ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2019 High of 90 Low of 76 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. LOCAL | PAGE 5 HSA: REFRAIN FROM E-CIGS, VAPING LOCAL | PAGE 4 GOV’T SEEKS $153 MILLION LOAN FOR BULLET BOND PAY-OFF DEH director calls for fines for litterbugs ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky It’s hard to miss the scores of abandoned cars that clutter the narrow roads of com- munities like Washington Boulevard, Watlers Drive, Central Scranton and Windsor Park. For years, residents and business owners have complained about the derelict vehi- cles, as well as the excess debris dumped in the areas and the copious amount of litter strewed throughout the surrounding foliage. Although the mess is clearly visible, closing the net on litterbugs is easier said than done. Department of Environmental Health Di- rector Richard Simms wants to see his of- ficers given the power to issue tickets for littering. At the moment, to prosecute a person for illegally dumping, the process is the same no matter how large or small the amount. DEH officers must either write a report or team up with police officers and members of the planning department to create a report, which eventually makes its way to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. After reviewing the file, if the DPP de- cides the case is strong enough to result in a successful prosecution, the matter is filed in Summary Court, a summons is issued, and the defendant is given notice of being required to attend court. All of those steps Abandoned vehicles litter a site in the Scranton area of George Town. - PHOTO: ANDREL HARRIS Blue iguanas have an extra 10 acres to roam RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Blue Iguana programme is getting a helping hand from the Royal Society for the Protec- tion of Birds with the purchase approximately 10 acres of land adjacent to the National Trust’s Salina Reserve in East End. It is the first time the UK- based group has purchased land in a British Overseas Territory, according to a National Trust of the Cayman Islands media state- ment on Monday. The cost of the land was not released, but the National Trust said it was co-funded by the Rainforest Trust and through gifts to the Conservation Action Fund and the SAVES Challenge. The land will be leased in perpetuity to and protected by the National Trust, the Royal So- ciety for the Protection of Birds’ in-territory partner. National Trust Executive Di- rector Nadia Hardie told the Cayman Compass that the Trust has agreed to a peppercorn lease of $1 a year for the land, which she said will be essential in the effort to help save Cayman’s iconic blue iguana. Hardie said she is proud that the Society has shown “such confidence in the National CHARGES BROUGHT IN HOSPITAL SECURITY PROBE JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Two men have been charged with various cor- ruption offences in connection with a probe into alleged abuses of overtime by security staff at the Health Services Authority. Nick Smith, 57, was charged with one count of breach of trust and two counts of false ac- counting. Dominic Dacres, 41, was charged with obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception. Both men will appear in Summary Court on 24 Sept., according to a press release from the Anti-Corruption Commission which is leading the investigation. Charges were laid against the two men, both considered public officials, on Thursday and Friday last week. The commission gave few details in its state- ment but it is understood that the charges relate to an investigation into overtime payments at the HSA. The Cayman Compass reported in February 2018 that around a dozen security staff were placed on required leave while an internal audit investigation into overtime irregularities at the authority’s security department took place. The Compass asked for the results of that pro- cess through a Freedom of Information request earlier this year, but access was denied until the conclusion of a criminal investigation. A HSA spokesperson said Monday it had con- cluded its own internal investigation into the claims but declined to confirm the employment status of the two men. She said, “We can confirm that the Authority will now be taking next steps in the internal dis- ciplinary proceedings. As it is the policy of the HSA to not discuss HR matters in the public do- main and as this now involves criminal proceed- ings initiated by the Office of the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Authority will provide no fur- ther public statement.” PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » An additional 10 acres has been added to a reserve where blue iguanas can be released into the wild. - PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL®IONAL TUESDAY, 17 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. - TUESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) HUSTLERS (R) 1:30 | 4:10 | 4:20 VIP | 6:50 IT: CHAPTER TWO (R) 12:40 VIP | 3:20 | 7:30 | 9:30 GOLDFINCH, THE (R) 8:00 CHHICHHORE (PG) 12:45 | 4:00 | 7:00 CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA (R) THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY 7:00 VIP ANGEL HAS FALLEN (R) 12:30 | 4:20 | 7:10 | 10:00 F&F HOBBS & SHAW (PG13) 1:15 | 10:00 Battery storage could mean cheaper, cleaner power JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky A new utility scale battery storage project could mean cheaper electricity bills and accelerate Cayman’s switch to renewable energy, regula- tors said Monday. The Caribbean Utilities Company has received ap- proval for a large battery which can store some 20 megawatts of energy – equiv- alent to around 20% of Cay- man’s daily energy needs. The system will be implemented in 2020/21, according to utili- ties regulator OfReg. The battery will enable the power company to reduce its reliance on diesel pow- ered generators. OfReg said the move would cut CUC’s fuel consumption by more than 5% annually, resulting in around $5 million in sav- ings that could be passed on to consumers. The battery storage pro- ject is also designed to add stability and flexibility to the grid, enabling CUC to switch between energy sources, such as diesel, wind and solar, with limited impact on cus- tomers. CUC said it would also reduce the risk of power outages by providing instan- taneous backup when its generators go down. OfReg said the project would eventually allow it to add an additional 12 meg- awatts of energy genera- tion from renewable sources, taking the maximum limit to 29 megawatts, around 25% of total generating capacity. Richard Hew, president of CUC, said in a statement, “We are pleased that we can now move forward on our battery storage project, which brings us one step further to our com- mitment to rapid but stable increase in grid-integrated re- newable energy sources which will deliver economic and en- vironmental benefits.” He said fuel savings as a result of the project would be passed on to consumers. Gregg Anderson, execu- tive director of Energy and Utilities for OfReg, said in a press release, “The 20 MW of energy storage will help im- prove grid reliability and in- tegrate more renewables; cre- ating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future.” The move was welcomed by the Cayman Islands Re- newable Energy Associa- tion, which has advocated for the adoption of large- scale storage. James Whittaker, presi- dent of the association, called on regulators to follow-up with improved regulations to accelerate Cayman’s adoption of renewable energy. “This is another key step in advancing renewables in the Cayman Islands and lifting some of the stifling re- strictions to solar capacity that have hindered the level of adoption we need in order to meet the goals of the na- tional energy policy. By en- suring an even more stable grid, we will now be able to adopt renewable energy at a faster pace,” he said. The primary function of the battery, according to CUC, is to provide “instan- taneous or spinning reserve” in the event of power gener- ation plant failure. That is, if an operating generator fails, the battery will instantly pro- vide the shortfall in energy until other generators can be brought online. By replacing spinning re- serve normally provided by CUC’s online generators, fewer generators will need to be online, significantly re- ducing the amount of fuel consumed for electricity pro- duction. The battery will also have the ability to react much faster than the existing plant, reducing the risk of customer outages caused by loss of generation, the company said. Hew added, “It is impor- tant to note that the cost of providing spinning reserve to supply electrical power will be reduced as CUC will be using stored battery energy rather than diesel to provide reserve power. As a direct re- sult of this project, we ex- pect that the fuel savings to the customers will be around $5 million per annum.” James Whittaker, the president of the Cayman Islands Renewable Energy Association, has no relation to James Whittaker, the writer of this story. Bermuda to face lashing from Hurricane Humberto MIAMI (AP) – The US Na- tional Hurricane Center says it expects Hurricane Hum- berto to lash Bermuda with high winds and heavy rain later this week. The Hurricane Center in Miami said Monday that Humberto could become a major hurricane by Tuesday night, bringing with it the likelihood of tropical-storm- force winds to Bermuda on Wednesday, with heavy rain beginning Thursday. Over the next few days, swells generated by Hum- berto will roil the north- western Bahamas coast as well as the southeastern US Atlantic coast from central Florida to North Carolina. Such swells could pose life- threatening surf and rip cur- rent conditions to swimmers and surfers. The National Weather Ser- vice issued warnings of dan- gerous beach conditions for central Florida’s Atlantic coast due to the risks of dangerous rip currents and high surf. The Caribbean Utilities Company has received approval for a large battery which can store some 20 megawatts of energy – equivalent to around 20% of Cayman’s daily energy needs. POLICE APPEAL FOR ACCIDENT WITNESSES Police have launched an appeal for witnesses in Sat- urday’s three-vehicle colli- sion on Shamrock Road. One man was injured in that incident. He remained in critical condition in hos- pital on Monday. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of DUI following the collision. He was subsequently re- leased on bail. As of press time Tuesday, no charges had been laid against him. The collision happened at 8:30pm in the vicinity of Brightview Drive, Bodden Town. The victim was trapped inside his vehicle and had to be cut free by firefighters. Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit at 649‑6254. SECOND WEEKEND SHOOTING REPORTED IN PROSPECT Shots were fired at a house in Prospect on Sunday night in the second shooting incident reported over the weekend. Police said that shortly after 11pm, officers re- sponded to a report that a person had fired shots at the home off Selkirk Drive. No one was injured in the incident. Police said the gunman is suspected to have fled the location in a vehicle. “Having two firearms in- cidents occurring on the same weekend is particularly concerning, and we are inves- tigating both incidents thor- oughly, in part to establish if there is any link between them,” said Detective Super- intendent Peter Lansdown of the Criminal Investiga- tions Department in a state- ment. “We urge members of the public to come forward if they have any information on either incident.” Sunday’s shooting oc- curred two days after a man was shot and seriously in- jured in George Town. That shooting took place on Sound Way, between the Shedden Road junction and Whitman Seymour Road junction just after 9pm. The man’s injuries from Friday’s incident were not be- lieved to be life threatening. Anyone with information is asked to contact George Town CID at 949‑4222. SPAIN WILL NOT EXTRADITE VENEZUELA’S EX-SPYMASTER TO US MADRID (AP) – Spain’s Na- tional Court on Monday re- jected the extradition to the United States of a former Venezuelan military spy chief accused of drug smuggling and other charges. The court released re- tired Maj. Gen. Hugo Carvajal, who denies the charges and says that they were politi- cally motivated. He told reporters outside the prison after the ruling that he intends to remain in Spain. The court was expected to issue its written ruling later, according to a court spokesman who was not au- thorised to be identified by name in media reports. María Dolores Argüelles, a lawyer for Carvajal, said she had no immediate details of the ruling beyond that a re- lease order had been issued for the retired general. She did not know what Carva- jal’s plans would be once out of prison. The US embassy in Madrid had no immediate comment on the ruling. Carvajal headed Vene- zuela’s military intelligence agency for more than a decade and was a close aide to former Venezuelan leader, Hugo Chávez. Earlier this year, he fled to Spain after publicly supporting the opposition’s efforts to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. At a court hearing Thursday in Madrid, his lawyers claimed the US sought the extradi- tion because the information Carvajal has from control- ling the secrets of Venezuela’s armed forces for so long had the potential to topple the cur- rent Venezuelan government. Spanish and US officials, however, have cast doubts on Carvajal’s claims to hold infor- mation that would be currently relevant, as he was demoted and retired shortly after Ma- duro came to power in 2013. Retired Maj. Gen. Hugo Carvajal speaks during an extradition hearing at the National Court in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, 12 Sept. – PHOTO: AP “ Having two firearms incidents occurring on the same weekend is particularly concerning.” DETECTIVE SUPERINTENDENT PETER LANSDOWNThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2019 SIMONE DE LA RUE Fitness Empowering and inspiring personal trainer, founder of workout program Body by Simone. Enjoy a three-day invigorating festival for your mind and body at The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman. Celebrate wellness and rejuvenation with an exceptional panel of experts and events focused on fitness, nutrition, yoga and skincare. A WELLNESS FESTIVAL IN THE CARIBBEAN Full event line up and tickets available on caymanrejuvenate.com. *All event tickets are sold individually. Room package available at ritzcarlton.com/grandcayman. NOVEMBER 1 3, 2019 HEADLINING TALENT TANYA ZUCKERBROT, M.S., R.D. Nutrition Founder of the lifestyle F-Factor diet where you can have it all! LA PRAIRIE SPA Skincare Inspired by Swiss expertise, providers of multi-sensory beauty and skincare experiences. AMANDA KLOOTS Fitness Fun and dynamic workouts to get yourself into shape with her signature AK! programs. RIVA G Yoga Stretch, twist and reconnect through a playful and energized flow. DR. WILL COLE Nutrition Leader in functional medicine and pioneer of the Keto diet. Author of best-selling book “Ketotarian”. @ritzcarltongrandcaymanritzcarltongrandcayman4 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Gov’t seeks $153 million loan for bullet bond pay-off Grand Court trial called off after last-minute guilty pleas ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Moments before a jury was selected in the Grand Court trial of 27‑year‑old Levi Ambrose Powell and 28‑year‑ old Toria Angella Terry, the duo entered guilty pleas to two counts of handling stolen goods. In December of this year, Terry went to CashWiz, a local pawn shop, to sell a Breitling Avenger watch and a pair of diamond stud ear‑ rings. Both items had an es‑ timated retail value of more than US$8,500. Days later, police matched the items to a list of goods stolen during a burglary, which led to Ter‑ ry’s arrest and subsequent charging on suspicion of handling stolen goods. When faced with the charges, Terry denied the al‑ legations and stated that she had received the items from Powell, and that she had questioned him about the or‑ igins of the jewellery. “My sixth sense told me something was wrong,” she said. “But I didn’t think Levi would cause me to get into trouble, because I had known him for so long and we were friends.” Terry went on to say that Powell told her the items were his, and that he was only selling them because he needed the money to pay his rent. Following Terry’s initial interview, Powell was also ar‑ rested and charged for han‑ dling stolen goods. Although Powell and Terry were before the courts for the same stolen items, they were originally charged separately. Terry’s matter was handled in the Summary Court where she had entered not guilty pleas. Eventually, the charges were transferred to the Grand Court where she again denied the charges and the indictment was joined with Powell’s matters. Powell had also pleaded not guilty. A three‑day jury trial was set to begin on Monday; however, minutes before the opening of the trial, the pair entered guilty pleas. Powell, who has been on remand for several months, remains in custody while Ter‑ ry’s bail was extended. They are both scheduled to return to court for sentencing on 11 Nov. RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Government is turning to local banks with the hope of securing a $153 million loan to help pay off its $261 million bullet bond which is due to be repaid in full in No‑ vember this year. A request for proposals was is‑ sued on Friday, 13 Sept., for the re‑ financing of the bond and a “review and detailed analysis of viable fi‑ nancing options available in current financial markets”. The deadline for proposals is 14 Oct. A 15‑year repayment term is being sought. Finance Minister Roy McTag‑ gart, speaking with the Cayman Compass on Monday about the RFP, said government is “hopeful that a number of the local clearing banks will submit proposals for the bor‑ rowing, that’s the aim”. With a bullet bond, payments are typically held in abeyance until the due date and the full amount is re‑ quired to be paid all at once when it matures. The bullet bond or bullet loan was issued in 2009 by the former United Democratic Party admin‑ istration, led by then‑Premier McKeeva Bush. Bush has often said he was forced to engage in borrowing at that time to pay recurring expen‑ ditures from the former People’s Progressive Movement government that had accumulated an oper‑ ating deficit of $81 million the year prior (2008/09). The bond is due in full on 19 Nov. and McTaggart said that the government’s plan is to secure the borrowing of $153 million and use $108 million from its own resources to pay off the bond when it matures. The minister pointed out that the loan amount was approved by the Legislative Assembly in 2017. “So we are only seeking to refi‑ nance that portion that has been ap‑ proved already. We chose to go out to the local banking market because several, in fact, all of the clearing banks in Cayman had indicated a desire and a willingness to finance that amount of money for the gov‑ ernment,” McTaggart said. Government, he explained, will be seeking an amortising loan. This means it wants to be able to make monthly payments of principal and interest “rather than having a situation that we had with the bullet bond”. He added, “In the bond market, it is more difficult to find people … willing to give you that type of amortising feature. They always want to hold it for a longer term, a fixed term with a bullet maturity. The banks are better prepared and willing and able to write these type of loans, and that’s what we [are] trying to achieve.” The minister said government is aiming to work into the loan agree‑ ment the ability to repay the loan earlier “if we have the resources and can do so without there being or at‑ tracting any penalties for early re‑ payment of the loan”. McTaggart also stated that the loan will not present any issues with the Framework for Fiscal Re‑ sponsibility. The FFR was set up by the UK government as a means to monitor the Cayman Islands gov‑ ernment’s finances. “It will certainly allow us to maintain compliance with the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility in all respects,” he said. McTaggart said that, as a matter of courtesy, the Foreign and Com‑ monwealth Office will be kept in‑ formed “on the developments and what finally emerges from this RFP”. The minister added that the last government borrowing was in April 2011 in the amount of $154.1 mil‑ lion, and it was financed by one bank on island. The bullet bond or bullet loan was issued in 2009 by the former United Democratic Party administration-led by then Premier McKeeva Bush. A three-day jury trial was set to begin on Monday; however, minutes before the opening of the trial, the pair entered guilty pleas. Finance Minister Roy McTaggart The Law Courts Building in downtown George Town. 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”5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 17 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 HSA: Refrain from e-cigs, vaping KEVIN MORALES kmorales@compassmedia.ky Cayman Islands health leaders are urging the public to abstain from using e- cigarettes or vaporisers on the heels of a series of ill- nesses and deaths in the United States. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Pre- vention and the US Food and Drug Administration are in- vestigating a multi-state out- break of lung disease as- sociated with e-cigarette products, according to the CDC website. The CDC rec- ommends the public refrain from using those products. “The Cayman Islands Health Services Authority is therefore urging all per- sons in the Cayman Islands to adhere to the recommen- dations of the CDC,” the HSA said in a press release. The release did not cite any cases of similar illnesses at- tributed to vaporiser use in the Cayman Islands. “It is a good thing be- cause awareness needs to be created about what’s going on,” said Paradise Va- pors owner Joseph Hurlston, who runs one of two re- tail shops in Cayman that sell vaporisers and e-liq- uids. “I want the truth to re- ally be out there, like what products are really causing harm and what are they doing about it?” The US investigation cen- tres around 380 possible cases of severe lung injury believed to be caused by e- cigarette use in 33 states, as well as six deaths believed to involve cannabis. “I’m not against regula- tions,” Hurlston said. “I’m not against the rules, be- cause they do need to find what is good for us and what is not good for us.” The FDA began regulating electronic nicotine systems in 2016, according to the or- ganisation’s website. Most patients at the heart of the investigation reported a his- tory of using e-cigarette products containing THC, the main psychoactive com- pound in marijuana, while only some reported the use of e-cigarette products con- taining only nicotine. Sev- eral media reports have pointed to black market THC cartridges as a possible cause in states where sim- ilar products cannot be pur- chased legally. “There are people doing it on island,” Hurlston said of producing black market vaping liquids. “People should be concerned about counter- feit stuff. Why? Because you don’t know what people are using to make it. You don’t know where they’re making it, how they’re making it.” National Drug Council research analyst Luisa McLaughlin says there is also concern about the age of those using vape products. “The trends have shown an increase in these kind of be- haviours,” McLaughlin said. Nearly one-third of Cayman Islands students polled in a 2018 NDC drug use survey said they have used e-cigarette products in their lifetime. No statistics exist at the NDC to show how many adults in Cayman use vaping products. “We are worried about the situation,” McLaughlin said, adding that many stu- dents get the products from older friends and family. US President Donald Trump recently said he planned to remove flavoured e-cigarettes from the market. Several state governors have voiced support for a crack- down on the products. Hurlston, however, said it’s important to not lump all vaporiser products together and said more research is needed as the CDC’s website states the ongoing investi- gation has not yet identified a specific product or sub- stance linked to all illnesses. “Vaping is becoming the new norm,” he said. “The in- dustry is still growing and I’m here to stay. So we’re just gonna work through what’s going on and if an- ything does come to light, I’m always the first one … wanting to make sure I’m doing things the right way, the legal way.” Vaping juices and cartridges vary in size and substance. The FDA regulates some of the products available for sale in the United States. Paradise Vapors owner Joseph Hurlston exhales after using a vaping product. He welcomes the HSA’s call for the public to refrain from using similar products while US agencies investigate a spate of illnesses believed to be connected with e-cigarette and vaporiser use. - PHOTOS: KEVIN MORALES CAYMAN ISLANDS STUDENT DRUG USE Lifetime Alcohol 54.4% E-cigarette 32.8% Marijuana 29.8% Cigarette 16.4% Source: National Drug Council’s Cayman Islands Student Drug Use 2018 StatisticsTUESDAY, 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 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 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 at 7pm at the Seafarers Hall, 12 Victory Ave, Prospect. Attendees should wear their CISA shirts. Transport is available. Three buses will leave 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 pick‑ups 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. REVIVAL SERVICES: The Wesleyan Holiness Church of West Bay is holding fall revival services, beginning today, and continuing until Sunday, 22 Sept., at 7:30pm nightly, with Rev. and Mrs. Phillip (Cynthia) Gumbs of Anguilla. Mrs. Gumbs will also be speaking in Spiritual Emphasis services for Wesleyan Christian Academy Wed on Friday at 8:15am in the chapel. 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. 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 members to its Annual General Meeting at the George Town Yacht Club. 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 can 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 can renew vehicle licences online at www.dvdl.gov.ky or at 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. 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. 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 and free for under 8’s. Route will be out and back from Brac Reef Resort. Register online at www.caymanactive.com. WORLD ALZHEIMER’S DAY: The Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association will hold 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: Free event designed to bring new and innovative ways of screening, diagnosing and treating cancer. Attendees can avail of free health screenings for glucose levels, blood pressure, BMI and cholesterol, and free healthy food samplings. Refreshments 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. BEACH CLEAN-UP: Plastic Free Cayman and Red Sail Sports are hosting back‑ to‑school beach clean‑ups across all three islands to mark World Clean‑up Day. 8‑10am at four locations – Barkers kitesurfing beach in West Bay, Colliers Public Beach in East End, Coconut Beach on Cayman Brac and Point of Sand, Little Cayman. STRENGTHENING MARRIAGE: The Wesleyan Holiness Church will host Rev. Phillip and Mrs. Cynthia Gumbs for a free ‘Strengthening Marriages Seminar’ at Wesleyan Christian Academy. Starting with breakfast at 8am, followed by sessions at 10‑11am, and then lunch at noon. To register for this free event, call 949‑3394 by Friday, 20 Sept. SUNDAY, 22 SEPT. PACCE WALK/RUN/RIDE: The Lions Club of Grand Cayman hosts the 8th annual PACCE (Prostate and Colon Cancer Event) Delano Hislop Memorial Journey for Life Walk/Run, starting at 6:30am from the Jasmine building on West Bay Road. Walk 5K, run 10K or ride 15K. Proceeds will benefit Jasmine (formerly Cayman HospiceCare) and the Cayman Islands Cancer Society. Register 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. DUATHLON: The Cayman Islands Triathlon Association Duathlon will be held at 6:30am at the Cayman Islands Yacht Club. Pre‑register on www.caymanactive.com. 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, 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. 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. CHAMBER COURSE: The Chamber of Commerce hosts ‘Coaching Essentials’, a skills‑based training programme to help managers and leaders integrate coaching behaviours into their leadership style. One‑day face‑to‑face workshop. 9am to 5pm. Member price, $450; future member price, $525. At the Chamber office in Governors Square. For more information, call Sharon Shaw on 743‑9129 or email programmes@ caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, 26 SEPT. CHAMBER COURSE: ‘Immigration – Work Permits (BVPs, TWPs and RERCs)’. A 4‑hour course intended to detail the full range of options under which a non‑ Caymanian can lawfully work in Cayman. Includes information on exemptions from the work permit regime, all categories of work permits, Business Visitors Visas, and RERC’s (whether as the spouse of a Caymanian or a Permanent Resident) will be addressed. Also covered are Certificates of Direct Investment, Specialist Caregivers Certificates, and 25 year Residency (Substantial Business Presence) Certificates. 9am to 1pm. Member price, $250; future member price $325. Contact Sharon Shaw on 743‑9129 or email programmes@ caymanchamber.ky. FRIDAY, 27 SEPT. SUMSPLASH: The SumSplash Summer Fest will feature live music from Machel Montano, Konshens, Skip Marley and others. 7pm to 1am. Festival Green at Camana Bay. Tickets available at www.eventpro.ky. 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. People are encouraged to wear red. TUESDAY, 1 OCT. CHAMBER COURSE: Workshop: ‘Exceeding Customer Expectations’. 9am to 1pm. At the Chamber office in Governors Square. Member price, $150; future member price, $225. Call Sharon Shaw on 743‑9129 or email programmes@ caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, 3 OCT. PIANO RECITAL: As part of Cayman Arts Festival, UK pianist Martin Roscoe will perform 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. TUESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or non-profit organisations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Road or emailed to editor@compassmedia.ky at least three days in advance of publication. The Cayman Islands Seafarers Association will hold its September social at 7pm at the Seafarers Hall on Tuesday, 17 Sept. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2019 combined can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. However, before con- victions can be recorded and fines issued, the defendant will have to enter a plea. If he or she pleads not guilty, the matter must go to trial, which could see the issue delayed for an even longer period. Dorline Welcome, com- munity development officer with the Department of Chil- dren and Family Services, understands the process all too well. “Since 2012, we’ve battled with one piece of land filled with derelict cars, and it was only cleared earlier this year,” said Welcome, noting 15 ve- hicles were removed from a single vacant lot. The complicated, time- consuming process of multi- departmental paperwork, legal hurdles and numerous court appearances are even- tually resolved based on the requirements of a law passed 22 years ago. Originally enacted in 1982, the most current Cayman Is- lands Litter Law is the 1997 revision. It states that a person who “is guilty of an offence [is] liable on convic- tion to a fine of five hundred dollars or imprisonment for six months”. Simms of the DEH is calling for a review of the “outdated law”. “A lot of people don’t un- derstand our powers under the Public Health Law, so I want people to know that we do have prosecution powers,” he said. “In relation to lit- tering, we can step up our game in prosecution espe- cially where people are ille- gally dumping stuff in the neighbourhoods and so on.” The current process of pe- nalising people is inefficient and needs to be streamlined, Simms said, adding that by giving his officers the power to issue fines or tickets for littering, the level of deter- rence would have a more pro- found impact. “I would like to see where we can actually write a ticket for those sort of things,” said Simms. “You would feel the effect right away if a ticket is written and you are [sent] on your way. People will get the message quicker that way, rather than this long, drawn- out process through the court to prosecute them.” The director’s call for modernisation of the law has been welcomed by several members of the community. “It’s an excellent idea,” said Welcome. “Hit them in their pockets where it hurts. Then they will get the message.” Wade Robinson has lived in the Washington Boulevard neighbourhood for more than 40 years and has seen the entire area transform. “When I first lived here, there were no other homes; it was nothing but swamp,” said Robinson. Over the last four dec- ades, Washington Boule- vard has become one of the hardest-hit communities in George Town. Derelict cars and/or vehicles in the pro- cess of being scrapped are a common sight on almost all the surrounding streets. Vacant lots are also littered with old car parts, as well as discarded vegetation. But despite complaints, action is often slow or non-existent. “We need something to be done about it now, not three or four years later – now,” said Robinson. Welcome has patrolled the neighbourhoods under her remit for the last several years. She said it had been a constant struggle to remove the abandoned vehicles. In other communities like Watlers Road, Central Scranton, Rock Hole and Windsor Park, derelict ve- hicles are also posing sev- eral problems. “People are sleeping in the cars. They are hiding drugs in them,” said Wel- come. “The cars block the roads, they harbour rodents, and they are a health and safety hazard.” Simms, who is the former director of the De- partment of Vehicle and Drivers’ Licensing, said if his officers were able to ticket offenders, issues such as abandoned cars could quickly be resolved. “If people are dumping their cars and throwing them on people’s prop- erty, we can easily trace the owner by looking at the VIN number, run it through ve- hicle licensing and get back to the person,” he said. An RCIPS spokesperson said since the start of 2019, no one has been arrested or prosecuted for litter-re- lated offences. Revising the Litter Law will definitely help un- clutter the prosecution pro- cess. However, if not appro- priately implemented, the potential pros could be as problematic as the cons. Cayman’s current Litter Law prescribes a fine of up to $500. A revision of the law could see those fines increased, but higher pen- alties could potentially be counterproductive, as South Carolina authorities found, and remedied. In 2018, South Carolina lawmakers voted to reduce litter fines. The state gov- ernment approved a bill that saw the maximum fine dropped from US$1,028 to US$100, and the minimum fines dropped from US$200 to US$25. South Carolina’s legislature found that be- cause the previous fines were so high, officers were reluctant to issue tickets to people caught littering. Despite the calls for modernisation of Cay- man’s Litter Law, there is no telling if or when the legis- lation will be reviewed. Back in June 2014, then Health Minister Osbourne Bodden complained to fellow legis- lators that litter laws were “too lax”. While addressing MLAs at the time, he said, “We have to tighten it [1997 Litter Law] up. We have to put some teeth in there and make sure that we in- crease the fines and we charge a few people.” Now more than five years later, the calls for stronger litter laws continue. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Trust’s ability and willing- ness to protect their invest- ment in the Cayman Islands. We look forward to working with them in the coming years on future land preser- vation across our three is- lands. The RSPB offers the National Trust great support in a number of ways and we are pleased that they are en- thusiastic to help us pro- tect the important and crit- ical biodiversity which exists within our islands”. The parcel of biodiversity- rich tropical dry forest has been saved from potential damaging development. “This land will help buffer the reserve from development pressure and other threats, like road and residential con- struction. Unplanned, ill-con- sidered development, some- times carried out without legally required approval, de- stroys Grand Cayman Blue Iguana habitat and increases contact with non-native pred- ators, such as feral cats, and competitors like the inva- sive Green Iguana,” the media statement added. The National Trust has set an ambitious target to bring 10% of Cayman’s land area under protection, and has been working with the So- ciety since 2014 to find a site. The Society, according to the media statement, fo- cussed on Cayman for a number of reasons, including that “it is an important hab- itat for biodiversity with very high levels of endemism and supporting several globally threatened species; a low proportion of this habitat is protected and sites are under threat without effective legal or policy protection”. Additionally, it added, Cayman has legislation that allows the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to purchase land. The new protected area provides a boost to the Trust’s Blue Iguana Re- covery Program which re- cently benefitted from grants from the Disney Con- servation Fund and Darwin Plus Initiative. The Compass reached out to the Society for purchasing details on the land, but had not received a response by press time. Pieces of scrapped cars and other debris lie around a vacant lot in Washington Boulevard in George Town. - PHOTO: ANDREL HARRIS DEH director calls for fines for litterbugs Blue iguanas have an extra 10 acres to roam CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Department of Environmental Health Director Richard Simms wants to see his officers given the power to issue tickets for littering. Richard Simms8 LOCAL NEWS TUESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS BROTHER Red Cross child safety programme open to local schools RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Cayman Islands Red Cross has opened its child safety programme ‘My Body is My Own’ to local primary schools and early education centres throughout Grand Cayman for children ages 3 to 6 years old. The programme is avail- able for free. It was de- veloped by the working group of the Protection Starts Here project, which is spearheaded by the Red Cross. According to a Red Cross media statement on Monday, more than 40 par- ticipants from 14 educa- tion- and youth-serving or- ganisations have already undertaken the training, including Little Trotters, which was the first school to send all its teachers to the sessions. Carolina Ferreira, deputy director for the Cayman Is- lands Red Cross, explained that the programme was de- signed to also support the changes in the Education Law which require schools to provide child safety lessons to students. “Our aim was to create something that would build capacity within schools and early education centres, as we know that not all educa- tional institutions have ac- cess to the same resources, she said. “The generous sup- port of HFC (Hedge Funds Care Cayman) has made it possible for us to not only provide hard copy, printed materials to the teachers, but also to ensure programme continuity by providing them with the electronic versions as well.” ‘My Body is My Own’, the release stated, is an an- imation that features Bobo the green turtle and Teedee the blue iguana, local char- acters created by Mari Abe and Ben Hud from Sands Creative. It features the vo- cals of Caymanian actress Rita Estevanovich, as well as Alyk Smith and Neri Miller, along with several other local children. The lesson teaches chil- dren about safe, unsafe and unwanted touch, as well as the swimsuit rule. “It adheres to interna- tional best practices and age appropriate information and provides complementary in- formation to that which adults receive in the Dark- ness to Light ‘Stewards of Children’ training session,” the release added. The lesson was piloted in 2018 with a group of 80 students from both Montes- sori and traditional school settings. The pilot assisted in the development and fi- nalisation of all materials, and teachers who under- take the training and teach students ages 3-6 receive all the materials to support the delivery of the lesson in the classroom. Teacher training ses- sions have been scheduled for Mondays and Tuesdays in September, and are open to all teachers who teach 3-6 year olds. For more information, or to register, interested teachers should email deputy@redcross.org.ky. Trust defends chairman amid concern over Beach Bay ‘conflict’ JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The National Trust has defended its chairman, archi- tect Andrew Gibb, following public criticism of his role in a planning application for a new resort in Beach Bay. Residents opposed to the St. James Point re- sort, a 125-room hotel and condo development planned for the Bodden Town area, said they were astounded to learn that Gibb, the architect who presented the plans at Wednesday’s Central Plan- ning Authority meeting, was also chairman of the Na- tional Trust. The plans include some buildings directly on the beach, which is opposed by the Department of Environ- ment and was labelled “lu- dicrous” by the Trust’s exec- utive director Nadia Hardie during a separate meeting of the National Conservation Council last week. Hardie told the Cayman Compass that Gibb was an elected volunteer who had provided “incalculable value” to the organisation over the years. She said the Trust’s of- ficial positions were agreed by a council of 17 members and any member recused themselves from debates that conflicted with their outside business interests. She said she does not believe that Gibb’s professional role as an architect should be a concern. “All council members have day jobs and working on this small island, con- flicts of interest will arise at some point. This is a fact that many boards and statutory authorities have to deal with in Cayman,” she said. “The mere fact that I spoke out at the conservation council meeting, as the Di- rector of the Trust, regarding our concerns on this project clearly demonstrates there is no conflict,” she added. Lindsay Parr, one of the neighbouring residents who objected to the resort plans at the Central Planning Authority meeting Wednesday, said she had raised concerns about the impact on turtle nests and on habitat for nesting Cayman parrots, because she had thought the developer was un- aware of those issues. She said she had been sur- prised to learn that the archi- tect presenting the plans was also chairman of the Trust. She said she understood he was carrying out his job as an architect, but was still concerned about what she sees as a conflict of interest. “If your job is a nutri- tionist and you are there to help people lose weight, you can’t go and open a chocolate factory,” she added. Hardie, in a separate media statement released on Friday evening, said Gibb’s contribution was important to the Trust. “We are often faced with addressing the ever-in- creasing and delicate bal- ance between future devel- opment and conservation,” she said. “While some may view Gibb’s professional vo- cation as a direct conflict of interest with the Trust’s mandate, his expert knowl- edge of the often-complex planning laws has been in- calculably valuable and has allowed the Trust on many occasions to best respond, object and present recom- mendations to the Cen- tral Planning Authority regarding proposed develop- ments within our purview.” In the case of the pro- posed Beach Bay resort de- velopment, the law prohibits the Trust from formally ob- jecting against the develop- ment, as it does not own any adjacent land. “We can’t object in our ca- pacity as the National Trust, but we can, and will, push the Central Planning Authority to take into consideration the recommendations put through the National Conser- vation Council,” she said. The Central Planning Au- thority will ultimately decide if the project proceeds based on advice from numerous agencies, including the con- servation council, National Roads Authority and the planning department. After hearing from the de- veloper, through Gibb and an- other representative, Spencer Levine, as well as numerous objectors at Wednesday’s meeting, the board adjourned the application to allow the applicant to make revisions to the plans. Recommended changes included the high water mark setback, the location of the required public access to the sea, the location of the ‘back of house’ facilities and the number of parking spaces. More than 40 participants from 14 education- and youth-serving organisations have already undertaken the training. A 125-room hotel and condo development is planned for Beach Bay. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2019 Snowden calls on Macron for asylum grant Former US National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked classified documents detailing government surveillance programmes, called Monday for French President Emmanuel Macron to grant him asylum. Snowden is living in Russia to avoid prosecution in the US. Johnson, Juncker hold Brexit talks; no visible breakthrough As shock wears off, mental health concerns grow in Bahamas HIGH ROCK, Bahamas (AP) – One woman and her husband huddled on top of a bedroom dresser for two days, sur- rounded by floodwaters. Another man sat in his wheelchair for nearly 48 hours in water up to his chest, alone in his home. A third rescued a friend who sat in shock when part of a building where they sought shelter blew away. Stories of survival are trickling out across northern Bahamas as the initial shock wears off from Hurricane Do- rian, one of the strongest At- lantic hurricanes in history. And the extent of the storm’s terror lingers on in the minds of many. Mental health counsel- lors are now fanning out into communities to help those traumatised by the di- rect hit of the Category 5 storm that forced the evacu- ation of nearly 5,000 people and killed at least 50 others. Some 1,300 still missing in the hard-hit islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco, although the government has said many could be in shelters and with loved ones. “I think some persons can’t believe that it hap- pened, and others are still processing it,” said Pastor Robert Lockhart of Calvary Temple in Grand Bahama. He offered his pulpit on Sunday to more than 200 people in attendance, offering to let congregants share their stories as part of an islandwide effort to prevent what officials warn could become a mental health crisis as people struggle to absorb the extent of the devastation. Only six people spoke, but the crowd clapped and cried with them. “They needed to have an outlet and share these emo- tions,” Lockhart said. “People felt like they were going to die.” Among those who shared survival stories was 49-year- old Carlos Evans, who began to use a wheelchair after he was injured while working at an oil refinery. He recalled how he kept shining the light from his cellphone on the rising water as he tried not to panic. The water fi- nally stopped surging when it reached his chest, and he waited alone for nearly two days until he was rescued. “I wanted to encourage somebody else,” he said of his decision to speak. “It’s not just dem going through it, it’s all of us.” Dorian hit the northern Bahamas on 1 Sept. with sus- tained winds of 185 mph, unleashing flooding that reached up to 25 feet in some areas. It then remained nearly stationary for a day and a half, flattening homes, sweeping away children and adults and stripping people of their most treasured pos- sessions, leading the UN Sec- retary General to call the storm a “Category Hell”. Members of the Interna- tional Medical Corps planned to open a clinic on Monday in High Rock in eastern Grand Bahama – one of the hardest-hit communities – to help those who have phys- ical injuries or are struggling emotionally. But mental health spe- cialist Eoin Ryan said it will take a couple of weeks or even months to determine the storm’s psychological toll. He also said many are still seeking food, water and shelter and will deal with the emotional impact once they are out of shock. Susan Mangicaro, senior adviser for the team’s emer- gency response unit, said that reactions from survivors in the Bahamas are similar to those she saw in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. “I’ve seen a lot more shock because entire villages were demolished overnight,” she said. For now, some are still in a daze. Eulese Cooper, a 46-year- old fisherwoman from Grand Bahama, was one of those processing her loss as she sifted aimlessly through her family’s belong- ings in the fishing village of McLean’s Town. She had a gash on her head and said she was recov- ering from a concussion after a truck she was riding in hit a fallen wire that snapped on her head. The doctors advised her to rest, but she could not. “When I’m sleeping, I have nightmares,” she said. LUXEMBOURG (AP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commis- sion President Jean-Claude Juncker agreed Monday to ramp up talks on securing an elusive Brexit deal, but the two sides gave starkly dif- ferent assessments of how far apart they are. The two men held their first face-to-face talks over a two-hour lunch in Junck- er’s native Luxembourg amid claims from Britain that an agreement is in sight. “Yes there is a good chance of a deal. Yes, I can see the shape of it,” Johnson said after the meeting. EU leaders are far more sceptical. Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, who also met Johnson Monday, said the British leader needed to “stop speaking and act”. “We need more than just words,” he said. “We need a legally operable text to work on as soon as possible.” The European Commis- sion also said Britain had yet to offer any “legally op- erational” solutions to the problem of keeping goods and people flowing freely across the Irish border, the main roadblock to a deal. “Such proposals have not yet been made,” the Com- mission said in a statement, adding that officials “will re- main available to work 24/7”. Juncker said the meeting had been “friendly”, while Johnson’s Downing St. office called it “constructive”. Johnson’s office said “the leaders agreed that the dis- cussions needed to inten- sify and that meetings would soon take place on a daily basis”, with EU chief negoti- ator Michel Barnier and UK Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay getting involved in the talks. Johnson says the UK will leave the EU on the sched- uled date of 31 Oct. with or without a Brexit divorce deal. But he insists he can strike a revised agreement with the bloc in time for an orderly departure. The agreement made by his predecessor, The- resa May, was rejected three times by Britain’s Parliament, prompting her to resign. Johnson said in a Daily Telegraph column Monday that he believes “passionately” that a deal can be agreed and approved at a summit of EU leaders on 17-18 Oct. While the EU says it is still waiting for firm pro- posals from the UK, Johnson spokesman James Slack said Britain had “put for- ward workable solutions in a number of areas”. He declined to elaborate, saying it was unhelpful to negotiate in public. After meeting Juncker over a lunch of pollock and mushroom-pea risotto, Johnson moved on to talks with Bettel. He arrived to boos and shouts of “stop the coup” and “shame on Boris” from dozens of pro-EU protesters. Their noisy presence scut- tled a planned outdoor news conference from the pair. In- stead Bettel addressed re- porters alone, next to an empty lectern, while Johnson issued his statement outside the British Embassy. The visibly frustrated Luxembourg leader said Johnson needed to “stop speaking and act”. The key sticking point to a Brexit deal is the “backstop”, an insurance policy in May’s agreement intended to guar- antee an open border between EU member Ireland and the UK’s Northern Ireland. That is vital both to the local economy and to Northern Ire- land’s peace process. British Brexit supporters oppose the backstop be- cause it keeps the UK bound to EU trade rules, limiting its ability to forge new free trade agreements around the world after Brexit. Britain has suggested the backstop could be replaced by “alternative arrangements” – a mix of technology to re- place border checks and a common area for agricul- tural products and animals covering the whole island of Ireland – but the EU says it has yet to hear any workable suggestions. Monday’s meeting kicked off a tumultuous week for Johnson, with the Brexit deadline just 45 days away. On Tuesday, Britain’s Su- preme Court will consider whether Johnson’s decision to prorogue – or suspend – the British Parliament for five weeks was lawful, after conflicting judgments in lower courts. Johnson sent British law- makers home until 14 Oct., a drastic move that gives him a respite from rebellious law- makers determined to thwart his Brexit plan. Last week, Scotland’s highest civil court ruled the prorogation illegal because it had the intention of sty- mieing Parliament. The High Court in London, however, said it was not a matter for the courts. If the Supreme Court over- turns the suspension, law- makers could be called back to Parliament as early as next week. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, right, speaks with the media Monday as he shakes hands with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson before a meeting at a restaurant in Luxembourg. – PHOTO: AP A workman drives a bulldozer while clearing the road after Hurricane Dorian in Mclean’s Town, Grand Bahama. – PHOTO: APNext >