WHAT’S HOT WEEKLY WHAT’S HOT WEEKLY Sara Collins LOCAL | PAGE 8 ANDRÉ EBANKS NAMED TO LEAD LONDON OFFICE High of 91 Low of 80 Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 75 CENTS – FRIDAY, 16 AUGUST 2019 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY 69 animal cruelty or neglect cases reported in 2018 SPENCER FORDIN sfordin@compassmedia.ky The Department of Agriculture dealt with 69 reports of animal cru- elty or neglect in 2018 and recom- mended five of those cases to be put forward for prosecution. The Cayman Compass filed a Freedom of Information request ear- lier this year for details regarding reports of cruelty and neglect. Fifty-three of the 69 reports filed were about the treatment of dogs. There were also 11 reports about horses, four about cows or bulls, and another concerning pigs. There were an additional four files not in- cluded in the final tally that detailed multi-agency responses to reports about cockfighting. Three of the four cockfighting reports occurred in 2018, with the final one taking place in February 2019. The DoA recovered more than 70 fowls in a search of a home in March 2018 and arrested a man in connection with the property. A sim- ilar report occurred in June 2018, resulting in more than 30 roosters being handed over for destruction and an arrest being made for cru- elty to animals. The DoA had to euthanise an- other 26 game birds related to cock- fighting in August last year and warned an individual for intended prosecution. The most recent re- port, dated 8 Feb. 2019, involved six confiscated roosters and an arrest for cruelty and offences under the Pharmaceuticals Law. There were four months last year with at least eight reports of an- imal cruelty that the DOA investi- gated. The busiest month was Jan- uary, when the DoA dealt with seven complaints about the treatment of dogs, one about a horse and one about a bull. One of those reports involved a dog that was hit by a car on New Year’s Day and whose owner waited 18 days to seek medical treatment for the animal. The dog’s original owner had recently moved off island and the dog was being cared for by the new owner, who was ultimately arrested and attended court. Two reports at one address There were a pair of reports – dated 16 Feb. and 2 Aug. 2018 – con- cerning a single property. In the first instance, the DoA was informed by an officer working for the Department of Environmental Health about a home with 30 dogs where the owner had pledged to have 10 removed from the property. The DoA responded to the scene and the owner repeated that they would re-home 10 of the dogs. Months later, the DoA was alerted about the same home again by the property owner’s son. By this point, the home reportedly held more than 60 dogs plus multiple newborn puppies. Following the 2 Aug. report, the DoA visited the home as part of a multi-agency effort on 5 Sept. and found that “upon arrival, the smell from the residence was emitting to the roadway. Contact was made with the owner … who had to walk around faeces and urine to exit the residence”. The officers were unable to enter the home “due to a very large number of dogs outside and inside the residence displaying ag- gressive behaviour”. A perimeter inspection was con- ducted and showed that the resi- dents were disposing of wastewater and solids from the animals to a va- cant lot next door. Ultimately, the home’s owners agreed to surrender 51 of the 55 dogs on their property to the DoA. When the officers fi- nally made it inside the home, they These dogs were among 53 seized from a home in Prospect by authorities during an investigation in May this year. Last year, the Department of Agriculture dealt with almost 70 reports of animal cruelty or neglect. - PHOTO: RCIPS PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » Brexit could impact environmental funding for Cayman CCMI and National Trust both receive EU funding JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Grant funding for important en- vironmental projects in the Cayman Islands and other British Overseas Territories may be impacted by Brit- ain’s exit from the European Union. With the prospect of a no-deal Brexit looming, Britain’s territo- ries are readying themselves for the ripple effect. One potential consequence is the loss of a vital source of funding for environmental protection and re- search. The EU Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories initiative, known as BEST grants, currently provide around $1 mil- lion annually in funding to Britain’s Overseas Territories. The Cayman Islands National Trust and the Cen- tral Caribbean Marine Institute on Little Cayman have received BEST grants in recent years. A 100,000 Euro grant from that source helped CCMI fund a study to determine the movement patterns of lionfish on Little Cayman’s reefs in an effort to better manage the inva- sive species. Carrie Manfrino, founder of CCMI, said any loss of funding would be a major blow to the cen- tre’s important research, including groundbreaking work on coral reef health and climate change. “We have urgent issues to ad- dress related to coral reefs, and a window of opportunity to address them. We have an incredible oppor- tunity to do the work here in Little Cayman at the research centre that many locations in the Caribbean do not have. “It would be a major loss if we cannot compete for funding from the EU, which has enormous resources to [help] solve these big problems.” She said CCMI was currently working to grow a population of corals that are more resistant to high temperature stress events – a development that could prove im- portant to the survival of coral reefs in the region. “Losing EU funding for projects that will impact the whole region is a major loss for all of us, especially in the marine realm,” she added. Nadia Hardie, director of the PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 »2 LOCAL NEWS FRIDAY, 16 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS BREAKTHROUGH (PG) 1:25 I 4:10 I 7:15 I 10:00 SUN: 4:10 I 7:15 I 10:00 KALANK (PG) 3:10 I 9:00 (SAT ONLY) I 9:30 (NO SAT) SUN: 3:10 I 9:20 LITTLE (PG13) 12:30 I 3:25 (SAT ONLY) I 3:50 (NO SAT) 6:50 I 9:45 SUN: 3:50 I 6:50 I 9:35 DUMBO (PG) 10:30 (SAT ONLY) I 4:35 I 7:15 (NO SAT) SUN: 4:35 I 7:15 CAPTAIN MARVEL (PG13) 1:40 I 10:00 (NO SAT) SUN: 6:30 I 10:00 THE CURSE OF LA LLORONA (R) 1:10 VIP I 4:35 I 7:00 VIP I 10:15 HELLBOY (R) 12:35 (SAT ONLY) I 1:00 I 6:10 (SAT ONLY) I 6:45 SHAZAM! (PG13) 1:30 I 3:40 VIP I 7:15 I 9:30 VIP SUN: 3:40 VIP I 4:40 I 6:40 VIP 8:00 I 9:40 VIP KIDS CLUB: OVER THE HEDGE (PG) 10:00 (SAT ONLY) CULTURE AT THE CINEMA: THE TRAGEDY OF KIND RICHARD THE SECOND (R18) SAT ONLY: 8:00 • Matinees Daily (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00, Mon-Fri Before 6pm • Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) THE ANGRY BIRDS (PG) MOVIES 2 10:45 (SAT ONLY) | 1:00 VIP | 1:20 | 3:55 3D | 6:30 | 9:00 3D SUN: 3:30 3D | 6:30 | 9:00 3D 47 METERS DOWN: (PG13) UNCAGED 12:30 | 2:55 | 7:40 | 10:00 SUN: 5:00 | 7:55 | 10:15 CULTURE @ THE CINEMA (R18) AUDIENCE, THE NT LIVE 8:00 (SAT ONLY) MISSION MANGAL (PG) 10:35 (SAT ONLY) | 12:40 (FRI ONLY) | 3:55 (SAT ONLY) | 6:50 | 9:50 SUN: 2:30 | 7:15 | 10:10 GOOD BOYS (R) 1:20 (FRI ONLY) | 1:30 (SAT ONLY) | 3:35 (FRI ONLY) | 5:15 | 10:10 DORA AND THE LOST (PG) CITY OF GOLD 1:30 | 10:15 (SAT ONLY) | 6:45 SUN: 2:30 | 5:25 | 7:00 THE LION KING (2019) (PG) 4:00 | 9:15 (FRI ONLY) SUN: 4:00 | 6:40 | 9:30 KIDS CLUB (G) CHICKEN RUN 10:00 (SAT ONLY) F&F HOBBS & SHAW (PG13) 1:05 3D | 3:35 VIP | 4:05 | 6:45 VIP | 7:10 | 9:50 VIP SUN: 3:00 | 3:35 VIP | 6:45 VIP | 9:25 3D | 9:50 VIP Enjoy a Cimboco breakfast of *Two Eggs (Done to your liking) *Your Choice of Apple Smoked or Canadian Bacon *Herb Roasted Potatoes *Honey Wheat Toast For ONLY $5.00!!! Finish it o with a cup of Java for $1.99 Start your day o right! Mon-Fri * 7:30-11:00am *Except Holidays DR. PERVEZ ALI, MD, FRCSC Orthopaedic Surgeon and Adult Hip and Knee Joint Reconstruction Specialist CAYMAN ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP PLEASE CALL 945-8380 FOR APPOINTMENTS will be at #1 SMITH ROAD PLAZA Weather experts: Sahara dust diminishing cyclone activity KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Movement of dry air and dust from the Sahara de‑ sert is keeping the Carib‑ bean hurricane season at bay – for now. Drought conditions in the Sahara have produced a sig‑ nificant plume of dust in re‑ cent days that has extended to much of the eastern Car‑ ibbean, including Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. For the time being, the dry air appears to be suppressing hurricane activity, explained climate scientist Jhordanne Jones of Colorado State Uni‑ versity’s Tropical Meteor‑ ology Project. “There is a huge plume of Saharan dust that’s di‑ rectly over the Caribbean. It hasn’t extended as far as Cayman, although you may be impacted as well,” Jones said, adding that the flow of winds around Cayman and Jamaica is currently counter‑ acting the westward move‑ ment of the dust. The Saharan dust and air have a drying effect on the environment, Jones said, di‑ minishing the moisture nec‑ essary for cyclone formation. Dust and wind shear con‑ ditions are expected to stifle cyclone activity through the weekend. Forecasters antic‑ ipate conditions to change around 18 Aug., however. “Indications are that in‑ hibiting factors for tropical development, such as dry air, dust and strong wind shear over the Atlantic basin will start to relax during the week of Aug. 18‑25,” said Ac‑ cuWeather hurricane expert Dan Kottlowski. AccuWeather advised that during mid‑summer, moist air in the region tends to be‑ The Saharan dust and air have a drying effect on the environment, Jones said, diminishing the moisture necessary for cyclone formation. Yellow, orange and red indicate dust movement from Africa towards the Caribbean as of 15 Aug. - IMAGE: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON Autopsy results pending for Cayman couple in California Autopsies have been per‑ formed on two Cayman Is‑ lands residents found dead on 22 July in southern California. The Inyo County Sher‑ iff’s office did not yet have an update to share with the public, however, regarding the deaths of Yvonne Blanco, 69, and husband Keith Hen‑ derman, 74. Public informa‑ tion officer Carma Roper advised that processing au‑ topsy results can take longer than many people expect. Blanco and Henderman were found dead near Charleston View, California, outside of a parked Toyota RAV4 that had been rented in Las Vegas, the Inyo County Sheriff’s office reported on 25 July. The coroner indicated at the time that their bodies ap‑ peared to have been in the location for 24 hours before their discovery. Their autopsies were ex‑ pected to be performed out‑ side of Inyo County, located on the southern border be‑ tween California and Nevada. cane Center is forecasting 10 to 17 named storms, including five to nine hurricanes, this season. CSU forecasters are predicting 12 named storms, including six hurricanes. So far, the season has produced two named storms – Subtrop‑ ical Storm Andrea and Hurri‑ cane Barry. come more plentiful while dust and wind shear tend to diminish. “How fast these inhib‑ iting factors relax next week will determine if and when a particular dis‑ turbance develops,” Kott‑ lowski said in an Accu‑ Weather post. CSU meteorologist Phil Klotzbach posted on Twitter Thursday that the Atlantic has only had one named storm, Hurricane Barry, since 1 June – the fewest number of named storms between 1 June and 15 Aug. since 1999. “The Atlantic has had no named storm activity since Barry on July 14, and the National Hurri‑ cane Center forecasts no new named storms in next 5 days. The last time that the Atlantic went from July 15 through August 19 with 0 named storms was 1982,” Klotzbach posted on Wednesday. The National Hurri‑The islands’ most-trusted news source 3 CAYMAN COMPASS FRIDAY, 16 AUGUST 2019 The choice is yours. Live beachfront year round, spend your holidays here or even choose to put your residence in a short-term rental programme managed by AAA Five Diamond award-winning Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa. One- to five-bedroom residences starting from US$1.4 million. Contact the Seafire Sales Specialists for more information about owning at Seafire and the benefits of the rental programme. +1.345.640.7000 | seafireresidencescayman.com Wake up to a great investment. TURNKEY FURNITURE PACKAGES AVAILABLE NOW Your eligibility for purchase will depend upon your state of residency. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate and/or securities to residents of any jurisdiction unless exemptions from registration are available in the applicable jurisdiction. RESTORATION HARDWARE4 LOCAL NEWS JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Phosphate mining was a short-lived but highly prosperous enterprise in the Cayman Islands in the late 19th century. Beds of phosphate – a key component of agricultural fertilisers and an important com- modity in the 19th century – were discovered on Grand Cayman and Little Cayman. It involved mining deposits – created by seabird excrement in the interior of the is- lands – and transporting them on wheeled carts along rail tracks to the coast. In his definitive history of the Cayman Islands, ‘Founded Upon The Seas’, Michael Craton described the phosphate industry as an economic “boom” for the islands. He describes how the industry began in 1884 with the incorporation of the Grand Cayman Phosphate Company. “Although the phosphate beds in George Town were soon exhausted, larger beds were discovered in West Bay and at the western end of Cayman Brac,” Craton wrote. The Carib Guano Company began mining on Little Cayman in 1885 after the discovery of a very rich deposit on the island, the book indicates. Exports were steady for around five years and the industry provided near universal em- ployment, as well as handsome royalties for land owners. The discovery of larger phos- phate deposits in Florida effectively shut down the Cayman operation, however, and the Grand Cayman Phosphate Company and Carib Guano Company had shut down by 1892. “Though the industry was revived in a lim- ited form on the Sister Islands from the 1920s to the 1940s, all that remained of this unu- sual episode in the commercial history of the Cayman Islands were sections of the metal tracks, visible for many years, which had borne the trolleys carrying phosphate from the interior to the coast,” Craton wrote. Now historians are investigating the theory that the wheel-sets discovered underwater off East End may have been relics from these donkey-drawn carts. FRIDAY, 16 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Underwater ‘train wreck’ could be relic of phosphate mining JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The discovery of old-fashioned train wheel-sets in shallow water off East End may be linked to the bygone era of phosphate mining in the Cayman Islands, histo- rians believe. Dive shop owner Steve Broad- belt made the discovery of 13 wheel and axle sets partially buried in sand and encrusted in coral in around 20 feet of water while doing maintenance on un- derwater web cams in the area. The find, never previously re- ported, is being investigated by the Cayman Islands National Museum. Peggy Leshikar-Denton, the di- rector of the museum and a spe- cialist in underwater archaeology, said the site would be protected under the Abandoned Wreck Law and could eventually become part of the Maritime Heritage Trail. She said an initial theory dated the wheel sets to the 19th century. “I believe the cart wheels and axles may be related to the phos- phate mining era of the late 1800s. We had tracks and phosphate cars and carts at several locations on Grand Cayman and also on Little Cayman,” she said. Some pieces of the old track are still visible on the nature trail in Little Cayman today. A piece of rail was commandeered during the construction of the bar at the Southern Cross Club, where it serves as a footrest for thirsty divers. Broadbelt is continuing to con- duct surveys of the site to take measurements of the wheels and axles to provide the museum with more information to trace the or- igin of the find. Historian Roy Bodden said the largest phosphate mining opera- tion in the islands was in Little Cayman. He said the wheel-sets were most likely relics of that era. “From the size of those things, they don’t look like they were made for passenger rail,” he said. “Most likely they would have been for shipment to Little Cayman or Jamaica.” He said the south east corner of Grand Cayman was known as the ‘graveyard of the Caribbean’ and it was common for ships to be wrecked on the reefs in that area. Caribbean historian and UCCI assistant professor Christopher Williams said the discovery, which is close to Cayman’s oldest set- tlement, Old Isaac’s, was a fasci- nating find. He said the artefacts were probably jettisoned cargo. “Perhaps Caymanian wreckers had been in the process of sal- vaging what was salvageable from a wrecked merchant ship sometime in the 19th century on its way to Jamaica, and this particular load got away from them,” he said. Williams added that Jamaica- bound ships sometimes found themselves in Cayman’s waters as a result of “navigational folly”. He added that any theory was specu- lative at this stage, and it was vital to get the artefacts dated and iden- tified to compare them with what was used in Cayman and Jamaica at the time. The wreck is in shallow water, close to the Old Isaac’s dive site, which is a regular stopping point for dive charters and lies on the south-east corner of Grand Cayman, less than a mile from Ocean Frontiers’ dock. A piece of rail from Little Cayman’s old train track that transported phosphate can be found as a footrest at the base of the bar at the Southern Cross Club. - PHOTO: PETER HILLENBRAND Train carriage wheelsets discovered off East End may be more than 100 years old, historians believe. - PHOTO: ALEX MUSTARD PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Cayman Compass Ltd. Compass Centre Shedden Road, George Town, Cayman Islands SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman, KY1-1108 Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@compassmedia.ky ADVERTISE WITH US: Telephone: (345) 949-5111 Email: sales@compassmedia.ky Website: www.caymancompass.com PUBLISHER KATHLEEN CAPETTA EDITOR CATHERINE MACGILLIVRAY A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” Cayman phosphate mining a short-lived economic boom The remnants of the 1880s’ phosphate mining boom can be seen in this photograph, featured in the history book ‘Founded Upon The Seas’, which shows trolley tracks leading to the seafront in George Town in 1938.The islands’ most-trusted news source 5 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY, 16 AUGUST 2019 World class infrastructure at no cost to the public purse www.SupportOurTourism.com Join the conversation The cruise berthing facility will be paid for by passengers, not Caymanians 3 A new cruise terminal providing two finger-piers on pilings 3 Enhanced cargo port to support our economic development and growing population 3 No upland development, keeping passenger spend local 3 Construction costs repaid to Verdant Isle using passenger fees, not government loans, bonds or guarantees Keeping pace. Staying competitive. Securing jobs. SupPORT the PORT. Support our Tourism.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 FRIDAY, 16 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS found that “the floors were covered in faeces and urine. The smell of ammonia was overwhelming”. Nineteen of the dogs were ultimately euthanised based on prohibited breed status, display of aggressive be- haviour or medical reasons, but nobody was warned for prosecution of cruelty or neglect. Brian Crichlow, assis- tant director of the DoA, said that he cannot comment on public health violations as they are handled by the DEH. But he clarified why the owners were not prose- cuted for neglect. “With regards to the dogs, this was a clear instance of hoarding, where an owner genuinely cares/has emo- tional connection with the dogs and believes they are doing their best to look after them,” he said in an email response to a request for comment. “Apart from the overcrowding and less- than-sanitary conditions … the dogs, although unkempt, were well-fed and there were no significant/serious animal neglect or cruelty issues. Further, there is nothing in the Law that speaks to the number of dogs a person can own or house at one loca- tion. The Law only addresses animal welfare (neglect or cruelty).” The DoA was part of a similar multi-agency ef- fort that resulted in 53 dogs being seized from a home in Prospect in May 2019. That case was forwarded to the Office of Public Prosecutions for disposition. Horse case Last year, the DoA as- sisted a horse owner in June that was feeding his an- imal diligently but the horse would not gain weight. An investigation was conducted and the horse was found to be very thin. The DoA de- termined that the horse had a healthy appetite but was dropping its feed due to bad teeth. The DoA recommended a device to help with the horse’s teeth and impounded the horse to feed it and nurse it back to health. Months later – after the animal had gone from 700 pounds to a healthy 880 pounds – the horse was released back to its owner at no charge. Injured dog Another noteworthy case occurred in October when an untethered dog was sleeping under a car and was run over by an unsuspecting driver. The dog was immedi- ately taken to Island Veteri- nary Services and found to have a fractured pelvis. The dog owner ultimately con- tacted the person who had brought the dog to the vet and attempted to arrange to pick the dog up. The owner could not afford the med- ical bills – which were in ex- cess of $600 – and declined to pick up the dog from the vet for a week. It is unclear what ulti- mately happened to the dog, but there were no prosecu- tions recommended. The DoA informed the complainant that “the money is a civil matter. DoA don’t get in- volved in money”. 16 toy breed dogs found in premises On 21 Nov. 2018, the DoA received a report from an of- ficer in the Department of Children and Family Services about a home “regarding nuisance of smell and exces- sive barking dogs”. The DoA responded and conducted a perimeter in- spection of the home that revealed the residents were disposing of wastewater and solids into a water source that did not belong to the owner. Several toy dog breeds displaying aggressive behaviour prevented the DoA officer from gaining entrance to the home. “However, observation was made from the front door of the apartment and exposed a strong smell of urine and musky hot air emitting from the inside of the residence,” said the re- port. “The [animal welfare officer] also noted that the floor was covered in urine and food and all dogs ap- peared to be wet.” The DoA returned to the single-bedroom home the next week and conducted a welfare inspection. The pet owner said that he had 18 small breed dogs inside the home and eight large dogs outside, and he ultimately agreed to surrender 16 of the toy breed dogs and seven of the large breeds. One of the large dogs was euthanised due to prohibited breed status, and one of the toy dogs had an injury that necessitated removal of the left eye in a surgery that cost $650. Nobody was warned for prosecution, and the DoA instructed the owner how to properly care for animals in the future. “Assessment was that al- though the dogs were un- kempt, they were well fed,” said Crichlow of this re- port. “The unsanitary con- ditions were primarily a concern for public/human health. Although unsat- isfactory for keeping of dogs which needed to be bathed/groomed, this was not a clear-cut instance of a level of neglect of cru- elty that would warrant a prosecution.” Crichlow went on to say that the DoA’s best option in this case was to work with the owners to surrender their animals on the condi- tion that they would de-sex the two dogs they kept. Months later, on 5 Feb. 2019, the DoA returned to the same residence. There were now 10 dogs at the residence; a shih-tzu at the property had a litter of six puppies and the owner was attempting to sell them for $350 apiece. The owner now had three large dogs in- stead of one. The DoA report indicates that the owner was hos- tile to animal welfare of- ficers and that he was “later warned by officers to cease his behaviour or he will be arrested for obstruction”. The owner asked the DoA officers “what law gov- erns the amount of animals someone can own in Cayman Islands” and told the officers there is nothing that com- pels him to neuter his pets. But the dogs were being kept in good condition, the DoA found, and no further action was recommended. When Crichlow was asked specifically about that case, he said the DoA’s hands were tied. “Regrettably, the owner reneged on their agreement to have the dogs that they kept de-sexed. Further, they received advice that there is no provision under the law to force an owner to have their animals de-sexed, which is indeed the case,” he said. “When the home was revisited, the persons had in- creased the number of dogs. However, on this occasion, the conditions met the Five Freedom standards used to assess animal welfare and there were no unsani- tary or public/human health concerns.” Five cases recommended for prosecution Crichlow said that five cases related to animal wel- fare issues in 2019 have been recommended for prosecu- tion. One of those cases, in fact, was disposed of last week. The owner of a dog diagnosed with cancer ob- served that the animal was not responding to medi- cation and stopped dis- pensing it. The owner last visited the vet in December 2018, and his dog had to be euthanised on 9 Jan. 2019. The owner ultimately pleaded guilty to permitting unnecessary suf- fering to an animal. Crichlow was asked re- cently by the Cayman Com- pass how the DoA de- cides when a case should be put forward for prose- cution and when confisca- tion of the animals suits the public interest. “Every investigation is assessed on its particular merits, with the focus on the welfare of the animals,” said Crichlow. “The Department’s approach has and continues to be where improvements need to be made and the an- imals are not suffering, se- verely neglected, nor is there any obvious cruelty and the situation can be rectified through education, then that is the first approach. “If an owner refuses to surrender animals and con- fiscation is warranted, then this matter would have to prosecuted through the courts as only a judge can then make a decision on the future of the animals (adop- tion or return to the owner) and the animals would have to be kept in the shelter until such time as the decision is rendered, which can take an extended period of time. “Where there is, of course, evidence of significant/se- rious neglect, cruelty or where the animals are suf- fering or other serious viola- tions of the law … then the animals would be removed and a case made for pros- ecution even if the person chose to surrender the ani- mals. Case files are prepared and submitted to the [Of- fice of the Director of Public Prosecutions], which then determines if the case moved forward to prosecution and which charges are laid.” 69 animal cruelty or neglect cases reported in 2018 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Police and Department of Agriculture officials at times work together to deal with animal welfare issues. For example, in January this year, from left, Brian Crichlow and Adrian Estwick of the DoA, MLA Joey Hew and RCIPS officers Brad Ebanks and Courtney Myles held a meeting with residents on the issue of stray dogs. Designer Lapson to judge Miss Cayman Universe Pageant will be held on Saturday night International designer and television host Charlie Lapson will be among the judges this Saturday at the annual Miss Cayman Uni- verse pageant at The Ritz- Carlton resort. This year’s six contest- ants are Mahalia Seymour, Samantha Dixon, Mariah Tibbetts, Aleka Beckford, Francine Wright and Kadejah Bodden. The theme for this year’s pageant is ‘A Magical Affair’. Lapson, known for his collections of jewellery, fashion and lifestyle prod- ucts, has been described by Entertainment Tonight as “the designer for the new millennium” and TIME Magazine referred to him as “One of the hippest de- signers in Los Angeles”. Tickets for the pag- eant are $75 and include a welcome drink and can- apes. Tickets are avail- able at Funky Tang’s and Sand Angels.The Miss Universe Cayman contestants gather outside the White House in Bodden Town. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVY Charlie Lapson Fifty-three of the 69 reports filed were about the treatment of dogs. There were also 11 reports about horses, four about cows or bulls, and another concerning pigs.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY, 16 AUGUST 2019 SATURDAY, 24 AUGUST FROM 19:00 TO 23:00 HRS | 80 CI* Only few more days until the fourth edition of our popular A&D Sessions! Make sure to grab your tickets for the hottest end-of-summer event on the island! If you haven’t heard about it already, A&D Sessions is our unique twist on brunch in the dark. We will be transforming our space into the ultimate foodie experience with good grub, live tunes and community vibes. This awesome culinary event is all about enjoying delicious food and drinks while hanging out with good friends and making new ones. We will be featuring a variety of delicious dishes from around the world including Aegean and Middle Eastern cuisines showcased in our signature ARGO night, Ramen and Dumplings, fresh sushi from our Raw Bar, an interactive Chocolate Station, a Donuts Galore Corner plus irresistible drinks and cocktails from our Gin-ius Bar (celebrating the launch of the second edition of our A&D Gin Booklet!), Oysters and Bubbles Counter, a selection of amazing wines at our Grab & Go fridge, and so much more! For entertainment, we are flying in DJ Nuny Love from Miami as well as featuring live performances by Riaan Smit. Tickets include unlimited food and drinks all evening long! The ambience is free-flowing, relaxed and social; therefore, no table reservations are needed. * Plus Service charge. Tickets are mandatory upon entrance of the event and are non-refundable. Get your tickets at www.eventpro.ky | 389 West Bay Road, Seven Mile Beach | www.anchorandden.comThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 FRIDAY, 16 AUGUST 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. Gertrude Gooding, who passed away on Wednesday, July 31, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at Church of God Universal, Walkers Rd on Sunday, August 18, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. Viewing: 1:30 –2:15 p.m. Interment at: Prospect Cemetery. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com sing of , 2019 at d on m urchillsfuneralhome.co Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mrs. Violet O’Connor, who passed away on Thursday, August 08, 201 A Thanksgiving Service will be held at St. George’s Anglican Church, Courts Rd, George Town, Grand Cayman on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. Viewing will be from 3:00 –4:00 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 Mr. EaraldRudonSr, who passed away on Sunday, August 04, 2019. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at Church of God West Bay, 108 Captain Reginald Parsons Dr, Grand Cayman on Saturday, August 17, 2019 at 2:30 p.m. Viewing: 1:30 –2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cayman Islands Cancer Society. Interment at: West Bay Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com The Family of the Late John Enderson Evans regret to announce his passing on Wednesday, 31 July 2019. A funeral service will be held 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, 20 August 2019 at Wesleyan Holiness Church, West Bay. Interment will follow in West Bay Cemetery Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page The Family of the Late Eva Ebanks be�er Known as “Bella” regret to announce her passing on Saturday, 10 August 2019. A funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, 24 August 2019 at Bodden Funeral Service Chapel, 117 Walkers Rd. Viewing will be held from 9:00 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow in Boatswain Bay Cemetery Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page The Family of the Late Jude Mitchell Sco� Walton deeply regret to announce his sudden passing on Wednesday, 31 July 2019. A Service to Celebrate Jude’s Life and his Homegoing will take place at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, 17 August 2019 at the Church of God (Holiness) Spot Bay, Cayman Brac. Viewing will be from 9:00 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will follow at the Spot Bay Cemetery. Floral tributes are welcome but monetary donations to the Church of God (Holiness) would be greatly appreciated. Condolences can be registered at www.boddenfuneralservices.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Joseph Woods, who passed away on Saturday, August 10, 2019. Details of a Thanksgiving Service will be announced at a later date. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Emmanuel Ezekiel Brown “Manny”, who passed away on Monday, August 12, 2019. Details of a Thanksgiving Service will be announced at a later date. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Virgil Morgan Bush, who passed away on Saturday, August 05, 2019. Details of a Thanksgiving Service will be announced at a later date. Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com National Trust, said the or- ganisation sought grants in- dependently and in combina- tion with other groups, such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. “We are greatly con- cerned by the potential ef- fects of Brexit on our levels of funding and access to EU and UK grants on offer,” she said. “The Trust relies heavily on these grants to deliver key environmental programmes and conservation efforts. Without these we would find it very difficult, such is the need for funding, to have any real chance for success.” Hardie said she was working on a submission to the UK government, which has put out a ‘call for evi- dence’ from non-profits and other environmental groups in the territories as it as- sesses how best to manage any funding shortfall post Brexit. The issue was first high- lighted in a UK parliamentary committee report, ‘Global Britain and the British Over- seas Territories: Resetting the relationship’. It states, “Some of the evidence we received sug- gests that the OTs’ ability to manage their environ- ments and mitigate the im- pact of climate change may be hampered by the loss of EU funding, particularly the roughly £1 million a year the OTs receive from the EU’s BEST Initiative.” The UK government has pledged to match EU funding up to 2020 and is considering how best to replace such funding post Brexit. The ‘call for evidence’ – basically a consultation document – states, “If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, and without further action, the UK will leave the EU Budget. This would mean governments and other organisations in our Overseas Territories could lose future funding for ex- isting projects under EU programmes. However, the Chancellor announced that the UK gov- ernment will guarantee funding for specific EU pro- jects. This will provide cer- tainty for British Overseas Territories governments and participating organisa- tions over the course of our EU exit.” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Brexit could impact environmental funding for Cayman EU funding for environmental projects in the Cayman Islands has included a 100,000 Euro grant to help CCMI fund a lionfish study on Little Cayman’s reefs. - PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK André Ebanks named to lead London office André Ebanks will soon become the most senior Cayman Islands official in the United Kingdom. Ebanks has been named the new Cayman Islands representative to the United Kingdom and Europe for the Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs. He will be based in the Cayman Is- lands government’s office in London. Ebanks, currently the deputy chief officer in the Ministry of Community Af- fairs, will replace Eric Bush in the position, effec- tive 2 Sept. One of Ebanks’ first en- gagements in the position will be to attend the Labour and Conservative party con- ferences in September at a critical time. “In view of Brexit, the UK faces its most com- plex and polarising political crisis since the Second World War,” Ebanks said in a press statement. “It will be critical for the Cayman Islands to monitor matters closely to determine how best to position itself in a post-Brexit world. There- fore, an immediate priority will be to assist Cayman [to] map its strategic objectives in this potentially new global landscape. Brexit provides an opportunity to not only rec- reate our relationship with the UK as part of a revital- ised Global Britain, but with the rest of the world.” Ebanks’ job will be to promote the interests of the Cayman Islands government and Caymanian people in the UK and Europe. He will provide consular services to Caymanians and assist Cayman Islands government activities relating to eco- nomic, political and socio- cultural matters. “Furthermore, Mr. Ebanks’ office will collect/distribute data; foster and strengthen strategic links; promote and facilitate inward investment as well as representing the Cayman Islands in the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association, the EU Overseas Countries and Territories As- sociation, and at other of- ficial/ceremonial events,” a ministry press release said. Ebanks received praise from top Cayman Islands officials following the announcement. Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said he was de- lighted that such a dynamic candidate would build on progress made by his prede- cessor, Bush. Bush has now returned to Cayman as chief officer for the ministry. Premier Alden McLaughlin reflected on the vital role the position plays in supporting ties with the UK and Europe. “I have every confidence that André will do an excel- lent job in his secondment and continue to build on the excellent work done by Eric Bush over the last 3 years,” McLaughlin said. “As the UK continues to wrestle with the issues pre- sented by Brexit and as we continue ourselves to deal with the complexities and challenges to our Financial Services industry as a result of initiatives largely driven by the European Union, it is vital we have a capable and willing Caymanian on the ground to represent our Islands. I believe André will ably fulfil this role on our behalf.” In supporting positions to Ebanks will be Deputy Repre- sentative Charles Parchment, two assistant representatives and a business manager. André Ebanks9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • FRIDAY, 16 AUGUST 2019 Lower than average rainfall contributed to Consolidated Water’s double-digit revenue and gross profit growth in the second quarter of this year. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Dry weather helps grow Consolidated Water revenue MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky Unusually dry weather in the Cayman Islands helped push Consolidated Water’s revenue growth in the second quarter of this year. The water company, which supplies the West Bay and Seven Mile Beach areas through its Cayman Water subsidiary, reported 22% higher quarterly total reve‑ nues than one year ago. “Our retail revenue growth was in part attributed to the fact that it has been a very dry year so far, with rainfall in the second quarter down 76% compared to last year,” Consolidated Water CEO Rick McTaggart said in an earn‑ ings press release. “For the first half of 2019, rainfall in our Cayman Islands service area was down 55% compared with rainfall in the first half of 2018, and was also 55% lower than the 30‑year average.” The company traditionally sells more water on Grand Cayman during the first half of the calendar year when the number of visitors is greater and local rainfall is less than in the second half of the year. In addition, both the double‑digit revenue growth to $18.3 million and the equally large gross profit growth of 22% to $7.6 million were primarily driven by in‑ creased production activity in the company’s manufac‑ turing business in response to more demand for special‑ ised products. Manufacturing revenue in‑ creased 332% to $4.3 million. “The prospects for the manufacturing segment con‑ tinue to look favourable, given that we have specialised manufacturing capabilities and experience relating to markets with relatively high barriers to entry,” McTaggart said. “In these markets, we qualify for projects that re‑ quire unique quality controls and certification. “We also fabricate water treatment equipment for a diverse number of industries involved in wastewater treat‑ ment infrastructure, and we believe the numerous mu‑ nicipal utilities in need of improvements in this area can also drive growth in our business.” The prospect of further manufacturing growth has led the company to expand its production facility, which will be completed next year. The developer and oper‑ ator of seawater desalination plants continued to advance its project in Rosarito, Baja California, Mexico. Before construction of the planned seawater desalination plant and distribution pipeline can begin, the company still has to overcome administrative and financing hurdles. “With respect to our Ro‑ sarito project, we had two major positive developments earlier this year regarding legislative approval and funding that has allowed us to proceed to the next sev‑ eral important steps be‑ fore we begin the construc‑ tion phase,” McTaggart said. “These steps include securing the major portions of the pro‑ ject’s required debt financing, and aqueduct rights of way.” Once complete, the Ro‑ sarito project should pro‑ duce 100 million gallons of potable water each day for the coastal region of Baja California. But there are also many other water‑scarce countries in the Caribbean and other markets where Consolidated Water could make an impact by providing fresh water sup‑ plies, McTaggart said. “We plan to take advan‑ tage of the ample liquidity on our balance sheet to expand into new markets and com‑ plementary product lines, diversify revenue streams and widen our geographic footprint. Our strong per‑ formance in Q2 reflects the tremendous opportunities ahead,” he added. The company’s second quarter net income attrib‑ utable to stockholders in‑ creased 13% to $2.5 million or $0.16 per diluted share compared to the same pe‑ riod in 2018. This rise in net income reflected an improve‑ ment in income from opera‑ tions of $1.2 million. Higher net income from continuing operations also meant that the company’s cash and cash equivalents totalled $41.9 million as of 30 June 2019, compared with $31.3 million at the end of 2018. Beach access signs being erected JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Officers of the Public Lands Commission will be out and about over the next few weeks replacing missing or damaged signs on the is‑ land’s beach access paths. A 2017 Beach Access Re‑ port by the Lands and Survey Department highlighted that the vast majority of registered public beach access paths were blocked, neglected, over‑ grown with vegetation, or lacked proper signage. The report found that of the 108 registered public rights of way in Grand Cayman, only 17 were listed as clear with signs. The other 91 were fully or partially blocked, or were missing signs. The commission oversaw the installation of 40 new signs in August last year, and that process has resumed this week. Winsome Prendergast, chief inspector with the com‑ mission, said there were still just over 50 registered beach accesses that have yet to have a sign erected clearly marking their location and signalling the right of public access to the sea. She said, “The process was started but it was not completed. People will see us coming around and doing that over the next few weeks.”New beach access signs will be put in place in the coming weeks.Next >