cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism | Wednesday, 13 November 2019 News Police launch recruitment drive Page 7 Living St. Ignatius presents ‘Matilda the Musical’ Page 10 Ramsay-Hale appointed to Grand Court Page 5 Premier’s father passes away Page 3 Cayman Airways pilot Giselah Ebanks. BUSINESS WOMEN in SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS ACROSS THE CI WORKFORCE. New digital forensic hub on the cards Page 8 Free inside: Women in Business Special feature Ramsay-Hale appointed to Grand Court “I do believe that most, if not all, of the aforementioned (changes) will remain part of that package. We shall see,” McLaughlin said. He said that none of changes should be a cause for undue concern. “They are aimed squarely at strengthening our Constitution in key areas, given the maturity and confidence in ourselves that our Islands have shown over the past 60 years,” he added. The premier called on his fellow legislators to put aside partisan politics and support the changes when they are brought to the House for debate. • 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) COUNTDOWN (PG13) 12:30 | 2:50 | 5:10 | 7:30 | 9:55 VIP DOCTOR SLEEP (R) 12:25 | 12:45 VIP | 3:45 | 6:35 | 10:00 HARRIET (PG13) 3:45 | 7:05 | 9:50 MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL (PG) 1:00 | 6:40 | 9:30 PLAYING WITH FIRE (PG) 12:20 | 2:45 | 4:05 VIP | 5:10 | 7:35 | 10:00 TERMINATOR: DARK FATE (R) 12:50 | 3:50 | 10:00 MUSIC @ THE CINEMA SHAKIRA IN CONCERT: DORADO WORLD TOUR 7:00 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” Partly cloudy skies with a 30% chance of showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 85°F 75°F HIGH LOW WINDS Northeast at 10 to 15 knots. SEA STATE Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. Premier Alden McLaughlin delivers his budget speech in the Legislative Assembly on Friday. RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The UK is set to issue its proposal in response to government’s constitutional changes package. Premier Alden McLaughlin, speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, said government has managed to get things “unstuck”. “I am awaiting an imminent letter from Lord [Tariq] Ahmad on the final package of changes that has now been approved. Much time has passed since those initial conversations and those that ensued earlier this year. However, once I have the letter and the approved changes, I will advise this Honourable House and the public,” McLaughlin said in his budget statement. Talks on the issue of constitutional changes began last year. It was triggered by the UK parliament’s decision to impose beneficial ownership registers on overseas territories. Cayman and other overseas territories protested what they described as the overreach of the UK parliament to legislate for them. Last December, McLaughlin had indicated that the constitutional talks with the UK had progressed well. However, the political upheaval in the UK over Brexit stymied continued efforts. Now, it appears the ball is rolling on the issue once again. “This is important not just to insulate ourselves against unwarranted interference and overreach by parliament in the UK, but also to ensure that we maintain the ability to grow our economy and control our own political future. “And we were able to be persuasive across a number of necessary changes, some of which I will mention below,” the premier said in his statement. He pointed out that the changes are principally aimed at limiting the ability of the UK to interfere locally. He said the main items proposed by government had some form of initial agreement, but he added that he is awaiting the approved package. Cayman has proposed safeguards to clarify that it has autonomy with respect to domestic affairs, clarification regarding Her Majesty’s Reserve Powers as noted in Section 125 of the Cayman Islands Constitution, and abolishing the power of the governor to disallow legislation passed in the Legislative Assembly. The changes also call for the establishment of a new Police Service Commission, renaming the Legislative Assembly to Parliament and abolishing the requirement for the governor to approve Standing Orders made by the House. Premier: Proposed Cayman/UK constitutional changes ‘unstuck’ RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Governor Martyn Roper said the relationship between the UK and Cayman Islands is strong, despite a tumultuous year of blows to the bonds that bind the two. Roper made the comment as he delivered the Throne Speech Friday at the formal opening of the Legislative Assembly. “The UK/Cayman relationship is strong based on partnership and mutual respect. A highly successful visit by [Their Royal Highnesses] the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall and two ministerial visits underlined our enduring bonds,” Roper said. However, last year and well into this year, those bonds that bind these islands to the UK appeared strained, with a push by the British parliament for the imposition of public beneficial ownership registers and the release of the Foreign Affairs Committee report on the future of the UK/ overseas territories relationship. The report sparked protests across British Overseas Territories as it called for voting rights and the right to hold political office for UK and overseas territories citizens. It also called for legalising same- sex marriages in overseas territories. The UK government, in its response to the report, outlined that it was working with the territories on dealing with some of the issues highlighted by the Foreign Affairs Committee. However, it left matters of political determinations like belongership to the elected governments of each territory. Roper, in his speech, also touched on the issue of constitutional change which the Cayman Islands government has been pursuing since last year. “We have had constructive discussions on a good and sensible package of constitutional changes to modernise and update our relationship. I hope these can soon be concluded,” the governor said. As the UK heads to the polls for its general election, Roper pledged to keep the Cayman flag flying. “I will continue to do my utmost to support the prosperity and security of the islands, not least at a time of change and uncertainty as the UK government holds an election on 12 December and navigates a complicated exit from the European Union,” he said. Roper also said that the Cayman Islands Economics and Statistics Office is set to conduct the 2020 population and housing census late next year. He said those findings will be used “to inform policy and decision making in the public sector and business”. Roper: Strong relations between UK, Cayman 2Premier's father dies at age 93 RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Alden McNee McLaughlin Sr., father of Premier Alden McLaughlin, has passed away. McLaughlin, 93, who was Cayman’s first formally trained public health officer, died on Monday following a long illness, according to an Office of the Premier statement. Premier McLaughlin and his father, who shared the same name, had a strong bond and the younger McLaughlin frequently referred publicly to his father’s words of wisdom in speeches and interviews. In an interview with Grand Cayman magazine in 2017, the premier credited his father with instilling him with ambition and getting him to pursue further education. “I have my father more than anyone else to thank,” McLaughlin said in the interview. “I don’t remember how it came about, but I told him I was going to stay with Texaco. He was so upset. He sat down and he reasoned with me, argued with me, over many weeks. I said, ‘No, Dad, I don’t want to go back to school again. I’ve had enough of that.’ Up until that point, I’d only seen him cry once, when his mother died in August of 1970. The man broke down. I didn’t know what to do. But I was very stubborn, a trait I’d inherited from him.” He shared in that interview that his father used to tell him, ‘My boy, you cannot see it yet, but take it from me: The day is coming in Cayman when you’re going to need a degree to drive a garbage truck,’” said McLaughlin. “That’s why he was so adamant.” The elder McLaughlin can easily be described as one of the premier’s biggest supporters and was often seen on the campaign trail cheering him on. He would often tell anyone who would listen, how proud he was of his children and, in particular, of the premier. Both Governor Martyn Roper and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson extended condolences to the premier and his family. “I was fortunate to meet Mr. McLaughlin a few months ago. I heard much about his passion and commitment for education. He will be greatly missed,” Roper said Tuesday. In a statement, Manderson highlighted McNee McLaughlin’s contribution to the civil service, saying, "Mr. McLaughlin dedicated years of his life to public service, working as a teacher and later as a public health officer. My thoughts and prayers are with the Honourable Premier and his family at this difficult time." McNee McLaughlin was born in 1926 and worked in a number of roles. He taught in a school on Cayman Brac, then taught in West Bay before going to sea for 10 years. He returned to Cayman in 1955 and married his wife Althea, who passed away in 2008. The elder McLaughlin was determined not to go back to sea. He worked as a hired driver and then as a plumber before winning a scholarship to the West Indies School of Public Health in Jamaica, where he completed a three-year course in just one year. He came back to Cayman as the island’s first formally trained public health officer in 1959, and then two years later, his son Alden was born. The couple also had two daughters, Debbie and Elizabeth. McNee McLaughlin passes The elder McLaughlin can easily be described as one of the premier’s biggest supporters . Premier Alden McLaughlin and his father Alden McNee McLaughlin Sr., pictured together in this undated photo. 3Guy Harvey: ‘Don’t risk what makes Cayman unique’ Guy is spot on. As avid scuba divers from a cruise ship, we come for the pristine reefs and a day of diving. The pier will destroy a good portion of reef, fish habitat, and local dive operator income. Destroying your natural resources doesn’t make good sense. We’ve done land based too and have seen Camana Bay, Hell, and shopping. Guess what? We still care more about the quality of diving and how you care for the reefs. They are irreplaceable. Vote no to the pier. – Vivian Duff We visit several weeks a year for the scuba diving. We definitely avoid George Town on cruise ship days. Of course, many businesses are closed when there are no ships, which makes those days difficult if we want to poke around. We visited on a ship for the first time in May. We booked our dives with a favourite operator. We booked direct to go with people we know and trust, as well as to be sure the money went to locals and not the cruise ship which would take the majority of the fee. They picked us up, we dove and headed back to the ship. So, we spent about $260 that day. Probably one of the bigger spends for two people visiting for a day taking one excursion. When we stay the cost of lodging (at least $300), food ($150), car rental ($45) and other miscellaneous ($40) would be added and then multiplied by 7-10 days (the length we usually stay. How are cruise ships bringing in more money? Of course, if this destroys the reefs, we will find another place to dive and all our money will go with us. – Kate Morris Spot on. George Town can’t cope with so many people milling about. And Guy is right, tourists want to see a tropical island, not a mini Miami. Just hope this isn’t a done deal. – Marion Webb As someone who stays 1-2 weeks a year as a ‘stayover’, we check the cruise ship schedule right away and avoid George Town on the midweek 4-7 ship days, unless we want to people watch. Another point Guy missed though; with a pier, the cruisers will go back to the ship to eat lunch as it will now be easier. – Pete Brown He’s not wrong. I used to think Cayman was crazy not to have already built the pier … then I went to Venice. People who used to live in Venice have had to leave. It is a crowded over-touristed mess. The cruise ships are destroying that city. – Vanessa Magee World champion comes home first in Pirates Week sea swim Go well, Chad! You have inspired many and have a new group of supporters that will be cheering for you! – Sally Brooker 7 new cases of dengue confirmed in Cayman Hello, DEET, my old friend. I’m going to bathe in you again... – Alex Davies There’ll continue to be more and more new cases since there’s no quarantine system for those that are found to be infected. – Beto Anglin Perhaps they should issue some recommendations instead of keeping it a secret. No one wants dengue and we definitely don’t want it to spread. Even though spraying and spraying helps. It sucks that the government thinks they need to make decisions behind closed doors for the general public. The public can assist majorly once informed. – David Alberga Port will protect Caymanian jobs, claims businesses Although I can understand why they think a port will improve their income, if the reef and waters are destroyed, they will have no visitors and no income. – Susan Schmidt I would have gone with a different headline: ‘Group made up of people who are looking out for their own bottom lines promise port is panacea without proof as they eye and slowly move toward the backdoor’. – Alaye Mclaughlin Read Guy Harvey's article. Will it really support Caymanian jobs or the cruise ships? – Valerie Nuyen Nothing to date, including promises and election campaigns, has protected Caymanian jobs. You need a new spin. – Amar Sheow It supports them presently ‘as is’. What guarantee is there that they will remain if the docks are built? – Mark Tomkins What they’re saying cartoon Slow Down - By Caymanman Restrict car ownership to reduce traffic I agree with the observation that roads should be an important consideration in the upcoming budget. I caution, however, that the ultimate solution does not lie in more road construction. A more effective response, albeit one which will necessitate some economic restructuring, is to move away from the ‘consumption-based economy’ and its high dependence on duties from imports, especially used-car imports. We can be instructed from how Bermuda has dealt with its traffic situation. There should be restrictions placed on automobile ownership; whether those restrictions are determined by age of imports, by the issuance of import permits for dealers or any other restrictions is a matter for the authorities. What seems clear is the fact that there are too many informal used-car outlets which do not contribute to job provision in the same way as do the established car dealerships. Furthermore, there should be restrictions placed on the ability of work permit holders to import used cars, especially aging used cars. Such importation not only poses challenges in the disposing of these vehicles once their age precludes efficient and safe use, not to mention what happens when the permit holders leave. Such ownership also negatively impacts the development of the public transport system through the reduction of potential passengers. Another profound impact has to do with parking space and air pollution. Pedestrians and cyclists who travel extended distances on crowded roads are at risk of breathing in unhealthy air with disastrous health effects. Importantly, too, many such vehicle owners have no place to park their automobiles except on public thoroughfares, thus preventing easy access. Then, too, there is the fact that a significant number of work permit holders have never driven an automobile prior to coming to these islands. This, combined with our system of roundabouts, which is challenging enough to seasoned drivers, make for a cocktail of challenges which demand constant monitoring. I encourage the political directorate, even at this late hour, to begin the kind of planning which will serve to more effectively allay the traffic challenges which are exacerbated by the continuing numbers of automobiles on the roads. J.A. Roy Bodden LETTER TO THE EDITOR 4,000 jobs. Most positions for Caymanians? Do we have that many Caymanians available to fill that many positions?... – Sandra Solomon Miller supports civil partnerships Mr. Miller’s support for civil unions is a step in the right direction, particularly considering the extreme homophobia exhibited by virtually all of his colleagues on the floor of the Assembly only a few months ago and clearly reported by this newspaper. But, Mr. Miller, you can do better than this. As Justice Smellie essentially said (and as the Privy Council is very likely to confirm when the case goes forward), equality means equality. To offer the LGBTQ community ‘civil unions’, while offering ‘marriage’ to everyone else, means perpetuating the discrimination. It’s essentially a wink to the straight community that, yes, we’re offering supposedly-equivalent- to-marriage ‘unions’ to gays — but we’re making sure everyone continues to understand that gays have second-class status by denying use of the identical word ‘marriage’. Newsflash: the straight community does NOT own the word ‘marriage’. No one owns any word. Mr. Miller, be on the right side of history and do the right thing by supporting full equality – ‘marriage’ – for all. – Mark Riviera 4Customer 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 5.00% to 4.75%, on October 30th, 2019, the following changes will occur: • USD Prime Rate decrease from 5.00% to 4.75%, effective effective November 4, 2019 • KYD Prime Rate decrease from 5.00% to 4.75%, effective effective November 4, 2019 All products linked to USD and KYD Prime Rates will be adjusted on the effective dates indicated. MONDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2019, 10AM - 12PM The Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) invites you to attend the Annual meeting of the Hazardous Wildlife Working Group. At this meeting, we will discuss current measures at the Owen Roberts International Airport used to alleviate hazardous wildlife, as well as new measures we are taking to attract less wildlife at the Airport. The CIAA is aiming to raise awareness not only to our Airport partners but also to the neighboring communities of the Airport. At this meeting, attendees will have a chance to interact with Airport personnel and ask any questions they may have about wildlife control measures and deterrent practices. Location: Owen Roberts International Airport, 2nd Floor CIAA Conference Room A Date & Time: Monday, 18 November 2019 at 10am - 12pm The Cattle Egret is one of the main hazardous wildlife species at the airport. The iguana is a regular nuisance to flight operations. For more information, please contact Andrew McLaughlin (Chief of Safety Management) at 244-5843 or 916-5317, or email andrew.mclaughlin@caymanairports.com www.caymanairports.com Ramsay-Hale returning as judge Former Chief Magistrate Margaret Ramsay-Hale is returning to the Cayman Islands after being appointed a judge of the Grand Court. Governor Martyn Roper announced the appointment, effective 13 Jan., in a statement on Tuesday. Ramsay-Hale is currently serving as chief justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands, a post she has held since July 2014. According to the statement, the Judicial and Legal Services Commission recently carried out an open recruitment process advertising the post locally and overseas. “Following a short-listing process, an interview panel interviewed five persons for this post, ultimately recommending Justice Ramsay-Hale as the successful candidate. His Excellency subsequently accepted the recommendation,” the statement noted. Roper said in the statement, “Justice Ramsay-Hale’s skills and experiences, as well as her commitment and passion to the legal and judicial services will serve to continue to enhance our judiciary. I look forward to formally welcoming her back home in the New Year.” In the statement, Chief Justice Smellie said, “Justice Ramsay-Hale’s wide breadth of knowledge in the criminal, civil, and commercial courts will be well utilised in her new role.” As well as being chief justice in Turks and Caicos, she is also the sole presiding judge in the civil and commercial divisions of the Turks and Caicos Court and presides in the criminal and matrimonial/ family divisions. Prior to being appointed chief justice, she was a puisne judge in the Turks and Caicos Islands from 2011-2014. She served as chief magistrate in Cayman for three years and as a magistrate for 10 years. She also sat in Jamaica as a resident magistrate and a family court judge, both for two years. The statement pointed out that Ramsay-Hale served ad hoc as a judge in the Cayman Islands in 2006 and was appointed to the Cayman Islands Panel of Acting Grand Court Judges in 2013. Before beginning her judicial career, she practised privately and was appointed Crown counsel in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Jamaica in 1994. She is a certified mediator and was called to the Bar in 1991. Drug-smuggling trio sentenced ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Three men caught with a loaded gun and hundreds of pounds of ganja, as well as cocaine and ecstasy, were sentenced in the Grand Court Friday. In March last year, Jamaican nationals Assad Adana Walker, Fitzroy Ottey and Owen Omar Reid were arrested after marine police saw them throw packages overboard from their canoe. The recovered packages contained 300 pounds of ganja, 101 grams of cocaine, 49.3 grams of MDMA (ecstasy), a .38 Smith & Wesson handgun and 49 rounds of ammunition. The men initially pleaded guilty to the importation and possession of the drugs but denied knowledge of the handgun. The drug smuggling trio’s initial Grand Court trial in March this year was called off after Acting Justice Marlene Carter said the matter could not proceed. A retrial in September was also called off after the men changed their pleas. Reid, 38, the youngest of the three, was sentenced to three years in prison for the gun and drug charges. Ottey, 43, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years for the gun and drug charges. Walker, 60, who was considered the captain of the vessel and the leader of the group, is a repeat offender, and was sentenced to five years in prison. This was the first time that Reid and Ottey were convicted and sentenced for crimes in Cayman. However, in 2003 and in 2005, Walker was sentenced to three years and 12 years, respectively, for drug-related charges in Cayman. Each of the defendants expressed dire financial need as a reason for their role in committing the crime, said Justice Frank Williams, while sentencing the men via video link. “Walker is no stranger to Cayman’s judiciary,” the judge said. “He has displayed a blatant disregard for Cayman’s immigration law and exhibits a pro-criminal attitude.” Justice Williams ordered that the time the men spent in custody be deducted from their sentence. Justice Margaret Ramsay-Hale cayman compass 5 news N news WEDNESDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2019ADVENTURE AWAITS Career is an adventure. We can take you where you want to go. steppingstonesrecruitment.com MARK MUCKENFUSS mmuckenfuss@compassmedia.ky Tanja Laaser doesn’t have a cape or a spandex outfit, but when the green iguana hotline rings on Little Cayman, she answers the call. With a snare and a net, she jumps into her role as the island’s iguana protector – indigenous rock iguanas, that is – and goes out to hunt down the invasive offender, making short work of the green menace. Laaser, 30, an intern with the Department of the Environment, is the sole person currently keeping track of the rock iguana population on the island and runs point on protecting them. In addition to ridding the island of any of their green cousins, she, usually with a volunteer helper, captures and tags the rock iguanas, monitors nesting sites, puts up markers to alert local drivers about where the reptiles have been hit by cars, and gives weekly lectures about the animals to educate tourists as well as local residents. “Why iguanas?” she says of her dedication the animals. “Because they’re cool.” Fred Burton, the DoE’s terrestrial resources unit manager, said Laaser has become key to protecting the local lizards. “It’s extremely helpful,” Burton said of Laaser’s work. “She’s doing way more than her internship would cover because she’s got a passion for it.” A native of Tuttlingen, Germany, Laaser said she always loved animals as a kid. Her family kept ponies, chickens and rabbits, as well as dogs and cats. There are lizards in that part of Germany, but they are rare. Nevertheless, Laaser was more fascinated by creatures with scales than with fur. “I always begged my mom to get a snake, but I never got one,” she said. After earning a master’s degree in biology from the University of Tuebingen in early 2015, Laaser bounced between Brazil, Little Cayman and Germany before settling in Little Cayman at the end of 2016. All the while she was studying or working with reptiles. In Brazil, she studied reptiles in the field. In Germany, she worked in a python breeding station, throwing ball pythons over her shoulders so she could clean their cages. “This was when I was bit by an anaconda,” she says with a smile. Not in Brazil. “I didn’t even see one in Brazil.” In Little Cayman she was assisting Jeanette B. ‘Jen’ Moss, of the University of Mississippi, with a population study of the rock iguanas. When she got the chance, she came back to Little Cayman, as a bartender. She planned to work in one of the resorts and help Moss when the researcher returned to continue her study the next summer. Since then, Moss completed her Little Cayman work, but Laaser has continued to gather data. She picked up the internship with the DoE and also is the sole docent for the Little Cayman Museum. One of her key tasks for the DoE doesn’t involve rock iguanas at all. Whenever a barge arrives on the island to drop off a shipment of goods, Laaser, and conservation officer Mike Guderian, the DoE’s only full-time employee on the island, are there checking for any hitchhiking green iguanas. “The reason we don’t have so many green iguanas is because of Mikey,” Laaser said. “He’s really the reason they never really had a chance to get established here.” The green iguanas are good at hiding in wheel wells and other out-of-the-way places, she said. But the duo occasionally finds some. She also knows some slip through, but estimates there are fewer than 100 on the island. “We saw what happened to the blue iguanas on Grand Cayman,” she said. “If I can prevent that from happening here, I want to.” The population of green iguanas on Grand Cayman exploded, while the native blue iguanas remain a highly threatened species. In the past year, more than one million of the green lizards have been killed and removed from the environment as part of a DoE programme. The hope is that the blue iguanas will thrive in the absence of so many of the greens. “It’s important to recognise that one iguana is not like another iguana,” Laaser said. “Green iguanas harm the ecology on so many levels, while the rock iguanas help the ecology in so many ways.” Greens can devastate the local flora by munching on the leafy parts, while the rock iguanas eat more fruits and help as seed distributors throughout the island. Without the rock iguanas, she said, the island’s terrestrial ecosystem would likely collapse. And, she said, it’s important to know more about the native lizards. “Everything we learn here is new,” she said. “We don’t know much about them. We don’t even know how old they can get. Eventually, we will know more about their survival rates, more about the dispersal of individuals.” That’s why she’s willing to wrestle with the big adult iguanas in order to tag and chip them, even though it can be dangerous. “A big male can [bite] your finger off,” she said. Burton said there are probably about 2,000 rock iguanas on the Sister Islands. He suspects the population may be declining, but doesn’t know why. Feral cats and what he calls “population traps”, where too many animals congregate in one area, are contributing factors, he said, but more information is needed. As an agency, Burton said, “We’re not looking after them very well. Tanja is doing a lot of basic research work largely on her own. Any information we can get is definitely valuable.” Laaser said the iguanas even contribute to tourism. “People come here to see the iguanas,” she said. “The tourists love them and that also helps the island.” If she left Little Cayman, she said, she would feel like she was abandoning the animals she loves. “I’m really, really lucky that I can do what I do here,” she said, “and do what I love.” Champion of the iguanas When she's not manning the helm at the Little Cayman Museum, Tanja Laaser is out protecting the island's rock iguanas. 2,000 E stimate of the rock iguana population on the Sister Islands 6Police launch recruitment drive The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has launched its latest recruitment drive for new police constables and auxiliary con- stables. So far this year, 45 recruits, in two separate classes, have graduated and joined the police service. Police spokesperson Jodi-Ann Powery said the RCIPS is looking to add 30 new constables to the 2020 recruit class. Police said all applicants for the new recruitment drive must be between the ages of 18 and 40, and have a high school diploma and at least three O-Level exam passes, including mathematics and English. Applicants must possess a clean police record and a valid driver’s licence. Shortlisted candidates are required to complete a written test, a computer literacy check, a physical fitness test, an interview and a medical exam. Powery said that “preference and encouragement” are given to Caymanians who apply for recruit positions “as we are trying to increase the number of local police officers”. However, individuals with permanent residency, as well as those living in the Cayman Islands legally for a minimum of four years, may also apply. “If the spots are not filled by the Caymanian applicants, then those applications will be processed and successful applicants invited for the various testing,” she said. She described the ideal candidate as “someone with integrity, who has a desire to serve their country.” She added, “They must be physically fit and healthy, and be able to withstand our fitness and drill trainings. They should have proficient computer and writing skills. They should be able to work odd hours. They should be able to withstand our various background checks as well.” The RCIPS currently has 410 officers, including auxiliary constables. Of these, 44% are Caymanian, Powery said. The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, 6 Dec. A recruitment fair is also being organised for later this month, Powery said. For more information and an application form, visit www. rcips.ky. Application forms and supporting documentation should be submitted to RCIPSRecruitment@rcips.ky. 2020 public holidays announced The deputy governor’s office on Sunday confirmed all public holidays for 2020, with the exception of the Queen’s Birthday, which is anticipated to be Monday, 15 June. That date is expected to be confirmed in early 2020, according to the announcement. The public holidays are as follows: • New Year’s Day: Wednesday, 1 Jan. • National Heroes Day: Monday, 27 Jan. • Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, 26 Feb. • Good Friday: Friday, 10 April • Easter Monday: Monday, 13 April • Discovery Day: Monday, 18 May • Queen’s Birthday: Monday, 15 June (unconfirmed) • Constitution Day: Monday, 6 July • Remembrance Day: Monday, 9 Nov. • Christmas: Friday, 25 Dec • Boxing Day: Monday, 28 Dec. Recruits take part in a graduation drill. 18-40 The age range for new constable recruits 7RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky A new digital forensic hub is in the works to tackle the growing number of cybercrimes engaging the attention of the police. It comes as new scams featuring photos of public officials, including Premier Alden McLaughlin, Finance Minister Roy McTaggart and Deputy Governor Franz Manderson have been making the rounds on social media. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly Friday, McLaughlin addressed the issue, saying, “Funding has also been provided for the RCIPS to help in the fight against money- laundering and terrorist financing and the new digital forensics hub creates new capacity to investigate and tackle cybercrime.” Last year, according to RCIPS crime statistics, at least 72 cyber-related crimes were flagged at the Financial Crime Unit. Among the top cyberoffences tracked were ‘business email compromise’ with 11 reports and ‘social media impersonation/fraud’ with 12 reports. In 2018, the police figures pointed to a new cyberoffence, ‘sextortion with password email’. This is essentially a malware scam that is sent to a user’s email claiming to have access to that user’s webcam which was used to record potentially damaging videos of that person engaging in sexual acts. The scammer threatens to release the videos unless the user pays a fee. In 2016, a Home Affairs Ministry report indicated that the RCIPS lacked both a “proper analytical understanding” of the types of cybercrimes and an operational plan to address them. The ministry’s annual report for the 2015/16 fiscal year stated, “Phishing, trolling, malware, online scam, revenge pornography and the proliferation of child abuse imagery are each largely unreported and unrecorded facebook.com/caymanculture artscayman.org twitter.com/caymanculture FEATURING Quincy Brown : Leroy Holness : Lesley-ann Bernard : Priscilla Pouchie : Giselle Webb Troy Rodgers : Evana Martinez : Josefa Martinez-Shims : Rachel Gepolla : Aiden Watler : Jerrin Carter Pamela Norton : Music arranged by GEORGE JONES HARQUAIL THEATRE NOV. 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, & 30 - 8:00 PM NOV . 17, 24 & DEC. 1 - 6:00 PM TICKETS: Adult $30 : Child (12 & under) & Senior : $20 (65+ ID required) Health Care Pharmacy (Grand Harbour), Foster’s (Airport & on 7 Mile Beach) Funky Tangs, Harquail Theatre - 949-5477 & eventpro.ky CNCF acknowledges annual funding from the Government of the Cayman Islands via the Ministry of Culture “IF YOU DON’T LAUGH SUE ME.” RATED PG and theme by DAVE MARTINS Written, Designed & Directed R Undown 2019 NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST U UG E. Original RUNDOWN concept and theme by DAVE MARTINS THE HILARIOUS Written, Designed & Directed by HENRY MUTTOO CAYMAN COMEDY TRADITION RR UndownUndownUndown R Undown R UnonU R Undown R UndownUndownUndown 20190920192019 R *Topicalities *Tell It To QC *Rundown Runout of Topics *Loxley’s Advice *Maidenplum Itch *Mount Throw More *They Publish It *Our Identity Special guest cameo by David Bereaux And much more Ad sponsored by New digital forensic hub on the cards $5.5 million over two years for RCIPS crime-fighting initiatives “Funding has also been provided for the RCIPS to help in the fight against money-laundering and terrorist financing and the new digital forensics hub creates new capacity to investigate and tackle cybercrime.” Premier Alden McLaughlin Cullers caught the largest number of green iguanas last week dating back to late June, according to the latest statistics from the Department of Environment. A total of 20,096 of the invasive species was taken to the George Town landfill from 3-9 Nov. This brings the overall number of iguanas culled since the initiative started last year to 1,048,401. The number of iguanas caught each week has been steadily increasing since hitting a low of 4,925 in the 40th week of the cull, from 29 July to 3 Aug. Iguana-cull numbers highest since June 0 200,000 400,000 600,000 800,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 1,400,000 Week 1 (Oct. 29 - Nov. 3) Week 54 (3 Nov. - 9 Nov.) Cumulative totalPace to reach 1.3 million [in Cayman.] Moreover, the RCIPS currently lacks a strategic framework and operational action plan for tackling cybercrimes.” While the premier did not go into further detail on the hub, McTaggart said that a total of $5.5 million will be allocated to the Office of the Commissioner of Police “to invest in key service developments”. Previously, appropriations for the police were assigned under the Ministry of Employment and Border Control. Now it will be titled ‘Appropriations to the Premier on behalf of the Office of the Commissioner of Police’, a new line item. “The change of substance that lies behind this change in the tables in the budget book is that it effectively recognises the RCIPS at the ministry level in government terms rather than at the department level. The consequence of this is that the deputy governor is inviting the commissioner of police to act as a chief officer and to be part of his formal leadership team,” the premier told the Legislative Assembly on Friday. He told legislators that serious crime is continuing to decline as he pointed to a dip in the local burglary rate. “In 2017, the average burglary rate was around 42.5 per month. Last year’s successes had brought that down to 27 per month and the continued focus on neighbourhood policing and action against persistent and prolific offenders has reduced the average for the first nine months of 2019 to 23,” McLaughlin said. He also stated that funding to progress the development of the new West Bay police station in Batabano, as well as to continue the three-year commitment to hire 75 police officers, has been allocated in the 2020- 2021 budget. McLaughlin added that an anti-gang strategy is being developed, led by the deputy governor. The budget for the two-year cycle is pegged at US$2 billion. Debate on the fiscal package is set to begin Wednesday in the LA. Security-related budget breakdown: $6 million in 2020 and $4.3 million in 2021 for new border security systems; and fit-out and equipment for the department of Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman. $1.1 million in 2020 and $4.4 million in 2021 to the Office of the Commissioner of Police to invest in key service developments. $8.3 million in 2020 and $1.3 million in 2021 for Judicial Administration to fund the renovation and fit-out of the courts buildings in George Town. $19.1 million in 2020 and $17.8 million in 2021 for Home Affairs Ministry for construction of a new prison facility at Northward; and enhanced information technology infrastructure to strengthen capacity to handle international tax cooperation and other financial services matters. cayman compass 8 news N news WEDNESDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2019REGIONAL Shaggy to continue giving to Bustamante Entertainer Orville ‘Shaggy’ Burrell said he remains committed to raising funds for the Bustamante Hospital for Children while publicly pledging J$100 million (CI$586,000) towards the expansion of the paediatric institution on Monday, according to a report in the Jamaica Gleaner. Shaggy hosted a press conference at the facility Monday to account for the money raised raised through his biennial Shaggy and Friends concert in 2018. The Sunday Gleaner recently highlighted the fact that the hospital was yet to benefit from the proceeds of the charity concert after nearly two years. Burrell said the money was initially geared towards the expansion of the intensive care unit and has been in a Scotiabank account which the Shaggy and Friends Foundation started in 2014. However, given the pressing need for more beds at the facility, as highlighted by the hospital’s chairman, Dr. Kenneth Benjamin, the foundation will be partnering with others to build a three-storey structure to treat more patients. “The money has been in the account. We never touched the money, and we never move with the money, and we never carry it go nowhere. The money has been there the whole time; it is earmarked for an ICU,” Shaggy said yesterday. “We will be turning it over to the Bustamante Hospital for Children to do this new project with Dr Kenneth Benjamin.” He said that the policy was to hand over equipment to the hospital because the sponsors had expressed the desire that the foundation manage the funds. “All the sponsors made it clear to me at that point and said, ‘Shaggy, we will come on board for this, but we do not want to involve government’,” he said. Burrell said that while he has no issue handing over the full amount, which, to date, is more than J$112 million, the general approach over the years is to withhold a portion of the funds in the account to go towards the staging of the next charity concert. Apart from a busy schedule, Shaggy said that the foundation had to put off the next staging of the concert, which was expected in January 2020, because of issues securing a venue. The artiste said he had been contemplating the National Arena as a suitable venue, but will continue to have discussions with his team about raising funds for the hospital. “Bustamante is like a bucket with about 500 holes. No matter how you full it, it is not going to full,” he said. Fraser-Pryce among Female Athlete of the Year finalists Jamaican sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has been named as one of five finalists for the World Athletics Female World Athlete of the Year Award, the Jamaican Gleaner reports. Fraser-Pryce, the world 100m champion and 4x100m gold medallist from the World Championships in Doha, Qatar, also ended the year as the fastest woman in the 100m with 10.71 seconds. She also won gold in the 200m at the PanAm Games and won seven of her 10 races in the 100m. The other finalists are world 1500m and 10,000m champion and Diamond League 1500m and 5000m winner Sifan Hassan from The Netherlands; Kenya's Brigid Kosgei, who set a world record in the marathon; America's 400m hurdles world champion and world record holder Dalilah Muhammad and triple jump world champion Yulimar Rojas from Venezuela. The finalists were determined through a three-way voting process that saw World Athletics Council and World Athletics Family cast votes by email, while fans voted via social media platforms. The Male and Female World Athletes of the Year will be announced at the World Athletics Awards in Monaco on November 23. WORLD US Supreme Court lets Sandy Hook shooting lawsuit go forward WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Tuesday that a survivor and relatives of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting can pursue their lawsuit against the maker of the rifle that was used to kill 26 people. The justices rejected an appeal from Remington Arms that argued it should be shielded by a 2005 federal law preventing most lawsuits against firearms manufacturers when their products are used in crimes. The case is being watched by gun-control advocates, gun-rights supporters and gun manufacturers across the country, as it has the potential to provide a roadmap for victims of other mass shootings to circumvent the federal law and sue the makers of firearm. The court's order allows the lawsuit filed in Connecticut state court by a survivor and relatives of nine victims who died at the Newtown, Connecticut, school on 14 Dec. 2012, to go forward. The lawsuit says the Madison, North Carolina-based company should never have sold a weapon as dangerous as the Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle to the public. Gunman Adam Lanza used it to kill 20 first graders and six educators. It also alleges Remington targeted younger, at-risk males in marketing and product placement in violent video games. Lanza was 20 years old. Before the school shooting, Lanza shot his mother to death at their Newtown home. He killed himself as police arrived at the school. The rifle was legally owned by his mother. Winds fan ferocious fires in Australia's most populous state CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Ferocious wildfires were burning at emergency-level intensity across Australia's most populous state and into Sydney's suburbs on Tuesday as authorities warned most people in their paths that there was no longer time to flee. New South Wales state is under a week-long state of emergency, a declaration that gives the Rural Fire Service sweeping powers to control resources and direct other government agencies in its efforts to battle fires. The worst fires on Tuesday emerged in the state's northeast, where three people have died and more than 150 homes have been destroyed since Friday. A catastrophic fire warning was in place for Sydney, Australia's largest city, where a large blaze threatened homes on Tuesday afternoon in northern suburban Turramurra, 11 miles from the city's downtown area. A firefighter suffered a fractured arm and ribs before the fire was rapidly contained with the aid of a jet dumping fire retardant and a helicopter dropping water, officials said. Turramurra residents reported trees catching fire in their backyards from embers. Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said many people had heeded his warning and evacuated their homes in the danger zone well ahead of the escalating fire threat on Tuesday. Of 85 fires burning across New South Wales, 14 were rated as emergencies and burning out of control by late afternoon, the Rural Fire Service said. That's the largest number across the state in decades apart from Friday, when an unprecedented 17 emergency fires blazed. "It is too late to leave on most of these fires and sheltering is now your only option as fire approaches," Fitzsimmons said. YesterdaY's sOLUtIONs 1234567 8 910 1112 131415 1617 18192021 2223 2425 1234567 8 910 1112 131415 1617 18192021 2223 2425 Puzzle 16220 ACROSS: 1 Rubella, 5 Crisp, 8 Get away with it, 9 Tithe, 10 Offence, 11 Dressy, 12 Return, 15 Plunder, 17 Sober, 19 Silver-tongued, 20 Totem, 21 Overdue. DOWN: 1 Right, 2 Bite the bullet, 3 Lawless, 4 Anyhow, 5 Chief, 6 In honour bound, 7 Pattern, 11 Deposit, 13 Essence, 14 Grotto, 16 Dream, 18 Ridge. aCrOss 1 Drenching rain (6) 4 Let go by unused (4,2) 9 Mischievous (7) 10 Thick-headed (5) 11 Arrangement (3-2) 12 To back (7) 13 Accept without question (4,2,5) 18 Natural environment (7) 20 Cavalry sword (5) 22 Mournful song (5) 23 In dispute (2,5) 24 Riches (6) 25 With a soft touch (6) dOWN 1 Compulsion by threat (6) 2 Illuminate (5) 3 Fleeting view (7) 5 Make sense (3,2) 6 Winding (7) 7 Visually attractive (6) 8 Various minor matters (4,3,4) 14 Canadian province (7) 15 Impatient of control (7) 16 Follow and watch (6) 17 Simply (6) 19 Deal with (5) 21 Hemmed in (5) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16221 The numbers in the black cells are clues. Numbers above the slash are across clues. Number below the slash are down clues. The goal is to enter digits 1 - 9 in the white cells to add up to the number clues. You cannot enter any digit more than once when adding up to clue. news in brief Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Sydney Opera House is backdropped by haze from wildfires on Tuesday. 9Next >