ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 High of 89 Low of 78 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. SPORT | PAGE 11 LOCAL | PAGE 2 MAN JAILED FOR 3 YEARS FOR KILLING FATHER 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.comwww.generali-healthcare.com Congratulations to Darrel Evans on your Mercuryman win! Proud sponsors of the Breakaway Squad. McLean honoured for his impact on Cayman MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky John Bonwell McLean was remembered Tuesday as the man who helped bring East End into the modern age, and had a hand in developing much of the infrastructure that made the Cayman Islands what it is today. Several hundred people gathered at an official state funeral at the Cayman Islands Baptist Church in Savannah to pay their re- spects to McLean, a longtime member of the Legislative Assembly, who died 24 Aug. “The size of the crowd is a fitting tribute to John McLean’s life,” said the Rev. Randall Von Kanel, looking out from the alter over the packed pews of his church. A long list of dignitaries, including Truman Bodden, Heather Bodden and Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin took turns detailing McLean’s accomplishments during his 69 years. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice provided a uniformed honour guard and served as pallbearers, carrying McLean’s casket from the church after the service, folding the flag that draped it and presenting the flag to McLean’s family. McLean, who worked for a few years in banking and finance before pursuing politics, was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1976 when he was just 26 years old. He served in that body for the next 24 years. McLaughlin said East End was a dif- ferent world in those days. “East End only got electricity in 1970,” he said, speaking after the service. “There were no phones, no streetlights. The road was largely unpaved. It was, without question, the poorest district.” “He really ushered East End into a whole new era of infrastructure development,” he added. “He made, without question, an im- mense contribution.” During his address to the funeral at- tendees, McLaughlin recalled that McLean’s first election was won by a mere 13 votes. He said McLean set about “preserving things in Cayman by improving the lives of Cay- manians. He was a true Caymanian, a true East Ender and a statesman. He will be sorely missed”. Over his years of service, McLean helped to establish the Cayman Islands Water Au- thority in 1983 and led the efforts to develop Cayman’s 911 emergency system, introduce Royal Cayman Islands Police Service pallbearers carry the coffin of John McLean out of the Cayman Islands Baptist Church in Savannah on Tuesday following the funeral service. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » NEIGHBOURS OUTLINE OBJECTIONS TO BEACH BAY RESORT Developer insists 9‑storey resort will be ‘eco‑sensitive’ JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Around 40 neighbouring residents spelled out some of their objections to a 125-room Mandarin Oriental hotel and condo develop- ment in Beach Bay during a meeting of the Central Planning Authority Wednesday. The $167 million St. James Point Resort features two nine-storey buildings and an assortment of villas and cottages scattered across a large slice of beachfront land in the Bodden Town district. The resort will feature 100 hotel rooms and 25 residences, several restaurants, pools and back-of-house facilities. During Wednesday’s hearing, residents out- lined concerns about the size and scale of the development on a previously pristine stretch of waterfront. Concerns were also raised about beach access and the impact on turtle nesting. The designs include several proper- ties on the beach itself and the Depart- ment of Environment has recommended that SWEDISH ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING EXPERT TO SUPPORT CAYMAN MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky Jan Tibbling, the chief public prosecutor at the Swedish Economic Crime Authority, has been seconded to the Cayman Islands to ad- vise government’s coordination team on its response to Caribbean Financial Action Task Force’s negative review of the local anti-money laundering regime. Tibbling arrived in Cayman on Monday, 26 Aug., and will assist the government through May 2020, said Elisabeth Lees, na- tional coordinator for Cayman’s Anti-Money Laundering Steering Group. At the Swedish Economic Crime Authority (SECA), the equivalent of Cayman’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Tibbling’s PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » CANADA EDGES CUBA ON CAYMAN SOIL 2 LOCAL®IONAL THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 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) (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 KIDS CLUB: OVER THE HEDGE (PG) • 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) 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 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 | 10:00 F&F HOBBS & SHAW (PG13) 1:15 | 7:00 Happy Birthday Hannah B! From The Jaguars Man jailed for three years for killing his father ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky After enduring a “lifetime of abuse”, Waylon Timothy Rivers stabbed and killed his father, Timothy Buel Rivers at the family farm in Hutland, North Side in June 2018. He was sentenced Wednesday to three years in jail. Initially, Waylon Rivers was charged with a single count of murder. However, that charge was later changed to manslaughter, to which he pled guilty. An agreed basis of plea filed before the Grand Court in March this year re- vealed that the deceased was verbally abusive towards Rivers and his mother. In a recording captured on the mother’s phone, the deceased can be heard telling his son, “I hope that a car lick [hit] you down. Somebody going to kill you soon.” Initially, Rivers denied any involvement with his fa- ther’s death and attempted to blame two unknown Jamaicans. However, during a follow- up interview with police, he gave a different account. He said, in the morning, a few hours before the stab- bing, he tried to steal some cigarettes that were under his father’s bed, but he could not reach them, so he got a knife to pry them forward. His father awoke, saw him with the knife and accused Rivers of trying to kill him. Rivers said that, later that day, when he went to work at the farm, his father began shouting and cursing at him again, calling him and his mother “thieves that were no better than dogs”. Rivers said he grabbed the knife that was in his father’s hand, and a struggle ensued. While the two fell, he stabbed his father. “I just wanted him to stop, I didn’t mean to kill him,” said Rivers in a po- lice interview. A psychiatric evaluation revealed that the defendant suffered from a learning dis- ability, among other med- ical illnesses. When sentencing Rivers, via video link, Justice Tim- othy Owens said, “This is a highly unusual case. You were abused by your father. His behaviour resulted in cruel and dangerous aban - donment issues.” The judge said several mitigating factors strength- ened Rivers defence, in- cluding that there was a single stab wound, Rivers had endured a lifetime of abuse from his father, he was 19 years old at the time of the killing, and was of previous good character. Justice Owens imposed a three-year sentence for the charge of manslaughter. The judge used a starting point of five years but reduced it to reflect a 20% discount for a late guilty plea and the sev- eral mitigating factors. Scholarship for singer Up-and-coming singer Amber McLaughlin, who performed at this year’s Talent Exposition of the Arts, receives a one-year scholarship to the Cayman Music School for voice training from New Self Help Community Foundation CEO and founder JC Connor. Biker injured in crash A biker was critically in- jured Sunday night after he lost control of his motor- cycle in West Bay. Police said the man was hurt in the single-ve- hicle crash shortly after 10pm, when his bike left the roadway West Bay Road, east of Willie Farrington Drive. He was taken to the Cayman Islands Hos- pital by ambulance. He re- mained in critical condition on Wednesday. Police said the matter is currently under investigation. Iguana cullers have hearty week to open September Cayman’s cullers took 14,844 green iguanas out of the ecosystem last week, marking their most suc- cessful period in more than two months. That figure brings the 45-week total to 889,096 iguanas culled in Cayman’s project to con- trol the invasive species that threatens the endemic blue iguana. The Department of Envi- ronment has been releasing weekly totals during the cull, and the total from 2 Sept. to 7 Sept. is the highest since cullers took 23,840 green iguanas from 24 June to 29 June. Cayman’s cullers took 44,487 green iguanas off the grid in August, which slightly bested the total from July (39,317). But those totals pale in comparison to the to- tals sustained earlier in the year; Cullers took 99,963 green iguanas from the eco- system in May and another 112,202 in July. Despite a fast start, cullers have fallen behind the pace required to reach the intended target of 1.3 mil- lion green iguanas by the end of the 2019. The cullers are being paid $4.50 per iguana by the government, and that sum can rise to $5 if they meet monthly and annual targets. The DoE conducted a green iguana survey last year that indicated there were between 1.1 million and 1.6 million green iguanas on Grand Cayman. 0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1 million Week 45 (2-7 Sept.) Week 1 (Oct. 29-Nov. 3) Pace to reach 1.3 million Accident snarls traffic West-bound traffic on the East-West Arterial in Prospect was delayed about 11am Wednesday morning when Louis Rivers said he got distracted and “faded” off the road into a street lamp. A passenger in Rivers’ vehicle sustained a head injury and was transported to Cayman Islands Hospital. – PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS 2,500 MISSING IN BAHAMAS FREEPORT, Bahamas (AP) – An estimated 2,500 people are listed as missing in the Bahamas in Hurricane Do- rian’s aftermath, the gov- ernment said Wednesday. But it cautioned that the names have yet to be checked against the rosters of people evacuated from the devastated islands or staying in shelters. Carl Smith, a spokesman for the country’s National Emergency Management Agency, said he expects the list to shrink as it is checked. More than a week after Dorian smashed thousands of homes on the country’s Grand Bahama and Abaco islands, the death toll stood at 50 and was expected to rise, with search-and- rescue crews still making their way through the ruins.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 READY. SET. REGISTER FOR THE 7:30 a.m. on Walkers Rd opposite the former John Gray High School Divisions: M/F: U12, 12-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+; Stroller & Pet. Remaining Series Dates: September 14 th , 2019 September 21 st , 2019 Register online: www.caymanactive.com/fidelityfunrun 2019 2019 44 cyclists injured on Cayman roads in one year KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky West Bay Road was the most dangerous street for pedestrians and cyclists in the Cayman Islands over a 12‑month period, according to data provided by the Royal Cayman Islands Po‑ lice Service. Fourteen of 87 pedes‑ trian and cyclist collisions with motor vehicles reported between 20 July 2018 and 13 July 2019 took place on West Bay Road. Of those 14 accidents, nine resulted in injuries, in‑ cluding five injured cyclists and four injured pedestrians. Overall, 44 cyclists and 17 pedestrians were injured in ac‑ cidents involving motor vehi‑ cles on Cayman Islands roads over the 12‑month period. At least two of the acci‑ dents were fatal, including the death of Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Kirzner, 21, who was fa‑ tally struck on North Church Street on 15 April after 4am on his way to work. There were three cyclists injured, including Kirzner, on North Church Street during the 12‑month period. In Cayman Brac, 55 year‑ old pedestrian Mitchell Marvin Ryan was killed in a hit‑and‑run accident on Wa‑ tering Place Road in the early hours of 22 March. One other accident in Cayman Brac resulted in non‑fatal injuries to a cyclist on Gerrard Smith Avenue on 26 July 2018. The cyclist was transported to Health City in critical condition following the collision. The death of cyclist Geoff Cornwall in September 2018 was not included in the RCIPS data. The triathlete struck the back of a vehicle parked in a cycle lane on Es‑ terley Tibbetts Highway. Three other accidents on Esterley Tibbetts were re‑ ported in the data. All three occurred in the morning hours and resulted in injuries to cyclists. Following West Bay Road, the next most dangerous street for pedestrians and cy‑ clists was Eastern Avenue, with four accidents resulting in injuries to pedestrians and one resulting in injuries to a cyclist. Another accident in‑ volving a cyclist at the junc‑ tion of Eastern Avenue and Shedden Road did not result in an injury. Four other pedestrian and cyclist accidents occurred on Shedden Road, for a total of five on that roadway. Three resulted in injuries to a cyclist. Two of three cyclist ac‑ cidents on Linford Pierson Highway during the time frame resulted in injuries. Two cyclists were also injured on Elgin Avenue and two on North West Point Road. No pedestrian or cy‑ clist accidents were reported for North Side, East End or Little Cayman. The concept of devel‑ oping ‘complete streets’ to create safer conditions for pedestrian traffic has been touted by city planners in re‑ cent months. Such roadways would integrate bike lanes, sidewalks and safe cross‑ walks – features that are cur‑ rently missing on most of Cayman’s streets. During a public meeting in July, George Town manager Colin Lumsden said, “Streets are not made for cars. They are connector valves for eve‑ rybody. They are for people who walk and ride.” Minister of Planning and Infrastructure Joey Hew has also been an advocate for ‘complete streets’. At another public meeting in July, the min‑ ister said, “On the issue of traffic, as we all know, there is no one fix. We have to look at this in a very holistic manner. We cannot continue to simply build roads, so we have to look at things like public transport.” Hew said all new street designs will include bicycle and pedestrian access. Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Kirzner’s damaged bike lies on the side of the road on North Church Street after a fatal hit-and-run incident in April. TOP ROADS FOR pedestrian and cyclist ACCIDENTS IN CAYMAN from 20 July 2018 to 13 July 2019 West Bay Road14 accidents 9 injuries (5 cyclists, 4 pedestrians) Eastern Avenue 6 accidents 5 injuries (1 cyclist, 4 pedestrians) Shedden Road 5 accidents 3 injuries (3 cyclists injured) Esterley Tibbetts Highway 3 accidents 3 injuries (3 cyclists injured) North Church Street 3 accidents 3 injuries (3 cyclists injured) MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky Butterfield Bank is moving 22 jobs from Ber‑ muda and Cayman to its support centre in Hal‑ ifax, Nova Scotia, as part of a restructuring exercise to cut costs. The move affects 10 po‑ sitions in Cayman and 12 jobs in Bermuda in the bank’s card fraud depart‑ ment, middle office and call centre. “Halifax provides us with an in‑sourced, cost‑ effective location in which to consolidate teams that serve our businesses in multiple jurisdictions,” the bank said in a statement. A spokesperson for the bank said the affected em‑ ployees were informed last Thursday, 5 Sept., that their jobs would be moved in the coming months, “at which point their Bermuda and Cayman‑based roles will be redundant”. The bank said it was working on finding alternative roles within the bank for the affected staff members. Nine of the 10 positions affected in Cayman are held by Caymanians. As one of Cayman’s largest employers, with 94% of local jobs held by Caymanians, the spokes‑ person said, the impact of any restructuring tends to reflect this proportionality. It is the second round of job losses this year at the bank in Bermuda. In April, Butterfield made 11 posi‑ tions redundant and more than 30 accepted early re‑ tirement packages, the Ber- muda Gazette reported. Butterfield restructuring shifts jobs to Nova Scotia The move affects 10 positions in Cayman and 12 jobs in Bermuda in the bank’s card fraud department, middle office and call centre.4 LOCAL NEWS nities locally for young people who pursue a career in actu- arial science. Cayman Prep and High School student Xaria Deo- saran said she enjoyed the visit “because I got to learn about what actuaries are and what they do within a business. It interested me as something I may want to do in the future”. At Health City, the tour for the students included the hos- pital’s laboratory, its depart- ment of advanced medical imaging and radiology ser- vices, and the facility’s “back of house” where the internal systems that keep the medical centre running are located. Nilakni Jayasekera, of St. Ignatius Catholic School, said of visiting Health City, “It was pretty eye-opening to learn about the many connections there are between robotics and medicine.” Clifton Hunter High School student Craig Maitland added, “My favourite field trip was the trip to Health City where we learned that being more tech- nologically advanced doesn’t mean services have to be more expensive.” Lastly, Digicel representa- tives visited the national team at its George Town headquar- ters to provide an overview of the company’s operations, dis- cuss how machine learning and artificial intelligence are changing the telecommuni- cations industry, and see the team’s robot in action. For more information, visit www.mindsinspired.ky. THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Robotics team to compete in Dubai The Cayman Is- lands National Robotics Team is heading to Dubai next month to partici- pate in the 2019 FIRST Global Challenge. Themed around the 14 Grand Challenges of En- gineering identified by the National Academy of Engi- neering, the competition, to be held 24-27 Oct., aims to empower young people to use STEM to solve global problems. The objective of this year’s event, themed ‘Ocean Opportunities’, is to draw attention to the ways in which ocean pollution negatively affects marine life and human health. The New Hampshire- based FIRST (For Inspira- tion and Recognition of Sci- ence and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people’s interest and participation in science and technology, according to its website. In the game, the Cayman Islands team will be ran- domly paired with two teams from different countries to form an al- liance that will compete against another group of three nations. Ahead of the Dubai trip, the Cayman students took part in a series of educa- tional visits as part of their pre-competition curriculum to learn about STEM ca- reers available locally. Dart Minds Inspired in- troduced FIRST robotics to the Cayman Islands earlier this year through a part- nership with companies associated with one of the STEM subjects: Health City Cayman Islands (science), Digicel (technology), Carib- bean Utilities Company (en- gineering) and Aureum Re (mathematics). The students’ first field trip was to CUC’s head- quarters where they learned about the variety of STEM- related careers available at the electricity provider and toured its facilities at In- dustrial Park. Team member Samuel White, of John Gray High School, was impressed by the CUC tour. “I learned a lot, but one thing that stood out was how substa- tions are used to rectify – or step down – the 69,000V to consumers at 13,000V, then the transformers on the poles step it down to the 240V and 120V we use in our houses.” Next they went to Au- reum Re in Camana Bay where the students learned about the reinsurance in- dustry, and how mathe- matics and statistics are used to assess risk. Although the number of reinsurance companies in Cayman is increasing, Au- reum Re CEO David Tow- riss explained that there are currently only two Cayma- nians qualified as actuaries and that there are signifi- cant employment opportu- 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” ICCI students visit Silicon Valley After visiting California’s Silicon Valley to meet in- dustry leaders in the tech- nology field, students at the International College of the Cayman Islands on Sunday presented their final papers to local IT professionals. The papers covered topics such as technology in human health and welfare, com- puters and AI in everyday life, the place of science and tech- nology in society, the impact of technology on the environ- ment, and ethics in the digital space, according to a press release from the college. In preparation for the presentations, the 11 stu- dents, along with two in- structors, travelled to Silicon Valley in San Francisco on 9 Aug. and spent eight days meeting with representa- tives from Google, Facebook, Twitter, Colovore, Brave, and Stanford University. The delegation also vis- ited the Intel Museum, the Computer History Museum, and The Tech Interactive sci- ence and technology centre to learn more about the history and the impact of computers. “Seminars are important, and help our students to broaden their perspective on a myriad of topics from local explorations of our three is- lands to entrepreneurship, technology and finance, on an international scale,” said Aleza Beverly, ICCI’s dean and chief academic officer, in the release. “The international sem- inar brings learning to life for our students through the places visited and the bonding experience of trav- elling, learning and having fun together. This creates a special learning environ- ment that I think is impor- tant,” she added. During their visit, the stu- dents also gave back to the community by volunteering at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Silicon Valley. “We are showing our stu- dents that giving back and being socially responsible is a part of being a profes- sional,” said Melisa Hamilton, one of the course instructors. The seminar culminated with the students organising a presentation to ICCI Presi- dent Byron Coon, Dean Bev- erly, course instructors, par- ents and supporters. The students also invited in- dustry professionals to hear presentations on their ex- perience and their take on how to apply the concepts covered to impacting or im- proving systems here in the Cayman Islands. Guest judges were also in- vited to provide feedback at the end of the presentation. The judges included Vane Vasiliev, systems consultant at KIRKISS; Conrad Britton, senior consultant at United Technologies; and Andrew Doussept, IT manager for the Cayman Islands Department of Judiciary Administration. ICCI advises that registration for the Fall Quarter is now open, and classes start on 30 Sept. ICCI students and instructors visit the Intel campus. The Cayman Islands National Robotics Team will travel to Dubai next month to compete in the FIRST Global Challenge. The team members, from left, are: Oscar Martinez, Grace Christian Academy; Adrian Phillips-Hernáez, student mentor, Cayman Prep and High School; Xaria Deosaran, Cayman Prep and High School; Caylem Hill, Cayman International School; Pierce Serrant, Cayman Islands Further Education Centre; Edmund Pileta, Clifton Hunter High School; Nilakni Jayasekera, St. Ignatius Catholic School; Kieran Finch, St. Ignatius Catholic School; Samuel White, John Gray High School; and Craig Maitland, Clifton Hunter High School. Missing from photo: Jack McGregor, Cayman International School.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 S ah, che THANK YOU TO OUR SILVER SPONSORS OCTOBER 5, 2019 The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman www.breastcancerfoundation.ky info@breastcancerfoundation.ky Featuring Special Guest Speaker Campaigners call for release of reports before referendum JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky With a referendum on the controversial cruise and cargo port project now looking inevitable, cam- paigners are calling for the release of detailed informa- tion about the project before a vote takes place. With the number of sig- natures required to trigger a public vote passing 99% Monday, the Cruise Port Ref- erendum Cayman campaign group is accelerating its preparations for a ballot. In an open letter to Pre- mier Alden McLaughlin, the group called for multiple re- ports on the project to be concluded and made public before the poll takes place. They are requesting that the revised designs, an up- dated environmental impact assessment, the final busi- ness case report and full details of the proposed fi- nancing arrangements with the Verdant Isle group are placed in the public domain. Neither the revised busi- ness case nor the final EIA has been completed at this stage. The Cayman Compass has previously requested the revised designs but has not yet received them. Gov- ernment did give details of the financial arrange- ments, which involves Ver- dant Isle charging a per- passenger fee for use of the port to help recover its an- ticipated $200 million invest- ment. Campaigners say there are still questions about how that process will work, and want more details to be made public. In their letter to the pre- mier, CPR Cayman wrote, “It is imperative that the Cay- manian people have the op- portunity to make a fully in- formed decision at the polls on the Government’s pro- posed cruise berthing facility, and we request your assur- ances that [this] information and [these] reports, at a min- imum, will be concluded and made public, sufficiently in advance of the referendum on this matter of significant na- tional importance.” It goes on to indicate that similar letters have been sent from CPR Cayman’s legal counsel to the Elections Of- fice, Governor Martyn Roper and the Attorney Gener- al’s Chambers. “We are sure that you and your Honourable Members of Cabinet will agree that holding our first People Initi- ated Referendum without full disclosure of all pertinent information to the voting public would be a miscar- riage of justice, failure of due diligence and set a dan- gerous precedent for par- ticipatory democracy in the Cayman Islands. “We look forward to your detailed reply and receiving a comprehensive break- down on the next steps in the People Initiated Referendum process with related details on the timelines of the pro- cess which will be directed by the Cabinet of the Cayman Islands Government.” In an open letter to Premier Alden McLaughlin, the group called for multiple reports on the project to be concluded and made public before the poll takes place. Tender boats wait to bring passengers back to their cruise ships in George Town. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe 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, 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. EverittMaud Dell, who passed away on Friday, September 06, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at the Savannah Seventh Day Adventist Church on Thursday, September 12, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Viewing: 2:00 –3:00 p.m. Interment at: Prospect Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com THURSDAY, 12 SEPT. LITTLE CAYMAN VEHICLE LICENSING: DVDL officers will visit the District Office in Little Cayman today from 9am to 2:30pm. SATURDAY, 14 SEPT. MEMORY CAFE: The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association is hosting a ‘Memory Cafe’ at South Sound Community Centre today. 10am to 1pm. FIDELITY FUN RUN: The second of an annual three- part series of 2-mile fun runs will be held today. The next one will be held on 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, $25 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. Proceeds will go to Bahamas hurricane relief. Register online at www.caymanactive.com/ registrations. Late registration on the day from 6:30-7:15am. SUNDAY, 15 SEPT. 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. BACK TO CHURCH: The William Pouchie Memorial United Church in North Side is inviting everyone to Back to Church Sunday today at 9am. All are welcome to attend at 815 North Side Road, North Side, Grand Cayman. MONDAY, 16 SEPT. PAINT FOR THE BAHAMAS: Art Nest Creative Studio is hosting a ‘paint and sip’ fundraiser, 7-10pm, for victims of Hurricane Dorian. For a $100 donation, participants can help create a communal painting of a lighthouse on Bahamas’ Paradise Island. The event takes place at the studio at 131 Centre, Maclendon Drive. Email Christina Pineda at director@artnestcayman.com for more details. TUESDAY, 17 SEPT. HURRICANE RECOVERY TALK: At the National Museum’s Audiovisual Theatre. 6pm. Part of the museum’s Speaker Series on ‘Ivan the Terrible: Fifteen Years Later’. $10 general public, $6 members. Refreshments provided. Email info@museum.ky for more details. NORTH SIDE SENIORS EVENT: The Department of Children and Family Services is coordinating activities throughout this month for seniors in the districts. Today, from 10am to 1pm, a Games and Craft event for seniors will be held at the North Side Civic Centre. Call Flavia Gardner on 926-0490 for more details. CAYMAN ISLANDS SEAFARERS ASSOCIATION: The Seafarers Association is holding its September social, starting at 7pm at the Seafarers Hall, 12 Victory Ave, Prospect. All attendees should wear their CISA shirts. Transport is available. Three buses will be leaving from West Bay Town Hall at 6pm. The Barnes bus route begins at George Town Public Library at 6:30pm. There will also be bus pickups from East End, and a bus marked ‘Bobo’, costing $1, making stops in George Town. Call Anthea de Carufel at 947-7378 for more details. WEDNESDAY, 18 SEPT. DRUG AWARENESS SESSION: The Department of Counselling Services is organising a ‘Talk Early, Talk Often: Drug Edition’ as part of Recovery Month activities. At the Family Resource Centre, 2nd floor, Apollo House West, Mary Street, George Town. 6-7:30pm. Learn how to talk to your children about drugs and alcohol. The workshop will provide parents with the skills and the age-appropriate language needed. NATIONAL TRUST AGM: The National Trust is inviting its members to the Annual General Meeting at the George Town Yacht Club today. The 2018/19 Annual Report and Financials will be presented, and members can vote for the 2019/20 Trust Council. Members unable to attend the meeting are encouraged to cast their vote by proxy. Proxy nominations must be received before 5pm, 16 Sept. Doors open at 5:30pm for registration and voting, with a 6:30pm start to the AGM. Drinks and canapes will be served. For more information, visit www.nationaltrust.org.ky. RSVP to info@nationaltrust.org.ky so the Trust can ensure a quorum. DVDL OFFICES CLOSED: All of the Department of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing offices will be closed today to facilitate a staff meeting, training and team building exercises. Members of the public are reminded that they can renew their vehicle’s licence online via DVDL’s website at www.dvdl.gov.ky or through the e-services portal www.eservices.gov.ky. THURSDAY, 19 SEPT. CONQUERING CANCER: The Cayman Islands Cancer Society presents ‘Conquering Cancer VI – Let’s Fight Cancer Together’, a three-day series of cancer awareness activities for health professionals and the general public, beginning today. This evening’s event at the Marriott resort will be for doctors, allied healthcare professionals and medical students. Four hours of continuing medical education credit. Health information and screenings will be provided. Today, the evening Speakers from Broward Health International, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Cleveland Clinic, CTMH Doctors Hospital, Health City Cayman Islands, Holy Cross Hospital, Memorial Healthcare Systems, Miami Cancer Institute Baptist Health South Florida and University of Miami Health Systems. Refreshments and registration at 5pm. Nine CME presentations from 5:30pm. DEBT COLLECTION COURSE: The Chamber of Commerce is hosting a two-hour course on ‘Debt Collection: How to Avoid and Collect Bad Debt’. Aimed at small businesses. 9-11am at Unit 4-107, Governors Square. $175 for members, $225 for future members. Visit the events page at www.caymanchamber.ky for more information. 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. DRESS PURPLE DAY: To mark World Alzheimer’s Day on Saturday, a Corporate Dress Purple Day is being held today. CONQUERING CANCER HEALTH FAIR: Aimed at providing doctors and allied healthcare professionals with an informative presentation by a visiting physician, who will be providing their expertise on cancer prevention and treatment. At the Health Services Authority. Noon to 2pm: Lunch and Learn/CME. SATURDAY, 21 SEPT. BRAC BRENDA TIBBETTS LUND 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; $10 registration for ages 8-adult, and free for under 8’s. The route will be out and back from the Brac Reef Resort. Register online at www.caymanactive.com. WORLD ALZHEIMER’S DAY: The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association will be holding an awareness session at Foster’s at The Strand from 8am to noon. Also, from 6-8pm, dementia training for caregivers will be held at Jasmine on West Bay Road. CONQUERING CANCER HEALTH FAIR: This free event is designed to bring new and innovative ways of screening, diagnosing and treating cancer. Attendees can also avail themselves of free health screenings for glucose levels, blood pressure, BMI and cholesterol, and free healthy food samplings. Refreshments will be provided. Open to members of the public of all ages. Featuring more than 30 exhibitors, including nine visiting hospitals, with giveaways and health information. 8:30am to 2pm, at the Marriott resort. 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 day before, on Saturday, 21 Sept., 7-11am at the Lions Community Centre, Crewe Road. Pre-registration at 6am on day of run. TUESDAY, 24 SEPT. SENIORS EVENTS: The Department of Children and Family Services is coordinating activities throughout this month for seniors in the districts. Today, a ‘Young at Heart’ event will be hosted by Cayman Islands Baptist Church on Pedro Castle Road, from 10am to 1pm. Call Carol Bodden on 924-3309 for more details. Also, today, from 10am to 1pm, a Games and Craft event for North Side seniors will be held at the North Side Civic Centre. Call Flavia Gardner on 926-0490 for more details. HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE: The three-day Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference begins today at The Ritz-Carlton, with welcome remarks and a presentation by Dr. C James Hospedales on ‘Caribbean public health, past and future: A key ingredient in economic development’. 5-7:30pm, followed by a cocktail reception. Registration is now closed as the venue capacity has been reached. Visit www.healthcareconference.ky for more details and agenda. SUNDAY, 29 SEPT. LIGHT THE SKY RED: Camana Bay and the Cayman Heart Fund are joining forces to mark World Heart Day. The sky above Camana Bay will turn red at 6-9pm. And people are encouraged to wear red. THURSDAY, 3 OCT. PIANO RECITAL: As part of Cayman Arts Festival, UK pianist Martin Roscoe will be performing at St. George’s Anglican Church, 6:30-8:30pm. Tickets: US$75 for family package (2 adults, 2 students); US$35 for adults; US$10 for students. Email enquiries@caymanartsfestival. com or call 922-5550 for more details. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. To help raise funds for victims of Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, Art Nest is inviting participants on 16 Sept. to help create a communal painting inspired by this original artwork, ‘Lighthouse at Paradise Island’, by British painter Judi Leblanc.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 street lighting across the is- lands, build numerous public buildings and purchase the Cayman Turtle Farm. A farmer himself, he pushed to modernise farming practices in Cayman, revitalised the an- nual agriculture show and helped procure the grounds where the show is now held. His children said, despite all that, he still found time for his family. Former MLA Heather Bodden read letters written by McLean’s children for the occasion. “He always made time for us. He would regularly take us fishing and, on weekends, to the beach,” one of the let- ters read. “He taught us to be go getters. One of his fa- vourite sayings was, ‘The sky’s the limit.’” “We salute you,” the letter continued. “You were a great person and a great fa- ther figure. Sleep peacefully, Daddy. Sleep peacefully.” Von Kanel acknowl- edged the family’s grief, but said they and others should find comfort in the way that McLean ended life. “He finished well,” Von Kanel said. “Throughout the final days of his life, he dis- played a remarkable tenacity of faith and hope and love. His final gift to his family was those three things.” He recalled shaking McLean’s hand during his final hours and feeling the “strength of a farmer” in his grip. McLean, he said, was known for his positive at- titude, which was often ex- pressed in a thumbs up ges- ture, the same gesture he gave to Von Kanel on that last day. “That’s the way to die,” the minister said, “full of faith, full of hope and full of love.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 McLean honoured for his impact on Cayman Grenda Solomon sings during the funeral service for former MLA John McLean on Tuesday. - PHOTOS: ALVARO SEREY From left, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson, Premier Alden McLaughlin and Governor Martyn Roper were among the dignitaries attending John McLean’s funeral. A motorcade departs from the Cayman Islands Baptist Church following Tuesday’s funeral service. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY Family members share an emotional moment prior to funeral services for former MLA John McLean at the Cayman Islands Baptist Church. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS Members of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service honour guard fold the Cayman flag that draped the casket. - PHOTO: MARK MUCKENFUSS Premier Alden McLaughlin speaks at former MLA John McLean’s funeral, Tuesday in Savannah.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS they be moved. Other residents raised concerns about the prox- imity of the resort’s two waste water treatment plants to their properties, and the impact of noise and traffic from the hotel on what they consider a quiet residen- tial district. Kerry Forbes, one of the objectors, told the Central Planning Authority that the tranquillity of the area would be lost if the resort project goes ahead. “We need to take a step back and realise this is not just about today, but it is about the future, for genera- tions to come,” she said. “Who are we developing for? “This is my country. I love it and I don’t want to see it destroyed completely.” While some objectors were opposed entirely to the resort, others requested tweaks to the design to lessen the impact on sur- rounding residences. Several were concerned about the proximity of ‘back of house’ operations build- ings to their properties. Chris Saunders, MLA for Bodden Town West, said he believed the community was generally in support of some development in the area. But he suggested more should have been done to work with the residents and factor in their concerns. “There is no objection against a development there,” he said. “It is the size and scale and the type of develop- ment that is causing concern.” He said the island needs to be open to investment but outlined his belief that devel- opers should work in part- nership with the community in the planning stages. Spencer Levine, of RAL Development Services, and local architect Andrew Gibb, representing developer Melkonian Capital Manage- ment, outlined some of the features of the development in a presentation to the plan- ning authority. Levine insisted it would not be a “big box”-style de- sign that sought to maximise unit size. Though he acknowl- edged the two main buildings topped out at nine stories, he said they “feathered down” in a staggered design that mim- icked the action of a wave. Asked if the developer would consider reducing the building height, Gibb said the design was fundamental to the concept. “We believe it is part of the experience that guests are prepared to drop in ex- cess of $2,000-a-day RevPAR [revenue per available room] for,” he said. At the conclusion of the meeting, Levine and Gibb said they had listened to the input of the residents and were willing to consider “re- fining” the development. One area where there did not seem to be flexibility, however, is the properties on the beach. The design includes several beach cottages, a pool and a walkway that the De- partment of Environment rec- ommended be moved. Levine said the beach properties were a small but important part of the design. He said Mandarin Oriental was an eco-sensitive hotelier and the developer would work with the DoE to meet the guidelines for beach- front property. The Central Planning Authority was also sifting through around 30 letters of objection to the plan from neighbouring residents, sub- mitted in advance of Wednes- day’s meeting. Residents in Cedar Valley expressed concerns about the source of funding for the pro- ject, and whether there were any guarantees that it would be completed, “The development on a smaller scale has been trying to get off the ground for years and despite huge concessions from government has just never got anywhere. Have any checks been made to verify the developers have the wherewithal to complete the project in a timely manner?” The Central Planning Authority was expected to announce its decision by Thursday. team deals with finan- cial crime cases including money laundering, tax crimes, and embezzlement. The anti-money laundering expert has represented Sweden at several Finan- cial Action Task Force ple- naries and he was the law enforcement FATF assessor for Austria. “I am pleased to join the National Coordination Team, and to work with Cayman’s broader CFATF response team across the public and private sectors that is fulfilling the Islands’ global anti-money laun- dering, countering the fi- nancing of terrorism, and proliferation financing commitments,” Tibbling said in a press release. Lees noted that the FATF, in its April 2017 re- port on Sweden’s anti- money laundering regime, had positive words to say about SECA’s work. “The FATF said that SECA, as a specialised in- vestigation and prosecu- tion agency focused on economic crimes, repre- sents the gold standard of expertise and investiga- tion in economic crimes, using innovative tech- niques,” she said in the re- lease. “Cayman is therefore pleased that Mr. Tibbling is assisting us.” The current focus for the National Coordination Team, in cooperation with the Anti-Money Laundering Unit, is on drafting a first follow-up report to inform the CFATF of Cayman’s progress in meeting the actions recommended in March by the regional affil- iate of the global standard setting body. The report is due to be delivered to the CFATF on 24 Sept. In the press release, the government said several key developments that will be mentioned in the up- date report include the es- tablishment of Cayman’s Financial Crimes Focus Group, of a ministerial sub- committee and of the Su- pervisors’ Forum. The Financial Crimes Focus Group, which is chaired by the director of public prosecutions, en- sures that intelligence, law enforcement and prosecu- torial agencies work effec- tively by developing multi- agency policy and guidance for detecting, investigating and prosecuting finan- cial crimes, according to government. The Cabinet-level min- isterial subcommittee over- sees the anti-money laun- dering progress, while the supervisors’ forum, chaired by the Cayman Is- lands Monetary Authority, provides an environment for sharing information among agencies. It is also responsible for the compliance of fi- nancial institutions, non- profits and certain non-fi- nancial businesses and professionals, such as ac- countants, who are sub- ject to anti-money laun- dering laws. In the first week of Sep- tember, CIMA hosted AML training provided by the FATF Training and Research Institute for government agencies and the industry- regulating bodies Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association and the Cayman Islands Institute of Profes- sional Accountants. Lees said Cayman is in the process of carrying out AML assessments of risks in certain specific sectors, as recommended in the CFTAF mutual evaluation report, to better align its re- gime to higher-risk areas. To assist with this risk assessment, consultants Fi- nancial Transparency Ad- visors returned to Cayman on 26 Aug., for a week of workshops involving var- ious government agencies and ministries. Also in August, the De- partment for Commerce and Investment, General Registry and the Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association held several awareness sessions for jew- ellers and precious metal dealers, realtors, non- profits and lawyers. CIMA will hold another session on Friday, 13 Sept. for banks, and trust and corporate service providers. Lees said the response from all participants had been strong. “Government’s leadership on policy and legislation also has been strong and decisive,” she said, “and the private sec- tor’s support in promoting effectiveness – including via the Cayman Islands Com- pliance Association, and Cayman Finance – has been robust as well.” Theology programme welcomes students Cayman’s Centre for The- ological and Leadership Training is recommencing this month for the autumn semester with three path- ways available to students. The training centre’s di- rector, the Rt. Reverend P.J. Lawrence, explained that for the first time, the non-de- nominational programme will offer three levels of training: a certificate, a di- ploma and a bachelor of arts degree in theology. All three levels are open to students. The non-profit has contin- uously expanded its educa- tional offerings since it began with a three-semester certifi- cation course in 2017. “The programme has pro- gressed very well. We have very committed, dedicated students who are willing to learn, who are trying despite a very long, full-day’s work. They come in the evenings, they come on the weekends with great interest. They have shown great excite- ment in learning new things,” Lawrence said. “It is a sort of edifica- tion programme where we combine all of these things in terms of Bible, ministry, counselling and how to ad- minister to people in need. It is an integrated approach. It is a holistic approach.” Degree classes are held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 7-9pm at Triple C School in George Town. The centre celebrated its second commencement in June at the Church of God of Prophecy on Eastern Avenue. Nearly 30 students graduated with a diploma in theological leadership and more than a dozen graduated with a certif- icate in theological leadership. For more information on the centre and to view its prospectus, visit www.ctlt.ky, or email info@ctlt.ky for details. Graduates gather in June at the Church of God of Prophecy. - PHOTO: SUBMITTED Neighbours outline objections to Beach Bay resort CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 A developer is applying to build a $167 million resort that would feature two nine-storey buildings and an assortment of villas and cottages. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Swedish anti-money laundering expert to support Cayman Tibbling arrived in Cayman on Monday, 26 Aug., and will assist the government through May 2020, said Elisabeth Lees, national coordinator for Cayman’s Anti- Money Laundering Steering Group.The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 Canada’s Trudeau begins reelection bid Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has launched his reelection campaign ahead of a close 21 Oct. vote. Polls say the opposition Conservative party is running close to Trudeau’s Liberals. UK court rules PM Johnson’s suspension of Parliament unlawful Desperation mounts in Bahamas as shelters turn evacuees away NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) – Des‑ peration mounted in the Ba‑ hamas on Tuesday as hur‑ ricane survivors arriving in the capital by boat and plane were turned away from over‑ flowing shelters. As government officials gave assurances at a news conference that more shelters would be opened as needed, Julie Green and her family gathered outside the head‑ quarters of the island’s emer‑ gency management agency, seeking help. “We need a shelter desper‑ ately,” the 35‑year‑old former waitress from Great Abaco said as she cradled one of her 7‑month‑old twins on her hip, his little face furrowed. Nearby, her husband held the other twin boy as their four other children wandered listlessly nearby. One kept crying despite receiving com‑ forting hugs. Hurricane Dorian devas‑ tated the Abaco and Grand Bahama islands in the northern part of the archi‑ pelago a week ago, leaving at least 50 dead, with the toll certain to rise as the search for bodies goes on. Nearly 5,000 people have arrived in Nassau by plane and by boat, and many were struggling to start new lives, unclear of how or where to begin. More than 2,000 of them were staying in shel‑ ters, according to govern‑ ment figures. Green said that shelter officials told her they could not accept such young chil‑ dren, and that the family has slept in the home of a dif‑ ferent person every night since arriving Friday in New Providence, the island where Nassau is situated. “We’re just exhausted,” she said. “We’re just walking up and down, asking people if they know where we can stay.” Erick Noel, a 37‑year‑old landscaper from Abaco with a wife and four children, found himself in the same situation. They will have to leave a friend’s house by Wednesday and had not yet found a shelter where they could stay. “They are full, full, full,” he said. “I keep looking for a place to go.” He said he found one small home for his family in Nassau but could not afford the $900 monthly rent. Un‑ deterred, Noel said he would keep searching. Meanwhile, government officials said they were helping all evacuees and con‑ sidering building temporary housing, perhaps tent or con‑ tainer cities. “We are dealing with a disaster,” said Carl Smith, spokesman for the Bahamas’ National Emergency Manage‑ ment Agency. “It takes time to move through the chaos. We are responding to the needs.” The government has estimated that up to 10,000 people from the Abacos alone will need food, water and temporary housing. Getting back to Abaco is the dream of Betty Edmond, a 43‑year‑old cook who picked at some fries with her son and husband in a restau‑ rant at a Nassau hotel, where her nephew is paying for their stay. They arrived in Nassau on Saturday night after a six‑ hour boat trip from Abaco and plan to fly to Florida on Wednesday, thanks to plane tickets bought by friends who will provide them a tem‑ porary home until they can find jobs. But the goal is to return, Edmond said. Also flying to Florida was 41‑year‑old Shaneka Rus‑ sell, who owned Smacky’s Takeaway, a takeout restau‑ rant known for its cracked conch. The restaurant, named after the noises her son made as a baby, was de‑ stroyed by Dorian. Russell said good Sa‑ maritans had taken her and a group of people into their home over the weekend and found them a hotel room in Nassau for a couple of days. The nearby island of Eleuthera also was taking in evacuees as unmet needs keep growing, said Sadye Francis, director of a non‑ profit organisation. “There are still others that have nowhere to go,” she said. “The true depth of the dev‑ astation in Abaco and Grand Bahama is still unfolding. LONDON (AP) – A Scot‑ tish court dealt another blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans Wednesday, ruling that his decision to suspend Parlia‑ ment less than two months before the UK is due to leave the European Union was an unlawful attempt to avoid democratic scrutiny. The government immedi‑ ately said it would appeal, as the political opposition de‑ manded Johnson reverse the suspension and recall law‑ makers to Parliament. With Brexit due in 50 days, the court ruling deepened Britain’s political deadlock. Johnson insists the country must leave the EU on 31 Oct., with or without a di‑ vorce deal to smooth the way. But many lawmakers fear a no‑deal Brexit would be eco‑ nomically devastating, and are determined to stop him. In a surprise judgment, justices at Scotland’s highest civil court said the govern‑ ment’s action was illegal “be‑ cause it had the purpose of stymieing Parliament”. But the Court of Session judges said Britain’s Supreme Court must make the final decision at a hearing next week. Johnson claims he shut down the legislature this week so that he can start afresh on his domestic agenda at a new session of Parliament next month. But the five‑week suspension also gives him a respite from re‑ bellious lawmakers as he plots his next move to break the political impasse over Brexit and lead Britain out of the EU by 31 Oct., “do or die”. The Scottish judges said, “The only inference that could be drawn was that the UK government and the prime minister wished to re‑ strict Parliament.” They ruled that the sus‑ pension, known as proroga‑ tion, was “null and of no ef‑ fect”, but referred the matter to the Supreme Court for res‑ olution. A hearing there is due to begin Tuesday. Catherine Haddon, a senior fellow at independent think‑tank the Institute for Government, tweeted that the ruling “does not (yet) change the prorogation itself. Though of course will add to pressure.” Opposition politicians, however, insisted that the government must recall Par‑ liament. Lawmakers were sent home this week de‑ spite the objections of House of Commons Speaker John Bercow and opposition law‑ makers, who held up signs in the chamber saying “Silenced”. “He should do the right thing now, which is to re‑ open Parliament, let us back to do our job and to decide what to do next,” said La‑ bour Party Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer. Dominic Grieve, one of 21 lawmakers kicked out of the Conservative group in Parlia‑ ment by Johnson last week after voting against the gov‑ ernment, said it was pos‑ sible the prime minister had misled Queen Elizabeth II – whose formal approval is needed to suspend Parlia‑ ment – about his motives. He said if that turned out to be true, the prime minister would have to “resign – and very swiftly”. The court ruling came after more than 70 opposition lawmakers challenged the government’s decision shut down Parliament until 14 Oct. – just over two weeks before Britain is due to leave the EU. With a no‑deal Brexit looming, rebel members of the governing Conservatives joined with the opposition to deliver a series of blows to Johnson in the days before Parliament was suspended. They passed a law that or‑ ders the government to seek a three‑month delay to Brexit if no agreement has been reached by late October, and rejected Johnson’s call for a snap general election. Britain’s 2016 decision to leave the European Union has left the country’s poli‑ tics gridlocked and tested to the limit the UK’s largely un‑ written constitution. Both the Conservatives and main opposition Labour Party are divided over Brexit, and voters of all stripes are fed up. Johnson, one of the leaders of the 2016 ‘leave’ campaign, is trying to deliver Brexit and counter an elec‑ toral threat from the newly founded Brexit Party. Its leader Nigel Farage took out newspaper ads Wednesday, offering an electoral pact with the Conservatives if Johnson backed a “clean break” – a no‑deal Brexit. But Johnson’s office said “the PM will not be doing a deal with Nigel Farage”. Labour is caught between those who want to go through with Brexit – albeit a softer version – and a faction that wants to reverse the decision. Leader Jeremy Corbyn says the party will nego‑ tiate a new and improved withdrawal agreement with the EU. But his deputy, Tom Watson, argued Wednesday that there is “no such thing as a good Brexit deal” and Labour should campaign to remain in the bloc. Johnson says he wants to strike a new deal with the bloc after the agreement made by his predecessor Theresa May was rejected three times by Britain’s Parliament. But EU officials say the UK has made no concrete proposals. German Chancellor An‑ gela Merkel said Wednesday that “we still have a chance to achieve this in an or‑ derly way”, but that Germany was also prepared for a no‑ deal Brexit. With Brexit due in 50 days, the court ruling deepened Britain’s political deadlock. Nearly 5,000 people have arrived in Nassau by plane and by boat, and many were struggling to start new lives, unclear of how or where to begin. Hurricane survivors in the Bahamas arriving in the capital Nassau are finding shelters are full. – PHOTO: AP Lord Carloway, Scotland’s most senior judge, speaks at a court in Edinburgh, Scotland, Wednesday, after ruling that Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend the UK Parliament was unlawful. – PHOTO: APNext >