ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2019 High of 89 Low of 78 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. WORLD | PAGE 2 UN CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT REJECTS TALK, DEMANDS PLANS LOCAL | PAGE 5 The annual coral spawn attracts divers from around the world. - PHOTO: AL WILLIAMS Coral spawning provides an underwater spectacle JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Illuminated by the moody glow of a dozen torchlights, a group of divers hovers over the reef. The distinctive antler-like shape of a large staghorn formation emerges from the gloom. An octopus squirts between coral heads. Bloodworms swarm in the torch beams. It’s just after 10pm on a reef off East End known as Fantasea Land. It is an unu- sual time to be in the water, but the group from Ocean Frontiers dive shop is here for a reason. One of the most iconic displays in nature is about to begin. The spectacle starts slowly at first. Tiny pink bubbles fizz from a large head of mountainous star coral, so named because of the peaks and valleys that cover its stony surface. Then it erupts, and bundles of gam- etes gush into the water column, drifting up- wards like a snowstorm in reverse. Soon the entire reef is exploding. Across Cayman’s reefs, the same phenom- enon occurs almost simultaneously. Within the space of 20 minutes, six or seven nights after the September full moon, almost every hard coral in Cayman’s reef system sponta- neously reproduces. This is how these stationary creatures, sometimes referred to as living underwater cities, rebuild themselves. Entire coral colonies simultaneously send bundles of sperm and eggs into the water. The colourful flakes, known as gametes, mix together in an underwater blizzard. Some join together to become coral larva. With luck, a fraction of one percent of them will survive the gauntlet of predators and drop to the ocean floor where, depending on the conditions, they may begin to form new coral colonies, growing at the infinitesi- mally slow rate of a centimetre per year. The chance to see the moment of concep- tion for organisms that can take millions of years to grow into the spectacular coral reefs ROAD WIDENINGS PLANNED TO TACKLE TRAFFIC WOES Bussing system for private school students also proposed KEVIN MORALES kmorales@compassmedia.ky Two major thoroughfares connecting the eastern districts to George Town may soon be widened in efforts to alleviate traffic conges- tion, according to Central Planning Authority documents and a government press release. That is one of several solutions being sought to address the issue. Minister of Commerce, Planning and In- frastructure Joey Hew last week held an “emergency interagency meeting” to dis- cuss solutions to the traffic woes impacting Grand Cayman. “With the growth of communities in the Eastern District, increase in number of cars on our roads and adjustment of school start times have come challenges such as increasing traffic volumes and congestion, increasing travel times, and growing road safety issues,” Hew said in the press release. “These are af- fecting the quality of life of our people and I have therefore asked the relevant stakeholders to find short and medium term solutions as FIRE CLOSES PUBLIC ACCESS TO LANDFILL The George Town landfill was closed to the public Monday as firefighters and De- partment of Environmental Health staff con- tinued to extinguish a fire that started there on Sunday morning. “If possible, customers are advised to avoid attending the landfill until further advice is given,” the DEH said in a statement Monday. Smoke was found coming from an area near the top of the landfill Sunday following a report that was received around 7:30am. Mechanical excavators, pumps and hoses were being used Monday by responders who were trying to damp down the area, before hot materials were removed from the top to be spread for wetting and cooling. The DEH said Fire Service crews remained at the landfill site overnight on Sunday “where excavations have revealed a deep-seated PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 » BRACKERS MOURN LOSS OF COUNTRY SINGER HINTON CONOLLY 2 LOCAL NEWS we’ll be watching you. This is all wrong. I shouldn’t be up here. I should be in school on the other side of the ocean, yet you come to us young people for hope. How dare you,” she said. “If you fail us, we will never forgive you. … We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up. Change is coming whether you like it or not.” Guterres reminded the General Assembly that any temperature rise above 1.5°C from pre-industrial levels will lead to major and ir- reversible damage to the world’s ecosystems. Unmit- igated, he forecast 3°C of heating by end of century. Despite the urgency of Monday’s comments, he said the world still has time to act, but communities must reform how they operate. He called on leaders to restructure food systems, how imports and ex- ports are fuelled and how economies are run. He decried coal power plants, stating, “We are in a deep climate hole and to get out, we must stop digging.” Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine described the vul- nerability of low-lying island nations, calling the effects of climate change the greatest threat to security. “This summit must be the moment we choose survival over selfishness, communi- ties over coal and planet over profit,” she said. German Chancellor An- gela Merkel also spoke at the summit on Monday, where she announced increased finan- cial commitments to fight cli- mate change, plans to phase out coal and to transform the transportation sector. By 2030, Germany aims to re- duce CO2 emissions by 55% from the 1990 baseline. TUESDAY, 24 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. - TUESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) DOWNTON ABBEY (PG) 1:00 VIP | 4:15 | 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 CLASSICS@ AT THE CINEMA (PG) CASABLANCA 7:00 Visiting Specialist will be available for consultation at Novo Clinic, Britcay House 236 Eastern Avenue from 10 October - 30 October, 2019 For appointments please call +1 (345) 746-6082 clinic@novocayman.com Gynecology, Urogynecology, Cosmeti c Gynecology UN Climate Action Summit rejects talk, demands plans KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky United Nations Secre- tary General Antonio Gu- terres opened Monday’s Climate Action Summit with a call to action: “The climate crisis comes from us and the solutions must come from us.” Speaking from UN head- quarters in New York City, Guterres rejected talk on climate change and in- sisted world leaders go beyond words. “This is not a climate ne- gotiation summit because we do not negotiate with nature. This is a climate ac- tion summit,” he said. Guterres described alarming signs of climate change that are already in play, from expansion of deserts to acidifica- tion of oceans. He described increas- ingly frequent and more deadly storms, such as Hurricane Dorian in the Ba- hamas, where he called the destruction “apocalyptic”. “Make no mistake, when we see these images, we are not just seeing damage, we are seeing the future if we do not act,” he said. In the Polynesian is- land nation of Tuvalu, he described “an entire country fighting for its very existence against the rising seas”. Guterres’ opening com- ments were followed by emotional remarks from 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg, who did not hold back in her com- ments to world leaders. “My message is that Fighting litter on the beaches Plastic Free Cayman leads clean-up efforts JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Hundreds of volunteers cleared almost a ton of litter and plastics from Cayman’s beaches as part of World Clean Up Day on Saturday. Led by non-profit Plastic Free Cayman, various com- munity groups were out in force on all three islands. In Grand Cayman, the focus was on Colliers Beach in East End and Barkers in West Bay. At Barkers alone, three truckloads of trash weighing more than 1,000 pounds were removed from the coast in less than two hours. In East End, volunteers re- moved more than 300 pounds of rubbish. Groups working at Coconut Beach in Cayman Brac and at Point of Sand in Little Cayman shifted similar amounts of debris. Rotary clubs, schools, non- profit organisations, banks, local business and Miss World Cayman joined in Satur- day’s efforts in order to raise awareness concerning plastic pollution while helping to keep the islands clean. The nationwide effort was part of a massive global day of action aimed at com- bating waste, including ma- rine debris. Claire Hughes, founder of Plastic Free Cayman, said, “We are so inspired by eve- ryone’s willingness to help clean up our beaches, but this is just a part of the bigger picture. We need change at individual, business and gov- ernment levels. The Cayman Islands government needs to take action immediately to help address the latest news that the Caribbean islands are the biggest polluters per capita in the world. “By stopping importing so much plastic, we can send a clear message to cor- porations, that they need to change to sustainable pack- aging and they need to do it with urgency.” Forbes magazine reported last week that Caribbean is- lands are among the worst offenders for plastic pollution when the statistics are ana- lysed on a per capita basis. Plastic Free Cayman is en- couraging individuals, busi- nesses and schools to take the 345 Pledge, which offers practical solutions to cutting down on single-use plastic. Go to www.plasticfreecayman.com for more information. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addresses the Climate Action Summit in the United Nations General Assembly on Monday. - PHOTO: AP Environmental activist Greta Thunberg, of Sweden, addresses the Climate Action Summit in the United Nations General Assembly, at the UN headquarters, on Monday. - PHOTO: AP Plastic Free Cayman led the clean-up on Saturday which involved community groups from across all three islands. Cayman joined countries around the world to clean beaches and public spaces as part of World Clean Up Day.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2019 Industry leaders say building brand Cayman has to be a team effort RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky It has been 26 years since the movie ‘The Firm’ pre- miered and the Cayman Is- lands brand is still trying to outrun the shadow of Holly- wood’s negative perception of it being a country that facili- tates criminals. But industry leaders say the tide is turning. “I think it’s changing, to be positive; I think it’s slowly changing. The government is doing well, but it is going to take a while,” said Paul Byles, director at consulting firm FTS and a former Chamber of Commerce president. Last week, the Cayman Islands as a brand came under the microscope at the Cayman Islands Marketing Professionals Association’s annual conference at the Kimpton Seafire Resort. Panellists explored the perils and rewards of nation branding and they all agreed that while this country has a solid brand, there are areas in need of attention. Byles, who was part of the panel looking at ‘brand Cayman’, said if this coun- try’s multicultural, cosmopol- itan construct is to be har- nessed, then the people have to do better when it comes to working together. “We have to do a better job at ensuring that we are living together and we like living next to each other, and I don’t think we do a very good job with that,” he said. Byles pointed out that Cayman has a “little bit of a split” and, depending on the state of the economy, that “split becomes harsh some- times”, adding, “When the economy is great, the split becomes soft and you don’t see it as much.” While he said that split in the community is not unique to Cayman, “We need to do a better job as people, as a gov- ernment and everyone else, as say ‘well, actually, we’re all in this together, we love each other, it’s great, it’s fine’.” He said Cayman must get away from pointing fingers and focus on building on the good within the community to grow the nation’s brand. Byles also stressed that a proper education cam- paign on the financial ser- vices industry is key to pro- tecting brand Cayman and it should start from the pri- mary schools. Kaitlyn Elphinstone, Cayman Enterprise City’s vice president of marketing and public engagement, agreed, adding that focusing on the people that make up the islands is an important element in brand Cayman. Director of Tourism Rosa Harris said the Cayman Is- lands’ brand is strong in quality and “it is a brand that persons want to be asso- ciated with”. She reminded partici- pants that everyone who lives in Cayman is a brand ambassador. “Everything that we say, everything that we post, the world is listening and can search and find it. And if we are all to be ambassadors of our brand, we have to un- derstand that, yes, we have to be truthful; we’re not per- fect, but we also have a re- sponsibility to manage our brand,” she said. Mike Ridley, head of growth and partnerships at advertising agency The Community, said there also must be a balance be- tween development and the environment. He referred to Dart’s proposed, so-called ‘iconic tower’, saying he does not think that is needed here. Ridley said Cayman’s en- vironment is an asset that needs to be protected. “Nothing can happen without the environment. The environment is impor- tant,” he argued. From left, Mike Ridley of The Community; Paul Byles of FTS; Director of Tourism Rosa Harris; and Kaitlyn Elphinstone of Cayman Enterprise City, at the CIMPA 2019 conference at the Kimpton Seafire Resort on Friday. - PHOTO: RESHMA RAGOONATHThe islands’ most-trusted news source 4 Opinion & Letters The Cayman Compass welcomes comments, opinions and viewpoints from readers. Letters to the editor can be emailed to editor@compassmedia.ky, submitted via www.caymancompass.com, sent by post or hand-delivered to the Compass office. 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” TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS THE VIEW FROM EUROPE China’s influence continues to grow DAVID JESSOP A few days ago, the Sol- omon Islands, Taiwan’s largest ally in the Pacific, rec- ognised China. Beijing’s success in en- couraging the island grouping to do so is the latest indica- tion of the way in which Chi- na’s international influence continues to grow. The decision by the Sol- omon Islands’ government came despite Australia, its traditional regional partner, and the US both placing pressure on it, in part out of concern that its recognition of China may cause other smaller Pacific nations to break with Taipei. The decision leaves Taiwan with just sixteen dip- lomatic allies worldwide. Of these the majority are small. Four are in Central America, five in the Caribbean in- cluding Belize, five are in the Pacific, one is in South America and one in Africa. In two cases – Nicaragua and St. Vincent – their governments have much more politically in common with China but con- tinue to benefit from their en- gagement with Taiwan. The announcement came shortly after Wang Xiang- yang, the Permanent Repre- sentative of China’s Office of Commercial Development in Port-au-Prince, said that Bei- jing would welcome having formal diplomatic rela- tions with Haiti “as soon as possible”. Speaking in French to the long-established Haitian newspaper Le Nouvelliste, Wang said that the absence of diplomatic relations meant that China’s ability to sup- port Haiti’s development was very limited. This was, he said, despite the two coun- tries trade reaching US$694m in total in 2018, their shared desire to develop bilateral re- lations, and there being no essential conflict of interest. Observing that the ab- sence of formal diplomatic relations did not correspond to the interests of two coun- tries, he said that China “hopes that (this) political obstacle between the two countries will be removed as soon as possible, creating favorable conditions for de- veloping the bilateral coop- eration relations that have a strong potential”. Haiti was he said in ur- gent need of development and noted that elsewhere in the world Beijing offered interest-free and preferen- tial credits to fund urgently needed infrastructure. He made clear however that to benefit, Haiti, which pres- ently recognises Taiwan, would have to observe the one-China principle. In doing so he refuted re- cent US allegations that Chi- nese development assistance and investments left na- tions over-indebted, point- edly telling the publication “the peoples of the countries cooperating with China are in the best position to say whether their countries have been trapped by Chinese in- debtedness or the opposite”. His latter remarks go to the heart of the geo-political development conundrum the Caribbean faces. On the one hand the re- gion must work with a US administration that regards China as a strategic threat, is engaged in a trade war with Beijing, denies climate change, and is pursuing policies likely to indirectly damage Caribbean econo- mies. On the other, it has the opportunity to deepen relations with an increas- ingly powerful China, which like the Caribbean believes in multilateralism, the need to address climate change and is offering huge sums in low cost ways to create eco- nomic growth. One approach sees de- velopment as short-term, transactional and political, while the other offers sup- port in ways that it regards as lasting, largely benign, de- velopmental and mutually beneficial. This contradiction was highlighted in recent com- ments made by the influen- tial US Republican Senator, Marco Rubio. In an op-ed in the Miami Herald he suggested that US resources should be directed to the Bahamas, not just for moral reasons but because the US should not allow China to exploit its post hur- ricane reconstruction. Sen- ator Rubio saw the issue as a matter of US national secu- rity. “Only the US and its mil- itary can provide the support required and be reliable part- ners over the long term” he wrote, otherwise “China will step in to seize the moment and exploit the recovery for its own nefarious purposes.” In arguing that “we cannot allow this to happen” he failed to recognise that the Carib- bean is its own place, needs to have low-cost sources of development finance, and should be free to choose its international partners. When it comes to Haiti the issue is particularly challenging. Its volatile mix of political instability, corruption, and gang-fuelled street violence threaten to make endemic its underdevelopment, which for most of its 11m people exists in a way experienced nowhere else in the western hemisphere. This suggests that achieving significant de- velopment value from any fu- ture Chinese support will be difficult until a durable po- litical and economic climate can be established. To be fair, both the US and China subscribe to multilat- eral programmes such as the proposed US$1bn IADB and IMF supported fund to de- velop projects in the border area with the Dominican Re- public, and in the past the US has offered Haiti significant levels of development assis- tance. However, should Haiti accept China’s conditional offer of mutual recognition, the present US administration is more likely to coerce rather than do more developmentally. Whether Haiti will rec- ognise Beijing is as yet un- clear, but if it were to do so it would consolidate China’s status as the Caribbean’s major development partner leaving only St. Kitts, Belize and St. Lucia tied unequivo- cally to Taiwan, and the US and EU trailing in its wake. Despite this, China needs to be more transparent and developmental in its invest- ment and trade relations with the region. It should be rolling out programmes of the ‘second generation’ kind that it is de- veloping with the Dominican Republic. These involve the export of millions of dollars’ worth of produce and goods to China, high level business exchanges on investment co- operation, and the encourage- ment of tourism. It should also be doing more to explore how it might help consolidate regional eco- nomic integration through, for example, measures that support the development of a viable inter-island ship- ping service. China has time on its side and its economy is growing. Its technological advances, its global ‘belt and road’ strategy, and its commitment to multilateralism offer the region an alternative develop- ment option. Most of the region wants a positive, close and balanced relationship with China, the US and Europe. The EU and China accept this, but Wash- ington does not. It appears to expect that the starting point is acceptance of the ‘Rubio- Monroe doctrine’. No one should therefore be surprised if the region continues to modify its eco- nomic, political and develop- ment relationships in ways that afford China greater long-term economic weight and influence. David Jessop is a consultant to the Caribbean Council and can be contacted at david.jessop@Caribbean-council.org. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Light railway needed I view the idea of a super- dock for super cruise-ships as over-development which will mainly be of benefit to the retailers of George Town and far less so to the island community as a whole, and might well kill the goose that laid the golden egg. I suggest that the funding and effort should go to the building of a light-railway from one end of the island to the other. This would: a. Be a tourist attraction to tour the island in air- conditioned, as well as open carriages; a railway being an almost unique novelty in the Caribbean. b. Be a practical means of commuting to work or basic travel needs. c. Help with the rush- hour traffic problems. d. Be environmentally friendly. Seven Mile Beach and the corals around George Town would not be harmed. Air pollution would be far less than the hun- dreds of road vehicles that it could replace. e. Provide as much tem- porary and perma- nent employment as building the super-dock would, if not more. f. Be of greater benefit to the people of the whole island – school chil- dren; people without motor vehicles; the older members of so- ciety; and every man and his dog throughout the entire island. I am sure that there are many other benefits that such a scheme would provide. Roland Long SPEND MONEY ON LANDFILL, NOT PIERS I really don’t get it. You have a potential en- vironmental problem in what is known locally as ‘Mount Trashmore’ and the Cayman government is looking at whether mil- lions should be spent on cruise piers in George Town harbour. Far better to spend money clearing the mountain of waste by establishing trash- to-energy systems, increasing recycling and improving waste collection services than to spend it on something that has the potential to add to the environmental problems. Ian Read5 OBITUARY CAYMAN COMPASS • TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 S ah, che THANK YOU TO OUR PINK RIBBON SPONSORS OCTOBER 5, 2019 The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman www.breastcancerfoundation.ky info@breastcancerfoundation.ky Featuring Special Guest Speaker GT Automotive Group Brackers mourn loss of country singer Hinton Conolly JEWEL LEVY jlevy@compassmedia.ky Hinton Conolly, one of Cayman Brac’s greatest voices of country music, has died following a battle with cancer. He was 82. His son Curtis Conolly re- members his father living life to the fullest. “He was just a fun person. Up to age 80, he was still playing his music and cooking,” he said. He said his father died on Wednesday, 18 Sept., at Health City Cayman Islands after a short illness. Conolly was born 9 Sept. 1937 to parents Kitchener and Olive Conolly. He had five sons, one daughter and several grandchildren. He lived in Creek with his wife Franscine. Conolly demonstrated his love of country music by performing regu- larly on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac. He performed all over – at Gal- leon Beach, Buccaneers Inn, Coral Isle and Blackie’s Bar. He also played with Eddie and the Beach Boys – a popular band in Cayman Brac. His biggest hit was ‘A Quick Drink at the Pool Bar’, which he re- corded at a New York studio in 1977. The song was inspired by a thatch- roofed bar at the Brac’s Buccaneers Inn, which was known as the Pool Bar. The vinyl record became an overnight success, not only on the Brac and Grand Cayman, but also among audiences in the Bay Islands and Belize. He loved to sing other country songs, such as the ‘The Green, Green Grass of Home’, ‘Maria’, ‘The Lights Got Dim’ and ‘Nothing I Can Do About It Now’, and was a fan of singers Merle Haggard, George Jones, Jim Reeves and Willie Nelson. “Daddy and his friends would gather behind Ed’s Place, strum their guitars and sing as others lis- tened; he was a fun person,” Curtis Conolly said. He said his dad had a building behind his house which he used as a recording studio – he called it the ‘Las Vegas Hilton Hotel’. “He did a lot of cooking, enter- taining and listening to the play- back of himself and other Brackers singing their favourite country tunes in there,” Curtis said. He loved backyard and farming … he grew peppers, sweet pota- toes, bananas and lots of other fruits and produce in his garden, his son said. His favourite line was to call eve- ryone ‘skip’ or ‘skipper’ and one of his most repeated expressions was ‘not there, skipper’, Curtis said. At 11:40am on Monday, a giant pipe laying ship routed to pass close to Cayman Brac blew 10 long blasts on its horn to honour Conolly, who had been a seaman. The ship’s horn also blew in honour of Deputy Premier Moses Kirkconnell’s mother Zeta, who also passed away last week, and for the late Rena Reid. Raymond Scott, Brac shipping traffic adviser, made the request with Saipem Constellation to blow the whistle in their honour as the ship passed. In a 2017 interview with Cayman 27, Conolly said he never learned to read music, but could find “every chord I’m looking for”. He said he taught himself to play, and at the age of 80, knew around 500 songs. He told the TV station he had started playing the guitar after his father brought one home from sea in the late 1940s. When it was his turn to go to sea, he signed up with National Bulk Carriers at the age of 17 and spent six and a half years sailing around the world. “We would all get together, nights when we get off watch, we get to guitars,” he told Cayman 27. When he returned home to the Brac, he took up farming before working for the Brac Power and Light Company, and then moving to Cable & Wireless, where he worked for some 30 years. The funeral service for Hinton Conolly will take place at the Aston Rutty Centre in Cayman Brac on Saturday, 28 Sept. at 2pm. “ He was just a fun person. Up to age 80, he was still playing his music and cooking.” CURTIS CONOLLY, son of Hinton Conolly Hinton Conolly, as he was often seen, playing his guitar. He passed away on 18 Sept. at the age of 82.The islands’ most-trusted news source 6 Community CALENDAR ■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR is published TUESDAYS and THURSDAYS. It is available to charitable or non-profit organisations. Items should be submitted at least three working days before publication. Information must include name of sender, signature and contact number. ■ Items may be brought to the Cayman Compass office on Shedden Road or emailed to editor@compassmedia.ky at least three days in advance of publication. TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, 24 SEPT. SENIORS EVENTS: Department of Children and Family Services is coordinating activities this month for seniors. Today, a ‘Young at Heart’ event will be hosted by Cayman Islands Baptist Church on Pedro Castle Road, 10am to 1pm. Call Carol Bodden on 924‑3309 for more details. Also, today, from 10am to 1pm, a Games and Craft event for North Side seniors will be held at the North Side Civic Centre. Call Flavia Gardner on 926‑0490 for more details. HEALTHCARE CONFERENCE: The three‑day Cayman Islands Healthcare Conference begins today at The Ritz‑Carlton. 5‑7:30pm, followed by a cocktail reception. Registration is now closed as the venue capacity has been reached. Visit www.healthcareconference.ky for more details and agenda. CHAMBER COURSE: The Chamber of Commerce hosts ‘Coaching Essentials’, a skills‑based training programme to help managers and leaders integrate coaching behaviours into their leadership style. One‑day face‑to‑face workshop. 9am to 5pm. Member price, $450; future member price, $525. At Chamber office in Governors Square. Call Sharon Shaw on 743‑9129 or email programmes@ caymanchamber.ky. WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPT. RECOVERY MONTH WORKSHOP: East End Community Centre, 6:30‑8pm. Learn about the process of addiction and how to get support, or how to support someone in active addiction. THURSDAY, 26 SEPT. PUB QUIZ: Trivia fundraiser at Fidel Murphy’s for the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Association of the Cayman Islands. Call 949‑5189 to book a table. CHAMBER COURSE: ‘Immigration – Work Permits (BVPs, TWPs and RERCs)’. A 4‑hour course intended to detail the options under which non‑Caymanians can lawfully work in Cayman. Includes information on exemptions from the work permit regime, all categories of work permits, Business Visitors Visas, and RERCs will be addressed. Also covered are Certificates of Direct Investment, Specialist Caregivers Certificates, and 25 year Residency (Substantial Business Presence) Certificates. 9am to 1pm. Member price, $250; future member price $325. Contact Sharon Shaw on 743‑9129 or email programmes@ caymanchamber.ky. LOCKED INN FUNDRAISER: One Dog At A Time will hold a Locked Inn session at 6pm. Teams or individuals are welcome to attend. $300 entry per team of 6 or $50 for individuals. Price includes the Locked Inn Experience, food and a complimentary drink for each team member. Additional refreshments will be available. Call 917‑8284 or 926‑7506 or email onedogatatimeky@gmail.com. FRIDAY, 27 SEPT. SUMSPLASH: The SumSplash Summer Fest will feature live music from Machel Montano, Konshens, Skip Marley and others. 7pm to 1am. Festival Green at Camana Bay. Tickets available at www.eventpro.ky. SATURDAY, 28 SEPT. TURTLE CENTRE FAMILY FUN: Join the Department of Children and Family Services at the Cayman Islands Turtle Centre for a free Family Fun Day. 10am to 4pm. Pre‑register for entry and complimentary buffet. Call 949‑8789. SUNDAY, 29 SEPT. DG’S 5K: The DG’s 5K Challenge, an annual walk/run led by Deputy Governor Franz Manderson. Beneficiaries this year are the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, the Special Needs Foundation Cayman and the Alex Panton Foundation. Register at www.caymanactive.com/dg5K. Email dg5K@gov.ky or call 244‑3609. WALK/RUN FOR RECOVERY: The Hope for Today Foundation is hosting a 5K run/walk, starting at Seven Mile Public Beach at 6pm, to fundraise to benefit its halfway house. Call Brent Hydes, 928‑9099 for details. LIGHT THE SKY RED: Camana Bay and the Cayman Heart Fund are joining forces to mark World Heart Day. The sky above Camana Bay will turn red at 6‑9pm. People are encouraged to wear red. ODAAT PLANT SALE: Proceeds from the plant sale will go to One Dog At A Time. Mercury Crescent, South Sound Road. 9am to noon. Refreshments will be available to purchase. Any keen gardeners who would like to contribute plants for the sale beforehand, WhatsApp CJ on 939‑3995 to arrange collection. TUESDAY, 1 OCT. ELECTIONS OFFICE LATE OPENING: Today is the last day to register for voters who want their names added to the January 2020 voters list. The Elections Office at the Smith Road Centre will remain open until 9pm today. CHAMBER COURSE: Workshop: ‘Exceeding Customer Expectations’. 9am to 1pm. At the Chamber office in Governors Square. Member price, $150; future member price, $225. Call Sharon Shaw on 743‑9129 or email programmes@ caymanchamber.ky. THURSDAY, 3 OCT. NORTH SIDE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens tonight will hold the first of a series of breast cancer awareness talks this month. Mammogram vouchers available for eligible persons. 7pm, William Pouchie Memorial Church Hall, North Side. PIANO RECITAL: As part of Cayman Arts Festival, UK pianist Martin Roscoe will perform at St. George’s Anglican Church, 6:30‑8:30pm. Tickets: US$75 for family package (2 adults, 2 students); US$35 for adults; US$10 for students. Email enquiries@ caymanartsfestival.com or call 922‑5550 for more details. FRIDAY, 4 OCT. PINK HAPPY HOUR: At Premier Crew from 5pm. Drink specials, Seven Fathoms gin garden, games, gel on nail special by Equal salon. Funds raised will be donated to the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens’ breast cancer awareness campaign. SATURDAY, 5 OCT. KAIBO WALK/RUN: The annual 5/10K Brenda Tibbetts Lund walk/ run at Kaibo. Set off from ‘Water Cay’ Beach at 6am. Register at www.caymanactive.com. SUNDAY, 6 OCT. WALK FOR THE CURE: The 8th annual Walk for the Cure takes place at 6:30am at Seven Mile Public Beach. Adults (12 and up) $20; Children (3‑11) $10. Free T‑shirt, while supplies last. 100% of proceeds to benefit Cayman Islands Cancer Society. Register at any CIBC/First Caribbean branch. Contact Shadden McLaughlin at 815‑2405 or shadden. mclaughlin@cibcfcib.com for more details. 10K TO HELL AND BACK: The annual Pirates Week 10K to Hell and Back. 7am, Raleigh Quay Road, next to Kimpton Seafire. $25 registration fee. Free T‑shirt to first 50 paid registrants. Breakfast and awards ceremony at Calico Jack’s. Spot prizes available. No race day registration. Register online at www.caymanactive.com. Call 949‑5078 or email events@ piratesweekfestival.com. SAMEENA’S DAY OF BEAUTY: Specials all day with money raised donated to the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens’ breast cancer awareness campaign. MONDAY, 7 OCT. WEST BAY BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens hosts a breast cancer awareness meeting tonight at 7pm. Mammogram vouchers available for eligible persons. John Gray Memorial Church Hall, West Bay. WEDNESDAY, 9 OCT. BOHEMIAN NIGHTS: Central Terrace (upstairs) at Bayshore Mall on the George Town waterfront. 7‑10pm: Enjoy live music, painting, art market. If interested in reserving an art space, email info@visualartcayman.com. BODDEN TOWN BREAST CANCER CLINIC: The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens hosts a daytime breast cancer awareness clinic. 10am. Mammogram vouchers available for eligible persons. Webster Memorial Church Hall, Bodden Town. THURSDAY, 10 OCT. BODDEN TOWN BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens hosts a breast cancer awareness meeting tonight at 7pm. Mammogram vouchers available for eligible persons. Webster Memorial Church Hall, Bodden Town. SUNDAY, 13 OCT. BRENDA TIBBETTS LUND WALK/RUN: The annual 5/10K Brenda Tibbetts Lund walk/run will be held this morning, setting off from Seven Mile Public Beach. Register at www.caymanactive.com. TUESDAY, 15 OCT. WEST BAY BREAST CANCER CLINIC: The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens hosts a breast cancer awareness clinic today at 10am. John Gray Memorial Church Hall. Mammogram vouchers available for eligible persons. THURSDAY, 17 OCT. VOICES AROUND THE WORLD: Jasmine, in recognition of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day to support Voices for Hospice, hosts ‘Voices Around The World’ at the Harquail Theatre. Show starts at 7pm. Featuring performances from the Cayman National Choir, Cayman National Orchestra, Singrays a cappella group, Miss Jackie’s Company Dancers and more. Adults, $30; Under 18, $10. Tickets available from www.eventpro. ky/voices‑for‑hospice. For more information, email info@jasmine.ky or call 945‑7447. EAST END BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens hosts a breast cancer awareness meeting tonight at 7pm. Mammogram vouchers available for eligible persons. East End United Church Hall. SATURDAY, 19 OCT. CAYMAN ISLANDS VETERANS ASSOCIATION: The 8th annual veterans benefit dinner/dance takes place at Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, held to full military etiquette. The event is a fundraiser for veterans and recognises Cayman’s veterans, heroes, current service members, local police, fire service and seamen. Contact Andrew McLaughlin at 916‑5317 or caymanislandsveterans@ gmail.com for more details. SUNDAY, 20 OCT. CUT-A-THON: Eclipze Hair Design and Day Spa holds its 19th annual Cut‑A‑ Thon at 2‑6pm to raise money for the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens cancer awareness campaign. $1 a minute massages, wet cuts for men, women and children, mini manicures and eyebrow threading. For more information, email eclipze@eclipze.ky or call Eileen/Darla at 945‑1188 or 916‑7274. MONDAY, 21 OCT: GEORGE TOWN BREAST CANCER CLINIC: The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens hosts a breast cancer awareness clinic today at 10am. Lions Centre, George Town. Mammogram vouchers available for eligible persons. TUESDAY, 22 OCT. SAVANNAH BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens hosts a breast cancer awareness meeting tonight at 7pm. Mammogram vouchers available for eligible persons. United Church Hall, Savannah. For more Community Calendar events, visit www.caymancompass.com/events. The Department of Children and Family Services will host a free family fun day at the Cayman Turtle Centre on Saturday, 28 Sept.The islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2019 C A Y M A N ’S HOM E E X P O GIFTS | DISCOUNTS | DEMOS | VISITING EXPERTS | PRIZES FOOD & DRINKS STARTS IN 3 DAYS that make up Cayman’s un- derwater world is something that people come from far and wide to see. Steve Broadbelt, of Ocean Frontiers, says the shop’s an- nual coral spawning night dives are often sold out months in advance. “It is something that is on the bucket list for a lot of divers,” he said, “because it is the chance to see some- thing that not many people get to see. “This is about being in sync with nature. Being in the right place at the right time. It happens once a year for 20 minutes and if you miss it, that’s it for another year.” Over the last 20 years, Broadbelt and his dive buddy, underwater photographer Alex Mustard, have got the timing down to a fine art. Still, Broadbelt feels the pressure. “I get anxious every time because this is a natural phe- nomenon,” he said. “People have timed their trips to Cayman to come and see it, but there are no absolute guarantees. We have a good system to predict when it will happen, but there is always a chance that we will see nothing. For me it is always a relief when it happens.” we continue on track with some of our long term plans.” Plans call for both Crewe Road and Shamrock Road to be widened to six lanes – three in each direc- tion – between the Silver Oaks roundabout the Red Bay roundabout. The project would in- clude the addition of a five- foot bicycle lane and side- walk and travel lanes would be reduced from 12 feet to 11 feet, divided by a 4-foot centre median, according to the Central Planning Authority’s agenda for its 25 Sept. meeting. No cost estimate for the project was provided. The Cayman Compass has reached out to a govern- ment spokesperson for that information. The NRA Board of Di- rectors also desires to ga- zette a southbound turning lane from Crewe Road into Grand Harbour. “While the NRA has rec- ognized for many years that improvements to the road network near the Grand Harbour Rounda- bout would eventually be required, it is only in the last 2 years that funds have been made available to as- sess and evaluate the neces- sary road improvement for the near and medium term future addressing opera- tional short-comings of the road network,” according to the agenda. “Preliminary design and functional plans have now been drawn for the NRA as it prepares to forward gazettal instruc- tions, in the near future.” Average weekday daily traffic on Shamrock Road in the vicinity of Selkirk Drive grew from 23,800 vehicles per day in 1998 to 40,500 vehicles per day in 2018, according to the Central Planning Authority agenda. That is an increase of 70%. Traffic volume demand on Crewe Road near the Lions Centre has increased by 79% over a 20-year pe- riod while traffic volumes on South Sound Road west of Old Crewe Road has in- creased by about 85%, ac- cording to the agenda. Meanwhile, government leaders plan to discuss with the Private Schools Association the use of a school bus system for the more than 4,000 private school students who are dropped off and picked up at school every day. The Portfolio of the Civil Service will encourage civil servants who work out of the Government Ad- ministration Building to consider the Work Hours Policy, which allows for staggered work hours, ac- cording to the government press release. “We will remind man- agers of the 2012 Policy and have them encourage wider take up of the existing of- ferings, including by those departments not operating from the Government Ad- ministration Building, where feasible,” Portfolio Chief Officer Gloria Mc- Field-Nixon said. The NRA also plans to reverse the travel lane ca- pacity along Marina Drive, and provision for the Pros- pect Drive area to have two westbound lanes. This will be done in mid-October, ac- cording to the release. The NRA also plans to widen Rex Crighton Boule- vard to four lanes between the Poindexter Road round- about and the Chrissie Tomlinson roundabout. Other projects govern- ment plans to start before 2020 include the planned extension of the Airport Connector Road from the roundabout to the George Town landfill on Es- terley Tibbetts Highway to Sparkys Drive in the North Sound area; the ex- tension of Godfrey Nixon Way and the East-West Ar- terial from Hirst Road to Lookout Road. waste fire”. The DEH stated, “There is no risk to public safety at this time with little or no visible smoke, as re- sponse operations continue throughout today [Monday]”. It said the Fire Ser- vice crews would continue to work with the DEH to fully resolve the fire and “minimize the chance of re-ignition”. Until those assessments are done, the DEH said, the landfill site would remain closed to customers. “For those needing to drop off waste today [Monday], the landfill con- tainer drop-off at the front gate will remain in opera- tion. However, whilst ad- ditional equipment and personnel are deployed to service the gate con- tainers, customers are ad- vised to expect delays,” the DEH said. Coral spawning provides an underwater spectacle CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The coral gametes spiral upwards like a snowstorm in reverse. - PHOTO: AL WILLIAMS Road widenings planned to tackle traffic woes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Fire closes public access to landfill Smoke rises from a fire at the George Town landfill on Sunday morning. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY CIAA SEEKS PLANNING PERMISSION FOR AIRFIELD UPGRADES RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Cayman Islands Air- ports Authority has applied for planning permission to commence its airfield up- grades at the Owen Roberts International Airport. A notice was published Monday advising the public about the intended works for the project. Last month, the CIAA an- nounced its planned runway upgrades had to be resched- uled to take place outside of normal operating hours. The renovations were originally planned to take place over eight Tuesdays in September and October, and would have required runway closures on those days. How- ever, the Authority said last month that the runway up- grades will no longer require closures and will instead take place in the evening. According to Monday’s notice, the CIAA is seeking permission for “a total milling and re-paving of the existing runway surface, ex- tending the runway to the west of threshold 08 and adding an aircraft taxi turn- around, as well as filling of all ponds within the airfield perimeter”. It is also seeking per- mission to establish “a ro- bust airfield perimeter ac- cess road, and expanding the aircraft parking ramp in an easterly direction to provide additional aircraft parking”. The proposed develop- ment at the airport has been submitted to the Central Planning Authority for re- view. Anyone wishing to ob- ject or support the applica- tion will have 21 days from the publication of the notice to send them in writing to the Director of Planning. The proposed development at the airport has been submitted to the Central Planning Authority for review.8 LOCAL NEWS Check out these photos and others by visiting caymancompass.com/photogalleries or on facebook.com/caycompass (and don’t forget to tag yourself and your friends!) TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2019 CAYMAN COMPASS H undreds of people tasted fare from 24 of Cay- man’s restaurants and bars in downtown George Town on Saturday as the first ‘Live Street Food Festival’ got under way. Cardinall Avenue was filled with stalls offering a variety of eclectic street food from all over the world. - Photos: Taneos Ramsay and Stephen Clarke There was plenty of popcorn to be had. Cardinall Avenue was filled with food stalls and hungry customers on Saturday.Hayley Leggatt made sure there was plenty of Tortuga rum cake. Bea Ross Rosaroso, Vivialyn Rosaroso and Aiza Modelo from JJR Cebu’s Lechon Restaurant. Britta Bush of Saucha had some healthy offerings for diners. Miss Teen Cayman Ashley Gooden, with Sadie and Abbigael Scott-McLeod. Renata Querino and pastry chef Paula Stonoga from Kirk Market had something for those with a sweet tooth. Brandon Cridland was offering some tasty treats from D’Corn Shack. Shanna Kelley from Conscious Cafe9 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2019 Insurers ponder cannabis coverage KEVIN MORALES kmorales@compassmedia.ky Health insurance pro- viders in the Cayman Is- lands that previously did not cover medical cannabis are now reviewing their posi- tions, according to the leader of Cayman’s health insurance advisory group. Cayman Islands Insur- ance Association Health In- surance Standing Committee Chairman Annikki Brown told the Cayman Compass that local insurers recently received guidance from Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee based on guidelines out of the United Kingdom. “Now that we have this, cannabis should be covered in accordance with these guidelines,” Brown said. Three insurance compa- nies – Generali, Pan-Amer- ican Life Insurance Group and CINICO – have covered medical cannabis prescrip- tions to date. Five others have not, she said. “As of [last] week, those who did not cover previously are reviewing their posi- tions,” Brown said. The guidelines are based on the UK’s National Health Service. They allow insurers to determine what is con- sidered ‘medically neces- sary’. Providers’ concerns had centred around a lack of clarity on how cannabis should be used and pre- scribed, and on what terms insurers could deem it to be medically necessary and non-experimental. The NHS guidelines in- clude recommendations such as only prescribing medical cannabis where there is evi- dence of benefit, and in pa- tients where there is a clin- ical need that cannot be met by a licensed medicine and where established treatment options have been exhausted. “Anything outside of these guidelines can appro- priately be denied for cov- erage,” Brown said. CTMH Doctors Hospital Clinical Compounding Phar- macist Kevin Gipple told the Cayman Compass last week he estimates there are ap- proximately 600 medical cannabis prescriptions in the Cayman Islands. Brown said providers had met previously with former Chief Medical Officer Samuel Williams-Rodriguez, but did not receive guidance until meeting earlier this month with Dr. Lee. “I don’t have a timeline on implementation beyond as soon as possible,” Brown said. “There are some prac- tical steps that each insurer will need to take to bring this into effect.” She said insurers gener- ally are not opposed to can- nabis, but need to ensure their practices and poli- cies adhere to the country’s laws, and regulations set by Dr. Lee and other health- care leaders. “I think it should be stated that we do not ob- ject to decriminalisation for medical use in principle, and some insurers have no ob- jections to legalisation out- right,” Brown said. “Our con- cerns have stemmed from our commitment to adhere to the laws of the Cayman Islands in word and in spirit, and both insurers and medical providers have been working in the absence of guidelines and regulations for some time.” That is welcome news for patients using medical cannabis who have had to pay for their prescriptions out of pocket. NHS GUIDELINES FOR PRESCRIBING MEDICAL CANNABIS ■■ Auditable safeguards around prescribing unlicensed prod- ucts will be followed ■■ Only prescribed where there is clear, published evidence of benefit ■■ For patients where there is a clinical need which cannot be met by a licensed medicine ■■ Where established treat- ment options have been exhausted ■■ Specialist doctors should only prescribe within their area of practice and training ■■ Only prescribe a product where certain of its content and quality Lions Club PACCE run raises $32K for cancer awareness RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky More than 150 runners, walkers and cyclists of all ages took part in the Lions Club of Grand Cayman Prostate, Colorectal and Testicular Cancers Event (PACCE) Delano Hislop Me- morial Journey for Life fun walk on Sunday. The eighth annual event raised more $32,000 in dona- tions, which will go to local not-for-profit organisations Jasmine (formerly Hospice- Care) and the Cayman Is- lands Cancer Society to con- tinue their work in the fight against cancer. The club’s first vice pres- ident Carmin Godfrey said she was heartened by the turn-out. “The event is very important as the funds raised from the sponsors and participants are used to support the offering of free PSAs (prostate-specific an- tigen) at awareness meetings, assisting persons who have been diagnosed [with cancer] and need help and giving donations to CICS and Jas- mine,” she said. The PACCE event is close to the hearts of the mem- bers of the Club since it was started in memory of one of their own, former Lion Delano Hislop who died from cancer. Godfrey said the event is essential as it “helps to pro- mote general awareness to the public on these types of cancer for early detection”. This year the event fea- tured, for the first time, three tiers; a 5K walk, a 10K run and 15K ride. Governor Martyn Roper and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson joined partici- pants in making rounds on the event route that started from Jasmine’s West Bay Road headquarters. The route took participants into West Bay and back down to Jasmine. “I was delighted to at- tend the Lions Club of Grand Cayman PACCE 5K event on Sunday. The Lions Club is a world-class organisation and the work they do to ed- ucate the public, which helps prevent prostate and colon cancer, has been very suc- cessful. I wish the Lions Club continued success,” Man- derson said. Governor Roper tweeted similar sentiments, adding that he used the PACCE event as training to prepare for the Deputy Governor’s annual 5K, which will be held this Sunday. More than 150 runners, walkers and cyclists took part in the PACCE event. - PHOTOS: LIONS CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN The Lions Club of Grand Cayman mascot and a group of participants in Sunday’s run give the event the thumbs up. Governor Martyn Roper hits the road for Sunday’s PACCE race. - PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYNext >