Topic: Compass
School worth $20M-$40M less than it cost
The Cayman Islands government spent $110 million on the construction of a public high school that was initially valued at somewhere between $70 million and $85 million in a report completed during 2012.
50 years ago Bodden Town left out of telephone infrastructure
In 1965, Cable and Wireless' phone service expansion plans only allocated a single phone booth for Bodden Town.
US more secretive than Cayman? Say it ain’t so!
"In terms of secrecy, the United States of America has now surpassed the notorious tax haven of the Cayman Islands!"
50 years ago: Agriculture on the Brac
In the Oct. 27, 1965 edition of the Caymanian Weekly, a predecessor of the Cayman Compass, Cayman Brac correspondent Lilian Ritch reported on the visit of United Nations agricultural adviser Enrique Labarthe and his assistant Mr. Bernard.
Fifty years ago: Planned duel in 1770 recounted
In 1770, a duel over West Bay land was averted at the last minute.
New sentencing guidelines offer sliding-scale penalties
New criminal-sentencing guidelines – the first in a promised series – published Monday by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie detail a sliding scale of penalties for burglary and robbery, allowing judges to reduce custody in certain circumstances.
Red ink, wastepaper: Clifton Hunter's book value
Clifton Hunter High School was intended to be a monument to Cayman Islands education. Instead, the sprawling campus in Frank Sound has become a memorial to governmental waste.
The war at home
Clifton Bodden, now 92 and enjoying retirement in George Town, played his part in protecting Britain’s far-flung Caribbean outpost as a member of Cayman’s Home Guard during World War II. He recently shared some of his wartime memories with the Cayman Compass.
Acker is champ an eighth time
The Cayman Islands Triathlon had another massive turnout at Public Beach on Sunday and perennial champion Marius Acker beat off all challengers again to win the event for the eighth time.
From the Publishers: Compass launches daily ‘District Days’ pages
We are pleased to announce that beginning today – and every day of the weeks going forward – the Cayman Compass will be publishing a new feature called “District Days,” which will focus on the unique diversity, history and culture of all our districts.
Dump strategy aims to cut waste by at least 85 percent
Recommendations in the new solid waste management strategy, essentially what to do with the George Town landfill, focus on how government can prolong the dump’s useful life beyond summer 2021.
Inmate sentenced for 2013 prison escape
Convicted killer and serial prison escapee Steve Manderson was sentenced Wednesday to 28 months’ imprisonment for his most recent jailbreak in August 2013.
Robbery costs spiral for businesses
Small businesses in Grand Cayman are spending significant sums on security measures to protect their staff and customers from the growing threat of armed robberies.
The uncomfortable truth about unemployment
The relationship between “work permits” and “work” continues to be erroneously overstated in the Cayman Islands.
Unwanted in paradise: No Hollywood ending for TV couple’s dream move
A British couple who gambled on a move to the Cayman Islands after appearing on the BBC television show “Wanted in Paradise,” say their dream turned into a nightmare after they were confronted with the reality of Cayman’s immigration system.
Fingerprinting and 'fine print': $663k wasted
Who would spend $663,000 on a product — and then never use it? Here’s a clue: The matter in question has government’s fingerprints all over it.
Lively beach crowd supports Feed Our Future
Despite buckets of rain on Saturday evening, supporters of Feed Our Future enjoyed an island paradise feast and dug their toes into the sand for late-night dancing at Camana Bay beach to raise money for the local charity.
Ministry pursuing millions in garbage fees
Cayman's government is still trying to collect trash fees from a decade ago.
Premier McLaughlin, Publisher Legge issue joint statement
Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin and Cayman Compass Publisher David R. Legge are pleased to announce they have come to an accommodation regarding the recent difficulties between the government and the newspaper.
$663K wasted on abandoned immigration fingerprint system
Government spent $663,000 on software after awarding a contract for a biometric fingerprinting system in 2010, but the software was never used, according to an audit released this week.
Good governance works best in the sunshine
Transparency is a first step toward accountability.
Lawsuit claims student hit teacher with chair
A former teacher in the Cayman Islands Education Department who alleges she was hit in the face with a chair by a student has filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Education and the government.
Short-term thinking: Short runways, no jetways
When it comes to Owen Roberts International Airport, we are uncomfortable with an "economy-class renovation" in our "first-class destination."
New Brac commuter flights likely to start in November
A new 34-seat turboprop aircraft purchased for the Cayman Brac commuter route has yet to be put into service, more than two months after arriving on island.
Collecting our thoughts on government fees
Our government’s most serious and well-documented flaw is how it spends money. Coming in at a close second is how it collects money.
Government delays pensions review release
The Cayman Islands government will not release a financial evaluation originally conducted in 2014 of its three public sector retirement savings plans, which include the plans that provide pensions for thousands of civil servants, until March 2016.
Jetways off table for airport
Boarding ramps and portable “box tunnels” will be used at the Owen Roberts International Airport as an alternative to the passenger boarding bridges, left out of the $55 million redevelopment plan for Grand Cayman’s airport.
Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said Friday there were no immediate plans to add boarding bridges, known as jetways, which he said would cost an additional $20m.
Auditor general report: Government revenue collection ‘open to abuse’
Poor record keeping and a lack of specific criteria for waiving government fees leaves the “revenue collection operations open to abuse,” according to the acting auditor general.
Fuel price rally runs out of gas
In the realm of rallies, there’s the Million Man March … and then there’s everything else. Put another way, not all protests are created equal.
New system impacts court cases
A system of “case management” has been introduced in the Summary Court as a way to move criminal cases through the court process with reduced delays and improved efficiency.
Legal ganja no cash crop for Cayman
New legalized marijuana retailers in the United States, and the potential legal consequences for the Cayman Islands financial services industry, provide a ready reminder of our islands’ interconnectedness with the wider world.
Amnesty offered to unlicensed room renters
Anyone renting rooms to tourists through home sharing sites like Airbnb has been offered an “amnesty” until the end of the year, before government begins cracking down on unlicensed properties.
Banking on weed a risky business
Providing banking services to a growing number of legitimate marijuana operations in the U.S. would still be considered money laundering in the Cayman Islands, an international expert warned Friday.
HSA: All incidents are fully investigated
Health Services Authority bosses insist any “adverse outcome” at its facilities is fully investigated, though they have declined to comment directly on the death of British dive industry worker Kate Clayton.
Swiss approve extradition of Costas Takkas
Swiss authorities have approved the extradition of Costas Takkas, Jeffrey Webb’s assistant at FIFA and former general secretary of the Cayman Islands Football Association, to face trial in the U.S. on bribery charges.
Teachers make schools great — Buildings don't
When confronted with failing schools, many officials begin searching for a quick (usually expensive) fix. The trouble is, there is no such thing.
The 'threat' of the Turtle Farm
World Animal Protection is deeply saddened, but unfortunately not surprised, to hear the latest revelations of animal cruelty at the Cayman Turtle Farm.
Dart Center hosts a most worthwhile journalism event
In the rarified atmosphere of the upper echelons of journalism, “Dart” symbolizes excellence in reporting on traumatic events.
Open-plan classrooms a problem at Clifton Hunter
School administrators are tailoring the timetable at Clifton Hunter High School to help cope with teaching problems caused by the open-plan classroom layout, described as an “urgent problem” by inspectors.
An inspection report on the school highlighted the experimental layout at the new $110 million facility as a barrier to improvement.
Manager turnover plagues Turtle Farm
Meeting minutes from the Cayman Turtle Farm show high turnover among managers.
Emails reveal tender plan for mega-ships
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines were in advanced negotiations with government and Port Authority officials in early 2012 over upgrades to the Royal Watler dock that would have allowed the Genesis class mega-ships to visit Grand Cayman.
Key government posts in limbo
The senior ranks of Cayman's civil service are filled with "acting," but not the Hollywood kind.
Lack of disclosure leads to dismissal of assault charge
The case of a woman charged with assault was dismissed on Tuesday after defense attorney Richard Barton advised the court that after two months he still had not received any disclosure papers from the Crown.
Lockhart: More than 4,000 need mental health help
Last month, the newly formed Cayman Islands Mental Health Commission raised some eyebrows when it reported that about 4,000 people here had sought access to mental health services in 2013.
Report on farmed turtle deaths kept from public
The infection that hit the turtle farm last year, killing 1,268 green sea turtles over four months, did not come to light for almost a year and a half.
The information was finally revealed in a Freedom of Information Law request and subsequent appeal for Cayman Turtle Farm board meeting minutes. The board presentation on the infection was initially redacted, but later handed over along with a host of other information after an appeal.
Missing links: New airport needs jetways
Last week, the premier announced that the government will forge ahead with the cruise dock project. Today, we’d like our readers to turn their attention to Grand Cayman’s “other” port project – the expansion of the Owen Roberts International Airport.
Scientist's death ruled an accident
The death of retired Cayman Islands civil servant Astley McLaughlin has been ruled an accident following a post-mortem examination and subsequent tests, members of Mr. McLaughlin’s family told the Cayman Compass on Friday.
1,268 turtles died from illness at Turtle Farm in 2014
Almost 1,300 sea turtles died at the Cayman Turtle Farm over four months in 2014.
Carnival cruise line could play role in port project
Carnival Cruise Lines says it is “open to playing a role” in the development of new piers in George Town harbor.
Cruise berthing: A promise kept
The members of the Progressives administration like to style themselves as “a government that gets things done.” On the subject of the George Town cruise dock, they have lived up to that promise.
Government IT systems open to 'threats from attack'
Auditors say Cayman's government put sensitive information and operations at risk by ignoring IT problems for years.
Hospital reports four patients with TB
Seven people this year have been treated for tuberculosis, according to the Public Health Department, including four who are in the hospital now. That's up from an average of three or four cases per year.
Auditor 'disappointed' in planning board reappointments
Cayman’s outgoing Auditor General Alastair Swarbrick said he was “disappointed” to learn the members of the Central Planning Authority and the Sister Islands Development Control Board were reappointed following a damning audit released by his office earlier this year.
MP: Brits should be ready to assist Cayman FIFA investigations
A British MP and FIFA reform campaigner has called on the U.K. Serious Fraud Office to take a greater role in investigating corruption in the game’s governing body.
O'Keeffe gets a marathon buzz
Ronan O’Keeffe is a typical example of someone who was a casual runner in his homeland, and became enamoured with the sport in Cayman after adapting to the glorious weather and thriving running scene.
$200K project planned to control iguana pest
Sniffer dogs and marksmen could be used in separate initiatives to fight a growing problem with green iguanas in Grand Cayman and on the Sister Islands.
Cayman’s small businesses: A very big deal
Creation is the business of individual businessmen. And, too often, the cost of government regulation is decreased innovation.
FIFA bans Jack Warner for life
Former FIFA Vice President Jack Warner was banned for life from football activities by FIFA, effective Friday. Warner is also facing extradition to the U.S. from his home country of Trinidad and Tobago.
Special Needs Foundation to hold AGM
The Cayman Islands Special Needs Foundation holds its annual general meeting Thursday, Oct. 1, at 6- 7 p.m., at Hope Academy.
Bill seeks importers' fuel pricing information
Fuel price reporting by petroleum importers may soon be a legal requirement.
Dan Marino NFL legend to offer leadership advice
Legendary quarterback Dan Marino will be in Cayman next month to share his secrets of success, on and off the field, with business leaders.
Data on police patrol boats not recovered
Data on the operations of the RCIPS Joint Marine Unit appears to have disappeared forever.
Government protection isn't free
The following dynamic plays out in the Cayman Islands too often. Something “happens” in the economy. Someone complains. Government steps in with a “solution.” And then the real problems begin.
LIME brings field services in-house
Two years after Cable and Wireless company LIME outsourced parts of its maintenance services to Ericsson, laying off 39 people, the telecommunications provider has announced it is bringing the field services back in-house.
US cash shortage increases price for consumers
Clarifying comments made last week, Financial Services Minister Wayne Panton says that the Cayman Islands currency is not being devalued by the shortage of U.S. dollars.
ICCI celebrates 45 years of quality education
Sept. 24, 1970 - "COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY for all Caymanians on our own shores!" ... And so the International College of the Cayman Islands was born.
Lawmaker wants 'non-legal' distinction between 'Caymanians'
A lawmaker wants a non-legal distinction between 'Caymanians' when it comes to hiring lawyers.
'e-Government,' efficiencies, and Estonia
Cayman Islands civil servants are being given a glimpse of a more efficient, more customer-friendly, future … We’ll call it the “Estonia Age.”
Third FIFA official ordered extradited to US
The third of seven FIFA officials arrested in May during a U.S. law enforcement raid at a Zurich hotel has been ordered to be extradited to America.
Burn victim passes away
Jessie Perry, the 21-year-old woman who suffered extensive burn injuries
in a car crash last week, has died in hospital in Jamaica.
Kate Clayton's death: What happened at the public hospital?
It is a pernicious system that reigns within the corridors of Grand Cayman’s public hospital.
Department of Environment director speaks out on cruise port project
The environmental consequences of proceeding with the cruise berthing project will still be “extremely dire” even if mitigation measures are deployed, the director of the Cayman Islands Department of Environment has warned.
