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. For a partnership that you can trust contact donovon.kellyman@ihs.ky Your health means the world to us. www.generali-healthcare.com cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS (funding local journalism) Thursday, 24 October 2019 NRA quick fixes are tied to long-term problem Page 3 Under the weeds, life abounds Page 8 Concerns over referendum count Page 5Cullers of the invasive green iguana are getting closer to removing one million of the animals from the wild. As of Saturday, a total of 997,297 of the iguanas had been turned in at the George Town landfill since the Department of Environment’s programme began in October last year. Between 14 and 19 Nov., 18,104 iguanas were culled, according to the latest DoE numbers. Cullers are being paid $4.50 a head, rising to $5 if they meet monthly and annual targets, in an effort to wipe out the invasive species in Grand Cayman. 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 admit- ted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - THURSDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) ABOMINABLE (PG) 12:30 | 2:55 3D | 5:20 | 7:45 ADDAMS FAMILY, THE (2019) (PG) 1:10 3D | 3:55 | 6:30 3D | 9:05 GEMINI MAN (PG13) 1:00 | 4:10 VIP | 6:40 | 9:25 3D VIP JOKER (R) 12:45 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 9:50 MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL (PG) 12:40 | 3:30 3D | 6:25 | 9:15 ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP (R) 1:45 VIP | 3:50 | 7:00 VIP | 9:30 | 10:10 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: T: (345) 949-5111 E: sales@compassmedia.ky W: caymancompass.com PUBLISHER KATHLEEN CAPETTA EDITOR CATHERINE MACGILLIVRAY NEWS PRODUCER AND OPERATIONS MANAGER KEVIN MORALES A MEMBER OF THE INTER- AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” Partly cloudy skies with a 30% chance of showers and possible thunder weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 90°F 78°F HIGH LOW WINDS East to northeast at 10 to 15 knots with higher gust. SEA STATE Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. 0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 WEEK 1WEEK 51 (13-19 Oct) Cumulative TotalPace to reach 1.3 million (Oct. 29-Nov. 3) Culling numbers reach more than 997,000 Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman is moving location. The WORC office in a statement said that, on Monday, 28 Oct., it would be moving from its Midtown Plaza location to a new home at Apollo House West, formerly Walkers House, at 87 Mary Street. Anyone seeking assistance in finding employment or those wanting to register with WORC are encouraged to call ahead to make an appointment, the agency said, adding, “This ensures the officers can allocate the necessary time needed to work with individual persons.” All WORC services currently offered at the building formerly known as Immigration Headquarters on Elgin Avenue will remain the same. For more information, contact 945-9672 or +1(800) 534-9672, email generalqueries@worc.gov.ky or visit www.worc.ky. WORC moving to new home RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Department of Environment has renewed its call for drivers on Cayman Brac to slow down when travelling through areas inhabited by rock iguanas. This comes as local conservationists mourn the death of Gungchul, a rock iguana, after the animal was run over by a vehicle on Tuesday near The Bat Cave, on South Side Road. Gungchul, a 49-year-old iguana, was popularly known on the Brac as ‘Stumpy’ because of his shortened tail. He was among the first rock iguanas tagged by the DoE in 2012. The animal has been one of the faces of conservation efforts on the island to protect the critically endangered species. “Speeding is a big problem,” Martin Van Der Touw, DoE field officer on Cayman Brac, said. “It is virtually impossible to keep them [the rock iguanas] safe. Other than putting up signs and begging people to slow down, that is the most I can do.” He said he has met with Cayman Brac police about the issue and they have set up speed checks on the south side of the Bluff to net errant drivers, adding they are travelling well over the 40mph speed limit. Van Der Touw said the loss of Gungchul was a blow for those who have been working to protect the indigenous iguanas. “Personally, for me, I am pretty sad. Every week you get a call and there is a dead iguana. I would not say demotivating but it is a sad story,” Van der Touw told the Cayman Compass Wednesday. He said the Sister Islands rock iguana species management team has registered four deaths so far this year. “Unfortunately, people do not understand how significant this iguana is to the Cayman Islands. It is only found in the Sister Islands; you do not find it anywhere else in the world. The population numbers are declining,” he said. The DoE told the Compass it will do a survey of Cayman Brac's Sister Islands rock iguana population next year. It said there are more dangers to the rock iguanas on the Brac than on Little Cayman since there are more people living on the larger island, and therefore more traffic, “which poses greater danger to the iguanas. Each road fatality on the Brac involving the rock iguanas is a serious cause for concern due to the small overall population. The busiest known nesting site on the Brac has a road going through it and Sister Islands rock iguanas are often hit on that road,” the DoE said. Van Der Touw said he had one message for Cayman Brac drivers. “Please change your driving habits to be more alert of the iguanas. Pay attention to the signs that are put up,” he urged. If you see an injured or dead Sister Islands rock iguana on Cayman Brac, you can report it to the DoE at 917-7744. Gungchul, the rock iguana, killed on the Brac DoE officials urge drivers to slow down Rock iguana Gungchul in 2013. The animal was killed Tuesday on Cayman Brac. 2MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky Projects in the drawing board stage at the National Roads Authority have been kicked into construction mode in recent weeks as the organisation and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service struggle to address a sudden traffic crunch. Most recently, the NRA has realigned the Red Bay/Prospect section of Shamrock Road, which now has two westbound lanes and one eastbound lane. Lane restrictions and changes have also been made at the Red Bay and Hurley’s roundabouts, and a lane- widening project is under way just west of the Red Bay roundabout. “These are all things that we’ve planned to do anyway,” said Edward Howard, the NRA’s acting managing director. “Because of the traffic issue, we were seeing what kinds of things we could do right now.” The current traffic crisis evolved quickly after schools reopened following summer break. “This all came about primarily as a result of school start times,” Howard said. “Everybody is starting an average of 15 minutes to half an hour earlier. The Bodden Town and Savannah people are entering the road earlier and impacting traffic.” With schools on mid-term break this week, he said, workers are taking advantage of the drop in the number of cars on the road. “With the lighter traffic, we’ve been able to get more done,” he said, adding that crews are pushing to complete as much as they can before classes resume next week. On Friday, Premier Alden McLaughlin and Minister of Infrastructure Joey Hew toured some of the ongoing projects with NRA officials. Hew said he is hoping the work will ease the problem. “We are working our hardest to minimise the amount of time commuters have to spend in traffic,” Hew said. While the changes taking place right now are not major, Howard said a road-widening project is planned that will create three lanes of traffic in each direction between the Hurley’s and Chrissie Tomlinson roundabouts. That project is expected to be completed in 2021. A land dispute has prevented widening Linford Pierson Highway between Agnes Road and Bobby Thompson Way. “We’re hoping we can get some kind of compromise where we can at least get two lanes westbound there,” Howard said. Construction is also expected to begin soon on an extension road connecting Minerva Drive and Sparkys Drive, which has commonly been referred to as the airport bypass. Even with all of these projects, traffic will remain a problem, Howard said. “All you’re doing is getting traffic quicker to another point and it bottlenecks there,” he said. “You’re just shifting bottlenecks all over the place.” He’s hoping the current crunch will force Cayman to address its traffic problem more seriously. “There’s only a finite amount of space,” he said. “We’re going to really have to start to look at ways to minimise dependence on the car and implementation of a proper bus system.” The rate at which cars are being imported also needs to be addressed, he said, along with encouraging telecommuting and building more business centres on the east end of the island so people don’t have to commute long distances. “There’s no one solution,” he said. “It will take additional roads, but it’s going to take other things as well.” He said he’s hoping some of the things being done now by the NRA and the RCIPS - with officers on the roads directing traffic during rush hour - will ease the current crisis and create a manageable flow in the coming weeks. “The police can’t be out there every day,” he said, looking at the long term. “It’s not sustainable.” NRA quick fixes are tied to long-term problem New traffic measures at Grand Harbour roundabout Motorists travelling through the Grand Harbour roundabout will have another traffic adjustment to contend with from Monday. From 4:30pm to 7pm, eastbound traffic entering the roundabout from South Sound Road and westbound traffic entering from Shamrock Road will not be permitted to exit at the Grand Harbour entrance on the roundabout. Instead, drivers from either direciton should exit east onto Shamrock Road and then enter Grand Harbour by turning left onto Bimini Drive. Eastbound traffic entering the roundabout from Crewe Road will not be affected by the restriction and will be permitted to take the first exit to enter Grand Harbour. This change is expected to remain in place on weekday evenings as part of the RCIPS’s continued efforts to ease traffic congestion. The RCIPS reminds the public to follow all traffic directions given by police officers. A traffic light at Hurley's is one of the recent road improvements to help ease commuter traffic. Those accessing Grand Harbour will need to exit east onto Shamrock Road, and then enter Grand Harbour by turning left onto Bimini Drive . During morning rush hour, police have been helping to direct motorists at some of the more problematic areas. 3The Cayman Compass encourages community dialogue on important public matters and is eager to receive letters to the editor that contribute positively to that discourse. Every effort is made to publish submit- ted letters in our print and online editions that meet our criteria. Readers are limited to three published letters per month. Letters are accepted at the editor’s discretion based on the following criteria: • Letters must be no longer than 350 words. • Letters must be written with sensitiv- ity to Cayman Islands’ multi-cultural society and in respectful language that avoids inciting violence or is any way derogatory towards others’ race, religion, or sexual orientation. • Letters must be based on verifiable information; the Compass reserves the right to fact-check letters. • The Compass reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and AP style. • The Compass reserves the right to cut letters to fit available space in the print edition. • Letters must include the author’s name and contain a contact tele- phone number and/or email address. • Due to time constraints, the Compass cannot notify individuals as to wheth- er submissions will be published. The views and comments expressed in letters submitted to the Cayman Compass, its website or any associated social media platforms, are those of the writer and not those of Compass Media. Letters should be emailed to editor@compassmedia.ky. LETTERS Standards and guidelines cartoon Jake Fuller Under a mountain of outdated caricatures and convenient omissions, Gillian Tett’s column [in the Financial Times] on global financial trends, ‘Better data on shadow banking reveals uncomfortable truths (11 Oct.), buried the conclusion that there is “no evidence” that banking practices in international financial centres such as the Cayman Islands “pose significant threats now”. Ms Tett’s column insinuates that the Cayman Islands was among a group of “murky” and “opaque” financial centres, but the OECD’s most current assessment gave Cayman the same transparency rating as the UK, US, Germany, Canada and Australia. Also, after exhaustive consideration, the Council of the European Union assessed the Cayman Islands to be co- operative on transparency. Cayman’s commitment to transparency and information sharing also extends specifically into the banking sector, a key focus of Ms Tett’s column. She commended efforts to produce better data on cross-border financial services but noticeably avoided mentioning that the Cayman Islands is already a significant provider of data to one of the very sources she cites, the Bank for International Settlements. Perhaps her most significant mischaracterisation is to describe financial flows associated with international financial centres as “a mystery wrapped in an enigma for investors”. At the end of 2017, total assets managed by Cayman Islands hedge funds were US$6.93 trillion and net assets were US$4.03 trillion. The large institutional investors that invest capital on this scale don’t do so in environments that are mysterious to them. In fact, global investors understand very clearly the advantages of investing through the Cayman Islands. Cayman offers them a neutral platform in which to pool their capital with others and access a world’s worth of investment opportunities in a single transparent, tax-neutral system with a stable, democratic government and a trusted, experienced legal system. Proponents of better data in financial services are pursuing an important goal, but they should start by being complete and accurate with the information already available. Jude Scott Chief executive, Cayman Finance This letter originally appeared in the 16 Oct. issue of the Financial Times In defence of Cayman’s financial services Please allow me a space in your editorial to highlight a number of issues being faced in the Windsor Park community, which is a part of the George Town South electoral district. These issues were raised by residents at a community meeting held on 17 Oct. Traffic Over the years, commuters have used Oakmill Street and other roads in Windsor Park as 'shortcuts' to beat the morning traffic and get to work on time. It would help residents if, during peak times, a police officer was posted near the entrances to Windsor Park, in particular, from Fairbanks Road and Walkers Road during the period from 7-8:30am. The authorities should also consider fines to discourage drivers from using Windsor Park as an alternative highway. Loud music Community members say that, late at night, sometimes 2am and 3am, they can hear loud music from cars or from late-night parties. If a plainclothes officer patrols these areas, perhaps the police will be able to observe the playing of loud music at late hours. Maybe a ticket or warning can be issued or fine imposed. Unsafe parking Long-time residents say that some drivers leave their cars on the side of the road or park in inappropriate places. This leads to various issues, including the blocking of lanes and making areas inaccessible to emergency vehicles. Perhaps the owners can be fined. Dangerous dogs Residents also complained that, on some occasions while exercising in the area, dogs attacked them. The authorities should ensure that owners keep these dogs in a safe manner so that they do not pose danger to the community. Conclusion Windsor Park residents are hoping that some issues will be curbed with the presence of the new community beat officer. If the authorities view Windsor Park residents with the same level of importance as affluent areas, we can once again enjoy our roads and have the quiet enjoyment of property. Alric Lindsay Windsor Park issues need to be addressed Jude Scott Letters to the editor 4 news N newsJOB FAIR & OPEN HOUSE WWW.VERDANT.KY/JOBFAIR WHEN: Tuesday, October 29, 2019 4PM - 8PM WHERE: Margaritaville Beach Resort Grand Cayman 269 West Bay Road. RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Bodden Town West MLA Chris Saunders has raised the red flag on government’s proposal to have one national counting of ballots on Referendum Day. “That is not something I support, and my colleagues have raised concerns about it,” Saunders said on Wednesday in an interview with the Cayman Compass. He said such a plan runs counter to democracy and puts legislators at a disadvantage when it comes to knowing how their constituents feel about the proposed $200 million cruise berthing and cargo facility. “Ultimately, as a representative of the people, I would very much like to know the thoughts of the people of Bodden Town West and ultimately know what my constituents would feel on the project, whether it is a yes or a no, from that standpoint,” he said. The government’s proposed Referendum Bill will head to the Legislative Assembly for debate on Monday. Contained in its provisions is the proposal for ballots to be counted in one national count. This means all ballot boxes, including those from Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, would have to be transported to a central, secure location at the close of polls on 19 Dec. for Elections Office officials to count. Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell, in a recent interview, said the ballot boxes will be accompanied by international observers and will be transported under police guard to the venue for the counting process to be conducted. He also indicated that the count will be done in the presence of officials from Cruise Port Referendum Cayman, the group that triggered the people-initiated referendum, and government representatives, as well as the international observers. Saunders said he believes such a process will delay the results of the vote. “As per the draft bill that is being proposed, the counting cannot start until all the ballots have been received and I am concerned particularly about the votes coming from Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. What are we going to do? Sit down and wait for them to come in?” he argued. Saunders said the proposed process was not one that was used in the previous referendum. He questioned why there was a change this time around. “Why are we going through to such lengths? Why are we departing from the normal process? Just to hide the results in terms of how each constituency voted. It is my understanding that the premier and his followers are concerned,” he said. He said having the breakdown of the votes is essential to mapping out how the project will be handled thereafter. “If it is a situation of the bulk of the votes come from the eastern districts or the bulk of the 'no' votes come from George Town or the 'yes' votes, it is good for us to have an idea, from a voters’ education standpoint, to basically to go out and further educate people on the certain pros and cons,” he said. Saunders urged his government colleagues to insist that the counting provision be changed so they too have an idea of how their constituents feel. While the provision may be subject to change, depending on Monday’s debate, Saunders said he does not think it will. “Majority rules and, at the end of the day, the premier has the votes and, unfortunately, there is no one on that side that will challenge him and, in effect, it is what he says, goes,” he said. The Premier’s Office, in response to queries from the Compass on Saunders’ concerns, said the national count was not a new practice locally as it was used in the 2009 referendum. “The Government has carefully considered the matter and has determined that it is in the national interest to provide a national count for a referendum on a matter of National Importance. Just as was done in the 2009 referendum,” the statement said. “Between the Elections Office officials, local observers, and international observers there should be no concern around the integrity of the process.” The Premier’s Office said logistically the Elections Office has confirmed that it is satisfied with its ability to efficiently carry out a national count as they did in 2009, while also handling the election count. “Our Elections Office has for decades successfully carried out efficient elections that meet a high standard. The Law allows for local observers selected by the Premier, Leader of the Opposition, and the referendum campaigners to monitor proceedings,” the statement added. Saunders objects to single national count for port referendum Proposed Referendum Day process 7am6pmAfter close Polls openPolls closeBallots from Sister Islands and Grand Cayman taken to central location 9pm3am Anticipated time to start countFinal results anticipated MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky Members of the Cruise Port Referendum Cayman group met with Governor Martyn Roper last Friday to raise their concerns about some aspects of the referendum process and the upcoming vote on 19 Dec. that will determine whether the port project goes forward as planned. CPR member Katrina Jurn said the group told Roper it had problems with a number of issues related to the vote. Those include the following: • The group believes that approximately 200 voters who registered in October should be allowed to participate in the poll. They have been told they are ineligible because they registered too close to the polling date. • It objects to the decision to allow alcohol sales on Referendum Day. Traditionally, alcohol sales are prohibited during elections. • The referendum question includes a reference to the port being used for cargo. The petition, which forced the resolution, only mentioned cruise ship docking and the group feels these are separate issues. • There is a lack of campaign- financing regulations regarding the referendum. Jurn said Roper was “extremely open to hear our concerns”, but made no commitment to the group. In a statement issued by his office, Roper said, “These are matters for Government and will be debated in the Legislative Assembly.” That debate is scheduled to begin Monday. “We’re hoping they will introduce amendments to address some of these concerns,” Jurn said. Cruise Port Referendum group meets with governor “These are matters for Government and will be debated in the Legislative Assembly ." Governor Martyn Roper Bodden Town West MLA Chris Saunders is concerned with government's proposed one national counting of ballots on Referendum Day. cayman compass 5 news N news THURSDAY, 24 OCTOBER 20191234567 8 910 11 12 131415 16 1718 19 2021 2223 1234567 8 910 11 12 131415 16 1718 19 2021 2223 ACROSS 1 Tending to cause fear (8) 5 Object of devotion (4) 9 Search thoroughly (5) 10 Sports venue (7) 11 Duplicitous person (6-6) 13 In haphazard way (6) 14 Not moving or changing (6) 17 After death (12) 20 Generous (7) 21 Edge (5) 22 Grow weary (4) 23 Very inflammable gas (8) DOWN 1 In addition (4) 2 Poor substitute (7) 3 US film comedy quartet (4,8) 4 Method (6) 6 Training exercise (5) 7 5-line comic verse (8) 8 US humorist (5,7) 12 Brochure (8) 15 Very effective (7) 16 Make use of (6) 18 Serious (5) 19 Outer covering (4) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16204 The numbers in the black cells are clues. Numbers above the slash are across clues. Number below the slash are down clues. The goal is to enter digits 1 - 9 in the white cells to add up to the number clues. You cannot enter any digit more than once when adding up to clue. YeSteRDAY'S SOLUtIONS Puzzle 16203 ACROSS: 1 In any case, 8 Deign, 9 Prolong, 10 As such, 11 Remove, 12 Reindeer, 15 Innocent, 18 Embark, 20 Extant, 21 Pre-empt, 22 Tinge, 23 Small talk. DOWN: 2 Nerve, 3 Nelson, 4 Converse, 5 Edison, 6 Diluted, 7 On the rack, 11 Rudiments, 13 Integral, 14 Instant, 16 Cannes, 17 Object, 19 Repel. World & Regional Grim find: 39 dead in UK trafficking case LONDON (AP) - Investigators were trying to piece together the movements of a large cargo truck found Wednesday containing the bodies of 39 people in one of Britain's worst people- smuggling tragedies. Details about the victims, including where they were from, were scarce. Police in southeast England said they have not been identified - a process they warned would be slow. The truck's driver, a 25-year- old man from Northern Ireland, was arrested on suspicion of murder. He has not been charged and his name was not immediately released. He and other drivers who may have been at the wheel before him would have taken advantage of the European Union's generally open borders to travel in several countries without border checks. Britain remains an attractive destination for immigrants, even as the UK is negotiating its divorce from the EU. In Parliament, Prime Minister Boris Johnson put aside the Brexit crisis, at least for a few minutes, and vowed that the people traffickers would be found and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. "All such traders in human beings should be hunted down and brought to justice," he said. Ambulance workers discovered the bodies after being called at 1:40am to a truck on the grounds of the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, 25 miles east of London on the River Thames. No cause of death has been made public. Police said one victim appeared to be a teenager but gave no further details. The cargo truck had a Bulgaria registration, Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry said in a news release. But Bulgarian authorities said they could not yet confirm that the truck had started its journey there. The Foreign Ministry said the Swedish-made "Scania" truck was registered in the Bulgarian Black Sea port city of Varna to a company owned by a woman from Ireland. Chaotic scene as Republicans disrupt impeachment deposition WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans disrupted a closed-door deposition Wednesday with a Defence Department official who was scheduled to answer questions as part of the House impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. Laura Cooper, a senior official who oversees Ukraine policy, arrived Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill to appear before the House panels conducting the investigation. Shortly afterward, more than two dozen Republican House members held a news conference outside the secure room where the deposition was taking place and then pushed into the committee room, bringing the session to a halt. The Republicans decried that the deposition was happening behind closed doors and said Americans should be able to read the transcripts of any interviews being conducted as part of impeachment. Democrats have promised to release the transcripts when they won't affect their investigation. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio said the Republicans are fed up with the secrecy surrounding the investigation. "It's finally reached a boiling point where members just said they are so frustrated at the idea that they can't be a part of this and can't see what's going on," said Jordan, who is the top Republican on the House oversight committee. "We're at a standstill here." "The members have just had it and they want to be able to see and represent their constituents and find out what's going on," he said. Republicans who do not serve on the committees conducting the impeachment inquiry were among those who marched into the secure facility. Some of them brought their cellphones into the secure room where electronics are not allowed, several lawmakers said. Bermuda leader sparks row after cancelling Throne Speech Bermuda Premier David Burt announced this week that the traditional Throne Speech, which is usually delivered by the governor and sets out the government’s plans, will not go ahead this year. Burt said the Bermuda Parliament would continue to meet until December without the traditional Convening of Legislature, according to a report in the Bermuda Royal Gazette newspaper. “The government’s legislative agenda can and should continue without the interruption of the traditional Convening of the Legislature,” Burt said. “I believe there is an interest on both sides in continuing to work on those things that will continue to promote economic growth and activity for Bermuda and advance the social, educational and business support the community needs.” Burt said Speaker of the House Dennis Lister and President of the Senate Joan Dillas-Wright had both agreed to the new schedule. Craig Cannonier, the One Bermuda Alliance Opposition leader, said the traditional Throne Speech delivered by the governor was how the government told the public and businesses what its agenda was for the next year. “Not doing so shows a lack of good leadership and the ability to provide the necessary direction to solve the social and business issues affecting this Island,” Cannonier said. “A leader clearly lays out their plans and communicates them effectively. Not doing so risks losing the trust of the people and can cause unnecessary confusion.” The government’s plans for 2020 would be laid out at the opening night of the PLP’s Annual Delegates Conference on Monday, according to officials. Minister without Portfolio Jamahl Simmons said, “While it has been a tradition, the Throne Speech is not the only manner in which to inform or communicate to the people our plans, and in 2019 we have chosen to save the thousands of dollars spent on the pomp and circumstance and go directly to the people.” news in brief Police forensic officers attend the scene after a truck was found to contain 39 dead bodies, in Thurrock, South England, on Wednesday. Bermuda Premier David Burt 6At the 1 Oct. garden party at Pedro St. James were, from left, Councillor Barbara Conolly, DCFS Director Paulinda Mendoza-Williams, Older Persons Month ambassadors Beulah McField, McFarlane Connolly and John E. Ebanks, Ministry of Community Affairs Chief Officer Teresa Echenique, Older Persons Month ambassador Idalee Scott, Deputy Chief Officer Joan West-Dacres and Councillor David Wight. Older Persons Month will wrap up on Sunday with a gala at Margaritaville Beach Resort. Throughout the month, more than 25 events have been held to celebrate Cayman’s older citizens. These included visits to historic sites, gym classes, a movie outing and spiritual services, organisers said. Activities opened on 1 Oct. with a garden party at Pedro St. James, which attracted more than 300 guests. During the month, seniors took part in ‘Gym Days’, including visits to Bliss Yoga, which hosted its first-ever Seniors Chair Yoga classes that had to be expanded to accommodate demand. King’s Sports Centre and Body Alive Gym hosted a seniors’ class, which showed participants a variety of exercises suited to their fitness levels. A fixture on the annual Older Persons Month calendar, this year’s Circle of Love Fellowship brunch continued to be popular, attracting good attendance despite rainy weather. The event at Triple C School Hall included a brunch, live entertainment and many spot prizes. It was hosted by the Circle of Love Women’s Ministry, which also works in partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services to stage its annual Child Month Breakfast. Seniors also toured Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac in sightseeing excursions. The Harquail Theatre was the setting for a variety show. The acts included comedy skits, folk dancing and singing, poetry recitals and musical interludes with the guitar. Cayman Brac seniors, with assistance from the Public Works Department, put on an old- time cooking event at the Youth Development Centre last Friday. With tents, a caboose and a sound system, the event included two cooking demos and attendees enjoyed the outdoor-indoor social. Premier Alden McLaughlin also travelled to the Brac for a church service honouring elderly citizens at Crossroads United Baptist. Seniors take part in 25 events for Older Persons Month Participants of the second annual RBC Royal Bank’s United Against Bullying 5k walk/run gather at Heroes Square early Sunday morning to take a stance against bullying. United Against Bullying 5k walk/run ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Two would-be thieves fled emptyhanded from a jewellery store in George Town after a clerk outsmarted them. Images of the men entering the Caribbean Jewellers store on Monday afternoon and engaging with an employee were captured on CCTV footage seen by the Cayman Compass. The men began by asking the clerk to try if they could try on various rings, bracelets and chains; each time checking the price before requesting to see another item. Upon noticing that the men were ignoring her requests to return the jewellery before they tried out something else, the employee called for back-up and locked the door to prevent the men from leaving. In the video, one of the men, who at the time was wearing the store’s most expensive chain, can be seen trying to exit the shop several times. His excuse was that he needed to use the bathroom, and he would return in five minutes. Meanwhile, the second man can be seen trying to open display cases, but all were locked. The men soon became aggressive and tried to push the clerk away from the door. They managed to unlock the door and fled the store, but without any jewellery. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, in a statement about attempted theft, said they were called to the store shortly after 2:30pm. The first suspect is described as tall with dark complexion and of slim built. He was wearing a dark-coloured baseball hat, white shirt, long dark pants and slippers. The second suspect, who was shorter, was also of dark complexion, and was wearing a dark-coloured hoodie, dark shorts and black shoes. Police said the men, upon leaving the store, head east along Dr. Roy’s Drive. Both men were unarmed. The RCIPS is advising the public and retail staff “to be wary of these types of thefts, where a distraction is attempted by one person to allow another to make off with property. As always, report any suspicious activity to the police.” The men began by asking the clerk to try if they could try on various rings, brackets and chains; each time checking the price before requesting to see another item . Search is on for would-be thieves WATCH THE VIDEO ONLINE CAYMANCOMPASS.COM 7JAMES WHITTAKER Jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Sargassum may be a scourge to tourist-based communities when it washes ashore, but on the open ocean it is home to a weird and wonderful community of unusual creatures. The large floating mats of algae provide shelter for juvenile fish, eels and sea turtles. Flying fish lay their eggs amid this tangled mass. A vast cast of eclectic critters, like the thumbnail-sized sargassum frog fish, live their entire lives within the weed. Underneath, dolphinfish school in the shadow of these floating forests. While the proliferation of sargassum across the central Atlantic and Caribbean in recent years has undoubtedly been bad for some coastal communities, whether this upsurge is bad for the natural world is a more complex question. It is true that clogged-up beaches and inlets have created problems for nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings. But offshore, in the wide expanse of the Atlantic, mats of sargassum are an oasis for marine life. “Although it is presenting humans with many problems when it washes ashore, while at sea it is one of the most dynamic and significant marine environments,” says Jim Franks, senior research scientist at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. “It is more than a habitat; it is an entire ecosystem in the open ocean.” A wide variety of animals rely on sargassum for food, shelter and habitat, says Franks, whose lab was among the first research groups to identify the massive new bloom of this macro algae that is fuelling the inundation of Caribbean beaches. Analysis by the University of South Florida has since demonstrated that sargassum, which barely registered on satellite imagery in the central Atlantic prior to 2010, exploded to the point where an estimated 20 million tons of it, spanning 5,500 miles of ocean, were recorded in 2018. The question that researchers are now trying to answer is if this explosion of new habitat may bring Captain Nemo and the Sargasso Sea Sargassum is typically found in the Sargasso Sea. The body of water is unique in nature because it has no land boundaries and is bordered instead by a powerful system of circulating currents in the North Atlantic around Bermuda. Perhaps one of the most eloquent descriptions of the area and its eponymous floating weed comes from Jules Verne in his classic 19th century novel, '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea', about the voyage of the Nautilus submarine. “Such was the region our Nautilus was visiting just then: a genuine prairie, a tightly woven carpet of algae, gulfweed, and bladder wrack so dense and compact a craft's stempost couldn't tear through it without difficulty. Accordingly, not wanting to entangle his propeller in this weed–choked mass, Captain Nemo stayed at a depth some meters below the surface of the waves.” Under NORTH AMERICA SOUTH AMERICA AFRICA with it an accompanying explosion of marine life. “That is something we don’t fully understand yet,” says Franks. Marine organisms typically found in clumps of sargassum in its natural habitat, the Sargasso Sea surrounding Bermuda, are showing up in the new blooms further south. “We don’t know what impact this is having on mahi mahi or sea turtles, for example. It is something that we really need to study,” Franks says. While he acknowledges that much of the research around the new sargassum bloom will focus on how to stop or suppress it, Franks believes there is scope to study its impact on marine life. “We realise the hardship that this is bringing to many people, but this is also an extremely important habitat,” he added. the weed, life abounds On shore sargassum is a menace, but in the open ocean it is a life sustaining oasis. “We realise the hardship that this is bringing to many people, but this is also an extremely important habitat.” Jim Franks , University of Southern Mississippi A frogfish, the size of a thumbnail and camouflaged in the streaky brown colour of sargassum, lives its entire life within the weed. cayman compass 8 I issues THURSDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2019KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Inundations of sargassum on Caribbean beaches may be impacting turtle nesting. At sea, sargassum provides vital shelter for a variety of species. Young turtle hatchlings even hitch rides on these floating mats, as they venture into the open ocean. But when the algae comes ashore in significant quantities, this beneficial relationship is betrayed. Seaweed-clogged beaches are no longer accessible by female turtles for nesting. Later, hatchlings may find themselves trapped in the mounds and die. “A moderate amount of sargassum on beaches does not interfere with turtle nesting,” says Janice Blumenthal of the Department of Environment. “However, massive sargassum influxes can prevent female turtles from nesting, deprive turtle nests of oxygen, interfere with the emergence of baby turtles from the sand, and make it more difficult for baby turtles to reach the open ocean.” Beyond creating a physical barrier, sargassum can alter turtle habitat in other ways, such as temperature, explains researcher Brigitta van Tussenbroek with the Caribbean Seagrass Lab of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. The sex of sea turtles is determined by egg temperature during incubation. Van Tussenbroek says researchers in Mexico are keeping an eye on how changes in beach temperatures, created by mounds of sargassum, could alter the sex ratio of hatchlings. Another threat to turtle nests, van Tussenbroek says, is that the mass of organic material on the beach can cause the eggs to rot. Why not just remove the sargassum? Preventing sargassum-related turtle deaths isn’t as easy as simply clearing away the seaweed, unfortunately. Using heavy machinery to move beached sargassum, for example, can compact the sand and crush turtle nests. This is one reason the Department of Environment requires consultation before cleaning sargassum from beaches. “The DoE’s Environmental Management Unit issues same-day letters of approval for sargassum clearance on turtle-nesting beaches so that turtle nests in the area can be protected,” Blumenthal says. Property owners who wish to use machinery will need to contact the Environmental Management Unit at emu.doe@gov.ky. The department will then advise if there are any known turtle nests on the beach. Blumenthal and van Tussenbroek differ on their assessment over whether sargassum influxes should be harvested on land or at sea. In Mexico, van Tussenbroek says researchers in Quintana Roo are advising government to tackle the problem at sea to minimise environmental damage. “When it's at the beach, the damage is already done. That's the problem. Even if you collect it quickly, which most of the time you can't … the huge masses cause beach erosion,” van Tussenbroek says. “The huge masses cause what we have started to call 'sargassum brown tide' and they cause anoxia, lower pH and light inhibition. They kill basically all the benthos [marine organisms] that are there. The benthos also fixes the sand, so [that’s] more beach erosion.” She adds the nutrients in sargassum can also flood the reef system. In Cayman, however, environmental authorities discourage collection at sea. “Collection of sargassum in the open ocean is not recommended due to its significant ecological value for hundreds of marine species,” Blumenthal says. “However, the collection of sargassum close to shore is something that is currently being trialled by at least one private sector company on Cayman with the DoE’s oversight.” The near-shore approach would result in little sand removal, she explains. Another method being explored in Cayman is capturing sargassum in booms or containment nets at sea and rerouting the seaweed to the open ocean. “However, since the presence of moderate amounts of sargassum is known to assist with the recovery of eroded beaches (and this has also been observed in Cayman) the DoE is keen to ensure that we strike the right balance with respect to sargassum removal generally,” Blumenthal says. Across the Caribbean, coastal communities are grappling with the same dilemma over sargassum best practices. Much remains to be researched across the region, including the long-term effect of sargassum influxes on sea turtle populations. “At this stage, the impact on turtles is still being quantified, but we believe the biggest impact is due to indiscriminate use of heavy equipment on beaches to clear sargassum,” Blumenthal says. For sea turtles and sargassum, the relationship is complicated For more information on sargassum removal and turtle protection, read the DoE’s Turtle Conservation Plan at http://doe.ky/natl-conservation-council/proposed-species-conservation-plans/. “Collection of sargassum in the open ocean is not recommended due to its significant ecological value for hundreds of marine species.” Janice Blumenthal , Department of Environment A sea turtle struggles back to sea after laying its eggs on a sargassum-strewn beach in Antigua. A turtle hatchling in Cayman Brac navigates the seaweed. 9Next >