SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY SPICY GRILLED CRISPY SANDICHES I W CK ANDW CHICKEN ICHE E cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism | Monday, 30 December 2019 Year in review: Cayman's royal treat Page 10 HSA aims to honour nurses and midwives Page 5 MBE for Charles Clifford Page 3 A special Christmas delivery or es rd Baby Ayden born on Christmas Day. Page 5According to a statement by the Department of Tourism on 27 Dec., between January and November this year, Cayman recorded 448,551 stayover visitors – 37,567 more than during the same period last year. The number surpasses all January through November air arrivals statistics on record. Last month alone, 38,463 stayover visitors came to Cayman. The DOT stated that there was a continued growth in the number of visitors from Canada, Europe and Latin America. Earlier statistics for the first three quarters of the year showed that, because of a decline of 5.9% in the number of cruise ship tourists arriving, there was an overall drop of 2.7% in the total number of tourists. Despite that dip in numbers, Cayman saw an 8% overall increase in the amount of money spent between January and September this year, with visitors spending $700.9 million. “As we approach the year end, I am proud of the strategic efforts led by my Ministry and the Department to continue growing visitation,” said Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell in a statement. “My tourism team and I are committed to the future success of our industry and wish everyone a safe and joyous holiday season.” Following devastation wrought by hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, several cruise ship companies redirected their routes from parts of the affected Eastern Caribbean to the Cayman Islands, resulting in a sharp increase in cruise tourism locally. Now that the Eastern Caribbean is recovering and re-opening ports, the cruise ships are returning to their original routes. • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) CATS (PG) 1:05 | 7:15 | 10:00 DABANGG 3 (PG) 3:45 | 9:20 FROZEN 2 1:00 | 3:40 3D | 6:30 JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL (PG13) 1:15 VIP | 4:10 | 7:05 | 9:55 LITTLE WOMEN (PG) 12:45 | 4:00 | 9:20 SPIES IN DISGUISE (PG) 1:40 | 4:20 3D | 6:50 STAR WARS: RISE OF THE SKYWALKER (PG13) 12:30 3D | 4:25 VIP | 7:30 | 8:00 VIP 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 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” Mainly fair skies with less than a 20% chance of showers, becoming partly cloudy by evening with a higher chance of showers. Partly cloudy over the Sister Islands with a 20% chance of showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 86°F 72°F HIGH LOW WINDS Light and variable winds over Grand Cayman, east to southeasterly at 5 to 10 knots over the Sister Islands. SEA STATE Smooth with wave heights of less than 2 feet. Record number of stayover tourists in Cayman ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky The latest tourism statistics show an increase of 9.14% in stayover visits by the end of November this year. Last month alone, 38,463 stayover visitors came to Cayman. 448,551 The number of stayover tourists who arrived in Cayman between January and November 2019. cayman compass 2 N news MONDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2019Customs and Border Control director Charles Clifford has been appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honours List. The award, which was approved by Queen Elizabeth II, celebrates Clifford’s contributions to customs and border control in the Cayman Islands. Clifford is the only Caymanian to be recognised in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List. “I humbly accept this honour and sincerely thank those who nominated me for it,” Clifford said in a government statement issued Friday. “My extensive public service career has been diverse and rewarding and I am very grateful for the opportunities which it provided for me.” Clifford’s career began in 1980 as a 16-year-old police cadet. He progressed through the ranks of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and reached the position of Chief Inspector in charge of Police Administration. In total, Mr. Clifford served 17 years as a police officer. He went on to study law and earned a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) Degree from the University of Liverpool in 1995 and a Professional Practice Certificate from the Queen’s University of Belfast one year later. Clifford was appointed senior assistant secretary in the Ministry of Tourism in 1997 and was promoted to permanent secretary in 2001. In 2004, after 24 years of public service, Clifford resigned from the Cayman Islands government and joined law firm Quin & Hampson before being elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Bodden Town in 2005. He was subsequently appointed as the Minister of Tourism, Environment, Investment and Commerce and he served in that post until 2009. Clifford was called to the bar in the Cayman Islands in 2012 and was admitted as an attorney-at-law. In that year, he opened his own law firm, Clifford Law Associates, and partnered with two other local attorneys. In 2015, he was appointed as Collector of Customs and subsequently became the Director of Customs and Border Control. “Charles Clifford and I have been friends since we were boys,” Premier Alden McLaughlin said in the statement. “I am proud of his achievements in service to the people of the Cayman Islands.” Clifford earlier this year led the merger of elements of the former Immigration and Customs departments to form Customs and Border Control. “Many congratulations to Charles Clifford,” Governor Martyn Roper said in the statement. “This award recognises a very long and distinguished career in service to the Cayman Islands. The work Charles has begun to transform CBC is of vital importance to the safety and security of the territory, and we have come a long way in a short space of time.” “I also wish to thank my colleagues in the Customs and Border Control Service for their unwavering support,” Clifford said. “The successful merger of our Customs and Immigration departments would not have been possible without their contribution, and so I accept this honour recognising the very important role which each of them played in my nomination for this award.” MBE for Charles Clifford The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is the fifth- highest ranking Order of the British Empire award, behind Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE), Knight/Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE or DBE), Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) and Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE). MBEs are often awarded to individuals who have made positive impacts in their line of work. What is an MBE? 1890 The year in which New Year's Honours were first awarded, when a list of Queen Victoria’s awards was published by the London Gazette. ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky A year after Darrington Ebanks was shot and killed at a Christ- mas party in his home district of West Bay, police have renewed calls for witnesses to come forward. In the early morning hours of Christmas Day this year, police carried out a walkthough at the scene of the fatal shooting, which occurred on Christmas Day 2018 in the vincity of King Road and Florence Lane. Within hours of Ebanks’ death, police arrested 21-year- old William Isaac Ebanks Romero. Shortly before his trial was due to begin in June 2019, prosecutor Greg Walcolm entered a ‘nolle prosequi’, which indicated that the Crown did not intend to proceed, and Ebanks Romero was discharged and released. Royal Cayman Islands Police Detective Superintendent Pete Lansdown said the unwillingness of witnesses to come forward in certain cases is becoming all too familiar. “It is unfortunate that these things happen in Cayman,” said Lansdown. “We are seeing where cases are being dismissed because people are not coming forward. We want people to come forward and give evidence against the wrongdoers.” Lansdown made the comments during an interview earlier this month when he was making a similar appeal for witnesses to come forward. On that occasion, he was appealing for witnesses in the manslaughter case of Dinesh Asanka Fernando Wannukawatta-Waduge, 36, of Sri Lanka. Two men arrested in relation to the incident remain in custody; a third man was released on bail conditions. Anyone with information about the shooting of Darrington Ebanks can call at the RCIPS Major incident room at 649-3008. Anonymous tips can also be provided to the RCIPS via the confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, or via the Miami- based call centre of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS). Police renew call for witnesses in 2018 Christmas Day murder cayman compass 3 N MONDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2019 news CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky A mother who donates Christmas gifts in memory of her late daughter delivered toys to children in the paediatric ward of the Cayman Islands Hospital during the festive season this year. Chastine Rankine, a Customs and Border Control Services administration officer, donated the gifts to the ward on Christmas Eve. The latest donations are continuing a tradition of donating toys to the ward and to Miss Nadine’s Preschool that Rankine has had every year for the past six years to honour her daughter, Martika Tiffani Rankine, who died from leukaemia in 2001. “My goal [that] I wish to accomplish through these donations is really for the memory of my daughter, who loved kids and liked giving back to others,” Rankine said. She said she hopes to continue to do this every year until she is no longer able to. Rankine also will be delivering toys to Miss Nadine’s Preschool on 3 Jan. Christmas gifts for paediatric ward Chastine Rankine, left, and Darwin Elvis Cook-Bodden, right, deliver presents at the Cayman Islands Hospital's paediatric ward on Christmas Eve. Charles CliffordFridAY'S SOLUTiONS 123456 78 910 1112 13 141516 17 181920 21 2223 24 123456 78 910 1112 13 141516 17 181920 21 2223 24 Puzzle 16259 ACROSS: 1 Clang, 4 Spartan, 8 Map, 9 At an angle, 10 Abreast, 11 Agony, 13 Trifle, 15 String, 18 Manly, 19 On paper, 21 Nightmare, 23 Lee, 24 Roguery, 25 Sleet. DOWN: 1 Compact, 2 Apportion, 3 Ghana, 4 Scanty, 5 Adamant, 6 Tug, 7 Needy, 12 On impulse, 14 Layette, 16 Garment, 17 Romany, 18 Minor, 20 Press, 22 Gag. ACrOSS 1 Be wildly enthusiastic (2,9) 9 Audition (7) 10 Distinguish oneself (5) 11 Stagger (4) 12 To manacle (8) 14 Zigzag ski race (6) 16 Grab suddenly (6) 18 Of late (8) 19 Extend across (4) 22 Dim (5) 23 Body height (7) 24 Due to be discussed (2,3,6) dOWN 2 Egg-shaped (5) 3 Empty space (4) 4 Motley assortment (6) 5 Cooked too long (8) 6 Narrate (7) 7 Summary treatment (5,6) 8 Suspenseful situation (11) 13 Of highest quality (8) 15 Sale by bidding (7) 17 Northernmost US state (6) 20 Strike repeatedly (5) 21 Look fixedly (4) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16261 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. Government struggles to house DCFS and NAU clients With the exception of sick and elderly, are these dependent folks giving back in the way of work of any kind? If not, why not? They are just handed money vouchers, and live rent free. Governments can’t afford to support folks who are able bodied, and can give back. Long gone are the days of handouts, or should be. Money is too tight, as this piece illustrates with sub-standard housing. Let’s help these people help themselves. There may be some very talented folks whose talents aren’t being tapped. Lukishi Brown For decades, CIG has punished those who did not keep up with the booming economy, although the people had no knowledge of what to expect nor any guidance on how to manage their money when the “boom” did begin; one thing they were taught was the indoctrination of “the foreign investor”; no one told us that we could become investors, too. CIG did not prepare Caymanians at the start of the growing economic boom, many of whom are now senior citizens, and now they and their generations are being negatively affected by this lack of preparation. There was no strong growth in the education structure to equip Caymanian students in finance here in the country, there were no community programs that taught about investing money; there still do not exist community teachings on “make a little, save a little, have a lot” simply because we do not know those principles to teach them. My people perish for the lack of knowledge. The more we progress, the less benefits there are for Caymanians, it seems, and more are comparing their situation to prisoners, stating that “at least in prison I will have shelter and three meals a day, with access to health services”. Although our detention centres and, yes, Northward Prison, have been condemned as “deplorable”, they are now the envy for some Caymanians who are entitled to food, water, shelter and medical care, all provisioned for in all human rights charters. We should all be alarmed that prison is viewed by the homeless as a means of relief from hunger and the elements. This is the degree of hopelessness and helplessness being experienced in this country by many. CIG’s response years ago was not to provide a cure for the growing canker but to cover it with a band-aid called “NAU”; what it did was remove the ability for one to say the government had not recognised that there were “needs” in the country and did not have a “unit” to “assess” those needs. Kattina Anglin Since 2016? It could have been rebuilt or repaired 10 times already. Where were they going to “relocate” that elderly lady? I don’t see a moving truck ready to help her with the “relocation”. Forcibly entering premises is not a relocation, it is an eviction. L. Bell Year in review: The KAABOO that came and went It was also, without question, the most environmentally destructive festival the Cayman Islands has ever seen. Next time they come, tell them to bring trees and mangroves to plant. Amy Mobley That site was always planned to be developed by Dart and will ultimately still be developed by them into something else. People keep thinking that the land was developed for the festival but if you review the files at Planning, there were other development plans originally approved prior to KAABOO Cayman even being conceived. Not to say that Planning shouldn’t force developers to maintain a certain percentage of natural environment or plan around critical species of plants or very old trees. I have seen plans approved by Planning where had there been a site survey of important trees, etc., buildings could have been shifted a few feet in order to avoid destroying the trees/ plants. Sean J. A. Scott Police: Don’t become a post-holiday season victim Buy a very large dog with lots of teeth and dont feed it for a week. That could have an adverse effect on a burglars timetable if introduced to said pooch. Jerry Young What they’re saying cartoon It's over - By Caymanman Ahhh, it's over with. Now, bring me some more rum and book that cruise to the Cayman Islands. cayman compass 4 news N news MONDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2019CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s Health Services Authority is taking on the World Health Organization’s 2020 initiative called the ‘Year of the Nurse and Midwife’ in honour of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. Starting in 2020, the HSA says it wants to highlight nurses and midwives across Cayman by recognising their staff and informing the public about the field of nursing. This sustainable initiative is significant to WHO for the strengthening of universal health coverage. WHO reported that internationally, the world needs 9 million more nurses and midwives, to achieve universal health coverage by 2030. WHO says midwifery could avert more than 80% of all maternal deaths, stillbirths and neonatal deaths. “The WHO has provided a unique opportunity both for countries to demonstrate how much they appreciate their nurses and midwives, and to showcase what more nurses and midwives can achieve if given the support to do so. Investing in nursing and midwifery will make an enormous contribution to the rapid, cost-effective and high- quality scaling up of universal healthcare,” Lord Nigel Crisp, co-chair of the Nursing Now campaign said. Responding to an enquiry from the Cayman Compass, the HSA agreed there is a need for nurses and midwives locally and globally. A spokesperson said, as the nursing workforce ages and retires, fewer people are entering the profession than are leaving it. The HSA currently employs 194 nurses, 30% of whom are Caymanian. It also employs 21 midwives, 24% of whom are Caymanian. The HSA stated that nursing is a critical part of any healthcare workforce and the global shortage of nurses is having a big impact on all healthcare provisions. In highlighting this profession, the authority hope to raise the profile of nurses and awareness to the population. “This is a once-in-a- generation opportunity for governments to really show nurses and midwives how much they are valued; not by empty words, but by effective, decisive action to give us the human and physical resources needed to get the job done,” Crisp said. Starting in 2020, the HSA will be celebrating the contribution of nurses and midwives by a variety of activities, including nurses’ awards, revitalisation of a nursing conference, and a nursing career fair, among other sustainable initiatives. HSA aims to honour nurses and midwives 194 The number of nurses employed by the Health Services Authority in Cayman 21 The number of HSA midwives Baby Ayden born on Christmas Day Santa was not the only one delivering presents this year on Christmas. Ayden McField-Brown was the first baby born on Christmas Day 2019. He was delivered at 6:06pm on 25 Dec. at the Cayman Islands Hospital, according to a statement from the Health Services Authority. Ayden came in weighing 6 pounds, 15 ounces. Parents Kaitlyn and Thomas McField-Brown are happy for the safe delivery and healthy baby boy. “My husband is super excited he was born on Christmas day,” said Kaitlyn. A special Christmas delivery 6 pounds, 15 ounces Weight of Cayman's Christmas Day baby, Ayden McField-Brown Kaitlyn McField-Brown with her Christmas baby, Ayden. Chemotherapy nurse Andrew Ward and patient Eyleen Pino. Registered neonatal nurse Kerry Bennett-Reed attends to a newborn. The Jamaica Gleaner reported Guyana Finance Minister Winston Jordan has filed a lawsuit against the Kaieteur News and its editor Adam Harris, claiming he had been libelled by a story carried by the newspaper earlier this year. Jordan is seeking damages of more than GUY$50 million (US$238,000) after the newspaper published a letter on 18 Oct. this year under the headline ‘Terminate a monster in its shell or it will come back to haunt you’. In the lawsuit, Jordan is claiming that the letter portrayed him as “corrupt, immoral and was capable of corruptly influencing and/or affecting and did so corruptly influence or affect a decision to terminate a contract between a Trinidad- based company and Guyoil”. In addition, the finance minister is seeking GUY$50 million in damages for libel allegedly committed by the online version of the newspaper on 18 Oct. Jordan also wants a mandatory injunction compelling the newspaper and the editor to remove the article from its online site. According to the lawsuit, as a result of the headlines and articles and its dissemination, online and offline, Jordan’s personal and professional reputation and standing has been irreparably and severely damaged, lowered in the estimation of right- thinking members of society. Regional Guyana finance minister files lawsuit against newspaper 5ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Hundreds of tickets have been issued for multiple traffic offences during the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service’s annual holiday safety campaign. Police traffic operations kicked off on 1 Dec. and, as of 24 Dec., 28 people had been arrested for driving under the influence. A statement from the RCIPS reads, “Several persons have been arrested with a blood alcohol content of over twice the legal limit.” In Cayman, the limit is 0.100% (100 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood). Three people were also arrested for DUI on Christmas Day, with two of them being over twice the legal limit, police said. During the holiday crackdown, five people were also arrested on suspicion of driving while disqualified or driving without being qualified. In total, as of 24 Dec., 213 tickets had been issued for speeding, 164 tickets for using a phone while driving, and 563 for illegal tint. With New Year’s Eve celebrations a few days away, police say they will continue their road safety campaign, and are urging residents who intend to drink, not to drive. To this end, police have once again partnered up with the National Drug Council to provide the Purple Ribbon Bus service. The New Year’s Eve Purple Ribbon Bus service begins on 31 Dec. at 9pm and runs until 4am on 1 Jan. It provides free bus rides between West Bay, George Town and Bodden Town every 15 minutes, as well as occasional service to East End and North Side. “These programmes provide additional incentives for persons to choose not to drink and drive, especially during the busy period between Christmas and the New Year,” said Inspector Dwayne Jones of the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit. “So if you do intend to drink, it is essential that you make plans in advance to use one of these alternatives, whether that means taking advantage of the Designated Driver campaign, taking a taxi, or using the Purple Ribbon Bus on New Year’s Eve. Whatever the situation, there is no excuse for choosing to drink and drive.” Three-car crash Police also reported a three- car collision on 26 Dec., involving a stolen car. The crash happened shortly after 11pm on Boxing Day on Bodden Town Road near Woods Close when a vehicle that had been pulling out into the westbound lane collided with another vehicle in that lane. it then collided with a second vehicle parked along the roadside. Police said the driver of the second vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including a broken bone, and was transported to the Cayman Islands Hospital for treatment. The occupants of the first car fled the scene on foot, leaving the vehicle behind. This vehicle was later reported stolen. The third vehicle was unoccupied at the time of the collision, police said. Police continue holiday road safety campaign ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky A teenager who broke into his uncle’s house and attempted to rob him at gunpoint was sentenced to more than two years in prison last week. The teen, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, simple burglary, possession of cocaine and possession of cocaine with intent to supply. Court documents revealed that, in March this year, sometime after 10pm, a 66-year-old George Town man had gone to bed after checking on his 93-year-old mother who was staying in the room next to his. After being awoken by a loud noise at his door, the man attempted to prevent two intruders from entering, but they were able to push their way in. The intruders’ faces were not covered, but both were wearing hoodies. One of the intruders was armed with a gun and the other brandished a metal pipe. The man recognised the gunman as his nephew, and the person with the pipe as his nephew’s friend. The nephew then pointed the gun at his uncle and demanded cash. When he refused, a struggle ensued, according to the court documents. While trying to fight off the intruders, the man reached for a machete and the man with the metal pipe hit him on his hand. Eventually, the intruders made their escape on foot, empty-handed. The following day, when the teen was arrested, police found cocaine on him. He was charged with aggravated burglary, and later released on bail. Six months later, he was re-arrested after trying to pick the locks of his friend’s house. Initially, the teen said he was there to see his friend who was expecting him, but that was later discovered not to be true. During an initial sentencing hearing, prosecutor Nicole Petit told Justice Linda Dobbs that she was somewhat conflicted about whether to seek a suspended sentence or a custodial sentence. “My lady, I must say that after having read a very moving and touching letter by the defendant, the Crown is now left to consider whether a suspended sentence could be passed instead of a custodial one,” said Petit. “However, I am reminded of what has been said by people who know [the defendant]. They provide a narrative, that [he] knows how to say the right words and can be very manipulative.” Petit ultimately argued that despite the defendant pleading guilty, the custody threshold had been passed and the appropriate sentence would be between two and four years. She also added that the defendant does not respect court orders, as evidenced by the fact that he had committed the second offence of burglary while on bail for the first incident, which was still before the courts. “We have to agree that the time has come to draw a line in the sand and bring home to him the importance of his actions,” said Petit. The defendant’s lawyer Rupert Wheeler said the defendant was a classic example of a young man who was destined to end up running afoul of the law. “[The defendant’s] mother was a drug addict, who herself was still growing up when he had him,” said Wheeler. “He didn’t have much of a male presence in his life either, and so he was left to raise himself. This is the time to tell him this is his final chance, an opportunity to show the courts he can be trusted.” Wheeler told the court that the few weeks his client had served in prison has significantly changed him. “Since being arrested, he has learned that he is going to be a father,” said Wheeler. “He has been able to find work. Should he be released on a suspended sentence, he will be able to return to work. Furthermore, there are several conditions that could be imposed on him as part of his release order that would prevent him from getting into trouble.” But before he could present any conditions, the court was reminded by the probation office that all options had been explored, and because the defendant had committed the crimes against his family, specifically his uncle and grandmother, they were hesitant to have him return to their home. The probation office also warned that without a stable environment, the defendant was at high risk of reoffending. When dealing with the cocaine offences, the courts heard that an older person had given him the cocaine and told him he had to sell it. The defendant did not reveal the name of the person. The teen was sentenced to two years and one month for the aggravated burglary. A sentence of nine months was also handed down for the attempted burglary, which is to run concurrent to the first sentence. Justice Dobbs ordered that time spent in custody be deducted from his sentence. It is illegal to name a defendant, who at the time of the crime, or sentencing, is 16 years old or younger. For this reason, the Cayman Compass is not releasing the identity of the defendant. Teen sentenced for aggravated burglary The courthouse building in downtown George Town. Police arrested two people for DUI on Christmas Day who were over twice the legal limit. 28 DUI arrests 213 speeding tickets 164 tickets for cellphones 563 tickets for illegal tint cayman compass 6 news N news MONDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2019Spain pulled into diplomatic spat between Bolivia, Mexico LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) – A tense diplomatic feud between Bolivia’s conservative interim government and Mexico expanded to include Spain on Friday when a confrontation broke out as Spanish diplomats visited the Mexican ambassador’s residence in La Paz, where members of the ousted leftist government have taken refuge. Bolivian Foreign Minister Karen Longaric complained that Spanish diplomats were accompanied by masked and armed men on a visit to the residence, calling that an abuse of Bolivia’s sovereignty. She said a protest would be lodged with the European Union, United Nations and Organization of American States. Television stations broadcast images of a masked person getting out of a Spanish diplomatic vehicle and exchanging words with local police. Civilians then approached and began attacking the car, shouting that there could be an attempt to free nine officials sheltered inside. The interim government already has been feuding with Mexico, which not only gave refuge to the nine, but also sheltered ousted leader Evo Morales when he resigned the presidency on 10 Nov. after losing the support of the military and police following days of turbulent protests over alleged fraud in his reelection bid. Bolivian officials accuse several of those inside the embassy of electoral fraud as well as sedition and terrorism for their alleged role in protests that followed Morales’ ouster. Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department said the incident came as police intercepted Spanish embassy vehicles that were returning to the Mexican mission to pick up the ranking Spanish diplomat, who had made a “courtesy visit” to the Mexican ambassador. Human rights commission asks El Salvador for records SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights asked El Salvador on Saturday to turn over records related to the country’s civil war to the courts and victims of alleged human rights abuses. In a preliminary report following a recent visit to the country, the commission also requested that missing or destroyed documents from the period be reconstructed. Defense Ministry officials told the human rights commission that there are no records detailing who was in charge of military operations during the 12-year conflict, which claimed more than 75,000 lives. Of particular interest are records related to the 1981 El Mozote massacre, in which 989 civilians were killed. The killings were allegedly perpetrated by soldiers seeking to root out guerrilla forces during the country’s civil war. Bodies were found torched inside a church, and forensic scientists uncovered 136 skeletons of children in one mass grave in the community. Death toll in Chile protests rises to 27 SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) – Chile’s human rights watchdog is calling for an investigation into the electrocution death of a man during anti-government protests. The death during clashes between police and protesters on Friday raised the number of those killed during protests that started in October to at least 27. The man who died was 40 years old and was electrocuted after falling into a pit with cables during chaotic street scenes, according to police and local media. The death happened during a protest in Plaza Italia, a focal point of unrest in the capital of Santiago. The demonstrations started over an increase in the subway fare and eventually encompassed grievances about pensions, education, healthcare and other issues. Demonstrations are frequently held on Friday, and a movie theatre burned in the latest clashes. Firefighters said the building was badly damaged and the cause would be investigated. A sign announces Mexico’s embassy where Bolivian police stand guard in La Paz, Bolivia, on 26 Dec. Mexico’s Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said the agents, who also stand around the Mexican ambassador’s residence, appear to threaten Mexico’s right to give asylum to nine former officials of ousted leader Evo Morales. Regional news in brief cayman compass 7 MONDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2019 news N newscayman compass 8 MONDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2019 World news in brief Sydney New Year’s fireworks to go ahead despite wildfires PERTH, Australia (AP) – Sydney’s iconic New Year’s Eve fireworks will go ahead despite the wildfire crisis to show the world Australia’s resiliency, the prime minister said, while authorities on Sunday braced for conditions to deteriorate with high temperatures. Prime Minister Scott Morrison also announced financial support for some volunteer firefighters in New South Wales, the state worst hit by wildfires ravaging the nation. “The world looks at Sydney every single year and they look at our vibrancy, they look at our passion, they look at our success,” he said. “In the midst of the challenges that we face, subject to the safety considerations, I can think of no better time to express to the world just how optimistic and positive we are as a country.” The City of Sydney Council gave the green light although fire authorities warned that the fireworks could be cancelled if catastrophic conditions are declared. Morrison said that eligible volunteer firefighters will receive 300 Australian dollars (US$209) a day, up to AU$6,000 ($4,190) in total, if called out to battle blazes for more than 10 days. The compensation focused on people who are self-employed or work for small and medium businesses. New South Wales, the country’s most populous state, has received the brunt of the wildfire catastrophe, which has killed nine people nationwide and razed more than 1,000 homes in the past few months. Wildfires have also flared in Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia. High temperatures in the country’s east are expected until the new year. Sydney’s western suburbs were set to hit 106 degrees Fahrenheit Sunday before peaking at 111 F on Tuesday. EU chief warns that new Brexit delay might be necessary BRUSSELS (AP) – The European Union and Britain will struggle to seal an agreement on trade and other aspects of their future ties after Brexit next year and should consider extending the negotiations beyond 2020, a top EU official said in an interview published Friday. The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on 31 Jan. Negotiations between the remaining members and the British government on future trade, fisheries, education and transport relations can only begin after that date and must conclude by the end of 2020. “I am very concerned about how little time we have,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the French business newspaper Les Echos. “It seems to me that, on both sides, we should seriously consider whether the negotiations are feasible in such a short time.” “I think it would be reasonable to take stock in the middle of the year and if necessary, agree on an extension to the transition period,” von der Leyen said. But British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted he would not agree to any delays. Johnson who won a solid parliamentary majority in an election earlier this month, which helped him push a Brexit withdrawal deal through the lower house of Parliament. Truck bomb in Somali capital kills at least 79 MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) – A truck bomb exploded at a busy security checkpoint in Somalia’s capital Saturday morning, killing at least 79 people including many students, authorities said. It was the worst attack in Mogadishu since the devastating 2017 bombing that killed hundreds. The explosion ripped through rush hour as Somalia returned to work after its weekend. At least 125 people were wounded, Aamin Ambulance service director Abdiqadir Abdulrahman said, and hundreds of Mogadishu residents donated blood in response to desperate appeals. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed condemned the attack as a “heinous act of terror” and blamed the local Al-Shabab extremist group, which is linked to al-Qaida and whose reach has extended to deadly attacks on luxury malls and schools in neighbouring Kenya. Most of those killed were university students returning to class and police officers, said Somalia’s police chief Gen. Abdi Hassan Hijar. A truck carries wreckage of a car used in a car bomb in Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday, 28 Dec.MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky Despite improvements, the current trajectory suggests that closing the gender gap across politics, economics, health and education will take more than a lifetime to achieve, according to the World Economic Forum. The report noted that it will take 99.5 years to reach gender partiy – an improvement on 2018, when the gap was calculated to take 108 years to close. The Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2020 found recent advances were mainly the result of a significant increase in the number of women in politics. Today, women globally hold 25.2% of parliamentary lower-house seats and 21.2% of ministerial positions, compared to 24.1% and 19%, respectively, last year. However, politics is still the area that has shown the least progress to date, according to the report. Another problem area is economic participation, which even saw the gap between men and women widen in 2019, as economic opportunities for women declined. The reasons for this negative trend cited by the report include low levels of women in managerial or leadership positions, wage stagnation, labour force participation and income. The World Economic Forum concludes that “women have been hit by a triple whammy”: They are more represented than men in retail and white-collar clerical roles that have been affected most by automation. Not enough women are entering technology-driven professions that have seen the highest wage growth. And there remains a persistent lack of care infrastructure and a lack of access to capital, which strongly limit women’s workforce opportunities. Women spend at least twice as much time on care and voluntary work in every country where data is available, the report notes. And the lack of access to capital prevents women from pursuing entrepreneurial activity, another key driver of income. Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, said supporting gender parity is critical to ensuring strong, cohesive and resilient societies around the world. “For business, too, diversity will be an essential element to demonstrate that stakeholder capitalism is the guiding principle. This is why the World Economic Forum is working with business and government stakeholders to accelerate efforts to close the gender gap,” he said. One of the greatest challenges preventing the economic gender gap from closing is women’s under-representation in emerging roles. New analysis conducted by the World Economic Forum in partnership with LinkedIn shows that women are, on average, heavily under-represented in most emerging professions. This gap is most pronounced across the 'cloud computing' job cluster, where only 12% of all professionals are women, followed by 'engineering' (15%) and 'data and artificial intelligence' (26%). Women outnumber men in only two fast-growing job clusters: 'content production' and 'people and culture'. The World Economic Forum advocates that more should be done to equip women with the necessary skills for these types of jobs, but cautions that even when women have the relevant skillset, they are not automatically equally represented. These measures should therefore be supplemented with diverse hiring initiatives and the creation of inclusive work cultures, the report recommended. “Insights from LinkedIn’s Economic Graph can help policymakers, business leaders, and educators understand and prepare for how women will be represented in the future workforce,” said Allen Blue, co-founder and vice-president, Product Strategy at LinkedIn, in a press release. “Our data shows that meaningful action is needed to build the systems and talent pipelines required to close the gender gap in tech and ensure women have an equal role in building the future,” he added. Western Europe is the best performing region for the 14th consecutive year. With an average score of 76.7%, the region has now closed 77% of its gender gap, further improving from last edition. At the current pace, it will take 54 years to close the gap in Western Europe. The region is home to the four most gender-equal countries in the world, namely Iceland (87.7%), Norway (84.2%) and Finland (83.2%) and Sweden (82.0%). The United States’ (72.4%, 53rd) and Canada’s (77.2%, 19th) performances are stalling, especially in terms of economic participation and opportunity. At this rate, it will take 151 years to close the gap, the World Economic Forum said. Report: At current pace, gender parity will take almost 100 years The latest expansion of Camana Bay with a five-storey office building to the west of Dart’s headquarters on Nexus Way and a 10-storey, for-lease apartment block on Bismarckia Way come in response to client demand, according to Jackie Doak, Dart’s president of Business Development. In a press release, Doak said the town centre’s Class A office space is nearing capacity, and residential apartments have been fully leased since opening in 2009. The fact that larger commercial tenants are choosing to relocate to Camana Bay and existing tenants are expanding into more office space was testament to the strength of the local economy, she said. In addition, the recent expansion of Cayman International School and the opening of the new Foster’s supermarket provided a draw for companies. “We are also experiencing significant demand from international companies looking to establish a physical presence for economic substance or just to create a foothold in the Cayman Islands,” she said. The commercial office building and residential apartment building were approved by the Central Planning Authority on 18 Dec. Dart said it expects the new developments to generate significant employment opportunities for local contractors, given that recent projects, like the high school expansion, the Cayman International School’s Early Childhood Centre and Foster’s new supermarket employ more than 100 local contractors with more than 700 employees. Preliminary works, permitted under the Camana Bay subdivision, are already under way at both sites. Construction for both projects will begin in January 2020, with the new commercial office building expected to be completed by 2021, and the residential building by 2022. Dart said it will begin pre- leasing for the new commercial space early in 2020. Demand drives Camana Bay development projects World Economic Forum Top Ten countries in terms of gender parity 1 Iceland (0) 2 Norway (0) 3 Finland (1) 4 Sweden (-1) 5 Nicaragua (0) 6 New Zealand (1) 7 Ireland (2) 8 Spain (21) 9 Rwanda (-3) 10 Germany (4) 0.877 (0.018) 0.842 (0.007) 0.832 (0.011) 0.820 (-0.001) 0.804 (-0.004) 0.799 (-0.018) 0.798 (0.002) 0.795 (0.048) 0.791 (-0.012) 0.787 (0.010) Change in score Change in rank Another problem area is economic participation, which even saw the gap between men and women widen in 2019, as economic opportunities for women declined . The above map shows the locations of the planned new office and residential developments at Camana Bay. 9Next >