cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Friday, 29 November 2019 News: Howell: Impact of port vote court action “uncertain” Page 6 News: Documents show 2012 plan to tender mega-ship Page 18 Big interview: Governor talks regiment, same-sex marriage Page 25 George Mason takes the Cayman Classic title Page 38 Top cop yet to issue carnival road closures Page 14 Making a statement Page 10 Youth protest gathers pace intervie: Governor talks reiet, - i • 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. - FRIDAY, SATURDAY & SUNDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) 21 BRIDGES (R) (FRI-SAT) 1:30 | 4:05 | 7:20 | 10:00 VIP FORD V FERRARI (PG13) (FRI-SAT) 3:20 | 6:40 | 9:30 (SUN) 3:30 | 6:30 | 9:30 FROZEN 2 (PG) - 3D (FRI) 12:45 3D | 1:15 | 3:50 VIP 4:25 3D | 7:00 | 9:30 3D (SAT) 12:45 3D | 10:40 | 1:15 | 3:50 VIP 4:25 3D | 7:00 | 9:30 3D (SUN) 2:30 | 3:50 VIP | 4:25 3D | 5:00 6:45 3D | 7:00 | 7:30 | 9:30 3D | 10:00 THE GOOD LIAR (PG13) (FRI-SAT) 12:40 | 6:50 | 10:00 KNIVES OUT (PG13) (FRI-SAT) 12:45 VIP | 3:35 | 7:00 VIP | 9:50 (SUN) 3:25 | 7:00 VIP 8:30 | 9:50 | 10:00 VIP MALEFICENT: MISTRESS OF EVIL (PG) (SAT) 10:20 (SUN) 2:45 | 5:30 QUEEN & SLIM (R) (FRI) 12:25 | 3:25 | 6:30 | 9:35 (SAT) 10:30 | 6:30 | 9:35 KIDS CLUB WRECK-IT RALPH (SAT) 10:00 FREE DELIVERY TO SMB & CAMANA BAY AREA 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 NEWS PRODUCER AND OPERATIONS MANAGER KEVIN MORALES A MEMBER OF THE INTER-AMERICAN PRESS ASSOCIATION ªGive light and the people will find their own wayº Cloudy skies with a 60% chance of showers and some thunder WINDS Southerly at 5 to 10 knots SEA STATE Southerly at 5 to 10 knots weather Forecast today 90°F 78°F HIGH LOW Cats and cars continue to threaten Sister Islands iguanas ALVARO SEREY AND KAYLA YOUNG aserey@compassmedia.ky kyoung@compassmedia.ky For the Sister Islands Rock Iguana, survival requires a bit of luck. Between feral cats and speeding cars, this once-dominant lizard species is struggling to reach adulthood. In the first species survey since 2015, researchers with the Department of Environment made a concerning discovery about the native iguana populations in Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. “Our preliminary survey results show that we don't have a lot of animals that are less than three or four years old,” said Jane Haakonsson, a research officer with the DoE’s Terrestrial Resources Unit. “That's a real problem because that means the babies don't ever live to be reproductively mature. So, therefore, we're putting the population through an artificial bottleneck. For a small island population, that's really critical.” While the survey results are still being assessed, Haakonsson suspects there has been a population decline. “In November, the team and I went over to Little Cayman to continue our surveying. We hadn't done it since 2015. There's been a lot going on. So we're just really excited to get the results back. Although we fear the population has declined, it's good to know by how much and why that is,” she said. Historically, the iguana species lived across large expanses of the islands, foraging forests for food and nesting in coastal areas, the researcher explained. With the pressures of development, the lizards now mostly populate shrublands. “The rock iguanas used to be the dominant large land animal on all of the West Indies. Of course, that's no longer the case. So right now, the iguanas live where there is still space for them,” she said. “They didn't used to have a lot of predators. Only when they were small. So they would outgrow the snakes and they would outgrow the birds eventually. But now, unfortunately, we have a lot of threats. Development is an ongoing thing. But really, for Little Cayman in particular, [it’s] cats and cars - and the same for Cayman Brac.” If such threats persist unmitigated, Haakonsson warned the population could drop dramatically over time. The Sister Islands Rock Iguana (Cyclura nubila caymanensis) is native only to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman and is classified as a subspecies of the Cuban Iguana (Cyclura nubila nubila). Similar in body type to Grand Cayman’s Blue Iguana, the Sister Islands Rock Iguana can weigh more than 20 pounds when fully grown. It varies in colour from almost black to grey or brown, with local highlights in orange, cream and sometimes a little blue, but never blue on the spines or all over the body like the Grand Cayman species. fact: Less than 2,000 Number of Sister Islands Rock Iguanas on Little Cayman A Rock Iguana perches in Little Cayman. Photo: Jane Haakonsson. cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2019 2NOW SELLING PHASE 2 STAMP DUTY SAVINGS of up to US $245,000 through 2019 A LUXURY WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT IN THE PRESTIGIOUS YACHT CLUB COMMUNITY The Residences of Stone Island is comprised of 44 waterfront residences built to the highest standards, with 4,500 square feet of open-concept living space. This private gated community boasts an exquisite array of lifestyle amenities; Tennis court • expansive infinity edge pool • docking facilities • private screening room • children’s center waterside owner’s lounge with chef’s kitchen • bar and owner’s wine storage • gated with 24-hour security BBQ pavilion • boardwalk • lush landscaping • fitness studio OPEN HOUSE WWW.STONEISLANDCAYMAN.COM BOOK A VIEWING Sales Inquiries (345) 925-6404 | info@stoneislandcayman.com 548 Yacht Drive, just past Vista del Mar Show homes open Monday to Friday 10 am to 4 pm SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30 TH 12 PM to 2 PM Three full-scale model homes available for viewing cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2019In a story that ran on Monday, 25 Nov. titled, ‘Police seek new recruits’, Police Commissioner Derek Bryne was quoted as saying salaries and benefits afforded to officers weren’t competitive enough when compared to other uniformed services. The story went on to say those lack of benefits were key factors, which contributed to the police services annual attrition rate. This is incorrect. Those comments were made by former Police Commissioner David Baines during a press conference held in November 2015. In a story that ran on Wednesday, 27 Nov. titled ‘Local author donates book to government schools’, it referred to King George II instead of King George III as written in the book ‘The Wreck of the Ten Sail’. CLARIFICATIONS cartoon 8am Cayman Time - By Caymanman Ms. Winker was the embodiment of fair and accurate journalism. She would at all times strive for accuracy over headlines. She prided herself on fairness and factual accuracy. In that regard she would often seek clarifications on issues she wasn’t clear about. It was not unusual for Counsel to telephone her for unofficial verification of what was said in the criminal courts. She was a very courteous reporter. We will all miss her and her journalistic attributes. Samuel Bulgin Attorney General I worked with Miss Carol for several years. I’ll always remember her camera jacket, her cycling on her bike, her always pink lips and her very dry wit. A compliment from Miss Carol was a very special thing. Privileged to have known, worked and learn from her. May she rest in peace. – Sheena Jackson We are very sorry to hear such sad news. Our condolences to all that had the privilege of knowing Ms Winker. She definitely left her mark on the Cayman Islands press scene and for that we will always be grateful. – REALlife Magazine So sad. I learned so much from Carol and it was a privilege to call her a mentor, colleague and friend. RIP xx – Mike Crutchley Very honorable woman in a very difficult job! RIP!! – Lilly Jane Rest in peace Carol - blessed to have known you! – Tony Mosley Miss Winker was our neighbour in North Side and we shared a mutual friend and neighbour in Miss Jean who was an outstanding nurse in the Cayman community. Her professionalism was evident in the quality of her reports. A very interesting lady who was obviously confident in who she was and who dared to live in a manner she saw fit. Thank you Miss Winker. Our condolences to her family, colleagues and loved ones. Requiescat In Pace! – Crystal Melville Very sad to learn of her passing. She was a force to be reckoned with in Cayman media and her contributions will surely be missed by many. I enjoyed my interactions with her when I was employed at CUC. It was an honour. I will also remember her offering the Overseas Students Association (OSA) a donation of $250 to remove clusters of mother-in-law’s tongue plant (sansevieria trifasciata) from her yard in North Side. It was hard work, 35 large bags later, but there was always a lesson to be learned from her. The teacher in her always shone through. May her soul rest now. – Caren Thompson-Palacio Miss Carol was such an amazing person, and all who were open to listening would learn so much from her about what journalism should be. I will never forget the mischievous twinkle in her eye and the little hint of a smile at the end of a rather pointed comment about society, or my writing. I would go back, reread what I had written, and try to get it right the next time, because even though it sometimes felt harsh, Miss Carol was inevitably, and somewhat irritatingly, right every time. A real character, and someone who helped shape many a young journalist. – Eugene Bonthuys The community reacts to Carol Winker’s passing cayman compass 4 N news FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2019More than a vacation. Three years ago, we opened Grand Cayman’s first new hotel for more than a decade. But it’s much more than a hotel. The Residences at Seafire is a place where extraordinary people work to make this one of the best places to live in the Cayman Islands. Discover more at dart.ky/seafire YEARS STRONG cayman compass 5 FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2019RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Even with litigation looming over the 19 Dec. referendum, Elections Office staff continue to operate business as usual, receiving and sending postal ballots for the port vote. As of Wednesday evening, a total of 280 postal ballots have been issued for the referendum on government’s $200 million cruise berthing and cargo project. Elections Supervisor Wesley Howell declined to comment on the National Trust’s application to seek judicial review on the referendum, but he did tell the Cayman Compass there is a question mark over the votes already cast. “It is uncertain what impact the legal proceedings filed by the National Trust will have on the votes for persons who have already voted in the referendum,” he said. However, he assured all ballots received for the vote will be kept safely. “As per the Elections Law, completed postal ballots that are returned to the Elections Office are stored securely in their covering envelope, in secured postal ballot boxes until the close of the polls when the postal ballots are processed for counting,” Howell said. Postal ballot and mobile voting applications are only valid for one election or referendum. The National Trust this week initiated the legal action over government’s decision to proceed with a referendum before an updated environmental impact assessment is complete. It is seeking a stay to delay the referendum. Cruise Port Referendum Cayman member Shirley Roulstone has filed an application for a protective costs order, which would shield her from paying excessive legal costs if an eventual judicial review fails. Hearings in both cases are anticipated next week, though it is not clear if either will be in open court. Premier Alden McLaughlin, speaking in Finance Committee this week, said the legal actions have left the referendum in “grave uncertainty”. Howell, in a statement issued by his office Thursday, said voting in the people-initiated referendum started on 8 Nov. “The Elections Office continues to receive postal ballot applications, issue postal ballots and receive sealed postal ballot envelopes from voters in return at this time,” he said. The statement said just under 30% of the postal ballots issued have been returned, with the Elections Office receiving 81 sealed postal ballot envelopes to date. “In keeping with legal requirements, the Elections Office issued the first batch of postal ballots on 8 Nov., seven days after the notice of referendum was published in the gazette,” the statement said. The deadline for mobile and postal voting applications is 7 Dec. Voters on Little Cayman who are registered to vote in the electoral district of Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman are encouraged to apply for mobile voting and to vote on 12 Dec. at the Public Works Building in Little Cayman from 9am to 1pm, according to the statement. The Elections Office said individuals who applied for postal or mobile voting in the 2017 general election and who wish to vote by either method in the referendum still need to complete and submit the necessary application form. The applications can be found on the Elections Office website, www.elections.ky. KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Colours Cayman, the islands’ advocacy group for the LGBTQ community, responded to comments made in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, 22 Nov., that took aim at lawyer Leonardo Raznovich. The non-profit flagged remarks made by MLAs Anthony Eden and Ezzard Miller calling for the deportation of Raznovich, who has defended the right to same-sex marriage in Cayman’s courts. “Eden and Miller both called on the Attorney General for the deportation of Dr Raznovich after much lambasting and accusing him of ‘bad-mouthing people’ in an obvious attempt to smear his good name and threaten him and his partner’s livelihood,” read a Colours press release. “Our organisation views this behaviour as a blatant and gross abuse of power. Are we to believe that any lawyer or individual advocating for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people is at risk of facing deportation or being ostracised somehow by our own government?” Without directly naming Raznovich, Eden told the Legislative Assembly, “I don't know how we can sit down and continue to house someone that has inflicted so much pain on so many of our people in Cayman … “Why are they just rubbing dirt in our face? They know how we feel and as I've said in my letter to the Compass and others and on my debate, a lot of our Caymanian families have people with this movement, this desire of living in that lifestyle, but never in my lifetime have I known of anyone to be injured, no one to be harassed.” Later in the debate, Miller questioned the attorney general on the legal definition of seditious activity. “It is in section 120 of the Customs and Border Control Law. [Section] 120 (2) says, ‘Where the Cabinet considers that a person is an undesirable person or that the person’s presence in the island is not conducive to the public good, the Cabinet may make a deportation order in respect of such a person’,” Miller said. “I guess it should be the Cabinet and you to consider whether the activities of that funny name person that has been causing all of these problems rises to that section of the law.” Colours has called for an apology from Eden, Miller and Premier Alden McLaughlin “for this abhorrent behaviour and to state clearly that the Cayman Islands Government will not tolerate nor promote a witch-hunt directed at lawyers, activists or defenders of human rights of any kind residing in the Cayman Islands”. Colours also refuted Eden’s assessment that same-sex marriage is not a human right. “We would politely suggest he pull his head out of the sand and recognise that our organisation, often with the assistance of Dr Raznovich, has been working alongside other prominent and respected local organisations and government agencies who would undoubtedly claim otherwise,” the press release stated. “Rest assured, we will continue to defend and fight for the rights of our LGBTQIA+ community in spite of such comments and wholeheartedly support Dr Raznovich in his efforts.” Colours Cayman: Deportation comments in LA ‘blatant and gross abuse of power’ Howell: Impact of Nat’l Trust legal action ‘uncertain’ Referendum postal ballots near 300 280 postal ballots issued Deadline for applications 7 Dec. 10,069 – number of votes needed for referendum to be successful “Our organisation views this behaviour as a blatant and gross abuse of power. Are we to believe that any lawyer or individual advocating for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people is at risk of facing deportation or being ostracised somehow by our own government?” Billie Bryan Wesley Howell 6We can all be proud that Cayman’s economy and public services are in good shape. This is a combined effort of public, businesses and government all working together. Strong public finances work to ensure that Caymanians benefit from the opportunities of a strong economy and that our country continues to be a great place to live, work and invest and that we play our part on the global stage. Visit gov.ky/strongeconomy to learn more. REVENUE from fees, licences, duty and taxes EXPENDITURE on public services and investments SURPLUS (if we are careful) used to address debt + set aside for emergencies = - Figures referred herein reflect the 2018/19 fiscal year unless otherwise noted. The government posted its sixth consecutive year of surplus in 2018, which, at $170M, was also the highest surplus on record. Effective management of public finances helps the country invest in its future by reducing debts and putting money aside for emergencies such as hurricanes. Visit gov.ky/strongeconomy to learn more. The government posted its sixth consecutive year of surplus in 2018, which, at $170M, was also the The Cayman Islands’ gross domestic product (GDP) expanded at an estimated rate of 3.3%, higher than the 3.0 percent growth recorded in 2017. WORC programmes such as Passport2Success Ready2Work TRAINING 980 food handlers trained 1,173 students enrolled at UCCI 302 registered farmers $14M invested in scholarships for Caymanians 584 public healthcare professionals 486 RCIPS, 144 Fire Services and 240 Border Control team members GDP GROWTH 3.3% RESTAURANT GRAND OPENING 2.4M total visitors 6780 rooms available for tourist accommodation 16,326 new company registrations 959 building permits in GCM valued at $248M Property transfers rose by 37.8% Assisting the Bahamas: helicopter, medical relief teams, and medical supplies $733.2M estimated total spending of visitors 1342 inspections of food establishments 636 cruise ship calls 463,000 air arrivals (up by 10.7%) 15 Financial Services amendment laws 9,462 business licences issued Overall unemployment is 3%, with Caymanian unemployment the lowest in a decade. Doing the Maths cayman compass 7 FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2019Pre-Christmas Specials Kyle’s Innovative Unisex Salon Call 946-6038 for appointments 137 Eastern Avenue (Between Old Sounds & Things and Blue Marlin) Full Set Nails with Gel Polish Tues & Wed up to Dec 14th $ 30 Full Makeup by Sue-Ann $ 60 Weave Specials Tues & Wed up to Dec 14th $ 60 Cayman’s growing pains Protect our Future highlights greed in latest campaign KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Whether arriving by ship or plane, visitors to Grand Cayman are likely to spot one sight on the horizon before anything else: Mount Trashmore. The highest point in Grand Cayman, the landfill has become an unintended landmark of sorts, eliciting tongue-in-cheek reviews on Google. “Pizza was terrible, looked as if someone had already eaten some of it,” one reviewer writes. “Only place to see the whole island at once,” writes another. The student organisers with Protect Our Future are reminded of Mount Trashmore daily. It sits at the entrance of Cayman International School, where they are students. But for them it also represents the misplaced priorities of Cayman’s development. A new campaign by the student group focusses on the issue of greed by highlighting sites such as the landfill, the cleared KAABOO festival grounds and other locations that demonstrate the strains of development in Grand Cayman. “The more Mount Trashmore increases, the more the quality of our futures decrease[s],” an Instagram post from the group reads. “Instead of fixing this evolving problem of Mount Trashmore, the government focusses more on projects such as the proposed cruise berthing facility because of the potential economic gain.” Student Dejea Lyons worries about the environmental impact of the centrally located landfill site, but she also laments the damage it does to the island’s image. “I feel like it destroys our beauty, especially as it's one of the first things that people see as they enter the island,” Lyons said. “It's the highest point on the island, which is ridiculous. A mountain of trash? Who would expect that to be the highest point of an island, especially with our beauty and our serenity?” Leveraging social media, the students have released a protest image each day this week, displaying a sign that reads, “Greed destroys our future.” Mount Trashmore was just the first stop. The students have also taken their message to a damaged mangrove site, the vacant KAABOO festival grounds and Eden Rock. One organiser, Ben Somerville, said the campaign started as a way to raise awareness and to drive conversations about development, sustainability and conservation. “The campaign's main purpose was to shed light on the fact that environmental issues take a back seat to all other issues because they are not seen as bringing any economic benefit to Cayman. However, the short-term economic gains made by ignoring environmental impacts are far outweighed by the consequences of destroying our local ecosystems,” Somerville said. “With the loss of natural protection from hurricanes, loss of habitat for essential local species … the sacrificing of our environment is ruining our island.” For the last instalment in the series, the students dove by Eden Rock, one of the harbour sites that has evoked a strong response in the port development debate. While the port design has been shifted north of the site, an updated environmental impact assessment remains pending and it is unclear how the popular dive site could be affected. “We believe not only is the picture most impactful, but the location is one of the most significantly impacted currently. With the proposed cruise berthing facility directly impacting this pristine dive location, we believe that the public needs to understand the beauty of this location,” Somerville said. “There is a common misconception that Eden Rock is all dead coral, however it is thriving. Home to hundreds of different species, including multiple endangered corals, this area is a world-renowned dive site.” The group will host a demonstration Friday, starting at 5pm, on the George Town waterfront across from Bar Crudo. Cruise Port Referendum Cayman will be present, but Somerville said the event is not meant to be political. The students encourage families to attend and take advantage of the opportunity to discuss development issues with the community. Student activists turn the lens on Eden Rock was selected as the final site in Protect Our Future's campaign about greed. Students with Protect Our Future highlighted the KAABOO grounds as an example of the island's depletion of natural spaces. cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2019Monday, December 2nd, 2019 6:00 pm Government Administration Building, Elgin Avenue GT THE ROTARY CLUB OF GRAND CAYMAN INVITES YOU TO JOIN US IN CELEBRATING 54th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Karen Ryan celebrates a milestone in her career at the Cayman Compass this year – 1 Nov. 2019 marks her 40-year anniversary with the company. She joined the Compass in 1979 as a typesetter, learning the publishing field from the ground up. Karen honed her skills in graphic design, layout and production before joining the commercial print division. She’s seen vast changes in printing technology, but one area remains constant: the satisfaction that comes from a job well done. “I enjoy what I do,” she says. “When you see the finished product and the client is happy, that makes it all worthwhile.” Karen Ryan When you see the finished product and the client is happy, that makes it all worthwhile. Graphic Designer Compass Print Cayman Compass Promotion cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2019Next >