ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 LOCAL | PAGE 5 FORMER FOOTBALL EXECS APPEAR IN GRAND COURT High of 89 Low of 78 LOCAL | PAGE 2 MERCURYMAN RACERS BATTLE THE HEAT Slight to moderate with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. 6pc - $2.99 9 MOZZARELLA STICKS New! Two killed in East End crash RENTS RISE NEARLY 20% WITHIN A YEAR Overall inflation up 4.5% MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky Tenants will already have noticed the hit to their bank accounts, as the latest rental cost figures from the Economics and Statistics Of- fice show a 19.7% increase in rents during the first quarter of this year compared to the same period a year earlier. The jump in housing costs affected also the imputed rents for owner-occupiers which surged by 9.2% during the same period. Ser- vices for the maintenance and repair of dwell- ings rose 8.4%, while the cost of electricity was up 8.2%. Meanwhile, communication costs in- creased 7.7% within a year. Housing and basic utilities were the main price drivers during the first quarter, according to the latest avail- able statistics released on 4 Sept., causing an overall inflation rate of 4.5% compared to the same period in 2018. Housing cost factors Much of the rental price increase is the result of a continuously growing population. Last year the number of Cayman residents is estimated to have grown by 3.8% to 65,800. The gradual increase in demand for housing has spurred significant development activity in Cayman. But supply has been slow to catch up with the larger number of people looking for a place to live. This population growth is expected to con- tinue. Government last year introduced new economic substance legislation which forces certain Cayman-registered companies to es- tablish more of a physical presence with of- fices and staff on island. This is likely to in- crease the demand for housing, but it will also Jaci Patrick of West Bay, seated, was named Miss World Cayman during the Saturday evening pageant at the Harquail Theatre. Patrick will represent the Cayman Islands in the Miss World competition 14 Dec. in London. Tatyana Salazar, of West Bay was first runner-up, while Bodden Town’s Marlena Williams was second runner-up. Also competing were Shaquin Denay Rankine of East End and Kevie Ann Pierre of Bodden Town. Reigning Miss World Cayman Kelsie Woodman-Bodden is standing to the left. Police: The victims were both Jamaican nationals A woman and a man in their mid-20s were killed in an early morning crash Saturday on Sea View Road near the Blowholes at High Rock Drive in East End. Police said the two were travelling eastbound around 3am when their Daihatsu Boon apparently crossed into the op- posing lane and struck a Depart- ment of Environmental Health sanitation truck head on. The victims, both Jamaican nationals, have not yet been iden- tified. They were found unrespon- sive and later confirmed dead, according to police. The driver of the truck was not injured. Traffic into the area was restricted for much of Saturday morning. Motorists travelling to East End had to drive north on Frank Sound Road and circum- vent the area by way of Queens Highway. The road reopened about 11am. On Saturday morning, accident reconstructionist Collin Redden was on the scene conducting an investigation into the accident. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » West Bay beauty crowned Miss World Cayman Accident reconstructionst Collin Redden conducts his investigation at the scene of the fatal accident that killed two people in East End early Saturday morning. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYMONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS 2 LOCAL NEWS 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 (PG) 10:30 (SAT ONLY) I 4:35 I 7:15 (NO SAT) (PG13) 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 • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) ONCE UPON A TIME (R) IN HOLLYWOOD 12:40 | 3:05 VIP | 4:00 | 7:30 | 9:20 THE ANGRY BIRDS (PG) MOVIE 2 1:35 | 4:15 47 METERS DOWN: (PG13) UNCAGED 12:45 VIP | 4:40 | 7:00 | 10:15 VIP IT: CHAPTER TWO (R) 1:00 | 3:20 | 6:35 VIP | 8:00 | 9:30 ANGEL HAS FALLEN (R) 12:30 | 4:20 | 6:40 | 10:00 F&F HOBBS & SHAW (PG13) 1:15 | 7:00 The Family of the Late Giovani Jerome Berry regret to announce his passing on Monday, 2 September, 2019. A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, 15 September 2019 at Church of God Chapel, Walkers Rd.. Interment will follow at the Prospect Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page Mercuryman racers battle the heat MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky Nearly 70 athletes took to the water and the road for the sixth running of the Mer- curyman triathlon/aquabike event on Sunday. Starting at 6am, swimmers took off from the starting point at Eden Rock. Over the course of the morning they went on to cycle as far as the easternmost section of Grand Cayman, before running laps along South Sound Road. There were several varia- tions that athletes could com- pete in, including an inter- national distance triathlon, a half-Ironman triathlon and an aquabike event. Within each event were subcategories for individual competitors and teams: men, women and mixed. D.J. Evans hit the finish line just after 9am, win- ning the men’s international distance race. “That was super tough,” said Evans, 36, catching his breath after the race. Although he regularly competes in triathlons, he said this was his first race at the international distance. “I’ve been training really hard, so it’s good to see ev- erything add up,” he said. He said the 6.5-mile run, coming after a 900-metre swim and a 28-mile bike leg, was the hardest part of the race. “It was so hot,” he said. “That second lap, whoo!” But, he added, “It’s al- ways hot, so it was going to be tough.” Race director Trevor Murphy said the event was running smoothly through mid-morning, though he did not envy the people on the course. “It’s so hot already,” he said at 8:30 as the thermom- eter began pushing toward 90 degrees. “I’d hate to be doing this later.” Most of the Ironman com- petitors were expected to finish between noon and 2pm. “That’s the reason we call it the Mercuryman,” said race organiser Chris Bailey, “be- cause it’s so damn hot”. Normally held in February, this year’s event was moved to September due to what Murphy called a “lack of re- sources”. He had only two other people who could help organise the event at the time. “We said we’d put this on for the people who were crazy enough to do it,” Bailey said. Alicia Proud-Rabess was only crazy enough to do the cycling leg. She was part of a three-woman team that won the international distance in its division. Proud-Rabess, who works as a health coach at Seven Mile Fitness, said she spent the last four weeks training for the race by riding a Turbo Trainer in the gym. She did not hit the road on an actual bike until race day. “I’m not going to lie,” she said. “It wasn’t a breeze, be- cause there was a breeze.” Despite a headwind on the second half of the course, she said, “I beat my time I wanted to get. I’m paying for it now.” Proud-Rabess was im- pressed by one of her competi- tor’s bikes. Daniel Cummings’ Diamondback triathlon bike has a nearly solid aerodynamic frame with high-end racing wheels. And it’s bright red. “Does that make you go faster, just looking at it?” she asked Cummings. Cummings said he’s in training for a full Ironman race in Florida in November. He rode just the bike leg in Sunday’s event, finishing first among the international dis- tance competitors. “I do this every year in some form,” he said. Kyra Rabess did the swimming leg for her team, and 17-year-old Ava Hider held on to their lead to make them the top mixed team in the international distance. Hider said she was the one who initiated getting the team together. It was her first time participating in the event, al- though she trains regularly with the 345 Athletic Club. “Considering I did a two- mile race yesterday and the sun was demanding,” she said she felt good about her performance. It was fun to see the multi-event happen.” Proud-Rabess said she thinks the event is “one of the best ones” in Cayman. It’s also a chance for younger athletes, such as Hider, to gain experience. “We have some good ath- letes coming up,” she said. The charges allege that the men all played varying roles in the importation of $4 million worth of gold sometime between 27 May and 31 May this year. MEN DENY LAUNDERING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF GOLD ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Four men charged with laundering $4 million worth of gold entered not guilty pleas during their first Grand Court appearance on Friday. Daniel Alberto Aguilar Ferriozi, Francisco Antonio Di Ventura Herrera, Pedro Jose Benavides Natera, and Juan Carlos Gonzales Infante have been jointly charged with two TWO MEN CHARGED WITH RAPE WALK FREE ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Two men accused of rape walked free after the pros- ecution offered no evidence against them. The men ages 38 and 43, were both due to stand trial on 9 Sept., for a single count of rape and indecent assault. However, on Friday 6 Sept., during a mention hearing in the Grand Court, Crown Pros- ecutor Scott Wainwright of- fered no evidence against ei- ther defendant. “The position is, that the complainant in the matter no longer wishes to coop- erate with the prosecution, and has declined to give ev- idence,” said Wainwright. “In light of this, the Crown has no other choice but to offer no evidence against both de- fendants,” he added. The charges stem from an incident dating from 2017, during which the defendants allegedly assaulted a woman who resided as a tenant in one of their apartments. The men denied the allegations. In light of the prosecu- tion’s decision, defence at- torney Lee Halliday-Davis re- quested a formal ‘not guilty’ verdict be entered. “Since both defendants were arraigned and entered formal not guilty pleas, I re- quest that not guilty verdicts be entered on the record,” Said Halliday-Davis. That request was met with no resistance by the prosecution, so Acting Grand Court Justice Marlene Carter acceded. “Gentlemen I now return not guilty verdicts in rela- tion to the charges,” said Acting Justice Carter. She added, “This means you are free to go, and you cannot be brought back, not for these charges anyway.” This is the second time both defendants were charged, arraigned and due to stand trial for the same indictment of rape and inde- cent assault. The first trial In 2018 both men en- tered not guilty pleas to the charges of rape and indecent assault. During the opening of their trial, Crown Pros- ecutor Darlene Oko told the jury the owner of the apart- ment complex had arranged a party for his tenants. The alleged assault occurred at around 2am the following morning, after the party had ended. The trial was called off due to late disclosure by the prosecution, after video evidence of the complain- ant’s first interview with police surfaced midway through the trial. At the time of the trial, both men denied the allega- tions of rape and said the in- tercourse was consensual. counts of money laundering and one count of concealing criminal property. The charges allege that the men all played varying roles in the importation of $4 million worth of gold sometime between 27 May and 31 May this year. A fur- ther US$135,000 was found hidden beneath a compart- ment in the private jet that transported the gold to Cayman. The money gave rise to a single count of concealing criminal prop- erty. An additional charge of money laundering was also listed in the indict- ment but not put to the defendants. “I have not seen any evidence in relation to count three, and therefore I request that no pleas be taken at this time,” said de- fence attorney Oliver Grim- wood, representing Bena- vides Natera. Following the request, Crown Prosecutor James Hinds, QC, told Acting Grand Court Justice Mar- lene Carter, “The matter is still an ongoing investiga- tion, and more evidence is expected to be forthcoming prior to the trial.” Benavides Natera and Gonzales Infante were both remanded into custody, while Aguilar Ferriozzi and Ventura Herrera were re- leased on bail. All four de- fendants are due to re- turn to court on 20 Sept., at which time it is antici- pated that pleas will be en- tered on the second count of money laundering. D.J. Evans crosses the finish line, winning first place in the men’s division of the Mercuryman International Distance Triathlon on Sunday. – PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSSThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 www.healthcarecon ference.ky 10th annual conference INNOVATING the Future of Healthcare Building on a decade of progress REGISTRATION NOW CLOSED Videos of all conference sessions and CME credits will be available online after the event Carole Appleyard, President and CEO, Carole Appleyard Consulting Erick Gryzbowski, Clinical Solutions Specialist Manager, Abbott Diagnostics Business Dr. Anesh Shetty, Health City Cayman Islands Nasolo Thompson, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Dr. Lewis Warrington, VP Medical Affairs, Ironshore Pharmaceuticals SOME OF OUR LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL SPEAKERS AT THIS YEAR’S HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION YOUTH, SPORTS, AGRICULTURE & LANDSMONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 Opinion & Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@compassmedia.ky, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. 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” Brexit: the crisis facing Britain GOVERNOR’S STATEMENT Flags to fly at half-mast for McLean I was saddened to hear the news of the recent passing of former MLA John McLean. Mr. McLean devot- edly served the Cayman Is- lands, dedicating 24 years of his life to politics. During his long polit- ical career Mr. McLean rep- resented the East End in the Legislative Assembly where he promoted new infrastruc- ture on these islands and amongst many things can be credited with bringing telephone lines to the East End. He was a pioneer for development of these won- derful Islands. He was also a family man. I would like to offer my sincere condolences to his family and friends. He will be remembered for his outstanding service to these islands and will be greatly missed. The flag at Government House will fly at half-mast on Monday and Tuesday in tribute to Mr. McLean. Governor Martyn Roper DAVID JESSOP Such is the revolutionary fervour of those now in charge of Britain’s govern- ment, they are testing to its democratic limits the cohe- sion of a country with no formal constitution. One consequence of the extraordinary events of the last week surrounding Brexit is that the UK will soon hold a general elec- tion. This will likely further divide the country as the principal choice is between a Conservative party shorn of moderation, promoting a hard-line English nation- alist agenda, and a Labour Party offering an equally radical but hard-left so- cialist agenda. Despite such absolutism, many in Britain want nei- ther, suggesting an alterna- tive outcome: another hung parliament in which the Lib- eral Democrats, the Greens, the Scottish and Welsh Na- tionalists and an assortment of independents hold the bal- ance of power. Unfortunately, Brexit has ceased to be a matter of rationality and has become an article of faith, dividing families, town and country, generations, the educated and less educated, and the cities and regions of the UK, as well as the two main par- ties in ways that were previ- ously inconceivable. As a result, there is a real danger that a once mod- erate and balanced nation could for years remain on the cusp of chaos with its young coming to resent what is being done to their future. Brexit is testing the limits of the Westminster system of government, con- vention and the account- ability of the executive to parliament. It is also raising questions about the ex- tent to which the first past the post electoral system any longer has relevance, and whether the UK’s two main political parties can accommodate alternative thinking. More fundamen- tally it is challenging the cohesion and sustainability of the union with Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Although the British Prime Minister has told par- liament that progress is being made in talks with Eu- ropean officials, Michel Bar- nier, the EU’s Chief Negoti- ator says otherwise. He told diplomats from the EU27 on September 4 that the negotiations are “paralysed” and that no new ideas have been put forward to address the complex issue of the border and trade be- tween the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland. To complicate matters further the Johnson Gov- ernment appears intent on seeking fundamental changes to what his predecessor The- resa May agreed. The Financial Times has reported that Britain is now seeking a new separation agreement that would enable the UK to break free of EU regulations on social and en- vironmental standards, sug- gesting that reaching any agreement on a negotiated Brexit is unlikely. EU member states make clear that adherence to EU standards remain an essen- tial precondition if Britain wants to achieve a deep and substantive post Brexit free trade agreement. They also say that a comprehensive so- lution on a soft border that protects the Irish economy and the Good Friday peace agreement is essential. They are also adamant that they will not sacrifice EU27 unity. In a further telling indica- tion of where the process is going, the EU has said that while it wants a post Brexit agreement it is preparing for a no-deal departure, and has outlined proposals for a €600 million (US$663 million) emergency funding package to help the EU27 nations most at risk. These are all issues that the UK will have to address, but they are also of political and parliamentary relevance to the English-speaking Ca- ribbean where the West- minster system of demo- cratic government remains, as do the inherited demo- cratic and social values that underpin Caribbean politics and society. Of more immediate im- portance to the region and the wider world will be the economic impact of Brexit on the UK, the world’s sixth largest economy. If Britain removes itself from the EU without any agreed transi- tion, it is hard to see how other than in the long term it can compensate for the 46 per cent of all its goods and services it presently ex- ports on a frictionless basis to Europe. Most independent ana- lysts suggest that growth will slow, the value of ster- ling will fall further, and the contingent costs that ad- dressing the problems a hard Brexit will create will have a significant impact on the UK Treasury in the short and medium term. Despite this, CARIFORUM could, if proactive, enjoy a much deeper long-term re- lationship with the UK, ir- respective of how Britain leaves the EU. The region agreed earlier this year a comprehensive basis for a future post Brexit trade re- lationship though a CARI- FORUM-UK Economic Part- nership Agreement, the text of which is online at the British Government portal gov.uk. This largely mirrors the terms of the EU-CARIFORUM EPA in relation to imports, exports and services, updates the UK’s development com- mitment to the region, and creates new UK-CARIFORUM mechanisms for political, economic and social dia- logue. Its entry into force will however require swift ratifi- cation in order to avoid the imposition of World Trade Organisation MFN tariffs if a hard Brexit occurs. Recognising that CARI- FORM states may not be able to react speedily, two non- legally binding Memoranda of Understanding addition- ally allow the Treaty’s pro- visional application. These documents are intended to enable both parties to trade on present EU terms while domestic processes are com- pleted. However, at the end of April a UK parliamentary committee raised questions as to whether their ‘vague wording’ might generate legal uncertainty. Much less clear is the im- pact on the UK’s Overseas Territories. Their relationship with the EU is conducted through Britain, which as an EU member has been able to give them access to the single market and free movement, obtain European Develop- ment Funds, and provide a voice in European decision making on issues that affect their interests. Britain is about to enter uncharted waters. It is no exaggeration to say that its people are facing a period of potentially radical change in which the forces of rationality could well lose. If this hap- pens no one should be sur- prised if the UK becomes vulnerable to the blandish- ments and siren calls of na- tions that see the world in Hobbesian terms. David Jessop is a consultant to the Caribbean Council and can be contacted at david.jessop@caribbean-council.org. Much less clear is the impact on the UK’s Overseas Territories. Their relationship with the EU is conducted through Britain, which as an EU member has been able to give them access to the single market. Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a farm near Aberdeen, Scotland, Friday, to coincide with an announcement of extra funding for Scottish farmers. – PHOTO: APCAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 5 LOCAL NEWS PERSONAL BANKING | BUSINESS BANKING | FIDUCIARY SERVICES | FUND SERVICES | INVESTMENT SERVICES Take advantage of our low loan rates and make that new car possible: Meet with our dealer and insurance partners. View a variety of vehicles, boats and watercraft on site. Plus: spot prizes, kids bouncing castle and refreshments. caymannational.com Drive a great bargain at the Vehicle Loan Fair Saturday 14th September, 10am2pm Cayman National Recreation Field (across from our main Elgin Avenue branch) financing 95% interest rate 6.75% commitment fee 0.5% Former football execs appear in Grand Court Government honours former MLA McLean The Cayman Islands Gov‑ ernment is hosting condo‑ lence books wherein people can pay their respects to recently deceased legis‑ lator John McLean and his family. The books will be available for signing until Tuesday, 10 Sept. The books will be avail‑ able from 8:30am to 5pm at the following locations: ■■ Government Administra‑ tion Building, 133 Elgin Avenue, George Town ■■ Legislative Assembly Building, 33 Fort Street, George Town ■■ East End Post Office, 2550 Sea View Road, East End McLean was a member of the Executive Council (now called Cabinet) and repre‑ sented East End in the Leg‑ islative Assembly from 1976‑2000. McLean died on 24 Aug. at the age of 69. The government will fly flags at half‑mast on Monday and Tuesday in McLean’s honour. The Protocol Office is re‑ questing that people and or‑ ganisations that wish to lower their flags to half‑mast should do so at 9:05am on Monday, to facilitate the of‑ ficial flag‑lowering ceremony at the Government Adminis‑ tration Building at 9am. Flags should continue to fly at half‑mast for the re‑ mainder of the day Monday and again on Tuesday when McLean’s funeral will be held at 3pm at the Cayman Is‑ lands Baptist Church in Sa‑ vannah. Flags should re‑ sume their normal position on Wednesday morning, ac‑ cording to the Protocol Office. McLean’s body will lie in state at the Legislative As‑ sembly on Monday, 9 Sept. from 10am to 3pm. Accord‑ ingly, the Royal Cayman Is‑ lands Police Service an‑ nounced that Fort Street will be closed on Monday between Harbour Drive and Edward Street, from 7:45‑8:30am, and again from 3:15‑4pm. KEVIN MORALES kmorales@compassmedia.ky Two former high‑ranking football officials made their initial appearances in Grand Court Friday to answer to several corruption‑re‑ lated charges. Canover Watson and Bruce Blake face nine charges in total stemming from their time as Executive Board members at the Cayman Is‑ lands Football Association, in‑ cluding three counts of money laundering and concealing criminal property. Two of the charges particularly relating to Blake, however, remain be‑ fore the Summary Court. Prosecutor James Hines, QC, told Justice Marlene Carter how the charges were spread across three separate charge sheets. The trial bundle is “substantial” and has taken time to compile, he said. Watson’s defence attorney, Lee Halliday‑Davis, said she had just received papers on Thursday and requested four weeks to review, which Jus‑ tice Carter granted. Watson and Blake will now reappear in Grand Court on 4 Oct., when they will be ar‑ raigned. They remain on bail. The pair are accused of providing CIFA auditor Phillip Rankin with two loan agreements that contained false statements intended to mislead CIFA, according to court documents. Prosecu‑ tors also say the men used a document required for ac‑ counting purposes dishon‑ estly and with intent to cause loss to CIFA, namely a loan dated 31 Dec. 2013 between CIFA and Forward Sports In‑ ternational Management Inc. in the sum of US$600,000 which to their knowledge was misleading, false or deceptive and that those two entities had not actually entered into a loan agreement, according to court documents. Watson and Blake were arrested last month after an Anti‑Corruption Commis‑ sion investigation that began in 2017. Both were long‑ standing CIFA executives and had various roles at the Ca‑ ribbean Football Union and CONCACAF as well. The pair are accused of providing CIFA auditor Phillip Rankin with two loan agreements that contained false statements intended to mislead CIFA, according to court documents. McLean was a member of the Executive Council (now called Cabinet) and represented East End in the Legislative Assembly from 1976‑2000. Former football executive Canover Watson walks into the Cayman Islands courthouse Friday to answer to charges of money laundering and concealing criminal property, stemming from his time as a Cayman Islands Football Association Executive Committee member. Former football executive Bruce Blake walks out of the Cayman Islands courthouse Friday after making his initial Grand Court appearance to answer to corruption-related charges stemming from his time as a Cayman Islands Football Association Executive Committee member.MONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS 6 LOCAL NEWS EXPERT CANCER CAREFOR CAYMAN ISLANDS PATIENTS © 2019 IPB CAYMAN ISLANDS PATIENTS Pamela R. Breast Cancer Patient At Cancer Treatment Centers of America © (CTCA), we guide you and your family every step of the way, starting with a 3-5 day initial evaluation to develop your personalized cancer treatment plan. A team of clinicians will work together to provide treatments combined with supportive care therapies designed to help manage side effects, boost your energy and keep you strong during treatment. be a considerable obstacle to bringing staff to Cayman. In the current market, the traditional lack of 1-bedroom apartments is exacerbated, despite higher rents. Amber Yates, sales agent with Cen- tury 21, says she is often con- tacted by companies seeking to relocate single executives with a monthly rental budget of $1,000 to $1,500. “I don’t know what to tell them, be- cause it is the top of their budget,” she said, but there are few properties to match that. The same applies to fami- lies with children looking for a 2-bedroom or larger property. While properties used to be readily available in the price range of $1,500 to $2,000 per month, they are becoming rare. Unlike in previous years, there are also fewer people moving on island, Yates noted. While most tenants are ini- tially inclined to leave when a landlord tries to raise the rent on a new lease, they often de- cide to stay after scouring the market for a few days, “be- cause everything out there is so much pricier”. Tegan Campbell, sales consultant at REM Services, agrees, stating that “tenants are staying longer in their rental because it costs too much to move; whereas be- fore they might have moved each year or two to new developments, or to be closer to work, school or the beach”. The skewed supply and demand situation causes more than price pressure for tenants as landlords can also be more selective. “There are more and more landlords not accepting kids or pets than I’ve ever experienced in the past,” Campbell noted. Not only is demand in- creasing from population growth, the stock of apart- ments is also depleted as more people are putting their proper- ties on Airbnb. “That has taken a huge chunk out of the long- term rental market,” said Yates. Even in a market of rising rents and steady demand, she said, Airbnb rentals can be cost-effective compared to long-term rentals. “The Airbnb market is doing very well here, because landlords are offering a very personalised service. They pick people up from the airport and are dropping them off. They are leaving items in properties that you would not get elsewhere, [there are] per- sonalised guides and so forth. They are creating a very per- sonalised experience here,” the Century 21 agent said. “They are making good money.” Meanwhile on the supply side, most of the properties under development are fo- cussed on the higher-end seg- ments of the market. Camp- bell said she is noticing “a high number of luxury property being built on island, but not many buildings going up for the average tenant”. Rents have been gradually rising for the past five years, with the lower and middle tier of the market being most sus- ceptible to rising price trends, whereas high-end rentals are more steadily priced, she added. Campbell currently observes a particularly high demand for middle market rentals, and very low inventory in that category. There is no immediate end to the price pressure in sight. The REM Services sales consultant said she has seen rent increases of between 5% and 10% since the first quarter. “However, we are aware that other landlords are asking more.” To cope with high rental costs, single tenants may have to resort to compromises. Yates pointed to comparable islands like Bermuda, where more people are house-sharing. “I think we are going to see that here more.” Rents rise nearly 20% within a year CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cayman Islands inflation rate, per quarter year-on-year 0.5 % 0.4 % 1.4 % 2.8 % 1.4 % 2.4 % 3.2 % 4.8 % 3.5 % 1.7 % 4.5 % -0.4 % -3.6 % -2.8 % -2.4 % -2.8 % -0.8 % Mar 15 Jun 15 Sep 15 Dec 15 Mar 16 Jun 16 Sep 16 Dec 16 Mar 17 Jun 17 Sep 17 Dec 17 Mar 18 Jun 18 Sep 18 Dec 18 Mar 19 Housing, utilities and gas Communications Recreation and culture Education Furnishings and household equipment Restaurants and hotels Food and non-alcoholic beverages Clothing and footwear Alcohol and tobacco Health Transport Misc. goods and services 7.7 % 4.1 % 3.4 % 2.0 % 1.9 % 1.3 % 1.0 % 0.9 % 0.9 % -0.3 % -1.5 % Cayman Islands price changes, March 2019 vs. March 2018 Much of the rental price increase is the result of a continuously growing population. An oil rig ship drew the attention of some Grand Cayman residents over the weekend, as it came near the island’s shores. The Cayman Islands Port Authority said the ship was here to change crews and was not doing any work in the region. – PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS Pipe laying vessel dots Cayman’s horizon The Cayman Islands Customs and Border Con- trol Service issued a state- ment saying that delays with incoming shipments via UPS are not due to Customs. “They are the result of a private commer- cial issue between two local on-island agents that provide services for UPS,” according to the statement. “CBC is hopeful that the on-Island agents will resolve this issue shortly so that customers are not further impacted,” ac- cording to the statement. “UPS customers should contact their on-island agents for further infor- mation and assistance.” CUSTOMS: UPS DELAYS NOT OUR FAULT Workforce Oppor- tunities and Residency Cayman has announced that extended hours at Immigration Head- quarters will end on Monday, 30 Sept. Normal office hours from 8.30am to 4pm will resume thereafter, ac- cording to a WORC news release. EXTENDED IMMIGRATION HOURS ENDING 30 SEPT. SOURCE: CAYMAN ISLANDS ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS OFFICECAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 Typhoon kills 5 in North Korea, 3 in South One of the most powerful typhoons to ever hit the Korean Peninsula has left five people dead and three injured in North Korea, state media reported Sunday. Before reaching North Korea, Typhoon Lingling hit South Korea, killing three people and injuring 13 others. Dorian slams Canada with hurricane force ‘This hour of darkness’ as Dorian toll rises in Bahamas EX-MINISTER: JOHNSON NOT TRYING TO GET A BREXIT DEAL ABCAO, Bahamas (AP) – The hurricane death toll is rising in the Bahamas, in what its leader calls “this hour of darkness”. Search and rescue teams were still trying to reach some Bahamian communi- ties isolated by floodwaters and debris Saturday after Hurricane Dorian struck the northern part of the archi- pelago last Sunday. At least 43 people died. Several hundred people, many of them Haitian im- migrants, waited at Abaco island’s Marsh Harbour in hopes of leaving the disaster zone on vessels arriving with aid. Bahamian security forces were organising evacuations on a landing craft. Other boats, including yachts and other private craft, were also helping to evacuate people. Dorval Darlier, a Hai- tian diplomat who had come from the Bahamian capital of Nassau, shouted in Creole, telling the crowd that sick people along with women and children should be evac- uated before men. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said late Friday that 35 people were known dead on Abaco and eight on Grand Bahama island. “We acknowledge that there are many missing and that the number of deaths is expected to significantly increase,” he said. “This is one of the stark realities we are facing in this hour of darkness.” On Saturday, US President Donald Trump tweeted that Minnis had told him that there would have been “many more casualties” without US help. Trump credited the Fed- eral Emergency Management Agency, the US Coast Guard and the “brave people of the Bahamas”. The US Coast Guard said it has rescued a total of 290 people in the Bahamas fol- lowing Hurricane Dorian. Six MH-60 Jayhawk helicop- ters are carrying out search and rescue missions and providing logistical support, while nine cutters are also helping, the Coast Guard said. The US Agency for Inter- national Development on Sat- urday announced $1 million in additional humanitarian assistance to help Baha- mians, bringing USAID’s total funding to more than $2.8 million so far. The United Nations said eight tons of food supplies were to arrive by ship on Sat- urday at islands devastated by the hurricane. Some 14,700 ready-to-eat meals as well as logistical and telecommuni- cations equipment are being delivered, said Herve Ver- hoosel, spokesman for the UN World Food Program. “The needs remain enor- mous,” Verhoosel said. The British Royal Navy, American Airlines, the Royal Caribbean cruise line and other organisations have also contributed to the aid effort. Marvin Dames, security minister in the Bahamas, said authorities were striving to reach everyone, but the crews cannot just bulldoze their way through fallen trees and other rubble because there might be bodies not yet recovered. LONDON (AP) – A senior minister who quit British Prime Minister Boris John- son’s Cabinet said Sunday that the government is making little or no effort to secure a Brexit agreement with the European Union, despite Johnson’s insis- tence that he wants a deal. Amber Rudd said “there is no evidence of a deal. There are no formal nego- tiations taking place”. “What we know is that Angela Merkel and the EU have said, ‘give us your pro- posal,’ and we have not given them a proposal,” she told the BBC. Treasury chief Sajid Javid insisted that the govern- ment was “straining every sinew to get a deal” and had sent British negotiator David Frost to Brussels for talks. The EU, however, says Britain has not produced any concrete new ideas. Rudd’s resignation as work and pensions secre- tary late Saturday is the latest blow to the embat- tled British prime minister. Johnson says Britain must leave the EU as scheduled 31 Oct. even if there is no divorce agree- ment with the bloc. But his plan is meeting fierce resis- tance, including from some members of his own party. Last week Johnson kicked 21 lawmakers out of the Conservative group in Parliament after they sided with the opposition to pass a law designed to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Those ex- pelled included the longest- serving Conservative in Parliament, Ken Clarke, and Nicholas Soames, grandson of World War II Prime Min- ister Winston Churchill. Rudd called the expul- sions “an assault on de- cency and democracy”. Johnson is seeking a snap election on 15 Oct. as a way to break the dead- lock over Brexit, but law- makers last week rejected his call for an early poll. He is due to try again Monday, but opposition par- ties say they will veto that at- tempt, too. They want to post- pone an election until Britain has secured a delay to the Oct. 31 Brexit deadline, re- moving the risk the UK could crash out without a deal. Johnson’s options – all of them extreme – include disobeying the law, which could land him in court or even prison, and resigning. TORONTO (AP) – The storm that has already walloped the Virgin Islands, Bahamas and North Carolina brought hurricane-force winds to far- eastern Canada on Sunday, knocking out power to hun- dreds of thousands of people. Dorian hit near the city of Halifax Saturday afternoon, ripping roofs off apartment buildings, toppling a huge construction crane and up- rooting trees. There were no reported deaths in Canada, though the storm was blamed for at least 49 else- where along its path. The US National Hurri- cane Center said the post- tropical cyclone was centred about 55 miles east-northeast of thinly populated Anticosti Island Sunday morning and had top sustained winds of 80 mph. It was heading to the north-northwest, roughly up the St. Lawrence River. Nova Scotia officials asked people in the province to stay off the roads so crews could safety remove trees and de- bris and restore power. The government said that up to 700 Canadian military personnel will be fanning out across the Maritimes to help restore electricity, clear road- ways and evacuate residents in flooded areas. Nova Scotia Power Inc. reported 380,000 customers were in the dark. As the storm ploughed into Prince Edward Island, about 50,000 homes and businesses were soon without power, as were another 74,000 in New Brunswick. By far the greatest dev- astation caused by the storm was in the Bahamas, where Dorian struck a week ago as a Category 5 hurri- cane with 185 mph winds, and then hovered just off- shore for more than a day and a half, obliterating thou- sands of homes. Planes, cruise ships and yachts were evacuating people from the Abaco Is- lands and officials were trying to reach areas still iso- lated by flooding and debris. The country’s National Emergency Management Agency said it was sending in extra staff because oper- ations had been hampered by the storm’s impact on local workers. The agency said it was set- ting up shelters or temporary housing for the newly home- less across the islands and appealed for Bahamians to take in storm victims. The government said at least 43 people died due to the storm. Dorian was blamed for five deaths in the US Southeast and one in Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, floodwaters were receding from North Carolina’s Outer Banks, leaving behind a muddy trail of destruction. The storm’s worst damage in the US ap- peared to be on Ocracoke Is- land, which even in good weather is accessible only by boat or air and is popular with tourists for its undevel- oped beaches. Residents who waited out the storm described strong winds followed by a wall of water that flooded the first floors of many homes and forced some to await rescue from their attics. “We’re used to cleaning up dead limbs and trash that’s floating around,” said Oc- racoke business owner Philip Howard said Saturday. “But now it’s everything: picnic tables, doors, lumber that’s been floating around.” Gov. Roy Cooper said about 800 people had re- mained on the island to wait out Dorian, which made land- fall Friday morning over the Outer Banks as a far weaker storm than the monster that devastated the Bahamas. The governor said officials were aware of no serious in- juries on the Outer Banks from the storm. About 200 people were in shelters and 45,000 without power Sat- urday, according to the gov- ernor’s office. Emergency offi- cials transported fuel trucks, generators, food and water to Okracoke. Dorian also lashed the eastern tip of Maine with heavy rain, strong winds and high surf as the storm passed offshore. Several hun- dred homes and businesses lost power. Dorian hit near the city of Halifax Saturday afternoon, ripping roofs off apartment buildings, toppling a huge construction crane and uprooting trees. Prime Minister Hubert Minnis said late Friday that 35 people were known dead on Abaco and eight on Grand Bahama island. A guard rail is damaged by powerful waves that drove rocks on shore in Cow Bay, Nova Scotia, on Saturday. – PHOTO: AP A man cries after discovering his shattered house and not knowing anything about his eight relatives who lived in the building, missing in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, in High Rock, Grand Bahama, Bahamas. – PHOTO: APMONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS 8 WORLD®IONAL Robert Mugabe: From liberator to tyrant HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) – Former Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, an ex-guer- rilla chief who took power when the African country shook off white minority rule and presided for decades while economic turmoil and human rights violations eroded its early promise, has died in Singapore. He was 95. Mugabe enjoyed strong support from Zimbabwe’s people soon after he became the first post-colonial leader of what had been British- controlled Rhodesia. Often violent farm sei- zures from whites who owned huge tracts of land made him a hated figure in the West and a hero in Africa. His successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, tweeted word Friday that an “icon of liberation” had died. Mnangagwa, a long-time loy- alist until Mugabe dismissed him from his Cabinet, named Mugabe as a national hero, Zimbabwe’s highest post- humous honor. He said the nation would observe an official mourning period for its late leader, “a great teacher and mentor” and a “remarkable statesman of our century”. No date or other details were given. Singapore’s Foreign Min- istry said it was working with Zimbabwe on arrangements to fly Mugabe’s body home. In recent years, Mugabe sought medical treatment at Glenea- gles Hospital in Singapore. Presidential spokesman George Charamba told The Associated Press that Mugabe was readmitted to the hospital complaining of chest pains. His per- sonal doctor, Dr. Jonathan Matenga, was flown to Singa- pore and with Mugabe when he died at 4:45am Friday, Charamba said. Mugabe’s popularity began to rise again after Mnangagwa failed to deliver on promises of economic re- covery and appeared to take an even harsher and more repressive stance against critics. Many began to pub- licly say they missed Mugabe. Forced to resign amid pressure from the military, his party and the public in November 2017, Mugabe was defiant throughout his long life, railing against the West for what he called its neo-colo- nialist attitude and urging Africans to take control of their resources – a popu- list message that was often a hit, even as many nations on the continent shed the strongman model and moved towards democracy. A target of international sanctions over the years, Mugabe nevertheless enjoyed acceptance among peers in Africa who chose not to judge him in the same way as Britain, the United States and other Western detractors. Even as old age took its toll and opposition to his rule increased, he refused to step down until the pres- sure became unbearable in 2017 as his former allies in the ruling party accused him of grooming his wife, Grace, to take over – ahead of long- serving loyalists such as Mnangagwa, who was fired in November 2017 before re- turning to take over with the help of the military. After the fighting between black guerrillas and the white rulers of Rhodesia, as Zimbabwe was then known, ended, Mugabe reached out to whites. The self-declared Marxist stressed the need for educa- tion and built new schools. Tourism and mining flour- ished, and Zimbabwe was a regional breadbasket. However, a brutal mili- tary campaign waged against an uprising in western Mata- beleland province that ended in 1987 augured a bitter turn in Zimbabwe’s fortunes. As the years went by, Mugabe was widely accused of hanging onto power through violence and vote fraud, no- tably in a 2008 election that led to a troubled coalition government after regional mediators intervened. “I have many degrees in violence,” Mugabe once boasted on a campaign trail, raising his fist. “You see this fist, it can smash your face.” Mugabe was re-elected in 2013 in another ballot marred by alleged irregulari- ties, though he dismissed his critics as sore losers. Amid the political tur- moil, the economy of Zim- babwe, traditionally rich in agriculture and minerals, deteriorated. Factories were closing, unemployment was rising and the country aban- doned its currency for the US dollar in 2009 because of hyperinflation. The economic problems are often traced to the vio- lent seizures of thousands of white-owned farms that began around 2000. Land re- form was supposed to take much of the country’s most fertile land – owned by about 4,500 white descendants of mainly British and South Af- rican colonial-era settlers – and redistribute it to poor blacks. Instead, Mugabe gave prime farms to ruling party leaders, party loyal- ists, security chiefs, relatives and cronies. Zimbabwe’s main opposi- tion leader, Nelson Chamisa, said he was “mourning with the rest of Africa” over the death of Mugabe in the African tradition of Ubuntu, or humanity toward others, calling him one of Zimba- bwe’s founding fathers and a freedom fighter. Mugabe was born on 21 Feb. 1924, in Zvimba, 40 miles west of the capital of Harare. Mugabe was defiant throughout his long life, railing against the West for what he called its neo-colonialist attitude and urging Africans to take control of their resources. Your life connected | 745.5555 FIBRE INTERNET | TV | PHONE | LOGIC.KY Linda, Former troll, film bu and new Logic Fibre Internet customer. *Terms and conditions apply. “I got the fastest internet and one month free and now I don’t have anything to complain about online. ”ne. SIGN UP FOR ANY LOGIC INTERNET PACKAGE GET THE FASTEST INTERNET ON THE ISLAND. GET ONE MONTH FREE INTERNET * Then-Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe addresses people at a political event in December 2016. – PHOTO: APCAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2019 The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Sports NEWS Messi has option to leave Barca next summer Barcelona’s club president has confirmed that Lionel Messi would have the right to leave the club at the end of this season, as stipulated in his contract. Club president Josep Bartomeu, however, said Friday he was confident that the club’s all-time leading scorer would stay with the team ‘until 2021 and beyond’. US OPEN Serena comes up short again in Grand Slam final NEW YORK (AP) – Maybe someday, in the distant fu‑ ture, Serena Williams will look back and be proud of herself for making it to the final at four of the first seven Grand Slam tournaments she played in after having a baby. Not right now, though. On Saturday night, Wil‑ liams, as fierce a competitor as tennis has seen, could only focus on the fact that she lost each of those title matches. The latest instance came at the US Open, when she was beaten 6‑3, 7‑5 by 19‑year‑old Bianca Andreescu of Canada, who won her first major championship and stopped Williams from claiming a re‑ cord‑tying 24th. “I feel like, in 20 years, I definitely will be like, ‘Wow, that wasn’t so bad,’” the 37‑year‑old Williams said, her words halting, her voice scratchy. “It’s very hard right now in the moment to, like, take this and say, ‘It didn’t work out for you today.’ It’s really hard right now to take that moment in and to say, ‘You did OK,’ because I don’t believe I did.” She has not won a title of any sort since the Austra‑ lian Open in January 2017. That allowed her to break a tie with SteffiGraf for most Slam titles in the Open era, which began in 1968, by col‑ lecting No. 23. Only Margaret Court, with 24, has more in the his‑ tory of tennis. “Nobody has pressure like Serena. No one,” said her coach, Patrick Moura‑ toglou, who was cited for trying to send Williams sig‑ nals in last year’s US Open final, leading to a series of ar‑ guments between her and the chair umpire. “She’s playing for history. She’s playing one match for history. There is no bigger pressure than that,” Moura‑ toglou said. “That she’s a bit tight is normal.” Williams gave birth in September 2017 and since re‑ turning to the tour last year, she has managed to play in two finals apiece at Wim‑ bledon and the US Open. Each time, she fell short of victory. And each time, Williams lamented not quite playing up to her own high standards. The losses have come against Naomi Osaka, An‑ gelique Kerber, Simona Halep and, now, Andreescu. “All of it honestly, truly is super frustrating. I’m, like, so close, so close, so close, yet so far away,” Williams said. “I don’t know what to say. I guess I’ve got to keep going if I want to be a profes‑ sional tennis player. And I’ve just got to just keep fighting through it.” Against Andreescu, who was seeded No. 15 and playing in her first major final and her debut in the main draw at Flushing Meadows, Williams started poorly, double‑faulting twice in a row to drop the very first game. She wound up with eight double‑faults, three that came on break points, and made a total of 33 unforced errors, nearly twice An‑ dreescu’s 17. Trailing by a set and 5‑1 in the second, Williams erased one match point and prolonged the match, eventu‑ ally getting to 5‑all. But she would not win another game. “I believe I could have played better. I believe I could have done more. I be‑ lieve I could have just been more Serena today,” said Williams, who turns 38 this month and was the oldest major finalist in the Open era. “I honestly don’t think Serena showed up. I have to kind of figure out how to get her to show up in Grand Slam finals.” SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@compassmedia.ky The Cayman Islands na‑ tional men’s football team is looking to gather some momentum, following what CIFA President Alfredo Whittaker said was their first win at the senior level in a decade. Cayman and Barbados were set to meet in a CON‑ CACAF Nations League showdown at Truman Bodden Sports Complex after press time on Sunday. Both teams won their first game in Group A of Nations League C, and they knew they could take con‑ trol of the group with a pos‑ itive result on Sunday night. Michael Martin scored twice on Thursday night – once in the 60th minute and once in second half stop‑ page time – to lift Cayman to a 2 ‑ 0 road win over the US Virgin Islands. Barbados got its Nations League campaign going with a 4 ‑ 0 win over Saint Martin. The league will be contested through November, and the four teams in Group A will play home and away against each other. The winner will be promoted to League B in 2021. Cayman will play Saint Martin home and away in October, with the home game falling at Truman Bodden Sports Complex on 15 Oct. The US Virgin Islands will also play vs. Cayman at Truman Bodden Sports Complex on 16 Nov. In addition to Cayman’s Nations League games, Truman Bodden Sports Complex will also host League A games Cuba vs. Canada on Tuesday, 10 Sept. and Cuba vs. USA on 19 Nov. CAYMAN MEN’S FOOTBALL VICTORY OVER USVI SETS UP SHOWDOWN WITH BARBADOS Serena Williams of the United States, left, and Bianca Andreescu of Canada pose for photos after Andreescu won the women’s singles final of the US Open tennis championships, Saturday in New York. – PHOTO: AP FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) – One day before the season opener, Atlanta Falcons re‑ ceiver Julio Jones got his long‑awaited contract exten‑ sion Saturday, agreeing to a three‑year, $66 million deal. The extension is nearly fully guaranteed when he signs. It locks in Jones through the 2023 season and removes a potentially major headache for the Falcons. The deal was announced as the team was departing for Minneapolis. Jones first sought a new contract more than a year ago. He reported for training camp when the Falcons enhanced his current deal and agreed to discuss a lucrative new exten‑ sion before this season. Negotiations dragged on far longer than expected, putting in doubt whether Jones would suit up against the Vikings. No longer. “I love this city and I’m committed to being a Falcon for life,” Jones said in a state‑ ment issued by the team. The 30‑year‑old Jones is a six‑time Pro Bowler coming off another huge season. Even as the Falcons slumped to a 7‑9 record, he had 113 receptions for an NFL‑ leading 1,677 yards and eight touchdowns. Heading into his ninth NFL season, he has 698 re‑ ceptions for 10,731 yards and 51 touchdowns in 111 career games. Jones is the fourth re‑ ceiver in NFL history to have three seasons with at least 100 catches and 1,500 yards, joining Antonio Brown, Andre Johnson and Marvin Harrison. Jones sealed his future with the Falcons on the same day Brown was released by Oakland without playing a game for the Raiders after numerous run‑ins with coaches and management. JULIO JONES AGREES TO 3-YEAR, $66 MILLION EXTENSION Star wide receiver Julio Jones has closed a huge new contract with the Atlanta Falcons. – PHOTO: AP Michael Martin scored twice … to lift Cayman to a 2‑0 road win over the US Virgin Islands.Next >