ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – THURSDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 High of 90 Low of 78 Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. SPORTS | PAGE 11 JACKSON ENDS SAILING SEASON ON HIGH NOTE LOCAL | PAGE 5 TRADE SCHOOL MOVES A STEP CLOSER Regulated in the Cayman Islands as a licensed insurer by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Generali Worldwide is a trading name of Utmost Worldwide Limited. Registered Head Office address: Utmost Worldwide Limited, Utmost House, Hirzel Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands GY1 4PA. Regulated in Guernsey as a licensed insurer by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission under the Insurance Business (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 (as amended). Incorporated in Guernsey under Company Registration No. 27151. Call us to learn how we can support your business today at 747-2000. Local Touch, Global Reach. www.generali-healthcare.com CRUISE PORT REFERENDUM: Campaigners deliver petition to Cabinet RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Cruise Port Referendum Cayman group delivered its port petition to the government on Wednesday. CPR executives Mario Rankin, Johann Moxam and Shirley Roulstone met with Cabinet Sec- retary Samuel Rose Wednesday morning at the Government Ad- ministration Building where they handed over 727 original signature pages, which includes 5,862 signatures, 5,305 of which have been verified by the Elec- tions Office. These are the original names gathered by the grassroots group during its campaign, which started last year, to trigger a referendum into the proposed $200 million cruise ship and cargo dock project. Government officials said the Elections Office needs to deliver the officially verified petition to Cabinet before the next step in the process to launch the refer- endum can be taken. The verified petition docu- ments remain with the Elec- tions Office. Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell told the Compass he is in the process of completing his final report for delivery to Cabinet. “In the absence of a refer- endum law or bill, where there is no proper procedure, we were advised by our legal team that we would have to present the pe- tition, once verified by the Elec- tions Office, to the Cabinet sec- retary so it will be in an official Johann Moxam, Shirley Roulstone and Mario Rankin of Cruise Port Referendum Cayman with the petition, which they later delivered to Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » Farm plants seeds of hope Granger Haugh, founder of Beacon Farms, with some of the first crop of tobacco plants. – PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY Farm for recovering addicts branches out JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Beacon Farms is pushing ahead with plans to produce co- conut oil, grow tobacco and ex- periment with other marketable products to help fund its work with recovering addicts. The North Side farm provides work and sometimes housing for people trying to turn their lives around. It is also developing into an ‘idea farm’, experimenting with crops and products that are not typically grown in Cayman. Granger Haugh, the founder and principal funder of the farm, which is a spin-off of the Bridge Foundation halfway house, said the aim was to help develop modern agricultural methods in Cayman and find new methods and potentially new industries. The farm is fully staffed by people in the ‘recovery community’. It aims to help them find stable employment and poten- tially develop sustainable agri- culture businesses. Haugh said the farm was also looking into a range of products that could help sup- port the farm and other charities in the Cayman Islands. A related business, the Cayman Cigar Company, has al- ready opened in Bodden Town, selling locally made cigars. The farm is experimenting with growing tobacco and hopes to ultimately provide locally grown leaves to the blend to help create a genuinely Caymanian product. The next step will be the opening of a lab for processing coconuts. Machinery has been brought in to help create a va- riety of products including co- conut oil and coconut flour. The processing lab could also be adapted for other jobs, such as processing mango into frozen chunks when there is a surplus. It is hoped that the prod- ucts will help make the farm self sustaining. “We hope that eventually the farm will be able to cover its costs,” said Haugh, a retired PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 »2 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, 19 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. - THURSDAY - 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 | 7:10 | 10:00 F&F HOBBS & SHAW (PG13) 10:00 CHHICHHORE (PG) 12:45 | 4:00 | 7:00 Tropical wave nears Cayman with rainshowers Governor to open seventh annual Big Shave RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Governor Martyn Roper is set to officially launch the seventh annual Big Shave event for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation on Friday. So far, 127 people have signed up to have their heads shaved at the event at The Wicket in Cricket Square, all with the aim of raising funds for childhood cancer research. Among them are 22 Cayman Islands Fire Service personnel, the largest contingent to sign up from one entity. Before a single lock has been shorn though, $132,605 has already been raised. Or- ganisers said they are aiming to raise $250,000 this year. The event, dubbed ‘Han- nah’s Heroes’, began in 2012 in honour of Hannah Meeson, the young daughter of then- Cayman residents Gay- lene and Nigel Meeson, who faced a difficult fight against brain cancer. Hannah turned 12 Wednesday and now has “no evidence of disease”, ac- cording to organisers. “We never thought we would celebrate Hannah’s 12th birthday, and she has amazingly defied the odds that left her with a less than 5% chance of survival. But she suffers many disabilities fol- lowing treatment, including impaired balance, partial deafness, vision loss, cogni- tive, memory and fine motor deficits and slow processing,” Gaylene Meeson said. Since its inception, Han- nah’s Heroes has raised more than $2.1 million for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. The St. Baldrick’s Founda- tion has dedicated more than $279 million to childhood cancer research since its first event in 2000. St. Baldrick’s has named nine research grants in recognition of Han- nah’s Heroes since 2013. Mrs. Meeson welcomed the generosity, saying, “Hannah is not alone. By the time child- hood cancer survivors are 45 years old, more than 95% of them will have a chronic health problem or life-threat- ening condition. Without or- ganisations like St. Baldrick’s, Hannah and children like her will simply not survive.” Other childhood cancer survivors from Cayman will join the event, including Skylar ‘Mimi’ Ebanks, Saylor Sperandeo, Annabelle Reading, Ava Paige Rico, Beau Shields, Allie Capasso, Charli Foster and Tayden Grant. Through sponsorship by Conyers Dill & Pearman, St. Baldrick’s Foundation Hero Fund Manager Kelly Fore- baugh will travel from Seattle to Cayman for the fundraiser. “I am profoundly moved by the way the Cayman com- munity has united to support Hannah’s Heroes and take childhood back from cancer,” Forebaugh said. “Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave is one of St. Baldrick’s largest events.” Teams for this year’s Big Shave include ‘The Firebalds’ from the Fire Service, corpo- rate team ‘Maples & Balder’, Dart, PwC, KPMG, the parents of local childhood cancer sur- vivors and many schoolchil- dren from such schools as Cayman International School, Cayman Prep and High School, and Bodden Town Primary School. The event will also feature a silent auction, balloon prize raffle, photo booth hosted by Party Booth Cayman and food and drinks specials from the Brasserie Restaurant. Organisers are encour- aging the public to get in- volved throughout Childhood Cancer Awareness month by hosting bake sales, dress- down days, sponsoring a colleague or friend shaving at The Big Shave and by at- tending the event this Friday. Visit www.stbaldricks.org/ events/hannahsheroes or email team@hannahsheroes.ky to get involved or for more information. WATER AUTHORITY STAFF GETS LESSON IN PROSTATE CANCER PREVENTION RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Lions Club of Grand Cayman’s Prostate, Colo- rectal and Testicular Cancers Event (PACCE) committee took its cancer awareness campaign to the Water Au- thority on Tuesday. It was the third instal- ment of the educational se- ries in the run-up to the club’s signature event this Sunday – the eighth an- nual Delano Hislop me- morial Journey for Life 5K Walk/10K Run/15K Ride. The PACCE event starts at 6am from Jasmine Villa on West Bay Road. At Tuesday’s seminar, PACCE Committee Chair Lion Ercley Bodden spoke briefly about the story be- hind PACCE and the impor- tance of educating men and women on the importance of getting tested early for pros- tate, colorectal (colon) and testicular cancers. Dr. Darley Solomon and Dr. Joel Slutsky went through the warning signs of the various cancers through in-depth presentations. Fourteen Water Authority staffers underwent free PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests on site, which allows individuals to know if their PSA levels are normal or if they require further testing. During the 70-minute seminar, attendees got to speak one-on-one with the participating doctors. Lions Club of Grand Cayman’s president Cord- ella Chollette said holding an educational seminar in a work environment means colleagues can interact with one another and leave feeling more informed about how to help prevent certain types of cancers. This Saturday, the Club will host its quarterly breakfast at the Lions Community Centre from 7am, where registration and T-shirt/bag pick-ups for the next day’s PACCE event will be held. Members of the public can register online at www.caymanactive.com/PACCE. A Water Authority employee participates in free prostate-specific antigen test at the educational seminar. CORRECTION A Cayman Compass article published 18 Sept. titled ‘Doctors Express ordered to pull can- nabis vapes from shelves’ stated THC remains il- legal in the Cayman Is- lands. The sentence should have read that ganja remains illegal in the Cayman Islands, as cannabis extracts with tetrahydrocannabinol are available for legal use with a prescription. KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Cayman Islands residents should monitor a tropical wave projected to approach the islands in coming days. The wave is associated with a large area of disor- ganised showers and thun- derstorms currently south of the Dominican Re- public and Haiti. The US-based National Hurricane Center is fore- casting a 10% probability of tropical formation by Monday. “While upper-level winds are not forecast to be con- ducive for significant de- velopment, locally heavy rainfall is possible over por- tions of the Dominican Re- public and Haiti during the next couple of days,” the National Hurricane Center wrote in its Wednesday after- noon forecast. “The disturbance is forecast to move slowly northwestward through the weekend.” The wave was forecast to bring rains to the Cayman Is- lands by Thursday evening or Friday, according to the Na- tional Weather Service. While the probability of formation was low as of Wednesday, the system is a reminder that the Carib- bean is at the height of hur- ricane season. “We’re nearing the peak of the hurricane season so we should continue to mon- itor the situations, especially as we move to a point in time where culmination tends to occur over the western Car- ibbean,” said Cayman Islands National Weather Service forecaster Kerry Powery. This time of year, condi- tions become more favour- able for development around Cayman and the western Car- ibbean, Powery explained. “That would imply we would have less time for pre- paredness if something does occur.” Powery said. While formations in the Atlantic Ocean typically pro- vide more warning time for the western Caribbean, for- mations within the basin may only give residents a few days to prepare. That means Cayman Islanders should get their hurricane kits and plans in order. Another system in the Atlantic appeared en route to curve north, away from Cayman. The National Hur- ricane Center forecast a 30% chance of formation of that system by Monday. Powery said if that system does develop, he expected formation to occur near the Windward Islands and track west to northwestward. Three named storms – Hurricane Humberto, Trop- ical Depression Imelda and Tropical Storm Jerry – posed no threat to the Cayman Islands. Some head shave participants join Hannah Meeson, front row, third from left, at the Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave at The Wicket last year. This year’s Big Shave will be held on Friday evening, 20 Sept. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Map shows active tropical disturbances as of Wednesday. – SOURCE: NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 On heels of Dorian, homeowners urged to update insurance policies KEVIN MORALES kmorales@compassmedia.ky Homeowners should regu- larly update their home insur- ance policies to ensure they are adequately covered should a hurricane or other natural disaster strike, according to Island Heritage Insurance Company Senior Vice Presi- dent and Chief Underwriting Officer Evelyn Tibbetts-Farrar. It’s estimated 13,000 houses in the Bahamas have been severely damaged or de- stroyed due to Hurricane Do- rian, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing statistics from the International Fed- eration of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. It’s a situation familiar to home owners in the Cayman Islands. “After Hurricane Ivan, some policyholders came to realize they were underinsured,” Tib- betts-Farrar said. “This can happen for many reasons.” Among those reasons – a home’s value changes over time. Most mortgages require replacement cost coverage for financing, which is what it would cost to completely re- build a home today. “Replacement cost is a moving target due to infla- tion alone,” Tibbetts-Farrar said. “There are also many other reasons your sum in- sured may need changing, such as home improvements and purchasing of additional furnishings.” Policyholders can also find themselves underinsured if they base the amount in- sured on an incorrect basis such as market value or mortgage balance instead of replacement cost. “It is recommended that a professional property sur- veyor be engaged to carry out a replacement cost survey every few years to assist with selecting the correct value to insure,” she said. Most standard home- owners property insurance policies in the region offer coverage for natural catas- trophes, but Tibbetts-Farrar adds policy wordings can differ by insurers. “So it is important to read your policy to ensure it will respond how you expect it to,” Tibbetts-Farrar said. “In the Cayman market, the cov- erage provided in respect of the hurricane peril will generally cover any loss or damage that can be directly linked to the cause of loss, whether it be caused by wind or water or both.” Policyholders should also pay attention to any de- ductibles that apply and set aside funds to cover this por- tion of the potential future loss to ensure full recovery after an event. “ After Hurricane Ivan, some policyholders came to realize they were underinsured.” EVELYN TIBBETTS-FARRAR, Island Heritage Insurance Company Senior Vice President Programme guides boys into manhood JEWEL LEVY jlevy@compassmedia.ky Forty boys gathered at the John Gray High School gym on Wednesday morning and donned ties that denoted their inauguration into the Boys To Men programme. The mentoring programme is a boys club of sorts, which teaches Year 11 students life lessons beyond what’s learned in the classroom. Counsellor Christopher Murray started the pro- gramme 10 years ago to help guide the boys, provide them with positive opportunities, assist them with leadership skills and help them become good role models for each other and in the community. The transition from child- hood into young adulthood is not always easy. For Demario Deshaun McBean, a Year 11 student at John Gray High School, joining the Boys to Men Club made all the difference. “I like the programme be- cause it brings me closer to my friends, and I really love my friends,” said Mc- Bean. “I don’t have a father figure in my life, I joined the programme for that simple reason. I also want to partici- pate in as much stuff as I can in school.” “I can’t fail in life. It’s not an option in life for me,” he added. Murray said, “The boys are coming to me asking to be a part of Boys to Men … the success from other boys in the past has caused that to happen,” Murray said. Apart from that, he said, boys were bringing along their friends and asking if they could join the pro- gramme also. “We could easily have 100 boys in the programme, but we just don’t have the re- sources,” he said. All the boys had posi- tive things to say about the programme. Student Nathan Garricks said the Boys to Men initi- ative “helps you to achieve your goals”. “It also helps you to be a better man in the future. We were once kids, now we can be leaders in the community to help and make sure stuff is done right,” added Garricks, who one day hopes to work in the construction industry. Classmate Jevon Facey said he joined the programme when he started Year 11. “It’s about us boys growing into men and achieving our goals and being leaders around the school. I like it because Mr. Murray is helping us to achieve that goal,” he said. “The Boys to Men pro- gramme is so special, it brings everybody together. It really helps us in life with all sorts of other stuff,” said stu- dent Eric Frederick. Kevaughn Hutchinson said the programme brought the boys closer together and helped them to bond and to learn new things about life. Deshane Vousden said he joined Boys to Men to help him succeed in life. He said he also joined be- cause he gets to interact with other people and learn from those who have experiences in various fields of work. “It teaches you how to be a better person, [a] better man, how to be a leader to set roles for other people to follow, so you can stand out from every- body else. That’s why I joined Boys to Men,” Vousden said. “It’s an enhancing sort of programme in which we seek to boost the boys’ self-esteem, to provide a life with options … life has so much more to offer once they can main- tain that positive outlook and know that their character matters,” Murray said. There are rules; for ex- ample, skipping classes, lack of class participation, rude- ness, and so forth, could re- sult in the loss of their Boys to Men necktie. The boys meet four times a month. Each week, they dis- cuss a different theme, such as learning self-confidence and teamwork, and how to shake hands and make eye contact, open doors for others and address their elders. Murray said he is greatly appreciative to have sev- eral professionals from the working community come in to speak and assist the boys. He was also excited about new programmes on the ho- rizon, such as having The Ritz-Carlton provide a so- cial etiquette training for the boys, which will be followed by fine dining night with their mothers. Murray said the Family Resource Centre is giving the group lessons in team building and how to work with others. Attending the early morning initiative at the school on Wednesday, George Town Central MLA Kenneth Bryan said he thinks its a positive programme par- ticular with young men who face many of the challenges in the community today. He said it offers up key characteristics that young men need to become good citizens once they have left school. He also thinks the ini- tiative should be one that is embraced across the whole island. Boys to Men programme participants and mentors pose for the camera. Forty students were inaugurated into the programme on Wednesday at the John Gray High School gym. - PHOTO: SCOTT SWING4 LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS North Side meetings enhance seniors’ quality of life JEWEL LEVY jlevy@compassmedia.ky Every Tuesday, North Side seniors gather at Craddock Ebanks Civic Centre to play games, enjoy the company of friends, chat, relax and re- ceive tips on enhancing their quality of life. Along with the ever-pop- ular domino games, sen- iors enjoy rousing games of bingo, singing, crafts, lunch and many other fun activities. In addition to the fun and games, the programme also offers seniors activities such as field trips, a health day, DIY projects, tips on hurri- cane preparedness from the Hazard Management team and Red Cross safety tips, as well as sessions with repre- sentatives of the Department of Children and Family Ser- vices and performances from schoolchildren at North Side’s Edna Moyle Primary School. Seniors also enjoy a healthy lunch, which was part of the day’s activities for seniors, ranging in ages from 60 to 99, who attend. Carol Saunds, who leads the activity day through Ez- zard Miller’s MLA office, said the seniors look forward to coming every Tuesday. Grad- ually, she said, the idea is to increase the programme to more days. “A lot of the seniors don’t really have anything much to do but sit around all day and they become bored at home. They love to come here meet friends, chat, get updated and feel less bored,” Saunds said. She said some seniors even bring some of their crops, such as mangoes, plums, avocados, guineps and cherries, and potluck dinners to share with others. Thelma Range, 99, joined the programme some weeks ago. She said she enjoys the opportunity to be able to play dominoes with the other seniors. “This is so much better than staying home and being bored,” she said. “It’s beautiful, I am en- joying myself with all the other ladies and gentlemen playing all the games,” Range added as she ex- plained how she played dominoes, one of her fa- vourite games. “By the help of God, I am hoping to be back there again on Tuesday,” she said. The seniors meet every Tuesday from 10am to 1pm. A unique bus system that works on the Brac JEWEL LEVY jlevy@compassmedia.ky Kevin Foster owns and operates the only private public transport service on Cayman Brac. It has no specific route and picks up passengers anywhere on the island for $3 per trip. Foster, who has been operating the bus service since 2017, said it is not about making money – he just loves driving. With its blue light on top and ‘Public Bus’ written on the front, the bus is quite noticeable on the Brac roads. “Anywhere anybody wants to go in Cayman Brac, I take them. Most of the people know my regular route, others call when they want pick up,” Foster said. From as early as 3:45am, Foster drives the streets picking up passengers from the roadside in his Nissan 10-seater before heading to his full-time job at the Cayman Brac Port at 8am. At 5pm, when work is finished, his bus is back on the road until 9pm. During the early morning run, he gets be- tween three and six pas- sengers, he said. “It’s not something I can make a living with, it’s just to help people out who cannot afford a car and need to take the bus,” Foster said. Getting people to pay the $3 fare can some- times be a hassle though, and now and again people leave their litter behind them on the bus, he said, as he described some of the downsides of running his bus service. To support the service, the Cayman Brac Rotary Club Brac constructed and installed two public bus shelters, one in Stake Bay and the other in the Bight. One regular passenger, Ward Scott, said, “It’s a fun way for the less than 2,000 on the island to use to get around the island for cheap and the tourists love it.” Rhoda and John Smith join others in the singing of choruses. Dominoes is always popular. Some of the seniors try their luck at bingo. Young Skyler joins his 99-year-old grandmother Thelma Range for a day of fun. McCanna ‘Mickey’ Anderson participates in the singing. Kevin Foster and his bus on Cayman Brac. - PHOTO: SISTER ISLANDS NEWS AGENCY 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 • THURSDAY, 19 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 Trade School moves a step closer JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s first trade school plans to open its doors next month after being granted a licence by the Edu- cation Council. Inspire Cayman was is- sued a Technical Vocational and Educational Training li- cence last week. It is the second centre in the Cayman Islands to receive a TVET li- cense after beauty therapy school, the Cayman Ca- reer Academy. Michael Myles, founder of Inspire Cayman, said the centre is ready to begin its courses at Northward Prison immediately. The commu- nity courses are sched- uled to start at the school’s headquarters on Eastern Avenue in October. He said around 20 people had signed up for the first courses, which focus on core skills and job-readiness. All students are required to complete those courses be- fore they can begin trade certifications. The school is certified through the US-based Na- tional Center for Construc- tion Education and Research and will offer trade courses run by industry profes- sionals, including mechanics, plumbing and air condi- tioning servicing. Myles said the school has also secured additional accreditation from the UK- based EduQual. He said accreditation from major UK and US or- ganisations meant the qual- ifications would be inter- nationally recognised and transferable. The accreditation also means Inspire can offer a wider menu of courses, now including communications cabling and networks, fibre optic installation and cell- phone repair. Courses will be available depending on demand. He said the school had reached out to the Workforce Opportunities & Residency Cayman department to link up with unemployed people looking to get qualified. So far, he said, interest had been from a mix of lo- cals and expats and included a range of school leavers, as well as people already working in the trades looking to further their careers. “Getting the TVET li- cence is a huge milestone. We needed that before we could open our doors,” he said. “The EduQual accredi- tation maybe even trumps that because it means we can offer more internation- ally recognised and transfer- able courses.” For more information, email info@inspirecaymantraining.com, visit www.inspirecaymantraining.com, or call 939‑1301. Michael Myles says the new trade school is ready to open its doors. - PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKER DEPUTY PREMIER’S MOTHER PASSES AWAY Zita Foster Kirkconnell, 92, the mother of Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell, passed away on Wednesday morning. The Office of the Premier issued a statement on her passing on Wednesday. According to the state- ment, Mrs. Kirkconnell’s fu- neral will be held on her home island of Cayman Brac. No date has yet been an- nounced for the funeral. She is survived by her children Moses Kirkconnell and Nancy Ewing; daughter- in-law Kathy; son-in-law Dr. Aubrey Ewing; grand- daughter Alyssa Thomas; and grandson-in-law Waite Thomas. “We will certainly miss Ms. Zita’s love of life and the warmth and enthusiasm she imparted to all who came into contact with her,” the statement from the Office of the Premier read. Governor Martyn Roper also issued a statement, saying, “I was greatly sad- dened to hear that the Deputy Premier Moses Kirkcon- nell’s beloved mother, Mrs. Zita Kirkconnell, passed away today. “On behalf of my office, and the entire Public Sector, I would like to extend my con- dolences to the Deputy Pre- mier and his family, and I ask that everyone keep the Deputy Premier and his family in their thoughts and prayers and give them your support at this very difficult time.” CUC OUTAGE PLANNED FOR WB CUC is advising cus- tomers on Fountain Road in West Bay that they will ex- perience interruptions to their electrical service on Friday, 20 Sept. between 9am and 4pm. Areas affected include all customers north of Agua Lane on Fountain Road in- cluding Schooner Lane, Fore- mast Close, Pembroke Drive, Velma Banks Drive, Banson Drive, Josephs Drive and portions of Finch Drive and Thistle Lane. Agua Lane and Wave Close will not be af- fected by the outage. One lane will be tempo- rarily blocked on several sec- tions of Fountain Road while work is carried out.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. THURSDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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: Aimed at providing doctors and allied healthcare professionals with an informative presentation on cancer prevention and treatment by a visiting physician. 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 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. BOAT TRIP: One Dog At A Time is organising an Allura boat trip to the Stingray Sandbar and Starfish Point to help raise funds to rescue and rehome dogs from the Department of Agriculture pound. Leaves from Dock C at the Cayman Islands Yacht Club at 1pm. $40 includes catamaran boat trip plus nibbles. Drinks available. Family groups are welcome and children will be charged according to age. Call 917-8284 or 926-7506 or email onedogatatimeky@gmail.com to book a spot. 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. Chamber office in Governors Square. For more information, call Sharon Shaw on 743-9129 or email programmes@ caymanchamber.ky. WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPT. RECOVERY MONTH WORKSHOP: East End Community Centre, 6:30-8pm. Learn about the process of addiction and how to get support, or how to support someone in active addition. 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. LOCKED INN FUNDRAISER: One Dog At A Time will hold a Locked Inn session at 6pm. Teams or individuals are welcome to attend. $300 entry per team of 6 or $50 for individuals. The price includes the Locked Inn Experience, food and a complimentary drink for each team member. Additional refreshments will be available. Call 917-8284 or 926-7506 or email onedogatatimeky@gmail.com. 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. SATURDAY, 28 SEPT. TURTLE FARM FAMILY FUN: Recovery Month Family Fun Day. Join the Department of Children and Family Services at the Cayman Islands Turtle Centre for a free Family Fun Day. 10am to 4pm. Pre-register for entry and complimentary buffet. Call 949-8789. 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. ODAAT PLANT SALE: Proceeds from the plant sale will go to One Dog At A Time. Mercury Crescent, South Sound Road. 9am to noon. Refreshments will be available to purchase. Any keen gardeners who would like to contribute plants for the sale beforehand, WhatsApp CJ on 939-3995 to arrange collection. 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. SUNDAY, 6 OCT. WALK FOR THE CURE: The 8th annual Walk for the Cure takes place at 6:30am at Seven Mile Public Beach. Adults (12 and up) $20; Children (3-11) $10. Free T-shirt, while supplies last. 100% of proceeds to benefit Cayman Islands Cancer Society. Register at any CIBC/First Caribbean branch. Contact Shadden McLaughlin at 815-2405 or shadden.mclaughlin@ cibcfcib.com for more details. 10K TO HELL AND BACK: The annual Pirates Week 10K to Hell and Back. 7am, Raleigh Quay Road, next to Kimpton Seafire. $25 registration fee. Free T-shirt to first 50 paid registrants. Breakfast and awards ceremony at Calico Jack’s. Spot prizes available. No race day registration. Register online at www.caymanactive.com. Call 949-5078 or email events@ piratesweekfestival.com. WEDNESDAY, 9 OCT. BOHEMIAN NIGHTS: Central Terrace (upstairs) at Bayshore Mall on the George Town waterfront. 7-10pm: Enjoy live music, painting, art market. If interested in reserving an art space, email info@visualartcayman.com. THURSDAY, 17 OCT. VOICES AROUND THE WORLD: Jasmine, in recognition of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day to support Voices for Hospice, hosts ‘Voices Around The World’ at the Harquail Theatre. Show starts at 7pm. Featuring performances from the Cayman National Choir, Cayman National Orchestra, Singrays a cappella group, Miss Jackie’s Company Dancers and more. Adults, $30; Under 18, $10. Tickets available from www.eventpro. ky/voices-for-hospice. For more information, email info@jasmine.ky or call 945-7447. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. Plastic Free Cayman and Red Sail Sports are hosting four beach clean-ups across all three islands on Saturday, to mark World Clean-up Day.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS THURSDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 capacity,” Rankin said. The group said it is now looking forward to the issu- ance of the Referendum Bill by Cabinet, which will “out- line the referendum date, question, and other impor- tant procedural matters such as campaign finance limits, observers, agents and the referendum day public holiday”. Rankin said CPR Cayman has received formal acknowledgement of the receipt of the petition. He stressed the impor- tance of the referendum. “It is for the Cayma- nian people to have a seat at the table so that they can vote on something that is of national impor- tance,” he said. The group suggested, in a statement, that it an- ticipates a January 2020 referendum date, based on constitutional require- ments outlined by the Elections Office. “If the Referendum Bill were to be issued on 23 September 2019, the ear- liest date the referendum could be held is 23 De- cember 2019, therefore ef- fectively January 2020,” the statement said. Before handing over the petition, the three executives met with the Elections Office super- visor at his Smith Road Centre office. Howell said the meeting was essentially for the CPR Cayman group to retrieve the pe- tition signatures “with the plan of presenting those formally to the Cab- inet secretary in relation to satisfying the section of the Constitution that covers that”. He declined to discuss possible dates for the ref- erendum since that rests squarely in the remit of Cabinet. Elections Office in referendum mode Howell said his team is preparing for the refer- endum in much the same way they would be get- ting ready for a general election, and the Elections Office staff had been in training for the last two weeks in preparation for the impending poll. “We are planning to be ready for whatever date the government decides to hold the referendum on,” he said. While there is no formal guideline for a time frame for holding the referendum, Howell said, the Elections Law pro- vides some guidance with the provision of not less than six weeks’ notice for a by-election or snap elec- tion and not less than two months for an election. He said his office is working with the six-week time frame. He said the Elections Office is now focussed on preparing its staff for referendum day, in- cluding returning officers who will be dealing with postal ballots and mo- bile voting, and those re- quired to do the polling and counting on the day of the referendum. Howell said the budget for the exercise is still to be determined, but since it is similar to an election, he anticipates it could cost in the region of $900,000, which was the cost of the 2017 general election. He said the Elections Office will require a staff of 300 to execute the vote effectively in all 19 constituencies. Howell added that he and Governor Martyn Roper had discussed in- viting independent in- ternational observers to oversee the ref- erendum vote. Supervisor of Elections Wesley Howell in his office on Wednesday, as he and his staff prepare for the upcoming referendum. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CRUISE PORT REFERENDUM: Campaigners deliver petition to Cabinet chemist from the US who supports both the farm and the Bridge Foundation through his family’s charitable founda- tion, which he runs with his son Scott. Haugh said the farm, which opened in 2017, was intended to be a second step for people after they had been through a recovery programme. He said it allowed them to work with others living a sober and drug-free life in a healthy workplace. Scott Haugh said they were also looking to experiment with modern methods in agriculture and use the farm as an incubator to develop ideas that could lead to new Cayman products for the local market or export. “We want to develop a workforce that is interested in agricultural innova- tion,” he said. “Typically, this has not been a trade that every Caymanian wants to be in- volved in. It has always been a case of ‘Here’s a hoe, get to work.’” But he said farming was changing and could lead to exciting new careers for people in the recovery community. “We are big believers in second chances,” he said. “That is why we are doing this.” The North Side farm provides work and sometimes housing for people trying to turn their lives around. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Farm plants seeds of hope Tobacco plants are among the crops being tested at Beacon Farms. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Judge slammed for ‘horny’ comment made during trial ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky An acting Cayman Is- lands Grand Court judge who said evidence being given by a witness in a murder trial was making him “horny” has been criti- cised by the Appeals Court in Bermuda for his “inappro- priate comments”. Justice Carlisle Greaves, who predominantly pre- sides in the Bermuda juris- diction, also serves as an acting Grand Court judge in Cayman and other overseas territories. As recently as last week, Justice Greaves passed sentence via video link in a number of Cayman Islands Grand Court matters. The re- cent controversy stems from a 2018 Bermuda murder trial in which Greaves was the presiding judge. Transcripts taken by the court reporter record Greaves as saying, “All this sex is be- ginning to get me horny.” Jus- tice Greaves’ comments are said to have come midway during testimony by a pros- ecution witness who said he had shared women with the defendant. At the end of the case, then 27-year-old Khyri Smith- Williams was convicted and sentenced to 35 years’ im- prisonment for the shooting death of Colford Ferguson, a 29-year-old Bermudian fa- ther of one. When appealing the case, Smith-Williams’ attorneys said Justice Greaves had done little to rein in the wit- ness’s use of vulgar language and the judge’s remarks were “tacit approval” that had lent it credibility. The appeal judges rejected the appeal, stating in a judg- ment released on 25 July that they “did not believe that it damaged the defence or had the potential to undermine the safety of the conviction”, according to a report by the Royal Gazette newspaper in Bermuda. The appeal judges stated: “Anybody who knows serious criminal trials, in this juris- diction in recent years, knows the judge has a very personal style, whereby he engages with the witnesses, defend- ants, juries and advocates in an informal way, often using casual language and rich metaphors.” However, the judges said the “court could not condone the lewd comments”, which were “inappropriate and in- imical to the dignity of court proceedings”. Greaves is well known for his metaphors in the Cayman jurisdiction. During one trial, quoting Shakespeare’s ‘The Merchant of Venice’, he lik- ened Crown prosecutor Toyin Salako to Shylock, and the defendant in the case, Sara Connor, an ex-policewoman, who pleaded guilty to breach of trust charges, was likened to Antonio. In another case when sen- tencing a woman who had stabbed her husband’s lover, Justice Greaves told her, “There are two things in life not worth fighting over: a man and a bus. One goes, an- other comes.” When appealing the case, Smith-Williams’ attorneys said Justice Greaves had done little to rein in the witness’s use of vulgar language and the judge’s remarks was “tacit approval” that had lent it credibility.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 THURSDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS India’s gov’t approves ban on e-cigarettes India’s government on Wednesday decided to ban the selling of e-cigarettes, expressing concern at the alarming rate at which vaping is becoming popular among the country’s youth and causing breathing illnesses. A first offence will be punishable by up to one year in prison. UK gov’t insists suspension of Parliament was not illegal EU lawmakers vote to approve Brexit delay if UK requests one BERMUDA BATTENS DOWN FOR CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE HUMBERTO STRASBOURG, France (AP) – European Parliament law- makers on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favour of another Brexit delay if Britain requests one and certain con- ditions are met, after Euro- pean Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told the chamber that a no-deal sce- nario remains “very real”. After a three-hour debate, the lawmakers adopted a non-binding resolution sup- porting another extension to the Brexit deadline. Law- makers voted 544-126 with 38 abstentions in Strasbourg. Despite claims from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that the UK will leave on the scheduled 31 Oct. date with or without a withdrawal agreement, EU leaders are expected to dis- cuss the possibility of an- other postponement at a two-day summit in Brussels next month if no progress to- wards a deal has been made by then. Britain’s departure from the 28-nation bloc has al- ready been delayed twice. EU lawmakers put con- ditions in the resolution, saying they would only sup- port an extension if it was justified by a specific purpose such as “avoiding a no-deal departure, holding general elections or a referendum, revoking Article 50 [the pro- cedure that triggered the Brexit process], or approving the [current] withdrawal agreement”. Speaking at the parlia- ment before the vote, Juncker, who met with Johnson on Monday, said a no-deal Brexit “might be the choice of the UK, but it will never be ours”. The main sticking point over a Brexit deal is the Irish border backstop, which would require Britain to re- spect EU trade and cus- toms rules in order to avoid a hard border between EU member Ireland and the UK’s Northern Ireland until a better solution is found. In their resolution, EU lawmakers also pledged to reject any deal without a backstop and insisted Britain will be “solely responsible for a no-deal departure”. The Eu- ropean Parliament must en- dorse any Brexit deal for it to be implemented. “I have no sentimental at- tachment to the backstop,” Juncker said, adding, how- ever, that he remains com- mitted to the purpose it serves, which is to prevent border structures that could be detrimental to peace in Northern Ireland. EU leaders have made clear that any amend- ment to the current pro- posed divorce deal should preserve the bloc’s single market and uphold the Good Friday peace agreement that ended decades of conflict in Northern Ireland. Despite his declaration that Britain will leave on 31 Oct. “do or die”, Johnson insists he can strike a revised divorce deal with the bloc in time for an orderly departure. European leaders are scep- tical of that declaration. MIAMI (AP) – Bermu- da’s government called up troops and urged people on the British Atlantic island to make final preparations for an expected close brush Wednesday with Hurricane Humberto, a powerful Cat- egory 3 storm. Authorities ordered early closings of schools, transportation and government offices. Gov. John Rankin called up 120 members of the Royal Bermuda Regiment to prepare for possible storm recovery efforts and National Security Minister Wayne Caines said schools, government offices and fer- ries on the island would close at noon and bus ser- vice would halt at 4pm. Officials expected trop- ical storm-force winds to begin whipping at Ber- muda in the morning and warned that hurricane- force gusts would probably last until early Thursday. Humberto was predicted to pass just north of the terri- tory of some 70,000 people, though a small shift in its path could bring the storm over the island itself. The US National Hurri- cane Center said Humberto’s maximum sustained winds strengthened to 120 mph and it would probably re- main a Category 3 hurricane through Thursday, though there could be some fluc- tuations in its winds. The storm was centred about 195 miles west of Bermuda early Wednesday, moving east-northeast at 16 mph. In Texas, the remnants of Tropical Storm Imelda threatened to drench parts of Southwest Texas and southwestern Louisiana with up to 18 inches of rain over the next few days. It was the first named storm to hit the Houston area since Hurricane Harvey’s much heavier rains flooded more than 150,000 homes around the city and caused an estimated $125 billion in damage in Texas. Tropical Storm Jerry also formed Wednesday morning, forecast to become a hur- ricane as it nears the out- ermost Caribbean islands Thursday night or Friday. LONDON (AP) – The British government was back at the country’s Supreme Court on Wednesday, arguing that Prime Minister Boris John- son’s decision to suspend Parliament just weeks before the country is set to leave the European Union was neither improper nor illegal. It’s the second day of a historic three-day hearing that pits the powers of Brit- ain’s legislature against those of its executive as the coun- try’s scheduled Brexit date of 31 Oct. looms over its political landscape and its economy. Government lawyer James Eadie argued that a lower court was right to rule that Johnson’s suspension of Par- liament was a matter of “high policy” and politics, not law. Eadie called the decision to shut down Parliament “inher- ently and fundamentally po- litical in nature”. He said if the court in- tervened it would violate the “fundamental constitutional principle” of the separation of powers between courts and the government. “This is, we submit, the territory of political judg- ment, not legal standards,” Eadie said. The government’s oppo- nents argue that Johnson il- legally shut down Parlia- ment just weeks before the country is due to leave the 28-nation bloc for the “im- proper purpose” of dodging lawmakers’ scrutiny of his Brexit plans. They also ac- cuse Johnson of misleading Queen Elizabeth II, whose formal approval was needed to suspend the legislature. Johnson sent lawmakers home on 9 Sept. until 14 Oct., which is barely two weeks before Britain’s 31 Oct. de- parture from the EU. He claims the shutdown was a routine measure to enable his Conservative government to launch a fresh legislative agenda and was not related to Brexit. Eadie rejected claims that the prime minister was trying to prevent lawmakers from blocking his Brexit plans. He said “Parliament has had, and has taken, the op- portunity to legislate” against the government, and would have more time between 14 Oct. and Brexit day. He said even if Parliament did not come back until 31 Oct., “there is time” for it to act on Brexit. The prime minister says Britain must leave the EU on 31 Oct. with or without a di- vorce deal. But many econo- mists and UK lawmakers be- lieve a no-deal Brexit would be economically devastating and socially destabilising. Members of Parliament have put obstacles in Johnson’s way, including a law compel- ling the government to seek a delay to Brexit if it cannot get a divorce deal with the EU. Parliament’s suspension spared Johnson further med- dling by the House of Com- mons but sparked legal chal- lenges, to which lower courts gave contradictory rulings. England’s High Court said the move was a political rather than legal matter but Scottish court judges ruled Johnson acted illegally “to avoid democratic scrutiny”. The Supreme Court is being asked to decide who was right. The justices will give their judgment some- time after the hearing ends on Thursday. A ruling against the gov- ernment by the 11 Supreme Court judges could force Johnson to recall Parliament. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker, meanwhile, said Wednesday that the risk of Britain leaving the EU without a divorce deal remained “very real” because Britain had not produced workable alternatives to the deal agreed upon with the EU by ex-British Prime Minister Theresa May. That deal was repeatedly rejected by Brit- ain’s Parliament, prompting May to resign and bringing Johnson to power in July. “I asked the British prime minister to specify the alter- native arrangements that he could envisage,” Juncker told the European Parliament. “As long as such proposals are not made, I cannot tell you – while looking you straight in the eye – that progress is being made.” Juncker, who met with Johnson on Monday, told members of the EU legisla- ture in Strasbourg, France, that a no-deal Brexit “might be the choice of the UK, but it will never be ours”. Government lawyer James Eadie argued that a lower court was right to rule that Johnson’s suspension of Parliament was a matter of “high policy” and politics, not law. In their resolution, EU lawmakers also pledged to reject any deal without a backstop and insisted Britain will be “solely responsible for a no-deal departure”. Brexit-supporting protesters hold banners outside the Supreme Court in London, Tuesday. – PHOTO: AP EU Parliament Members vote for a resolution on the UK withdrawal from the EU, Wednesday in Strasbourg. – PHOTO: AP9 WORLD®IONAL CAYMAN COMPASS • THURSDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 Saudi Arabia offers evidence Iran behind attack on oil sites Trump names new national security adviser WASHINGTON (AP) – Pres- ident Donald Trump said Wednesday he’s naming hostage negotiator Robert O’Brien, who Trump had monitor the criminal case in Sweden against American rapper A$AP Rocky, as his new national security adviser. Trump tweeted the an- nouncement from California, where he was opening the third and final day of a West Coast fundraising swing. “I am pleased to announce that I will name Robert C. O’Brien, currently serving as the very successful Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs at the State Depart- ment, as our new National Se- curity Advisor,” Trump said. “I have worked long & hard with Robert. He will do a great job!” Trump announced that O’Brien will become his fourth national security adviser a week after he ousted John Bolton, citing policy disagree- ments. O’Brien was among five candidates the Republican president had said Tuesday were being considered for the post, which does not require Senate confirmation. As the special presiden- tial envoy for hostage af- fairs at the State Department, O’Brien worked closely with the families of American hos- tages and advised adminis- tration officials on hostage issues. He previously helped lead the department’s public- private partnership for jus- tice reform in Afghanistan during the Bush and Obama administrations. Earlier this year, Trump dispatched O’Brien to Sweden to keep tabs on the criminal case there against A$AP Rocky, who a judge and jury ultimately found guilty of assault in August, several weeks after a street brawl in Stockholm that attracted Trump’s attention. Trump tried to intervene in the case by calling Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in July and offering to per- sonally guarantee bail for the rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers. Lofven told Trump he could not interfere in a legal matter. From 2008 through 2011, O’Brien was a presidentially appointed member of a gov- ernment committee that ad- vises on issues related to the trafficking of antiquities and other cultural items. In 2005, President George W. Bush nominated O’Brien to be US Representative to the UN General Assembly, where he worked with Bolton. O’Brien was confirmed by the Senate. He also was an adviser on the Republican presiden- tial campaigns of former Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Earlier in his career, O’Brien was a senior legal officer for the UN Security Council commission that de- cided claims against Iraq that arose from the Gulf War. He was a major in the US Army Reserve. O’Brien has a law de- gree from the University of California-Berkeley and co- founded a law firm in Los An- geles focussed on litigation and international arbitra- tion issues. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) – Saudi Arabia alleged Wednesday an attack by drones and cruise missiles on the heart of the kingdom’s oil industry was “unques- tionably sponsored by Iran”, naming but not directly ac- cusing Tehran of launching the assault. Iran denies being involved in the attack claimed by Yemeni rebels, and has threatened the US that it will retaliate “imme- diately” if Tehran is targeted in response. The news conference by Saudi military spokesman Col. Turki Al-Malki comes after a summer of heightened tensions between Iran and the US over President Donald Trump unilaterally with- drawing America from Teh- ran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The US alleges Iran launched the attack, which Yemen’s Houthi rebels earlier claimed as a response to the yearslong Saudi-led war there that is killed tens of thousands of people. Al-Malki made a point not to directly accuse Iran of firing the weapons or launching them from inside of Iranian territory. The kingdom has sought help from interna- tional investigators and the United Nations, both length- ening the probe and interna- tionalising its conclusions. “The attack was launched from the north and was un- questionably sponsored by Iran,” Al-Malki told journalists. By stopping short of saying the missiles were launched from Iran, the kingdom potentially avoids a response that could lead to war among the heavyweight countries of the region and international superpower, the United States. However, not retaliating to the strikes also carries the risk of leaving Saudi Arabia exposed to con- tinued attacks. The news conference took place with a backdrop of broken and burnt drones and pieces of one cruise mis- sile allegedly collected from the attacks. Al-Malki described the drones as “delta wing” models, which looked like large triangles. The cruise missile, which Al-Malki de- scribed as a “Ya Ali” type, had a small jet engine at- tached to it. Eighteen drones and seven cruise missiles were launched in the assault, Al- Malki said, with three mis- siles failing to make their targets. He said the cruise missiles had a range of 435 miles, meaning they could not have been fired from inside Yemen. He played surveillance video he said showed a drone coming in from the north. Satellite im- ages released earlier by the US showed damage largely on the north-facing sides of structures at the sites. “This is the kind of weapon the Iranian regime and the Iranian IRGC are using against the civilian ob- ject and facilities infrastruc- ture,” he said, using an ac- ronym for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He added: “This attack did not originate from Yemen, despite Iran’s best effort to make it appear so.” Iran sent a note to the US via Swiss diplomats in Tehran on Monday, reiter- ating that Tehran denies being involved in the Saudi attack, the country’s state-run IRNA news agency reported. The Swiss have looked after American interests in Tehran for decades. “If any action takes place against Iran, the action will be faced by Iran’s answer im- mediately,” IRNA quoted the note as saying. It added that Iran’s response would not be limited to the source of the threat, suggesting it would inflict damage beyond what it had suffered. IRNA separately reported Wednesday that Iran’s first delegation for the annual UN General Assembly meeting had not left Iran because the US has yet to issue them visas. Foreign Minister Mo- hammad Javad Zarif was to travel to New York on Friday, with Iranian Presi- dent Hassan Rouhani fol- lowing Monday, according to the agency. The UN meeting had been considered as an opportunity for direct talks between Rouhani and Trump. As the host of the UN’s headquarters, the US is man- dated to offer world leaders and diplomats visas to at- tend meetings there. But as tensions have risen, the US has put increasing restric- tions on Iranians like Zarif. Since becoming Iran’s pres- ident in 2013, Rouhani has spoken each year at the Gen- eral Assembly. The US State Depart- ment said it declined to dis- cuss “private diplomatic cor- respondence” when asked about the Iranian note to the Swiss. Trump separately tweeted Wednesday: “I have just in- structed the Secretary of the Treasury to substan- tially increase Sanctions on the country of Iran!” He did not elaborate. National Secu- rity Council officials declined to comment. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived Wednesday night in the Red Sea city of Jiddah, where he was sched- uled to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Pompeo will later travel to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday to meet with Abu Dhabi’s pow- erful crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Both nations are US allies and have been fighting against the Houthis in Yemen. Pompeo told reporters en route to Saudi Arabia that “it doesn’t matter” whether the Houthis claim they were be- hind the attack. “This was an Iranian attack”, he said. “It doesn’t change the fin- gerprints of the ayatollah as having put at risk the global energy supply,” he said, refer- ring to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khomenei. Earlier in Tehran, Rou- hani told his Cabinet that Saudi Arabia should see the weekend attack as a warning to end its war in Yemen, where it has fought the Houthi rebels since 2015 and sought to restore the internationally recognised government. Rouhani said Yemenis “did not hit hospitals, they did not hit schools or the Sanaa bazaar”, referring to the Saudi-led coalition’s widely criticised air strikes on ci- vilian targets. He added that Iran does not want conflict in the re- gion, but it was the Saudi- led coalition that “waged the war in the region and ru- ined Yemen”. Al-Malki made a point not to directly accuse Iran of firing the weapons or launching them from inside of Iranian territory. O’Brien was among five candidates the Republican president had said Tuesday were being considered for the post, which does not require Senate confirmation. Journalists film what a Saudi military spokesman said was evidence of Iranian weaponry used in the attack that targeted Saudi Aramco’s facilities in Abqaiq and Khurais, during a press conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday. – PHOTO: AP Robert O’Brien has been named by US President Donald Trump as his new national security adviser. – PHOTO: APNext >