mandate,” Fielding said. It may be risky, but “he seems a bit of a gambler”. Russian police violently dispersed thousands of people who thronged the streets of Moscow on Saturday to protest the move by election authorities. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson on a walkabout during a visit Friday to North Road, Birmingham, England. – PHOTO: AP9 WORLD®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 29 JULY 2019 T-Mobile’s $26.5B Sprint deal gets go-ahead Police fire tear gas as Hong Kong protesters block roads HONG KONG (AP) – Police fired tear gas at protesters in Hong Kong on Sunday for the second night in a row in another escalation of weeks- long pro-democracy protests in the semi-autonomous Chi- nese territory. Protesters occupied two areas at opposite ends of central Hong Kong following a mid-afternoon rally against police use of tear gas the pre- vious Sunday. As night fell, one group that had blocked a road near the Chinese government’s li- aison office began to move forward. The police issued warnings, and protesters were seen throwing eggs at them. Officers fired tear gas to halt the advance. Protesters had rallied ear- lier at a park in Hong Kong’s financial district before marching out in several di- rections despite not winning police approval for a public procession. It was the second straight day that protesters took to the streets without official permission. A sea of black-shirted protesters, some with bright yellow helmets and masks but many with just back- packs, streamed out of Chater Garden park. Chanting “Add oil,” a phrase that roughly means “Keep up the fight,” a huge crowd marched east down a wide thoroughfare in what has become a summer of protest in the semi-auton- omous Chinese territory. They stopped near the Sogo department store and set up barricades to block off the area and defend it against police. Another group headed west towards mainland Chi- na’s liaison office. Protesters egged the office last weekend and splattered black ink on the national emblem, eliciting an angry reaction from the Chinese government. They stopped about two blocks short of the office and used orange and white con- struction barricades to build a wall spanning a major road. They massed behind the bar- riers as night fell, with um- brellas pointed forward to shield their identities and ward off any police move to clear them. Some nearby stores shut- tered early as police in riot gear gathered nearby ahead of the all but inevitable clearing operation. Hong Kong has been wracked by protests for seven weeks, as opposition to an extradition bill has morphed into demands for the resigna- tion of the city’s leader and an investigation into whether police have used excessive force in quelling the protests. Underlying the movement is a broader push for full de- mocracy in the territory. The city’s leader is chosen by a committee dominated by a pro-Beijing establishment, rather than by direct elections. The rally in Chater Garden was called to protest the po- lice use of tear gas, rubber bullets and other force to break up a protest the pre- vious Sunday. “We need to have a protest to show that we are strongly against this kind of brutality and we need them to respond to our demands,” said rally organizer Ventus Lau. Police had denied Lau’s request to march west to the Sheung Wan district, where the tear gas was used the previous weekend, citing escalating violence in clashes with protesters that have broken out after past marches and rallies. “The police must pre- vent aggressive protesters from exploiting a peaceful procession to cause trou- bles and violent clashes,” said Superintendent Louis Lau of the police public rela- tions branch. On Saturday, clashes be- tween protesters and police led to 11 arrests and left at least two dozen injured in an outlying district towards the border with mainland China. The police had also denied permission for that march in Yuen Long, where a mob ap- parently targeting demon- strators had beaten people brutally in a train station the previous weekend. Protesters and police faced off in the streets well into the night, as they have done repeatedly during the summer’s pro-democ- racy protests. Police said protesters re- moved fences from roads to make their own roadblocks and charged police lines with metal poles. One group sur- rounded and vandalised a police vehicle, causing danger to officers on board, a police statement said. Officers fired tear gas and rubber bullets as demonstra- tors threw bricks and other objects and ducked behind makeshift shields. Later, police wearing hel- mets charged into the train station, where a few hundred protesters had taken refuge from the tear gas. Some of- ficers swung their batons at demonstrators, while others appeared to be urging their colleagues to hang back. For the second week in a row, blood was splattered on the station floor. Police arrested 13 people, including march organiser Max Chung, for offences in- cluding unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapon and assault, ac- cording to police and Hong Kong media. At least four of- ficers were injured. The Hospital Authority said 24 people were taken to five hospitals. As of Sunday morning, eight remained hospitalised, two in se- rious condition. Amnesty Interna- tional, the human rights group, called the police re- sponse heavy-handed and unacceptable. “While police must be able to defend themselves, there were repeated instances today where police officers were the aggressors,” Man- kei Tam, the director of Am- nesty International Hong Kong, said in a statement. Police said they had to use what they termed “ap- propriate force” because of the bricks and other objects thrown at them, including glass bottles with a sus- pected corrosive fluid inside. WASHINGTON (AP) – US reg- ulators have approved T-Mo- bile’s $26.5 billion takeover of rival Sprint, despite fears of higher prices and job cuts, in a deal that would leave just three major cellphone compa- nies in the country. Friday’s approval from the Justice Department and five state attorneys general comes after Sprint and T-Mo- bile agreed to conditions that would set up satellite-TV pro- vider Dish as a smaller rival to Verizon, AT&T and the combined T-Mobile-Sprint company. The Justice Depart- ment’s antitrust chief, Makan Delrahim, said the conditions set up Dish “as a disruptive force in wireless”. But attorneys general from other states and public- interest advocates say that Dish is hardly a replacement for Sprint as a stand-alone company and that the condi- tions fail to address the com- petitive harm the deal causes: higher prices, job losses and fewer choices for consumers. “By signing off on this merger, the Justice Depart- ment has done nothing to remedy the short- and long- term harms the loss of an in- dependent Sprint will create for US wireless users,” said S. Derek Turner, research di- rector for the advocacy group Free Press. A federal judge still must sign off on the approval, as the two companies’ settle- ment with Justice includes conditions for them. The Fed- eral Communications Com- mission is expected to also give the takeover its blessing. Dish is paying $5 billion for Sprint’s prepaid cellphone brands including Boost and Virgin Mobile – about 9 mil- lion customers – and some spectrum, or airwaves for wireless service, from the two companies. Dish will also be able to rent T-Mo- bile’s network for seven years while it builds its own. Dish on Friday promised the FCC that it would build a nationwide network using next-generation ‘5G’ tech- nology by June 2023. But Dish is promising speeds that are only slightly higher than what’s typical today, even though 5G promises the potential for blazing speeds. The Trump administra- tion has not been consistent in its approach to media and telecom mergers. While the government went to court to block AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner and then lost, the Justice Department al- lowed Disney to buy much of 21st Century Fox, a direct competitor, with only minor asset sales to get the deal done. Mergers between direct competitors have historically had a higher bar to clear at the Justice Department. Sprint and T-Mobile com- bined would now approach the size of Verizon and AT&T. The companies have argued that bulking up will mean a better next-generation ‘5G’ wireless network than ei- ther could build on its own. Sprint and T-Mobile have ar- gued for over a year that having one big company to challenge AT&T and Ver- izon, rather than two smaller companies, will be better for US consumers. The two companies tried to combine during the Obama administration but regulators rebuffed them. They resumed talks on com- bining once President Donald Trump took office, hoping for more industry-friendly reg- ulators. The companies ap- pealed to Trump’s desire for the US to “win” a global 5G race with China. Meanwhile, the FCC agreed in May to back the deal after T-Mobile prom- ised to build out rural broad- band and 5G to nearly all the country, sell its Boost prepaid brand and keep prices on hold for three years. But attorneys general from 13 states and the Dis- trict of Columbia – separate from the five states that ap- proved the deal – have filed a lawsuit to block the deal. They say the promised bene- fits, such as better networks in rural areas and faster ser- vice overall, cannot be veri- fied. They also worry that eliminating a major wireless company will immediately harm consumers by reducing competition and driving up prices for cellphone service. “We have serious concerns that cobbling together this new fourth mobile player, with the government picking winners and losers, will not address the merger’s harm to consumers, workers, and in- novation,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement. T-Mobile CEO John Legere said Friday that he believes the deal can close by the end of the year and that the com- pany will engage with the state attorneys general who oppose the deal. Dish is largely a company with a declining satellite-TV business. It has no wireless business, but over the past decade it has spent more than $21 billion accumulating a large stock of spectrum for wireless service. The wireless industry has long been scep- tical of Dish’s ambitions to actually build a wireless ser- vice, instead speculating that the company wanted to make money by selling its holdings to other companies. Recon Analytics founder Roger Entner, a longtime tel- ecom analyst, said the settle- ment was good for T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon, as a weak competitor in Sprint is being replaced by an even weaker one in Dish. Sprint, the current No. 4 wireless provider, has thou- sands of stores and other distribution points as well as a cellular network. Dish has none of that, although the settlement gives it the option of taking over some stores and cell sites that T-Mobile ditches over the next five years. Creating and maintaining a retail opera- tion and network cost tens of billions of dollars, En- tner said. He doubts that Dish could do that alone, as its core business is in deep decline, or that Dish could find a wealthier company to help it do so. But New Street Research analysts say Dish could build a lower-cost network and provide cheaper plans for customers. Still, that could take years. There are incentives built into the agreement that would keep Dish from sitting on spectrum assets rather than building them out into a network, Delrahim said. If the company does not live up to its promises, it will face bil- lions of dollars in penalties. George Slover, senior policy counsel for Consumer Reports, also said that the current structure of four competing providers works. He said it’s not the same to diminish that while en- abling a competitor that does not currently have the infrastructure. “Dish might become a competing network at some point but it’s not there now,” he said. The Communications Workers of America, a union that represents telecom workers, says that the deal will kill 30,000 jobs and weigh on workers’ wages. T-Mobile’s stock jumped more than 5% Friday, while Sprint shares rose more than 7%. Dish shares added less than 1%. Verizon and AT&T shares also climbed. Japa- nese tech conglomerate Soft- Bank owns Sprint, while Germany’s Deutsche Telekom owns T-Mobile. SoftBank will continue to own 27% of the new, bigger T-Mobile and will keep some influ- ence, but it will not control the company. Underlying the movement is a broader push for full democracy in the territory. US regulators have given the go-ahead to T-Mobile’s $26.5 billion takeover of rival Sprint. – PHOTO: APNext >