ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2019 High of 90 Low of 78 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. LOCAL | PAGE 5 BORN 14 WEEKS EARLY, BABY SAVED AT CAYMAN ISLANDS HOSPITAL SPORTS | PAGE 11 CAYMAN ISLANDS PREMIER LEAGUE GEARS UP FOR NEW SEASON Regulated in the Cayman Islands as a licensed insurer by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Generali Worldwide is a trading name of Utmost Worldwide Limited. Registered Head Office address: Utmost Worldwide Limited, Utmost House, Hirzel Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands GY1 4PA. Regulated in Guernsey as a licensed insurer by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission under the Insurance Business (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 (as amended). Incorporated in Guernsey under Company Registration No. 27151. www.generali-healthcare.com Project Grow is ready to GROW! Teachers interested in offering this free program please email karen.ebanks@ihs.ky. Vickie Bodden Bush, left, and Chantelle Day outside the courthouse building in George Town on Wednesday. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Same-sex marriage appeal begins KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky The Cayman Islands government opened three days of highly anticipated arguments in court Wednesday regarding the legalisation of same-sex marriage in the Cayman Islands. Government has appealed Chief Justice Anthony Smellie’s landmark ruling in March that effectively granted the right to same-sex couples to wed in the jurisdiction. The case brought by Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden Bush, who challenged a gov- ernment denial of their application to marry in April 2018, sparked a debate as legal as it was cultural in the Cayman Islands. On Wednesday, Dinah Rose, QC, con- tended that Section 14(1) of the Cayman Is- lands Constitution is clear in its intention to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples and cannot be interpreted otherwise. “The right to marry is carefully defined and subject to express limitation,” Rose said, adding that the section is comprehensive and specific. Chief Justice Smellie argued in his March ruling that denying same-sex couples the right to marry was discriminatory because it prevents such couples from accessing the suite of rights guaranteed to them under the Constitution, including the right to private and family life. Homeowners object to $20 million luxury hotel development ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Libanon Corporation devel- opers, who are looking to build a $20 million four-star luxury hotel along Seven Mile Beach re- turned to the Central Planning Authority Wednesday with re- vised plans. In March, when the devel- opers first sought planning ap- proval, they were met with an overwhelming amount of oppo- sition from more than 200 resi- dents and homeowners in the area. The initial application called for permission to create a 10-storey, 129-bedroom boutique hotel on the north side of the Seven Mile Beach corridor, along West Bay Road. On Wednesday, developers presented a new application which called for the approval of a seven-storey, 129-bedroom business hotel. The revised hotel plans revealed the new hotel would be roughly 140,000 square feet. It would stand 97 feet high, some 33 feet below the maximum zoning height. It would cover 25% of the 1.9 acre lot, out of the allowed 40%. The development would include solar panels, turtle friendly lighting, breezeways and a host of other environmentally friendly UK’S JOHNSON MOVES TO SUSPEND PARLIAMENT AHEAD OF BREXIT LONDON (AP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson manoeuvred Wednesday to give his political opponents even less time to block a chaotic no-deal Brexit before the 31 Oct. with- drawal deadline, winning Queen Elizabeth II’s approval to suspend Parliament. His critics were outraged. Though Johnson previously had refused to rule out such a move, the timing of the deci- sion took lawmakers – many of whom are on vacation – by surprise. Johnson insisted he was taking the step so he could outline his domestic agenda, and he shot down the notion that he was curbing debate, saying there would be “ample time” to discuss Brexit and other issues. Lawmakers reacted with fury, including John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Com- mons, who was not told in advance of John- son’s plan. “Shutting down Parliament would be an offense against the democratic process and the rights of parliamentarians as the peo- ple’s elected representatives,” Bercow said. “Surely at this early stage in his premier- ship, the prime minister should be seeking to establish rather than undermine his dem- ocratic credentials and indeed his commit- ment to Parliamentary democracy.” The main opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote to the queen to protest “in the strongest possible terms on behalf of my party and I believe all the other opposition parties are going to join in with this”. The monarch, however, kept with her stead- fast refusal to get involved in politics. The House of Commons will convene from 3-10 Sept. and then was scheduled to go on a break until 9 Oct. – though lawmakers had PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » An artist’s rendering shows the proposed $20 million four-star business hotel along West Bay Road.2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, 29 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 DUMBO (PG) 10:30 (SAT ONLY) I 4:35 I 7:15 (NO SAT) SUN: 4:35 I 7:15 CAPTAIN MARVEL(PG13) 1:40 I 10:00 (NO SAT) SUN: 6:30 I 10:00 THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (R) 1:10 VIP I 4:35 I 7:00 VIP I 10:15 HELLBOY (R) 12:35 (SAT ONLY) I 1:00 I 6:10 (SAT ONLY) I 6:45 SHAZAM! (PG13) 1:30 I 3:40 VIP I 7:15 I 9:30 VIP SUN: 3:40 VIP I 4:40 I 6:40 VIP 8:00 I 9:40 VIP KIDS CLUB: OVER THE HEDGE (PG) 10:00 (SAT ONLY) CULTURE AT THE CINEMA: THE TRAGEDY OF KIND RICHARD THE SECOND(R18) SAT ONLY: 8:00 • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - THURSDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) POISON ROSE (R) 12:30 | 2:55 | 7:40 | 10:05 THE ANGRY BIRDS (PG) MOVIE 2 1:20 | 6:45 47 METERS DOWN: (PG13) UNCAGED 1:45 | 4:20 | 10:05 THE CURE ANNIVERSARY (PG) 1978-2018 LIVE IN HYDE PARK 7:00 ANGEL HAS FALLEN (R) 12:45 VIP | 3:40 VIP | 4:30 | 7:00 VIP | 9:45 THE LION KING (2019) (PG) 4:00 | 9:15 F&F HOBBS & SHAW (PG13) 1:05 3D | 4:05 | 7:10 READY OR NOT (R) 1:35 | 5:20 | 7:25 | 9:50 VIP | 10:15 UCCI students take Toronto pan festival by storm SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@compassmedia.ky Earl La Pierre’s musical odyssey continues to expand his legacy in Cayman, Canada and beyond. La Pierre brought his UCCI Pan- demix band to Toronto for the 10th consecutive year earlier this summer, and they placed first in the Non-Ca- lypso category of the Pan Alive com- petition. UCCI Pandemix played in conjunction with Afropan, La Pierre’s band that he formed in Toronto decades ago. The competition took place on 2 Aug., and the group of 16 stu- dents and five former UCCI students spent two weeks in Toronto working on their music and soaking up the atmosphere. “I’m really proud of the group. What I can say about that is, steel pan is in good hands in the Cayman Islands,” said La Pierre. “All the kids that went with me, they really did put on a good show.” UCCI Pandemix and Afropan per- formed ‘Phantom of the Opera’ to win the Non-Calypso category, and their performance of ‘Savannah Grass’ earned a second place in the Ca- lypso grouping. Eight other bands were competing with UCCI Pandemix and Afropan for top honours. “It was about half and half,” said La Pierre of the students who had made the trip before. “Half were sen- iors who had gone before, and half were juniors who were going for the first time. “And it’s going to get bigger next year. Some of the other kids in other schools want to go too.” La Pierre said that some of the bands competing in the competition had as many as 80 members. The UCCI Pandemix and Afropan com- bined band was more like 66 people, he said. UCCI Pandemix and Afropan also played a for the general public during Toronto’s Caribana pa- rade on 3 Aug. “We’re always in the top three,” said La Pierre of winning the compe- tition. “I enjoy this because I’m always having the youth around me to com- pete. The youths can go to Canada a lot easier than Trinidad. In Trinidad, you have to book at least a year in advance to get accommodations for Carnival.” Before the competition, UCCI Pan- demix performed a lunchtime concert at the Toronto Police Headquarters for the Toronto Police Services Board and the Toronto Police Service. That concert marked the first time UCCI Pandemix has performed at an inter- national venue as the sole entertainer. The various students helped fund the trip by playing at various super- markets and dedicating all proceeds from performing in the academic year towards the trip. UCCI provided a final financial push to make sure that the students would be able to go on their trip to Canada for Pan Alive. “The types of experiential learning that they are encountering are life- changing and exactly what we hope each student at UCCI will experience,” said UCCI President Stacey McAfee. “The lessons about raising money to support a worthwhile cause and create the opportunities in your own life are also character building and essential skills.” “The kids go by the grocery stores on a Saturday morning with a couple steel drums and a sponsor sheet,” addedd La Pierre. “They look for do- nations and that’s how they make most of the money.” La Pierre said that Afropan is “his baby” and that it’s the “father of all the steel bands”. But while he lives in Cayman, his son runs Afropan in his absence. This year, it was espe- cially noteworthy for La Pierre be- cause he didn’t just have his two bands, he had former students flying in from far away. “This year, I had students coming from England that used to go to UCCI,” he said. “They end up in To- ronto every summer coming from England to join us in Afropan.” Earl La Pierre, right, shakes hands with a representative of the Toronto Police Service. UCCI Pandemix provided a command performance at Toronto’s police headquarters earlier this month. - PHOTOS: SUBMITTED 50 YEARS AGO Missile explodes off North Side In the 28 Aug. 1969 edi- tion of the Caymanian Weekly, a precursor of the Cayman Compass, the front page car- ried a report headlined ‘Mis- sile exploded off N. Side last week’. It read: “Great excitement throughout the island was gen- erated by the strange phenom- enon in the sky over the north side of Grand Cayman between 7 and 8pm last Thursday. “Many were frightened and some really thought the end of the world had come when a red ball moving across the sky grew bigger and changed to green surrounded by a foggy haze which grew huge. Surrounding cloud became fluorescent and as the object grew larger and gave off light, it turned into a funnel like an upside- down water spout and then that grew larger and as it grew larger, there was a huge ring in the sky like a moon which also kept getting bigger until it became fuzzy round the edge and the funnel faded away approximately at the same time, according to eye witnesses. “The Airport tower here contacted the US authorities who first said it was a missile but later denied this. “Mr. And Mrs. Bruce Parker at Rum Point, who have seen missiles exploded before, are certain that this was in fact a US missile which was exploded in the air, but the Commissioner of Po- lice was given another theory, i.e., that it may have been what is known as ‘green vapour’, which is due to atmos- pheric pressure. “Mr. T.E. McField, who was at North Side, phoned in a report to Police HQ that a plane had crashed into the sea. Inspector R. Archer went to investigate this report. “Over the radio on Friday morning, it was reported that NASA at Cape Kennedy at first confirmed that the phenomenon was indeed a new guided missile which is to replace the Polaris, but which had to be destroyed in the air. They then denied that this was a missile but later an- nounced they did experiment with a new missile and that it was unsuccessful. “His Honour the Administrator sent to ask for an official explanation from Washington through London and received a cable saying “The unu- sual optical effect reported caused by normal firing of US Navy missile. No cause for alarm.” “Many of those who missed this awe- some sight were indeed disappointed and those who were eye witnesses will talk about it for days to come.” The front page headline of the Caymanian Weekly on 28 Aug. 1969. Five arrested during drug boat bust Packages containing ganja recovered from water Police arrested five men in relation to importing ganja after officers seized 350 pounds of the drug in the early hours of Monday morning. The arrests were made after officers spotted a boat being placed on a trailer at Red Bay Dock shortly before 12:30am. When the officers ap- proached the boat and trailer, the boat reversed off the trailer and made off, discarding pack- ages along the way. Three men who remained at the dock were arrested on suspi- cion of being concerned with the importation of ganja. They in- cluded a 23-year-old man from West Bay, a 30-year-old man from West Bay and a 31-year-old man from George Town. The Air Operations Unit and the Joint Marine Unit inter- cepted the vessel that made off from the Red Bay Dock in the area of South Sound. Two occupants, Jeffery Ian Seymour, 41, and Hector Adonis De Valle Cruz, 45, both from West Bay, were arrested and charged with being concerned in the importation of ganja. Both appeared in court on Wednesday and were granted bail. The other three men were given police bail pending fur- ther investigations. Police said a number of packages containing approx- imately 350 pounds of ganja were recovered.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2019 4 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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” Test emergency radio broadcasts begin this week Listeners to Cayman’s radio stations will hear inter- ruptions to their usual pro- grammes over three days in the coming week as the is- lands’ National Emergency Notification System is tested. Hazard Management Cayman Islands and the De- partment of Public Safety and Communication will begin testing the radio alert system this week. The system is designed to interrupt all local radio transmissions to broadcast public safety in- formation in the event of a disaster. The first test will be held on Friday, 30 Aug., and will consist of an attention signal tone only. On Tuesday, 3 Sept. at 11:30am, listeners will hear an attention signal tone and a spoken message. Then on Friday, 6 Sept., at 11:30am, there will again be an attention signal tone and a message. The messages, which will begin and end with three beeps, will say: “This is the Cayman Islands Govern- ment with a coordinated test of the National Emergency Notification System. Broad- casters are testing equipment used to warn you during an emergency. This concludes the test.” According to Hazard Man- agement, the National Emer- gency Notification System, known as NENS, is being implemented as a means to convey public safety mes- sages to as wide an audience as possible in the Cayman Islands “in an efficient and timely manner”. The system could be used in the event of disasters such as hurricanes, earth- quakes, tsunamis and floods, as well as incidents like road accidents, chemical spills and fires. There had been wide- spread criticism of the level of communication from of- ficials during a 2017 fire at Jackson Point fuel depot that led to an evacuation of neigh- bouring homes and busi- nesses in the South Church Street area. Similar con- cerns were also expressed about the speed of emergency communications during a tsunami scare in January last year. Required by law Hazard Management noted that the NENS system is required by law – spe- cifically under the Disaster Preparedness and Hazard Management Law (2019 Re- vision), which states: “There shall be established a Na- tional Emergency Notifica- tion System (NENS) for the Islands operated under the supervision of the Di- rector (of Hazard Manage- ment Cayman Islands). The National Emergency Notifi- cation System shall enable the Government to broad- cast emergency announce- ments to the public on such frequency or in such manner as is specified in a memo- randum of understanding between the Government and a person who is licensed to operate an ICT Net- work under the Information and Communications Tech- nology Authority Law (2019 Revision).” Any announcement broadcast on NENS must first be in writing and ap- proved and signed by the chairman of the Manage- ment Executive or the chairman of the Manage- ment Council in consulta- tion with the director of Hazard Management. An ex- ception to this requirement can be made in the event of a sudden onset of a poten- tial disaster, like a tsunami or an earthquake, which re- quires swift notification to the public. In those circum- stances, the director may au- thorise the broadcast of an emergency announcement. Once authorised by ei- ther chairman, in consul- tation with the Hazard Management director, the Royal Cayman Islands Po- lice Service, the Cayman Is- lands Airports Authority, the Cayman Islands Fire Ser- vice, the Department of En- vironment, the Department of Environmental Health, the Health Services Au- thority and the Cayman Is- lands National Weather Ser- vice can request the use of the NENS system to deliver vital public safety messages if the need arises. First phase The test radio broadcasts over the next week are part of Phase 1 of the emergency alert project. According to Hazard Management, all licensed radio operators in the Cayman Islands are required to sign a memorandum of understanding with the government as a stipula- tion of their licence agree- ment under the ICTA Law and in accordance with the Disaster Preparedness and Hazard Management Law. “[T]hat is about all they need to do other than occasion- ally allowing technicians to check that the equipment is working, and replacing parts if necessary,” Hazard Man- agement stated. A statement from the or- ganisation read: “Government of course recognizes that res- idents are not always tuned into the radio, but it is an important first step, and the Cayman Islands will be one of the first countries in the Caribbean to have a National Alert System in place. “Radio is also a very im- portant communications ve- hicle in the aftermath of a disaster, especially if there is an extended power outage. Radio stations can typically get signals out to the public using a generator if they have to, ensuring that residents will still receive critical mes- sages even with a battery-op- erated radio. It also provides a cost-effective solution and is robust.” The next phase in the NENS system will involve cable television channels, which would show crawling text across the screen. Hazard Management stated that an emergency app also is planned whereby residents who sign up for the app will receive emergency messages to their smartphones. “All these different mech- anisms to deliver emergency alerts will originate from a single dashboard – in other words, a single message can be sent simultaneously across multiple channels – such as the radio, cable tele- vision and to the emergency app,” according to Hazard Management. “ Radio stations can typically get signals out to the public using a generator if they have to, ensuring that residents will still receive critical messages even with a battery-operated radio.” HAZARD MANAGEMENT CAYMAN ISLANDS Three test emergency radio messages will be broadcast on Friday, 30 Aug., Tuesday, 3 Sept. at 11:30am, and Friday, 6 Sept. at 11:30am. Girl guides hit the outdoors in Bermuda Girlguiding Cayman Is- lands sent a contingent of eight guides and four leaders to Bermuda earlier this month, to take part in Branches Breakout 2019. This was the first time the Cayman Islands group attended the international camp, which was held on 19-23 Aug. The Cayman contingent joined guides and leaders from six other countries. They embraced many adventures, in rain and shine, including pitching tents, Outward Bounds, building forts, taking boat rides, sailing, snorkel- ling, archery, hiking, raft building and campfire fun. They also had the op- portunity to learn about the different visiting coun- tries and make crafts to take home, according to a press release from Girl- guiding Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands guides showed how to make a Las Tortugas bookmark, and handed out samples of rum cake and traditional pep- permint candy. On International Night, the guides represented Cayman with a perfor- mance of the National Song, followed by a medley of traditional folk songs, including ‘Munzie Boat’, ‘Conch Na’Ga’No Bone’ and ‘Chip Up Potato’. For more information about Girlguiding Cayman Islands, visit the group’s Facebook page. One of the Girlguiding Cayman Islands participants ziplines during the Bermuda trip. The Girlguiding Cayman Islands group at Owen Roberts International Airport as they prepare to take off for Bermuda.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 29 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 Born 14 weeks early, baby saved at Cayman Islands Hospital KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Lizza and Glenn Halili had been trying for seven years to have a baby. The road to par- enthood, however, was com- plicated by health issues and the pain of a miscarriage. So when Lizza gave birth to baby Linzie on 9 May, the couple felt a mix of emotions. The joy of welcoming a new life into the world was com- plicated by Linzie’s prema- ture arrival. The Halilis had not ex- pected their baby for an- other 14 weeks, on their 11 Aug. due date. “When I heard the word labour, I went into panic mode,” Lizza said. While she was emotion- ally ready to be a mother, Lizza was not ready for such a premature baby. And the couple’s birth plan, to travel to the United States, was thrown into to disarray. Instead, they checked into Cayman Islands Hospital, un- sure of the future and the health of their first child. At birth, Linzie weighed just 2 pounds, 3 ounces, and required intensive medical care. More than four months later, Lizza says the work of paediatric doctors and nurses at Cayman Islands Hospital is what kept their daughter alive. Linzie went home ear- lier this month, about a week after her original due date. While she will require ox- ygen until her lungs become stronger, she is improving by the day. Dr. Sara Watkin, a spe- cialist in newborn and pre- term care, explained the chal- lenges in getting baby Linzie to this point. “An infant born at 26 weeks gestation isn’t even close to being ready for life on the outside. Her lungs and vascular system were still de- veloping, and she would have been very susceptible to in- fections,” Watkin said in a press statement. “Linzie required round- the-clock specialist medical and nursing care, including multiple periods of being ventilated.” Babies born before 28 weeks are typically sent to Florida for care, but the Hal- ilis’ insurance did not permit that option. So neonatal nurses at Cayman Islands Hospital served as the frontline defence for saving Linzie’s life. The baby required careful support and multiple daily check-ups for 15 weeks at the hospital. During that time, Lizza, still scared for her daughter’s future, had to return to work and trust that the neonatal care team would provide the necessary care. “As a care team, especially in the early days, we were constantly mindful that one wrong move can have very serious consequences. That’s where experience and training are crucial and I am lucky to be supported by great nurses too, both in NICU and on the Paediatric Ward, as well as having a colleague with ne- onatal training, Dr. Jasmina Marinova,” Watkin said. With Linzie home for about a week now, Lizza said emotions are still high. While the demands of new parenthood can be over- whelming, tasks such as bathing the baby and putting her to bed bring Lizza joy. Little steps forward, like Linzie feeding on her own, are cause for celebration. “We are so happy. We are so blessed that she is OK and she survived.” Lizza and Glenn Halili hold baby Linzie at Cayman Islands Hospital. Glenn and Lizza Halili, right, pose with baby Linzie and members of the neonatal care team at Cayman Islands Hospital. - PHOTOS: SUBMITTEDThe 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, 29 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, 29 AUG. MUSIC AT THE LIBRARY: Cayman Arts Festival and the Cayman Islands Public Library Service are presenting monthly one-hour concerts at the George Town Public Library (historical building), which includes classical music, poetry and readings from local poets and writers. This month’s event, at 6pm, will feature Glen Inanga on piano, Sarah Newman on violin, Dequan Smith on cello, Hannah Diss on violin, and Johnathon Bedasse on piano. The programme will contain works by Claude Debussy, Vittorio Monti, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert. Tickets available at the door. $20 for adults and $5 for students. NAU CLOSURE: The Needs Assessment Unit’s offices in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac will close from 3pm today for a staff meeting. FRIDAY, 30 AUG. FUEL CONSUMER PROTECTION: Today is the closing date for responses to a public consultation on the proposed consumer protection regulations for the fuels sector by the Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg). The consultation document can be downloaded at www.ofreg.ky. Responses to the consultation must be submitted via email to consultations@ofreg.ky on or before 5pm today. LOOKY YA: East End District Looky Ya heritage event, hosted by the Cayman Islands National Museum. 10am to 2pm. SATURDAY, 31 AUG. HUMANE SOCIETY BOOK SALE: The Humane Society is holding a book sale outside Cost-U-Less today from 10am to 1pm. All proceeds will benefit the animals at the shelter. MEN’S FELLOWSHIP BREAKFAST: The Grand Cayman chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International holds its monthly breakfast today at 7:30am at Aroma restaurant in Camana Bay. There will be open sharing. CIIPA WALK/RUN: The Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants is inviting runners and walkers of all levels to this fun event to raise funds for the YMCA of the Cayman Islands. Starts at 6am from Cricket Square in George Town. Runners can take part in a 5K or 10K. The 10K runners will do the loop twice. Registration is $25, which includes breakfast provided by Amazon Cafe and entry into the raffle prize drawing. This is a chip- timed event. New this year is a corporate challenge. Pick your top five 5K runners, including at least one female. SUNDAY, 1 SEPT. MUSICAL CONCERT: Steve Higgins & Friends, featuring tenor Steve Higgins, lyric soprano Dahlia Wynter, mezzo-soprano April Marr and creative dancer Amaya Lewis, will perform this evening at 6pm at the Ballroom of the Marriott Beach Resort. Funds raised will be donated to the Cayman Islands Cancer Society and the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens. $25 tickets are on sale at Funky Tang’s, Superstitch, from Lions Club of Tropical Gardens members or by calling 916-5008 or 925-9134. SATURDAY, 7 SEPT. STORY TIME: Rotary Central Cayman Islands will host a Story Time event this morning at 10:30am at George Town Public Library. The event is free, and there will be fun activities and goodies for children, who must be accompanied by an adult. BRAC DG 5K: The 2019 DG 5K run/walk, organised by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, will be held on Cayman Brac today. The first 400 registrants will receive a special edition hat. The beneficiaries of this year’s run will be the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, the Special Needs Foundation Cayman and the Alex Panton Foundation. A second run will be held on Grand Cayman on 29 Sept. To register, visit www.caymanactive.com/dg5k or email dg5k@gov.ky for more information. FIDELITY FUN RUN: The first of an annual series of 2-mile fun runs will be held today. The next two will be held on 14 and 21 Sept. Starts at 7:30am on Walkers Road, opposite the former John Gray High School, then goes to South Church Street before finishing on Denham Thompson Way. Free entry for runners under the age of 15. $10 for one race, $z whole series. Awards will be presented to the top 3 male and top 3 female point scorers overall in the series and also to the top 3 male and female scorers in each age group. Register online at www.caymanactive. com/registrations. Late registration possible on the day from 6:30-7:15am. SUNDAY, 8 SEPT. MERCURYMAN TRIATHLON: Three options available. Team or solo half-Iron distance: 1.2-mile swim/56-mile bike ride/13.1-mile run; team or solo international distance: 0.6-mile swim/28-mile bike/6.5-mile run; and solo aquabike: 1.2-mile swim/56-mile bike. Register at www.caymanactive.com. Visit www.mercurymantri. com for more details. FRIDAY, 20 SEPT. HANNAH’S HEROES BIG SHAVE: The 7th annual Big Shave takes place today at Cricket Square to raise funds for childhood cancer research charity St. Baldrick’s Foundation. To get involved, register now to get a shave; organise a dress-down day or a bake sale at work; or donate. For more information, visit www.stbaldricks.org/ events/hannahsheroes. SATURDAY, 21 SEPT. BRAC BRENDA LUND- TIBBETTS WALK/RUN: The annual walk/run to raise funds for the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens and raise awareness of breast cancer will be held on Cayman Brac today at 6am. $25 adult registration. $10 for ages 8 to 12, and free for under 8’s. The route will be out and back from the Brac Reef Resort. Register online at www.caymanactive.com. SUNDAY, 22 SEPT. PACCE WALK/RUN/RIDE: The Lions Club of Grand Cayman hosts the eighth annual PACCE (Prostate and Colon Cancer Event) Delano Hislop Memorial Journey for Life Walk/Run today, starting at 6:30am from the Jasmine building on West Bay Road. Walk 5K, Run 10K or Ride 15K. Proceeds raised from this event will benefit Jasmine (formerly Cayman HospiceCare) and the Cayman Islands Cancer Society. Register online at www.caymanactive.com/ registrations. A T-shirt and bib pick-up will be held the evening before, on Saturday, 21 Sept., 7-11am at the Lions Community Centre, Crewe Road. Pre-registration at 6am on day of run. SATURDAY, 28 SEPT. PAWS FOR WINE: CARE’s 9th annual Paws for Wine fundraiser will be held today at 7pm at Ristorante Pappagallo. Wine tasting, live and silent auctions, fine Italian food stations, MC Teri Lynne from Z99 and music from DJ Chris Jackson. 100% of the evening’s proceeds go towards Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts’ community projects, which includes providing free spay and neuter services, visiting schools to teach children about responsible pet ownership, and working directly with pet owners to help provide preventative care which they cannot afford. SUNDAY, 29 SEPT. BOYS FOOTBALL: Sunset FC is holding its Sunday Morning Boys Football Programme, starting from today. Sponsored by KPMG, the sessions will run from 8:15-9:15am for boys in groups A to D and from 9:15-10:15am for boys in groups E to G. Groups will be announced before the start of the programme based on registrations. All sessions will be at the Camana Bay Field. Boys from 4 to 11 are welcome to join. Contact Paul Macey at pmacey@usarisk.ky or by phone at 525-0822 for more details. GRAND CAYMAN DG 5K: The 2019 DJ 5K run/ walk, organised by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, will be held on Grand Cayman today. The first 400 registrants will receive a special edition hat. To register, visit www.caymanactive.com/dg5k or email dg5k@gov.ky for more information. GENERAL INTEREST DVDL INSPECTION CLOSURE: The Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing’s inspection pit at its Crewe Road location will be closed indefinitely on Wednesdays, starting 28 Aug. The inspection pit will be open for business as usual on all other business days. There will be no changes at DVDL’s Breakers location where the inspection pit will remain open for business as usual. Members of the public wishing to have their vehicles inspected on a Wednesday can visit any of the authorised private garages. BACK-TO-SCHOOL DONATIONS: The Prospect Red Bay Community Group is holding a back-to- school drive to ensure local children and schools have supplies for a successful start of the school year. A donation box is located at the Seafarers Hall and items can be dropped off between 7am and 3pm weekdays. Contact any of the executive members for collection or drop-off of any donations, or bring supplies to the next monthly meeting at 7pm on Monday, 2 Sept., at Seafarers Hall. Email prospectcommunity345@ gmail.com for more information or visit Prospect Red Bay Community 345 on Facebook for a list of recommended supplies. 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, every Wednesday, 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. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The Humane Society is holding a book sale from 10am to 1pm on Saturday, 31 Aug., outside Cost-U-Less.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2019 Student test scores show more work needs to be done MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky Preliminary test results show Year 11 Cayman students im- proving over last year while Year 6 scores declined. The scores were unveiled by Tammy Hopkins, acting director of the Department of Education Ser- vices, during a meeting of govern- ment school teachers on 19 Aug. Typically, the Ministry of Edu- cation has announced preliminary GCSE scores at the teacher gath- ering, but Hopkins said those scores were not yet available. Instead, she presented results based on the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate. Those numbers showed a marked improvement in English scores. The percentage of students scoring a grade of C or better jumped from 65 in 2018 to 77 this year. The five-year high marks a rise of 17 percentage points from 2015, when the score was 60%. The English figures were the highlight of the report. Maths scores bumped up just a single percentage point from last year’s five-year low of 40%. In 2018, science scores dipped to 50%, a 10-point drop from 2016’s high of 60%. This year, they recov- ered some of that lost ground, rising to 58%. Both the maths and English scores were substantially lower than those announced recently by the Ministry of Education in Ja- maica. Students there scored 54.6% in maths and 82.8% in English, ac- cording to news reports. Wingrove Hunte, senior man- ager of data and testing for the De- partment of Education Services, said he is encouraged by the scores in English. “English is on an upward tra- jectory,” Hunte said, looking at the five-year trend. “It’s generally very positive.” In maths, he said, “We’re kind of floundering. There’s not as much growth as we would like to see.” Hunte said variations from year to year do not necessarily reflect on the quality of teaching. It can result from the differences in performance between cohorts of students, he said. One year’s group of students may simply have more academic acumen than the next, or vice versa. Sometimes that performance can be seen over time. For instance, in 2015, exams taken at the end of Year 6 showed 70% of students hitting the Level 4 target in English. The following four years’ of scores have been lower. That same cohort took their Year 11 exams in June and produced the highest English scores for the same five-year period. Hunte pointed out that the students had to continue to de- velop their skills during the five- year interim. “That does say something about the staff and the quality of teaching,” he said. Hunte said it was hard to be en- thusiastic about the Year 6 exam re- sults, especially the English scores. “They’re kind of flat,” he said, looking at the five-year trends. “Progress in terms of driving performance might be a little bit slow.” Maths scores climbed from 45% in 2015 to 62% in 2018, before drop- ping back to 58% this year. “We are improving, so that is positive,” Hunte said. “We probably need to do a little more remedial work to drive that up.” Under-performance at Year 6 has been an ongoing source of concern for educators. High School princi- pals complain that many students coming into Year 7 are not prepared academically and that too much time has to be spent trying to bring them up to speed. “The whole idea of primary education is to get the building blocks pretty strong,” Hunte said. “It’s easier to mold the kids when they’re young. The sense of failure is much stronger when they get into secondary [school]. It’s a dif- ferent kind of thinking at the sec- ondary level.” Hunte said the ministry has re- ceived the 2019 GCSE scores and an analysis is currently under way. He expects that work to be com- pleted by next week. 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 % Level 4+ Maths % Level 4+ English Cayman Islands Key Stage 2 Level 4+ achievement 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 Key Stage 4 Subject Summary (2015 to 2019) English % Grade 3 (C) or above Maths % Grade 3 (C) or above Science % Grade 3 (C) or above Miller calls for enacting boating regulations MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky With a boating accident that killed two men earlier this month still fresh in peo- ple’s minds, North Side Leg- islative Assembly Member Ezzard Miller is hoping the government will finally act on legislation passed in 2015 calling for greater regulation on maritime vessels. “In my view, all boats out on the water should be regu- lated,” Miller said. “Certainly, nobody should be operating commercially without being certified.” In a statement, Miller said, “New safety regulations should extend to requiring registration of all boats in the Cayman Islands and an- nual inspection similar to that for vehicles on land.” He also thinks commer- cial boats should be subject to random inspections by authorities. Miller said some regu- lations are ready to go into place. In 2016, the Legisla- tive Assembly unanimously passed a motion that called for the government to intro- duce regulations under the Port Authority Law to re- quire people owning boats larger than 21 feet and pow- ered by engines in excess of 150 horsepower to pass a re- quired test on boat safety, rules of navigation, and the general operation of boats in Cayman waters. However, Miller said, that law was never enacted. Now it needs to be, he said. “There have been sev- eral accidents in the Sound in the last few months,” he said. “The police can’t stop anybody because there are no rules.” There are no regulations requiring a boat operator to have a licence or certifi- cate, and there are also no laws prohibiting drinking and boating. “You’ve got Rum Point on a Sunday afternoon and you get these people who’ve been drinking all day and they get in their boats,” he said. Those boats, he added, often pass one another with no regard for basic boating rules. On the west side of the Sound, he said, he often sees boats navigating on the wrong side of the island’s many canals. Miller said he’s not sure why no action has been taken since 2016. “I suspect it’s lobbying from people in the industry who don’t want to comply,” he said. “Most are concerned that the people they have in the boats can’t pass [certification].” He said the regulations would likely lower insurance costs for commercial opera- tors. More importantly, they would make Cayman waters safer, he added. “These are just sen- sible rules of the road that everybody should know,” Miller said. Police prepare to remove the Pepper Jelly from the water at Harbour House Marina on 12 Aug. The boat was one of two involved in a fatal collision on 11 Aug. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY Ezzard MillerThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS IN LOVING MEMORY OF MARK ANTHONY LUKE SPC #185 JULY 18, 1970 – AUGUST 29, 2018 When links of life are broken And loved ones must part It leaves a wound that never heals And an ever-aching heart. Sometimes It’s hard to understand Why certain things must be But there is a reason for it all Beyond our powers to see. You’ve gone from us But you le us memories Death can never take away Memories that will always linger Deep within our hearts to stay. Missing you Markus, so much and thinking of you every day! Mom, Brother Stuart, Hunter, Berrick, Aunt Annie, and other Family Members Its been the longest year, without you my Cuz. But I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again…. Love Sally suggested they might cancel that break and stay in session because of the Brexit crisis. Johnson said he decided to ask the queen to give her speech that outlines the gov- ernment’s legislative agenda on 14 Oct., and she approved suspending Parliament for a total of 32 days between 12 Sept. and 14 Oct. That makes it unlikely the lawmakers would have enough time to pass laws blocking the UK’s withdrawal from the Euro- pean Union without a nego- tiated divorce deal by 31 Oct. “This is completely normal procedure,” House of Commons leader Jacob Rees- Mogg told Sky News. But shadow chancellor John McDonnell tweeted: “Make no mistake, this is a very British coup.” “Whatever one’s views on Brexit, once you allow a Prime Minister to prevent the full and free operation of our democratic institutions you are on a very precarious path,” he said. Guy Verhofstadt, the Eu- ropean Parliament’s chief Brexit official, called John- son’s move “sinister”. “As a fellow parliamen- tarian, my solidarity with those fighting for their voices to be heard,” he tweeted. “Suppressing debate on pro- found choices is unlikely to help deliver a stable future EU-UK relationship.” The pound plunged on the news, down to $1.2196 from almost $1.2300 the previous day. The EU is adamant it will not renegotiate the agree- ment struck with former Prime Minister Theresa May on the terms of Britain’s de- parture and the framework of future relations. Without such a deal, Britain faces a chaotic Brexit that econo- mists warn would disrupt trade by imposing tariffs and customs checks between Britain and the bloc, send the value of the pound plum- meting and plunge the UK into recession. May resigned in defeat after failing – three times – to secure Parliament’s backing for her divorce deal with the bloc. Hundreds of people packed College Green out- side Parliament, waving EU flags and placards to express their anger, while 25 bishops from the Church of England released an open letter about their worries about the “eco- nomic shocks” of a no-deal Brexit on the poor and other vulnerable people. A petition on a govern- ment website demanding that Parliament not be sus- pended has gotten more than 100,000 signatures – guaran- teeing that it will be consid- ered for debate. Lawmakers already are asking a Scottish court to rule that suspending Parlia- ment is illegal. If that fails, pro-EU legislators are also planning to try to pass a law banning a no-deal Brexit, al- though the government has now sharply limited their time to do that. Another option is to bring down the government with a no-confidence vote. That would spark a 14-day period in which Johnson could try to overturn the result. If he failed, there would be a gen- eral election – but the govern- ment believes it would not have to be held until after the 31 Oct. Brexit deadline. During that key 14 days after a no-confidence vote, another lawmaker could try to win Parliament’s backing in a vote. If they succeeded, Johnson should, in theory, have to step down and let the winner form a government. But these rules were intro- duced in a 2011 law and have never been tested, leaving plenty of room for argument. “If Parliament is sus- pended to suit Boris Johnson, it’s not just going to be sus- pended from discussing Brexit. We could go to war,” Labour spokeswoman on legal issues Shami Chakra- barti told the BBC. “People will work together to stop this unconstitutional suspen- sion of Parliament and we will get greater unity on that even than on stopping a no- deal Brexit.” UK’s Johnson moves to suspend Parliament ahead of Brexit CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A pro-EU protestor waves a European flag outside Downing Street in London, Wednesday. – PHOTO: AP Rose argued these rights were not the issue at hand and the court must con- sider the narrower question of marriage. “This case is only about right to marry, not about ac- cess to substantive benefits only made available to mar- ried couples,” Rose said. She further argued that it is not up to the court to amend marriage legisla- tion but that that burden falls upon the Legisla- tive Assembly. “It is up to Legislative As- sembly to provide same-sex marriage, should it choose to do so,” Rose said. She outlined extensive case law deriving from the European Convention on Human Rights and the In- ternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which were considered when establishing the Cayman Is- lands Constitution. Rose argued these docu- ments do not establish mar- riage as an international human right, but as an issue that comes down to indi- vidual legislatures. Given the language in Sec- tion 14 of the Cayman Is- lands Constitution specifying the right to marry a person of the opposite sex, Rose said, “The Cayman Islands has sought to set out explic- itly the national limits on the right to marry … as invited to do so in Article 12 of the [European] Convention [on Human Rights].” Rose argued the courts are under no obligation to ex- tend marriage rights to same- sex couples and that judges must remove their own values from the equation when making legal decisions. A 2015 European Court of Human Rights ruling pre- sented the question of civil unions. In that case, the court found Italy to be in violation of human rights because the country neither offered civil unions or marriage to same- sex couples. Rose was asked by the court at what point the Cayman Islands came into breach of the obligation to offer civil partnerships. She said the earliest date would have been the 2015 European Court of Human Rights ruling. She added that she is not in a position to say what should be done about it, and that the question of what exactly needs to be done will depend on the outcome of the appeal. While the 2015 case rec- ognised a right to legal protection, Rose said the court was not arguing that the legal vehicle offered to same-sex couples must be identical to marriage. Rose argued that Eu- ropean courts have found same-sex couples do enjoy a right to private and family life, but that case law sepa- rates such rights from indi- vidual marriage provisions. She contended this precedent makes the case that marriage rights cannot be inferred from other provisions in the Cayman Islands Constitution, such as the right to family and private life established in Section 9. “The limitation of mar- riage to opposite-sex cou- ples has been found repeat- edly by the European Court of Human Rights not to of- fend against basic human rights,” Rose said, pointing to wording in the Cayman Islands Constitution rec- ognising the jurisdiction’s Christian heritage. Courtroom 6 was filled to capacity throughout the proceedings Wednesday morning. Spectators in- cluded Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, a vocal opponent of same- sex marriage, and former Human Rights Commission chair James Austin-Smith, a vocal proponent for mar- riage equality. When the proceedings broke for lunch Wednesday, a small prayer circle formed in the bottom floor of the courts building. Other spectators were seen wearing apparel in support of marriage equality. Arguments continued after the print deadline for the Cayman Compass on Wednesday, and were ex- pected to continue through Thursday and Friday. Same-sex marriage appeal begins designs; as well as a several other amenities such as a restaurant/bar, two pools, a gym and a generator. Speaking on behalf of Libanon Corporation, Eamon Wilson of business advisory firm BlueCap, said, not only were the new plans “well within the requirements of all the various government agen- cies”, the development also met a need that was not currently met or of- fered by any existing hotel – that being the need for a business hotel. Wilson said the year-on-year in- crease in stayover tourism had spurred an increase in the number of luxury hotels and condominiums, but not business hotels. A letter from the Depart- ment of Tourism attached to Libanon’s latest appli- cation endorsed the crea- tion of the hotel. It said, “The addition of a business hotel is a welcomed con- cept to join the world-class tourism and hospitality sector that currently ex- ists across all three of the Cayman Islands.” But despite the nu- merous changes to the design and theme of the hotel, the application was once again met with overwhelming opposi- tion. The number of ob- jectors who wanted to be present for the meeting was such that the venue of the meeting had to be changed from the Gov- ernment Administration Building’s ground floor boardroom to the Family Life Centre, where more than 70 people attended. Leading the charge against the development was attorney Nicholas Dixey who represented the Commonwealth Develop- ment, a set of condomin- iums located in the area. Dixey urged the CPA to reject the application on the grounds of the 1997 Planning Law, con- sistency, the need for the hotel and the develop- ment plans. He called the application nothing more than an attempt by the developers to “sell repack- aged snake oil”. “It is still the same ap- plication, simply a change in aesthetics,” said Dixey. He added, “While the height of the new hotel might have been reduced from 10 storeys to seven, its width has increased, and therefore by the 1997 Planning Law, the volume has remained the same.” He said the board mem- bers should not approve the latest application, since only a few months ago, they found the volume to be a major contributing factor to denying that application. He conceded that the area was zoned hotel/ tourism, and said the ob- jectors were not against a hotel being built in the area, rather they are ob- jecting to the size and po- tential disruption it could cause to the area’s current tranquillity. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Attorney Ben Tonner is one of the lawyers representing Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden Bush. Homeowners object to $20 million luxury hotel development CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2019 Italy’s Stromboli volcano erupts anew Stromboli, one of three active Italian volcanoes, has erupted, spewing fiery chunks of lava onto the tiny Italian island and alarming residents and tourists. There were no immediate reports of injuries. Douglas remembering you Each and everyday In our hearts forever You’ll stay With love always & forever your Sisters, Brothers, Nieces & Nephews In Loving Memory of Douglas Anthony Dawson 16th Dec 1964 – 29th Aug 2017 25 killed in fiery attack on bar in southern Mexico Macron pushes outreach to Russia, offers ‘balancing’ role OXYCONTIN MAKER NEGOTIATING SETTLEMENT WORTH A REPORTED $12B PARIS (AP) – French Presi- dent Emmanuel Macron says it’s time for Europe to reach out to Russia – to keep it in the Western fold, check its global ambitions and avoid being caught in the middle of a new Cold War. Macron did not say out- right whether he wants to lift EU sanctions imposed over Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, the heart of East-West tensions for the past five years. But he said new sanctions “are not in our interest”. In a sweeping diplo- matic speech Tuesday after hosting the G-7 summit, Macron sketched out a role for France as a “balancing power” – between Russia and its rivals, between the US and Iran, between rich and poor countries. “Pushing Russia from Europe is a profound stra- tegic error,” Macron said. Europe’s “weaknesses and mistakes” have helped lead Russia to boost its alliance with China and revive its in- fluence in Syria, Libya and around Africa. “It’s not in our interest to be weak and guilty, to forget all our disagreements and to embrace each other again,” he said, but insisted: “The Eu- ropean continent will never be stable, will never be in security, if we don’t pacify and clarify our relations with Russia.” Macron and Russian Pres- ident Vladimir Putin met last week and vowed to give a new boost to peace talks with Ukraine. But the two disagreed on other issues, in- cluding Syria and the Rus- sian crackdown on opposi- tion protests. Macron is trying to re- vive France’s global clout on multiple fronts, with mixed success. After inviting the Ira- nian foreign minister as a surprise guest to the Group of Seven summit in France, Macron said Tuesday that his risky diplomatic ma- noeuvre helped create “the possible conditions of a useful meeting”. Macron acknowledged that his efforts to bring Iran and the US together are “fragile” but says he still sees a “possible path” to rap- prochement after decades of conflict. He expressed hope at the G-7 on Monday that US Presi- dent Donald Trump and Ira- nian President Hassan Rou- hani could meet within weeks. Trump said there was a “really good chance” that could happen – but Rouhani said Tuesday that the US president must first lift sanc- tions imposed on Tehran. Brazil, meanwhile, re- jected offers of international aid championed by Macron at the G-7 to fight Amazon wildfires. Brazilian Presi- dent Jair Bolsonaro accused France and other rich coun- tries of treating the region like a “colony”. Macron called that in- terpretation a “mistake”. He said the money is aimed at countries in the region and is a sign of friendship – not “aggression”. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Purdue Pharma and the thousands of state and local governments suing the maker of OxyContin over the nation’s deadly opioid crisis are negotiating a $10 billion to $12 billion settlement under which the Sackler family would give up ownership of the com- pany, according to pub- lished reports. Under the proposal, the Sacklers would contribute $3 billion of their own money towards the total, and the company would file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and transform itself into a ‘public beneficiary trust’, with all profits from drug sales going to the plain- tiffs, The New York Times reported Wednesday. It said a document outlining the tentative agreement was described to the newspaper. Also, Purdue Pharma would supply its addiction treatment drugs free to the public, and the Sacklers would sell another pharma- ceutical company, Mundip- harma, which would add $1.5 billion to the settle- ment, the Times said. In a statement, the Stam- ford, Connecticut-based company did not confirm any of the details – some of them also reported by NBC – but said it sees little good in years of “wasteful litiga- tion and appeals”. “Purdue believes a con- structive global resolution is the best path forward, and the company is actively working with the state at- torneys general and other plaintiffs to achieve this outcome,” it said. Paul Farrell Jr., a lead plaintiffs’ lawyer repre- senting local governments, said all sides remain under a gag order: “All we can confirm is that we are in active settlement discus- sions with Purdue.” Attorneys general repre- senting several states also confirmed the accelerated negotiations. “Our mission here has always been clear – make Purdue Pharma and the other manufacturers and distributors pay for what they did to Pennsylvania and its people, and put the Sackler family out of the opioid business for good,” said Jacklin Rhoads, spokeswoman for Penn- sylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, whose office is taking part in the Cleve- land negotiations. The settlement talks in- volve more than 2,000 law- suits against the company and other players in the painkiller industry over the opioid overdose epidemic that has killed more than 400,000 people in the US since 2000 and torn apart communities. The first fed- eral trial over the devas- tating toll is scheduled to start in Cleveland in two months. Purdue has been cast by attorneys and addic- tion experts as a chief vil- lain in the crisis. While its painkillers represent a very small piece of the opioid market, the lawsuits accuse it of playing a central role in creating demand for the drugs by downplaying Ox- yContin’s addiction risks and pushing doctors hard to prescribe it. In March, Purdue and the Sackler family reached a $270 million settlement with Oklahoma over the opioid scourge. MEXICO CITY (AP) – An attack on a bar in Mexico’s Gulf coast city of Coatzacoalcos killed 25 people and injured about a dozen, officials said Wednesday, and they said it was apparently overseen by a man who had been recently arrested but released. “The criminals went in, closed the doors, the emer- gency exits, and set fire to the place,” President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said at his daily morning news conference. Veracruz state police said the Tuesday night attack tar- geted the ‘Bar Caballo Blanco’, though the bar’s name was in English on a sign outside: ‘The White Horse Nightclub.’ It advertised “quality, security and service”, private rooms for $7.50 “all night”, “sexy girls” and a pole dance contest. It is located just off a busy commercial street in Coatzacoalcos, a city whose main industry has long been oil and oil refining. “This is the most inhuman thing possible,” López Ob- rador said. “It is regrettable that or- ganized crime acts in this manner,” he said, adding, “It is more regrettable that there may be collusion with authorities.” López Obrador said local prosecutors should be inves- tigated because “the alleged perpetrators had been ar- rested, but they were freed”. Gov. Cuitláhuac García identified the chief suspect as a man known as ‘La Loca’ and gave his name as Ricardo ‘N’ because officials no longer give the full names of suspects. García said the man had been detained by marines in July, but was released after being turned over to the state prosecutor’s office. “In Veracruz, criminal gangs are no longer toler- ated,” García wrote of the attack, adding that police, the armed forces and newly formed National Guard are searching for the attackers. Photos of the scene showed tables and chairs jumbled around, with the bodies of semi-nude women lying amid the debris. Prosecutors initially said the fire killed eight women and 15 men and injured 13 people. López Obrador said the death toll had risen to 25, but did not specify the gender of the victims or the number of injured. There was no immediate information on their condition. The attack came al- most eight years to the day after a fire at a casino in the northern city of Monterrey killed 52 people. The Zetas drug cartel staged that 2011 attack to enforce demands for protection payments. The Zetas, now splin- tered, have also been active in Coatzacoalcos. The attack, along with the killing of 19 people in the western city of Uruapan ear- lier this month, is likely to renew fears that the rampant violence of the 2006-2012 drug war has returned. “ The criminals went in, closed the doors, the emergency exits, and set fire to the place.” MEXICAN PRESIDENT ANDRÉS MANUEL LÓPEZ OBRADOR Police officers guard the scene outside a bar where 25 people died in an overnight attack, in Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, early Wednesday. – PHOTO: APNext >