ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 The pros and cons of cruise ship piers The Cayman Compass invited Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell and Leader of the Opposition Ezzard Miller to present their views as advocates for and against the cruise pier dock, respectively, to the Cayman Islands public. Why we need cruise berthing piers EZZARD MILLER, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION We are at a cross- roads in our economy, forcing Govern- ment to make an impor- tant decision. Our twin pil- lars, financial services and tourism, both face external threats that we must grapple with. Do we continue to build our economy relying on a tourism product that includes cruise? And if we do not include cruise, what will replace it? Where will hundreds of Caymanians losing their jobs find new ones? How will we support them until they do? Employment For over 40 years, Cayma- nians have built a thriving cruise tourism industry that contributes more than $200 million a year to our economy. This was done through grit, hard work, and the CaymanKind hospitality that is our culture and our heritage. Today, hundreds of Caymanians either own, or are employed by businesses that are dependent on our cruise tourism guests. It is the taxi drivers, tour oper- ators, restaurateurs, retail shop owners and other in- dustrious and creative en- trepreneurs and all of those who follow them in the fu- ture, who are on our minds as we move forward with this project. Economic contribution We also think of the wider economy and how cruise tourism contributes to it in ways that aren’t al- ways obvious. For example, the duties and other govern- ment revenue raised from this industry helps Govern- ment provide scholarships for our youth, pay salaries for teachers and police, pro- vide new roads and social services for our most vul- nerable people. We need this money in our economy because life will be drasti- cally different without it. Our financial services in- dustry continues to face global challenges that will not abate any time soon. We also have hundreds of stu- dents graduating each year seeking employment. As a government, it is our respon- sibility to proactively create an environment where Cay- manians have opportunities for careers in an industry with longevity. Cruise makes up 80 percent of Cayman’s tourism industry. The approximately 400,000 stay-over guests per year are also vitally Once upon a time, there was an Italian who wanted to migrate to America. When he was in Italy, he heard that the streets in America were paved with gold. When he arrived in America, he found out three things: 1. The streets in America were not paved with gold; 2. The streets in America were not paved at all; 3. They expected him to pave it. Unlike the Italian, the Opposition understands that the road to the cruise berthing facility is not paved with gold and that, ultimately, it is the Cay- manian people that will have to pave it. To be clear, the Oppo- sition supports and pro- motes cruise tourism and the role it can, does, and should play in developing our tourism economy. We understand that many Caymanians rely on cruise tourism to make a living, whether as em- ployees or as small or large business owners. We support and will continue to advocate for the continued well-being of cruise business, espe- cially with regard to the benefits that should accrue to Caymanians. However, the proposed cruise berthing pier would be the largest single commit- ment to date of any Govern- ment of the Cayman Islands. As such, the project de- mands a rigorous examina- tion of the need, costs – fi- nancial, environmental and otherwise – as well as the consequences, obvious and unintended, that the people of these Islands will ulti- mately have to shoulder, as well as the alternative. At the heart of the Op- position’s analysis is that despite so far avoiding the bandwagon mentality ad- opted by so many of our Ca- ribbean brethren who have caved to cruise pressure to build piers, the Cayman Is- lands has maintained its No. 2 ranking among cruise ports in the Caribbean and Latin America. Cayman has achieved this through a strong track record for passenger satisfaction. Against this background, the Opposition has sought answers to these questions: ■■ Is Cayman lagging behind in passenger ratings? No. MOSES KIRKCONNELL, MINISTER OF TOURISM The argument against cruise piers PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » A cruise ship moors off George Town, Grand Cayman. The government is proposing building a pier that will mean passengers will not have to take tender boats to reach the shore. - PHOTO: YEVGEN BELICH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Ezzard MillerMoses Kirkconnell Governor officially removed from post JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Cayman Islands Governor Anwar Choud- hury has been officially removed from his post following an investigation in London into un- specified allegations. The U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office has remained silent on the nature of the accu- sations against Mr. Choudhury and it appears the people of the Cayman Islands may never be told why the governor was pulled from his post. The FCO considers the matter an internal disciplinary measure and has indicated it is un- willing to provide any information about the alle- gations or whether they were substantiated. A two-sentence statement from the Governor’s Office, issued Thursday afternoon, said: “Following an investigation into a number of allegations Mr. Choudhury will not return to the Cayman Islands as Governor, but will re- turn to another diplomatic posting in London. “A short term successor will be appointed soon while the recruitment process for a per- manent replacement is under way.” Premier Alden McLaughlin, who has been in Barbados this week speaking at a block- chain conference, said he was made aware of the situation Thursday in a phone call with the Minister for the British Overseas Territories Lord Tariq Ahmad. He said the government is relieved the matter is coming to a conclusion but had no further details or comment at this time. Opposition leader Ezzard Miller said the re- fusal of the FCO to divulge any information was “an insult to every fair-minded Caymanian.” He added, “This demonstrates a total lack of respect by the FCO. It is unfortunately a roll- back to darker colonial days many of us do not wish to revisit.” Mr. Choudhury was less than three months into his stint as governor when he was sum- moned back to London in June. He had been well received in Cayman in his opening months in the job and a peti- tion was circulated in July calling for him to be reinstated.2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Gobble! Gobble! Turkey! Turkey! Soon Come to HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING! Monday, 8th October 2018 945-2290 Get your orders in early! Eat-in!Take-out! At West Shore Center, Seven Mile Beach Open Daily 10am-10pm 945-2290 caymanfirst.com YOUR HEALTH MATTERS. GET HEALTHY WITH US. Call 345-949-7028 | Email askus@caymanfirst.com | Visit caymanfirst.com Visiting Gynecologist will be available for consultation at Novo Clinic, Britcay House 236 Eastern Avenue from 4-26 September, 2018 For appointments please call +1 (345) 746-6082 clinic@novocayman.com Sol fined $200,000 for fuel tank fire JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Sol Petroleum has been fined $200,000 for safety fail- ures that led to a potentially catastrophic fuel tank fire in July last year. The company was also or- dered to pay costs of $86,700 to fund the investigation into the blaze, multi-sector regu- lator OfReg announced this week. Sol accepted and has already paid the fine, which the regulator says “is in- tended to reflect the po- tentially serious nature of the incident.” A four-month investiga- tion by OfReg, released ear- lier this year, said the July 23 fire was caused by welding work on an in-service diesel tank that was not properly monitored and should not have taken place. The report from OfReg’s fuels department highlighted several breaches of industry safety standards by Sol and its contractor in carrying out “hot works” on a fuel tank filled with 15,000 barrels (525,000 gallons) of diesel fuel. The fire took more than eight hours to extinguish and caused a mass evacu- ation of homes in the sur- rounding area. OfReg said it had “reached an agreement” with the pe- troleum company over the $200,000 “administrative fine.” It said the amount re- flected community concerns and the seriousness of the in- cident, as well as Sol’s prior safety record, cooperation with the investigators and history as a “good corpo- rate citizen.” According to a statement from the regulator, “OfReg and Sol are satisfied that they have established and identi- fied the circumstances and contributing factors leading to the incident and wish to reassure the public of the Cayman Islands, that where applicable, lessons have been learnt, shortcomings ad- dressed and measures put in place to guard against any possibility of a repeti- tion of the incident in the fu- ture, including an agreement that there shall not be any welding conducted on in-ser- vice fuel storage tanks.” Duke Munroe, acting CEO and Director of Fuels (Market), said, “Our mandate as the regulator is to en- force relevant codes, stan- dards and best practices ad- opted under the Dangerous Substances Law. We have worked closely with Sol to go over mitigation factors that will reduce the risks of similar incidents taking place in the future, and they have already implemented some measures relating to [the] incident.” A four-month investigation by OfReg, released earlier this year, said the fire was caused by welding work on an in-service diesel tank that was not properly monitored and should not have taken place. Fire fighters attend the scene at the Sol fuel terminal in South Church Street on July 23, 2017, after a fire broke out inside one of the fuel tanks. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY ‘Reberth’ documentary at Camana Bay Saturday A documentary film about the pressures of development on the marine environment of the Cayman Islands will be screened at the movie theater at Camana Bay, Saturday. “Reberth” was shot on is- land last year by a crew from New Jersey’s Rowan Uni- versity. It considers the de- bate surrounding the cruise berthing project as part of a general examination of sus- tainability, environmental protection and development in the Cayman Islands. The movie features inter- views with the likes of un- derwater photographers Courtney Platt and Cathy Church, and Gabriella Her- nandez of Save Cayman. There will be two show- ings of the movie on Saturday at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. The entry fee is $20 for adults, $10 for those under 18. Save Cayman environ- mental group, which orga- nized the screening, said in a statement, “‘Reberth’ is a powerful documen- tary that explores the tug of war between economic growth and development in Cayman, including the pro- posed cruise berthing fa- cility. It is a family-friendly film, and a great way for people to spend their Sat- urday afternoon.” The trailer can be viewed at www.indiegogo.com/projects/ reberth-the-environmental- cost-of-tourism#. Email savecayman.ky@gmail.com for more information and tickets. ‘Reberth’ documentary-makers record a scene for the film.The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 + 1 345 326 1400 fin@fingrandcayman.com FIN is pioneering a long-term coral reef conservation program to ensure that the views below water are just as wondrous as those above. In partnership with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and Nova Southeastern University, FIN is the first real estate development in the Cayman Islands to undertake the funding of a coral reef monitoring and restoration program. FIN is also the first to create continued long-term funding through the contribution of 1% of its monthly strata fees, setting a new standard for future oceanfront property development. Championing the protection and preservation of their backyard, FIN Residents will become active participants in the conservation of our most valuable ecosystem. Disclaimer : FIN Grand Cayman features and amenities are based on current development plans and concepts and are subject to change without notice. Some services and amenities are subject to service-based fees or homeowner fees. The Nova Southeastern University coral reef assessment team. A NEW STANDARD ABOVE AND BELOW WATER FIN.cayman fingrandcayman Discover more about FIN and its environmental program fingrandcayman.com/environment/The islands’ most-trusted news source 4 – EDITORIAL – 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” One of the primary purposes of a newspaper is, of course, to break “news.” But that’s not the only purpose. For example, in this editorial space we often analyze complex situations or argue for the way things should be rather than the way they are. In other words, the goal of a newspaper is not just to relay the most recent car crash, report the latest sports scores or act as “real-time” stenographer for proceedings in the Legislative Assembly. Fundamen- tally and quite generally, our mission is to keep our readers, the people of the Cayman Islands, informed. It is in that spirit that we offer to our readers today’s front page, containing columns from the leading official proponent and opponent of the proposed George Town cruise berthing facility – Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell and Leader of the Opposition Ezzard Miller. After years, even decades, of discussion, the con- tentions for and against building cruise piers in the George Town harbor are no doubt familiar to many of our readers. Although cruise berthing proposals have been around nearly as long as cruise ships have been visiting Grand Cayman, the idea has arguably never been closer to realization. We invited Minister Kirkconnell and Mr. Miller to “make their best case” for and against the cruise dock, and in our opinion each delivered a clear, thorough and persuasive treatise. As readers can see for themselves, the “pro” and “con” sides differ on many aspects of the port proposal, but what everyone should agree on is that the cruise dock would con- stitute the single largest and most influential public works project in the history of Cayman, the impact of which will reverberate through the tourism sector and wider economy, far exceeding the capital cost of the project, whether that turns out to be $150 million, $200 million or more. Transforming the George Town harbor by investing in a cruise dock constitutes a very serious, long-term commitment by Cayman to the cruise tourism industry. Petitions are circulating with the purpose of forcing a referendum on the cruise project. Whether or not Caymanian voters do get that chance to weigh in at the polls (and many would argue that did happen during the 2017 general election), Cayman as a country must have both eyes wide open to the poten- tial benefits and risks of this landmark project. So as to avoid stealing the megaphone from Messrs. Kirkconnell and Miller, we will not rehash their argu- ments, but refer you to their columns on Page One. Three years ago, government committed to building the dock after lengthy public debate. At that time, we offered our conditional support for the project, subject to these guiding principles: • Build it quickly and efficiently. • Build it well, making sure the project is (and looks to be) of the highest quality. • The project must fall within a rational financing scheme. The government should not attempt to appease opponents by unwisely spending taxpayer dollars on, for example, “mitigation efforts” aimed at salvaging coral in the footprint of the dock project. At the moment, we will not elaborate further on that position, other than to encourage that, when perusing the dueling columns and when considering the port project in the future, our readers and our offi- cials keep those principles in mind. Cruise pier: To be or not to be? FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Anonymous commentary is internet’s big drawback GARY ABERNATHY The many benefits of the internet age are significantly offset by its biggest draw- back: the acceptance of ano- nymity, including on the dig- ital platforms of our most respected news outlets. Granted, I’m old. I started out when the only way readers could respond to newspaper articles or com- mentaries was with a letter to the editor, which man- dated that writers provide a name, address and phone number so we could verify their identities. Today, many stories and opinion pieces are almost im- mediately followed online by hundreds or thousands of comments from readers using sobriquets that conceal who they really are. Cable-news shows highlight tweets from viewers using silly handles. The once inviolate insistence on accountability has been obliterated. Newspapers still run letters, but in the digital age, the practice seems like a nod to a bygone era. It is in this atmosphere that the vaunted New York Times found it defensible to publish the already famous commentary by an anony- mous “senior official in the Trump administration” whose identity was being protected because his or her “job would be jeopardized” otherwise. It is discouraging that a major media outlet would ex- cuse cowardice – that is the right word – under the cloak of anonymity. Because his or her job would be jeopar- dized? Please. Every public official, every spokesperson, every television or radio com- mentator, and every news- paper columnist risks their jobs every time they utter an opinion. The risk of ret- ribution – lawsuits, ad- vertiser boycotts, ridicule, harm to reputation – is what keeps, and has always kept, expressed opinion some- where between the lines of responsibility. Had Roseanne Barr tweeted about Valerie Jar- rett under a pseudonym, she would be ready to launch the second season of her re- booted television show rather than sitting on the sidelines. Conversely, stirring quotes of patriotism mean nothing without their source. Sup- pose President John F. Ken- nedy had said, “we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty – but don’t quote me on that.” The allegations that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kava- naugh committed sexual as- sault while in high school didn’t gain much traction until the woman making the claim agreed to go on the record. Anonymity carries little credibility. When I wrote columns on this subject over the years, someone without fail would defend anonymity using the example of Benjamin Franklin, who wrote letters to the New-England Courant under the pseudonym of “Si- lence Dogood.” If Franklin did it, it’s justifiable, they argued. But Franklin resorted to the tactic only after his brother, the publisher, refused to print the missives under his little brother’s real name. Once the digital age ar- rived, the newspaper com- panies for which I worked, hungry for new revenue, ad- opted the same practice as others. I was often asked by local readers why we per- mitted anonymous posts, and could offer only the weakest of excuses – because ev- eryone else does it. President Donald Trump is often blamed for the low- ering of public discourse in our country, but his contribu- tions pale in comparison to the proliferation of the unac- countable, irresponsible and often vile comments that ap- pear on the digital platforms of so many of our most re- spected news outlets. I am not opposed to the promise of anonymity in the cause of pursuing important truths. The use of anonymous sources to provide important information necessary to ad- vance the public’s under- standing of events is often crucial. But this practice was once rare and usually involved long discussions among top editors; today, it’s grossly abused for such trivial nonsense as telling us what mood the president was in on Tuesday. Such was the case with the piece published by the Times, whose author advanced no new information but did manage to show an amazing lack of concern for fellow ad- ministration officials, all of whom were put under a cloud of suspicion and forced into the unenviable position of having to deny authorship. At least one generation of Americans has grown up knowing nothing but a world in which it is deemed accept- able to think up a fake name, log on to the World Wide Web and begin hurling insults. It is indefensible, as was the Times’s decision to jump on the bandwagon. “We believe publishing this essay anonymously is the only way to deliver an important perspective to our readers,” wrote Times edi- tors. No, there was another way, a way that involved get- ting someone on the record – someone accountable and identifiable, even at the risk of his or her job. If something is truly worth saying, it is worth the risk that accompa- nies saying it. One whole generation may be lost, but the next deserves to grow up understanding why accountability matters. Special to the Washington Post. © 2018, The Washington Post. The risk of retribution – lawsuits, advertiser boycotts, ridicule, harm to reputation – is what keeps, and has always kept, expressed opinion somewhere between the lines of responsibility.The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 6 LOCAL&REGIONAL FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS Cayman Turtle Centre worker suspended in corruption probe JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com A Cayman Turtle Centre worker has been suspended and reported to the Anti- Corruption Commission after “purchasing irregu- larities” were discovered during an audit. The employee is the second worker from the West Bay tourist attraction to be reported to authorities this year as a result of findings from an ongoing audit on the business’s 2016/17 finan- cial statements. The two incidents are not believed to be connected. One employee was fired in May after the audit revealed a “substantial amount” of missing cash. That incident is still being investigated by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service and as of this week, no arrests had been made or charges brought. The second incident is connected to procurement at the facility and is under- stood to involve other indi- viduals, outside of the Turtle Centre. Managing Director Tim Adam said, “The inves- tigation is ongoing, and ar- rests have been made, in- cluding one Cayman Turtle Centre employee who has been suspended. The man- agement of CTCEC [Cayman Turtle Conservation and Ed- ucation Centre] will con- tinue to liaise with the rel- evant authorities pursuing this matter.” He said the incidents were concerning but showed that the audit process was working. “I am pleased that the audit process was able to detect these quite different issues and enable the au- thorities to pursue and inves- tigate,” he said. He said the theft, re- ported in May, had been discovered during a rou- tine audit on the center’s fi- nances for the 18-month fi- nancial year ending in 2017. That discovery raised the level of the audit process and further investigations revealed the second incident. The Anti-Corruption Com- mission did not respond to questions from the Cayman Compass on Thursday but released a statement high- lighting three arrests in a fraud probe without speci- fying if they were connected to the Turtle Centre. The statement noted that one of the suspects is aged 37 and from Prospect, and the others are aged 33 and 40 and are from George Town. “All were arrested upon suspicion of having com- mitted offences contrary to section 11 [of the] Anti-Cor- ruption Law 2016, fraud on the government and con- trary to section 13 [of the] Anti-Corruption Law 2016, breach of trust,” the state- ment continued. All three were interviewed and released on bail pending further enquiries. Two employees of the Cayman Turtle Centre have been reported to authorities this year as a result of findings from an audit on the business’s 2016/17 financial statements. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Getting ready for next month’s NCVO Radio-Telethon Organizers of the 39th Radio-Telethon of the Na- tional Council of Voluntary Organisations are gearing up for next month’s fundraiser at the Prospect Playhouse. Their hope is to raise the annual goal of $140,000, or even more. The NCVO Radio-Tele- thon takes place on Sat- urday, Oct. 20 and will be broadcast simultaneously on Radio Cayman and Cayman 27 from 7 p.m. to midnight. The public will be invited to phone in or go online to make pledges to the charity throughout the show. “We have depended on our sponsors every year for close to four decades; staff at FLOW, Radio Cayman and Cayman 27 have always done a great job in helping to fun- draise on our behalf, and for that we are grateful,” said NCVO Coordinator Mona Meade in a press release. She said the success of the Radio-Telethon is crucial to the survival of NCVO programs. “We could not do it without the support from our corporate and retail spon- sors; the show’s producer Eden Hurlston, the team at the Cayman Drama Society and, of course, all the per- formers,” she added. Set to perform at this year’s Radio-Telethon are Be- niel Miller, Little Magic, Kate and Melody Allenger, an im- prov drum jam, and back by popular demand, Hi Tide. Other media personalities also will be making appear- ances alongside this year’s hosts, CIG TV’s Donna Bush and Cayman27’s Joe Avary. “The audience can defi- nitely expect to watch and hear some of the best local talents, from our very diverse population,” Ms. Bush said. “There are so many people who want to give, and this is such a seamless way to do just that. I honestly can’t think of a better way to give back to our community,” she added. Many of Cayman’s leading retailers and restaurants gift the organization with prizes as an incentive to those who pledge any amount. Those prizes include gift certificates from popular stores, restau- rants, attractions and beauty retailers around the island, according to Ms. Meade. This is the largest fund- raiser held by the NCVO each year, and the money raised will help to maintain and operate the organization’s programs, which include the Nadine Andreas Residential Foster Home, an aftercare program that supports foster home res- idents who age out of care, Miss Nadine’s Pre-School, Jack & Jill Nursery, Caring Cousins Lunch Support Program, the New To You Bargain Shop, the John Gray Memorial Fund and the NCVO Scholarship. To donate, make a pledge on 946-3136 or online at www.caymangiftcertficates.com. For more information contact the NCVO at 949-2124 or ncvocoordinator@ncvo.org.ky. DRESS DOWN TO SUPPORT MEALS ON WHEELS Cayman Islands Meals on Wheels is inviting indi- viduals, businesses, schools and organizations island- wide to participate in its annual “Seniors Rock” Dress Down Day fundraiser next Friday, Sept. 28. “Whether you dress in orange or wear a Meals on Wheels commemora- tive T-shirt, wristband or ribbon, all funds raised from this event provide Meals on Wheels with the resources needed to pro- vide over 48,000 meals each year,” organizers said in a press release. A $5 donation to Meals on Wheels provides a se- nior citizen in need with one hot, nutritious meal and a soup, delivered by one of the more than 100 volunteers. “In many cases, the Meals on Wheels service allows a senior to remain independent and in their homes for a longer period of time. Meals on Wheels relies on the support of the public and private funding. We have a recipient list that continues to grow and we need your support,” the organizers said. The charity is offering “Seniors Rock” T-shirts for $15, ribbons for $5 and wristbands for $3. They can be purchased outside Cost- U-Less, Foster’s IGA at the Strand, and A.L. Thomp- son’s on Saturday, Sept. 22. For more information, email info@mealsonwheels.ky or call 769-1974. Seniors Rock! T-shirts can be purchased at a number of locations on Saturday, Sept. 22.A Butterfield volunteer takes a pledge from a caller in a previous telethon. UN NAMES SPECIAL ENVOY TO HANDLE VENEZUELA’S GROWING EXODUS CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – The United Nations has an- nounced a special envoy to handle the growing number of Venezuelan mi- grants flooding into sur- rounding countries. Former Guatemalan Vice President Eduardo Stein was named Wednesday as joint special representa- tive for Venezuelan refugees and migrants. A once wealthy oil na- tion, Venezuela is wracked by severe food and medi- cine scarcity after two de- cades of socialist rule. Ven- ezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government denies a migration crisis, calling it fake news drummed up by foreign powers as an ex- cuse to invade. The United Nations esti- mates 2.3 million Venezue- lans have fled over the past four years – roughly 7 per- cent of the population. Many left for Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. The U.N. says Stein will work to protect dis- placed Venezuelans and look for solutions to the growing problem. FLORIDA STUDENT PILOT CHARGED WITH ATTEMPT TO STEAL PLANE MELBOURNE, Fla. (AP) – A 22-year-old student pilot sus- pected of boarding a vacant passenger plane at a central Florida airport early Thursday has been charged with crim- inal attempt to steal an air- plane, officials said. The Joint Terrorism Task Force is investigating and trying to determine a mo- tive in the case, according to Orlando-Melbourne In- ternational Airport spokes- woman Lori Booker. She told news outlets the student pilot, whose name has not been re- leased, also faces a visa vi- olation and criminal tres- passing charges. Early Thursday, a man drove to the curb outside the airport, left his car running, hopped a fence and boarded an Airbus 321 American Air- lines aircraft sitting in a main- tenance facility, Booker said. An avionics technician was in the plane’s galley when he saw a shadow, Booker said. “He turned around and said, ‘Who are you? Show me your badge,” Booker told news outlets. She said the tech- nician was among airport workers she dubbed heroes.7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 Cayman gets ready for baldness at Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave There is just a week to go before volunteers step up to have their locks cut off and their heads shaved to raise money for childhood cancer research. Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave takes place Friday eve- ning at The Wicket in Cricket Square. All funds raised go to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the largest non-government funder of childhood cancer research in the United States. The Big Shave was in- spired by Cayman-born Hannah Meeson, who at the age of 4 was diagnosed in 2012 with anaplastic me- dulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer. After under- going two years of treat- ment, “no evidence of disease” was declared in May 2014. Hannah celebrated her 11th birthday this week. Hannah’s parents Gaylene and Nigel Meeson created the event to create awareness about childhood cancer and raise money for research. “Every two minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer. In September alone, 25,000 families will hear the devastating news that their child has cancer and 1 in 5 of those children will not sur- vive,” Mrs. Meeson said in a press release. “We created Hannah’s He- roes, a hero fund of St. Bal- drick’s, because we are com- mitted to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives,” she said. Other Cayman childhood cancer survivors and their families have joined forces to raise money and aware- ness and will be honored at this year’s event. Those chil- dren include Skylar “Mimi” Ebanks (5), Beau Shields (6), Anabelle Reading (7), Tayden Grant (10) Charli Foster (10), Saylor Sperrandeo (7), Ava Paige Rico (8), Allie Capasso (10), and Matthew Chong Ping (14). Supporters will also pay tribute to the families of Dimitrie Connor, Caitlin Beverley and Albert Ebanks, who lost their battles with childhood cancer. Since fundraising began in September 2013, supporters of Hannah’s Heroes have raised US$1.7 million for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and six research grants have been named in Hannah’s honor. Many teams and individ- uals will shave at this year’s event, including teams from Ogier, Maples and Calder, Dart, Foster’s Food Fair IGA, PwC and the Cayman Is- lands Fire Service. Cayman Prep and High School, Clifton Hunter and John Gray High School will also host their own shave events to raise funds for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation next week. “Each year we are truly humbled by our community taking this cause to their hearts. From children do- nating from their piggy-banks to schools hosting bake sales, coin drives and dress-down days throughout September, we’re making a phenomenal difference; one person might make an impact but a whole community working together can create change and that’s exactly what has happened in Cayman over the past six years,” said Mrs. Meeson. Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave for St. Baldrick’s will take place on Friday, Sept. 28 at The Wicket in Cricket Square at 5-9 p.m. and features a silent auction, balloon prize raffle and food and drinks specials from the Brasserie. Visit www.stbaldricks.org/ events/hannahsheroes or email team@hannahsheroes.ky for more information. Retiree’s home once owned by first National Hero JEWEL LEVY jlevy@pinnaclemedialtd.com The father of retired South Sound resident Bill White quite literally moved house in 1995 when he transported a building owned by the late Jim Bodden, Cayman’s first National Hero, to a site on Walkers Road. Berkley White purchased the single-story cedar house, which Mr. Bodden used as offices on Lawrence Boule- vard in George Town, and brought it to its new loca- tion on Walkers Road on a lowboy truck. He and his wife Velma never lived in it. In- stead, the couple chose to rent the building and live in South Sound. Mr. Bodden, born in 1930, was honored as a National Hero on June 28, 1994. He passed away in 1988. He was elected to the Leg- islative Assembly in 1972, and served two terms as a member of the Executive Council. As minister respon- sible for tourism and avia- tion, he was instrumental in establishing Cayman Airways and constructing Owens Rob- erts International Airport. He was re-elected to the legislature in 1984 and served as a backbench MLA for the rest of his life. Billy White, 70 – Berkley White’s son – currently lives in the house after inher- iting it from his parents, and says he is proud to live in a house where the iconic leader worked. Billy White told the Cayman Compass the house has been appreciated by his family over the years for its many original fea- tures and decorative trim- mings, which were repre- sentative of Cayman’s tastes and styles for houses dating back to that era. “I was in the house when Hurricane Ivan came … Only a few sheets of zinc came off the house and it received little damage,” Mr. White said. “It goes to show how strong the houses were built those days. Located on Walkers Road, near the South Sound junc- tion, the house is painted a sunshine yellow. According to Mr. White, a man by the name of Alan Wagner brought the house to South Sound on a truck. They had to remove the roof for it to pass along the street. He said no major changes had been made to the in- side or outside of the house. The four offices were turned into bedrooms and the house has one bathroom and a front porch. Billy White said he grew up in South Sound. “Life in South Sound was just fishing and working. When there was not enough work to keep me going, I spent time fishing,” he said. He recalls helping his fa- ther and uncle work on a cat- boat for the late Mr. Bodden to carry out turtling. “The boat was fixed at Smith Barcadere beach in South Sound. “It was an old boat he got and asked us to fix it up. I don’t think he went tur- tling. I think he had men that would go out there for him,” Mr. White said. He recalls the area as being just a dirt road years ago and most youngsters would wander from house to house, which were few and far apart. He also remem- bers the bulldozers coming to widen the road and the area becoming more populated. Today, Mr. White says he spends time in his ham- mock when he’s not fishing or working around the yard. With no wife and none of his seven children living with him, he’s happy to just relax. WIth a fresh coat of paint, the house looks as good as it did 23 years ago.– PHOTOS: JEWEL LEVY Billy White relaxes in his hammock. Gaylene Meeson poses with some of the young shavees who took part in last year’s Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave. This year’s event takes place on Friday, Sept. 28. Members of the Cayman Islands Fire Service team, known as ‘The Firebalds,’ show off their newly shaved heads and some non-regulation eyewear at last year’s event.The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 • CAYMAN COMPASS important, but that volume on its own is not sufficient to provide jobs for thousands of Caymanians. Nor does it provide sufficient revenue to our economy. Tendering not an option The cruise lines have made it quite clear they have no intention of ten- dering Oasis- or Quantum- class ships and they have stuck to their word. Two of those brand-new ships, each carrying 6,000 of the highest-spending cruise passengers in the industry, are, every week sailing past us. That equates to US$1.350 million dollars a week that is not in our economy right now because we do not have berthing facilities. I quote the following from Giora Israel, Senior Vice President, Carnival (October 2015): “Carnival Corporation announced earlier this year the construction program for a series of larger ships, the first to be delivered in 2018. These state-of-the-art ships will have a capacity of over 6,000 passengers and will use for the first time in the cruise industry the en- vironmentally friendly LNG. The ships will require piers/ berthing facilities that can efficiently operate in all the destinations where they will operate in the future. The key for a smooth opera- tion of large ships in transit ports is the availability of piers/berthing facilities. The itinerary planning execu- tives at our various cruise brands that will operate those ships in the future, and no deployment deci- sion for those ships have yet announced, will consider the availability of piers or berthing facilities as a key element in considering a destination and are unlikely to consider tender ports for such class of vessels.” Adam Goldstein, Vice Chairman, Royal Carib- bean Cruises, said in October 2015: “When Royal Carib- bean International launched Oasis Class ships six years ago, it was never intended that these vessels would be tendered. Royal has never tendered these ships and we have no plans for tendering them in the future.” These are words to be taken seriously. As smaller, older ships calling here now gradually decommis- sion, we will watch our cruise tourism industry slowly dwindle to half what it is now. Creating opportunity Passengers spend much of their day waiting to get on and off the ships, and little time enjoying activities and attractions. With more time ashore, they could do two tours, not just one, ex- panding the economic bene- fits of tourism and bringing more jobs and opportunities to areas outside of George Town. Our guests could ex- plore areas they cannot now, particularly in the eastern districts: the Crystal Caves, the Botanic Park, Rum Point and other places entrepreneurial Caymanians will establish in the future with the confidence of an ongoing market. PwC’s Outline Business Case provides an unequiv- ocal argument for the piers. If we wish to remain in the cruise tourism industry and if we want to continue to provide business and em- ployment opportunities for the Caymanians already in it and those yet to come, we need the piers. Environmental impact The Environmental Im- pact Assessment (EIA) con- ducted was the most ro- bust ever carried out in the Cayman Islands. We worked closely with the Department of Environment to come up with the terms of refer- ence for the EIA and it was completed by Baird, a glob- ally recognized environ- ment and engineering con- sultancy group. The first question that we asked the engineers was “is Seven Mile Beach at risk?” If the answer to that was yes, we would have abandoned the project im- mediately. However, the an- swer was a definitive “no.” We heard the public’s concerns about dredging and agreed to move the piers to deeper water. We also agreed to transplant coral to a different loca- tion away from the working port. The Benthic Habitat Characterisation Study con- firmed that not only is this feasible, but it has been done successfully in similar situations elsewhere. As the elected govern- ment, we have a responsi- bility to balance the pro- tection of our environment, both onshore and undersea, with the needs of our society. We must create opportuni- ties for our people to partici- pate in prosperity, both now and in the future. We cannot haul up the ladder on those still coming up behind us. We also cannot destroy the environment that underpins our lives, our culture and our tourism product. By making the piers longer, they are in deeper water, so less dredging is required and the impact to the environment is reduced. This is the most environ- mentally friendly way of constructing this vital piece of infrastructure. It is the right decision. Financing model Baird estimated the project to cost CI$156 mil- lion. Building the piers longer will cost extra. The upgrade to the cargo port is estimated at CI$40 million. It is important to under- stand, and we have been saying this at every stage during this process and re- iterate it again now: there will be NO Government guarantee, no bond and no loan to finance the project. For added assurance, it is worth noting that we still operate under the con- struct of the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility (FFR). The U.K. Government would not allow this gov- ernment to undertake a borrowing/bond/loan ar- rangement of this size, nor would we want to. The procurement pro- cess nearing completion is seeking a provider who will cover the design, build, fi- nancing and maintenance of the whole project. This is called a DBFM infrastruc- ture development model. It is quite common for projects of this magnitude, so we are not breaking new ground with this concept. An RFP will shortly be issued for the final designs and costs and those submissions are due back in December. We look forward to sharing the final design and costs with the public when the pro- cess is complete. ■■ Are there complaints about the existing tender service? No. ■■ Is the local cruise in- dustry losing ground? No. ■■ Has docking in other destinations resulted in greater passenger satis- faction with visits? No. ■■ Are mega-ships unable to disembark passengers with the necessary effi- ciency via tenders? Yes. We therefore challenge Government to identify the problem that the pier is solving and that could not be addressed by another less expensive strategy. If Gov- ernment cannot do so con- vincingly, then this mas- sive spending should not be embarked upon. A solid argument against Government’s single-minded focus on building a pier is that the linchpin in industry growth is visitor satisfaction. So, pivotal in resolving this debate is the question of how much of a difference this mas- sive investment would make to passenger enjoyment and the likelihood of return visits. To interrogate this, we suggest starting with careful research and analysis of vis- itor concerns: What are passengers’ cur- rent concerns? Right at the top of the list is the cost of goods and ser- vices. Among those concerns is the exorbitant costs of local excursions onboard ship. For example, it has been well doc- umented that a snorkeling trip that may cost US$8 per pas- senger landside is sold at the rate of US$30 on board ship. Another big factor im- pacting customer satisfaction is congestion: As the envis- aged 20,000 or more passen- gers from the four mega (Oasis class) ships that the dock is designed to accom- modate spill out onto our streets, the resulting conges- tion will be a major buzzkill for visitors. It will most cer- tainly lower their enjoyment of our beaches and other on- island attractions. The obvious answer is to maintain an appropriate ceiling on cruise passen- gers, rather than to focus on facilitating even larger in- fluxes of visitors. Customer satisfaction is also linked to first-class ground excursions that are efficient, dependable and that maintain the warm Cayman experience that cus- tomers are seeking. Another factor figuring in enhanced customer sat- isfaction is an emphasis on processing passengers more efficiently. Passenger satis- faction is linked to the de- gree to which ports are able to process passengers ef- ficiently and seamlessly as they arrive and depart. This would require modern, com- fortable reception and depar- ture areas facilitating effi- cient processing. At the moment, disem- barking and returning pas- sengers are processed on ship. Moving the bulk of this func- tion to an efficient passenger boarding area, adopting the airline model, would require a level of investment by gov- ernment or the private sector. It would, however, be a much less costly intervention than building a pier. Resolving these issues will increase passenger satis- faction and lead to higher re- turn rate among cruise pas- sengers, and conversion of cruise passengers into stay- over passengers, who spend 11 times more than a cruise ship passenger. The costs of building the cruise berthing facility Of critical concern is the CI$200 million cost. The Government alleges that the Caymanian people will not be required to pay for it, and the secrecy shrouding the handling of this massive enterprise makes that claim difficult to refute. However, we know the fi- nancing package will entail a loss to the people of these is- lands of some US$500,000,000 in forfeited cruise passenger fees over the next 25 years. Another consideration is the resulting losses to George Town area businesses, varying from US$407 mil- lion to US$670 million over the same period, according to three different studies. Environmental impacts Environmental impacts are of equal concern. How- ever, as the plan for the dock has apparently changed since the 2013 Environmental Im- pact Assessment (EIA), it is difficult to tackle this issue with any realism. So, what if we do not build the pier – will the cruise in- dustry disappear? The answer is a resounding no, because the need for a pier is based on a number of mis- conceptions and fallacies un- derpinning the Government’s projections and assumptions about industry operations: The misconception that Cayman’s cruise industry will decline: Rather than de- clining, the number of cruise ship passengers has in- creased between a cumulative 15 percent and 20 percent since 2013, representing a minimum 3 percent increase, rather than the Government’s forecast 1 percent annual re- duction in passengers. The fallacy that mega- ships cannot be tendered: This fallacy is refuted here in the Cayman Islands on a daily basis. As a case in point, back in 2006 when Royal Ca- ribbean’s first “Freedom” class ship (accommodating 4,000 plus) made its debut, the company had excluded the Cayman Islands on its itin- erary, claiming that its ships could not be tendered. Fol- lowing a resulting decline in sales, however, the ships re- turned within a short period. Today, Freedom-class ships, with at times two or more in port, each dis- embark up to 4,000 pas- sengers by tender within a couple of hours. The fallacy that tendering takes more time than docking: Government’s own Environ- mental Impact Assessment study and PricewaterhouseC- oopers Outline Business Case concur that piers will not allow faster disembarkation and loading of passengers. The misconception that a dock would facilitate longer port stays: The departure time from Cayman is predi- cated on the scheduled ar- rival time at the next port of call, as confirmed by the Busi- ness Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) report that provides professional market and economic analyses. According to BREA, the average time in ports with piers is 4.6 hours, as against the average time in Cayman of 4 hours. The misconception that longer periods in port would result in increased spending: Even if docking could result in longer periods in port, there is no documented evidence that greater spending would ensue, a conclusion supported by logic and common sense. EZZARD MILLER, LEADER OF THE OPPOSITIONMOSES KIRKCONNELL, MINISTER OF TOURISM Why we need cruise berthing piers The argument against cruise piers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Cruise ship passengers use tender boats to travel to and from cruise ships. Tourists walk through George Town, as cruise ships are moored in the harbor. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 9 »The islands’ most-trusted news source 9 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 Passengers are likely to main- tain maximum spending allo- cations for each port. Further, an examina- tion of cruise passenger spending fails to support the notion that increased spending would boost the local economy. According to figures by the Caribbean Tourism As- sociation, passenger on- shore expenditure goes mostly to duty-free shop- ping, and much less on tours and attractions. Very little is spent on food. Unfortunately, both the UDP and the PPM govern- ments have failed to ac- knowledge this. Instead, they continue to subscribe to the dis- credited notion of “trickle- down economics.” With the vision of the port waiting in the wings, the co- alition is doubling down on trickle down. And what if we do build the pier and are able to dock four Oasis-class ships (ac- commodating 5,000-plus passengers) in port at one time. Who will benefit and at what cost? How do you fancy 20,000 or more passengers bus- tling through George Town and blanketing the beach and shoreline with chairs and bodies? With a degree of this chaotic atmosphere already being experienced, we can have a good idea of impacts. Attractions capacity A further grave concern is the oversight of Govern- ment’s Outline Business Case of an assessment of the car- rying capacity for cruise pas- sengers for George Town, Seven Mile Beach, or, for that matter, the whole of Grand Cayman. An evaluation of carrying capacity is essential as there will obviously come a time when escalating numbers of passengers will have dimin- ishing returns. Strengthening cruise passenger experience In the final analysis, we must focus on strengthening cruise passenger experi- ence and not caving to pres- sure to build a pier that the preponderance of evidence shows will not necessarily contribute to sustainable growth. In conjunction with this, tendering has shown it- self to be a viable and suit- able alternative. Regardless, however, ex- perience clearly shows that the cruise industry thrives when passengers derive the greatest satisfaction and value for money. In other words, it is cus- tomer satisfaction that will keep passengers coming, not a costly pier. In one final note, you may have wondered what hap- pened to that Italian im- migrant. Well, he went into the cruise business and is now telling us that the road to cruise berthing is paved with gold. Caymanian ownership Currently, the cruise lines pay the Port Authority a fee for every passenger aboard, whether they disembark or not. These fees are allo- cated to different services related to the port and ten- dering operations. With the cruise lines offering con- firmation of ongoing busi- ness once the piers are in place, the DBFM payment model is sustainable. The result is that the facility re- mains under the ownership of the Caymanian people and repayment will be com- plete in 25 years. This is a tremendous improvement on financing models pre- sented in the past. Cargo port expansion We must remember that the George Town harbor is a working harbor. As an is- land, we rely on this ac- tive seaport for our food and other goods. The port is nearing capacity handling current cargo demands. With an increasing popu- lation and the number of new hotels under construc- tion, there is a need to ex- pand the cargo port to ac- commodate larger ships. This will lower shipping costs, and ultimately lower cost of goods. Procurement process Meticulous attention to detail has gone into this project. The best interna- tional consultants have ad- vised us and there is no reason to doubt their ex- perience, expertise or find- ings. All of the reports and studies we have invested in are still publicly available on the Ministry’s website. The procurement process is following international best practice and is fully trans- parent. No corners have been cut, no deals have been made and no bidder has an unfair advantage over an- other. It has taken five years to arrive at this stage in the procurement process. Delaying now, in this final phase, to hold a referendum on a project the people have already given the govern- ment a mandate to do will stop the piers and the cargo port expansion, irrespec- tive of the referendum re- sult. The value from the in- vestment already made will be lost. This project has been on the table for over 15 years. How many more times shall we start over? This is the largest infra- structure project ever to be undertaken in the Cayman Islands, so we do expect questions. And we are happy to answer and provide the information we have. But the most important question ev- eryone should be asking is not whether we can afford to build the piers – but whether we can afford not to. Can we afford to be without our cruise tourism industry? If the answer is no, then we must build the piers. Community groups battle for hearts and minds in port debate JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Battle lines are being re- drawn over the controversial cruise berthing project. As campaigners close in on the number of signatures they need to trigger a public vote, supporters of the dock are revving up their own pub- licity engine. Leaders of the Cruise Port Referendum Cayman Cam- paign say they are around halfway toward their goal of collecting the 5,288 sig- natures necessary to compel government to call a people’s referendum on the project. Opposition politicians have now joined forces with the community-led cam- paign, and volunteers will be out again this weekend at- tempting to hit the required target of signatures from 25 percent of the electorate. Meanwhile, the energy and momentum of the cam- paign appears to have rein- vigorated supporters of the dock proposal. The group Cayman’s Port, Cayman’s Fu- ture has restarted a social media campaign in support of the project. Government is running its own adver- tising campaign advocating for the port. In today’s Cayman Com- pass, Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell and Opposition Leader Ezzard Miller make their best cases for and against the dock in com- peting op-ed articles. But the public debate goes far be- yond the political sphere. After five years of plan- ning, government is entering the final stages of procure- ment, with three bidders vying for a contract to de- sign, build, finance, operate and maintain the piers. The time line has injected new ur- gency into a debate that has rumbled with varying de- grees of intensity since 2013. The Compass spoke to people involved with the community-led campaigns. Mario Rankin, one of the key figures of the refer- endum campaign, said he was pleased with the prog- ress in the three weeks since the petition began and be- lieves campaigners are about halfway to the target. With several petition books still out in the field and petitions now circu- lating among Caymanians in Miami, Bristol and London, he believes the actual figure may be significantly higher. The effort to collect sig- natures will intensify this weekend. The constituency offices of George Town MLA Kenneth Bryan, on Eastern Avenue, and Bodden Town MLA Chris Saunders, in the Countryside Shopping Center, are among the sites where signatures will be collected. “We are having huge suc- cess in terms of participation. When you sit people down and explain to them exactly what it is about, they are eager to be part of the pro- cess,” said Mr. Rankin. He said he was personally concerned about the scale of cost overruns on previous government projects and does not believe that government has made a strong enough case to justify the dock. But, he said, the petition was also for people who supported the dock or who had not made up their mind. “If government can prove their plan is the best thing for the country, they shouldn’t have any issue taking it to a referendum. They should be confident of the people’s sup- port,” he said. “What we are trying to ac- complish is for them to put all the information out there and let everyone have a say.” Chris Kirkconnell, vice president of Kirk Freeport and part of the Cayman’s Port, Cayman’s Future group, which supports and advo- cates for the dock, said the group had been re-energized by the referendum campaign. He said he does not believe a public vote is necessary and suggested the campaign was a largely politically motivated effort to stall the port project further and push it into the next election cycle. “I think there are some people that care deeply about the environment and are very interested in a democratic right,” he said, “but for some it seems it is part of a last attempt to stall the project rather than something that could turn the project down.” He said the pro-port ad- vocacy group, which was ac- tive in the initial stages of the debate following the 2015 environmental impact as- sessment, had re-established itself in response to the mo- mentum generated by the ref- erendum campaign. “I think both sides have re-engaged with the discus- sion,” he said. “There has been a lull where government hasn’t been out there with new in- formation. I don’t think as much has changed as the op- position makes it seem.” He acknowledged his business was among those with the most to gain from increased cruise tourism, but said that was true also for many smaller businesses, including taxis and water sports operators. He said he and other members of Cayman’s Port, Cayman’s Future felt it was necessary to put other infor- mation in the public domain to counter what was being promoted by those who op- pose the dock or support a referendum. Others pushing for a refer- endum say there are still too many unanswered questions about the piers and their broader impact on Cayman. Gabriella Hernandez, of Save Cayman, said the data currently in the public do- main does not show that the presumed economic benefits outweigh the environmental and economic risks. She highlighted concerns around the impact of in- creased cruise tourism on key attractions among a number of unanswered questions. She said the issue was more complex than some be- lieve and rather than simply saying the dock is a bad idea, Save Cayman is asking for evidence that this particular proposal is good for Cayman. “While some may like the simplicity of a pro and anti argument, a project of this scale that will have wide ranging socioeconomic and environmental impacts cannot be painted black and white,” she said. “From the beginning, members of the public have raised various, valid concerns which de- serve addressing.” Examples include ques- tions over the supporting in- frastructure, capacity con- cerns on Cayman’s primary attractions, pollution, over- crowding, and the impact on stay-over tourism, she said. “Again, we are asking that the public be given the proper data so that we are all aware of the costs,” Ms. Hernandez added. Shawn Ebanks, of K-Man Sunsplash Watersports, which runs Stingray City Tours, said he thought that those who supported the port needed to do more to make their voices heard. He said the port was vital for tour operators like him. “Every single bill that I have depends on cruise ship tourism,” he said. “There are thousands of people like me wondering what is going to happen if we don’t get it – the environment can’t come before human interests every time. I depend on the envi- ronment; I don’t want to de- stroy it, but we still need to be able to move with the changing times.” Why we need cruise berthing piers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8 Seven cruise ships moor off George Town during a busy cruise day in Cayman. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY The argument against cruise piersNext >