FRIDAY MAY 31, 20 19 • CAYM AN COMPASS June releases at Camana Bay Cinema From ‘Toy St ory 4’ to t he musical feast of ‘R ocketman’ B2 ■LIFESTYLES PHOTO: ALVARO SEREY CAYMAN WEEKENDER Colourful Carib Café EDITORIAL | PAGE 4 OFFSHORE FINANCE: TIME TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT High of 89 Low of 79 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019 MOZZARELLA STICKS SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY AFTER YEARS OF INACTION, SUNRISE STAFF REMAIN HOPEFUL MILLER LAUNCHING NEW POLITICAL PARTY Deadline for cruise pier bidders Freediver rises to new heights by hitting new depths Cayman Islands national freediving record holder Richard Collett, right, holding a white tag he retrieved at depth, completes his surface protocol in Roatan, Honduras last weekend where he set two new national records. Diving on a single breath, Collett hit depths in excess of 65 meters (213 feet) to set new marks in two disciplines. For more on this story, see page 12. - PHOTO: ALEX BELDI PHOTOGRAPHY Safety hazards, staff shortages persist at adult training centre KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Nearly a decade after government commis- sioned a consultancy report to evaluate the Sun- rise Adult Training Centre, the assessment has been made public, revealing that the facility’s needs remain much the same. The release of the Deloitte report, submitted to government in June 2010, demonstrates how slow progress has been in addressing the urgent demands of the centre, tasked with providing training and support to adults with disabilities. Problems identified by the study, such as inadequate staffing, overcrowding, limited programme capacity, building safety hazards and transportation limitations, persist at the West Bay facility, according to staff. And as Grand Cayman’s population rapidly grows, some issues, such as a lengthy wait list currently dragging on for three Deposed opposition leader preparing for 2021 election JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Former Opposition leader Ezzard Miller is pushing ahead with plans for a new political party which he hopes to lead into the next election. Miller will meet with around 30 people next week as he begins to put the party machinery to- gether with the aim of running a slate of 19 can- didates at the 2021 general election. Miller, who resigned as official opposition leader last month, had initially sought to recruit some of his colleagues on the opposition benches into the party. But he said the rift which led to his resignation was now too great to bridge and he will look outside of the current crop of MLAs to put the new group together. The planned party is provisionally called the Cayman Islands People’s Alliance. Miller said its guiding principles would be participatory democracy, integrity and JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com Final bids from companies vying to build the new cruise and cargo facility in George Town harbour are expected to be submitted to government Friday. Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said in a statement that the bids would be evaluated before a final decision on who will build the piers would be announced. The statement made no mention of the possibility of a referendum that could de- rail the project. Campaigners have an- nounced that they have hit the target to trigger a people-initiated vote and they ex- pect a referendum to be called on whether or not the port project should go ahead. Kirkconnell said that more information on the project would be available once the winning bidder is selected. “It is very exciting that the procurement process has reached its conclusion, because this means the public will soon be able to see the winning design, and more infor- mation regarding the cost and exact posi- tioning of the piers will be available and shared,” he said in a statement. “I have repeatedly advised that it was nec- essary to arrive at this final stage in the pro- cess in order to have final designs in hand, and having reached this point I look forward to publicly unveiling the plans as soon as the successful bidder has been identified.” His statement came Thursday after- noon, several hours before a planned public meeting from the group Cruise Port Refer- endum Cayman to update the public on the next steps now their petition has report- edly passed the threshold of around 5,300 signatures to trigger a referendum. That meeting had not taken place at press time Thursday afternoon. Kirkconnell recapped some of the details of the lengthy procurement process and in- sisted no public funding would be required to build the piers. “As the Premier and I have both previously stated a number of times, this project will be financed from funding which cruise lines have committed to provide and from the remaining balance provided by the winning bidder. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS 94-PASTA [947.2782] • Marquee Plaza Lunch & Dinner Local Seafood Best Breakfast Deals on Island Caribbean Flair 3.2% -0.4% -7.2% -2.7% 1.2% 1.2% 1.3% 2.7% 2.8% 3.1% 3.0% 1.9% -0.1% -2.5% 2.6% 1.6% 2.2% 1.8% 2.5% 2.9% 1.6% 2.2% 20072008200920102011201220132014201520162017 Growth in Real GDP 2007 - 2017 CaymanUSA Mimi’s Happy Cart celebrates major birthday milestone KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@pinnaclemedialtd.com Mimi’s Happy Cart just got a little happier. The charitable initiative, aimed at bringing art sup- plies, games and activities to sick children at Cayman Is- lands Hospital, was granted non-profit status. The announcement comes just in time for the 6th birthday of cancer survivor Skylar May Ebanks, also known as Mimi, on Friday, 31 May. Mimi’s parents, Mechon and Tommy Ebanks, launched the cart last year, inspired by a similar initiative at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. As a baby, Mimi under- went two brain surgeries and six rounds of chemo- therapy at St. Jude in Mem- phis, Tennessee. There, a ‘happy cart’ makes the rounds several nights a week to bring crayons, play- dough and other surprises to young patients. The Ebanks family wanted to share that same joy with children in Cayman. Now, with non-profit status, Mechon Ebanks said it will be a little easier to share the love. “As a non-profit organisa- tion now, we are more free to raise funds and donations to solely benefit the children at [Cayman Islands Hospital],” Ebanks said. “The mission of our non- profit organisation is pretty much to provide assistance and support to families with critically ill children.” Since Mimi’s Happy Cart launched in June 2018, Ebanks says the pro- gramme has received over- whelming support. A wide range of organisations, from the Department of Planning to Cayman’s Grand Auto- showoff, donated to the cause throughout the year. The types of donations the organisation could re- ceive were limited until now, however. Ebanks said Mimi’s Happy Cart was not able to receive cash donations be- fore achieving non-profit status, so contributions had to come in the form of toys and other items. With expanded capabil- ities, the Ebanks family is now dreaming up new pos- sibilities for the charity. Ebanks hopes to move be- yond toys and to start of- fering other services to fami- lies of sick children. She said one of the biggest constraints for such fami- lies is finding time to keep up with day-to-day demands, like household chores. She mentioned one example from her own experience, in which a sports team came and mowed the family’s lawn. The gesture was a welcome relief for the family. Simple things like bringing a cup of coffee to tired parent at the hospital can go a long way. She hopes volunteers will step up to offer valuable services and time to families. “We’d like to open avenues for the community to be in- volved,” Ebanks said. As for Mimi, the young survivor has came a long way. She is now enjoying her first year at Lighthouse School and recently began walking without the need for a walker. On sports day, Mimi was able to lead her team on the field, Ebanks said. For her birthday, Mimi and her parents will visit the Cayman Islands Hospital paediatric ward to celebrate their recent milestones and to share the love with others. To donate to Mimi’s Happy Cart, contact 925-5940 or email tommyandmechon@gmail.com. Skylar May Ebanks, the girl who inspired Mimi’s Happy Cart, celebrates her 6th birthday this week. Mechon Ebanks, second from left, stands with supporters of Mimi’s Happy Cart at the Cayman Islands Hospital. - PHOTOS: SUBMITTEDThe islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019 EXPERIENCE THE ULTIMATE BESPOKE LIVING ON SEVEN MILE BEACH 54 exclusive private residences, hosting some of the largest sea frontages ever available on prime Seven Mile Beach. Draped in glass window walls, the views are unmatched, all housed within inspired architecture and interior design that exude superior quality and elegance. Unsurpassed lifestyle amenities and services complete the ultimate bespoke experience. WWW.THEWATERMARKCAYMAN.COM 70% SOLD Sales Inquiries (345) 925-6404 | info@thewatermarkcayman.com BOOK A PRIVATE VIEWING TODAYThe 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 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 PUBLISHER KATHLEEN CAPETTA EXECUTIVE EDITOR PATRICK BRENDEL A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” Once again, the Cayman Islands finds its name is being dragged through the mud by international ‘tax fairness’ advocates. As the Compass reported this week, the Tax Justice Network recently ranked Cayman, along with jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands and Bermuda, as one of the “most corrosive tax havens in the world”, responsible for undermining governments’ ability to collect tax from multinational corporations. It is only the most recent attack on offshore finan- cial centres such as ours, which for years have served as convenient scapegoats for tax-happy politicians, class warfare pot-stirrers and sour-grapes socialists who misunderstand global capitalism. This latest accusation fits the mould cast by so many others throughout the years: Long on passion, yet short on facts. So allow us to correct the record. The Cayman Islands’ financial services industry is highly skilled, professional, appropriately transparent, cooperative and accommodating of evolving interna - tional regulations and best practises. It is a crucial facil- itator of international commerce and access to capital. The myth that global financial centres are parasites, sucking life-giving revenue from certain tax authorities, is precisely that – a myth. A misunderstanding of the world economy and the vital role of ‘offshore’. The financial services industry is much more than the lifeblood of our own economy, In fact, it is thanks in large part to offshore jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands that the wheels of the global economy continue to turn so smoothly. Nor is it true that the world is somehow worse off because of the mere fact that we exist. Researchers such as Oxford-trained economist Diego Zuluaga have pointed out that offshore centres, as important facilitators of aggregate investment, are, in fact, associated with improved economic outcomes. Further, in a recent paper, Zuluaga clearly showed that corporate tax revenues have increased as a share of all tax revenues in the average OECD country since 1980. As he wrote, “The popular account of offshore centres is an outdated caricature that bears little resem- blance to how OFCs in fact operate. Undermining their existence would harm investment, economic growth and international capital flows, while the promised benefits from intervention are unlikely to materialize.” As the Compass has noted, longtime Tax Justice Network member Richard Murphy, himself, recently penned a report that found Europe’s primary revenue concerns are onshore tax evasion by individual tax- payers, not corporate tax avoiders. That does not prevent his group from calling us out as the ‘bad guy’ once again. Their proposed solution: a unified (i.e., global) approach to taxation that would tie multinational entities’ profits to ‘real economic activity.’ Or, as Tax Justice Network Chief Executive Alex Cobham put it, “Corporations should be taxed where their employees work, not where their ledgers hide.” His catchy statement, perhaps intentionally, attempts to reduce complex international issues to a hopeless caricature. His group’s endless war on offshore financial centres is, to put it kindly, misplaced. Offshore finance: Time to set the record straight FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS A glimpse of starlight that gave hope to science FAYE FLAM The test that convinced the world that Albert Ein- stein was right about the universe was enmeshed in the history of the first world war: The fighting af- fected which researchers failed and who succeeded, and when. When scien- tists finally did the key ob- servations 100 years ago, on 29 May 1919, their feat acted as an antidote to left- over bitterness between former enemies Germany and England. Testing the theory of relativity required precise observations of starlight during a total solar eclipse. One German astronomer chasing an eclipse in 1914 got into Russia before the war started but was soon captured and detained, his equipment confiscated. When English scien- tists finally tested Einstein using that 1919 eclipse, the event generated worldwide headlines and served as a symbol of reconciliation – a demonstration of science transcending nationalism. It was a story of Eng- lish astronomers helping to replace the bedrock of physics formulated by their own countryman, Isaac Newton, with a theory cre- ated by a German. Newton formulated gravity as an invisible force between massive ob- jects. Einstein’s replaced it with the notion that objects warped space-time and de- flected the paths of other objects. Most people did not understand Einstein’s theory, but they appreci- ated it nonetheless. Einstein himself pro- posed using an eclipse as a test back in 1911, well be- fore the theory was pub- lished in 1915, said histo- rian and physicist Daniel Kennefick, author of the book, “No Shadow of a Doubt: The 1919 Eclipse That Confirmed Einstein’s Theory of Relativity.” In Newton’s theory, star- light would be unaffected by the gravitational pull of a massive object such as the sun. In Einstein’s theory, the sun’s mass would bend space, and the starlight moving through it, creating a tiny discrep- ancy between the apparent positions of stars whose light passed by the sun, and those same stars at night. And as astronomers knew, the one time it was possible to observe star- light passing by the sun was during a total eclipse. After the 1914 attempt led to the arrest of the German astronomer Erwin Finlay-Freundlich, there was another suitable eclipse in 1916, but by then war was all over Europe. An- other opportunity in 1918 failed because the American astronomers who were well positioned to see the eclipse never got their equipment back from Russia, where they had also gone in 1914. By the time of the 1919 eclipse, the war was fi- nally over, but this was a tough one to observe, said Kennefick. The path went mostly over ocean, and where it did cross land, it was over some of the most impenetrable parts of the Amazon in South America and the Congo Basin in Af- rica. And by that point, the Germans were not in a position to fund any expeditions. But word of Einstein’s theory had reached Eng- lish astronomer Arthur Ed- dington. He and some col- leagues went to the Principe Island off the west coast of Africa, and as a backup, an- other English astronomer, Frank Dyson, organised an expedition to the town of So- bral, in Brazil. Both groups got a mix of failed images and good ones, and the good ones looked to confirm Ein- stein by showing the star- light deflected by the pre- dicted amount. Kennefick said the news caught the public imagi- nation in a big way, and Einstein became an over- night celebrity. According to a story in Discover, the front page of the London Times ran the headline “New Theory of the Uni- verse: Newtonian Ideas Overthrown.” The New York Times reported: “Men of Science More or Less Agog.” The feat helped dissolve bitterness left by the war, said Kennefick. But history moves on. One of the conse- quences of Einstein’s re-im- agining of the universe was the equation E=mc squared, which made people realise that a weapon like no other might be possible. And that changed everything. Historians still argue whether scientific advances really represent progress, either in the human con- dition or our collective wisdom. But advances in science and technology pre- vent history from repeating itself, at least not exactly. The cycles of peace and war continue as always, but the nature of both continues to change each time around. Faye Flam is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. She has written for the Economist, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Psychology Today, Science and other publications. She has a degree in geophysics from the California Institute of Technology. © 2019, Bloomberg Opinion. Newton formulated gravity as an invisible force between massive objects. Einstein’s replaced it with the notion that objects warped space-time and deflected the paths of other objects. Most people did not understand Einstein’s theory, but they appreciated it nonetheless.The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019 6 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS What are the business interests of Cayman’s government officials? KEN SILVA ksilva@pinnaclemedialtd.com In a judicial review applica- tion filed with the Grand Court in April, Environment Minister Dwayne Seymour was accused of failing to disclose business ties with developer Marcus Cumber last December, when he presented a paper to Cabinet recommending that Cumber be granted a coastal works permit. Cumber denied that he has any business relationship with the minister, and Seymour has made similar refutations. The case is still before the Grand Court. Nevertheless, the issues raised by the court case prompted a Com- pass reporter to visit the Legisla- tive Assembly to inspect the reg- istry of interests. The public is not allowed to make copies or take photos of the registry, but the re- porter took notes on the declared business interests of the territory’s elected officials. Nearly all the legislators have multiple land holdings, and most of them have interests in one or more businesses. The MLA with the most busi- ness interests is Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell, who holds shares or is a director of 11 enti- ties. No other legislator has inter- ests in more than three businesses. Premier Alden McLaughlin did not declare any business inter- ests, but wrote on his declaration form that he receives remunera- tion from a “crop farm”. Minister Seymour, for his part, only has one declared business interest: the airport security firm Airport Professional Services. Along with the elected officials, Attorney General Samuel Bulgin and Deputy Governor Franz Man- derson also filled out forms but did not declare any business interests. There was also a section on the form for legislators to declare if they received any sponsorships exceeding $1,000 leading up to the 2017 elections. The only legislator to declare a sponsorship was op- position MLA Kenneth Bryan, who said he received more than $1,000 from Dr. Steve Tomlinson. Here is the full list of declared interests of elected representa- tives, as filed with the Legisla- tive Assembly: Kenneth Bryan Dr. Steve Tomlinson provided sponsorship exceeding $1,000. No business interests. Joey Hew Director in BV Ltd. T/A Bon Vivant, Gai Foods T/A Macdonalds, Hew’s Hotel & Restaurant (shareholdings in BV and Gai but not Hew’s) Tara Rivers Shares and director in Eco Baby (Cayman) Ltd., inactive and not trading since incorporation McKeeva Bush Directorship and shareholdings in Cambridge Real Estate Corp. and WMB International Consulting Ltd. Alden McLaughlin Receives remuneration from “crop farm” Dwayne Seymour Director and remuneration and shares in Airport Professional Services Anthony Eden Shareholdings in Cayman National Corp. and First Financial Ezzard Miller Directorship of NWF Ltd. (hardware) Bernie Bush None Moses Kirkconnell Director in Air K Holdings Ltd.*, Bayside Ltd.*, Brac Caribbean Ltd., (Carib Sands Ltd.*), (Carib Sands Management Ltd.*), (Cayman Brac Power & Light Co. Ltd.*), (Island Realty Ltd.*), (Kirkconnell Investment & Development Co. Ltd.*), (Kirkconnell Ltd.), Uptown Development Ltd.*, (Zee Brac Ltd.) CI Credit Association *denotes shareholdings; () denotes remuneration Chris Saunders Director of Cainvest Bank and shares in Jauczin Group Ltd. consulting David Wight Director and shares of D and M Wight Ltd. This is marked as a holding company in the directorship question, but as a “gas station” under the shareholdings portion. Capt. Eugene Ebanks Shares in Bayside Watersports, Conch Point Rental, Garvin Road (rental units). Roy McTaggart Directorship and shareholdings in Skylane Investments Ltd. (holding company) Barbara Conolly None Arden McLean Remuneration from McLean’s Consulting Services Alva Suckoo Director of Cayman Islands Boxing Association Ltd. Austin Harris None Juliana O’Connor-Connolly NoneThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019 The islands’ most-trusted news source 8 to four years, have become worse with time. After 16 years of oper- ating out of a retrofitted du- plex meant to serve as a tem- porary location, the centre needs a renewed commit- ment from government, said Sunrise director Kim- berly Voaden. “It’s high time that gov- ernment assist us and stand by us and help us to do what they have asked us to do. They have given us an im- portant mandate. This is not a brand-new department,” Voaden said. “We’ve been here for a long time. They know the needs exist, especially this premier. [Alden McLaughlin] has been a constant advocate for the development of legis- lation and policy specifically related to people with disa- bilities in Cayman. So good, continue. We’re at this next step now. Let’s not rest on our laurels.” In April, Premier McLaughlin did indicate that the centre is on his radar. During his strategic policy statement before the Legisla- tive Assembly, he said plans had been agreed upon to build a new facility. The an- nouncement renewed hope among staff that during the next government budget meetings later this year, the centre will finally get the funding needed to begin work towards a new, pur- pose-built facility. “Plans are agreed for a new Sunrise Adult Training Facility and that facility should be fully operational by early 2021,” McLaughlin said in April. “It will include better and more modern equipment and significantly enhance the opportunities available for learning and personal development for the some 150 adults to which the facility will cater.” The facility is currently limited to serving around 30 clients during its day pro- gramme, and has more than 20 clients working in the community, Voaden said. With a new facility and ade- quate staffing, she sees Sun- rise taking in a much larger cohort of adults, who are cur- rently underserved or unable to access Sunrise’s services. Talks of constructing a new facility are not new to government, however. In 2009, then-Premier McK- eeva Bush promised to set aside money to create “a much-needed new permanent home” for Sunrise. That promise led to the commissioning of the 2010 Deloitte evaluation, which outlined two potential alter- natives to the West Bay du- plex: a village living approach or a campus living approach, ideally located between George Town and Prospect. “The village living option allows clients the ability to interact with various support centres located throughout the Cayman Islands in order to participate in a varied number of services and pro- grams offered by the various support centres and coordi- nated through a main central facility,” the report states. “The campus living option allows the client the ability to live, work and interact with other clients within one main dedicated area such as a campus setting.” Since the report’s crea- tion, its findings have been revisited many times. In 2014, McLaughlin announced $8.5 million would be budg- eted for the centre and con- struction was expected to begin in 2016. It was deter- mined more planning was needed, however, including the creation of an outline business case. Development company Rider Levett Bucknall was expected to complete the business plan and submit it within 90 days, according to a government announcement made in January 2017. No further announce- ments were made until this April, when the premier made his annual strategic policy statement. An outline business case and conceptual drawings have now been submitted, Voaden said, providing an in- dication that progress may fi- nally be within reach. “We are looking for the commitment, since the pre- mier was good enough to say yet again that he is com- mitted to giving us our new centre and funding it ade- quately. I’m really pleased to hear that, because that is what it will take. It’s not just about getting a new building. There is no point in getting a new building and then keeping staffing levels the same. The commitment for long-term growth will need to be there,” Voaden said. “There is no reason we can’t be a regional centre of excellence that actually draws in people from the rest of the region, and indeed the world, one day that would actually like to come to the centre to learn from us and learn from our guys.” Currently, the centre must adapt to the facility it has and the limitations that come with it. “The physical limitations of this building – lack of storage, lack of space, lack of safe space – mean that even though we have great ideas and we want to try things, the space that’s here doesn’t really facilitate the simul- taneous execution of pro- grammes,” Voaden said. One of the first limitations of the facility is its location in the northern end of West Bay. The Deloitte report ex- plained that the driving dis- tance to the Powery Road location is about 20 to 30 minutes from George Town. “This distance decreases the opportunity to take cli- ents into town where they are able to interact with other people and develop so- cial skills … Moreover, trans- porting clients to medical appointments or work in George Town is time inten- sive, and the location also limits specialists and thera- pists, with offices in George Town, time with clients,” the report states. Voaden said the dis- tance from town is not just an inconvenience but also a danger. She described one instance in which it took an ambulance 40 minutes to ar- rive to the facility. “Quite frankly, that can be the difference between life and death,” she said. The distance also limits the ability of adults in North Side and East End to partici- pate. Sunrise’s bus only goes as far as Northward, alien- ating potential clients in the eastern reaches of the island. Some families have chosen to keep their loved ones at home as a result, Voaden said. The next set of issues stem from the building itself. The duplex was built as a home, rather than a school or day facility. This makes nec- essary tasks, such as moving wheelchair-bound clients, all the more difficult. “It doesn’t work in terms of support behaviourally or emotionally for clients that are dysregulated. We’re in the process of trying to order some sensory equipment to support guys that really find the proximity of everybody overwhelming and the noise overwhelming. But we’re going to have to find a place to put the sensory room and I’m not exactly sure where. Wherever we do put it, obvi- ously that will carve into the space of whatever it is used for right now,” Voaden said. The Deloitte report recog- nises that the small rooms limit the number of clients that can participate in spe- cific programmes and that storage is lacking for supplies and personal belongings. Much more alarming are the safety hazards the space creates. “Sunrise consists of a number of small rooms and hallways and in the event of a fire, or a need to evacuate in an emergency, it would be difficult to evacuate quickly and efficiently due to the number of clients who are not independently mobile,” the report states. One staff member, Daniel John, said his office is lo- cated in front of a fire exit, meaning his door must be constantly open, even during sensitive meetings. “Because of that, confiden- tiality is compromised. It’s just the extra effort you have to make to ensure that things are away from eyes that don’t need to see them,” he said. Voaden added that the Fire Service is aware of the hazards at the centre, but has been accommodating to the limitations the fa- cility creates. “We’ve had to work along- side them, because it’s a sit- uation where either we don’t grow as a centre, we don’t do anything new and it’s just status quo for the rest of our existence here, or we try and we do something new and we then have to make conces- sions because of not having enough space,” Voaden said. The centre’s upcoming production of ‘The Lion King’ on 13 June provides a clear example of how dif- ficult it can be to run effec- tive programmes within such a space. Paint, feathers and other production equipment are scattered throughout the building, filling spaces that must also serve other func- tions for clients. John points out that schools find a way to put on theatre productions without supplies overwhelming class- rooms – but Sunrise is not a school building. “It’s a house. So it func- tions probably well as a house,” John said. Over the years, the duplex has been modified as best as possible to meet the needs of clients. Walls have been torn down to create space for wheelchairs. Ramps have been built to assist with entry and exit from the building. Hand railing has been added along walkways. But what staff can do is limited, Voaden said. The lease agreement, for example, prevents them from removing a bush that blocks a fire exit. Only one bathroom is suitable for cli- ents in wheelchairs, and even that facility is lacking – the bathroom does not have a mechanical chair lift, putting caregivers and cli- ents at risk of injury during manual transfers. And once the centre finally moves out of the building, they will be required to re- turn it to its former state. That means reconstructing walls and deconstructing ramps, costs Sunrise would be expected to assume. Despite the facility’s many limitations, Voaden is still hopeful. She sees the goodwill and community spirit necessary to move Sunrise forward. “We are uniquely and, in my opinion, especially blessed in that we still re- tain a large degree of that community spirit that is necessary to affect positive change,” she said. “We need to be very cog- nisant of the fact that disa- bility is not something that happens to ‘the other,’ but that in our lifetimes, we will be touched by some level of loss of function or change of function. Disability is a normal part, unfortunately, of ageing in many instances.” She has observed the gen- erosity and care of the com- munity around the Sunrise centre. Neighbours greet cli- ents during daily walks and when possible, share extra produce, such as mangoes, from their gardens. Now, Voaden hopes that spirit will finally translate into real action. To read the full Deloitte assessment, visit www.caymancompass.com. FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF Graham Heron Join us on Tuesday, June 4th 6:30pm At the Wharf Restaurant. After years of inaction, Sunrise staff remain hopeful Rooms in the Sunrise centre are often used for simultaneous purposes, such as vocational training and physical therapy. - PHOTOS: TANEOS RAMSAY The Sunrise Adult Training Centre moved into a West Bay duplex in 2003. The set-up was intended to be temporary. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19 LOCAL®IONAL SAN SALVADOR, El Sal- vador (AP) – A strong earth- quake hit off the coast of El Salvador early Thursday, sending frightened res- idents running out of their homes in the pre- dawn hours. Authorities initially said a small tsunami was pos- sible, but it did not ap- pear. Civil defence em- ployees were scouring the country for signs of damage, but they had re- ported no victims and no significant damage hours after the quake. “Monitoring of the en- tire country reflects that there has not been grave or widespread damage,” El Salvador’s Civil Defense agency said. The environmental min- istry said in a statement that the “greatest threat of tsunami for El Salvador has passed. There have not been variations in the sea level”. Iván García of the Red Cross said it only had re- ports of some small land- slides on highways, but with no victims. The US Geological Survey reported the mag- nitude 6.6 quake was cen- tred about 17 miles south- southeast of La Libertad, a suburb of the regional capital, Santa Tecla, and it was recorded at a depth of 40 miles. The government closed 960 public schools in the coastal area for 24 hours and asked private schools to do the same. It said that several af- tershocks were recorded. The earthquake was felt strongly in the capital, San Salvador. People left their homes with flashlights, and power was knocked out in at least some areas. CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY, 31 MAY 2019 Asks for poll on gambling and skyscrapers JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@pinnaclemedialtd.com George Town independent legis- lator Kenneth Bryan is urging govern- ment to poll the public on gambling, same-sex unions and skyscrapers as well as the cruise port project, if and when a referendum is called. Campaigners pushing for a peo- ple’s vote on the port announced last week that they had hit the threshold to force a people-initiated refer- endum on that issue, raising the prospect of an imminent vote. Government must first verify the validity of the petition submitted by Cruise Port Referendum Cayman, and there remains considerable uncer- tainty about the process and time- line for a referendum. But some are already looking ahead to the vote and urging gov- ernment to embrace the referendum as an opportunity to get the public’s opinion on a variety of other issues. Bryan has submitted a parlia- mentary question, to be heard at the next legislative session starting Wednesday, asking government to add non-binding questions on other issues of national importance. He said, “I think it would be ad- vantageous and cost-effective to take this opportunity to get the public’s input on one or two other key issues. Personally, I am really excited about the potential for a referendum and the opportunity for direct democracy.” Bryan said members could debate which questions should be put to the public but his initial sugges- tions are to canvass opinion on le- galising gambling, same-sex unions and building heights. He believes referendums can and should play a bigger role in Cayman politics. “I understand the government can’t go to the country on every de- cision,” he said, “but I think there are three or four big issues that every administration faces and it would make sense to get the pub- lic’s direct input at least once every administration.” Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Ms. Myrtle Fyne, who passed away on Friday, May 10, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at New Testament Church of God, North Sound Rd, Grand Cayman on Saturday, June 01, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. Viewing: 12:00 –1:00 p.m. Interment at: Prospect Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com f Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. PerlineRosleySeymour, who passed away on Sunday, May 05, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at ElmslieMemorial United Church, 48 HarbourDrive, George Town on Saturday, June 01, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Viewing: 9:00 –10:00 a.m. Interment at: Old Man Bay Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com f Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. Leah MarinahJennings, who passed away on Monday, May 20, 2019 A Thanksgiving Service will be held at Cayman Islands Seafarer’s Association on Saturday, June 01, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Viewing: Closed Casket In lieu of flowers donations to Seafarer’s Association. Interment at: Prospect Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com f Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Henry Glenn Powery, who passed away on Monday, May 20, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be at WesleyanHoliness Church on Saturday, June 08, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Viewing: 2:00 –3:00 p.m. Interment at West Bay Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com f Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing o Ms. Viola Joven, who passed away on May 18, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at Kings Seventh Day Adventist Church, 209 Walkers Road, George Town on Sunday, June 02, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Viewing: 1:00 –1:45 p.m. Interment at: Dixie Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com f Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page The Family of the Late Carlene McTaggart regret to announce her passing on Thursday, 23 May 2019. Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later date. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page The Family of the Late Mrs. Atheida (Theida) Bodden of the Bight, Cayman Brac regret to announce her passing on Thursday, 23rd May 2019. A service of Thanksgiving will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, 2nd June 2019 at the Aston Ru�y Centre, Cayman Brac. Interment will follow at the Creek Cemetery. Chamber of Commerce Economic Forum moved to 19 June The second annual Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce Economic Forum, originally slated for 31 May, has been rescheduled for Wednesday, 19 June. The forum, hosted in partnership with the Min- istry of Finance & Economic Development, will take place at the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, and features a line-up of industry leaders and gov- ernment officials presenting on key issues impacting the current and future state of the economy. Each presentation will be followed by panel dis- cussions on topics such as planning for the impact of economic substance legis- lation; growing a sustain- able tourism product; pre- paring Cayman’s workforce and the new WORC plan; and balancing popula- tion, infrastructure and eco- nomic growth. Finance Minister Roy McTaggart is going to up- date delegates on gov- ernment’s finances and key economic policies that are under considera- tion. The event was post- poned from its original date after Minister McTaggart’s mother Carlene passed away on 23 May. The forum begins with a buffet lunch at noon and will conclude with a networking recep- tion at 5:30pm. The conference is spon- sored by Dart, Cayman First, the Department of Tourism, Coldwell Banker and CUC. All tickets purchased for the original date will re- main valid, the Chamber of Commerce said. An- yone requiring a refund should contact the chamber at 949-8090. Those wishing to attend the event should register online at www.caymanchamber.ky. Bryan calls to expand port referendum “ I think it would be advantageous and cost- effective to take this opportunity to get the public’s input on one or two other key issues.” KENNETH BRYAN, MLA, George Town Central DELAYED FRIDAY OPENING FOR DEH, LANDFILL The Department of En- vironmental Health’s main office will be closed from 7-9am on Friday. The George Town landfill will also be closed between 7-9am. According to the DEH, the late opening times are due to a staff meeting. Members of the public can dispose of small quan- tities of garbage at the 24-hour drop-off site lo- cated at the entrance of the landfill if necessary, the DEH advised. Kenneth Bryan STRONG EARTHQUAKE OFF COAST OF EL SALVADORNext >