ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2019 High of 90 Low of 78 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. LOCAL | PAGE 2 MAN SHOT IN GEORGE TOWN LOCAL | PAGE 5 POLICE SEIZE 400 POUNDS OF GANJA $ 3 99 M EAL D EALS MONDAY - SATURDAY 9pcs MIXED , 2 Sides & 5 BISCUITS NEW FAMILY SUNDAY Drama society holds opening night of ‘Into the Woods’ Cinderella (Melody Allenger) leads the cast in song during a performance of the Cayman Drama Society’s latest production, ‘Into the Woods’. The show opened on Thursday night and will continue on selected evenings, with one matinee, until 5 Oct. The show, based on the book by James Lapine, and with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, delivers plenty of action, comedy, drama and music. For a full review, see page 10. - PHOTO: SHEREE EBANKS Former John Gray teacher completes Mongol Rally ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Former John Gray High School teacher Edward ‘Ted’ Todd, was regaining his strength over the weekend in the city of Ulan-Ude in Siberia, Russia, after completing the arduous 11,000-mile Mongol Rally. The road journey is described by organ- isers The Adventurists as “the greatest mo- toring adventure on the planet”. The rally, which launched in 2006 and takes drivers across the ‘Old Silk Road’, began this year in the Czech Republic on 22 July. There are no defined routes, so drivers are SCIENTISTS WARN PORT PROJECT WILL IMPACT SEVEN MILE BEACH JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The Central Caribbean Marine Institute has urged Cayman to “consider the long lasting impacts” of the cruise port development and warned it will affect Seven Mile Beach. As the Cayman Islands heads for a refer- endum on the development, the Little Cayman- based research centre entered the debate, issuing a statement Friday warning of long- term impacts for the island’s environment. The statement also cast doubt on the likely effectiveness of any coral reloca- tion programme. “The proposed dock construction will dis- rupt an entire ecosystem by removing the corals and sand,” it said. “CCMI is concerned about the detrimental impacts to Seven Mile Beach and the coral reef ecosystem in the George Town area, and CABINET TO BEGIN DRAFTING PORT REFERENDUM BILL Bill will determine date and question JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Government will seek to hold the ref- erendum on the cruise and cargo port “as quickly as possible”, Premier Alden McLaughlin has said. The Cayman Compass understands a poll could be held as early as mid-November. Cab- inet will begin drafting a bespoke bill paving the way for the public vote this week. Campaigners reached a historic milestone last week after the Elections Office confirmed they had met the threshold of obtaining signa- tures from 25% of registered voters to force a people-initiated referendum. McLaughlin dismissed concerns that gov- ernment would seek to “duck the referendum” by arguing the issue was not one of ‘national importance’, a requirement of the Constitution for such referendums. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Ted Todd stops for a selfie in the middle of the Gobi desert, with his Team Turtle car in the background.2 LOCAL®IONAL MONDAY, 16 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) SUN: 4:35 I 7:15 CAPTAIN MARVEL(PG13) 1:40 I 10:00 (NO SAT) SUN: 6:30 I 10:00 THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (R) 1:10 VIP I 4:35 I 7:00 VIP I 10:15 HELLBOY (R) 12:35 (SAT ONLY) I 1:00 I 6:10 (SAT ONLY) I 6:45 SHAZAM! (PG13) 1:30 I 3:40 VIP I 7:15 I 9:30 VIP SUN: 3:40 VIP I 4:40 I 6:40 VIP 8:00 I 9:40 VIP KIDS CLUB: OVER THE HEDGE (PG) 10:00 (SAT ONLY) CULTURE AT THE CINEMA: THE TRAGEDY OF KIND RICHARD THE SECOND(R18) SAT ONLY: 8:00 • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) HUSTLERS (R) 1:30 | 4:10 | 6:50 | 10:15 VIP IT: CHAPTER TWO (R) 2:00 VIP | 3:20 | 6:35 VIP | 7:30 | 9:30 GOLDFINCH, THE (R) 1:00 | 4:40 | 8:00 ANGEL HAS FALLEN (R) 12:30 | 4:20 | 7:10 | 10:00 F&F HOBBS & SHAW (PG13) 1:15 | 10:00 CHHICHLORE (PG) 12:45 | 4:00 | 7:00 Iguana cull warning as stray shot hits home DoE pulls 500 feet of dumped rope out of sea MAN SHOT IN GEORGE TOWN MAN BADLY INJURED IN THREE-CAR COLLISION CORRECTION Department of Environment officers in Cayman Brac pulled this pile of rope and garbage out of the sea last week. The homemade float, on the left, was made from plastic bottles and tied to an object far below the water’s surface, according to a posting on the DoE’s Facebook page. As well as the plastic trash, the officers also recovered 500 feet of discarded rope. A man suffered a se- rious injury after being shot Friday evening in George Town. The incident took place on Sound Way. The man’s injuries are not believed to be life threatening. He was re- ported as being in stable condition on Sunday. Police said they re- sponded to reports of shots fired just after 9pm. Sound Way, between the Shedden Road junc- tion and Whitman Seymour Road junction, was closed to A man was in critical condition in hospital fol- lowing a three-vehicle col- lision on Shamrock Road Saturday night. The victim, who had to be cut free from his vehicle by emergency crews, suf- fered serious, potentially life-threatening injuries, in the crash around 8.30pm. One of the drivers in- volved in the collision, a 31-year-old man, was ar- rested on suspicion of DUI and later bailed as the in- vestigation continues. Police closed off the road to traffic between Valley Drive and Will T Drive overnight to pre- serve the scene for ac- cident reconstruction to take place. The roadway was re- opened Sunday. A Cayman Compass article titled ‘OneTRADEx clients told to expect a loss’ published on Friday, 13 Sept., noted that cli- ents should expect to lose less than 10% of their ac- count holdings at the dis- count broker. However, according to the provisional liqui- dator Kenneth Krys, this statement was only made in reference to a hypo- thetical scenario, where a consensual agreement is reached with minimal legal cost and everyone shares costs and losses on a pro-rata basis. It was not an estimate of actual loss, nor was it intended to reflect what clients of OneTRADEx might expect to lose. The article also stated that the provisional liq- uidators are billing US$800 an hour. However, Krys’s personal rate is US$820. Lower rates are charged by the other pro- visional liquidator and team members. Krys also clarified that client assets may, in fact, not have been segregated. Some client funds were commingled and company monies and client monies were commingled in some accounts. JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The window of a Grand Cayman home was shat- tered by a stray shot, be- lieved to be from a green iguana cull team, prompting a new safety warning over the ongoing cull. Police issued a reminder of the rules and regulations to all cullers using air rifles to hunt the invasive species fol- lowing the incident last week. Real estate broker Paul Young told the Cayman Com- pass he heard shots when he was sitting outside one late afternoon and later found the damage to his balcony window. Green iguana cullers were working in a nearby ca- nalside community off the North Sound. Young said he was con- cerned that someone could have been hurt. He said he had reported the incident to the police, the Department of Environment and the iguana cull manager. He said the police officers who visited the scene had indicated the damage was likely from a rifle shot. “I guess the iguanas are getting harder to find and they are coming closer to res- idential areas, but my con- cern is that someone could be hit,” he said. “If this stray shot had hit one of the family members or one of my dogs, it would have been a very different story. We need to get on top of this quickly.” Police and the Department of Environment issued a re- minder to registered cullers and the public highlighting the requirements and respon- sibilities of cullers following the incident. It stated that all iguana cullers who are using fire- arms are required to place signs prominently in the area where they will be dis- charging the firearm. They are also required to wear a high- visibility vest identifying them as an iguana culler. The statement added, “Any culler using an air rifle must have a valid firearms license issued by the RCIPS. Simply having a culling licence does not automatically entitle you to use an air rifle.” All iguana cullers must secure permission from prop- erty owners before entering onto any private property to conduct a cull, whether or not they are using an air rifle, officials said. The RCIPS and DoE are also encouraging members of the public to contact the po- lice if they witness any culler who is in breach of these requirements. Licensed cullers have killed more than 900,000 green iguanas since the cull began in October last year. “ I guess the iguanas are getting harder to find and they are coming closer to residential areas, but my concern is that someone could be hit.” PAUL YOUNG The window of Paul Young’s home was hit by a stray bullet. Firefighters had to cut free a man trapped inside this car following Saturday night’s collision. FIRE AT HOSPITAL IN BRAZIL KILLS 11 RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) – A fire raced through a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, forcing staff to wheel patients into the streets on stretchers or in wheelchairs and killing at least 11 people, many of them elderly. Four firefighters were hos- pitalised after battling the overnight blaze at Badim Hos- pital and about 90 patients were transferred to other hos- pitals, the fire department said. A rope made from bed- sheets and used in an attempt to escape the fire still hung from an upper floor window of the hospital Friday. Most victims died of as- phyxiation as smoke filled the wards, and some died when life support equip- ment stopped working in the fire, said Gabriela Graça, di- rector of the state Institute of Forensic Medicine. When firefighters arrived, they evacuated people but it was more difficult to move patients who were hooked up to medical equipment, ac- cording to reports. Camila Donato, a police spokeswoman, said police were cleared by firefighters to enter the hospital Friday morning and had begun in- vestigating the case.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2019 We may look different, but we haven’t changed who we are. “We Care” has always been at the core of our identity. Removing those words from our branding would be equivalent to erasing our existence. We’re still the same company built on family values, integrity, honesty, and community spirit that you've gotten to know over the years. www.fosters.ky | @fosterscaymanThe 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” MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Thank you, Cayman Please permit us the use of your editorial column to express our profound grat- itude to the Cayman com- munity as a whole for the generous outpouring of in- itiatives and donations for the victims of Hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas. Sunday, 1 Sept. 2019 is a day that will not soon be forgotten in the hearts and minds of Bahamians and onlookers as Hurricane Do- rian launched a swath of destruction on the Bahama Islands of Abaco (Marsh Harbour) and Grand Ba- hama (Freeport). The Bahamas is an ar- chipelago of 700 islands, cays and reefs and is home to a population of approxi- mately 350,000 people; its main source of revenue is tourism. The popular city of Nassau, its capital, holds a sizeable percentage of the Bahamas’ total popula- tion and is also the centre of commerce. The islands of Abaco, with a pre-existing popula- tion of about 17,000 people, are regarded as the boating/yachting capital of the Bahamas. Grand Bahama’s popula- tion was last estimated at around 50,000 people, and had a reputation for being focussed on industries. As a result of the passage of Hurricane Dorian, the economies of both Abaco and Grand Bahama, moreso Abaco, have been crippled indefinitely. Similarly, the lives of the victims of Hurricane Do- rian, especially Abaconians, have also been disfigured mentally, emotionally and financially. Fortunately, the international response to- wards the Bahamas has been exceptional! In time, it is our prayer that the do- nated resources will be wisely and effectively man- aged to repair the dam- aged lives of the victims, together with the infra- structure of the Abaco and Grand Bahama landscapes, in the shortest possible time frame. In the interim, the Ba- hamians residing in the Cayman Islands remain forever grateful to its gov- ernment and people and also to the charitable, re- ligious, private and public sectors within the Cayman community for their imme- diate and outstanding acts of kindness and compassion shown towards our fellow countrymen in Abaco and Grand Bahama. Bahamas Association of Cayman BARS, RESTAURANTS NOT RECYCLING CANS During a recent visit to the Department of Environ- mental Health’s recycling facility, it came as no sur- prise that the largest per- centage of aluminium cans placed in recycling, apart from soda cans, are in- deed beer cans. What did come as a surprise, and a huge dis- appointment, was learning that the majority of these cans are placed into re- cycling bins by members of the general public, be it residents or visitors, from their private con- sumption and NOT from local vendors (bars, restau- rants, etc.) It was disheartening to learn that a large per- centage of these estab- lishments do not in any way recycle the aluminium cans sold and consumed on their premises. One of the excuses given to the DEH representative was that the staff were too busy to separate the cans and they had no man- power to deliver them to a recycling bin in the area. What a poor and irrespon- sible excuse! If nothing else, I hope that, moving forward, pa- trons of such facilities will become more responsible and take a stand against purchasing these items and/or frequenting these premises when they dis- cover the negligent attitude taking place by these busi- ness owners. There is only one Cayman Islands. There is only one Earth. So play your part in being more ed- ucated and more respon- sible for saving both – one aluminium can at a time. Philippa Walsh Headache with South Sound traffic What’s going on with the South Sound traffic? The Hur- ley’s roundabout is the tightest bottleneck on the island, and they have narrowed the round about from two lanes to one? Why? Obviously, the people making the decision to reduce the lanes in the roundabout don’t live in East End. Jody McFarland Thoughts on the cruise port I, amongst many, am temporarily breathing a sigh of relief to have a bit more time to help ease the anxiety of watching pris- tine reefs that hold un- imaginable marine wild- life, get annihilated. We can’t bear the thought of this happening. I suggest government officials snorkel or dive these reefs before making these decisions. I am not a native Cay- manian. I am speaking for my family of five who have invested 10 years of our one big vacation a year in Grand Cayman. We have daydreamed of one day af- fording a place here to have as our own. We are nature lovers, sun worshippers and foodies. We are driven to this island of paradise by nostalgia and pure love every summer. We have raised our chil- dren there, our youngest now 13, has known this is- land since she was 3. It’s our happy place. After leaving this past June, we chatted with a few friends about the new port, the increasing traffic jams, the high-rises and the new buildings being built that look out of place on Seven Mile Beach. The new port is our big- gest concern and a disaster we are hoping is avoided. The expanded port may line pockets, but it will be a disaster for the is- land long term. More people equals more problems with space. Grand Cayman is not a big island. The island will start to de- teriorate, if it hasn’t already begun to do so. I see by the thousands of signatures, the people of Grand Cayman feel the is- land is worth saving as well. Will the government listen to their voices, or will the sound of money drown them out? So much is at stake here. Not only will the marine life and environment be jeopard- ised, but what was once a peaceful and magical island has become overcrowded with tourists and cars. I’ve never seen an island with a skyline before, yet this one is growing one at an alarming pace. Vacationers come to Grand Cayman looking to escape the city and what comes with it, but the island is slowly turning into the same environment they wish to escape from. Europe is experiencing over-tourism, is this the fate of Grand Cayman as well? This little magical place, with the friendly, smiling residents is fading. It seems as if the government is de- termined to create some- thing that simply doesn’t make sense to the people who love the island for what it already is. It’s heartbreaking to see the litter, the traffic, and the number of cruisers that stop just to say they’ve been. Why is so much being sacrificed for the people who come off the ships for a mere few hours out of the day? What about the voice of the people who have made the island their second home? I know many fami- lies who visit every year, and the amount of money in- vested into their vacations is staggering. We just celebrated our 100th night on the island in June, (total is now 113) and have over the years spent so much more than the cruiser coming to port for one single day. We get to experience and love the island’s restaurants, the attractions, the tours, and explore all corners of the is- land every chance we get. For a family of five, it is extremely expensive, but we feel worth every cent to be able to experience the beauty of Grand Cayman. How long will it last? We are saddened at the rapid growth and negligent decisions being made. I am cheering for the proud people of Grand Cayman to stand strong, they have so much worth fighting for. Jennifer Arney, Chicago, USA Play your part in being more educated and more responsible for saving both – one aluminium can at a time.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2019 Police seize 400 pounds of ganja Police seized more than 400 pounds of ganja, with a street value of $400,000, after stopping a vessel at sea on Saturday morning. According to a Royal Cayman Islands Police Service statement, the Joint Marine Unit on the Motor Vessel M. Luke and the Air Operations Unit were conducting maritime border patrols on the north‑ east coast of Grand Cayman when they came across a boat with two men on board. “The captain of the vessel caught sight of the MV M. Luke and proceeded to speed off in the opposite direction. This aroused the suspicion of the officers who then fol‑ lowed the vessel with emer‑ gency lights and sirens. The vessel was stopped shortly after and searched by the of‑ ficers present,” police said. When the police officers searched the boat, they found eight large bags filled with packages containing ganja. A 34‑year‑old man from West Bay and a 35‑year‑old man from George Town were arrested on suspicion of im‑ portation of ganja and other related offences. Both men remained in police custody over the weekend, pending further in‑ vestigations, police said. When the police officers searched the boat, they found eight large bags filled with packages containing ganja. Police supplied this photograph of one of the eight bags containing ganja packages. Sentencing of cocaine-dealing pimp delayed ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Delays in the Summary Court sentencing of a con‑ victed cocaine dealer, Wayne Carlos Myles, means he will have wait until October to learn his fate. In June this year, Myles was convicted by Magis‑ trate Kirsty‑Ann Gunn on two charges of possession of co‑ caine with intent to supply, one charge of possession of cocaine, and one charge of being concerned in the pos ‑ session of cocaine and ganja. On Monday, 3 Sept., an in‑ itial sentencing hearing was held. During that hearing, Crown prosecutor Kerri‑ Ann Gillies told Magistrate Gunn, Myles was due to be sentenced for “substan‑ tial dealing”, which occurred over a period of one year and nine months. Gillies said police uncov‑ ered more than 600 messages between Myles and several other people relating to dif‑ ferent types and quantities of drugs, as well as drop‑off and pick‑up points. On Friday, 13 Sept., a second sentencing hearing was held, and once again the matter was delayed. At the centre of the delays is a dispute over the amount of cocaine Myles is said to have sold. To resolve the dis‑ pute once and for all, both the prosecution and the de‑ fence requested a further adjournment. “The Crown is seeking an adjournment of this matter to discuss the schedules and to come to an agreement as to the amount of cocaine Myles is thought to have supplied,” said Gillies. Echoing her sentiments, defence attorney Oliver Grimwood added, “We be‑ lieve it is beneficial to the sentencing proceedings that the defence, along with the Crown and the police have a joint conference, review the matter and then return with agreed facts. The issues still left in dispute would ulti‑ mately be for Your Honour to decide.” Initial indications by the prosecution placed the amount of cocaine sup‑ plied by Myles between 270 grammes and 600 grammes. In March this year, Myles was also convicted in the Grand Court on several charges of living off the earn‑ ings of prostitution and at‑ tempting to do so. Myles’ actions caused him to be dubbed a “pimp” by Crown prosecutor Eleanor Fargin. He is the first person to have been convicted of charges of this nature in Cayman. He was due to be sen‑ tenced on these charges in the Grand Court later this week, however, because the Summary Court mat‑ ters have been delayed until October, the prostitution‑ related charges will also be put back. Myles was remanded into custody.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Candace Freeman, the daughter of Stuart and Magreta Freeman, has been admitted to the Cayman Bar to practice locally as an attorney with Travers orp Alberga. Born in Grand Cayman, and educated at University of East London in the United Kingdom, Ms Freeman graduated with a bachelor of law degree with Honours. Ms Freeman joined the rm of Travers orp Alberga in January 2018 and completed her articles with the rm, having trained in various departments including investment funds, nance, corporate, litigation and trusts. Ms Freeman’s character and quali cations for admission were endorsed on her admission by the Managing Partner, Michael Alberga. Ms Freeman will practice as an attorney in the Travers orp Alberga funds team. He also insisted his gov- ernment would not seek to “pervert the purpose of the referendum by manip- ulating the question” as some campaigners have suggested they might. “Those allegations are completely without foun- dation. Let me lay them to rest now,” he said in a press statement. “It is central to the Gov- ernment’s support for Cay- man’s new port and cargo facilities that they are nec- essary in the national in- terest. There is no ques- tion of us seeking to avoid a referendum.” He said the ques- tion would be neutral in its phrasing and would be drawn up in accord- ance with “best practice principles”. Now that the petition has been verified, the pre- mier said, he would move quickly to get on with the referendum. “The country needs cer- tainty and the Government therefore intends to get this referendum process com- pleted as quickly as pos- sible,” he said. “To that end, Cabinet will turn its atten- tion immediately to consid- ering a draft Bill, including a proposed formulation of the referendum question and the date on which the referendum will be held.” McLaughlin said he be- lieved many people had signed the petition because they had unanswered ques- tions about the port. He indicated that he hoped the recent announcements about the cost of the project and the identity of the pre- ferred bidder, Verdant Isle Port Partners, had helped allay those concerns. Campaigners have indi- cated they believe there are still several unanswered questions. They wrote to the Governor Martyn Roper and Premier McLaughlin last week calling for the release of more informa- tion including an updated environmental impact as- sessment and the full de- tails of the new design, be- fore the poll. In his statement, McLaughlin criticised some of the campaigners. He said, “Sadly there is also a small group of people who are simply op- posed to the government’s plans at any price and who appear willing to throw out any kind of misstatement or half-truth to further their objectives. “At each stage in this process, those opponents have been quick to allege impropriety on the part of Government Ministers. At each stage they have been wrong.” He highlighted impli- cations that the port pro- ject was designed for the benefits of ministers’ busi- ness interests, that gov- ernment had not followed proper procurement pro- cedures and that govern- ment would interfere with the verification process or intimidate civil servants during the petition process as among a list of allega- tions that he said had been put out by some anti-port campaigners and had been shown to be false. urges all stakeholders to re- ally take stock whilst there is still time.” The organisation said the dredging required for the project would deplete Grand Cayman’s “sand budget” and disrupt the processes by which the island’s beaches are replenished. An environmental impact assessment on the proposed development in 2015 con- cluded there would be no “sig- nificant impact” on Seven Mile Beach because there was no substantial sediment transfer between George Town harbour and Cayman’s most famous tourism attraction. However, scientists at CCMI warn that the removal of coral for the project will have an impact on the sand re- serves that stock all Cayman’s beaches, including Seven Mile. Cayman’s beaches are built over millions of years by the stony skeletons of millions of coral reef organisms which break down to produce sand. The loss of corals in George Town as a result of the project will impact the island’s overall sand budget, CCMI said. “Home and resort owners on Seven Mile Beach, and everyone who enjoys Seven Mile Beach should think se- riously about the impacts of this proposed dock project on reefs, and the part corals play in contributing to Cayman’s tourism product and healthy ocean ecosystem. “The downstream and lasting risks of dredging/coral relocation not only include the long-term loss of coral and tens of thousands of other species living within the reef, but also a gross reduction in the capacity for the reef organ- isms to produce the skeletal sand that makes up the beach.” The release indicates that CCMI believes Seven Mile Beach will be impacted, stating: “We recognize that there are many complex processes con- tributing to Seven Mile Beach’s sand budget, but what is pro- posed will undoubtedly affect Cayman’s most famous beach.” The release continued: “The full details on the coral relo- cation have not been released. But for simplicity, if we con- ceptualise that only one foot is removed off the top of the proposed twelve acre dock site, we are moving a half a mil- lion cubic feet of limestone, coral and sand.” The scientists also say that coral relocation, planned as a mitigating measure, is unlikely to be effective, highlighting an 80% mortality rate for corals within two years of relocation, in recent studies in the Carib- bean region. “Little hope for replen- ishing the sand on Seven Mile Beach in the long term exists, due to the limited proven suc- cess of coral relocation as a mitigation strategy,” it said. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Scientists warn port project will impact Seven Mile Beach Cabinet to begin drafting port referendum bill CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “ It is central to the Government’s support for Cayman’s new port and cargo facilities that they are necessary in the national interest. There is no question of us seeking to avoid a referendum.” PREMIER ALDEN MCLAUGHLIN US bound travellers warned of deadly mosquito virus ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky People travelling to parts of America’s east coast are being asked to be mindful of a mosquito-borne illness called eastern equine encepha- litis, or EEE. The rare and fatal virus re- surfaced last week in Mas- sachusetts and Rhode Island states and claimed the lives of three Americans. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Ap- proximately 30% of people with EEE die, and many sur- vivors have ongoing neuro- logic problems.” MRCU Director James Mc- Nelly said he is keeping an eye on the virus, and Cay- man’s residents have nothing to worry about. “The virus is a two-stage process,” said McNelly. “It be- gins with a mosquito that feeds exclusively on nesting bird col- onies in the US. Once the virus reaches a critical limit, it even- tually spills out, as other mos- quitoes feed on the infected birds and then transfer it to ei- ther a horse or a human.” McNelly said it is highly unlikely that the virus will ever be found in Cayman. This is because the Culiseta Melanura mosquito, the primary vector for the virus, only breeds in red cedar swamps east of the Mis- sissippi River. Even if someone contracts the disease and re- turns to Cayman, they would not be able to pass it onto someone else. “Humans and horses are dead-end hosts,” McNelly said. While people in Cayman might not have to worry, US- bound residents looking to visit areas with the infected virus are asked to wear long- sleeved clothing. Other pre- cautionary measures in- clude wearing long trousers, avoiding stagnant water when possible, and using insect re- pellant which contains DEET. Voting begins for CCMI People’s Choice Awards The Central Caribbean Marine Institute is inviting members of the public to vote for its People’s Choice Awards. At its annual Festival of Seas gala in November, CCMI will recognise “exceptional contributors to local ma- rine conservation efforts”, ac- cording to a press release from the institute. The People’s Choice Award is a full audience participa- tion effort, nominated and voted on by members of the public. This year, two People’s Choice Awards will be an- nounced: an Individual and a Company/Organisation that has contributed in a signifi- cant way to protecting and/ or restoring coral reefs in the Cayman Islands. The nominees in the Indi- vidual People’s Choice Award category are: ■■ Linda Clark for her work with Cruise Port Referendum Cayman, both behind the scenes and gathering signatures. ■■ Bonnie Edwards for her work as a volunteer for Cayman Brac turtle patrol. ■■ Bill LaMonte for his work with Plastic Free Cayman and mentor to Protect Our Future student organisation. ■■ Michael Ridley who was behind Project Turtle Beach, which arranged to have security cameras on an extremely active sea turtle nesting beach. ■■ Everett M. Turner Jr, Essi Evans and Cynthia Abgarian for publishing four books on Cayman’s natural environment and unique biodiversity. Last year’s individual People’s Choice Award went to Claire Hughes from Plastic Free Cayman. In the Company/Organi- sation People’s Choice Award category, nominees are: ■■ Pirates Week Festival for moving away from single-use plastics at Pirates Week events. ■■ Protect Our Future Cayman for its student environmental advocacy efforts. ■■ STOAK’D Cayman for using plastic debris in art to raise awareness about conservation issues. “Whether through a pro- ject, programme or event, all nominees have demonstrated leadership and commitment to bringing about a trans- formative impact on the ocean habitats, especially coral reefs, in the Cayman Islands. By featuring members of the community and their efforts on behalf of the environment, CCMI not only wants to rec- ognise those who have made significant positive impact on the marine environment, but also to inspire others to get involved in conservation initiatives,” the organisation stated in the press release. The winners of the Peo- ple’s Choice Award and the Healthy Reefs Challenge will be announced at the an- nual Festival of Seas Awards and Gala event on 16 Nov. at Grand Old House. Full details of each nomination can be found on the CCMI website at www. reefresearch.org/peopleschoice2019. Voting begins Monday, 16 Sept., at 8am, and closes on Sunday, 29 Sept., at 5pm. There is a limit of one vote per person in each category. CCMI President Carrie Manfrino, left, and keynote speaker Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of Jacques-Yves Cousteau, right, present Claire Hughes with the People’s Choice Award at last year’s awards ceremony. - PHOTO: MAGGIE JACKSONThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 16 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 Date: September 21 st , 2019 Register online: www.caymanactive.com/fidelityfunrun 2019 2019 free to traverse as far north as the open plains of the Arctic tundra, to as far south as the sand dunes of Iran. The last car must cross the finish line today (Monday). Earlier this year, Todd left his job as a teacher at John Gray after 13 years and re- turned home to the UK be- fore setting off on his adven- ture. He set off on 22 July with the other rally drivers from a forest outside of the village of Bratronice in the Czech Republic. “It took me 58 days to complete,” said Todd. “I travelled 18,000 kilometres across the Himalayan moun- tain range, through the Gobi Desert of Mongolia, across rivers and hundreds of kilo- metres of unpaved roads.” The only three rules of the rally are that teams com- plete the journey in a ve- hicle with an engine not exceeding 1,000cc; teams must raise at least £1,000 (CI$1,041) for charity; and teams are to complete the rally unsupported. Todd says his Cayman students inspired him to sign up for the rally, which he completed on Friday, 13 Sept. “When I was teaching in the Cayman Islands, I would often tell my students there is more to the world than this beautiful island,” he said. “At John Gray, we pre- pare our students to be com- petitive in this 21st century world. We tell them that in order to truly develop as … well-rounded people capable of taking on this world, they must first go and travel and see it for themselves, be- cause then they will see how beautiful the rest of the world is, as well as how for- tunate they are.” Todd and teammate Sima Ghadirzadeh Ashkzari, along with their Vauxhall Adam motorcar, made up ‘Team Turtle’, one of 350 teams that entered this year’s expedi- tion – and one of 300 teams to have finished by Saturday. “I decided to actually make the connection with the Cayman Islands through the name ‘Team Turtle’ … and I called it Team Turtle to raise awareness about the work being done by the Cayman Islands Turtle Centre,” he said. Other Cayman Islands- based organisations that Team Turtle is also raising awareness about include Spe- cial Needs Cayman Islands and the Cayman Islands Early Childhood Association. While the adventure was filled with breathtaking sights of wide-open coun- tryside, an active volcanic mountain and bumpy off- road excursions, Todd had his fair share of setbacks. A post on Facebook showed the car in a ditch on the side of the road. Another post on his social media page shows a video of Todd on the ground in the Mongo- lian grasslands, explaining that he’d been hurt after falling off “a spooked horse that bolted”. Through it all, Todd said, he was able to spread the message about Cayman and its people. “Everywhere I went, I was talking to people about the Cayman Islands and the Turtle Centre, and they all asked the same question, ‘Where are the Cayman Is- lands?’” said Todd. “I’m pleased to have been able to put Cayman on the map in places where people had never heard about it before.” By taking his own ad- vice and venturing out to see the wider world, Todd also learned a few valuable les- sons himself. “I have been truly humbled by people opening their doors and al- lowing me to stay in their homes. People gave so gen- erously, even when they had nothing to give,” he said. Now that the journey is complete, he said he is looking forward to returning to the Cayman Islands to tell his former students all about his grand adventure. Todd is also raising money for two UK charities, Macmillan Cancer Support and Cool Earth. To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ MacTodd and www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/CoolTodd. Former John Gray teacher completes Mongol Rally Liquor stores targeted in credit card scam Police are issuing a warning to the public and to retailers after several liquor stores on island were tar- geted in an attempted credit card fraud scheme. The Financial Crime Unit is investigating if stolen credit card information is being used in the scam. According to the RCIPS, a number of liquor outlets re- cently received separate re- quests to place a large order of wine, spirits, and cham- pagne, to be shipped to the USA, with payment to be made by credit card. One of the outlets had suspicions about the order and declined it, informing the FCU. Once it was estab- lished that other outlets had received the same order, and after getting advice from the FCU, two other outlets have also stopped the order. Police said the request originates from an individual at the email address james- barry1970@gmail.com, who claims to represent James Walker Oil & Gas Co. Cali- fornia. It was also stated that they would be arranging local shipping. “It is strongly believed that payment for the order would have been made by use of compromised or stolen credit card information. However, at this stage, no payments have been accepted or received,” an RCIPS spokesman said in a statement. Police are advising any owners or staff members of retail outlets who receive such an email, to not engage with the sender. Instead, con- tact the FCU at 949-8797. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Ted Todd holds up the Cayman flag in victory as he stands on top of his car in Ulan-Ude after completing the Mongol Rally on Friday, 13 Sept. The trip was not without its mishaps, including this one in which the car went off the road in Russia early this month and had to pulled out with the help of passing motorists.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Gold toilet stolen from Churchill birthplace A unique solid gold toilet that was part of an art exhibit was stolen early Saturday from Blenheim Palace, west of London, where British wartime leader Winston Churchill was born. The toilet, valued at roughly 1 million pounds, had been installed only two days earlier. Ornon Whittaker September 16th 1925 – January 1st 2007 e world may change from year to year and although you are not physically here, your memory lives on through all of us. Quietly remembered today and every day. Love your family! Winsome , Clyde, Mackie, And Grand children Obituary of Arden Louise Shaw Shaw, Arden Louise (1938 - 2019) On August 1st, 2019, passed away with family by her side at Canterbury Gardens in Peterborough, Ont. Loving mother Andrew, Clyde and Tom, proud grandmother of Stephen Shaw (Rebecca), Spencer Shaw (Krista) and Julia Shaw (Paul Livingston). Arden will be lovingly remembered by sisters Susan Goble (Robert Laning), Bonnie Jackson (Donald), many nieces, nephews, Ute Shaw, Yvonne Mayhew, and extended family. Predeceased by parents Elva and Robert Lemick, sister Sandra Livingstone and Bob. Her many kindnesses and generosity will be remembered by many friends in Canada and Grand Cayman. Cremation has taken place, a memorial service will be held at a later date in Lake eld, Ontario. In memory of Arden, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society or condolences may be made online at www.CommunityAlternative.ca To send owers to the family of Arden Shaw, please visit https:// community-alternative.tributecenterstore.com/?oId=5606415 Attack on Saudi oil sites raises US-Iran tensions DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – A weekend drone attack on Saudi Arabia that cut into global energy supplies and halved the kingdom’s oil pro- duction threatened Sunday to fuel a regional crisis, as Iran denied US allegations it launched the assault and ten- sions remained high over Teh- ran’s collapsing nuclear deal. Iran called the US claims “maximum lies”, while a com- mander in its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard reiter- ated its forces could strike US military bases across the Mideast with its arsenal of ballistic missiles. A promi- nent US senator suggested striking Iranian oil refin- eries in response for the as- sault claimed by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on Saudi Arabia’s largest oil pro- cessing facility. “Because of the tension and sensitive situation, our region is like a powder keg,” warned Guard Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh. “When these contacts come too close, when forces come into contact with one another, it is possible a conflict happens because of a misunderstanding.” Actions on any side could break into the open a twi- light war that is been raging just below the surface of the wider Persian Gulf over the last months. Already, there’s been mysterious attacks on oil tankers that America blames on Tehran, at least one suspected Israeli strike on Shiite forces in Iraq, and Iran shooting down a US mil- itary surveillance drone. The attack Saturday on Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq plant and its Khurais oil field led to the interruption of an es- timated 5.7 million barrels of the kingdom’s crude oil pro- duction per day, equivalent to over 5% of the world’s daily supply. It remains unclear how King Salman and his as- sertive son, Crown Prince Mo- hammed bin Salman, will re- spond to an attack targeting what analysts describe as the heart of the Saudi oil industry. Late Saturday, US Secre- tary of State Mike Pompeo directly blamed Iran for the Saudi attack on Twitter, without offering evidence to support his claim. “Amid all the calls for de-escalation, Iran has now launched an unprecedented attack on the world’s en- ergy supply,” Pompeo wrote. “There is no evidence the at- tacks came from Yemen.” The US, Western nations, their Gulf Arab allies and UN experts say Iran supplies the Houthis with weapons and drones – a charge that Tehran denies. US officials previously alleged at least one recent drone attack on Saudi Arabia came from Iraq, where Iran backs Shiite militias. Those militias in recent weeks have been targeted themselves by mysterious air strikes, with at least one believed to have been carried out by Israel. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Sunday dismissed Pompeo’s remarks as “blind and futile comments”. “The Americans adopted the ‘maximum pressure’ policy against Iran, which, due to its failure, is leaning towards ‘maximum lies,’” Mousavi said in a statement. Houthi leader Muhammad al-Bukh reiterated his group’s claim of responsibility Sunday, telling The Associ- ated Press it exploited “vul- nerabilities” in Saudi air de- fenses to strike the targets. He did not elaborate. Iran, meanwhile, kept up with its own threats Sunday as well. Hajizadeh, the Guard brigadier general who leads its aerospace programme, gave an interview published across Iranian media that discussed Iran’s downing of the US drone in July. He said Guard forces were ready for a counterattack if America responded, naming the Al- Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Al-Dhafra Air Base near Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates as immediate tar- gets, as well as Navy ships in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. All this comes before the United Nations Gen- eral Assembly, which will draw world leaders to New York in a little over a week’s time. There’s been specu- lation in recent weeks of a potential meeting between Trump and Iranian Presi- dent Hassan Rouhani on the summit’s sidelines, possibly in exchange for the lifting of some economic sanctions the American leader imposed on Tehran after unilaterally withdrawing from the atomic accord over a year ago. If Iran had a hand in Sat- urday’s attack, it could be to bolster their position ahead of any talks, analysts say. “The main point for Iran, in my opinion, is not necessarily to derail a meeting between Trump and Rouhani but to increase its leverage ahead of it,” said Michael Horowitz, the head of intelligence at the Bahrain-based risk manage- ment firm Le Beck Interna- tional. “By carrying out such a major attack, Iran wants to send the message that the only way to decrease tensions is to comply with its demands regarding sanctions relief.” However, he warned there could be a danger for Iran “overplaying” its hand. There was no immediate impact on global oil prices from the attacks as markets were closed for the weekend. Benchmark Brent crude had been trading at just above $60 a barrel. Analysts, however, anticipate a spike in oil prices when markets reopen Monday in response to the attack. UK’S BORIS JOHNSON LIKENS HIMSELF TO THE INCREDIBLE HULK LONDON (AP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has compared himself to The Incredible Hulk in a newspaper inter- view emphasising his de- termination to take Britain out of the European Union next month. Johnson faces consid- erable legal and political hurdles but told the Mail on Sunday he will meet the 31 Oct. deadline no matter what. “The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets,” he told the widely read tab- loid, invoking the comic book and film character known for formidable but destructive strength. Johnson remains defiant even though Parliament has passed a law requiring him to seek an extension to the deadline if no deal is reached by mid-October. He has also lost his working majority in Parliament and been told by Scotland’s highest court that his deci- sion to suspend Parliament was illegal. Johnson portrays him- self as more convinced than ever that Britain will break with the EU at the end of October. He will have a lunchtime meeting in Luxembourg on Monday with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to try to modify the Irish back- stop that has been a main sticking point, but EU leaders did not seem im- pressed by Johnson’s invo- cation of the Hulk. The European Parlia- ment’s Brexit coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt, said the comments showed a lack of maturity. “Even to Trumpian standards the Hulk compar- ison is infantile,” he tweeted. “Is the EU supposed to be scared by this? The British public impressed?” Juncker, who has down- played hopes of a break- through at Monday’s meeting, also expressed alarm that many people in Britain seem to feel a British departure without a deal with the EU would be a positive thing. A man walks through a parking lot as smoke from an explosion at the Abqaiq oil processing facility rises in the background. – PHOTO: AL-ARABIYA VIA AP Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson The attack Saturday on Saudi Arabia’s Abqaiq plant and its Khurais oil field led to the interruption of an estimated 5.7 million barrels of the kingdom’s crude oil production per day, equivalent to over 5% of the world’s daily supply.9 WORLD®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2019 If you think you have fallen victim to any type of online fraud, contact your bank directly or the RCIP Financial Crime Unit on 949-8797. This message is brought to you by: Sponsored by our member retail banks: DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! If it looks suspicious, do not interact. Notify local authorities of any suspicious activity. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Only share information with those you trust. Remove fraudulent content and block senders. BANK ACCOUNT SAFETY HOW TO BE CYBER SMART Cayman Islands retail banks will never ask for account or card details such as your PIN number, account number, or any form of card verification in this way. Ever had someone threaten to freeze or block your bank account if you do not comply with their request for personal information? THIS IS A SCAM! Surprise rescue of Jamaica coral reefs shows nature can heal OCHO RIOS, Jamaica (AP) – Everton Simpson squints at the Caribbean from his mo- torboat, scanning the dazzling bands of colour for hints of what lies beneath. Emerald green indicates sandy bot- toms. Sapphire blue lies above seagrass meadows. And deep indigo marks coral reefs. That is where he’s headed. He steers the boat to an unmarked spot he knows as the ‘coral nursery’. “It’s like a forest under the sea,” he says, fastening his air tank before tipping backward into the azure waters. He swims straight down 25 feet carrying a pair of metal shears, fishing line and a plastic crate. On the ocean floor, small coral fragments dangle from suspended ropes, like socks hung on a laundry line. Simpson and other di- vers tend to this underwater nursery as gardeners mind a flower bed – slowly and painstakingly plucking off snails and fireworms that feast on immature coral. When each stub grows to about the size of a human hand, Simpson collects them in his crate to individu- ally ‘transplant’ onto a reef, a process akin to individu- ally planting each blade of grass in a lawn. Even fast-growing coral species add just a few inches a year. And it’s not possible to simply scatter seeds. A few hours later, at an un- derwater site called Dickie’s Reef, Simpson uses fishing line to tie clusters of staghorn coral onto rocky outcroppings – a temporary binding until the coral’s limestone skeleton grows and fixes itself onto the rock. The goal is to jumpstart the natural growth of a coral reef. And so far, it’s working. Coral reefs are often called ‘rainforests of the sea’ for the astonishing diversity of life they shelter. Just 2% of the ocean floor is filled with coral, but the branching structures sustain a quarter of all marine spe- cies. Clown fish, parrotfish, groupers and snappers lay eggs and hide from preda- tors in the reef’s nooks and crannies, and their presence draws eels, sea snakes, oc- topuses and even sharks. In healthy reefs, jellyfish and sea turtles are regular visitors. With fish and coral, it’s a co-dependent relationship – the fish rely on the reef to evade danger and lay eggs, and they also eat up the cor- al’s rivals. After a series of natural and man-made disasters in the 1980s and 1990s, Jamaica lost 85% of its once-bountiful reefs. Meanwhile, fish catches declined to a sixth of what they had been in the 1950s, pushing families depending on seafood closer to poverty. Many scientists thought most of Jamaica’s coral reef had been permanently re- placed by seaweed, like jungle overtaking a ru- ined cathedral. But today, the corals and tropical fish are slowly reappearing, thanks in part to a series of careful interventions. The delicate labour of the coral gardener is only one part of restoring a reef. Con- vincing lifelong fishermen to curtail when and where they fish and controlling the surging waste dumped into the ocean are even trickier endeavours. Still, slowly, the comeback effort is gaining momentum. When Jamaica’s fish pop- ulations began to collapse two decades ago, something had to change. In the past 10 years, more than a dozen grassroots-run coral nurseries and fish sanc- tuaries have sprung up, sup- ported by small grants from foundations, local businesses such as hotels and scuba clinics, and the Jamaican government. At the White River Fish Sanctuary, which is only about two years old and where Simpson works, the clearest proof of early suc- cess is the return of tropical fish that inhabit the reefs – as well as hungry pelicans, skimming the surface of the water to feed on them. The solution was to create a protected area for immature fish to reach reproductive age before they are caught. Once it became clear that a no-fishing zone actually helped nearby fish popula- tions rebound, however, it be- came easier to build support among local fishermen. The number of fish in the Oraca- bessa Bay Fish Sanctuary has doubled between 2011 and 2017, according to Jamai- ca’s National Environment and Planning Agency. And that boosts catches in sur- rounding areas. Embattled Israeli PM fights for survival in do-over election JERUSALEM (AP) – A visibly frantic Prime Minister Ben- jamin Netanyahu is in the fight of his political life as the country heads to national elections for the second time this year. With Netanyahu locked in a razor tight race and facing the likelihood of criminal corruption charges, a decisive victory in Tuesday’s vote may be the only thing to keep him out of the courtroom. A re- peat of the deadlock in April’s election, or a victory by chal- lenger Benny Gantz, could spell the end of the career of the man who has led the country for the past decade. Netanyahu’s daily cam- paign stunts have helped him set the national agenda – a tactic the media-savvy Israeli leader has perfected throughout his three dec- ades in national politics. But it may well be the things he cannot control – including a former political ally turned rival and Palestinian mili- tants in the Gaza Strip – that bring him down. Throughout the abbrevi- ated campaign, Netanyahu has seemed to create new headlines at will. One day he is jetting off for meetings with world leaders. The next, he claims to unveil a previ- ously undisclosed Iranian nuclear site. Then he vows to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. Nearly every day, he issues unfounded warn- ings about the country’s Arab minority “stealing” the elec- tion, drawing accusations of incitement and racism. “Netanyahu is always worried. That’s why he has survived this long,” said An- shel Pfeffer, a columnist at the Haaretz newspaper and author of a recent biography of Netanyahu. “Every election campaign he enters convinced that he can lose, and that’s how he fights it, with his back to the wall,” he said. By many counts, the strategy has worked. Netan- yahu, the country’s longest- serving prime minister, has dominated the political dis- course during a campaign that is seen as a referendum on his rule. His oppo- nents, meanwhile, have been forced to react to his ever- shifting tactics. Netanyahu has turned to a familiar playbook – pre- senting himself as a global statesman who is uniquely qualified to lead the country while also portraying him- self as the underdog, lashing out at perceived domestic en- emies who he claims are con- spiring against him. During a Channel 12 TV interview late Saturday, Net- anyahu appeared distressed and combative. He smirked, shook his head and raised his voice as he accused the media of “inciting” against him, angrily rejected the legal case against him and issued dire warnings that his Likud party will lose. “Victory is not in our pocket,” he said. At the same time, he claimed the country under- stands that only he can lead. His campaign ads portray him as being in a “different league” and show him em- bracing his friend, President Donald Trump, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin, India’s Narendra Modi and other world leaders. Last week, Netanyahu rushed to Sochi, Russia, for talks with Putin about Iran. “The public is saying, ‘We understand that you are a world-class leader,’” he told Channel 12. Echoing Trump, Netan- yahu routinely lashes out at the media, the judiciary, prosecutors and other al- leged foes. Diver Everton Simpson untangles lines of staghorn coral at a coral nursery inside the White River Fish Sanctuary in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. – PHOTO: APNext >