cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Friday, 18 October 2019 News MRCU to work on dengue mosquito eradication strategy Page 10 Business Bermuda to accept digital currency Page 20 Plans for new West Bay police station News | Page 12 Tackling Trashmore Work to begin on capping unsightly landfill. See page 4 Instructors of disabled divers share knowledge News | Page 8 Cayman among the least family friendly of developed countries Issues | Page 14• 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 admit- ted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. - FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) ABOMINABLE (PG) (FRI) 12:30 | 2:55 3D | 5:20 | 7:45 (SAT) 10:05 | 12:30 | 2:55 3D | 5:20 | 7:45 (SUN) 2:30 3D | 5:00 | 7:25 | 9:50 ADDAMS FAMILY, THE (2019) (PG) 3:55 | 9:05 (FRI & SUN) | 10:35 (SAT) 1:10 3D (FRI-SAT) | 6:30 3D GEMINI MAN (PG13) 9:25 VIP 3D (FRI-SAT) | 9:40 VIP 3D (SUN) 10:10 (SAT) | 1:00 (FRI-SAT) 4:10 (FRI-SAT) | 6:40 (FRI-SAT) (SUN) 4:15 | 6:50 VIP | 7:10 | 8:40 | 10:00 JOKER (R) (FRI) 12:45 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 9:50 (SAT) 11:25 | 2:15 | 5:05 | 9:05 MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL (PG) (FRI) 12:40 | 3:30 3D | 6:25 | 9:15 (SAT) 11:00 VIP | 12:40 3:30 3D | 6:25 | 9:15 (SUN) 2:45 3D | 3:35 | 4:00 VIP 5:35 3D | 6:25 | 9:15 ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP (R) (FRI) 1:45 VIP | 3:50 | 7:00 VIP 9:30 | 10:10 KIDS CLUB LILO & STITCH (PG) (SAT) 10 AM CULTURE @ THE CINEMA ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS (R) (SAT) 8:00 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: 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” Mainly fair skies with a 20% chance of showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 90°F HIGH 78°F LOW WINDS East to southeast at 5 to 10 knots. SEA STATE Smooth to slight with wave heights of less than 2 feet. MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky Member of the Legislative Assembly Kenneth Bryan said during a press conference on Thursday that the upcoming cruise port referendum is a unique opportunity for gauging public opinion on other topics. Bryan said he plans to have stations set up outside each polling station on 19 Dec., the date set by government for the referendum. He said those choosing to participate in the poll will be asked six questions, two each on three topics: gambling, same-sex unions and ganja. He’s calling the effort the ‘Cayman Voice National Survey’ and, so far, he is mounting the campaign on his own. “I came to the conclusion it would be a perfect opportunity to survey the people on a number of questions,” Bryan said. “Many voters will be in one place at the same time, already in the mindset to address a serious topic.” He said he asked government leaders about putting the questions on the referendum ballot but has had no response. His poll would pose the following questions: • Should the Cayman Islands legalise a national lottery? • Should the Cayman Islands legalise casinos? • Should the Cayman Islands legalise same-sex marriages? • Should the Cayman Islands legalise same-sex unions? • Should the Cayman Islands decriminalise marijuana, better known as ganja? • Should the Cayman Islands legalise marijuana, better known as ganja? While the topics he’s addressing in the survey have generated discussion across the islands, Bryan said no official survey of voter sentiment has been taken. “We have made much assumptions on the public viewpoint on these topics,” he said. “I believe most people are still opposing same-sex marriage, but I can’t say that (with confidence).” He said he is hoping to get a sample size of at least 10,000 respondents. Tents will be set up 300 feet away from each of Cayman’s 19 polling sites including, he hopes, the ones on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Participants will be given an electronic tablet with the questions on a touch screen. Only registered voters will be allowed to take the survey. No personal information will be collected, he said, and results will only be released after the referendum vote is announced. Bryan said he anticipates the survey will cost $30,000 to conduct. He’s determined to carry it out “even if it means I have to get a loan myself”, he said. He is making a plea for 80 to 90 volunteers to come forward to help. “If you are interested in democracy and you feel this is a good exercise,” “please, please, please reach out to us,” he said. Because 50% plus 1 of registered voters must vote no on the referendum’s question, those who don’t vote are essentially registering a yes for going ahead with the cruise berthing and cargo port project. “Whether you’re for the port, against the port or don’t care at all, I want you to come out,” Bryan said. Bryan does not appear to have the support of fellow members of the opposition group. “I’d rather not tell you why they’re not involved,” he said. Alva Suckoo, deputy leader of the opposition, issued a statement through his assistant saying he had no comment on the matter. Bryan said survey participants will qualify for a raffle where a $2,000 cash prize and $3,000 in other prizes will be awarded. “At the end of the day, my job is to serve the people of this country,” Bryan said. “This, in my opinion, is the best way to do so.” Bryan proposes national survey “Many voters will be in one place at the same time, already in the mindset to address a serious topic.” Kenneth Bryan , George Town Central MLA MLA Kenneth Bryan wants to conduct a national survey in conjunction with the cruise port referendum vote on 19 Dec. 2One- to four-bedroom properties available. Contact us or visit our Sales & Presentation Centre located in Camana Bay. *The figures stated above are only estimates and are not indicative of confirmed savings. Developed by 5-Star Award recipient Best Sustainable Residential Development 2019 International Property Awards, Americas +1.345.640.OLEA olea@camanabay.com camanabay.com/olea 2019-2020 SAVE UP TO $142,000 * ON STAMP DUTY by 31 December 2019 cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2019Work to begin on capping unsightly landfill JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Work to cap and cover Mount Trashmore – Grand Cayman’s infamous landfill site – will begin early next year, according to a joint statement from government and the Dart group. An environmental impact assessment on the wider waste-management project, which will feature a suite of new facilities, including a waste-to-energy plant, recycling and composting centres and a much smaller lined landfill site, is also set to begin. The two organisations are still finalising the full contract for the Cayman Islands’ new waste-management system. A consortium led by Dart’s construction firm Decco was announced as the preferred bidder on the project two years ago. Since then, Dart has been in protracted negotiations with government over the details of a 25-year contract to take over responsibility for waste management. cartoon No Play - By Caymanman Though that deal has yet to be finalised, Dart and government say they are now in a position to begin capping the existing landfill - dubbed ‘Mount Trashmore’ because of its unsightly presence towering over George Town and its visibility to arriving aircraft and cruise ships. “As negotiations continue to progress between the Decco Consortium and the Cayman Islands Government, we are pleased to confirm that capping and covering the main mound at the current landfill is expected to start early next year and that the Terms of Reference for the Environmental Impact Assessment was submitted to the Environmental Assessment Board this month,” Dart and government said in a statement this week, following multiple requests for information. Citing the fact that the policy and strategy of the Integrated Solid Waste Management System had already gone through public consultation, government and Dart said the EIA would focus on the design and impact of the new facilities. These are said to include a waste-to-energy facility, material recovery facility, a green waste composting facility, a construction and demolition waste facility, and a household waste recycling centre, as well as a bottom ash processing facility, an end-of-life vehicle and scrap metal processing facility. The Environmental Assessment Board is expected to complete its review of the draft terms of reference for that study in the coming weeks. The EIA will also look at long-term remediation options for the landfill. Both entities acknowledged the process from the announcement of Dart as preferred bidder on 11 Oct. 2017 had been drawn out. “Although negotiations have taken longer than initially anticipated, the extended consultation period is not unusual for contracts of this scale and complexity. Dart and the Cayman Islands Government are equally committed to ensuring that ISWMS solution be implemented in a timely manner while representing a long-term, environmentally sustainable and value for money solution for the country,” the statement noted. To facilitate capping and covering the main mound of the landfill site, the statement indicated tipping operations will be moved to lower areas of the existing landfill where there is said to be sufficient capacity to contain the country’s waste until the planned facilities are fully operational. Toppling Mount Trashmore The George Town landfill is estimated to be at least 60 feet high. A consortium led by Dart’s construction firm Decco was announced as the preferred bidder on the project two years ago . Johnson gets EU Brexit deal Next hurdle is Parliament BRUSSELS (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's career of disdain for the European Union was a thing of the past on Thursday as he and the bloc's leaders celebrated their long-sought Brexit deal. He now faces an opponent closer to home: his own Parliament. With the ink barely dry on the proposal and Johnson still happily backslapping EU leaders at a summit in Brussels, a chorus of British party leaders said they would vote against the deal. Crucially, the Northern Irish party that supports Johnson's minority government also stood opposed, leaving the prime minister uncertain of getting the votes he needs to ratify the agreement. After an intense week of talks and with only two weeks to go until Britain's scheduled departure on 31 Oct., European Commission President Jean- Claude Juncker broke the tension with a tweet Thursday morning: "We have one! It's a fair and balanced agreement for the EU and the UK and it is testament to our commitment." The deal found a way to avoid a hard border between Ireland, an EU member, and the UK's Northern Ireland. It crucially also lays a path for Britain's orderly departure, which Britons approved in a referendum more than three years ago. European leaders unanimously endorsed the proposal on Thursday, formally sending it to the British Parliament, which will consider it in a special session Saturday. All the major British opposition parties condemned the agreement, and Johnson's key ally, Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, also said its lawmakers would oppose it. "It seems the prime minister has negotiated an even worse deal than Theresa May's, which was overwhelmingly rejected," Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said. 4 news N newscayman compass 5 FRIDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2019Growing Our Economy Safeguarding Our Tourism Protecting Our People supPORTOurTourism.com BE INFORMED Jobs and Income for Caymanian Families Generations of Caymanians have worked hard over many decades to develop cruise tourism in the Cayman Islands and the cruise berthing facility will help to grow and sustain this industry for generations to come. The berthing facility will also help to create new entrepreneurship and service provider opportunities for Caymanians and Caymanian- owned businesses for decades into the future. Expanding Our Cargo Port for the Future When our cargo port was built 42 years ago the population of the Cayman Islands was 14,800, and around 50,000 tons of cargo was handled annually. Today our population has increased to almost 66,000, and the port is now handling in excess of 300,000 tons of cargo annually – over 500% more than it was built for. As our demand for cargo increases, the bottleneck at the port will tighten if we do not take action to upgrade and expand this important lifeline of our island nation. A Better Pedestrian Experience George Town is the heart of business activity in the Cayman Islands and the cruise berthing facility and modernised cargo port are key elements in the efforts to revitalise our capital city. The George Town revitalisation initiative will integrate with this project to provide improved traffic flows, sidewalks, lighting and parking. The cruise berthing facility will also allow the arrival of ships to be spread more consistently and will provide more space for tour operators to meet passengers dockside. This will ensure that cruise passenger numbers are effectively managed away from the waterfront, providing a less intrusive and more enjoyable pedestrian experience that is not limited to cruise passengers but to all who work, shop or reside in the downtown area. George Town Is the Best Place to Build This Government has considered many possible scenarios and is satisfied that constructing a cruise terminal with two piers in George Town harbour is the best option for our people, country and environment. George Town is a working harbour and its marine habitat is already impacted from cruise and cargo vessels going back and forth over the years. Building the piers elsewhere on island would require impacting a pristine environment and the construction of land-based infrastructure, such as shops and amenities. Minimising Risk to Our Environment Government is keenly aware that our natural environment is vital to our Islands’ tourism product and is doing everything possible to protect it. The Environmental Impact Assessment states that there will be no harm to Seven Mile Beach, which was a major concern that has now been settled. The new design requires no dredging in Hog Sty Bay and the piers will be built on pilings to allow the sea and marine life to move freely underneath. No Risk to Our Country’s Finances The cruise berthing facility project costs less than CI$200 million and includes upgrading and expanding our cargo port to meet the needs of our growing population. Government has not provided any loans or bonds for this project; all of the financial risk falls to Verdant Isle Port Partners, not on the people of the Cayman Islands. Our children’s futures are not being mortgaged and the country’s finances are not at risk as a result of this project. Cayman Islands Port Authority Management The Cayman Islands already has the people, businesses, attractions and suppliers in place which is a testament to Caymanian entrepreneurial spirit. These are the experiences that make the Cayman Islands attractive to visitors and are considered George Town’s upland development. Therefore, the cruise berthing facility will not have any retail shops operated by the cruise lines. All commercial space in the cruise terminal will continue to be owned and managed by the Cayman Islands Port Authority. To access information related to the cruise berthing project, please visit the Support our Tourism website or connect with us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/supPORTourTourism. cayman compass 6 FRIDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2019DREDGE DEPTH -11m CD T -11 DREDGEDEPHCD RORO RAMP supPORTOurTourism.com KNOW THE FACTS All materials from Marine Excavation will be used for landside construction - no offshore dumping The wreck of the Balboa will be moved and be more accessible to divers South pier moved an additional 350 ft north and is now 660 ft away from Eden Rock In 2016/2017 Verdant Isles coral relocation partner (Polaris) successfully relocated large sections of limestone reef and damaged corals in West Bay and Eden Rock with an 89% success rate after two years EDEN ROCK 31.3% decrease in total dredge volume 11.3 % decrease in total dredge footprint 27% increase in cargo area 5.3 % increase in total cruise facility about the new design compared to the 2015 layout The new design moves the piers to deeper waters, minimising impact to the environment while still delivering a world class cruise terminal and modernised cargo port. BE INFORMED CHEESEBURGER REEF EXISTING CARGO PORT 2015 DESIGN NEW DESIGN LEGEND cayman compass 7 FRIDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2019cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2019 Instructors of disabled divers share knowledge MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky A group of scuba instructors who focus on teaching disabled people to dive were in Cayman this week, sharing information on this diving specialty and the techniques they use. Jim Gatacre, of California, who founded the Handicapped Scuba Association in 1981, headed the small conference of six instructors who came from the US, Canada and Brazil. “I wanted to catch all this knowledge before it disappears,” Gatacre said of his fellow instructors. “I wanted to come to Sunset House because I felt it was appropriate.” Gatacre trained Sunset House’s general manager Mike Pinnington as an instructor for the disabled in 1992. The service Gatacre and his association provide is “absolutely critical”, Pinnington said. Once a year, Sunset House hosts a group of young disabled divers from the US, through the Stay-Focused programme. Beyond that, Pinnington said, the hotel and dive operation only get an occasional handicapped diver. He thinks there is potential for more. Right now, he said, Sunset House does not have handicapped-accessible rooms, but he intends such rooms to be part of a current renovation project. “When I know how many handicapped-accessible rooms we have, we would target that market,” he said. “There is a tremendous amount of handicapped divers out there and they want to travel. We want everybody to get in the water, whether able bodied or not.” Gatacre started teaching disabled people to dive in 1975 when he was a student at the University of California. He was studying the importance of self-image and as a research project, he put five paraplegics through a scuba training course, along with some able- bodied divers. He was amazed at the results for both groups. “It changed my direction,” he said. Gatacre, whose right arm is partially paralysed from an accident when he was 30, formed his association a few years later and quickly got support from other diving organisations. It now has 4,000 members in 45 countries. Conference attendee Mel Pasley, of California, has been teaching disabled veterans to dive since 2008. A soldier with the US Army for 36 years, Pasley did combat tours in Iraq in 2006 and 2007. He is disabled himself and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. “I got certified strictly to teach disabled veterans,” he said. The conference is a benefit because of the shared knowledge, he said, adding he has been trying for several years to devise a harness for disabled divers. One of the other attendees, he said, showed him one he developed that Pasley thinks he’ll be able to use with his divers. Qualdriplegic Daryl Rock, of Ottawa, Canada, said the Handicapped Scuba Association had opened a new world for him. “It’s allowed me to engage in a sport I thought I’d never be able to do,” he said. “It’s about being able to explore a part of the world not a lot of people get to explore. I love that I can get underwater and engage with that world.” Hubert Chretien, left, and Mel Pasley help disabled diver Daryl Rock, seated, prepare to enter the water for a dive at Sunset House on Thursday. “It’s allowed me to engage in a sport I thought I’d never be able to do . ” Daryl Rock , diverANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky A man facing attempted rape and indecent assault charges denied the allegations in Grand Court on Thursday. Shortly after the prosecution wrapped up its case against the Jamaican man, he took the stand to give his version of events that transpired on the morning of 3 Sept. 2018. The court heard that at around 10am, the man, who owns a janitorial company, went to pick up a woman whom he employed as a cleaner, and drop her to a job site in Prospect. The man says he was aware that the woman’s permit was due to expire on that day but said his role in the renewing of permits was very limited. “I’m not an office man,” said the defendant. “I did know her permit was due to expire on the Monday (3 Sept. 2018), because I signed off on documents the Saturday before.” The woman alleges that while at the job site, the defendant demanded sex as payment before he would renew her permit. She told the court when she refused, he grabbed her, threw her on a bed and tried to rape her. However, she said she fought back and was able to escape. The defendant told the court he had never attempted to have sex with the woman, nor did he ever indecently assault her. The trial continues. Man denies attempted rape charges “We are really trying to bring in as many local resources as we can . ” Barry Loudermilk , Orion Group “I did know her permit was due to expire on the Monday (3 Sept. 2018), because I signed off on documents the Saturday before.” Defendant n Lee and Alex Saviuk ACROSS 1 Meeting of spiritualists (6) 4 Slip by (6) 9 Gain victory (7) 10 Snake poison (5) 11 Subsequently (5) 12 Certainly (2,5) 13 Likely to succeed (2-3-6) 18 Contain (7) 20 A cotton thread (5) 22 Out of condition (5) 23 Country in Eastern Europe (7) 24 Accompany as guard (6) 25 Servile follower (6) DOWN 1 Furnish (6) 2 Proficient (5) 3 Annoyance (7) 5 Very angry (5) 6 Flightless sea bird (7) 7 Antagonism (6) 8 Freedom to act at will (5,6) 14 Peaceable (7) 15 Mosquito-borne fever (7) 16 Desuetude (6) 17 Leafstalk vegetable (6) 19 Absolute (5) 21 Glib (5) PUZZLE 1234567 8 910 1112 131415 1617 18192021 2223 2425 1234567 8 910 1112 131415 1617 18192021 2223 2425 YESTERDAY'S SOLUTIONS Puzzle 16196 ACROSS: 1 Pinnace, 5 Moped, 8 Powerlessness, 9 Loose, 10 Panache, 11 Obtuse, 12 Abrupt, 15 Bewitch, 17 Usage, 19 All in good time, 20 Disco, 21 Tyranny. DOWN: 1 Pupil, 2 New South Wales, 3 Airless, 4 Exempt, 5 Mason, 6 Preoccupation, 7 Dissent, 11 On board, 13 Blunder, 14 Throat, 16 Tango, 18 Elegy. 9 Verdant Isle group to host port project job fair RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Verdant Isle consortium is set to host a job fair at the end of this month to lay the groundwork for its workforce for the proposed $200 million cruise berthing and cargo dock. Barry Loudermilk, director of business development at the Orion Group, told the Cayman Compass Wednesday that the aim of the fair is to locally fill short- and long- terms jobs for the project. “Our goal anywhere we go is to maximise our local content,” Loudermilk said. “We are really trying to bring in as many local resources as we can.” While Loudermilk agreed many of the jobs hinge on the outcome of the 19 Dec. referendum on the project, he said the consortium is moving ahead with its plans for the project even with the possibility of an adverse outcome hanging over their heads. “The referendum is not affecting our strategy; we are fully prepared that if the people of Grand Cayman say no to this port, we will walk away from it, no harm, no foul, and we will still be friends. Orion Marine and Carnival Cruise Line have been a part of this society for a long time,” he said. He said a target of 200 jobs had been set and “we believe we can reach that”. Loudermilk said there are employment options available in all aspects of the project. “There is a lot of opportunity for the coral relocation for divers, boat captains, mud mixers and the construction aspect. We are going to have rod busters, still fixers, carpenters, labourers, boat captains, and that list will be provided in the coming days,” he said. He said the job fair, scheduled for 29 Oct., will also look at providing permanent jobs for those interested in working within the corporate structure of consortium partners. “The Orion group will have a facility set up at the venue, as well as McAlpine, Carnival and Royal. I believe Royal is doing an entrepreneurship programme [and will offer] jobs both long term and short term. People [will be] coming to talk to them [attendees] about coming to work for their corporate structure on the [cruise] lines themselves,” he added. The job fair, he said, will offer a two-fold opportunity for the public. “We are going to discuss construction jobs,” he said. “We are going to be bringing a good demand for construction jobs between McAlpine and ourselves and, hopefully, people can come and we can discuss and educate people on the plan. I will be there to answer any questions for the people regarding the plan, the cargo facilities, specifications.” Should the project get off the ground, Loudermilk said, there will be opportunities for an estimated 500 jobs in the long run. “The consortium will have a 25-year maintenance contract so there will be opportunities for that programme, that’s Orion McAlpine,” he said. “For the rest of the consortium for cruise and cargo, there is going to be a lot of full-time jobs because we going to have to [get] lots of folks to take care of the people coming off the ships at the restaurants [and] bars, and there’s capacity for drivers and tour operators. There will be lots of job opportunities.” Barry Loudermilk of Orion Marine Group.Next >