ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – High of 91 Low of 80 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. LOCAL | PAGE 7 HUNDREDS GATHER TO CONQUER CANCER LOCAL | PAGE 5 STUDENT-LED PROTEST TARGETS PORT PROJECT 6pc - $2.99 9 MOZZARELLA STICKS New! Nearly $285,000 raised at Big Shave JEWEL LEVY jlevy@compassmedia.ky It was another great turnout for Han- nah’s Heroes Big Shave event in support of St. Baldrick’s Foundation childhood cancer research on Friday. The total raised this year at the head shave was $284,941 and climbing as of Sunday morning, according to the Hannah’s Heroes team. The event is named after young cancer survivor Hannah Meeson. Hundreds of supporters attended the event at The Wicket in Cricket Square on Friday, including Governor Martyn Roper and his wife Elisabeth. The governor said that since arriving on island earlier this year, he had heard about the head shave fund- raiser from a lot of people and he was de- lighted to give his support. He even took up the role of barber at one point in the evening, shaving the head of Foster’s Managing Director Woody Foster, whose 12-year-old daughter Charli is a leu- kaemia survivor. Gaylene Meeson, founder of Hannah’s He- roes and mother of 12-year-old Hannah who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer in 2012, beamed with delight at the huge turnout of supporters. “The Big Shave just gets bigger and better and better every year,” she said. “We learn from the year before and we make improvements.” Hannah, she said, is doing phenome- nally well. “She has a lot of obstacles, but she takes on life with gusto and she’s just the most amazing little individual. “Be bold, go bald for Hannah’s Heroes,” said Meeson, who also underwent the barber’s electric shaver on Friday. St. Baldrick’s Foundation Hero Fund Manager Kelly Forebaugh, whose fl ight to Cayman for the event was paid for by Co- nyers, said the money raised would go to fund paediatric cancer research grants. Over the past seven years, the Hannah’s Heroes head shave has raised more than US$2.3 mil- lion for St. Baldrick’s, she said. “Every year since the event has happened, it has been in the top 10 of St. Baldrick’s events,” she added. The six barbers who volunteered on Friday shaved the heads of at least 127 participants, including 22 members of the Cayman Islands Fire Service. “We have been supporting Hannah from the fi rst time we met her,” said Roy Charlton, Fire Service deputy chief who was among those who had his head shaved. “Listening to her story and stories from other kids as well, we felt it was some- thing we wanted to do. For the last four to fi ve years, we have supported the event and we look at Hannah and others that – 50 CENTS – MONDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2019 Hannah Meeson sits on the lap of her mother and Hannah’s Heroes founder Gaylene Meeson Friday during the annual Big Shave charitable event. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 8 » GOVERNMENT: ‘NO EVIDENCE’ PORT WILL IMPACT BEACH JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Government has issued a detailed rebuttal countering claims from the Central Caribbean Marine Institute that the planned cruise port development will impact Seven Mile Beach. “There is absolutely no evidence presented to support the claim,” according to a ‘tech- nical paper’ released by the Offi ce of the Pre- mier Friday. The paper cites the fi ndings of an environ- mental impact assessment on the port project, as well as previous research papers on the natural history of Seven Mile Beach to sup- port its case. Baird and Associates, the consultants that carried out the EIA, used a scientifi c model of tides, wind and wave climate to assess the po- tential impact of the cruise piers. They concluded, “There is no apparent sed- iment transport linkage between George Town harbour and Seven Mile Beach; therefore, the proposed project is not expected to have any impact on Seven Mile Beach.” The consultants, in their Environmental Statement on the project, conclude that the project will not cause “any changes” in the erosion or deposition patterns along Seven Mile Beach. FIREFIGHTERS BATTLE LANDFILL FIRE Firefi ghters on Sunday battled a fi re at the George Town Landfi ll, at least the third con- fi rmed fi re at the site this month. There is no immediate risk to public safety, according to a government press release. The Cayman Islands Fire Service and De- partment of Environmental Health crews were still monitoring the fi re as of Sunday afternoon. Smoke was found to be coming from an area near the top of the landfi ll following a re- port received around 7:30am, according to the release. Responders used mechanical excava- tors, pumps and hoses to damp down the area prior to removing hot materials from the top to be spread for wetting and cooling. Small amounts of smoke could be seen from areas directly next to the site. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 »2 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 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) (PG13) 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. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) DOWNTON ABBEY (PG) 1:00 VIP | 4:15 | 7:00 VIP | 9:45 HUSTLERS (R) 2:00 | 3:55 | 10:10 IT: CHAPTER TWO (R) 1:35 | 5:15 | 8:00 | 9:00 CHHICHHORE (PG) 3:35 ZOYA FACTOR, THE (PG) 12:15 | 4:40 | 6:50 RAMBO: LAST BLOOD (R) 1:20 | 7:10 | 9:50 VIP AD ASTRA (PG13) 1:00 | 4:00 VIP | 7:00 | 10:00 Climate change impacts on small islands on UN agenda KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Small island states like Cayman rank among the world’s most vulnerable in climate change projections. While small island devel- oping states contribute less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations, climate scientists anticipate they will feel the greatest and most im- mediate effects of warming oceans and sea level rise. The threats to small is- lands are so imminent that the United Nations General Assembly will dedicate one of five days of summits this week to sustainable develop- ment and climate resilience in such nations. The United Nations gathers in New York this week for five summits, be- ginning Monday, 23 Sept. with the highly anticipated Climate Action Summit and ending Friday, 27 Sept. with the midterm review of the SAMOA Pathway, a frame- work for small island states established in 2014 for sus- tainable development. Among the overarching goals of the week will be se- curing a pathway to limit global average temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-indus- trial levels. For low-lying islands, achieving the 1.5°C goal is matter of survival, ex- plained climate consultant Lisa-Ann Hurlston-McKenzie of the National Conserva- tion Council. The difference between the ideal goal of 1.5°C and minimum goal of 2°C of warming, Hurlston-Mc- Kenzie said, will mean “tens of millions of people less affected and a large per- centage of species that wouldn’t be affected or wouldn’t potentially become extinct by 2100”. Climate scientists expect warming to exceed 1.5°C well before 2100, however. “Most climate scientists believe that time horizon will be brought forward by some 50 years. So it’s ur- gent,” she said, adding that warming of 2°C will be dev- astating to small islands. Hurlston-McKenzie con- tributed to creating one of the few policy statements that advises on climate change in the Cayman Is- lands, the 2011 draft doc- ument, ‘Achieving a Low Carbon Climate Resilient Economy: Cayman Islands’ Climate Change Policy’. The document warns that Caribbean countries will be among the earliest and worst affected by climate change. “Their small size, relative isolation, concentration of communities and infrastruc- ture in coastal areas, narrow economic bases, dependence on natural resources, sus- ceptibility to external shocks and limited financial, tech- nical and institutional ca- pacities are inherent vul- nerabilities of small island developing states,” the policy states. Storms such as Hurri- cane Ivan in 2004 demon- strated the natural vulnera- bility of the Cayman Islands – more than 70% of Grand Cayman flooded during the storm, with some areas ex- periencing flooding of up to 10 feet. The $2.8 bil- lion in losses incurred from the storm was equiva- lent to 183% of the GDP, the policy states. With a concentration of developments near the coast, Hurlston-McKenzie says Cayman faces some tough decisions. “We’ve created this coastal squeeze issue along Seven Mile Beach and maybe some of our other beaches due to our tourism facili- ties or condos and real es- tate, which sort of is a third pillar of our economy. What do we do?” she said. Sandy beaches and a sus- tainable tourism industry are not the only matters at risk. Unmitigated climate change will also come with threats to agriculture, com- plicated by salt water in- trusion in soils, and to health and wellness, com- plicated by a rise in vector- borne diseases. As Cayman’s climate change policy states: “Achieving a low-carbon, cli- mate resilient economy is not an option for the Cayman Is- lands – it is necessary for our very survival.” Despite the direness of the warning, Hurlston-Mc- Kenzie points out that the climate change policy has remained in draft form. “I would hazard a guess that not much of the work, given the time that has passed now, is really re- membered by that many people and it sort of really is up to the Department of Environment to keep it ever present,” she said. One climate mitigation policy that has been imple- mented is the National En- ergy Policy 2017-2037. That policy has taken re- cent steps forward, such as implementing duty conces- sions for electric vehicles to reduce emissions The National Energy Policy also establishes the aspiration of limiting 2020 per capita greenhouse gas emissions to the 2014 level. “I strongly suspect we won’t [meet the 2020 goal] because even though the policy time frame is from 2017, the government has, for whatever reason … [had] a lag time in actually im- plementing the policy in earnest,” Hurlston-Mc- Kenzie said. Despite delays in policy action, groups of climate activists in the Cayman Is- lands have galvanised in recent years around issues such as plastic pollution, beach conservation, and the proposed George Town cruise dock. On Friday, Cayman Is- lands students joined the global climate strike, with hundreds of demonstra- tors gathering on the George Town waterfront to de- mand action on climate change. The climate strike inspired millions of young people around the world to organise local movements and served as a precursor to Monday’s Climate Action Summit. (See page 5.) The Cayman Islands will not have its own represent- ative at the United Nations summits this week. United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson is scheduled to speak during the Monday’s summit at 4:30pm local time. Among small island de- veloping state leaders ad- dressing the General As- sembly during Monday’s Climate Action Summit will be Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, Saint Lucia Prime Minister Allen Michael Chastanet, Palau President Tommy Esang Remengesau Jr. and Mal- dives President Ibrahim Mo- hamed Solih. PREMIER, GOVERNMENT LEADERS HEAD TO MONACO Premier Alden McLaughlin and other gov- ernment leaders are over- seas this week to attend the Monaco Yacht Show, which takes place 25-28 Sept. “We continue to be a leading flag state in the super yacht industry and it is important for us to be part of this event and meet with owners and their rep- resentatives to ensure they have the most current infor- mation on what the Cayman Islands can offer and pro- vide the best possible advice for their existing and future super yachts,” McLaughlin is quoted as saying in a gov- ernment press statement. The aim is to attract new international business and to promote the Cayman Is- lands brand on the inter- national stage, according to the statement. Representatives from the ‘Big Four’ accountancy firms and other private sector stakeholders are also slated to be in attendance. “I look forward to the op- portunity to collaborate with our counterparts in Monaco at the very highest level, as well as the chance to en- gage with potential investors and high net worth individ- uals at the prestigious Mo- naco Yacht Show,” Commerce Minister Joey Hew is quoted as saying in the statement. “Such investment is vital, be- cause it ensures we are able to create opportunities for Caymanians both now and in the long term.” Representatives of the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands will host a forum during the show. McLaughlin was in Mo- naco in April to participate in a charity bike ride. MAN DIES AFTER CAR FALLS ON HIM A man was killed Sat- urday in Bodden Town after a vehicle on which he was working collapsed on top of him. Police said the accident on Valencia Drive occurred shortly after 1pm. The man was found un- responsive when police and emergency services arrived at the scene. He was transported to the Cayman Islands Hos- pital where he was pro- nounced dead. Police have not yet named the man. Premier Alden McLaughlin The United Nations General Assembly is dedicating one of the five days of summits at its headquarters in New York this week to sustainable development and climate resilience in small island states. - PHOTO: AP The threats to small islands are so imminent that the United Nations General Assembly will dedicate one of five days of summits this week to sustainable development and climate resilience in such nations.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2019 HSA doctors on high alert for vaping, e-cigarette illnesses KEVIN MORALES kmorales@compassmedia.ky The Health Services Au- thority has confirmed that its medical staff treated two e-cigarette users but stopped short of linking their symptoms with the use of those products. Physicians have been placed on “high alert”, how- ever, and are asking more di- rect questions of people using vaping and e-cigarette prod- ucts, an HSA spokesperson told the Cayman Compass. One of the patients had bleeding from the nostril and the other an “unusual and transient cough”. “No other serious cardi- orespiratory symptoms have been identified in persons vaping or using e-cigarettes,” the spokesperson said. The US-based Center for Disease Control and Preven- tion and the Food and Drug Administration are investi- gating a rash of deaths and illnesses in that country be- lieved to be associated with vaping. Seven deaths and 530 cases of lung injury have been reported from 38 states and one US territory as of Thursday, according to the CDC. Most patients reported a history of using e-cigarette products con- taining THC. The ongoing investiga- tions prompted Cayman’s National Drug Council last week to issue a statement that, in part, urged the public to make informed decisions, including about any associ- ated risks, when it comes to substance use of any kind. “While we acknowledge there are positive impacts of the CBD component found in cannabis for medicinal pur- poses, we urge the public to be informed,” National Drug Council Director Joan West Dacres is quoted as saying in the statement. “It is well known that components of cannabis are addictive, af- fect the brain and have been linked to increased risk of mental health problems. “Over the years, studies have provided significant ev- idence on the effects of al- cohol and tobacco use, com- paratively to date, there is insufficient conclusive evi- dence on the effects of medic- inal cannabis use.” Impact of medical cannabis in Cayman CTMH Doctors Hos- pital and Cayman Pharmacy Group Clinical Compounding Pharmacist Kevin Gipple says he does not expect the US in- vestigations to result in a shift of sentiment regarding medical cannabis in the Cayman Islands. “If we’ve got a patient on a product and it’s working, they’re gonna continue it,” he said. “Time will tell, now that it’s all over the press and so on, but I wouldn’t I think so. You’ve got a product, it’s legal, it’s been working.” While the US investiga- tions centre on oils inhaled through a vaporiser, most medical cannabis prescrip- tions in Cayman are for prod- ucts meant to be taken orally. Patients generally have been open to the idea of being pre- scribed products containing THC ever since amendments were made to the Misuse of Drugs Law (2017 Revi- sion) that allowed for can- nabis extracts and tinctures to be prescribed, Gipple said, adding that there has been some scepticism within the medical community. “Certainly, some of the doctors said, ‘No, I don’t be- lieve in it. It’s associated with smoking, it’s not FDA approved and the studies aren’t there’ – and they’re not,” he said. One medical supplies in- dustry insider, however, told the Cayman Compass that a recent search and seizure of THC vaping products at Doc- tors Express could negatively impact local medicinal can- nabis stakeholders. “These products are very popular right now,” the insider said, requesting to remain anonymous for fear of profes- sional retribution. “People are looking for more natural ways to treat their illnesses.” “Doctors Express has def- initely set the cannabis in- dustry back,” he added. “We were making strides to move forward, but Express has put the cart before the horse. They tried to go around the government and now they are going to have to pay the consequences.” Statistics suggest CBD oil users in Cayman are not using it to get high, Gipple said. As of August 2018, there were 332 prescriptions written for medicinal can- nabis. Of those, nearly 85% were written for oils fea- turing a lesser amount or no THC, the principal psy- choactive compound found in cannabis. “So that kind of shows people are interested in the medicinal qualities of it,” he said. He believes the number of prescriptions for medic- inal cannabis is likely ap- proaching 600. As for those who may prefer to use a vape to in- hale CBD oils, he cautions against finding similar prod- ucts on the street following the Health Services Authority Chief Medical Officer’s cease and desist order. “Sure, there’s potential,” he said. “I would hope they would go the other way and go to the oral because they still get the health benefit and they may get some eu- phoria from that too.” CTMH Doctors Hospital Clinical Compounding Pharmacist Kevin Gipple works inside the hospital’s compounding lab. He does not expect the US investigations into vaping or local developments surrounding e-cigarettes and THC to negatively impact the medical cannabis industry in Cayman. - PHOTO: KEVIN MORALES Chair rentals lead to $2,000 Meals on Wheels donation AI Rentals donated $2,000 to Meals on Wheels last week, with funds raised from its chair rentals. The event rental and pro- duction company donated $1 for every chair rental for the month of August. The com- pany chose August as the is- land’s graduation ceremony was in full swing and rental chairs were in high demand. Meals on Wheels provides homebound and disabled residents and seniors with free, hot, nutritious meals. The funds from the donation will be used to help pay for meals that will be delivered all across the island. “Each year we serve about 40,000 meals in all five dis- tricts,” said Erin Bodden, gen- eral manager of Meals on Wheels. “It is no secret that living on an island means the cost of food is constantly rising. A single meal can make the world of a differ- ence for some of our recipi- ents and we are grateful for the support of local compa- nies like AI Rentals. “It’s not just a meal. The visit with them can brighten their day and reduce the feeling of isolation that can jeopardise their health.” Group Chief Operations Of- ficer Rhea Tibbetts said, “Meals on Wheels is an organisation that really touches my heart. No one should go hungry, especially not our seniors; so what better way to give back to our community than to sup- port this wonderful charity. We believe it is important to support our seniors so they are not forgotten so this isn’t only about a meal, but also about companionship for our elderly.” Erin Bodden, general manager of Meals on Wheels, left, receives a cheque from AI Group Chief Operations Officer Rhea Tibbetts.4 LOCAL NEWS MONDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS 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” New interim fire chief officially on duty RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s new interim chief fire officer, Paul Walker, is officially on the job. Walker, the former chief fire officer at the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service in the United Kingdom, took up office last Monday. He replaced former Fire Chief David Hails, who was appointed in 2016. Govern- ment did not renew Hails’ contract earlier this year. A Government Informa- tion Services media state- ment Friday announced Walker’s addition to the local Fire Service team. It said during his first week, he met with fire officers at all five fire stations across the three islands “to kick off his famil- iarisation with the Fire Ser- vice and the community”. His term will run for 12 months, while the three re- cently appointed deputy chief fire officers, Roy Charlton, Brevon Elliott and Tina Choy, continue with their individu- alised plans for professional development. According to GIS, in his address to fire officers, Walker said, “My main focus during my time here is to help progress the careers of all fire officers.” He added, “I want to im- part my 30 years of fire and rescue experience to help grow and develop our officers to enable them to take on more senior positions with confidence.” In a joint statement, Walk- er’s deputies welcomed him to the Fire Service. They said are looking “for- ward to learning from his many years of experience and working together to achieve our goal of creating a world- class fire service. His ar- rival allows us to direct our full attention to a number of important projects already under way, including our own professional development”. Ministry of Financial Services and Home Affairs Chief Officer Dax Basdeo as- sured succession planning for the Fire Service remains the objective. He said, “A significant amount of investment has already been made in suc- cession planning within the Fire Service and we hope Paul’s appointment will give our senior officers the time and mentoring they require to prepare them for the next stage of their careers.” Interim Chief Fire Officer Paul Walker inspects Fire Service trucks. HSA medical director receives humanitarian award IRIS STONER istoner@compassmedia.ky Health Services Authority Medical Director Dr. Delroy Jefferson, who has spent his annual leave for the past 15 years on volunteer medical missions, has been honoured for his humanitarian efforts. The non-profit Global Lis- tening Centre has named Jef- ferson a ‘Distinguished Hu- manitarian’ for both his professional and personal contributions. The Global Listening Centre is an international non-profit organisation that defines listening as effec- tive intercultural and in- terpersonal relations by being attentive and re- spectful of all people. A member of GLC, Jefferson is one of only three individ- uals globally to receive the 2019 Distinguished Human- itarian Award. Jefferson has conducted in humanitarian missions in countries such as Haiti, Hon- duras, Jamaica and Egypt. On these self-funded trips, he has provided free medical aid to people with socioeconomic challenges. He explained that his upbringing inspired him to give back. “I grew up in very humble circumstances, but in a Christian home where my mother placed emphasis on expressions of love and care for those with whom we interact,” Jefferson said. “There is a passionate love for humanity especially for the poor, the down- trodden, those without the resources needed to satisfy the basic necessities of life.” He recalled when he was a youngster, his mother lost her sight because she could not afford medical care. “I became a physician to make a difference in the lives of those persons most in need,” he said. “I have al- ways had a passion to visit various regions and to add any small contribution to- wards making life better for the underprivileged.” He has been helping people since early in his medical career. “On com- pleting medical school, I saw an unmet need [for] the poorer inner-city dwellers in Kingston who had lim- ited access to timely med- ical care,” he said, adding, “I spent weeks looking for an appropriate site within the inner city to conduct a free clinic.” With help from his local pastor, he found a site that was converted into a make- shift clinic, and “other like- minded clinicians” – nurses, doctors and pharmacists – helped to run the free clinic. “It was gratifying to ob- serve the major life changes in individuals through even the simplest acts of kind- ness,” he said. “The clinic provided not just medical care but counselling and served as a repository of hope for the less fortunate.” Jefferson continues his local and regional humani- tarian efforts through var- ious initiatives as a member of Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise. He also offers guidance and men- torship to young Cayman- ians who are aspiring phy- sicians, as well as those in allied health fields through their university years and into medical school. Over the years, he has mentored more than 25 people. “I look forward to my annual humanitarian mis- sions as a time of renewal,” he said. “Interacting with those with lesser voices and empowering through education, financial aid or healthcare gives me ex- traordinary fulfilment. Knowing that I have aided those persons gives me the vigour to lead the medical personnel of the HSA once I return home.” In addition to providing healthcare assistance, Jef- ferson has funded academic scholarships for students in Africa and the Caribbean. He is already planning his next mission, a trip to Honduras in November with a team of volunteers from his Rotary Club who will be running clinics in some re- mote villages along the Can- grejal River Valley. Then, in January, he is off to Africa. “My passion for seeking out the less fortunate and making a difference in their lives has grown over the years and I have been fortu- nate to be provided with the health, prayers and family support towards that goal,” Jefferson said. Dr. Delroy Jefferson with his humanitarian award.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2019 C A Y M A N ’S HOM E E X P O GIFTS | DISCOUNTS | DEMOS | VISITING EXPERTS | S Friday & Saturday, Septem & STARTS IN 4 DAYS POOD DR ber 2 & Student-led protest targets port project DOE issues warning after turtle rescued from roaming dogs RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Department of En- vironment issued a warning to pet owners Friday after roaming dogs were caught on camera attacking a nesting turtle along a West Bay beach. The incident happened this month and was caught on a turtle monitoring CCTV camera that was in- stalled on Sand Hole Road Beach in July. Two dogs were seen “set- ting upon a nesting turtle” on the beach, according to a post on the DoE’s Face- book page.The animal failed to lay any eggs at that time and made it back into the sea with minor injuries. DoE conservation of- ficers, the post said, were able to respond immedi- ately to the scene. They said they identified the dogs and tracked down their owner to make sure the animals were secured. “Our conservation of- ficers will always attempt to educate the public first, prior to taking enforce- ment action, but pet owners should be aware that they are responsible if their pet harms a protected species (defined under the National Conservation Law),” the DoE warned. The department stressed the importance of having the camera on the beach. “We wouldn’t have known this was happening without the beach cam,” the DoE said. It allows DoE officers to be dispatched when a nesting turtle arrives at the beach. The camera was part of the Project Turtle initia- tive led by Caymanian Mi- chael Ridley who raised $15,500 to lease a high-tech camera to be used at a key nesting beach. “If the younger generation could vote, 90% of us would say no.” JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Wielding placards and megaphones, a group of young Caymanian students led several hundred people in a protest demanding ac- tion on climate change and calling for a halt to plans for cruise piers in George Town harbour. Joining millions of young people around the world for global climate strike dem- onstrations Friday, students from Cayman’s Protect our Future group staged a rally on the waterfront. They were joined by a col- ourful array of protesters, many of them using the event to put fresh focus on the con- troversial plan for a cruise berthing facility. “We have no Planet B,” one sign proclaimed. “Coral before cruise ships,” declared another. Along the roadside, someone in an inflatable T-Rex costume tottered be- tween protesters, holding up a poster that stated, “We didn’t believe in climate change either.” One of the cheekier con- tributions said, “hands off the Queen’s bottom” – a ref- erence to the name given to the ocean floor around Cayman, which legally be- longs to the queen. Passing cars honked their support as the group made speeches and chanted words of protest on the waterfront opposite Guy Harvey’s bar and restaurant. The demonstration was one small part of a mas- sive worldwide protest de- manding action on cli- mate change. Inspired by the youth movement started by Swedish school striker Greta Thunberg, young activists led protests around the globe. Dejea Lyons, a 16-year- old Cayman International School student, said the stu- dent-led Protect our Future movement wanted to use the event to urge Cayman’s leaders to better protect the environment. She said the group was also urging Cayman to “say no to the port”. “I am so upset that I can’t vote in the referendum,” she said. “I feel if the younger generation could vote 90% of us would say ‘no.’ We are going to live with the consequences. “We want the adults that can vote to hear us because we are the ones that are going to be clearing up the mess.” Fellow protester Ben Somerville, 16, said the pro- test went beyond the port de- bate. He said young people across the world are now de- manding governments take better care of the planet. For today’s teenagers, he said, the impacts of cli- mate change were not a dis- tant problem, but something that would impact them in their lifetimes. The National Trust and several other non-gov- ernmental organisations were also involved in Fri- day’s event. This still taken from CCTV footage shows dogs attacking a turtle on a nesting beach in West Bay. - PHOTO: SUPPLIED BY DOE Dejea Lyons, 16, addresses the protesters at the waterfront protest Friday. – PHOTOS: JAMES WHITTAKER A wide variety of signs called attention to the cruise port debate as well as wider environmental concerns. The Protect our Future Group is leading the call for swifter action on climate change and demonstrating against the cruise port development.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 MONDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS The government’s re- port notes that the Environ- mental Assessment Board endorsed the findings of the consultants as consistent with previously under- stood mechanisms for “sed- iment transport” between the two areas. Before the environmental impact assessment in 2015, Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell had indicated government would pull the plug on the project if it was shown to put the island’s most famous beach at risk. The findings of that report were seen as a green light to go ahead, despite more gen- eral environmental concerns about the loss of coral in the harbour and the impact on adjacent reefs. But CCMI, the Little Cayman-based research centre, entered the debate last week, urging everyone in the territory to “take stock” of the potential impacts of the dock ahead of a people- initiated referendum on the project. CCMI released a state- ment arguing that the re- moval of sand and coral for the piers in George Town harbour would deplete the overall ‘sand budget’ to re- plenish Cayman’s beaches, including Seven Mile. “We recognize that there are many complex processes contributing to Seven Mile Beach’s sand budget, but what is proposed will un- doubtedly affect Cayman’s most famous beach,” the research centre said in a press release. The government, in its re- buttal, says this is an asser- tion that is not supported by any scientific evidence. Premier Alden McLaughlin, in a statement accompanying the release of the paper, said, “As we move towards a referendum on Cayman’s port project, it is vitally important that the in- formation put to the public reflects detailed scientific evi- dence rather than unfounded claims. The fact is that Seven Mile Beach will not be im- pacted by the project.” He said it was “unclear” why CCMI had released what he described as “misleading information” and said the re- spected research institution had been invited to discuss any concerns they had with the government. No one from CCMI was available for comment this weekend. The government’s re- port also cites a 2000 paper, ‘Seven Mile Beach: A Natural History’, produced for the government and the Depart- ment of Environment’s Beach Erosion Committee as fur- ther evidence that Seven Mile Beach’s ‘sand budget’ comes from the north west and not from George Town harbour. The paper by Richard Sey- mour, of the Scripps Insti- tute of Oceanography, exam- ined the movement of sand around the Cayman Islands. Government urged the Cruise Port Referendum Cayman campaign to accept the findings of the environ- mental impact assessment on Seven Mile Beach. It points out that the cam- paigners have used the same report to support some of its key environmental concerns around marine habitat loss, sedimentation and the im- pact on adjacent coral reefs around the harbour. “If they accept the validity of the EIA, they must also ac- cept the findings that are not helpful to them,” it states. It states that they have been unable to provide any evidence or scientific research to refute the assessment’s “key finding” that Seven Mile will not be impacted. “The assertion made by CCMI in its press release is at odds with scientific evi- dence and the conclusions of the EIA,” it states. Coral relocation Government has also taken issue with the research centre’s contention that coral relocation is likely to be ineffective. A $10 million project to relocate some of the coral in the harbour has been proposed to help mitigate the environmental damage the port development will cause. CCMI, in its release, stated that such relocation projects had “limited proven success”. Citing success rates from its own research in out- planting nursery grown coral on local reefs, CCMI sug- gested coral relocation would likely be ineffective. “Positive results from coral regeneration and relo- cation practice also continue to be challenging, with corals across the Caribbean region typically suffering 80% mor- tality within two years of re- location,” it stated. Though it concedes that CCMI’s views on the chal- lenges of coral relocation “de- serve to carry considerable weight”, government’s state- ment paints a more opti- mistic picture about the po- tential of coral relocation. It highlights a 2018 re- port from Australia’s Tropical Water Quality Hub which ex- amined 329 previous cases of “coral restoration”. That re- port found an average sur- vival rate of 64% for corals relocated using the “di- rect transportation” method planned for the cruise berthing mitigation project. Government does ac- knowledge, however, that suc- cess rates are variable and that a coral relocation pro- ject on the scale envisaged for George Town harbour in- volves significant challenges. But it states that it can draw on the experiences of other areas and work with scientists to monitor and manage the project, setting a goal of a 70% survival rate of outplanted corals. “It is clear that the pro- posed coral relocation will never completely mitigate the ecological impacts of the port improvements but the aim of the coral relocation plan is to work towards no net loss of biodiversity …. We hope that CCMI will come and partici- pate and help make the pro- ject a success.” Government: ‘No evidence’ port project will impact beach CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The Cayman Islands government says the planned cruise port development will not impact Seven Mile Beach. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Fire officers also used water monitors, which are controllable, high capacity water jets, as well as thermal imaging cameras to detect hot spots. “Although small amounts of smoke may be visible during this process there is no immediate risk to public safety at this time,” Mi- chael Haworth, assistant di- rector at the Department of Environmental Health, is quoted as saying. Both the DEH and the Fire Service officers will remain on site as long as necessary to resolve the incident and minimise chances of the fire re-igniting. stated the release. Cayman’s newly ap- pointed interim Chief Fire Officer Paul Walker said that the fire service is real- locating resources to ensure that its ability to respond to any other occurrences across Grand Cayman is unaffected during this incident. Members of the public are advised that the fire may af- fect operations at the landfill gate, as pending further ex- cavation and damping down of the site, containers may be delayed in clearance and backed up. Officials said Sunday’s in- cident was located in an area of the landfill unrelated to last week’s incident. Fire fighters had re- sponded to a report of smoke being detected on 10 Sept. At the time, an assess- ment confirmed that smoke was visible in a small area to the rear of where the fire the week before that was located. No naked flames were vis- ible at that time. There is no immediate risk to public safety MICHAEL HAWORTH, DEH Assistant Director CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Smoke rises from a fire at the George Town landfill on Sunday morning. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Firefighters battle landfill fire7 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2019 EXPERT CANCER CAREFOR CAYMAN ISLANDS PATIENTS © 2019 IPB CAYMAN ISLANDS PATIENTS Pamela R. Breast Cancer Patient At Cancer Treatment Centers of America © (CTCA), we guide you and your family every step of the way, starting with a 3-5 day initial evaluation to develop your personalized cancer treatment plan. A team of clinicians will work together to provide treatments combined with supportive care therapies designed to help manage side effects, boost your energy and keep you strong during treatment. Hundreds gather to conquer cancer JEWEL LEVY jlevy@compassmedia.ky Governor Martyn Roper kicked off the Cancer Socie- ty’s sixth-annual Conquering Cancer Health Fair Saturday. At the ribbon cutting, Health Minister Dwayne Seymour proclaimed the day as Cayman Cancer Awareness Day. “Studies have shown that those who are diagnosed at the earliest stage survive their disease at a signifi- cantly greater rate than those who are in more advance stages. Therefore, I want to encourage everyone to get regular screenings done,” said Minister Seymour. The governor and his wife Elisabeth were made pa- trons of the Cayman Islands Cancer Society. Roper said attending a cancer event on the Brac was one of the very first things he and his wife had done after arriving in Grand Cayman. Hundreds attended the event, which featured 40 com- munity health booths and dozens of representatives. It was aimed at educating the public about cancer and offering free screenings. A team of experts from Cayman and around the world participated, with doc- tors giving talks on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatments. “We only do the fair once every two years, but it just keeps getting bigger and better, it was huge,” said the Cancer Society’s Operations Manager Jennifer Weber. She said the fair also of- fered healthy foods and in- formation about healthy lifestyles. Dr. Sook Yin has been on the Cancer Society Board since 2002 as medical di- rector. She highlighted the healthy benefits of purslane at farmer Hamlin Stephen- son’s booth. “It can be put in sand- wiches and other dishes; add a little salt and pepper and it’s the best thing you can eat every day,” Yin said. Rebekah Brooks, managing director of Baptist Health In- ternational Cayman Islands, said the organisation was happy to be one of the major sponsors of the event. She and her team offered healthy pine- apple slices for tasting. Locally certified life coach and cancer survivor Heather Lockhart offered learning strategies and informative tips for staying positive when the going gets tough. Lockhart’s world was sud- denly turned upside down in 2018 when she was diag- nosed with ovarian cancer. Faced with a year of uncer- tainty, cancer treatment, sur- geries and difficult decisions, she developed a wide variety of techniques to stay relent- lessly optimistic. She suggests fighting negative thinking and prac- tising self-care, gratitude and mindfulness, as well as changing the way you look at a situation or think about it. Create your mantra, Lockhart said, and manage negative thoughts by repeating a pos- itive phrase. Write it down and keep it highly visible. Attendees left with new knowledge of how to stay healthy, and they also re- ceived free hygiene kits and healthy snacks. Conquering Cancer VI was a three-day event involving a symposium, health fair and public talks. STEM Carib 2019 set for October RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Preparations are under way for the eighth edition of STEM Carib 2019 at the University College of the Cayman Islands. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathe- matics conference is set for 8-11 8 Oct.-11 at UCCI and will feature a keynote ad- dress from Don Marinelli, di- rector of innovation for Inven Global, a curated platform for eSports, cosplay and video- game content. The veteran educator has taught at Arizona State Uni- versity, Columbia Univer- sity and Carnegie Mellon University, according to a UCCI statement. He is also the co-founder of the CMU entertainment Tech- nology Centre. Conference director Antoi- nette Gayle, who is assistant professor of chemistry, said the aim of the conference is to push the innovation enve- lope further in Cayman. “Success is attained by those who effect change by dreaming big, pushing them- selves to the limit, breaking down barriers and do so at lightning speed. The confer- ence seeks to set the stage that will inspire and mobilise Cayman’s next generation of thought leaders and innova- tors,” she said. Stacy McAfee, president and CEO of UCCI, said ‘The Future is Now’ theme “is an appropriate sentiment to the great excitement about hosting another STEM Con- ference at UCCI”. “This year we are ex- ploring cutting-edge tech- nology and how it is trans- forming and revolutionising our world,” she added. This year, UCCI will con- tinue its partnership with Harrisburg University, a leading STEM institution in Pennsylvania, USA. The US university’s fac- ulty experts, along with other local and international speakers, will discuss topics such as drone technology, vir- tual reality, aquaponics and forensic science. They will also be con- ducting special teachers’ sessions on Experien- tial Learning. UCCI said a new feature is being introduced this year, the Travelling History Mu- seum, which will be experi- enced by around 1,600 stu- dents across Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. The conference will end with a free family fun af- ternoon scheduled from 1:30-4:30pm on 11 Oct. The event will feature demon- strations, exhibits and ex- periments that will appeal to children aged 5 and up. To find out more, visit www. stem.ky or call 623‑8224. Pink warriors: Lions Club of Tropical Gardens were all in pink for breast cancer awareness. Baptist Health’s Rebekah Brooks, left, and Cancer Society Operations Manager Jennifer Weber promote pineapple for its cancer‑fighting properties. Health Minister Dwayne Seymour declared Saturday, 21 Sept. as Cayman Cancer Awareness Day. Governor Martyn Roper and wife Elisabeth, left, were made patrons of the Cancer Society during the opening of the cancer fair. - PHOTO: JEWEL LEVYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 8 MONDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS have survived as our heroes. Hopefully, they will find a cure for childhood cancer,” Charlton said. One impromptu shavee was Sergeant Jonathan Kern, who was in uniform and on duty for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Ser- vice at the event. “Someone in the crowd came up and said, ‘Officer, you have lovely hair. If we can raise $500 now, would you shave your head?’ I said if they could do that, I wouldn’t have much of a choice. So, they went on stage and announced it, and within a minute, we had raised about $850, and one person donated $700 on the spot.” Shavees this year ranged in ages from 9 to 73 years old. Among them was Jack Copper of NeutralStudio SEZC, who said had not cut off all his hair or beard since 1974. “The reason I chose St. Baldrick’s ... was Kerri Kanuga. She is a friend of mine and a long-distance runner, she is the one that inspired me to donate to the St. Baldrick’s,” Copper said. Kanuga has dedicated many of her runs to Hannah, raising funds along the way. After shaving his head, he said, in all the places he frequented, people did a triple take. “I am also sur- prised when I look in the mirror,” he said. Another shavee, Joan Austin, 73, following her re- cent breast cancer diagnosis raised more than $6,700 to raise funds for childhood cancer research. Tom Dickens, a 15-year- old student attending Cayman International School, went straight for the buzz cut. The last time he cut his hair was for the funeral of his grandmother, who passed away from after a battle of leukaemia, he said. “I saw her decline,” he said. “I can just imagine kids going through the same thing, it just pains me. “I have really long hair and the one thing I real- ised I could do was shave and donate the money to St. Baldrick’s.” Rayne Euvrard, a 9-year- old Cayman Prep School stu- dent, decided on the day to cut her hair. “I want to raise cancer awareness about child- hood cancer. I feel pretty sad for children who have cancer,” she said. Also amongst the freshly shorn on Friday were the Trent Grant, father to leu- kaemia survivor Tayden, age 12; Tommy Ebanks whose daughter Mimi was diagnosed with epend- ymoma at 6 months; Walter and Donna Capasso, whose daughter Allie is a survivor of adrenal cortical carci- noma; and Tom Sperandeo whose 8-year-old son Saylor is currently undergoing treatment for leukemia. Also present were cancer survivors Beau Shields, 9, Ava Paige Rico, 9, and An- nabelle Reading, 8. The top fundraising teams this year included Maples and Balder ($42,733), Dart ($26,871), Ogier Fund-Ra- zors ($18,927), Cayman Prep and High School ($16,005), KPMG ($13,167) and Fos- ter’s ($11,624). Also, 15 children had their heads shaved on Friday, including students from Cayman International School and their teacher John Lane, who collectively raised more than $24,000. After people got their heads shaved, they took pic- tures of their shiny bald heads at the photo booth. Attendees also supported the silent auction to win nu- merous prizes, and the bal- loon prize raffle. Shaves were also carried out in the schools to support the event. There was reason to celebrate Friday night during the Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave, which raised nearly $285,000 for childhood cancer research. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY Nearly $285,000 raised at Big Shave CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Some got creative with their hair styles Friday during the annual Hannah’s Heroes Big Shave event. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY The Cayman Islands Fire Service ‘Firebalds’ and Hannah Meeson. - PHOTO: DEEP BLUE IMAGES Hannah Meeson, front row, centre, and her mom Gaylene, behind her, with some of their supporters at Friday’s head shave event. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY People at Friday’s event raised $850 on the spot to get Sergeant Jonathan Kern, right, pictured here with colleague PC Robert McLaughlin and Gaylene Meeson, to shave his head. - PHOTO: DEEP BLUE IMAGES With host James Bebarfald, far left, getting the crowd ready, Governor Martyn Roper readies to shave Woody Foster’s head Friday during the Hannah’s Heroes event. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • MONDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2019 Activists want LGBTI included in anti-bullying legislation Colours Cayman is calling on the government to include sexual orientation and gender identity in its proposed anti- bullying legislation. The LGBTI advocacy group has submitted its feed- back on the Law Reform Commission’s proposed leg- islation, which is being for- mulated to complement a na- tional policy on bullying. Colours Cayman issued a statement on Friday, saying that the current proposed wording of the law refers to bullying people based about their “looks, clothes, body, sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social or- igin, age, mental or physical disability, property, birth or other status”, but makes no mention of “sexual orienta- tion and gender identity”. “This omission is by no means resolved by the ad- dition of ‘other status’; in fact, ‘other status’ is of du- bious lawfulness ... such that any person could be found guilty of bullying based on ‘other status’.” The group added, “By ex- cluding [sexual orientation and gender identity] from the list of prohibited conducts, which includes inter alia property, these regulations are insulting LGBTI Cay- manians and are an affront to a minimum sense of de- cency of the Cayman Islands society at large. Neither the LGBTI Caymanians nor the society at large deserve such a disfavour.” The group is also calling for a new section to the added to the proposed legis- lation, on ‘Alternative to Dis- ciplinary Proceedings’. “Bullying is often the consequence of community leaders or parents encour- aging the verbal or physical fear, intimidation, humilia- tion, distress or other forms of harm. In these circum- stances, to effect disciplinary powers on a young person for, in effect, doing what their parents or community leaders encourage them to do seems unfair and, moreover, unlikely to lead to any behav- ioural change, which, in the end, should be the ultimate aim of the disciplinary pro- cess,” Colours Cayman stated. Referring to former Gov- ernor Helen Kilpatrick’s fare- well speech last year, the advocacy group said she highlighted that visiting UK ministers had consistently mentioned a lack of recog- nition of LGBT rights in the Cayman Islands and had ex- pressed their hopes that “the government would bring for- ward legislation to bring the territory into line with the European Charter on Human Rights and with the Cayman Island’s own Bill of Rights which prohibits discrimination”. Colours Cayman said drafting the new anti-bul- lying law would give Cayman an opportunity “to start complying with our own Constitution”. The group added, “The need for such an inclusion is not theoretical but suffi- ciently evidenced by the ac- tions of some of our own politicians who frequently call for sexual hatred and violence against Cayma- nians on grounds of the their [sexual orientation and gender identity.” They cited comments made by Bodden Town MLA Anthony Eden in the Legis- lative Assembly in 2015 in which he referred to homo- sexuality as “‘deviant behav- iour” and a “social and moral evil”, and equating it with bestiality and paedophilia, including suggesting that “crushing a baby’s skull and sucking their brains out had become a human right.” The group also referred to Minister of Education Ju- liana O’Connor-Connolly’s public call to gate crash a same-sex marriage ceremony. “These are just two in- cidents but very impor- tant examples because they show how our leaders en- courage the behaviour that these regulations aim to stop. It is precisely only by admitting that bullying on grounds of [sexual orien- tation and gender identity] is an entrenched problem in the Cayman Islands schools and tackling it, as it is aimed to be done with the other grounds, by in- cluding SOGI among the prohibited grounds that we are going to achieve a more inclusive and eventually more tolerant society in the Cayman Islands. “All Caymanians should feel welcome and safe at school so that they reach their full potential; this in- cludes LGBTI Caymanians.” Men admit possession of more than 1,000 pounds of ganja ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Two men caught with more than a 1,000 pounds of ganja entered guilty pleas in the Grand Court on Friday. Rovan Pemo Johnson, 33, and Albert Ray Campbell, 59, both of Westmoreland, Jamaica, pleaded guilty to the single charge of posses- sion of ganja. Johnson and Campbell were intercepted by the Joint Marine Unit on 24 July this year. Court documents re- vealed the men were experi- encing engine troubles some 38 nautical miles east of Grand Cayman, when they were spotted by officers. After an initial attempt to flee the scene, the men surrendered and were ar- rested. It was later re- vealed the men were on their way to Cuba with the 1,068 pounds of ganja. Following a string of Sum- mary Court appearances, the matter was transmitted to the Grand Court, where the men entered their pleas during their first appearance. The men were remanded into custody and are expected to return to court for sen- tencing in the coming weeks. The Joint Marine Unit on board the MV Mark Luke intercepts the boat carrying more than 1,000 pounds of ganja on 24 July. Police seized more than 1,000 pounds of cannabis on 24 July after intercepting a drifting boat at sea. - PHOTOS: RCIPS Colours Cayman is calling for the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the wording of the draft of proposed anti-bullying legislation.Next >