ESTABLISHED 1965 www.caymancompass.com – 50 CENTS – WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 High of 88 Low of 76 Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. BUSINESS | PAGE 9 WORLD | PAGE 7 COURT: SUSPENSION OF UK PARLIAMENT ILLEGAL Cruise line boss claims piers could mean 2.5M passengers JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky A new cruise berthing facility in Grand Cayman could see visitor numbers surge to 2.5 million per year, the president of Royal Carib- bean International said this week. Michael Bayley, president and CEO of the company and one of the partners in the Verdant Isle con- sortium behind a $200 million pro- posal for the dock, claimed cruise visitation could grow as much as 40% on the back of the project. He said this would mean increased tourism spending and tax revenue for Cayman. Cayman attracted between 1.7 million and 1.9 million cruise passengers annually over the last three years. Some opponents of the project have expressed concern that Cayman is not currently equipped to handle a significant increase in cruise visitors, with concerns over limited beach space and stress on infrastructure. Bayley, speaking by phone in an interview with the Cayman Com- pass, acknowledged those issues were valid. He believes increased visitation will bring new business opportunities for Caymanians, but he said it was ultimately up to Cay- man’s leaders and Cayman’s com- munity to decide what kind of tourism growth the island needs. He said Royal Caribbean and its partners believe the port project is a ‘win-win’ for Cayman and the cruise companies. But he said they would walk away with no hard feelings if the result of the people-initiated ref- erendum goes against them. Bayley insisted there was no gov- ernment money going into the pro- ject and Verdant Isle will swallow any financial losses from their in- vestment if the Cayman people vote against the port project. He said, “I think the right phrase is that we would be out of luck. There is not a penny coming from the government. “Verdant Isle is a business and a group of people who have come together with what we believe is a great proposal, and we are hoping that people see that and we will go forward. “We also understand that some- times things don’t go your way, you cut your losses and walk away. We will obviously move on to other des- tinations and will invest elsewhere.” Bayley will be visiting the Cayman Islands next week and plans to meet with community groups and the public to talk about the project and share con- cept designs. He said the company did not have any preference or input on when and how the referendum takes place, saying it was a matter for the Cayman community. “Whatever is determined about the referendum process is not our business,” he said. “Our only business is to put forward what we think is a win- win proposal. We think the merits of what we have proposed stand pretty tall.” He said he would empha- sise what he considers to be the strengths of the deal. He claimed the port development would double the volume of cargo that could come in to Cayman, boost tourism spending and environmental tax revenue and help create jobs and economic opportunities. He cited an expected increase in cruise passengers as one of the main economic benefits from the project, highlighting the current re- quirement to use tender boats as a “constraint on growth”. He said, “Our current projection is the number will increase to Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas, pictured in George Town Harbour. The company is now part of a consortium aiming to build a cruise dock in Grand Cayman. – PHOTO: CHRIS COURT MRCU testing mosquitoes that target blue iguanas ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky A new study being conducted by the Mosquito Research and Control Unit is targeting mosquitoes that feed on blue iguanas. The research project, which began in April this year, is a joint effort between the MRCU and Mississippi State University. “Our interest is determining what species of mosquitoes feed on the blue iguanas,” said MRCU Director James McNelly. At the core of the research is a hypothesis that invasive green iguanas could be a potential source of viruses and diseases, which could be transmitted from the greens to the blues via mosquitoes. The project is divided into two stages. First, field officers and scientists venture out to the Blue Iguana Recovery Program site at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park in North Side. Once there, specialised mosquito traps are placed under wire cages of juvenile blue iguanas. “Blood-fed mosquitoes are not able to fly far,” said Dr. Hamady Dieng, an MRCU research scientist. “By placing PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 6 » REGISTRY MAKES COMPANY DIRECTOR INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION One of several blue Iguanas that freely roam the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY2 LOCAL®IONAL WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS Dominica and we saw it in the Bahamas. So we have a fight on our hands and it’s a fight for our lives.” Small islands typically cannot achieve climate resil- ience on their own, she ex- plained. They need logistical and financial support from the international commu- nity, something the secretary general hopes the Common- wealth will be able to provide. A barrier for many small Commonwealth nations in accessing climate resilience funds has been one of lo- gistics. Many small states simply do not have the ca- pacity to successfully apply for international funding, Scotland explained. The Commonwealth Cli- mate Finance Access Hub has offered one tool by pro- viding financial advisers to nine small or least developed nations. Scotland also hopes to facilitate US$500 million in Green Climate Fund support to advance climate adapta- tion and resilience. “We have already deliv- ered US$28.2 million into the hands of our member states. We only have $482 million worth of projects in the pipe- line and we are very hopeful that those projects will be … successful,” she said. “It’s what we do with the money that matters, and 71% of the applications that have been made are about adapting to climate change and the rest is mitigation. What we hope is that we will be able to create a more regenerative form of development.” The message of islands serving as ‘climate laborato- ries’ was echoed on Monday in comments to the United Nations General Assembly by Saint Lucia Primer Minister Allen Michael Chastanet. “We are your incubator,” he said. He warned that while climate change effects are being felt first in small island states and nations closer to the equator, the impacts will soon be felt elsewhere. Speaking at the UN on be- half of small island devel- oping states, Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Wilfred P. Elrington implored the big- gest emitters of greenhouse gases to take climate action goals to heart. “We are clearly very much in danger of extinction if, in fact, temperature goes above 1.5 degrees. So we are at the forefront of trying to advo- cate for the bigger emitters to do all in their power to reduce the emissions,” Elrington said. “The recent activity of Do- rian in the Bahamas dev- astated [those islands] and unless you really have expe- rienced this kind of devasta- tion, it is really hard to appre- ciate how difficult and how absolutely destructive it is. … “It is exceedingly de- pressing to see the entire landscape devastated, demol- ished. Of course, this does not come back quickly.” Monday’s United Nations Climate Action Summit re- sulted in increased finan- cial and policy commitments from a number of nations. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, president of the island nation of the Maldives, presented the ‘Climate Smart Resilient Islands Initiative’ on Monday as a model for small island developing states. “We intend to conserve eco-rich areas, phase out single-use plastics, and rap- idly transit to renewable en- ergy in the transportation and tourism sectors,” Solih said. “I call upon other [small island developing states] to replicate our model to achieve a post-carbon economy and climate-smart development pathway that will, in turn, safeguard our people from climate-associated risks in the future.” Secretary-General Scotland highlighted a US$100 mil- lion commitment from Qatar to support small and least developed states, including Caribbean islands. Overall, world leaders seek to raise more than US$100 bil- lion by 2020 for the Green Climate Fund. On Friday, the attention of the United Nations will turn fully to development issues affecting small island states. The Midterm Review of the SAMOA Pathway, a frame- work for small island de- velopment, will evaluate the progress of island states in achieving the sustainable de- velopment goals. Kayla Young is reporting for the Compass from the United Nations Climate Change Summit in New York. 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. - WEDNESDAY - 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 Small island states offering lessons in climate change Visitor dies in water off Seven Mile Beach CORRECTION PRINTERS WAY ROADWORK UNDER WAY RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky A 75-year-old woman died Tuesday after get- ting into difficulties in the water at Seven Mile Beach. This is Cayman’s ninth water-related fa- tality this year. Police said the woman, who was a visitor, had been snorkelling near Royal Palms. She was helped to shore by members of the public around 10:20am and transported to the Cayman Islands Hos- pital where she was pro- nounced dead. Police did not release the woman’s identity or nationality. A story that appeared in Monday’s Compass, titled ‘Road widenings planned to tackle traffic woes’ contained an erroneous description of a traffic management plan. The story should have read: “The NRA also plans to reverse the travel lane capacity on Sham- rock Road, on the run up to Ma- rina Drive, so there will be two westbound lanes and a turning lane instead of two eastbound lanes that currently exist.” The original wording was based on a press release from the Min- istry of Commerce, Planning and Infrastructure. The National Roads Au- thority began roadwork on Printers Way Tuesday, which means there will be limited access to motorists wanting to use the George Town thoroughfare. According to an NRA re- lease, the work will extend from the newly constructed rounda- bout next to the taxi dispatch/ bus depot to Thomas Russell Avenue, and will run for one week, until Tuesday, 1 Oct. The NRA said Printers Way will be open for local ac- cess only during this time. “Drivers are asked to keep watch for traffic diversions and to drive with caution to ensure their safety and that of the work crews,” the NRA said. The work will run be- tween the hours of 9am and 4pm each day. KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky NEW YORK - Following the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017, the eastern Caribbean island of Domi- nica hopes to become a lab- oratory of sorts for climate resilience. Commonwealth Secretary- General Patricia Scotland, a native of Dominica, high- lighted the island as a bud- ding example of development in the age of climate change. “Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said he wants to turn Dominica now into the most resilient country in the Caribbean,” Scotland said Tuesday, speaking to the Cayman Compass from the United Nations headquarters in New York City. “Indeed, I think it is likely that they may be one of the first countries to seek to im- plement this new regen- erative model of develop- ment, holistically looking at thermal energy, looking at solar energy, looking at … electric cars.” Hurricane Maria resulted in damages equivalent to 230% of Dominica’s GDP, Scotland said, threatening the economic viability of the Commonwealth nation. To survive such disasters, the Caribbean must learn and grower stronger from them, she said. “The Commonwealth is going to continue this fight because for our member states, the threat is an exis- tential one,” she said. “We saw that in Barbuda when the whole island had to be evacuated. We saw it in “ The Commonwealth is going to continue this fight because for our member states, the threat is an existential one.” PATRICIA SCOTLAND, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General 2 VENEZUELANS ACCUSED OF SMUGGLING GOLD TO FLORIDA FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) – Two Venezuelans have been charged with smug- gling about $5 million in gold bars into Florida in a private plane. A federal criminal com- plaint filed Monday charges Jean Carlos Sanchez Rojas and Victor Fossi Grieco with hiding the gold bars inside a metal panel of the aircraft’s nose. The plane landed last week at a small airport in Fort Lauderdale. Authorities say Sanchez Rojas told Homeland Secu- rity Investigations officials he had $24,000 in cash but did not declare the gold bars. Authorities later no- ticed loose rivets in the air- craft’s nose, and Sanchez Rojas and Fossi Grieco told authorities 230 pounds of the gold was there.3 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 HSA workers in court on corruption charges ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Health Services Authority employees Dominic Fer- nando Dacres and Nick Ro- mano Smith appeared in Summary Court Tuesday on charges of false accounting and obtaining property by deception. Dacres, 41, faces one count of obtaining property by de- ception. Court documents re- veal Dacres is alleged to have dishonestly submitted over- time claims between 1 Jan. and 31 Dec. 2017. By submit- ting the falsified forms, Da- cres is said to have received a ‘pecuniary advantage’, that being overtime pay, despite not having worked the ac- tual hours. The documents did not specify the amount of money Dacres is alleged to have received. The co-accused, 57-year- old Smith, was charged separately and faces two charges of false accounting, and an additional charge of breach of trust. The first charge of false accounting alleges that Smith, while working as Da- cres’ supervisor, knowingly signed off on the false over- time claim forms and then passed them on the Health Services Authority’s accounts department for payment. Smith is said to have know- ingly passed on the false doc- uments between 1 Jan. and 31 Dec. 2017. Smith is also accused of doing the same thing with another man, between 1 Jan. 2017 and 20 Jan. 2018. Smith’s third charge, breach of trust, was deemed to be a ‘Class A’ offence and therefore was transmitted to the Grand Court. No pleas were entered during Tuesday’s appearance, and both men were released on bail. Smith will next ap- pear before the Grand Court in October to answer the charge of breach of trust. No pleas were entered during Tuesday’s appearance, and both men were released on bail. 8 students treated in hospital after school bus crash SUV ran into back of bus Eight Clifton Hunter High School students were taken by ambulance to hospital after the school bus they were travelling in was involved in a colli- sion Monday. The students were treated at the Cayman Is- lands Hospital after com- plaining of neck and back pain following the collision between a private vehicle and the bus on Sea View Road in East End. Police said the collision, which occurred shortly be- fore 3:15pm, is under inves- tigation. Both vehicles were travelling eastbound when the crash happened. Police conducted a breathalyser test on the driver of the SUV that ran into the back of the bus and returned a negative result. No arrests have been made in the incident. According to a press re- lease from the Department of Education Services, school principal Richard Wildman arrived at the scene quickly, checked on the students and immediately notified their parents and guardians. “Notice was sent to the PTA’s WhatsApp group and also via the school’s Face- book page. Some of the par- ents arrived on the scene to check on their children,” the department stated. The school bus operator provided an additional bus, and students who had indi- cated at that time that they were not feeling any pain or had any discomfort were allowed to board that bus home, the DES said. “We at the DES are sat- isfied with our team’s han- dling of the situation yes- terday, but we will continue to assess and update our emergency response proce- dures as necessary to en- sure the continued safety of our students,” said DES Acting Director Tammy Banks-DaCosta. The students were treated at the Cayman Islands Hospital after complaining of neck and back pain. Two Health Services Authority employees appeared in court on Tuesday. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAY4 LOCAL NEWS RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky For a global brand like Coca-Cola, staying relevant still takes effort and crea- tivity when it comes to mar- keting its products. But more than anything else, Alex Ames, the Coca- Cola Company’s director of content and creative excel- lence, believes the brand’s success comes from keeping it real and maintaining authenticity. It is something he urged local marketing professionals to consider when they look at casting for their campaigns and showcasing their cli- ent’s products. Ames was among seven international speakers at this year’s annual Cayman Islands Marketing Profes- sionals Association confer- ence at the Kimpton Seafire Resort last week. He told local marketers that personalisation has been a key element in the com- pany’s arsenal, especially when it comes to cementing its staying power within the beverage industry. Products and brands, he said, must have a personality. They ought to have some- thing people can connect with and can relate to. “If you think of the brands, the people you want to talk with at dinner, they are the brands you share something in common. You find something to talk about, you find something, whether it’s family or shared beliefs or a sports team. That’s great. That’s the person you want to invite back to your dinner party,” he said. Speaking in the topic of ‘What we can learn from The Rock (and the Coca-Cola Company)’ about optimising content through personalisa- tion, Ames said it was impor- tant that “you think of brands as people and as a person”. He pointed out that suc- cessful campaigns within the industry are those that people can see themselves in and connect with. He suggested that there must be a ‘balance’ between informing the consumer about a product and giving the product a personality. Social media plays a large part in marketing campaigns globally, and in Cayman it is not different. CIMPA chair Catherine Healy said the results from the Association’s 2019 media survey, which is a non-sci- entific study, found that that Facebook and Instagram are the “two largest social media platforms” in use on island. “If your brand is not on social media, you’re not being seen by quite a number of your clients. So, we believe that almost everybody is on social media, especially if you’re selling to millennials or Gen Z, that’s where you re- ally want to be,” she said. The two-day conference, which wrapped up on Friday, featured discussion on emerging marketing trends. Speakers included Indie Lee, founder and CEO of Indie Lee, a rising interna- tional clean make-up brand, and Daniel Rodic, CEO and co-founder of Exact Media. WEDNESDAY, 25 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” National Trust chairman resigns over Beach Bay ‘controversy’ Nine new council members elected at AGM JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Architect Andrew Gibb has resigned as chair of the National Trust Council fol- lowing public concerns over his involvement in a pro- ject to build a five-star resort in Beach Bay. The St. James Point re- sort, a 125-room hotel and condo development in the Bodden Town area, drew criticism from some neigh- bours. Aspects of the pro- ject, which includes some building on the beach, are opposed by the Department of Environment and the Na- tional Trust. Some opponents of the project highlighted the fact that Gibb, an architect who presented the plans on be- half of the developer at a meeting of the Central Plan- ning Authority last month, was also the chairman of the Trust as a potential conflict of interest. At the time, the Trust de- fended its chairman, saying he had provided “incalcu- lable value” to the organisa- tion over the years. Nadia Hardie, the Trust’s execu- tive director, said its official positions were agreed by a council of 17 members, and any member recused them- selves from debates that conflicted with their outside business interests. She said she did not be- lieve that Gibb’s professional role as an architect should be a concern and that it had not stopped her from pub- licly advocating against as- pects of the development in a National Conservation Council meeting. Nonetheless, the Trust confirmed this week that Gibb had resigned during its annual general meeting last week. “At the meeting, Trust Chairman Andrew Gibb tendered his resigna- tion from the Council due to the public controversy surrounding his involve- ment with the proposed Beach Bay resort develop- ment,” the Trust said in a statement. Hardie said she had nothing further to add to that statement. Gibb was not available for com- ment Tuesday. Nine new members were elected to the council from a field of 15 candidates at the Trust’s annual general meeting last Wednesday. Hardie said, “I wish we could have elected all of the nominees, as each had outstanding creden- tials and showed a real passion for protecting the Cayman Islands.” The new council is sched- uled to meet for the first time in early October, when the chairman’s resignation will be discussed. The incoming Trust Council are: Peter Davey and Neil Sherlock, who will return for a period of two years as vice chair and treasurer, respectively; gen- eral members Olson An- derson, Joannah Bodden Small, Patricia Bradley, Mel- anie Carmichael, Darvin Ebanks, Catherine Fra- zier, Lisa-Ann Hurlston-Mc- Kenzie, Hannah Reid and Debra Vascik; and elected District Committee chairs Betty Bua (Little Cayman), Alice Mae Coe (West Bay), Suzan Merren (George Town), Chris Randall (Cayman Brac) and Robert Wood (Bodden Town). The two-day conference, which wrapped up on Friday, featured discussion on emerging marketing trends. Experts urge local marketers to be authentic in messaging Alex Ames, director of content and creative excellence at the Coca-Cola Company, making a point during his presentation at the 2019 CIMPA conference at the Kimpton Seafire Resort on Friday. - PHOTO: RESHMA RAGOONATH Some opponents of the project highlighted the fact that Gibb, an architect who presented the plans on behalf of the developer at a meeting of the Central Planning Authority last month, was also the chairman of the Trust as a potential conflict of interest.5 LOCAL NEWS CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 Customer Announcement Re: Interest Rate Adjustments Scotiabank & Trust (Cayman) Ltd. wishes to advise that due to the announcement by the Federal Reserve to decrease the federal funds rate by 0.25% on September 18, 2019, the following changes will occur: • USD Prime Rate decrease from 5.25% to 5.00%, effective September 19, 2019 • KYD Prime Rate decrease from 5.25% to 5.00%, effective September 19, 2019 All products linked to USD and KYD Prime Rates will be adjusted on the effective dates indicated. ® Registered trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia. DoE: Don’t mess with the nests Three turtle nests dug up RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky A social media video showing a sea turtle nest being dug up has prompted a warning from the Depart- ment of Environment. The video showed someone digging up the nest on Seven Mile Beach and encouraging hatch- lings to crawl along the sand towards the sea in broad daylight. The DoE, in a statement Monday, said this was the third such turtle nest distur- bance incident this month. It is an offence under the National Conservation Law to disturb sea turtles or their nests. The department said, based on its officers’ obser- vations, those in the video seem to have “no ill intent” and believe they are “res- cuing” the baby turtles. “However, nature is not always so amenable to such good intentions,” the DoE stated. It said under no circum- stances does it encourage releasing baby turtles in daylight, “because it gives them virtually no chance of survival”. “Releasing hatchlings in the daylight hours makes them much more visible, and therefore vulnerable, to pred- ators on land, air and sea,” said Janice Blumenthal, DoE marine research officer. Hatchings need to make it on their own Blumenthal further ex- plained that by digging up turtle nests before the eggs naturally hatch, baby turtles can be removed before they are ready to go to the ocean. “It takes several days for their bodies to straighten and strengthen after coming out of their eggs and they may be released at times when they are less likely to survive,” she said. In the natural sequence of events, the DoE said, hatch- lings that reach the surface of the sand during the day will typically wait for the sand to cool, signalling the safety of the nighttime hours. “Sometimes in daylight a few hatchlings are visible at the surface of the sand, but it is safer for those hatch- lings and the 80 to 100 little turtles below them to wait until nightfall to emerge and continue their journey to the sea,” the DoE added. MLAs say ‘Do not disturb turtle nests’ Environment Minister Dwayne Seymour said while he wants to continue to en- courage members of the public to support sea turtle conservation, it should be done in the right way. “We don’t want anyone to inadvertently put these animals at further risk,” he said. It is a point shared by Councillor for the Environ- ment MLA Eugene Ebanks. Plainly, Ebanks said, leave the nests alone. “I know that locals and visitors alike all feel a great affinity for our wild turtles. They are a national treasure, part of our important her- itage, and a tourist attrac- tion in their own right, for many years,” he said. “But these turtles have been nesting in Cayman success- fully from before people were here, and the best thing we can do for them is leave any nest, or nesting turtle, undisturbed.” Any member of the public concerned about a nest can call the DoE turtle hotline at 938-NEST (938-6378). Anyone seen interfering with a sea turtle nest, nesting turtle or turtle hatchlings should be reported by calling DoE Conservation Officers at 916-4271 or by calling 911. “ Releasing hatchlings in the daylight hours makes them much more visible, and therefore vulnerable, to predators on land, air and sea.” JANICE BLUMENTHAL, DoE marine research officer Cayman student to attend Cambridge University A student from the Cayman Islands who re- cently completed his A-Levels at Brighton College in the UK is heading to Cambridge University to study nat- ural sciences. Matthew Penner, 18, who will be starting St. Ca- tharine’s College in October, spent two years at Brighton, calling the teaching there “fantastic”. The student achieved “su- perb A-Level results” at the college, according to a press release. Elaborating on the teaching, he said, “it fre- quently goes beyond the syllabus – which is hugely beneficial for a Cambridge application”. Penner explained he took part in weekly prepara- tion sessions for the Cam- bridge Chemistry Challenge which enabled him to win the Roentgenium Award, an honour placing him in the top 50 chemistry stu- dents in the UK. “Winning this [award] allowed me to spend a weekend at St. Catharine’s, where, amongst other things I undertook undergraduate experiments,” Penner said. “I also received excellent advice and guidance throughout the whole university applica- tion process.” Beyond the academic rigour, Penner pointed to other aspects of Brighton that helped him settle into life in the UK and achieve scholastic success. “Brighton College’s wel- coming and kind ethos helped me to quickly gain my footing at the school,” he said. “It was a little daunting arriving at first, but my house master and tutor were great at helping me find my feet and making sure that I felt as comfort- able as possible.” He attended Cayman Prep and High School through Year 11, and was named overall champion and Year 10 senior challenge winner in the 2016 Minds Inspired Mathematics Challenge at the University College of the Cayman Islands. “ Brighton College’s welcoming and kind ethos helped me to quickly gain my footing at the school.” MATTHEW PENNER, student Baby turtles that make their way into the ocean after emerging from their sandy nests during daylight hours are at risk of being spotted easily by predators. - PHOTO: FILE Matthew PennerThe islands’ most-trusted news source 6 WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS DESIGN SERVICE SUPPLY Closed For Inventory We Would Like to Inform Our Customers That On Saturday September 28, We Will Be Closed For Our Annual Inventory Count. 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That is probably a conservative number. “The bigger question is the overall master planning infrastructure, up- land development and opportuni- ties and how Cayman folks want to manage inbound tourism for cruise.” Some campaigners who have ex- pressed doubts about the dock project have highlighted ‘over tourism’ among their key concerns. In a letter to the Compass last month, the Cruise Port Refer- endum Cayman group argued that Grand Cayman’s infrastructure was not equipped to handle “mass cruise tourism”. Citing a Department of Tourism re- port that pitched Cayman’s cruise ca- pacity at around 2.1 million, the group called for a comprehensive assess- ment of Cayman’s carrying capacity. The business case for the project also highlighted concerns about impact on the road network, shopping, restau- rant facilities and natural attractions. Bayley accepted there were valid concerns. He suggested a cruise berthing facility would mean better scheduling of ships, so that a net in- crease in passengers would not have such a significant impact on daily ca- pacity. He added that the influx of pas- sengers would create economic op- portunity for Caymanians to create businesses to handle that growth. But he said it was ultimately a matter for the country to decide. “It is about planning and deciding as a com- munity, what kind of tourism growth do you want?” Based on his estimate of an in- crease of around 700,000 passengers annually, he said the dock would mean more money for government coffers, including environmental taxes, despite a portion of the per-passenger head tax being diverted to repay Verdant Isle. Without a dock, he said cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, would still visit Cayman. But he said numbers would likely decrease in the coming years as the company moves to larger ships. Cruise line boss claims piers could mean 2.5M passengers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Michael Bayley the traps under the cages, we make it more attractive for mosquitoes that have fed on blue iguanas. Because it is so hot, we try to make the traps humid and moist, which also helps to attract the mosquitoes.” The traps are checked regularly, and the mosqui- toes collected are taken back to the MRCU labs for the second phase of the project. Once in the lab, staff dis- sect the mosquitoes that have taken a blood meal. Samples are recorded and are then shipped to Missis- sippi State University for fur- ther analysis. Preliminary findings re- veal the two types of mosqui- toes most frequently found in the traps are both from the Culex species. Mark Welch, an MSU bi- ology professor who is helping to oversee the pro- ject, said although it’s been six months since the re- search began, it is still too early to tell whether the mos- quitoes have fed on humans or iguanas, as well as which type of iguana. “We are in a stage before the fact-finding stage,” said Welch. “I have never worked with mosquitoes before. I have worked with iguanas. My speciality is in the ge- netics of iguanas, so we are going to have to learn how to isolate iguana DNA from a mosquito blood meal.” For Welch and his team, the immediate problem they must solve is how to get an adequate blood sample that can be used to find distinct genetic markers of either blue or green iguanas. “I know it seems like a lot when I get bitten, but that’s not a huge sample to work with in a genetics lab,” said Welch. “We are going to have to develop a pro- tocol that will allow us to use genetic material from the blood meal to identify the species of [the] host that provided that meal. But once we are there, then it should be downhill.” The project also faces several other problems. In the field, the traps must compete with lush foliage that surrounds cages of blue iguanas, which de- creases the number of mos- quitoes that enter the traps. The number of mosquitoes that do eventually make it into the traps is further re- duced by predators lying in wait. “Spiders have learned to prey on blood-fed mos- quitoes, so we are finding more and more traps with no mosquitoes, but con- taining multiple spiders,” said Dieng. To help counter the arachnid intruders, the MRCU deployed new dustbin traps. In one dustbin trap, some 15 mosquitoes were recovered. Another issue facing the scientists is transferring the samples in a manner that allows them to remain vi- able once they have arrived at MSU. By the end of the one- year test phase, the MRCU team hopes it will have been able to collect, dissect and analyse the blood sam- ples – and ultimately deter- mine what host provided the sample. “One of the goals is to ul- timately be able to do all the work here on island,” said Welch. The cost of the project is unclear, but it is under- stood that the MRCU will be footing the bill. “This is part of our mis- sion. We are Mosquito Re- search and Control, and this is the leading edge of looking of what [mosqui- toes] feed on,” said McNelly. “This particular programme is all about iguanas, but we expect to look at other mos- quitoes and what they feed on. For instance, Aedes ae- gypti and what that mos- quito feeds on.” McNelly said eventually the programme could be ex- panded to other animals. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we expand the focus of what we are talking about here and finding some mos- quitoes that actually have fed on chickens,” he said. “But it wouldn’t be a pro- gramme specifically looking at mosquitoes that feed on chickens.” MRCU testing mosquitoes that target blue iguanas CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 On the financing “We have been made aware that there is a concern that some of the cost of this project will be borne by the people of Cayman. I can assure you that this is 100% financed by the con- sortium. There is not one dollar that comes out of Cayman to fundamentally double the cargo capacity and significantly im- prove the efficiency of cruise tourism. We are committed to this. We think it makes perfect sense and we know the strength of the cruise business, we know how popular this is. We take on all of the risk of the project.” On the referendum “At the end of the day, you can have a proposition, but it only ever works if every- body feels good about it. We are not trying to do some- thing that is bad for anybody, we are not trying to do some- thing that is going to create is- sues for people. If, at the end of the day, someone turns around and says ‘we don’t want you to do that’, it’s OK, that’s OK. We feel the same way sometimes about things. On the passenger projections “I believe the number today is around 1.8 million. Our cur- rent projection is the number will increase to 2.5 million. That is probably a conservative number. The bigger question is the overall masterplanning, in- frastructure, upland develop- ment opportunities and how the community and Cayman folks want to manage the inbound tourism from cruise.” On why he believes the project is necessary “The ships have certainly be- come larger, and it is a lot more complex to bring all these tour- ists ashore. It is just very prac- tical to be able to build a facility that can receive the ships in the proper manner. Like the air- port, you need a good facility to manage the incoming tourists.” On environmental concerns “We are quite committed to sustainability and environmen- tally responsible practices. We will work closely with Depart- ment of Environment on de- sign and construction to mini- mise impact.” On Cayman’s cruise future if the dock is not built “Cayman is a popular des- tination. We have been coming to Cayman for 50 years and hopefully we will continue to come for another 50 years, but at the end of the day you have to look at the reality of it. If we can’t create the infrastruc- ture and facilities to better re- ceive the guests as our ships get bigger, it is not unrealistic to think that volume of guests and the number of ships will decline.” Royal Caribbean CEO and president Michael Bayley in his own words … Dr. Hamady Dieng, right, and assistant Tariq Webb collect blood-fed mosquitoes at the blue iguana recovery site. – PHOTO: TANEOS RAMSAYThe islands’ most-trusted news source 7 CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 China planning controls on e-cigarettes China announced Tuesday plans to join governments that are imposing controls on tobacco liquid and additives for e-cigarettes amid rising concern about deaths and illnesses blamed on vaping. China is the most populous global tobacco market, with an estimated 350 million smokers. www.caymannational.com Customer Notice Interest Rate Decrease Cayman National Bank advises that its CI$ and US$ Prime Rates will decrease from 5.25% to 5.00% effective 25th September 2019. All products linked to CI$ and US$ Prime Rates will be adjusted on this date. Cayman National provides a full range of financial services at competitive prices and with excellent service. For more information call us at 949 4655 or visit www.caymannational.com. PERSONAL BANKING | BUSINESS BANKING | FUND SERVICES | FIDUCIARY & INVESTMENT SERVICES Court: Suspension of UK Parliament illegal LONDON (AP) – In a major blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Britain’s highest court ruled Tuesday that his decision to suspend Parlia- ment for five weeks in the crucial countdown to the country’s Brexit deadline was illegal. The unanimous, strongly worded Supreme Court judg- ment declared his order to suspend Parliament “void and of no effect”. The court found that Johnson acted to limit debate by lawmakers on Britain’s impending de- parture from the European Union in violation of Parlia- ment’s constitutional role. The landmark decision was quickly criticised by Johnson and prompted calls for him to quit from opposi- tion leaders. The Conservative prime minister and Parlia- ment have been at odds since he took power in July with the determination to take Britain out of the EU on 31 Oct. with or without a divorce deal. “I strongly disagree with this decision of the Supreme Court. I have the upmost re- spect for our judiciary, I don’t think this was the right de- cision,” Johnson said in New York, where he was attending the UN General Assembly. “I think that the proroga- tion [suspension of Parlia- ment] has been used for cen- turies without this kind of challenge.” Johnson did not rule out trying to suspend Par- liament again. “As the law currently stands, the UK leaves the EU on Oct. 31 come what may, but the exciting thing for us now is to get a good deal. And that is what we are working on,” Johnson said. “And to be honest, it is not made much easier by this kind of stuff in Parliament or in the courts.” House of Commons Speaker John Bercow wel- comed the historic ver- dict and said Parliament would resume its business Wednesday morning. He said citizens are “entitled” to have Parliament perform its core constitutional duties, which include holding ministers to account and passing laws. Bercow said there will not be a Prime Minister’s Questions session in Par- liament on Wednesday de- spite the fact that lawmakers were returning. Johnson’s office said, due to the ruling, the prime min- ister will fly back to London overnight from New York, ear- lier than planned, arriving by the time Parliament resumes. The harsh tone of the court’s decision, and the unanimous vote of 11 Su- preme Court judges, led many to say that Johnson cannot carry on. “His position is unten- able and he should have the guts for once to do the decent thing and resign,” Scottish Na- tional Party legislator Joanna Cherry said outside the court. Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn told his party conference that the court decision shows John- son’s “contempt” for democ- racy and rule of law. He said Johnson should resign “and become the shortest-serving prime minister there’s ever been”. Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson said the ruling made it clear that Johnson “is not fit to be prime min- ister”. She said he “acted un- lawfully, tried to silence Par- liament, tried to silence the voices of the people, because he does not want to be held to account … for his disas- trous Brexit policy”. In this nation without a written constitution, the case marked a rare confrontation between the prime minister, the courts and Parliament over their rights and respon- sibilities. It revolved around whether Johnson acted law- fully when he advised the queen to suspend Parliament for five weeks during a cru- cial time frame before the 31 Oct. Brexit deadline when Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union. Supreme Court President Brenda Hale said the suspen- sion “was unlawful because it had the effect of frustrating or preventing the ability of Par- liament to carry out its con- stitutional functions without reasonable justification”. She said the court’s deci- sion means Parliament was never legally suspended and is technically still sitting. The decision Tuesday fol- lowed three days of hearings last week. The court rejected the gov- ernment’s assertions that the decision to suspend Parlia- ment until 14 Oct. was rou- tine and not related to Brexit. Government lawyers claimed that under Britain’s un- written constitution, it was a matter for politicians, not courts, to decide. The government’s oppo- nents argued that Johnson illegally shut down Parlia- ment just weeks before the country is due to leave the 28-nation bloc for the “im- proper purpose” of dodging lawmakers’ scrutiny of his Brexit plans. They also ac- cused Johnson of misleading Queen Elizabeth II, whose formal approval was needed to suspend the legislature. The unanimous, strongly worded Supreme Court judgment declared his order to suspend Parliament “void and of no effect”. Anti-Brexit supporters react as they gather outside the Supreme Court in London, Tuesday, as the court made its decision on the legality of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s five-week suspension of Parliament. – PHOTO: AP8 WORLD®IONAL WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 • CAYMAN COMPASS C A Y M A N ’S HOM E E X P O GIFTS | DISCOUNTS | DEMOS | VISITING EXPERTS | PRIZES FOOD & DRINKS STARTS IN 2 DAYS Thomas Cook repatriation ramps up as dispute erupts over pay Puerto Rico braces for Tropical Storm KarenZIMBABWE’S CAPITAL RUNS DRY AS WATER CUT OFF FOR 2M PEOPLE SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Tropical Storm Karen began drenching the US Virgin Is- lands on Tuesday while bearing down on an earth- quake-shaken Puerto Rico still scarred by a hurricane two years ago. US Virgin Islands Gov. Al- bert Bryan Jr. said the storm had already caused mudslides in the territory and major power outages were reported early Tuesday, though he said the cause was not yet clear. “Don’t take the storm lightly,” Bryan said. “It will start to throw massive rain.” Schools and government offices were already or- dered closed in Puerto Rico as well as in the US and British Virgin Islands, with officials warning people to stay indoors. As the storm approached, Puerto Ricans were shaken from their beds late Monday by a magnitude 6.0 earth- quake that hit in the Atlantic near the island at a shallow depth of 6 miles. Three after- shocks, of magnitude 4.7 and 4.6, followed within less than an hour. No significant damage was reported, said Carlos Acevedo, director of Puerto Rico’s emergency manage- ment agency, adding that the concern now was how much rain Karen would drop on the region. The US National Hur- ricane Center said it could bring 2 to 4 inches. Karen regained trop- ical storm strength Tuesday morning after slipping to a tropical depression. Its max- imum sustained winds in- creased to 40 mph, with additional strengthening ex- pected. The storm was cen- tred about 85 miles south of San Juan and was moving north near 7 mph. It was expected to keep heading north after passing over Puerto Rico and stay well east of the Bahamas, the Hurricane Center said. A tropical storm warning re- mained in effect for Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra and the US and British Virgin Is- lands, and forecasters said certain areas could experi- ence stronger winds. Roberto Garcia, meteor- ologist in charge of the Na- tional Weather Service’s San Juan office, said that some towns in the eastern part of Puerto Rico would likely be hit with moderate to serious flooding, especially those next to mountains. Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez activated the Na- tional Guard on Monday and urged people in flood- prone areas to seek shelter, with more than 30 people reported in shelters by Tuesday morning. The island is still recov- ering from Hurricane Maria, which hit as a Category 4 storm two years ago and is estimated to have caused more than $100 billion in damage. More than 25,000 homes still have blue tarps for roofs and the electric grid remains unstable. “It’s a reality that we might have power outages,” Vázquez said. Farther north, Tropical Storm Jerry was moving northward and was projected to pass near Bermuda by Wednesday morning. It was about 275 miles southwest of Bermuda and had sustained winds of 60 mph. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Lorenzo formed over the far eastern Atlantic and was projected to become a major hurricane by the end of the week, though while curving out over open sea away from land. It was cen- tred about 310 miles south- west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands and had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. It was heading west- northwest at 16 mph. HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) – The more than 2 million res- idents of Zimbabwe’s cap- ital and surrounding towns are now without water after authorities shut down the city’s main treatment plant, raising new fears about dis- ease after a recent cholera outbreak while the economy crumbles further. Officials in Harare have struggled to raise foreign currency to import water treatment chemicals; about $2.7 million is needed per month. Meanwhile, water levels in polluted dams are dropping because of drought. “Everyone living in Ha- rare is affected, they don’t have water,” City Council spokesman Michael Chideme said Tuesday, as residents turned to op- tions such as bottled water or wells. The capital now fre- quently records cases of diseases such as typhoid due to water shortages and dilapidated sewer infra- structure. Some residents are forced to get water from shallow, unsafe wells and defecate in the open. Twenty-six people died last year in a cholera out- break, leading President Em- merson Mnangagwa to ex- press public dismay that Zimbabweans were suffering from a “medieval” disease. As services largely col- lapse, many Harare resi- dents in recent months have found themselves lining up at wells in the middle of the night for water or lighting their homes by candle or mobile phone. LONDON (AP) – Britain’s big- gest repatriation effort since World War II ramped up on Tuesday as questions swirled over the pay Thomas Cook executives received in the run-up to the tour operator’s collapse, which left thou- sands stranded globally. As uncertain Thomas Cook holidaymakers made their way to airports around the world, Britain’s Civil Avia- tion Authority said Tuesday it brought back 14,700 Thomas Cook customers back to the UK on 64 flights on Monday. That amounts to around 95% of the holidaymakers who were originally booked to fly home that day. A further 135,000 pas- sengers are expected to be brought back on rescue flights over the next 13 days, including 16,800 on 74 flights on Tuesday. Everyone will be brought back regardless of nationality or whether they are protected by the govern- ment-backed travel insur- ance programme. “A repatriation of this scale and nature is unprecedented and unfortunately there will be some inconvenience and disruption for customers,” said Richard Moriarty, the aviation authority’s chief ex- ecutive. “We will do every- thing we can to minimise this as the operation continues.” Moriarty said holiday- makers should not fret about how they will get back. “We want people to con- tinue to enjoy their holiday, so we will bring them back to the UK on their original departure day, or very soon thereafter.” Debt-laden Thomas Cook ceased all operations Monday after failing to raise the money it wanted from share- holders, leaving hundreds of thousands stranded around the world as well as its 21,000 employees, including 9,000 in the UK, out of work. The repatriation is expected to cost the British govern- ment approximately 100 mil- lion pounds (US$125 million). It was still unclear how many of the 600,000 total that were travelling with the company as of Sunday would remain stranded. German au- thorities were still mulling a request for a bridging loan from airline Condor, a sub- sidiary of Thomas Cook. The company’s Dutch subsidiary said all flights scheduled for Tuesday were scrapped and customers will not be able to use accommodation they booked. The 178-year-old travel agency that helped pio- neer the package tour was brought down by a number of factors, including changing travel habits, online compe- tition, heatwaves in Europe over the past couple of years, as well as uncertainty related to Britain’s departure from the European Union, which has seen the British pound fall sharply, making holidays abroad more expensive. British Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom has called on the country’s Insolvency Service to “fast-track” its in- vestigation of the collapse of Thomas Cook. Company executives over the past few years have been accused of failing to failing to adapt to industry changes and for rewarding themselves inappropriately high salaries and bonuses. Directors at the travel company reportedly received nearly 50 million pounds (US$62 million) over the past decade, packages that were approved by share- holders in annual general meetings even at a time when the company’s financial per- formance was deteriorating. “We want to consider what more can be done to align the pay of directors with the per- formance of their businesses,” Leadsom told Sky News. The union that represents 3,000 Thomas Cook workers, including cabin crew and en- gineers, said the review of the collapse of Thomas Cook was “too little, too late” and further highlighted Britain’s financial regulatory system was “broken” and in need of an overhaul. “Yet again the government is guilty of being asleep at the wheel,” said Unite assistant general secretary Diana Hol- land. “The collapse of Thomas Cook has not been allowed to happen in other countries as their governments and regu- lators have mechanisms to stop such a disastrous and immediate collapse as has happened in the UK.” A further 135,000 passengers are expected to be brought back on rescue flights over the next 13 days. British passengers with Thomas Cook wait in long queues at Antalya airport in Antalya, Turkey, Monday. – PHOTO: APThe islands’ most-trusted news source 9 Business CAYMAN COMPASS • WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2019 Israel’s central bank OKs new digital bank Israel’s central bank says it has granted a licence to open the country’s first all-digital bank. The Bank of Israel said Tuesday that the as yet-unnamed bank will have no branches and provide digital services to households, including providing credit, receipt of deposits and providing securities purchasing and sales services. - Provide fast & efficient service wherever you are on the island. - We pick up vehicles & get them licensed and inspected at an affordable price. This service I brought to you gives less hassle of waiting in long lines for hours. Let us take care of that for you. Monday – Saturday 8am – 6pm Get your vehicle licensed and inspected with just one phone call. Contact us Today: Tel: (345) 329-2554 Email: laceyjones817@gmail.com Skin Cancer and Melanoma specialists Consultant Dermatologist from fellow physicians during the week of September 30th Call Cayman Doctors at 943-6363 or email: customerservice@cayman-doctors.com Patients and Referrals Welcomes Dr. Christian Aldridge MB, BSc (Hons), FRCP (London) OECD sees worst global economic growth in a decade MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky Rising trade tensions and policy uncertainty have set up global eco- nomic growth for the worst year since the financial crisis. The Or- ganisation for Economic Co-oper- ation and Development said in its latest Interim Economic Outlook that the global economy has become increasingly fragile and uncertain, with growth slowing and downside risks continuing to mount. The outlook warns that eco- nomic prospects are weakening in advanced and emerging economies and global growth could remain persistently low without firm policy action from governments. Escalating trade conflicts are taking a toll on confidence and investment, which combined with policy uncertainty, aggra- vates the risks in financial mar- kets and endangers the already poor growth prospects worldwide, the OECD said. Substantial uncertainty stems also from the possible no-deal with- drawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, as a possible no-deal Brexit could push the UK into recession in 2020 and lead to sectoral disruptions in Europe. The overall slowdown in the Chi- nese economy and significant finan- cial market vulnerabilities from the tension between slowing growth, high debt and deteriorating credit quality are additional risk factors weighing on future growth. Although solid consumer de- mand has supported service sector output to date, a lasting weakness in manufacturing sectors and con- tinuing trade tensions could weaken employment growth, household in- come and spending. The organisation projects that the global economy will grow by 2.9% in 2019 and 3% in 2020 – the weakest annual growth rates since 2009, with downside risks contin- uing to mount. The outlook, which covers all G-20 economies, revised downward its projections for al- most all countries from its previous report in May. Countries subject to this year’s decline in global trade and investment are most affected. “The global economy is facing in- creasingly serious headwinds, and slow growth is becoming worry- ingly entrenched,” said OECD Chief Economist Laurence Boone. “The uncertainty provoked by the contin- uing trade tensions has been long- lasting, reducing activity worldwide and jeopardising our economic fu- ture. Governments need to seize the opportunity afforded by today’s low interest rates to renew investment in infrastructure and promote the economy of the future,” Boone said. The Interim Outlook calls on central banks to remain accommo- dative in advanced economies, but stresses that the effectiveness of monetary policy could be enhanced by higher government spending and structural policy reform. The OECD notes fiscal policy should play a larger role in sup- porting the economy, by taking ad- vantage of exceptionally low long- term interest rates for wider public investment to support near-term de- mand and future prosperity. Meanwhile, greater structural re- form ambition was required in all economies to help offset the impact of the negative supply shocks from rising restrictions on trade and cross-border investment. Registry makes company director information available for inspection MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky The General Registry is going to make the names of directors and officers of Cayman companies available for inspection from 1 Oct. The measure covers both ordi- nary resident companies and non-resident companies, ex- empted companies and for- eign companies. The registry will offer dedicated kiosks and termi- nals for the inspection, which must be made in person and cannot be carried out online. Each search attracts a fee of $50 and will only reveal the names of a company’s di- rectors but no further per- sonal details. Registrar General Cindy Jefferson-Bulgin said even though it is difficult to pre- dict the volume of inspec- tions, the registry must be prepared to avoid long lines of people waiting. “We are anticipating that there may be a lot of en- quiring minds. We have to be adequately prepared for that,” added Deputy Registrar Donnell Dixon. The new service follows amendments to the Compa- nies Law approved by the Legislative Assembly in July. The changes require the reg- istrar “to make a list of the names of the directors and alternate directors of a com- pany available for inspection by any person”. The Companies Law man- dates that every company must keep a register con- taining the names and ad- dresses of its directors, in- cluding alternate directors, and officers at its regis- tered office. Until now, a copy of this register had to be sent to the registrar within 60 days of the first appointment of any director or officer of the com- pany. But there was no re- quirement for this informa- tion to be publicly available. The company law amendments were made in response to a review of Cayman’s anti-money laun- dering and countering ter- rorist financing regime by the Caribbean Financial Ac- tion Task Force. In its report released in March, the CFATF noted that certain basic infor- mation such as the regis- tered address and status of a company is available to the public through the Gen- eral Registry’s website for a small fee. However, “Of all the com- panies that can be created in the Cayman Islands, the law does not require exempted and limited liability compa- nies to file a list of directors which can be made available for public access,” the CFATF report said. “The General Registry maintains informa- tion on directors of exempted companies and limited li- ability companies which is only available to competent authorities or in exceptional circumstances. The absence of a requirement for these companies is considered a major gap given the vast number of these companies formed in the jurisdiction.” The assessors also stated that the 60-day notifica- tion period did not allow for the timely maintenance of current information when changes occur. “This may lead to instances of providing outdated information, where information is being sourced to pursue an investigation,” the CFATF noted. The amendments to the Companies Law passed in July reduced the time to no- tify the registrar of a change in directors or officers of a company from 60 days to 30 days. Each search attracts a fee of $50 and will only reveal the names of a company’s directors but no further personal details.Next >