ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27, 2017 High of 91 Low of 80 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 THE YEAR IN EDITORIAL CARTOONS LOCAL | PAGE 3 HEADSTONES LAID ON GRAVES OF MISS LASSIE AND AUNT JULIA Cayman under construction JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com From the top of Grand Cayman’s giant Ferris wheel, visitors look out across a di- verse cityscape. Cable cars ferry passengers from cruise ships to downtown George Town where tourists mill around the Christian Heri- tage Monument in Jubilee Park or join queues for the Disney on Ice show at the rink on the waterfront. Cayman would look very different today if every mooted project had come to fruition. From the fanciful to the fantastic, devel- opers have brought a diverse range of plans and ideas to the table. After a record year for development, in terms of the number and the value of projects approved by the Central Planning Authority, Cayman looks to be on the brink of another construction boom. The Cayman Compass checked on 11 major private sector projects, either financially or visually significant developments, that could potentially shape the future look of the Cayman Islands. Some are new plans, some have been in the pipeline for up to a decade. Kim Lund, realtor with RE/MAX and an in- terested observer, has seen many ideas come and go over the years. “All of those could proceed and all are at different stages in the process,” he said. “The bottom line is really access to capital. “Generally, if you see the developer owns the land and has a building permit, then you can say pretty certainly, at that point, that it is going to get done.” Here’s the latest update from the entre- preneurs and developers behind some of the largest and most ambitious proposals to emerge over the past few years. The Ice Arena Word of plans for a 4,000-seat ice stadium in Grand Cayman emerged in late 2014, when a group of Canadian entrepreneurs pitched membership packages to potential clients. At the time, the plan, according to Tim Best, CEO of Cayman Ice Palace, was to attract NHL teams, a Disney on Ice show and major concerts to the arena. Originally intended to be situated next to Cost-U-Less, the intended site was moved to George Town. Former planning minister Kurt Tibbetts publicly endorsed the project, telling CHRISTMAS DRONES, NEW YEAR’S LANTERNS POSE AVIATION THREAT JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com If you got a drone for Christmas or were planning on launching a Chinese lantern for New Year’s Eve, aviation authorities warn there are guidelines that must be followed. Holiday hazards, also including kites, fire- works and laser displays, are on the radar of the Civil Aviation Authority. The CAA warns that anyone who wants to fly a drone within three miles of any of Cay- man’s airports needs to apply for permission from the authority. Similarly, anyone planning a New Year’s Eve or any other fireworks display within the same radius needs to coordinate with the authority. Aviation officials have also warned that anyone who releases “sky lanterns” can be held liable for any damage caused by the re- lease or resulting debris. Drones have been one of the most popular Christmas gifts in Cayman over the past few years, prompting the authority to establish no-fly zones around the airports and prison. “The interest in and operation of small un- manned aircraft has continued to increase significantly across the Cayman Islands, par- ticularly in the congested areas of West Bay, Seven Mile Beach, George Town and in the vi- cinity of the airports,” according to the CAA. “Such operations pose a high risk of an in- cident or accident involving an SUA [small un- manned aircraft] and a conventional aircraft.” Drones pose a threat to aircraft taking off BRENT FULLER bfuller@pinnaclemedialtd.com May 24, 2017 might have been Cayman’s “independents’ day,” but by May 29 a group of independent candidates – with a couple of exceptions – found themselves on the outside looking in at a second term for Premier Alden McLaughlin and his Progressives-led coalition. This year’s general elec- tion brought major change to Cayman Islands democracy, in- stalling a “one man, one vote” process which scrubbed the ter- ritory’s previous multi-member constituency electoral system, exchanging it for 19 single- member voting districts. That system was largely credited for the election of nine independent members of the Legislative Assembly, leaving the islands uncertain the day after the election who would control the next government. The disparate group of in- dependents was ultimately un- able, after a long weekend of bargaining (between May 26 and May 28) to attain the nec- essary numbers for leadership. Instead, a rather surprising co- alition of seven Progressives party candidates led by Mr. McLaughlin, three Cayman Democratic Party candidates 2017 election puts Progressives back in power PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » A touch of snow The Snow King and Queen, who also go by the names ‘Mr. and Mrs. Winter,’ added some chilly festive cheer to the Ritz-Carlton brunch on Christmas Day, posing with families and children who wanted to add a little bit of snowy weather to their warm Caribbean Christmas.2 LOCAL&REGIONAL WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS • Daily Matinees Every Day • $8.00 Seniors, Mon-Fri Before 6pm Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 • Additional charges will apply per 3D/VIP ticket requested 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. - WEDNESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (PG13) 1:20 I 4:05 I 7:25 I 10:05 DOWNSIZING (R) 12:30 I 3:30 I 6:30 I 9:30 STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI 3D (PG13) 1:20 2D VIP I 4:10 2D I 5:00 2D VIP 6:45 2D I 8:30 2D VIP I 9:00 JUSTICE LEAGUE (PG13) 1:20 I 6:15 FERDINAND 3D (PG) 1:35 I 5:00 2D I 10:05 2D PITCH PERFECT 3 (PG13) 12:20 I 2:40 I 7:30 I 9:50 THE STAR (PG) 4:05 Man found dead at Palm Heights Police officers and emer- gency personnel responded to an address in Palm Heights Drive in George Town on the evening of Dec. 23, where they found an unconscious man in the premises. Police said in a re- port that the man was unresponsive and later pronounced dead. The matter is under po- lice investigation, however, foul play is not suspected, a police spokesperson said. Body discovered in Windsor Park A man was found dead in the Windsor Park area of George Town on Sat- urday morning. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service said in a release that offi- cers received reports of a man found hanging just after 6 a.m. Police and emergency personnel responded to the scene and found the man’s body, and emergency medical technicians deter- mined that there were no signs of life. Police are investi- gating the event and ask that anyone who has in- formation about the inci- dent to call 949-4222 or the Crime Stoppers hotline at 800-8477 (TIPS). POLICE WARN OF FINANCIAL SCAM The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Service are in- vestigating a complaint from a resident who was defrauded through a scam promising immediate profits. The complainant had been messaged while on In- stagram from a person with the name “ELLA_SAMEDAY_ PROCESS,” who promised a return of approximately 10 times the money sent, po- lice said. Police received the complaint on Dec. 21. The complainant sent money through Money- Gram to an address in Ja- maica on more than one occasion without receiving any profits or the return of the money. The Financial Crime Unit of the RCIPS is looking into the matter and conducting enquiries with Money- Gram. The RCIPS seeks to remind the public that so- licitations of this nature are highly suspicious. US jury acquits Peruvian defendant in FIFA case NEW YORK (AP) – A former South American soccer offi- cial was acquitted Tuesday of a corruption charge stem- ming from the FIFA bribery scandal after two others were convicted last week, capping a trial in which U.S. prosecu- tors sought to expose a cul- ture of greed and corrup- tion among the powerful men who oversee the world’s most popular sport. Jurors found Manuel Burga, the 60-year-old former president of Peru’s soccer federation, not guilty of a single racketeering con- spiracy charge. Burga wept when the ac- quittal was announced. After the verdict, he came out of the court- room, his eyes wet and said: “God Bless America. That’s all I can say.” Burga said he would go home and resume a career as a lawyer that had been largely left behind for the last 15 years during his ca- reer as a soccer executive. “My history in soccer is finished,” he said. “I’ll go back to the law.” On Friday, jurors told U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen they were deadlocked on Burga’s case but had reached guilty verdicts on multiple charges against two other former officials: Juan Napout, of Paraguay, and Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil. Chen gave jurors the holiday weekend to think about Burga’s case. The judge had jailed Marin, 85, and Napout, 59, after their convictions Friday. The two were ac- quitted on some lesser charges. Burga, meanwhile, was waiting on his passport to return home. Marin, Burga and Napout had been arrested in 2015. Prosecutors accused them of agreeing to take millions of dollars in bribes from busi- nessmen seeking to lock up lucrative media rights or in- fluence hosting rights for the World Cup and other major tournaments con- trolled by FIFA. Burga was the first person to be acquitted among the more than 40 people and entities in the world of global soccer charged in the U.S. in con- nection with an investiga- tion that uncovered hun- dreds of millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks. Of those, 24 pleaded guilty in addition to the two con- victions Friday. World soccer’s governing body had said last week it would seek compensation and a share of the cash. “As the jury has found a number of defendants guilty of the charged crimes, FIFA will now take all necessary steps to seek restitution and recover any losses caused by their misconduct,” according to a statement from FIFA. During the trial, the de- fense argued that the men were innocent bystanders framed by untrustworthy cooperators angling for leni- ency in their own cases. Bur- ga’s lawyer claimed there was no proof he took bribes. “I would submit to you that never has more been made of less evidence,” said Burga’s lawyer, Bruce Udolf. Burga got some un- wanted attention early in the trial when prosecutors claimed he unnerved the government’s star witness, a former marketing execu- tive from Argentina, by di- recting a threatening ges- ture at him – running his fingers across his throat in a slicing motion. The lawyer claimed his client was merely scratching his throat, but the judge took the incident seriously enough to tighten Burga’s house arrest conditions. Auxiliary policeman arrested for assault An auxiliary police of- ficer was arrested early Friday on suspicion of as- sault of a woman and a police officer. Police said officers were dispatched to an address in Prospect around 2 a.m. fol- lowing a report of a do- mestic disturbance. When police arrived at the premises, they were di- rected to a man who had reportedly returned home and kicked in the door and assaulted the woman living there, according to a police spokesperson. “Officers spoke with the man, who was vis- ibly intoxicated, and in- formed him that he was being arrested. The man violently resisted being placed in handcuffs, fighting and kicking offi- cers,” police said. More officers arrived and the 50-year-old man, of George Town, was subdued and arrested on suspicion of assault, damage to prop- erty, assaulting police and resisting arrest. Police said the man was taken into custody and bailed for medical reasons. The auxiliary officer had been suspended from duty, police said. Manuel Burga, right, talks to reporters after being acquitted of a corruption charge in relation to the FIFA scandal Tuesday. - PHOTO: AP FORMER PERUVIAN PRESIDENT APOLOGIZES FOLLOWING PARDON LIMA, Peru (AP) — Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has apologized to the nation for wrongs com- mitted under his government in the 1990s. In a videotaped message from his hospital bed Tuesday, Fujimori acknowledged that some people were “defrauded,” and he asked to be forgiven “with all my heart.” It was the ailing ex-leader’s first apology since he was sen- tenced to 25 years in prison for human rights abuses. The 79-year-old was due to serve 14 more years in prison, but President Pedro Pablo Kuc- zynski pardoned him Sunday and granted his release. The president said Fu- jimori was let go for hu- manitarian reasons, but many believe it was polit- ical payback to the ex-lead- er’s supporters for blocking an effort to impeach Kuc- zynski last week. The pardon has sparked large protests across the country. “My history in soccer is finished. I’ll go back to the law.” MANUEL BURGA, ex-president of Peru’s soccer federation3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27, 2017 Headstones laid on graves of Miss Lassie and Aunt Julia Two cultural icons were honored on Dec. 15, when the government unveiled spe- cially crafted headstones on the graves of Gladwyn Klosking Bush and Julia Almeria Hydes. Ms. Bush, also known as Miss Lassie, is buried at South Sound, and Ms. Hydes, known as Aunt Julia, was interred at West Bay Cem- etery. Reverend Godfrey E. Meghoo helmed the pro- ceedings at Ms. Bush’s cer- emony and Pastor Alson Ebanks performed the prayer and reading at Ms. Hydes’s ceremony. Premier Alden McLaughlin spoke at the unveiling of the stones at South Sound and West Bay Cemetery, and family members also said some words of remembrance. Rachel Yates, the great- grandniece of Ms. Bush, and Heather Rivers Parsons, Ms. Hydes’s granddaughter, spoke on behalf of their re- spective families. Edroy Hyes, Ms. Hydes’s son, also shared fond memories and thanked the government for the headstone. The Ministry of Culture and the Cayman National Cultural Foundation were integral in the process of erecting both headstones. Ms. Bush, a Member of the Order of the British Em- pire, passed away in No- vember 2003 at the age of 84. Over the years, she had been given several awards in rec- ognition of her contributions to art, music and culture. Ms. Hydes passed away at the age of 104 in November 2015. She had received the Certificate and Badge of Honour and also the CNCF award for pioneering work in cultural heritage. In addition to the premier, several government officials attended the unveiling. Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush and MLAs Capt. Eugene Ebanks and Austin Harris attended the ceremony in West Bay, while Minister Roy McTag- gart and MLA Barbara Con- nolly were at the ceremony in South Sound. Ministry of Culture Chief Officer Jennifer Ahearn, CNCF Creative Di- rector Henry Muttoo and CNCF Managing Director Marcia Muttoo attended both ceremonies. Premier McLaughlin spoke about the contribu- tions of both Ms. Bush and Ms. Hydes, saying it was im- portant to remember Cayman pioneers even as the islands continue to evolve. “I’m lucky to have been part of the bridge genera- tion,” he said. “I was there to see what Cayman once was, before it become the metropolitan place it is today. Reflecting on those changes, it is clear just how important it is for us to pre- serve our traditions and re- member those who laid the path for us.” Premier Alden McLaughlin personally unveils the headstone laid for ‘Miss Lassie,’ Gladwyn Klosking Bush, on Dec. 15. Government officials unveil a headstone for ‘Aunt Julia’ Hydes, best known as a musician, singer and composer of Cayman folk songs.The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 Opinion&Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@pinnaclemedialtd.com, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Caymanian Compass Limited (a subsidiary of Pinnacle Media Ltd) Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman KY1-1108, Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@pinnaclemedialtd.com ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@pinnaclemedialtd.com Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHERS DAVID R. LEGGE AND VICKI L. LEGGE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF DAVID R. LEGGE EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will findtheirownway” Editorial cartooning requires a sharp wit and a nimble pen – along with a healthy dose of ir- reverence. It is a demanding form of commen- tary, but one that can pack a powerful punch. Today, we look back at 2017 through the eyes of Compass cartoonists – “Caymanman” (aka George Nowak), whose history drawing cartoons for the Com- pass goes back more than 40 years; and Jake Fuller, a trained journalist who has decades of experience as a professional editorial cartoonist, primarily in Florida. Editor’s note: The Compass will resume publication of a daily editorial in the new year. The year in editorial cartoons5 OPINION&LETTERS A sharp wit, nimble pen and healthy dose of irreverence6 KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com On Sept. 6, the most pow- erful hurricane ever recorded in the Caribbean wreaked havoc in the Eastern Carib- bean, causing untold billions of dollars of damage and dis- placing hundreds of people on Barbuda, Sint Maarten, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, and Anguilla on its way to the Turks and Caicos Islands. About two weeks later, Hurricane Maria swept through the region, largely flattening Dominica and Puerto Rico. Cayman’s re- sponse to the humanitarian crises was swift. The Royal Cayman Is- lands Police Force dispatched 16 officers to the BVI to help in the efforts to restore law and order there – ef- forts that included enforcing a curfew and rounding up dozens of escaped prisoners – and sent its helicopter to Turks and Caicos. The Caribbean Utili- ties Company also sent seven workers to help bring the territory’s power back on stream. Additionally, Premier Alden McLaughlin and other government officials made a trip to Anguilla, taking food, medical personnel and more than $30,000 of medical sup- plies there, and returning with a 67-year-old female cardiac patient in critical condition to be treated here. Along with sending aid to its fellow British overseas territories, Cayman also ac- cepted hundreds of displaced people – predominately fi- nancial services workers and their families from the BVI – into the territory. Workers were granted 60-day work permit exemp- tions to carry on BVI-re- lated business. Many of them have returned to the BVI, but some remain here. While lending a helping hand, Cayman also experi- enced spin-off benefits of the hurricanes, with several cruise lines diverting ships here from the impacted ju- risdictions, including the BVI and Puerto Rico. The Port Au- thority expects to see an ad- ditional 70 ships bringing nearly 250,000 extra passen- gers through the end of April, as a result of the hurricanes. Recovery efforts in the af- fected areas are ongoing, to varying degrees of success. Turks and Caicos was de- clared “open for business” last month, holding an an- nual food festival there. Most of its hotels have reopened, according to a November ar- ticle in the New York Post. Likewise, cruise ships have resumed making calls to the BVI, which also held a major charter yacht trade show there last month. However, other juris- dictions are still strug- gling to recover. The rela- tively poorer Dominica, for instance, is still in ruins, according to an article in the Guardian last month. Barbuda has also been de- scribed as a “ghost town” in the wake of Irma, with much of its population having evacuated the island. Puerto Rico, too, strug- gles to recover. While power to more than two-thirds of the island has been re- stored, the territory’s re- mains on a boil advisory for its water. Additionally, the extra public debt taken on to rebuild the island has further strained a govern- ment that is already in ef- fective bankruptcy. WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS YEAR IN REVIEW Road User BRITISH CAYMANIAN INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED BritCay House, 236 Eastern Avenue, George Town Tel. 949-8699 12 Kirkconnell Street, Stake Bay, Cayman Brac Tel. 948-1760 www.britcay.ky A member of Colonial Group International Ltd. : insurance, health, pensions, life Our comprehensive cover is now even more generous. Free roadside assistance comes with your Road User comprehensive insurance from BritCay. It’s one of many generous benefits that include the lowest deductibles from $200 for no additional premium. 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WISHING YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR Major hurricanes devastate Eastern Caribbean islands Royal Cayman Islands Police Service officers patrol the streets of the British Virgin Islands following the passage of Hurricane Irma.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27, 2017 Thursday, December 21st, 2017 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Closed at Noon for Staff event) Friday, December 22nd, 2017 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Monday, December 25th, 2017 CLOSED (Observance of Christmas Day) Tuesday, December 26th, 2017 CLOSED (Observance of Boxing Day) Wednesday, December 27th, 2017 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Thursday, December 28th, 2017 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Friday, December 29th, 2017 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Monday, January 1st, 2018 CLOSED (Observance of New Year’s Day) The Management and Staff of BAF Insurance Company would like to take this opportunity to thank our valued clients for choosing BAF during 2017. We look forward to serving you once again in 2018. www.mybafsolutions.com B AF ANNOUNCE S Special Holiday Hours Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! and landing, as well as police helicopters and the mosquito control planes, according to the authority. In the U.K. last year, there were 81 incidents involving near misses between drones and planes, according to a BBC report. A new bill in the U.K., planned for 2018, will en- sure that owners of drones weighing more than 250 grams will need to register with aviation authorities and sit a test. Aviation authorities in Cayman do not currently regulate the use of drones for leisure, but commercial oper- ators require a license. The CAA also warned that flying a kite higher than 100 feet above sea level, within three miles of the airports, or above 200 feet anywhere else, is illegal. “This danger was exem- plified during 2017 when a helicopter was badly dam- aged and a crew member injured as a result of it col- liding with the control wire of a kite being flown well above the maximum per- mitted height,” the authority said in a statement. The release of sky lan- terns in community cele- brations is also a concern for the aviation authorities. There are no regulations gov- erning their release, but the CAA warns, “Any individual or organization planning to release sky lanterns should consider their personal li- ability in the event that damage to property or in- jury to humans or animals is caused either by the release of a sky lantern or the debris generated by them.” led by Mr. McLaughlin’s po- litical arch-nemesis, West Bay MLA McKeeva Bush, and three independent MLAs from three different districts formed a “government of na- tional unity.” Mr. Bush, the longest- serving current member of the Cayman Islands legis- lature, confirmed the agree- ment at an impromptu press conference outside the Gov- ernment Administration Building on May 29: “I have committed to support Mr. McLaughlin, the premier … we are here for the better- ment of our people. I feel this is the best way for us to get those things that our people are demanding.” Getting to that announce- ment took some effort. After intense behind-the- scenes negotiations on May 25, it was initially rumored that Mr. Bush had agreed to form a coalition among the independent elected members [minus West Bay South’s Tara Rivers], with East End MLA Arden McLean serving as premier. However, on Friday, May 26, at around 4 p.m., Mr. Bush and Mr. McLaughlin put pen to paper on a coali- tion between the Progres- sives and the CDP. Just a few hours later on Friday, Mr. Bush, seemingly at the request of Dr. Steve Tom- linson – who had supported a number of candidates during the election – met with the independents group again, this time agreeing to form a coalition with eight inde- pendents (not including Ms. Rivers) and the three CDP candidates, making Mr. Bush the premier. Rumors of this agreement began to circulate the islands around 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. that Friday. Mr. McLaughlin, caught off-guard by the new deal, told the Cayman Compass this version of a government coalition was a “train wreck” and probably wouldn’t last too long. He was correct. By midday, Saturday, May 27, it was ob- vious certain factions among the independents would not support Mr. Bush as the ter- ritory’s leader. Other sidebar negotiations occurred that weekend, but by Monday, the original Progressives-CDP deal was confirmed. The co- alition agreement included Prospect MLA Austin Harris, an independent, who told the Compass why he ultimately decided to go to the govern- ment backbench. “The independents had, on two separate occasions, the opportunity to form the government and they al- lowed it, for a variety of reasons, to slip,” Mr. Harris said. “I did not believe that opportunity would come a third time.” Although Mr. Bush spoke positively about the new government coalition at the time, documents have since surfaced which indicate CDP party officials were not best pleased with the arrange- ment, viewing it as the “nu- clear option.” “The nuclear option, if forced, would result in the CDP joining with the PPM [Progressives] to form a government in the na- tional interest,” according to the documents obtained by the Compass. Heading into late 2017, the national unity govern- ment coalition was still in- tact. Although rumors per- sisted about pending changes to the coalition makeup, none had occurred by year end. Christmas drones, New Year’s lanterns pose aviation threat CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 2017 election puts Progressives back in power Premier Alden McLaughlin, Captain Eugene Ebanks, McKeeva Bush, Moses Kirkconnell and Austin Harris pose for a photograph on May 29 after signing a deal that created the Progressives/CDP/independents coalition government. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Anyone who wants to fly a drone within three miles of any of Cayman’s airports must apply for permission from the Civil Aviation Authority.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27, 2017 • CAYMAN COMPASS crowds at a Chamber of Commerce lunch in 2015 that it would be a key part of the revitalization of George Town. Very little has happened since that time, however, and no plans have been sub- mitted to the Central Plan- ning Authority. Mr. Best told the Com- pass, for this article, that he still believes the project will happen, though it may alter from what was ini- tially envisaged. “I have and will continue to work tirelessly to build a multi-purpose entertainment facility as part of an enter- tainment district in George Town,” he said. “Research shows this will be an excellent avenue for the prosperity of not only down- town but for all of Cayman. To that end, my commit- ment is unwavering until this project becomes a reality.” Beach Bay hotel The possibility of a major new hotel at Beach Bay in Bodden Town has been on the lips of various govern- ment ministers since 2008. The project appeared to be moving toward the start line in 2015 when John Layton, a representative of the developer, and the gov- ernment held a press confer- ence to announce agreement on a $25 million package of duty concessions. Plans were unveiled at the time for a $200 million hotel, with Premier Alden McLaughlin suggesting it could open by 2018. The de- veloper released artist’s ren- derings of the hotel and an- nounced plans to partner with government to help complete a link road adjacent to the property. Little has happened since then, however, and no plans have been sub- mitted to the Central Plan- ning Authority. There have been no announcements about progress on the project since early 2016. Contacted for this story, Ryan Melkonian, of Melko- nian Capital, the New York hedge fund backing the project, indicated it was still part of its plans. “Project progressing well. No further comment at this point,” he said in an email. Ironwood golf resort Another major eastern districts development that has been on the cards for several years, without reaching the “shovels in the ground” phase, is the Iron- wood golf resort. Ironwood seemed to hit a significant milestone when it was granted planning per- mission for a championship golf course in 2016 without the need for an environ- mental impact assessment. Developer Joe Imparato’s in- volvement also added credi- bility to the project. But the death of Arnold Palmer, the golf legend whose company is involved in the project, was cited by the company among a number of reasons for delays to the start of clearing and land- scaping the course. Negotiations over a pro- posed partnership with gov- ernment to build a 10-mile highway extension to help make the resort more viable appeared to have stalled. Contacted for this story, Ironwood CEO David Mof- fitt said the developer was hoping to move past those hurdles and revive the road project at the same time. “Ironwood is progressing; we are wrapping up the site investigation and installa- tion of access road phase, al- lowing the process of con- struction mobilization to begin. We are focusing on 2020 for opening, with a final push to complete a license with [the Cayman Islands Government] that allows the 10-mile East-West Arterial Corridor to be complete by then as well.” Pageant Beach Hotel The Pageant Beach Hotel has moved swiftly from con- cept to planning approval and is apparently on the verge of breaking ground next year. The prospect of a new five-star hotel on the 900- foot beachfront site, vacant since the old Pageant Beach Hotel burned down in 1975, was first mentioned in Feb- ruary this year. By October, the Howard Hospitality Group, the same developer that runs Margari- taville at the Old Treasure Is- land property, had obtained planning permission. A US$25 million deal for HHG and its partners New Jersey- based Madison Hill Proper- ties to purchase the 7.1 acre site was finalized this month Michael Wilkings, of HHG, told the Compass, “We intend to develop a 5-star, interna- tionally branded, resort at Pageant Beach, scheduled to open in late 2020. The resort will include 30,000 square feet of conference and func- tion areas, five pools, seven food and beverage outlets, a private screening room, spa and gym, and approximately 400 guest rooms and suites.” Enterprise City campus Since Cayman Enterprise City officially opened for business in 2012, building a physical headquarters for the tech-based economic zone has been the goal. Initially, the plan was to build 1 million square feet of class A office space at a site in Savannah. That changed in 2014, with Enterprise City announcing it had acquired a 70-acre site in George Town for the development. Zoning approval was granted in 2015 and a Planned Area Development application indicated long- term plans for a cluster of office buildings, homes, res- taurants and a hotel sur- rounding a man-made lake. At that time, Cindy O’Hara, chief development officer for the zone, said the pace of development would move in sync with the growth of Enterprise City. Asked for comment for this story, she said the project was still progressing toward a planning application. She said design work had been under way throughout 2017 and modifications to the PAD application were ap- proved in June. Ms. O’Hara said she ex- pected to have a substan- tive update on the project early next year. Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Plant It is now more than a de- cade since the concept of sea- based power was first floated in the Cayman Islands. The most recent incarna- tion of the project proposed a floating power plant off North Side that would har- ness solar energy stored in Cayman’s waters to gen- erate electricity. Baltimore-based Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion LLC proposed the project – the first commercial appli- cation of the technology – in 2014 and signed a power purchasing agreement to sell 6.25 megawatts of energy, roughly 8 percent of Cay- man’s daily demand, to the Caribbean Utilities Company in September 2016. The last word from OTEC, in an interview with the Compass in March, was that an environmental im- pact assessment had been completed and was about to be submitted to govern- ment. At that time, the com- pany anticipated a series of public meetings in summer 2017 before the EIA could be finalized and the project could begin to move through the planning and coastal works process. That timeline seems to have been delayed, however. The company said it expected to make another announce- ment in January. Tim Austin, deputy di- rector of the Department of Environment, confirmed this month that consultants had completed an environmental impact assessment and sub- mitted it to the DoE, though it has not yet been reviewed by the Environmental As- sessment Board. “It now needs to go out for public consultation for the final stages and to issue the final Environmental Impact Statement once public com- ment has been taken into ac- count,” Mr. Austin said. NCB hotel On a smaller scale than some of the other mooted developments is NCB’s 60-room hotel. The developer bought the land, the site of the old Treehouse Restaurant op- posite Kirk Supermarket, in December last year and has moved swiftly through the design and planning process. CEO Matthew Wight said the hotel would mix business and pleasure for a luxury “wellness” resort in the capital. Plans for a five-story building with restaurant, café, pool and swim-up bar were approved by the Cen- tral Planning Authority earlier this year, pending ap- proval from the Building Control Unit. Mr. Wight said this week that initial site works had commenced and construc- tion is expected to begin next year in anticipation of a late 2019 opening. Gran Palazzo Almost every minister in government wielded a golden shovel for the of- ficial “groundbreaking” of Gran Palazzo, a US$200 mil- lion luxury condo develop- ment on the North Sound in February 2015. Zoning had been changed and plans approved the pre- vious year for 123 condos and town houses on the site close to the Holiday Inn. Premier McLaughlin, an- nouncing a package of stamp duty and planning fee con- cessions for the project worth around $4 million, hailed the investment as further evidence of Cayman’s eco- nomic recovery. Little has been done to advance the project since then, however, with the devel- oper mired in litigation. A. L. Thompson Building Supplies, Green Valley Nursery and businessman Marcus Cumber all filed Grand Court proceedings against the developer in 2016, alleging he owed them money. Mr. Ebanks is understood to have contested the claims. He has also been in- volved in his own litigation, filing suit against his former business partners at Water- front Development alleging the wrongful transfer of his share in the company. Where that leaves Gran Palazzo is unclear. Mr. Ebanks did not return calls from the Compass over the past week. It is understood that he does intend to pro- ceed with some development on the site, however. Health City Initially met with some skepticism, Health City has become one of the develop- ment success stories of the Cayman Islands. The hospital opened in 2014 and work on the sur- rounding infrastructure has been progressing steadily since then. A $17 million apartment and retail devel- opment is expected to be completed in early January. Further phases of the de- velopment are expected to take the level of investment up to US$2 billion and in- clude the expansion of the hospital into all specialties. A medical university is also planned in the long term. Work on another apart- ment building, the same style and size as the one currently under construction, will begin in summer 2018, and a triage/trauma center is also planned for next year. Developer Gene Thompson said design work would begin on a cancer center – the next major extension to the hospital. A tech park is also planned for the site, he said, with more details on that project coming in the new year. Cayman Eye A relatively low-cost de- velopment compared to some of the others on this list, the $3 million Cayman Eye project was proposed in 2014. The proposal was for a 131-feet high Ferris wheel offering panoramic views of the island. Artist’s impres- sions were produced and it was being floated to poten- tial investors. No updates have been provided on the project since, however, though rep- resentatives for the devel- opment have consistently said they are still working on the project with the in- tent of making an an- nouncement soon. Asked for comment for this story, a spokesman said the project was still “very much on the cards.” Dart projects Among a number of po- tential projects being consid- ered by the Dart group is a five-star hotel on Seven Mile Beach. The developer has never officially named the brand, but it was an open se- cret that Four Seasons was involved in discussions over a partnership. The project appears to have stalled, however, with the requirement for an envi- ronmental impact assessment on Dart’s request to remove beach rock from the coastal waters fronting the property to create a sandy beach entry for hotel guests. It has previously indicated that a different site, close to Royal Palms, could be used for the hotel development. A new planning application for an extension to the underpass on West Bay Road suggests Dart may now have reverted back to that site as the pre- ferred location. Dart has not yet indicated its plans for the old Hyatt hotel, the Beach Suites resort and the Britannia golf course, which it acquired last year. Work is expected to begin next year on the new Foster’s Supermarket in Camana Bay and on 1 Nexus Way, the sister building, identical in design to the 18 Forum Lane office building, also in Camana Bay. Cayman under construction CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 An artist’s impression of part of the proposed Beach Bay hotel.Plans for a 4,000-seat ice stadium emerged in late 2014. An artist’s drawing of the proposed ‘Cayman Eye.’The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Business Amazon acquires connected camera maker Amazon has bought an Andover, Massachusetts-based company that makes internet-connected doorbells and security cameras, a move to help it compete in the home security camera market and against similar devices made by Nest, a subsidiary of Google. CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 27, 2017 RSVP: Vanessa Scoo 814-2537 vscoo@mybafsoluuons.com BAF Insurance Company (Cayman) Limited invites all Members of the BAF Cayman Pension Plan to attend the Annual General Meeting. PENSION PLAN MEMBERS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Marketing association elects new board The Cayman Islands Mar- keting Professionals Associa- tion elected a new board at its annual general meeting. It consists of new Chair Catherine Healy, Vice Chair Harriet Moon, Secretary Ju- lian Foster, Treasurer Angel Ho, Head of Training Tanya Wigmore, Head of Events Natalia Toole, Head of Com- munications Gemma Henry and Head of Member- ship Amy Hayward. Laura Skec (chairman), Karen Ebanks (vice chair), Maya Lewis (secretary) and Eileen Keens (head of mem- bership) are leaving their board position. “2017 was an exceptional year for CIMPA,” said Ms. Skec. “The board set an aggressive training and events schedule, designed to help increase and improve the association’s awareness and overall contri- bution to the marketing pro- fession in Cayman. The board took the challenge with relish and delivered a fantastic pro- gram of activities to its mem- bers, and I am excited to watch the association continue to grow over the next year under the helm of the new team.” CIMPA recently held its annual marketing awards, which were adjudicated by three independent, interna- tional judges and focused on the heroes of the local mar- keting sector. With over 40 applicants in eight categories, the awards ceremony and dinner held in November solidified the awards as a key event for the local marketing com- munity, CIMPA said in a press release. The 2018 CIMPA mar- keting awards are slated to take place in Spring 2018, with the application process launching early next year. Last summer, the associ- ation also hosted its popular annual conference which at- tracted international and local speakers and 150 del- egates. The event focused on “Storytelling,” as con- sumers increasingly look to make connections with brands and businesses through marketing. Next year, the conference is set to take place in Fall 2018 and CIMPA members will benefit from early-bird booking and a reduced reg- istration fee. The 2018 board is asking for “energized and invigo- rated members” to apply for a range of volunteer positions in marketing and communications, and events and training. The organization re- minded current CIMPA mem- bers that membership runs from Jan. 1. Annual member- ship fees are CI$125 for indi- viduals and CI$500 for cor- porate members. CAYMAN NATIONAL GROWS NET INCOME, BALANCE SHEET MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman National Corpo- ration increased its net in- come by 61 percent to $17.5 million in the financial year ending Sept. 30 compared to the same 12-month pe- riod last year. Total income for the fi- nancial year was up by 9 percent at $66.8 million as total expenses grew by less than 1 percent, according to bank’s unaudited results. Cayman National said interest rate hikes helped strengthen the re- sults and modestly in- creased the bank’s lending in line with conservative lending policies. “As a prudent measure and in recognition of new accounting policies that will come into effect next year, we have continued to in- crease lending provisions, even though our lending book remains sound,” Cayman National said. The company’s bal- ance sheet is growing, with total assets of more than $1.45 billion. Shareholders’ equity is 12 percent higher than a year ago at over $100 mil- lion, “which is a first in our 43-year history,” Cayman National said. As part of its attempt to cut costs and improve income, Cayman National sold its Trust Services client book to SMP Partners in Cayman. All of Cayman Na- tional Trust staff were re- tained within the group or transferred to SMP. In October, the bank paid an interim dividend of 5 cents per share to share- holders. A final dividend is due to be paid in March 2018 after the group’s an- nual general meeting. It is expected that based on the current level of per- formance, the board of di- rectors will recommend a final dividend at a similar level to the interim dividend. Cayman Nation- al’s shares, at US$2.70, are trading 62 percent higher than in September 2016, when they hit an all-time low. SGG Group acquires First Names Group Investor services firm SGG Group announced it is buying Jersey-headquartered First Names Group from AnaCap Financial Partners. Private client, corpo- rate and fund services pro- vider First Names Group is present in 14 jurisdictions and the deal will strengthen SGG Group’s reach and ca- pabilities in key markets such as Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Switzer- land and Cyprus. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory ap- proval, will make SGG Group the world’s fourth largest provider of trust, corporate and fund services by revenue. The combined group will em- ploy more than 1,500 people in 23 jurisdictions. Serge Krancenblum, SGG’s Group CEO, said the deal is a key milestone for the SGG Group. “First Names Group complements our offering and jurisdictional capabili- ties in our key client seg- ments. Beside their impres- sive leadership and client base, First Names Group has a similar history and shares our values,” he said. “I am certain that there will be an excellent cultural align- ment between our two firms and that together we will take our combined group to new heights.” In a press release, the companies stated that fol- lowing the acquisition, the combined group “will become a significant force” in the pro- vision of services to ultra- high net worth families, cor- porates and fund clients. Mark Pesco, First Names Group CEO, noted the deal will bring a wealth of new opportunities for the com- bined businesses, their cli- ents and staff. “We have built a great business with the ac- tive backing and support of AnaCap. As part of SGG Group, we have an extremely bright future and this deal positions us to take this busi- ness to its full potential,” Mr. Pesco added. The seller, AnaCap, is Eu- rope’s largest specialist pri- vate equity investor in the financial services sector, with more than €3.5 billion raised across private eq- uity and credit opportuni- ties vehicles. Serge Krancenblum, CEO, SGG Group Mark Pesco, CEO, First Names Group The outgoing 2017 CIMPA board: From left, Angel Ho, Laura Skec, Maya Lewis, Eileen Keens, Harriet Moon, Tanya Wigmore, Catherine Healy and Karen Ebanks.Next >