Regulated in the Cayman Islands as a licensed insurer by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Generali Worldwide is a trading name of Utmost Worldwide Limited. Registered Head Office address: Utmost Worldwide Limited, Utmost House, Hirzel Street, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands GY1 4PA. Regulated in Guernsey as a licensed insurer by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission under the Insurance Business (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 (as amended). Incorporated in Guernsey under Company Registration No. 27151. www.generali-healthcare.com Let’s talk Mental Health. Learn more about the Generali Employee Assistance Program by emailing donovon.kellyman@ihs.ky cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS Funding local journalism Thursday, 10 October 2019 Q&A with Joey Hew on sargassum Page 8 Out in the open Industry supports government’s decision to introduce a public register of beneficial ownership. 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Box 1365 Grand Cayman, KY1-1108 Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@compassmedia.ky ADVERTISE WITH US: T: (345) 949-5111 E: sales@compassmedia.ky W: caymancompass.com PUBLISHER KATHLEEN CAPETTA EDITOR CATHERINE MACGILLIVRAY NEWS PRODUCER AND OPERATIONS MANAGER KEVIN MORALES A MEMBER OF THE INTER- AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION “Give light and the people will find their own way” Partly cloudy with a 30% chance of afternoon showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands THURSDAY 07.10.2019 89°F 78°F HIGH LOW WINDS Southerly at 5 to 10 knots SEA STATE Southerly at 5 to 10 knots MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky It is not easy getting to the site of the Cayman Islands' long-term residential mental- health facility. Just beyond Health City, one has to turn off the main road and wind three miles down High Rock Road, a rough and bumpy journey into the heart of East End. It seems appropriate, given how long it has taken for Cayman’s first permanent mental- health facility to reach its groundbreaking, which took place Tuesday afternoon. “It’s been about five years of intense work,” said Dr. Marc Lockhart, head of Cayman’s Mental Health Commission. “But this has been about 18 years of work on the ground in terms of what families and patients have been crying out for.” The $15 million complex on 15 acres will have nine cottages – each of which can house six patients – and a central building for administration, dining and activities. It will also feature an orchard and vegetable garden, and even farm animals. The project was delayed at several stages and its slow pace often frustrated those working on it. Completion is expected in 2021. Lockhart said the location is perfect as the trend in mental-health treatment is to provide patients with a quiet, pastoral setting. He likened it to putting critically ill patients in intensive care units. “We’re moving back to nature, using ‘green therapy’,” he said. “Nature revives us. You’re not hearing engines running. You’re not hearing sirens and alarms going off.” Addressing a crowd of about 70 people during the groundbreaking, Premier Alden McLaughlin said the new facility will help to erase a stain on Cayman’s healthcare system. “We have known for years that the treatment was less than adequate,” McLaughlin said of mental-health care on the island. “It’s nothing short of a national disgrace.” Currently, the Cayman Islands Hospital has a eight-bed short-term ward for mental-health patients. The unit is unable to meet the demand, said Lockhart. Patients needing long-term care are often sent off island, typically to Jamaica or the US, to receive care. Some of those patients will be able to return to Cayman once the project is completed, he said. “This facility is going to make our nation whole again,” Lockhart added. Minister of Health Dwayne Seymour called the groundbreaking a “milestone for the Cayman Islands”, adding that he believes its presence will encourage more people who need treatment to seek it. “We suspect there are more persons out there that will come out and be a part of this programme because we have a facility that will benefit them greatly,” he said. Lockhart said it was an emotional day for him. “This is sacred land,” he said. “This is our forefathers’ land. This land is going to create a lot of benefit and a lot of healing. We’re going to use it to set an example, not only for the region but for the world.” Government officials mark the groundbreaking of the long-term residential mental health facility with a turn of the shovel. Ground broken at mental-health facility This artist’s rendering shows an aerial view of the long-term residential health care facility. 2Cayman Finance lends support to public register decision MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky Cayman Finance has issued a statement in support of government’s intention to introduce a public register of beneficial ownership, when such registers become the norm under international standards, for example in the European Union. The association, which represents Cayman’s financial services industry, said it “supports the decision by the Cayman Islands Government to introduce a public register of beneficial ownership in line with evolving global standards and practices within a timeframe that aligns with UK legislation and the EU 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive”. The decision will see the true owners of Cayman-based companies made public sometime after 2022. Beneficial ownership has long been a contentious issue. Lawmakers, anti-corruption campaigners and tax advocacy groups believe that publicly available beneficial ownership information, particularly for shell companies offshore, is needed to fight money laundering and financial crime. In 2018, UK parliamentarians effectively legislated for Cayman, when they inserted a clause into the UK Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act. The clause demanded an order-in-council to implement such registers in the British Overseas Territories, if they did not introduce them voluntarily. The move was strongly criticised as “colonial”, because financial matters are devolved to the territories and their own parliaments. UK parliamentarians, in turn, claimed their fight against money laundering was a matter of national security, overriding any devolved matters. The issue strained relations between the UK and its territories. However, the pressure on the British territories increased after the UK Crown Dependencies announced in June their commitment to public registers in line with developments in the EU, while Gibraltar expressed its intent to introduce a public register before the end of the year. It is understood that the Cayman Islands government negotiated with other territories for months to come to a joint position. However, other territories argued that their constitutional relationship prevented them from making a commitment to public ownership registers at this time. The British Virgin Islands, for instance, has mounted an ongoing legal challenge to the beneficial ownership provision in the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act. Premier Alden McLaughlin, who had previously stated Cayman would only make ownership information public if that were to become a global standard, said in a statement on Tuesday that the rules have evolved. “The introduction of the UK’s public beneficial ownership register, the EU 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive and similar actions by other jurisdictions represents a shift in the global standard and the practices used to combat illicit activity,” he said. Cayman Finance stated in the same vein, “Now that the UK and EU are establishing an emerging global standard for ownership registers to be public, the Cayman Islands financial services industry will work closely with the Cayman Islands Government to ensure we meet that standard also.” The association said the success of the industry had always been dependent on compliance with the highest global standards for transparency and cross-border cooperation with tax and law enforcement. As a result, Cayman achieves the same OECD rating for transparency as countries like the UK, the US, Germany, Canada and Australia. Cayman Finance continues to maintain that Cayman’s non-public beneficial ownership system of service providers collecting and verifying beneficial ownership information is superior to the UK register of public, but largely unverified, information. “Our industry has also actively supported Cayman’s verified ownership regime for more than 15 years even though verification of ownership information is not yet a standard achieved by most other jurisdictions, who still rely on less accurate registers of self-reported information,” the organisation stated. Naomi Hirst, senior campaigner at anti-corruption watchdog Global Witness, said in a press statement: “This commitment from the Cayman Islands to reveal the real people behind companies on their shores shows how company transparency is now the global standard in financial integrity. The writing is on the wall for the rest of the British Overseas Territories who will today be feeling the pressure to follow suit and announce their own plans as a matter of urgency.” She said, once public registers are brought in across all the British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, it will be much harder for the criminal and corrupt to use UK tax havens to hide and move stolen wealth. The reform of the UK public register over the next two years and new European public registers, which are due to be implemented after a review of the EU’s 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive in 2022, are likely to improve the standards of information accuracy and management. Without its commitment to public registers, Cayman would have come under growing pressure from the EU. Although immediate plans are put on hold, the introduction of public registers is expected to become a future requirement to avoid inclusion on the EU tax blacklist of jurisdictions that are deemed uncooperative in tax matters. Immigration corruption trial starts in Grand Court ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky The trial of three women accused of conspiring to defraud the government began in the Grand Court on Wednesday. The women are all alleged to have played varying roles in providing people with assistance to pass an English-language test in exchange for money. The test was administered by the then- Immigration Department, now Customs and Border Control. At the time, people coming to work in Cayman from a country where English was not the primary language had to pass a test before their respective work permits could be granted. The alleged wrongdoing is said to have occurred between March and April 2016. During his opening statements, Crown prosecutor Greg Walcolm told the jury, “Candidates were willing to pay hundreds of dollars to pass the English-language test.” The jury of five women and two men heard that in the summer of 2016, senior immigration officers became concerned that the tests were not being conducted diligently. That concern sparked an internal investigation, which was then handed over to the Anti- Corruption Commission. One of the trio on trial is a 59-year-old Caymanian woman, who at the time of the allegations held a senior role in the Immigration Department. She is accused of using her position to administer the tests and produce false passing grades. The other two women, ages 36 and 40, are both from Honduras. Neither of the women were employed by the government. They are said to have referred candidates to the immigration officer. A court order prevents Cayman Compass from releasing the names of the defendants in the case, until a verdict is reached. “Now that the UK and EU are establishing an emerging global standard for ownership registers to be public, the Cayman Islands financial services industry will work closely with the Cayman Islands Government to ensure we meet that standard also .” Cayman Finance Three women appeared in the Grand Court Wednesday to answer charges of corruption in relation to payments for English-language exams. “Candidates were willing to pay hundreds of dollars to pass the English- language test .” Greg Walcolm , Crown prosecutor Premier Alden McLaughlin cayman compass 3 news N news THURSDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2019Cayman deploys second medical team to Bahamas RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky A six-member medical team has left for the Bahamas to continue Cayman’s hurricane- relief efforts. It is the second medical ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Lelieth Monique Welcome, 36, will serve 19 months in prison for chopping a woman in the head with a meat cleaver. The incident occurred in July at a restaurant owned by Welcome and her husband. Welcome attacked the woman after she saw her husband sitting on her lap. She was charged with one count of grievous bodily harm, to which she pleaded guilty. “It is very rare that a defendant appears before the courts having ticked all the wrong boxes,” said defence attorney Crister Brady. “We have a mother of eight … who suffers from mental and personality disorders.” When delivering her sentencing judgment, Acting Justice Marlene Carter said, “This court has the arduous task of trying to balance the need for justice with the need for mercy.” A social inquiry report revealed the defendant was “beaten with a mop stick, broomstick, barbed wire, and even a frying pan”. In the report, she recalled being beaten in a bathtub as a child, while her mother stepped on her throat. The judge noted, “What we have before the courts is an abused child who grew up to become an abusive adult.” The court heard that Welcome has 29 previous convictions, five of which were assault charges, and that the incident occurred while she was serving a three-month suspended sentence. In a victim impact report, the injured woman, 22, said, “I now have a permanent scar, which is the first thing people see. It’s hard because they always ask how I got it and then I have to tell them the story.” The judge said, “You have an extensive criminal record. The social inquiry report also indicates that you do not do well with community-imposed orders.” She added, “However, you have expressed genuine remorse for your actions. You also apologised to the victim and she accepted it. Furthermore, you also entered a guilty plea during your first Grand Court appearance, for which you will receive full credit.” With a starting point of a 30-month prison sentence, the judge reduced it to 19 months. Welcome has been behind bars since the incident. She was remanded into custody, and the time already served is to be deducted from her sentence. Mother of 8 jailed for chopping woman cartoon Jake Fuller unit to be dispatched to assist the hurricane-ravaged islands after the passage of Hurricane Dorian last month. According to a Health Services Authority statement on Tuesday, Cayman’s first medical team returned last Friday at the end of a two-week deployment in the Bahamas. The second medical team departed on the same day to begin their stint. The departing team comprised Dr. Gilbertha Alexander, Dr. Obinna Eleweanya, Dr. Eryka Simmons, Dr. Peter Soltau and nurse Muhammad Abdullahi from the Health Services Authority, and nurse Shanna Grant from CTMH Doctors Hospital. The new group will continue the work of the returning team “offering clinics and medical care in Marsh Harbour, Abaco Islands, providing respite time to healthcare staff in the Bahamas to allow them to care for themselves and their families,” the HSA statement said. HSA critical care nurse Riley Ondoy, who was on the first medical relief team, said the experience was wonderful since “we received as much as we gave“. He added, “The people were friendly and very accommodating from the first day and we tried to return their kindness by providing the wholehearted service that they deserve during this tumultuous time.” Health Minister Dwayne Seymour commended the medical teams for their efforts. “I am extremely encouraged to know that despite the size of our islands compared to those around us, we positively impacted the lives of the people in the Bahamas including the healthcare staff, patients and other volunteers,” he said. CTMH Doctors Hospital head nurse Jennifer Williams said the private hospital was humbled to join the relief efforts. “This is certainly a time of need for our fellow Caribbean neighbours and we are happy to help in any way we can,” she said. HSA CEO Lizzette Yearwood said she was very proud of the initiative the returning team showed while they were on the ground in the aftermath of the disaster. “During their time in the Bahamas our staff worked diligently and compassionately with their patients and united efforts with various international organisations that were also there to assist, such as the US Coast Guard and Heart to Heart International,” Yearwood said. It is the second medical team to be dispatched to assist the hurricane- ravaged islands after the passage of Hurricane Dorian last month. Ministry of Health officials, with HSA and CTMH Doctors Hospital staff members, say farewell to the second medical team at the Owen Roberts International Airport. cayman compass 4 news N news THURSDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2019Heavy rains are leading to more mosquito breeding. Two migrants – one a Cuban man, the other an unidentified woman – have been granted asylum in the Cayman Islands after initially being denied. The Immigration Appeals Tribunal issued the rulings on 2 Oct. One of the people was denied an initial asylum request on 20 April 2017, the other on 21 Nov. 2018. The Cuban man arrived in Cayman in Jan. 2017. He had piloted a boat carrying 27 migrants. In its decision, the tribunal noted it was not necessary for asylum seekers to categorically prove their claims of persecution, only that such claims seemed reasonable, given the accounts they provided and the record of their country of origin. In this case, it noted the human rights violations laid out in a report by the US Department of State. “Taking the reference documents into consideration,” the tribunal’s letter said, “the tribunal determined that the appellant had established a genuine fear of persecution to a reasonable degree, that if he continued to stay in Cuba, given his political opinions, his past history and his influence of others, his life would be intolerable.” The decision was one of several in recent months that have granted asylum to Cuban nationals. ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky The Mosquito Research and Control Unit says it expects mosquito numbers to grow in the coming days. “We are stepping up our operations in response to the recent showers,” said MRCU director Dr James McNelly. “Those showers coincided with high tides, which has exacerbated the situation.” Plans to thwart the expected increase are already under way. First, the MRCU hopes to deploy larvicides in the ponds, swamps and pasture lands in the more-developed areas. While this is expected to put a dent in the numbers of mosquitoes, McNelly said, it won’t prevent the overall increase in the mosquito population. “There are some 9,000 acres of untouched swamps, which we do not have access to,” said McNelly. “Some of these areas are also protected wetlands and serve as an active breeding ground for mosquitoes.” Once the larvae become adult mosquitoes and they begin to fly, they will be able to target people living in North Side, Bodden Town and George Town, which will trigger phase two of the MRCU’s plan. “We will deploy our trucks and planes to release insecticides that will target the grown mosquitoes,” said McNelly. “Mosquitoes grown in buckets don’t really travel that far, maybe 200 or 300 metres. However, mosquitoes produced in the swamps are strong fliers, and can travel far, especially with the wind.” Two migrants granted asylum after appeal Wet weather brings more mosquitoes Tips to staying bite-free ■ Wear long trousers, as well as long-sleeved clothes ■ Use insect repellent with DEET. ■ Avoid going outside during peak feeding times (6-8am and 6-8pm). ■ Host event indoors where possible STEM conference shows changing world McLean: 19 Dec. ‘worst possible time’ for referendum MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky If students didn’t already know, they were told on Wednesday morning that their world is permeated by science and technology and that aspect of their world is only going to expand. “By 2018, over 70% of jobs required some STEM skills,” Bilita Mattes told a crowd of about 100 students in the University College of the Cayman Islands’ Sir Vassel Johnson Hall, referring to science, technology, engineering and math. “You can’t get away from it.” Mattes, provost and chief academic officer at Harrisburg University, in Pennsylvania, which has a partnership with UCCI, was the morning keynote speaker for the first full day of STEM Carib 2019. This is the eighth such conference UCCI has hosted. It brings in international and local speakers to talk about STEM topics with the goal to spur interest in STEM-related fields. “The world is getting smaller,” Mattes said, “and the problems that we’re facing are becoming more complex. We’re all connected. What happens here in the Caymans impacts the rest of the world.” UCCI president Stacy McAfee told students she wanted them to come away from the conference empowered with a feeling that they could help shape the constantly changing technological landscape as they pursue their eventual careers. “Technology is transforming everything we do,” McAfee said. Joshua Moore, 18, a Year 12 student at Cayman Academy, said he was hoping to get a better idea of what careers might be open to him in information technology. He got a taste of that when he attended last year’s conference, he said. “They focussed on some IT stuff, like programming, like coding, and I found that fascinating,” he said. His classmate, Richard Barrington, 17, plans to go into marine biology. But Barrington said he was looking for something else while at the conference. “I’m interested in the e-sports part of it,” said Barrington. “I like gaming.” A few years ago, that would have been considered a less- than-serious approach to a STEM career. But colleges now offer scholarships to e-sports 'athletes'. John Gray High School principal Jon Clark said the STEM conference has helped students in Cayman become aware of such changes. “This is huge,” he said of the conference. “It’s really energising for [the students]. You’ve got some industry- leading people and the workshops give them a chance to take things to another level.” The conference runs through Friday; the last day features a free Family Fun Afternoon, with science demonstrations, from 1:30-4:30pm. Opposition leader Arden McLean says government’s scheduled referendum date of 19 Dec. is the “worst possible time” to hold the historic vote. In a statement Wednesday, the Opposition urged government to reconsider when voters will have their say on the proposed $200 million cruise and cargo port project. The Opposition cited travellers heading overseas for the holidays and getting “caught up in Christmas activities” amid their main concerns. “I am utterly disappointed in the Premier’s lack of respect for the people,” McLean said in the statement. “His entire Government is complicit in this behavior, and it really puzzles me that supposedly sensible representatives who were elected to represent and advocate for their people can suddenly turn a blind eye to the abuse their Government is dishing out against their constituents.” Government announced the date last week. Premier Alden McLaughlin told the Cayman Compass the date made the most sense, pointing to the fact that schools would be finishing their terms and it would be more disruptive to hold the referendum in January. He also said those planning to leave the country for the holidays would still be able to vote. McLean, however, pointed to what he described as an “extremely short time” voters will have to apply for and be allowed to vote by postal ballots. He also took issue with the date because it would not allow for those who recently registered with the Elections Office to vote. “This was no coincidence, neither was it a question of efficiency or practicality,” he said in the statement. “The Government is deliberately attempting to pervert the referendum and manipulate the outcome. We are extremely concerned with what is clearly an attempt to deny the people a free, open and fair referendum. It is an indictment of how the Government views its constituents.” What is STEM? Science Technology Engineering Math Technology futurist Don Marinelli told a Tuesday night audience that digital-world natives are a 'different species' of human beings because they live in a different world than previous generations. His talk was the keynote opening speech for the STEM Carib 2019 conference. cayman compass 5 news N news THURSDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2019ACROSS 1 A clear soup (8) 5 Question persistently (4) 9 Concede as true (5) 10 To roar (7) 11 Stable (2,2,4,4) 13 Disgustingly dirty (6) 14 Small rounded stone (6) 17 One after another (2,10) 20 Entail (7) 21 West African river (5) 22 Traditional knowledge (4) 23 Downcast (8) DOWN 1 Pack tight (4) 2 Trifling (7) 3 Ignored (3,2,3,4) 4 Incentive (6) 6 Excessive (5) 7 Corresponding (8) 8 The very embodiment (12) 12 Authoritative (8) 15 Fetched (7) 16 Venerate (6) 18 Divide (5) 19 Barren (4) The Compass CROSSWORD PUZZLE 1234567 8 190 11 12 131415 16 1718 19 2021 2223 1234567 8 190 11 12 131415 16 1718 19 2021 2223 Puzzle 16192 YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Puzzle 16191 ACROSS: 1 Af uence, 8 Morse, 9 Granite, 10 Gander, 11 Detain, 12 Gymkhana, 15 Insolent, 18 Arable, 20 Ensign, 21 Garbage, 22 Chain, 23 Delineate. DOWN: 2 Farce, 3 Landau, 4 Entangle, 5 Embark, 6 Gradual, 7 Heartache, 11 Diligence, 13 Mata Hari, 14 As usual, 16 Legend, 17 Rabble, 19 Light. RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Cayman Islands Red Cross has closed its Cannon Place thrift shop permanently and it is appealing to the public not to leave donations at that location. Red Cross deputy director Carolina Ferreira told the Cayman Compass on Tuesday that the doors at the shop were shut on 30 Sept. and new tenants have moved in. However, she said, throughout this week items were delivered to the shop which is creating a problem for the Red Cross and those at the George Town plaza. “From the beginning, Cannon Place was never a designated donation drop-off area precisely because we know from experience that donations can pile up very quickly, and that, unfortunately, there are those who will see donated goods that are left after hours as an invitation to peruse and they will open the bags of donated items and not only steal the contents, but also pull things out and create a mess for someone else to clean up,” she said. The local charity was using the location as a temporary shop until the renovations at its headquarters on Huldah Avenue are completed. Ferreira is urging the public not to drop off the donations at that location anymore and instead contact its thrift shop manager, Remy Imperial, to schedule a pick-up. “We don't want to discourage donations from being made, as we rely on the generosity of our community to be able to make these goods available to our most vulnerable citizens, but we also have to balance this out with being respectful of this space that is not ours and the fact that we may again need to rent it out,” she added. Ferreira said donations being left unattended is not only a matter of distress for the tenants at Cannon Place, but also a reputational issue that could affect all non-government organisations locally. “We are very mindful of this as any negative experience associated with renting to the Red Cross will make it difficult for, not only the Red Cross, but any other NGO that runs a thrift shop to rent spaces in the future if their presence is seen as problematic. That is something that neither the Red Cross, nor any other NGO on island, can afford,” she added. Thrift shop manager Remy Imperial can be reached on shop@redcross.org.ky or 916-8954 to schedule a pick-up of items to be donated. Red Cross closes its Cannon Place thrift shop “We don't want to discourage donations from being made, as we rely on the generosity of our community to be able to make these goods available to our most vulnerable citizens, but we also have to balance this out with being respectful of this space that is not ours and the fact that we may again need to rent it out .” CAROLINA FERREIRA , Red Cross deputy director Red Cross Deputy Director Carolina Muniz Ferreira RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Kelly Scott Madison has been named the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism’s new US media services agency. In a statement released on Tuesday, the department announced the selection of the Chicago-based firm, but a DoT spokesperson declined to share the value of the contract that was awarded, explaining it was “competitive proprietary information”. The spokesperson added, “Following a comprehensive procurement process, with competitive bidding that followed government guidelines, the US media services contract was awarded to Kelly Scott Madison (KSM). KSM will be responsible for all media planning and buying services within the United States.” The contract was executed immediately and started this month. “As the destination’s main source market for visitation, continued growth in arrivals and awareness in the US leisure and business travel markets remains a key strategic priority for the CIDOT,” the department said in its statement. The previous contractor was New York-based BPN, the DoT said. “This change in agency comes following an open competitive tender process as defined by the Cayman Islands Public Management and Finance Law, departmental tendering policies and the Ministry of District Administration, Tourism & Transport procurement policy,” the DoT spokesperson told the Compass. Director of Tourism Rosa Harris said in the statement that by working with agency partners, the DoT is “able to be bold in our communications and marketing strategies as we move the Cayman Islands tourism business towards new initiatives that will achieve positive results and sustained growth. With KSM at the helm of our marketing and media planning, we are confident in our latest approach.” The DoT said KSM is a media and marketing agency built to drive change, that has worked with numerous travel, tourism, and destination-based organisations. “[KSM] will prove to be an invaluable asset to the Department of Tourism in meeting and exceeding the Cayman Islands’ marketing and media objectives in the years to come,” the statement said. KSM president Joni Williams welcomed the opportunity, saying, “For the Cayman Islands, we’re excited to infuse its iconic Caymankind flair into our differentiating media strategies to drive love for, and visits to, this beautiful destination.” Chicago firm selected to execute Cayman’s US marketing plans Director of Tourism Rosa Harris cayman compass 6 news cayman news N news THURSDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2019Garbage litters brown booby habitat KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia,ky Try to visualise 1,857 pounds of trash – enough to fill 87 tall kitchen trash bags. It’s the equivalent weight of about two grand pianos or two American quarter horses. It’s also the amount of trash cleared by volunteers from Cayman Brac beaches in just two days. Plastic Free Cayman teamed up with the National Trust for the Cayman Islands, Rotary Club of Cayman Brac, Beach Combers and Protect Our Future to support the island’s brown booby population by cleaning the birds’ nesting grounds. Finding plastic bottles, utensils, Styrofoam and other rubbish in these areas was the easy part. “On Saturday alone, each person carried out more than 40 pounds of ocean debris, washing up on the shores of this little island. We returned back to the same stretch of beach the following day because there was just so much of it,” said Plastic Free Cayman in an email. “The first sights of the beach invoked apocalyptic imagery,” the group said. “The beach was literally covered in plastic. It was obvious that the Caribbean has a huge waste management issue.” Teacher Bill LaMonte said volunteers worked through rain and shine, sorting through bottles, toothbrushes and shoes. The list goes on. The trip allowed Plastic Free Cayman and the National Trust to do outreach work in the Brac by visiting local schools and hosting a meet-and-greet. “[Brac students] expressed sadness that their beaches have become the landfill for ocean pollution, as their shores are covered in plastic. Cayman Brac and Little Cayman provide a buffer for Grand Cayman, collecting the trash as it flows from countries like Haiti,” LaMonte said. He added that the Brac would benefit from more support in managing the amount of waste that reaches its shores. Catherine Childs, education manager at the National Trust, explained that most of the plastic waste in Cayman Brac was not generated there. Much of the trash results from poor waste- management and environmental practices elsewhere. “Instead, it washes ashore from other countries that have few garbage-collection services. The real culprits though are the corporations that should be doing a better job of using biodegradable materials,” Childs said. “Even though the trash didn't originate in Cayman, it's on our shorelines now and we must take the initiative to deal with the problem beyond a few dedicated volunteers. The problem is so big, it will require a larger initiative to address.” One of the most notable impacts of the Brac’s plastic problem has been on the brown booby population. Childs said the birds have been seen incorporating plastic into their nests and that the seabirds are at risk of ingesting the material. “When birds eat plastic, it may puncture their internal organs, block their digestive tract, or their stomachs may become filled with this undigestible material, leading eventually to starvation,” Childs said. To support the Brac’s community and environment, student Dejea Lyons, 16, encouraged residents of Grand Cayman to remember their neighbours. “The Brac and Little are often called our ‘sister islands,’ but we are all of Cayman and we must fight to protect the future of ALL three islands. Not everyone understands this, as they try to divide us,” Lyons wrote. Nearly one ton of plastics cleared from Brac beaches 1,857 Pounds of trash removed from Brac beaches in two-day clean-up Volunteers worked through rain and shine to clean a brown booby nesting habitat in the Brac. Brown boobies in Cayman Brac are seen among the plastic waste. Did you know? In 2018, the Department of Environmental Health reported collection of 50,079 tons of waste in the Cayman Islands. In 2012, that number was 22,947 tons Source: Compendium of Statistics 2018 cayman compass 7 news N news THURSDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2019JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Infrastructure Minister Joey Hew is one of the key government figures charged with leading Cayman’s response to the economic and environmental threat posed by sargassum. He sat down with the Cayman Compass to talk about government’s plans. How serious do you believe this sargassum issue is for Cayman? We take it seriously. There is a discomfort level that affects most people. Not being able to drive with your windows open in Bodden Town and South Sound. We haven’t seen evidence of a real health threat but everyone knows the smell can be unbearable. Earlier this year, the Department of Environmental Health tested air quality, specifically hydrogen sulphide levels, and all samples analysed were below the World Health Organization air quality threshold and slightly above the value that causes odour annoyance. Then of course there is an economic threat when it comes to tourism. You see Miami Beach in Florida, Mexico and other Caribbean islands are having challenges with large influxes of sargassum. Thankfully, we have only had minimal influxes on Seven Mile Beach but it just takes a change in sea current and wind conditions to change the situation. We have established contacts with other regional groups with a view to share best practices and identify strategies to manage the sargassum. How has the NiCE clean-up and the extension to that programme gone? We collected 200 tons during the NiCE programme and probably the same again since that time. We kept a crew of six people for an additional two weeks and they used a combination of manual labour and machinery to clear several beaches across Grand Cayman. The sargassum was backed up along South Sound. Once we started to clear it from by the boardwalk, the mound that was piled up in the bay started to come ashore, so they just kept cleaning it up. It is a domino reaction. Once it piled up on the beach and no more could come ashore, it backed up and spread down the coast. When we cleared the beach, it washed ashore. So we know for future years that we have to clear the beach quickly and it won’t back up like that. What is the long-term plan? We learned a lot during the NiCE programme. It was a fantastic opportunity to see how the different sargassum management approaches worked. Now we have a better idea of what can work, how many people we need, what types of equipment we need. This gives us a lot of information which will assist us to be proactive next year. We will continue to deal with it this year as it comes along. The worst is past at the moment. The Sargassum Task Force is working on a comprehensive plan for next year. We were behind the ball this time but we will be ready for it next year. Is that likely to involve a full-time crew? I think there will be a seasonal crew to deal with that. We have to get extra bodies in. That’s what they are looking at. A lot of it is machine work but once you get through that it is a case of dealing with it by hand. Currently, the Recreation, Parks and Cemeteries Unit and Public Works Department staff are continuing the sargassum clean-up effort which involves monitoring and clean up on Crown properties. Is there any way to forecast when sargassum will arrive? I don’t think we can predict exactly when it will arrive. We can use drones and link with pilots to know when the mats of it are out there and if we know the wind conditions, we have a better idea of where it may come ashore. With a bit of common sense and watching the weather we can be better prepared. Also, our Department of Environment is in communication with our regional colleagues who provide information to us on trends, projections and what to expect. What are the impacts that you have seen so far in terms of tourism? It has affected some popular swim sites but Seven Mile Beach, it hasn’t been affected terribly; North Sound, it has not impacted terribly. East End has had quite a bit. The hotels there have their own crews and they take care of it. The Department of Environment have been working with them on best practice and cleaning it up. One of the other unintended consequences is if you don’t do this right you remove sand and you are enabling beach erosion so we are working with those properties that have to do daily cleaning on best practice to ensure we don’t have that problem. Is there an economic impact, too, from clearing it? It is a huge economic impact, for those hotels, for the parks department, for government. We have had to invest in equipment and manpower. There is an environmental impact, too, on turtle nesting. In areas like South Sound the turtles can’t make it through there. It looks like this problem will be a seasonal issue. How do you see it developing? I think we have to look at ways to get business involved and to make use of it. There are a couple of hotels looking at barriers and the DoE is working with them to see if that can work. There are a few private investors who have displayed an interest in harvesting at sea. What we have said is that we support any investor that goes into the business of harvesting or manufacturing anything with the sargassum, whether it’s through permit concessions or duty waivers or whatever it might be. At the end of the day you just cannot win a battle against Mother Nature; you have got to work with her and make the best of the situation. issues SARGASSUM INVASION Q&A Interview: Minister Joey Hew “Next year, we will be ready” A government worker uses mechanical equipment to clear sargassum from a beach in South Sound earlier this year. Minister Joey Hew meets with beach cleaners during the NiCE programme earlier this year. Sargassum action plan Sargassum Task Force established involving multiple government departments and agencies Department of Agriculture evaluating potential of composting sargassum Department of Environment advising on beach clean-up and protecting turtle nests Department of Environmental Health monitoring air quality impacts Seasonal crew to help keep beaches clear next summer cayman compass 8 I issues THURSDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2019E & E Mobile needs (2) MOBILE Car detailers 4yrs Experience Call 927-2655 Salary $250 weekly Benefits as required by law Vampt Motors Ltd. invites applications from qualified candidates for the position of: Warranty Administrator Requirements for this position include: • Minimum of 5 years automobile dealership experience in service processing, cashiering, vehicle warranty processing & coding, and scanning • Knowledge of the Ford and Toyota warranty system (OWS) Crown21 and vehicle manufacturing recall process • Strong organization skill and ability to multi task • Attention to detail and problem solving skill • Must be computer literate – Windows XP, Excel and Power Point with expertise in CDK System considered an asset • Excellent communication skills in English are a must, both written and spoken. • Will require working extended hours • Clean police record and valid driver’s license Benefits packages includes: Salary commensurate with experience from $25,000- $30,000 per annum plus, contributory health plan and pension. All interested candidates should apply in writing to P.O. Box 686, Grand Cayman KY1-1107, Cayman Islands. Attention: Service Manager Dwainey Construction Ltd. Carpenter/Mason with over 10 years exp. Salary $12 per hour plus standard benefits P.O. Box 2869, KY1-1112 Six Senses CAYMAN ADVENTURES Powerboat Captain/ Tour Narrator 3 years experience, over 25, clean driving license. Must have local knowledge of the marine Eco systems. CI$10 p/h + tips + Medical + Pension Email: info@caymansix- senses.com We care Janitorial seeking a Janitorial Worker with 5 years minimum exp. CI$6 p/hr + standard benefits P.O Box 707, KY1-1303 Supreme Builders Construction seeking 2 Masons. Over 8 yrs exp. Salary range CI$6 - 8 p/h + all benefits as per law. Contact: lencon1967 bailey @gmail.com CK’s Deep Clean Janitorial & Maid Services Janitor 5 yrs exp. $6 per hour & benefits as per labour law. kashenaSmith.KS@gmail.com Banks Construction Seeking Painter Helper with over 1 years exp. Salary CI$6.50 per hour Statutory Benefits provided Call: 323-1052 L & D Construction Seeking: Labourer With 1-3 yrs exp. CI$10.00 p/hr. + 40 hours work week + Statutory Benefits P.O. Box 1650, KY1-1109 or 929-1208 Employment Vacancies Oceans International Ltd Operators of the live aboard dive yacht Cayman Aggressor IV Is currently seeking male or female employees for the following position Dive Master/Chef Must be OWSI with a recognized agency (SSI, SDI, PADI) and have STCW95 rating. Previous experience preferred Duties include but not limited to dive master and general crew. Underwater photo/video experience a plus. Must be a trained chef. Must have food hygiene certification. Applicants should be comfortable working and living on the ocean for up to eight (8) weeks at a time and in confined quarters Salary US$400 per week plus room and board, gratuities, commissions, health, pension and uniforms Caymanians, status holders or legal residents preferred Please submit current CV/photo and cover letter to: Ca4office@gmail.com or call 916 3237 for more information MARINE YARD AND HULL WORKER/ BOAT DETAILER-MAINTENANCE Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals for the position of Boat Detailer/Maintenance Person. Applicants must have experience in boat detailing, antifouling and general hull maintenance. Must have good communication skills, be dependable, neat and be able to work Monday – Saturday. Salary Ranging from CI $ 10.00 – S18.00 per hour depending on experience Plus: Pension/Health/Sick Leave/Vacation. Apply in writing to: Scotts Marine Limited. PO Box 12084 Grand Cayman KY1-1010 Glitz and Glam Fashion Ltd. Seeking: Sales Clerk/Purchasing Clerk Min. 4 yrs exp. CI$10 per hr. + ben. P.O Box 30432, KY1-1202 Security Sources Ltd. needs Security Guards over 25yrs old w/ 6 yrs exp. clean police record $6 p/hr + standard benefits P.O Box 31788, KY1-1207 Prestige Janitorial Service Seeking a Janitor with 2-3 years exp. Able to work weekends CI$6.00 p/hr. + Standard Benefits P.O. Box 1524, KY1-1110 9Next >