ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY, 15 AUGUST 2019 Regulated in the Cayman Islands as a licensed insurer by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Generali Worldwide is a trading name of Utmost Worldwide Limited. Registered Head Office address: Utmost Worldwide Limited, Utmost House, Hirzel Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands GY1 4PA. Regulated in Guernsey as a licensed insurer by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission under the Insurance Business (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 (as amended). Incorporated in Guernsey under Company Registration No. 27151. For a partnership that you can trust contact donovon.kellyman@ihs.ky Your health means the world to us. www.generali-healthcare.com A guard of honour by the uniformed services lead the hearse and mourners to Governor Athelstan Charles Long’s final resting place at Eden Cemetery. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Governor Long laid to rest MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky Amid the spectacle of a guard of honour, top government dignitaries and a crowd of about 200 people, Athelstan Charles Ethel- wulf Long, Cayman’s first governor, was given a final tribute on Wednesday at the Cayman Islands Baptist Church in Savannah. Long, who died 1 Aug. at age 100, became Cayman’s last administrator in 1968 and, for a brief few days in 1971, the islands’ first governor. He was remembered fondly by those speaking officially, as well as those at- tending the funeral service. “Mr. Long’s passing marks a historic mo- ment,” said Governor Martyn Roper, adding that it gave Cayman a chance to look at the progress it has enjoyed since Long’s first ar- rival on the island. “It allows us all to pay tribute to a life dedicated to outstanding public service.” Although he left Cayman in 1971, Long, who spent his career in the foreign service, returned five years later and retired here. He was not inactive. He served on numerous boards in government and the private sector, including 22 years as chairman of the public service commission. He gave up his last post on a board at age 88. During his address, Roper read a brief statement from Britain’s Overseas Terri- tories Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad, who praised Long and offered condolences to his family. Roper also shared accolades. “Former Governor Long set the standard and was a role model for all those that fol- lowed,” the current governor said. Roper, who arrived in Cayman last year, said he only met Long twice – one of those being Long’s 100th birthday celebration in January. Others at the funeral knew him much better. Former MLA Heather Bodden said Long and his wife Sadie were her neighbours. “I used to go to their house all the time,” she said. When she first got elected in 1995, she said, the couple “would send me postcards with little quotes just to let me know they were behind me”. Francene Roach said she knew Long for 20 years from her time working in government while he was head of the Public Service Commission. She said he was not only knowledgeable and fair, but he cared about people. “He never passed by without saying hello,” she said. “He had the civil servants at heart. He always made sure Caymanians got the best.” “I remember, every Christmas, he would bring the staff chocolates,” she added. “He was very generous.” Denniston Tibbetts, a member of the Sea- farers Association, said although Long spent much of his time with top leaders on the is- land, he was down to earth. “When you went somewhere with him, he would sit on the floor and talk to people,” Tibbetts said. “I would say he was Cayma- nian at heart, although he never lost his British accent.” Tibbetts, a retired contractor, said he built Long’s house. “He never talked down to you,” he said. “He never tried to make anyone feel inferior.” Throughout the service, there was a reg- ular changing of the guard, with two mem- bers stationed at either end of Long’s casket. During the address of Pastor Randy Von Kanel, one of the guards passed out, re- sulting in a small cluster of people assisting him in front of the church’s altar. Von Kanel, who cut his talk short because of the incident, noted that Long was part of what is now referred to as the ‘Greatest Generation’, and said he was impressed by the former governor’s “resolve to do what was right and best for all people”. Governor Athelstan Charles Long PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL®IONAL THURSDAY, 15 AUGUST 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 10:30 (SAT ONLY) I 4:35 I 7:15 (NO SAT) 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. - THURSDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) DORA AND THE LOST (PG) CITY OF GOLD 1:05 VIP | 4:00 | 6:45 SPIDER-MAN FAR (PG13) FROM HOME 12:30 3D | 3:45 | 9:50 THE KITCHEN (R) 1:30 | 4:15 | 7:05 | 10:10 THE ART OF RACING IN (PG) THE RAIN 1:15 | 3:45 VIP | 7:15 | 9:30 THE LION KING (2019) (PG) 12:45 | 3:45 3D | 6:30 | 9:15 3D F&F HOBBS & SHAW (PG13) 1:05 3D | 4:05 | 6:45 | VIP | 7:10 | 9:40 | 9:50 VIP Airport runway upgrades rescheduled for evenings Slow summer for iguana cullers PRESIDENT-ELECT SAYS GUATEMALA CANNOT DO MIGRANT DEAL WITH U.S. Woman indecently assaulted in North Side The summer doldrums continue for Grand Cayman’s green iguana culling effort, as cullers have now turned in fewer than 10,000 iguanas to the George Town landfill for the fifth week in a row. Cullers are now behind the overall pace needed to reach the target number of culling 1.3 million green iguanas by the end of 2019. The Department of Envi‑ ronment programme began in late October 2018 and will last about 60 weeks in all. That means cullers need to average more than 20,000 iguanas per week in order to meet the target number. Here are the weekly totals for the past five weeks: ■■ 8‑13 July: 9,232 ■■ 15‑20 July: 9,011 ■■ 22‑27 July: 6,068 ■■ 29 July‑3 Aug.: 4,925 ■■ 5‑10 Aug.: 6,780 Department officials have previously attributed low culling numbers to heavy rainfall during Cayman’s tra‑ ditional wet season. So far, a total of 839,462 green iguanas have been de‑ livered to the landfill over 41 weeks, according to the DoE. Cullers are being paid $4.50 a head, rising to $5 if they meet monthly and an‑ nual targets, in an effort to wipe out the invasive species in Grand Cayman. Concurrently, the DoE is conducting its annual green iguana survey for Grand Cayman to assess the effec‑ tiveness of the culling effort. Last year’s survey estimated there were between 1.1 mil‑ lion and 1.6 million green iguanas on the island. GUATEMALA CITY (AP) – A Guatemalan immigration agreement signed with the Trump administration will not work because the Cen‑ tral American nation does not have the resources, the country’s new president‑ elect says. Alejandro Giammattei, a conservative who was chosen overwhelmingly by voters in a weekend runoff election, said in an interview with The Asso‑ ciated Press on Tuesday that Guatemala is too poor to tend to its own people, let alone those from other countries. The agreement signed in July by the outgoing ad‑ ministration of President Jimmy Morales would re‑ quire migrants from other countries who cross into Guatemala to apply for asylum here rather than in the US. “In order to be a safe country, one has to be cer‑ tified as such by an inter‑ national body, and I do not think Guatemala fulfills the requirements to be a third safe country. That definition doesn’t fit us,” said Giam‑ mattei, a 63‑year‑old doctor. “If we do not have the capacity for our own people, just imagine other people.” Guatemalans make‑up one of the largest groups emigrating from Central America because of poverty, unemployment and crime. Critics say it is hard to see how the country could offer a safe haven to migrants from other nations. The agreement signed by the current Morales government is aimed at reducing the number of asylum seekers arriving at the US‑Mexico border. US President Donald Trump’s administration pressured Guatemala to sign the deal by threatening to punish Guatemala with taxes. Giammattei, who takes office 14 Jan., said that annexes to the agreement are still being negotiated with the United States and that he would ask Mo‑ rales to include members of his transition team in those talks. The president‑elect also noted that the agreement would have to be ratified by the congresses of both nations to go into force. There has been widespread criticism of the deal in Guatemala. Giammattei pledged to recognise the impor‑ tance of Guatemalan mi‑ grants living in the United States by creating a Wash‑ ington‑based Cabinet‑level position to attend to mi‑ grant affairs. “It is about time we had a government that cared for the people,” he said. “It is these people [migrants] who are supporting us” with the remittance money they send back to relatives in Guatemala, he added. “I do not think physical walls, or walls of weapons, can stop migration,” Giam‑ mattei said. “I think what can stop migration are walls of opportunities.” A man pushed a woman to the ground and inde‑ cently assaulted her in Old Robin Road in North Side on Sunday morning, according to police. The RCIPS issued a re‑ lease on Wednesday with de‑ tails of the attack, which was reported shortly before 7am on Sunday. Police said the woman had been out walking a few minutes earlier when she was approached from be‑ hind by a male unknown to her who pushed her to the ground and attempted to force himself on her. The man was disturbed by the sound of a vehicle nearby and the woman was able to run away. She was not injured in the incident, police said. The attacker is described as being tall and slim, of light complexion, and was wearing khaki shorts and an off‑white shirt. He appears to have left the location on a bicycle. Police are appealing for anyone who may have wit‑ nessed the incident, or seen anything suspicious in the area between 6‑6:30am on Sunday to come forward. Po‑ lice are particularly inter‑ ested in speaking with the occupants of the vehicle that appeared to have passed nearby during the incident. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Bodden Town CID at 947‑2220. Runway upgrades at Owen Roberts International Airport have been resched‑ uled to take place outside of normal operating hours, the Cayman Islands Air‑ ports Authority announced Wednesday. Renovations had origi‑ nally been scheduled to take place over eight Tuesdays in September and October, re‑ quiring runway closures on those days. The runway upgrades will no longer require closures, however, and will take place in the evening, according to the CIAA. A new start date has not been announced. Runway works will in‑ clude milling and repaving of the existing surface, and an extension to the west. Other airport works will include filling ponds in the airfield perimeter, estab‑ lishing an airfield perimeter road and expanding the air‑ craft parking ramp to the east. These works will con‑ tinue as planned, and are ex‑ pected to have minimal effect on arrivals and departures, according to CIAA. “We are very grateful for the travelling public’s on‑ going cooperation as we work to improve the infra‑ structure at ORIA, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience these changes to the airfield upgrade project timeline may cause,” CIAA CEO Albert Anderson said in a press release. 0 100,000 200,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 700,000 900,000 800,000 Pace to reach 1.3 million Runway upgrades have been rescheduled at Owen Roberts International Airport, and weekly closures are no longer expected. - PHOTO: SUBMITTED3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 15 AUGUST 2019 S ah, che THANK YOU TO OUR PLATINUM SPONSOR OCTOBER 5, 2019 The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman www.breastcancerfoundation.ky info@breastcancerfoundation.ky Featuring Special Guest Speaker Starbucks opening first store in Cayman MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky American coffeehouse chain Starbucks is opening its first store in Cayman at Camana Bay on Thursday. It is the first of four coffee shops the company expects to open in Grand Cayman over the next three years. Tim Grever, operations di- rector for Starbucks Carib- bean markets, said in press release, “Our first store in the beautiful island of Grand Cayman marks a key mile- stone for our expansion in the Caribbean region. To- gether with Caribbean Coffee Baristas Cayman Limited, we are confident that we are going to deliver an excep- tional and unique Starbucks experience for our partners and customers in Cayman.” Starbucks stores in Cayman are exclusively owned by Caribbean Coffee Traders Limited and are sub-licensed and operated through Caribbean Coffee Baristas Cayman Limited, a consortium led by Jamaican entrepreneurs Ian Dear and Adam Stewart and local partner Jason Brown. Car- ibbean Coffee Traders has already opened Starbucks stores in Jamaica and Turks and Caicos under its Carib- bean franchise agreement. Dear, chief executive of- ficer and chairman of Mar- garitaville Caribbean Group, said, “We are excited for the opening of our first Grand Cayman location and look forward to the continued ex- pansion of the brand across the island as a result of a successful business partner- ship between Starbucks and Caribbean Coffee Baristas Cayman Limited.” The 1,500 square-foot space, located next to Books & Books, features artwork from locally based artist Tansy Maki. It includes a hand-painted 56-foot-wide mural showing local plants and wildlife like the banana- quit bird, ackee, orchids and breadfruit leaves, as well as, in a tribute to Cayman’s his- tory, catboats. Brown, managing director of Island Waste Carriers Ltd. and local partner of Carib- bean Coffee Baristas Cayman Limited, noted that most of Cayman’s population was al- ready familiar with the Star- bucks brand. Starbucks, which opened its first store in 1971, has become one of the largest roasters and retailer of specialty coffee in the world, with more than 30,000 stores around the globe. The company said it had a long history of investing in the communities it serves, and would support through its Cayman partnership a se- ries of initiatives particularly aimed at young people. “Our team is devoted to expanding the Starbucks brand with a shared commit- ment towards creating op- portunities within the com- munity,” said Stewart, deputy chairman of Sandals Resorts International. “As we plan to open more stores in the Cayman Islands, we antici- pate supporting initiatives aimed at providing opportu- nities for youths.” Meanwhile, the Star- bucks Foundation granted almost US$5,000 to the Save Our Youth (SOY) Foundation in the Cayman Islands. Star- bucks Cayman employees re- cently volunteered with SOY for a beach clean-up. Starbucks Cayman said it plans to expand its sup- port of SOY across the island using the power of its brand to harness awareness of the charity’s cause. The grand store opening is Thursday, 15 Aug., at 9:00am, in Camana Bay. The 1,500 square-foot space, located next to Books & Books, features artwork from locally based artist Tansy Maki. The store features a 65-foot mural painted by artist Tansy Maki. - PHOTOS: SUPPLIED Baristas at the new Starbucks stand ready to start serving up cups of coffee.4 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, 15 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman Marl Road defends firearm article in court Defiance of court order creates legal questions KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky A case testing the limits of freedom of expression and social media publications in the Cayman Islands appeared in civil court Wednesday. Cayman Marl Road’s Sandra Hill, providing her own defence, has de- scribed the case as a “David and Go- liath” scenario, pitting a community news blog against a “millionaire Cayman resident”. Blake Ducharme and Black Gold Investments filed suit last month against Hill and her website, calling for a permanent injunction against publication of an allegedly libel- lous article regarding firearms and customs duty offences, published 13 July. Hill has been ordered by the court to remove the article, pending legal proceedings. She has not com- plied, however, and republished the original article on her redesigned website and has subsequently pub- lished further articles and podcasts on the topic. Justice Ian Kawaley recognised that media workers have a right to feel suspicious about attempts to limit free expression, but he pointed out legal problems with how the story about Ducharme has been told. “The legal problem is there is one version of a story being told by Ms. Hill …. But there is another version that appears to be substantially credible and Ms. Hill is only pub- lishing one side,” Justice Kawaley. “It’s one thing for a journalist to only have one side. It’s another thing for a journalist, given another side, to maintain a one-sided view.” Hill argued that she did reach out for comment from Ducharme. “He thought it was a hoax and he wasn’t willing to say anything until we got documentation,” Hill said, adding that she published con- tent including a response from him on Tuesday. The plaintiff, defended by Ogier* partner Marc Kish, argued that sub- sequent publications have “tried to justify the initial article rather than setting the record straight. … The message that comes across loud and clear from the broadcast yesterday [13 Aug.] is that Mr. Ducharme is using his means to instruct attorneys to … pressure CMR and Ms. Hill per- sonally to bring her into court”. Kish said his client went through the initial article carefully to find ways to redact it but, “arrived at the conclusion that the way the article was written makes it impossible to do that”. Justice Kawaley said the case touches on the conflict between so- cial media and laws regulating tra- ditional media such as newspapers. “The law has not yet fully caught up with the popular social media culture, and it seems to me that there is an assumption that is quite widely held that you can say almost anything online and the normal rules that might apply to an old- fashioned newspaper don’t apply in the digital world,” Kawaley said. “Unfortunately, it seems to me there is a tension between the pop- ular conception of freedom of ex- pression and the legal conception of freedom of expression.” Justice Kawaley and the plaintiff grappled with an appropriate re- sponse to Hill’s defiance of a court order to remove the publication in question. “I know Ms. Hill has said she is prepared to go to prison,” Kish said. “That would be disproportionate to us.” He mused over the difficulty in imposing a fine, given that the breach of the court order is ongoing. “What seems to be the case is that she is fixed in her mind that she is addressing a wrong, and that she is justified on that basis,” Kish said. “In fact, it has crossed the line and in that respect, it needs to be dialled back.” Justice Kawaley questioned if a sequestration order – taking cus- tody of the defendant’s assets – would be more appropriate. Hill said such an order would be a waste of the court’s time because, “there is nothing there. … I do ac- cept that committal is the more log- ical thing here because there are no assets for them to have”. She added that she would be happy to go to trial. Kawaley pointed out that the court can refuse to hear her case, given her ongoing contempt. He said that while he can understand her de- fence of freedom of expression, he did not understand her unwilling- ness to comply with an interim order. “If you want to be in the business of journalism, no matter what form it is, whether it is internet or news- paper, the only way you can function … is really by functioning within the law, unless you want to become a revolutionary,” Kawaley said. “What journalists normally do … is pick their battles and to not run afoul of the law in an unnec- essary way.” Hill took issue with the injunc- tion, arguing, “Any and everyone you write about will jump up and say it is defamatory and get an injunc- tion …. It doesn’t appear to require much more than hiring a lawyer.” She said an ongoing ques- tion remains: “Why does it appear there are different means of justice for different people?” Hill has argued that wealth and power appear to play a role in how justice is administered in the Cayman Islands and that other cases re- garding firearms have been handled differently than in Ducharme’s case. To compromise on the issue, Kish suggested the story in ques- tion be taken down and that a state- ment be drafted explaining why the story has been removed and that the court has not come to a final deci- sion on the matter. Hill contended that this scenario would have the same result as the original court order to remove the publication. “Lawyers always seem to have [the] upper hand on how people will view a situation,” she said. “A statement [drafted by the plaintiff] would go above my readers’ heads and they probably wouldn’t understand what was being said.” The justice added that while Hill has the right to persuade the court that an interim order should not have been made, she does not have the right to defy a court order. “You do have to think beyond this case and find a way to educate yourself about what the law permits and what it doesn’t,” he said. The matter was adjourned until 4pm on Wednesday, after the Cayman Compass print deadline, to determine if the opposing sides could come to an agreement. *Editor’s note: The Cayman Compass is owned by Ogier partner James Bergstrom. Sandra Hill PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Cayman Compass Ltd. Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town, Cayman Islands SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman, KY1-1108 Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@compassmedia.ky ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@compassmedia.ky Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHER KATHLEEN CAPETTA EDITOR CATHERINE MACGILLIVRAY A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” Smuggling case back in court SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@compassmedia.ky A money laundering and smuggling case involving defendants who were aboard a plane containing gold and an undeclared quantity of cash was back in court on Wednesday for a preliminary inquiry. The case – which in- volves defendants Pedro Jose Benavides Natera and Juan Carlos Gonzales In- fante, and passengers Daniel Aguilar-Ferriozzi and Fran- cisco Di Ventura Herrera – centres on a plane that al- legedly brought $4 million worth of gold to Cayman. The plane was found to have $135,000 in undeclared cash secreted beneath the floorboards. The preliminary inquiry is being conducted in front of Magistrate Valdis Foldats, and QCs Cairns Nelson and Charles Miskin have been participating in the de- fence. The legal arguments began Wednesday morning and were scheduled to con- tinue after press time on Wednesday. Church campers head to Wisconsin A contingent of Cayman’s Ad- ventist youth and counsellors are in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, for the In- ternational Pathfinder Camporee. Eighty-seven campers, ranging in age from 7 to 72 and equipped with food, sleeping bags, air mat- tresses and tents, left Cayman Sunday to join some 50,000 others at the five-day international gath- ering that takes place at Oshkosh every five years. The photo on the right shows some of the contingent as they pre- pared to fly out from Owen Roberts International Airport. At far right is Cayman Islands Conference Ex- ecutive Secretary Pastor Jeff Jef- ferson, who saw off the group, and kneeling second from right is Youth Minister Vaughan Henry, who led the Cayman contingent.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 15 AUGUST 2019 www.caymannational.com Customer Notice Interest Rate Decrease Cayman National Bank advises that its CI$ and US$ Prime Rates will decrease from 5.50% to 5.25% effective 15th August 2019. All products linked to CI$ and US$ Prime Rates will be adjusted on this date. Cayman National provides a full range of financial services at competitive prices and with excellent service. For more information call us at 949 4655 or visit www.caymannational.com. PERSONAL BANKING | BUSINESS BANKING | FUND SERVICES | FIDUCIARY & INVESTMENT SERVICES Care kits for parents of sick kids Insurance company BritCay launched an initia- tive this month to help fam- ilies of sick babies and chil- dren being evacuated to seek urgent medical care overseas. The kits were designed by Rich and Maya Lewis, a couple who know firsthand the challenges faced by par- ents whose children require emergency care abroad. The Lewises’ son Leo had to be evacuated off island when he was just three days old. “Finding out that your child is so sick that you need to leave the country in a matter of hours is incred- ibly upsetting. It’s a situation no parent ever wants to find themselves in,” Maya Lewis said. “In a short space of time you have to pack and think of everything you might need to live in another country for an undefined period of time. It’s terrifying.” With that in mind, the ‘Leo’s Legacy’ kit contains some basic essentials, as well as a packing list and a hand-written letter of sup- port from the founders. “We just want people to know that they’re not alone, to stay strong and that we un- derstand what they’re going through,” she said. The couple applauded British Caymanian Insurance Company Limited (BritCay) for ensuring that their own evac- uation process went smoothly. “We were pretty confident that our policy would cover all of the costs of the evacu- ation and Leo would be able to get the medical help he needed, at one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals in Miami,” Lewis said. Both parents said in a press release that they are now thrilled to have partnered with the insurer to offer this additional level of support. “When we heard Rich and Maya’s story we were im- mediately moved to assist,” said BritCay Health Man- ager Lamar Haynes. “This is a wonderful initiative and we’re happy to put our support behind it. While no parent wishes to face what Maya and Rich did, we hope this will help remove some of the stress involved for those who unavoidably find that they need evacuation services.” The packs will be avail- able to all families of ba- bies and infants facing evac- “ In a short space of time you have to pack and think of everything you might need to live in another country for an undefined period of time. It’s terrifying.” MAYA LEWIS BritCay Health Manager Lamar Haynes, right, and Leo’s Legacy founders Rich and Maya Lewis, third and fourth from left, present evacuation kits to Cayman Islands Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Paediatric Unit staff, from left, Sue Doak and Kerry Bennett-Reed. The packs will be available to all families of babies and infants facing evacuation from the Cayman Islands Hospital, regardless of insurer. A close-up look at one of the kits. NCVO holding ‘Love Bank’ glazing fundraiser The National Council of Voluntary Organisations and 3 Girls & A Kiln are teaming up to decorate ‘Love Banks’ to help raise money for the charity. The fundraiser involves painting and glazing piggy banks in the shape of the words ‘Love’, which will be distributed around the is- land to encourage members of the public to contribute to the NCVO. The glazing and painting session will be held at 3 Girls & A Kiln in Camana Bay at 6-8pm on Thursday, 22 Aug. For a donation of $65, at- tendees can glaze the ‘Love Banks’ while enjoying “bub- bles and bites”, according to a press release. The fundraiser is part of the NCVO’s ongoing ‘Many Hearts for Little Hands’ cam- paign which is trying to raise a total of $1.6 million by Oc- tober this year. In operation since 1975, the NCVO runs the Jack & Jill Nursery and Miss Na- dine’s Preschool; the Nadine Andreas Residential Foster Home; Caring Cousins, a student lunch assistance programme; two scholarship programmes; and The New to You Bargain Shop. In ad- dition to regular operating expenses, the money raised will be used to make reno- vations to the schools and foster home. “The NCVO is immensely appreciative of 3 Girls & A Kiln’s willingness to have the Love Banks be part of the ‘Many Hearts for Little Hands’ fundraising cam- paign. We are certain the Cayman Islands community will rise to the challenge and help us achieve our goal,” said CEO Miriam Foster. The NCVO is inviting others to help children in need in Cayman by do- nating funds, organising an event or providing a ser- vice in aid of its $1.6 million dollar goal. For more information on the ‘Many Hearts’ campaign, email ncvo@ ncvo.org.ky. Tickets for the 22 Aug. event can be purchased at 3 Girls and A Kiln and the NCVO, or by email at ncvo@ncvo.org.ky. The fundraiser is part of the NCVO’s ongoing ‘Many Hearts for Little Hands’ campaign which is trying to raise a total of $1.6 million by October this year. Attendees at the NCVO’s fundraiser at 3 Girls & A Kiln on 22 Aug. will paint and glaze this ‘Love’-shaped piggy bank. uation from the Cayman Islands Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pae- diatric Unit from this month, regardless of insurer. As well as the packing list and hand-written card from Leo’s parents, the packs con- tain a USB charging cord, notepad and pens, basic toiletries including tooth- brushes, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner and face wipes, $100 Uber eats voucher, a water bottle, granola bars and a tote bag.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or non-profit organisations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Road or emailed to editor@compassmedia.ky at least three days in advance of publication. THURSDAY, 15 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, 15 AUG. HUMANE SOCIETY QUIZ: The monthly trivia fundraiser for the Cayman Islands Humane Society will be held at Fidel Murphy’s tonight, beginning at 7pm. Ann Ghezzi will be hosting. $10 per person. Call 949‑5189 to book a table. LITTLE CAYMAN LICENSING: The Little Cayman Vehicle Licensing visit occurs today, 9am to 2:30pm in the District Office. WEST BAY NATIONAL TRUST MEETING: The West Bay District Committee of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands will hold its annual general meeting at 6:30pm today at the John Gray Memorial Church Hall, 224 West Church Street. FARM FOOD WORKSHOP: The Department of Agriculture will hold a Farm Food Safety Workshop today, focussing on standard operating procedures and minimal processing of fresh fruits and vegetables. Upstairs at Stacy Watler Pavilion, Lower Valley, Bodden Town. 6‑8pm. Free refreshments served. Crop farmers are encouraged to attend. Call 947‑3090 to confirm attendance. 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. SUMMER FAMILY FUN DAY: The National Gallery is hosting a Summer Fun Family Day today from 10am to 1pm. Free family fun art activities based on the exhibition ‘Tropical Visions’. Art activities will be available for children of all ages and self‑guided activity booklets can be collected at reception for families to use as they explore. Admission is free and open to all ages. TUESDAY, 20 AUG. SEAFARERS MEETING: The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association will hold a general meeting today at 7:30pm in the Seafarers Hall, 11 Victory Avenue, Prospect. For transportation, three buses will depart West Bay Town Hall at 6pm; the Barnes Bus route in George Town will leave the public library parking area at 6:45pm, stopping at the Cayman Compass building and the Airport Foster’s; Bobo $1 public transport bus, blue in colour, will pick up from British Caymanian, Uncle Bill’s, Walkers Road, Shedden Road and Crewe Road; the bus from East End will pick up at the school parking lot, gas station and Wreck of the Ten Sail, starting at 5:45pm; North Side pick‑ups will be at Chisholm’s Store and the soccer field, starting at 6:15pm; Bodden Town pick‑ups at Lorna’s gas Station at 6:45pm; Savannah pick‑ups at gas station at 7pm. WEDNESDAY, 21 AUG. COMMUNITY DEMENTIA FORUM: The public is invited to a Community Dementia Forum at 6:30pm at Jasmine. The topics will cover risk factors, diagnosis, living with dementia, caregiving and end of life care. Refreshments will be provided. Call 936‑1655 for more information. THURSDAY, 22 AUG. FARM FOOD WORKSHOP: The Department of Agriculture will hold a Farm Food Safety Workshop today, focussing on the importance of food safety in fresh fruits and vegetables. Upstairs at Stacy Watler Pavilion, Lower Valley, Bodden Town. 6‑8pm. Free refreshments served. Crop farmers are encouraged to attend. Call 947‑3090 to confirm attendance. ‘LOVE BANK’ GLAZING: The National Council of Voluntary Organisations and 3 Girls & A Kiln are teaming up to decorate ‘Love Banks’, which are piggy banks in the shape of the word ‘Love’, to help raise money for the charity. The ‘Love Banks’ will be distributed around the island to encourage members of the public to contribute to the NCVO. 6‑8pm at 3 Girls & A Kiln in Camana Bay. $65 donation. Bubbles and bites included. Email ncvo@ncvo.org.ky for more information. FRIDAY, 23 AUG. SENIORS TOUR AND TEA PARTY: The National Gallery and EY welcome seniors for a morning of art and conversation. Beginning with a tour of the exhibition ‘Tropical Visions: Landscape Painting from the National Collection’, with a chance to share stories and memories inspired by the artwork. This will be followed by tea service with refreshments and pastries in the Gallery gardens. Admission is free thanks to sponsorship by EY Cayman. RSVP by calling 945‑8111 or emailing receptionvolunteer@ nationalgallery.org.ky by 19 Aug. Transportation assistance can be arranged if requested. 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. OVERCOMERS OUTREACH: A Christ‑centred 12‑step recovery group addresses addictions and those affected by them. Meetings at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Tuesdays, 7:15pm. Contact Vanessa Gilman at 946‑2422, or visit www.overcomersoutreach.org. DEMENTIA/ALZHEIMER’S SUPPORT GROUP: This group meets on the last Wednesday of each month at ADACI’s office, 4th floor, Cardinall Plaza, 30 Cardinall Ave., George Town. Call 924‑4170 or email info@adacayman.com. THE LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN: Meets every first and third Thursday 7:30pm at the Lions Community Centre. Email lionsclubgcm@hotmail.com. GRAND CAYMAN TOASTMASTERS: Club meets each Thursday 6‑7:15pm on 3rd Floor, George Town Public Library. Visitors and guests welcome. Contact George R. Ebanks at 322‑9369 or Grand Cayman Toastmasters club on Facebook. Email info@ toastmastersclub2686.org. EMINENT ORATORS TOASTMASTERS: Want to be a better speaker or leader? Join a Toastmasters Club. The Eminent Orators Toastmasters Club meets every second and fourth Monday at Cayman Academy Canteen, Walkers Road, 6‑7:30pm. Contact Sashoy Duncan at 939‑8847 or email eminentoratorstoastmasters @gmail.com. Visitors and guests welcome. THE LIONS CLUB OF TROPICAL GARDENS: Meet every first and third Tuesday at 6:30pm at Elizabethan Square (corner unit). Members of the public are invited to attend. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. On Thursday, 15 Aug., the Department of Agriculture will hold a Farm Food Safety Workshop, focussing on standard operating procedures and minimal processing of fresh fruits and vegetables.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, 15 AUGUST 2019 During his address at the funeral, Premier Alden McLaughlin recalled that he was just 7 years old when Long first arrived as the is- lands’ administrator. Roads beyond Bodden Town were unpaved, he said. There was no electricity service in East End or North Side and resi- dential phones had only been introduced to the island two years earlier. “Mosquitoes were so thick, they were still smoth- ering calves,” he said. Longtime friend Amanda Roberts recalled that same period when she read let- ters from the Legislative As- sembly and the Civil Service written to Long upon his de- parture in 1971. She drew laughter from the crowd, when she read, “Plans are also under way for a harbour and a new ter- minal building.” Roberts tracked Long’s foreign service career from India to Burma, Nigeria and Swaziland. Other than India, each time he left a post it was due to that country estab- lishing its independence from Great Britain. During his time in Swaziland, she said, he founded the first racially in- tegrated school in Southern Africa, which caused a stir. There was conflict under his Cayman tenure as well, she said. One of the most im- portant parts of Long’s legacy was the establishment of clear property titles, estab- lished by surveying the is- lands. It was not a popular idea among some at the time and there were street pro- tests, she said. Long called upon the Royal Navy for as- sistance, but the sailors never landed. Just having them anchored off the coast, she said, was enough to calm the situation. The letters she read praised Long for increasing government salaries, his di- plomacy and his humour. “We shall miss you both,” said the letter from the Civil Service, “but especially your fine sense of humour and jest”. Roberts said Long never lost that sense of humour. His irreverence to protocol in polite society, she said, some- times got him into trouble. “His smile could make your day,” she said. “He made the 100. Now he has earned his rest.” “Goodbye Athel,” she said, “a life well lived.” Following the funeral ser- vice, a guard of honour on foot led the hearse carrying Long’s coffin to nearby Eden Cemetery, opposite Pedro St. James, where Cayman’s first governor was laid to rest. RCIPS officers carry the former governor’s coffin. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Governor Long laid to rest Governor Martyn Roper speaks at Governor Long’s funeral service at the Cayman Islands Baptist Church on Wednesday. From left, Pastor Randy Von Kanel, Governor Martyn Roper, Premier Alden McLaughlin, Leader of the Opposition Arden McLean and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson walk to the interment at Eden Cemetery. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Amanda Roberts pays tribute to her longtime friend Athelstan Charles Long at his funeral service at Cayman Islands Baptist Church on Wednesday afternoon.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY, 15 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Planned strike at Heathrow Airport suspended Officials at London’s Heathrow Airport say a strike, planned for 23-24 Aug., has been suspended after the union representing security guards, firefighters and other workers gave its members time to consider the company’s offer. Trump delays tariffs on some Chinese goods until December Treasury yields invert, warning of possible recession NEW YORK (AP) – An economic alarm bell has sounded in the US, sending warning signs of a possible recession ahead. Yields on 2‑year and 10‑year Treasury notes in‑ verted early Wednesday, a market phenomenon that shows investors want more in return for short‑term gov‑ ernment bonds than they are for long‑term bonds. It’s the first time that has happened since the Great Re‑ cession and it can be an in‑ dication that investors have lost faith in the soundness of the US economy. What appeared to be a slight thaw in trade rela‑ tions between the US and China that had sent markets sharply higher Tuesday was quickly forgotten Wednesday. At the opening bell the Dow tumbled 400 points. The yield on the bench‑ mark 10‑year Treasury note hit 1.622%, falling below the yield of a 2‑year, which was 1.634%. The last inver‑ sion of this part of the yield curve was in December 2005, two years before a recession brought on by the financial crisis hit. An inversion like the one taking place Wednesday has preceded the last nine reces‑ sions dating back to 1955, though it does not always mean recession is imminent. And when a recession might hit, if it does, is tricky. Months or even years have passed after an inversion takes place, and before econ‑ omists can connect the two. Still, the inversion sent a ripple through US markets Wednesday. The Dow fell 1.6%, and the S&P 500 fell 1.4%. The Nasdaq fell further. The cost of gold, con‑ sidered a safe haven for in‑ vestors, traded well above $1,500 per ounce and con‑ tinued to climb. With fears of a global eco‑ nomic slowdown growing even sharper, the price of crude, already down 10% in the past three months, fell more than 3%. Longer‑term yields have been falling due to anx‑ iety that President Donald Trump’s trade war could de‑ rail the global economy. Other parts of the curve had already inverted, begin‑ ning late last year. But econ‑ omists in each instance have cautioned not to make too much of it. The latest inversion, how‑ ever, is considered more of a tripwire. Uncertainty over what comes next in the trade war could unnerve businesses and consumers enough that they begin cutting spending. Consumer spending accounts for about 70% of economic activity in the US. That could start a vicious cycle where companies cut back on hiring, which feeds through to more damage for the economy. On Wednesday, Macy’s be‑ came the first major retailer to report quarterly earnings. The company fell vastly short of expectations and cut its profit expectations for the year. Its shares plunged 16% and it dragged down the en‑ tire sector, with companies like Nordstrom, Kohl’s and the Gap leading the S&P in losses. Banks were also hit hard, with economists already ex‑ pecting more rate cuts to combat a slowing economy. WASHINGTON (AP) – Re‑ sponding to pressure from businesses and growing fears that a trade war is threat‑ ening the US economy, the Trump administration is de‑ laying most of the import taxes it planned to impose on Chinese goods and is drop‑ ping others altogether. The announcement Tuesday from the Office of the US Trade Representative was greeted with relief on Wall Street and by retailers who have grown fearful that the new tariffs would wreck holiday sales. The administration says it still plans to proceed with 10% tariffs on about $300 bil‑ lion in Chinese imports – ex‑ tending its import taxes to just about everything China ships to the United States in a dispute over Beijing’s strong‑arm trade policies. But under pressure from retailers and other busi‑ nesses, President Donald Trump’s trade office said it would delay until 15 Dec. the tariffs on nearly 60% of the imports that had been set to absorb the new taxes starting Sept. 1. Among the products that will benefit from the 3½‑ month reprieve are such pop‑ ular consumer goods as cell‑ phones, laptops, video game consoles, some toys, computer monitors, shoes and clothing. The administration is also removing other items from the tariff list entirely, based on what it called “health, safety, national security and other factors”. Separately, China’s Min‑ istry of Commerce reported that top Chinese negotiators had spoken by phone with their US counterparts, Trade Representative Robert Light‑ hizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and planned to talk again in two weeks. The news sent the Dow Jones industrial average soaring more than 400 points in mid‑afternoon trading. Shares of Apple, Mattel and shoe brand Steve Madden, which stand to benefit from the delayed tariffs, led the rally. Speaking to reporters in New Jersey, Trump confirmed that he had decided to delay the tariffs, which could force retailers to raise prices, to avoid the economic pain that could result during the hol‑ iday period. “We’re doing [it] just for Christmas season, just in case some of the tariffs could have an impact,” the president said. Trump has repeatedly argued that his tariffs are hurting China, not Amer‑ ican consumers. But by de‑ laying higher tariffs on con‑ sumer goods, Trump is tacitly acknowledging that his im‑ port taxes stand to squeeze American households, too. Tariffs are taxes paid by US importers, not by China, and are often passed along to US businesses and consumers through higher prices. Jay Foreman, CEO of the toy company Basic Fun, said he’s pleased that the 10% tar‑ iffs have been delayed for products like his until De‑ cember. His company, based in Boca Raton, Florida, had already set prices for the hol‑ iday season and would have had to absorb the impact of the tariffs. Foreman said he is considering layoffs this fall to offset his higher costs and noted that despite Trump’s reprieve, tariffs remain a se‑ vere threat. “We were relieved,” he said. “But does that stop the volatility and instability? No.” Together, the news of ne‑ gotiations and tariff delays provided at least a respite after weeks of heightened US‑ China trade tensions. The re‑ lief might prove only tem‑ porary, though, if the tariffs eventually take full effect and Beijing retaliates against US exports. The Trump administration is fighting the Chinese regime over allegations that Beijing steals trade secrets, forces foreign companies to hand over technology and unfairly subsidises its own firms. Those tactics are part of Bei‑ jing’s drive to become a world leader in such advanced tech‑ nologies as artificial intelli‑ gence and electric cars. But 12 rounds of talks have failed produce any res‑ olution. Frustrated with the lack of progress, Trump raised the tariffs on $200 bil‑ lion in Chinese imports from 10% to 25% in May and said 1 Aug. that he’d impose 10% taxes on an additional $300 billion on Sept. 1. On Sunday, economists at Goldman Sachs downgraded their economic forecasts, citing the impending tariffs on consumer goods. And econ‑ omists at Bank of America Merrill Lynch have raised their odds of a recession in the next year to roughly 33%, up from about 20%. “We are worried,” Michelle Meyer, head of economics at Bank of America Mer‑ rill Lynch, wrote Friday. “We now have a number of early indicators starting to signal heightened risk of recession.” “It’s pretty clear that the problem with [Trump’s] tariff tactics is it’s bad for the economy,” said David Dollar, a China specialist at the Brookings Institution and a former official at the World Bank and US Treasury. “You try to use the weapon but then you get blowback on your own people.” Despite the exchanges be‑ tween the US and Chinese ne‑ gotiators, the prospects for negotiations remain dim. A substantive deal would re‑ quire China to scale back its aspirations to become a tech superpower. And relations between the countries have been strained by mistrust. So far, Trump’s tariffs have failed to get President Xi Jinping to yield to the US demands. “I don’t think we’re any closer to a deal,” said Scott Kennedy, who analyzes Chi‑ na’s economy at the Center for Strategic and Interna‑ tional Studies. “I don’t think there will be any deal during the Trump administration.” Tariffs are taxes paid by US importers, not by China, and are often passed along to US businesses and consumers through higher prices. It’s the first time that has happened since the Great Recession and it can be an indication that investors have lost faith in the soundness of the US economy. A trader works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as yields on 2-year and 10-year Treasury notes inverted early Wednesday, a possible sign that a recession is coming. – PHOTO: AP A staff member works on a mobile phone production line in a Huawei factory in Dongguan, China’s Guangdong province. – PHOTO: AP9 WORLD®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 15 AUGUST 2019 Satellite photos appear to show Chinese armoured vehicles near Hong Kong Ex-Treasury chief: Boris Johnson is wrecking Brexit deal PAKISTANI PM REITERATES SUPPORT TO KASHMIRIS ON INDIAN SIDE LONDON (AP) – Britain’s former top finance official ac- cused Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative gov- ernment on Wednesday of steering the country towards a damaging no-deal Brexit that is not backed by Parlia- ment or British voters. Johnson, in turn, alleged that anti-Brexit UK politi- cians were collaborating with the European Union to block Britain’s exit from the bloc. Philip Hammond, a Con- servative legislator who stepped down as Treasury chief just before Johnson be- came prime minister last month, said “leaving the EU without a deal would be just as much a betrayal of the referendum result as not leaving at all”. Hammond told the BBC that Johnson had moved from a tough negotiating stance to a “wrecking” one by insisting on changes to the withdrawal agreement between Britain and the EU that the bloc would not accept. He said that while he be- lieved Johnson wanted a deal, “there are other people around him whose agenda is different” – an apparent ref- erence to advisers such as Dominic Cummings, one of the architects of the country’s 2016 decision to leave the EU. Johnson has vowed that Britain will leave the EU on the scheduled date of 31 Oct. – just 11 weeks away – with or without a divorce deal. He is demanding the EU make major changes to the agree- ment the bloc made with his predecessor, Theresa May. The EU refuses to renego- tiate, so a no-deal Brexit ap- pears increasingly likely. Johnson claimed Wednesday there was “a ter- rible kind of collaboration” between an intransigent EU and UK politicians who want to stymie Britain’s exit from the bloc. “We need our European friends to compromise, and the more they think there’s a chance Brexit can be blocked in Parliament the more ada- mant they are of sticking to their position,” Johnson said during a question-and-an- swer session on Facebook. Many economists say leaving the EU without an agreement on the terms will trigger a recession and cause economic mayhem, with shortages of fresh food and other goods likely as customs checks snarl Britain’s ports. Johnson and other Brexit supporters argue that any short-term turbulence will be outweighed by new eco- nomic opportunities once Britain leaves the 28-nation bloc and can strike trade deals around the world – notably with the United States. Critics note that the EU accounts for almost half of Britain’s trade and any new trade deals are likely years away. Hammond criticised the government for perpetu- ating “myths” that the British people voted for a no-deal Brexit and that leaving the EU without a negotiated set- tlement would be painless. “There is no mandate for leaving with no deal,” Ham- mond said. “It is absurd to suggest that the 52% of people that voted to leave the European Union, all voted to leave with no deal when, in fact … during the refer- endum campaign there was virtually no mention made by the leaders of that cam- paign at all of the possibility of leaving with no deal. “A no-deal exit will cause significant harm to the UK economy and, poten- tially, irreparable damage to the union of the United Kingdom,” he added. A parliamentary show- down over Brexit is looming when lawmakers return from their summer break in early September. Opposition legis- lators hope to take action to block a no-deal departure – either by passing legislation or by bringing down John- son’s government and trig- gering an early election. To succeed, they will need to persuade Conservatives like Hammond to vote against his party’s government. Johnson has refused to rule out suspending Par- liament if legislators try to delay or prevent Brexit. Ham- mond said that would “pro- voke a constitutional crisis”. MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP) – Pakistan’s prime min- ister assured Kashmiri people living in the Indian- administered part of the di- vided region that he sup- ports them in their struggle for self-determination. In a statement Wednesday, Imran Khan condemned New Delhi’s de- cision on 5 Aug. to down- grade Kashmir’s status, as he began celebrations marking Pakistan’s inde- pendence day. Khan celebrated the day in the Pakistan-adminis- tered part of Kashmir to express solidarity with Kashmiris on the Indian- controlled side. In a speech in its Legislative Assembly he warned India against any attack on Pakistan-ad- ministered Kashmir to di- vert attention from human rights violations in the In- dian-controlled portion of the Himalayan region. He said his country has credible intelligence that India could launch an at- tack and that Pakistan is “fully prepared to respond”. Pakistan has strongly condemned India’s recent downgrading of Kashmir’s status from a state with some autonomy to two territories. India has imposed an un- precedented security lock- down to try to prevent any violent reaction in Kashmir to its downgraded status. Khan told the law- makers that he will step up diplomatic efforts to high- light the issue of Kashmir and Indian actions there. India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947 when British coloni- alists left the subcontinent. The next year, they fought the first of two wars over control of Kashmir. It ended with the region divided be- tween them, though both claim all of it. Protests and clashes have occurred daily in the Indian-controlled portion, thought the curfew and communications blackout have meant the reaction is largely subdued. Pakistan has called for an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, saying the move by India’s Hindu nationalist-led gov- ernment threatens inter- national peace and could lead to ethnic cleansing and genocide. Poland holds the council presidency this month and Foreign Min- ister Jacek Czaputowicz said members would dis- cuss the letter. HONG KONG (AP) – Satellite photos show what appear to be armoured personnel car- riers and other vehicles be- longing to the China’s par- amilitary People’s Armed Police parked in a sports complex in the city of Shen- zhen, in what some have in- terpreted as a threat from Beijing to use increased force against pro-democracy pro- testers across the border in Hong Kong. The pictures collected on Monday by Maxar’s World- View show 500 or more vehicles sitting on and around the soccer stadium at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre just across the har- bour from the Asian fi- nancial hub that has been rocked by more than two months of near-daily street demonstrations. Flights at Hong Kong’s airport, one of the world’s busiest, were disrupted on Monday and Tuesday by a mass demonstration and occasional violence inside its terminal. Chinese state media have said only that the Shenzhen exercises had been planned beforehand and were not di- rectly related to the unrest in Hong Kong, although they came shortly after the cen- tral government in Beijing said the protests were begin- ning to show the “sprouts of terrorism”. President Donald Trump tweeted that US intelligence believes that the Chinese gov- ernment is moving troops to its border with Hong Kong and that, “Everyone should be calm and safe!” Beijing has been appar- ently reluctant to send in po- lice or army units from the mainland or to mobilise the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong to quell the unrest. It’s seen as mindful of the devastating ef- fect that would have both on the territory’s reputation as a safe and stable place to in- vest in, and as indication of the Communist Party’s failure to win over the hearts and minds of the city’s 7.3 mil- lion residents, 22 years after the former British colony was handed over to China. It would also be a shocking reminder of the PLA’s bloody crackdown on pro-democracy demonstra- tions centred on Beijing’s Ti- ananmen Square 30 years ago, which remains a taboo subject in China but is me- morialised with a massive rally and march each year in Hong Kong. Yet, mainland China is be- lieved to have already dis- patched officers to fortify the ranks of the Hong Kong police, and may also have planted decoys among the protesters in order to en- courage more violent acts that could eventually turn or- dinary Hong Kongers against the protest movement. Such a change in senti- ments does not yet appear to have happened despite rising violence surrounding protests and the shutdown of the city’s usually bustling international airport for two days after it was occupied by demonstrators. Beijing has been apparently reluctant to send in police or army units from the mainland or to mobilise the People’s Liberation Army garrison in Hong Kong to quell the unrest. “ Leaving the EU without a deal would be just as much a betrayal of the referendum result as not leaving at all.” PHILIP HAMMOND, former UK treasury chief A satellite image appears to show Chinese security force vehicles inside the Shenzen Bay Sports Centre in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, bordering Hong Kong. – IMAGE: MAXAR TECHNOLOGIES VIA AP Former Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip HammondNext >