cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism | Monday, 2 December 2019 SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY SPICY GRILLED CRISPY SANDICHES I W CK ANDW CHICKEN ICHE E Anti-port protesters make their point Page 2 pass day, 2 December 201 'We are at a fork in the road' Big interview: Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell makes case for the port Pages 13 & 14 News RCIPS business manager facing charges Page 4• 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. - MONDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) 21 BRIDGES (R) 1:30 | 4:05 | 7:20 | 10:00 VIP FORD V FERRARI (PG13) 3:20 | 6:40 | 9:30 FROZEN 2 (PG) - 3D 12:45 3D | 1:15 | 3:50 VIP | 4:25 3D | 7:00 | 9:30 3D THE GOOD LIAR (PG13) 12:40 | 6:50 | 10:00 KNIVES OUT (PG13) 12:45 VIP | 3:35 | 7:00 VIP | 9:50 QUEEN & SLIM (R) 12:25 | 3:25 | 6:30 | 9:35 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 “Give light and the people will find their own way” Fair skies with 20% chance of showers weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 86°F 72°F HIGH LOW WINDS North to Northeast at 5 to 10 knots SEA STATE Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Protesters lined the George Town waterfront on Friday, as part of a growing environmental movement driven by student activists. Organisers with Protect Our Future brought together around 100 people, including members of CPR Cayman, in a showing against the proposed cruise berthing and cargo facility. Dejea Lyons and Ben Somerville directed the gathering, leading chants by megaphone to save the reef and take a stand against the port project, now subject to a people-initiated referendum to determine its future. Passing motorists honked their horns in support while others shouted out objections to the demonstrators’ messages. Protesters donned signs reading “Stand now or swim later”, “There are no jobs on a dead island”, and “End corporate eco-cide”, among others. Olivia Zimmer, one of the founding members of Protect Our Future, said the event was meant to raise awareness and to encourage voters to research the port project. “We’re just out here to rally together as a community and show that we are awake and we are in tune with what’s going on, and that we’re not just going to take whatever the government feeds us,” Zimmer said. “Our key message would be: before you vote, know what you’re voting for. … Try to research as much as you can.” Zimmer noted the gathering momentum around the student environmental movement, saying that she has been blown away by the community support and social media feedback. Local organisers, in fact, have drawn inspiration from the larger student climate movement, galvanised by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and driven by the social media tag #FridaysforFuture. “Fridays for Future is a global organisation led by students. Every single Friday they strike,” explained student activist Steff Mcdermot. “What makes today significant is it’s the global strike day. So these students organise all around the world to get up today and to strike for our future.” Continuing with the momentum, a small group of Cayman Islands students will travel to Spain this week to participate in the United Nations climate action summit, COP25. Students attending the event will have the chance to learn from global leaders as well as share the perspective of Caribbean islanders. One of the students who will attend, Connor Childs, said they are preparing speeches and researching ahead of the global gathering. “There are going to be a lot of high-ranking people there. Like Greta [Thunberg] is going to be there. I’m not sure if we’re going to meet her there, but hopefully we will,” Childs said. “But we are there mainly to listen. Hopefully we can weigh in on some of the conversations.” As for the message from Friday’s protest, Childs kept it simple: “We are out here to raise awareness to say no to the port.” Environmental activists take port message to waterfront Dejea Lyons calls on protesters to take their positions along Harbour Drive. “We’re just out here to rally together as a community and show that we are awake and we are in tune with what’s going on, and that we’re not just going to take whatever the government feeds us." Olivia Zimmer , Founding member of Protect Our Future cayman compass 2 news N news MONDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2019cayman compass 3 MONDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2019Police say they have opened a homicide investigation into the death of a man found near Bananas Restaurant and Bar. A man, whose identity has yet to be released, was found unresponsive Saturday morning near Bananas Bar in Dolphin Centre on Eastern Avenue. Police said they responded to a distress call just before 3:40 am. Police and other emergency services were dispatched to the scene, and the man was transported by ambulance to hospital where he was later pronounced dead. At press time, the police had not named the victim, who is a foreign national, since they had not yet been able to contact the man’s family. A homicide investigation has been launched into the matter. The circumstances leading to the man's death are still under investigation and police are appealing to witnesses, who may be able to provide insight into what happened, to come forward. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the George Town Police Station at 949-4222. Police open homicide investigation into death near bar JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service business manager is expected to be charged Monday in connection with an ongoing probe into financial irregularities at regional football governing body CONCACAF. Charmaine Moss was placed on required leave by the police Friday after it emerged that prosecutors had recommended charges following the conclusion of an extensive criminal investigation. She is expected to appear in Summary Court early this week. Moss retained her post as the RCIPS’s business manager – a civilian role – and her contract was renewed on at least one occasion while the lengthy investigation unfolded. Contacted by the Cayman Compass Friday evening, Police Commissioner Derek Byrne confirmed he had placed Moss on required leave, “pending the disposal of criminal charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions”. He added, “The charges relate to financial activities between 2012 Police business manager facing charges in football probe cartoon Wish List - By Caymanman and 2014, before her employment with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.” Byrne declined to comment further at this stage. Moss was hired by the RCIPS in spring of 2016. The Compass understands the police financial crimes unit began investigating allegations that she was implicated in alleged financial irregularities at CONCACAF later the same year. CONCACAF is the regional football governing body for the Caribbean, North and Central America. Moss never had a formal role with CONCACAF, but was involved with the organisation, and with Cayman football in general, as a volunteer, the Compass understands. She was chair of volunteers for the local organising committee when a regional Under-15 tournament was held in Cayman in 2013. Caymanian Jeffrey Webb was president of both the Cayman Islands Football Association and CONCACAF until he was arrested, along with multiple other officials from football world governing body FIFA, in Zurich in 2015. Webb pleaded guilty later the same year to seven counts in a US federal court indictment alleging he and dozens of other defendants conspired to rig sports marketing contracts for various world football events in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes. Webb is still under house arrest in the US awaiting sentencing for his crimes. A slew of local and international investigations relating to widespread allegations of financial irregularities in local and global football have followed. Former CIFA executives Bruce Blake and Canover Watson are both facing money-laundering charges in connection with an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission. Moss was investigated by the financial crimes unit rather than the ACC. The exact charges against her have not yet been revealed. The Compass submitted questions to the Ministry of Home Affairs as well as the police, querying why Moss remained in such an influential role with the police while the investigation took place; however, no response had been received by press time. RCIPS business manager Charmaine Moss is expected to be charged Monday in connection with an ongoing probe into financial irregularities at regional football governing body CONCACAF. “The charges relate to financial activities between 2012 and 2014, before her employment with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service.” – Police Commissioner Derek Byrne 4 FridAY'S SOLUTiONS 123456 78 910 1112 13 141516 17 181920 21 2223 24 123456 78 910 1112 13 141516 17 181920 21 2223 24 Puzzle 16235 ACROSS: 1 Jeans, 4 Bonanza, 8 Set, 9 Equitable, 10 Inquest, 11 Built, 13 Enigma, 15 Decamp, 18 Lay on, 19 Uncover, 21 Veritable, 23 Nil, 24 Demerit, 25 Piety. DOWN: 1 Jasmine, 2 Antiquity, 3 Scene, 4 Bounty, 5 Notable, 6 Nub, 7 Avert, 12 In advance, 14 Monitor, 16 Parsley, 17 Turbot, 18 Livid, 20 Cheap, 22 Rum. ACrOSS 1 Ancient armless statue (5,2,4) 9 Eight-sided figure (7) 10 Fibre used for ropes (5) 11 Well-ordered (4) 12 Social butterfly (8) 14 Walking (2,4) 16 Professional reviewer (6) 18 Customary (8) 19 Long detailed story (4) 22 Banal (5) 23 Composer of Madame Butterfly (7) 24 In the world (5,3,3) dOWN 2 Crowd scene actor (5) 3 Incite (4) 4 Rejection (6) 5 Slaughter (8) 6 Make verbal attack (4,3) 7 Unpretentious (4-2-5) 8 Having power through wealth (11) 13 Total (8) 15 The novel (7) 17 Tyrant (6) 20 Farewell (5) 21 Continuous dull pain (4) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16237 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.DOOR BUSTER DEALS! INCLUDES: • COMFORTER • SHEET SET • PILLOW CASES • PILLOWS WE MOVED! New address: 494 Shedden Road, next to Automotive Art HOURS: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat 9am-5pm www.MattressExperts.ky 947·1708 incl. Tencel, Egyptian Cotton & Cotton Blend WE MOVED!! WE MOVED!! FREE MATTRESS DELIVERY - GET THEM WHILE YOU CAN! BED IN A BAG SETS 109 FROM $ UP TO 75% OFF UP TO 75% OFF SELECTED LINENS 29 FROM $ 99 399 $ QUEEN SIZED 10” MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS WAS $ 599! HURRY IN! THEY ARE GOING QUICKLY! QUEEN SIZE PILLOWS FROM $ 30 20% OFF MATTRESS TOPPERS & SPECIALTY PILLOWS SUCH AS WEDGES, LOUNGE & PREGNANCY PILLOWS ONLY COOLING PILLOWS FROM $ 50 799 $ JASMINE 5 STAR HOTEL MATTRESS - QUEEN SIZE WAS $ 999! *Teddy Bear not included TT OUR BLACK FRIDAY SALE CONTINUES! cayman compass 5 MONDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2019cayman compass 6 MONDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2019 CUC LED streetlights project update 10% of new lights failing RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Caribbean Utilities Company has said nearly 10% of its new light- emitting diode streetlights are failing. It is now working with the LED light manufacturer to address the issues being experienced and is replacing the affected lights. CUC, in a statement, said it is aware of “an abnormal number” of the streetlights continuously flickering. “This is due to a failure in the photocell activated switch which senses light and turns the streetlights on at dusk and off at dawn. When malfunctioning, the switch will rapidly turn the LED lights on and off for a few days until it fails permanently, after which the LED light will remain off,” the power company said. CUC added that the LED light itself is not faulty, the problem is only with the photocell switches. The streetlights form part of a five-year programme to replace the older high-pressure sodium lights with the highly energy efficient LED lights. CUC is in the second year of that programme, which is partnering with the National Roads Authority. The project, to change all street and private lights, is estimated to cost $4 million. It is unclear how the current failures will impact the full roll-out of the project. As part of the first phase more than 2,000 LED lights were installed in George Town. Why the lights are failing “CUC has deployed crews to replace the affected photocells and in the longer term will work with the manufacturer to upgrade the photocells to a more robust design,” the company said. The premature failure of the photocells, it said, is related to heat and moisture and exacerbated when power to the light is interrupted as was the case on Wednesday, 27 Nov, during the unscheduled outage, which affected a number of areas. It said the island-wide streetlight project is part of CUC’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as cut costs for the NRA to whom CUC provides the street- lighting service CUC LED streetlight project fast facts • The project started in 2018. • More than 7,000 LEDs have been projected to be installed across Grand Cayman. • More than 2,000 LED lights were installed in George Town as part of the first phase. • The new lights, according to CUC, will bring an estimated 26% savings in overall street-lighting costs billed to customers. • The reduction in energy use by the LED fixtures for the total project will be approximately 3.78 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year for a reduction of 195,000 imperial gallons of diesel used. CUC is aiming to replace all existing streetlight bulbs to LEDs by 2020. CUC has said nearly 10% of its new LED streetlights have registered a failure in its photocell activated switch.- Ruthanna Young Granddaughter of Captain Marvin Ebanks @votenocayman #itsinourhands cayman compass 7 MONDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2019cayman compass 8 news N news MONDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2019 Bush takes aim at anti-port groups Describes the port referendum as biggest political football RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky House Speaker McKeeva Bush has warned against misinformation and “emotive rhetoric” in the run-up to the 19 Dec. referendum on Cayman’s cruise berthing and cargo project. His message came even as the vote remains in limbo, with the National Trust applying to the court for leave to seek judicial review of the referendum being held in the absence of an updated environmental impact assessment. A date for the hearing of that legal action has yet to be announced. Over the weekend, Bush, in his written thanksgiving message at the close of the 2019 hurricane season, took aim at the those campaigning against the $200 million project. He said the debate over the proposed facility enhancement has reminded him that controversy goes hand in hand with progress. Bush suggested that his name was being impugned publicly, and while he was not as likely to be on the offensive as when he was a young political “stalwart”, he said, “Nevertheless, I will not stand silently.” In his message, he said that “petty jabs are often made from misinformed positions”. “While this Referendum is the biggest political football in our history, I caution that pumping it up with misinformation and emotive rhetoric can be to the detriment of those whose jobs and business[es] could fall by the wayside without a proper facility,” he said. In recent weeks, Bush, the West Bay West MLA, has found himself involved in several public spats on social media with a number of individuals opposing the project. In some cases, he resorted to coarse language in his bid to get his point across. In his thanksgiving message, Bush contended that in times of need, Cayman cannot look for “any port in a storm; we only know what we have now: a cruise berth and cargo-port facility that are in dire need of upgrades”. He said the future of Cayman tourism is no numbers game. “A seat at the table, and to succeed in the new world economy, needs a scientific, diplomatic and practical formula that is not easy to achieve ... even for those embroiled in the competitive market’s forces,” he added. Bush endorsed the government’s $1.5 billion budget, which was passed in the Legislative Assembly and is currently going through the Finance Committee stage. He said citizens have much to be thankful for, especially as Cayman ended the hurricane season unscathed. “I need not evoke the memories and the dire effects of names like Dorian, Irma, Matthew and Maria,” Bush said. “Suffice to say, in Cayman we still recall the devastation of Ivan and Paloma, and, as the saying goes, ‘Those who feel it, know it’. This passage of the storm season is one aspect of tropical existence common to our region, and we certainly empathise with those who felt the wrath of Mother Nature this year; in particular, our friends in the Bahamas.” Hurricane season ends Cayman goes another year untouched ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Residents in Cayman were able to breathe a deep sigh of relief on Sunday, 1 Dec. as the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season officially ended. During the 2019 season, which ran from 1 June to 30 Nov., 18 storms developed, with six going on to become hurricanes, three of which were major hurricanes. Hurricanes, or tropical cyclones, are ranked from category 1 to 5. They develop once the ‘eye of the storm’ forms and the weather system begins to produce sustained winds of at least 74 miles per hour. A major hurricane is a category three storm or stronger, with minimum sustained winds of 111 miles per hour. Only three systems directly impacted the Caribbean – Hurricane Dorian, Tropical Storm Karen and Tropical Storm Olga, none of which impacted Cayman. At Category 5, Hurricane Dorian was the strongest and deadliest storm ever to hit the Bahamas. According to the Cayman Islands National Weather Service, Dorian’s maximum sustained winds peaked at 185 miles per hour. The NWS said the September storm claimed more than 60 lives in the Bahamas, left hundreds of thousands of people homeless, and caused an estimated US$7 billion of damages. The initial prediction of the NWS ahead of the start of the season aligned with that of Colorado State University. Both called for 13 named storms, five hurricanes and two major hurricanes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, however, called for 15 named storms for the season, four to nine becoming hurricanes and two to four of those becoming major hurricanes. The pre-season predictions called for a 30% probability of an average season, which according to NOAA is a season with 10.1 named storms, 5.9 hurricanes and 2.5 major hurricanes. Although the first storm of the season, sub-tropical storm Andrea, developed in May the season got off to a slow start as the first hurricane, Barry, did not develop until July. Midway through the season forecasters updated their predictions to expect a slightly above average season. Two massive contributing forces in the development of storm activity were the El Nino and La Nina Southern Oscillation. El Nino and La Nina (Spanish for “little boy and little girl”) refer to the heating and cooling of the tropical belt. For the Caribbean, an El Nino helps to suppress the creation of storms, while a La Nina increases the chances. A weakening El Nino forced forecasters to rethink predictions midway through the season. A final forecast called for 45% chance of average season, and saw forecasters increasing their storm activity predictions by one. Fortunately for residents in Cayman, the country went another year unscathed. No system impacted the Cayman Islands and no statements or warnings were issued during the season. The latest satellite imagery of the Caribbean basin shows no storm activity. It’s been more than a decade since Cayman was struck by Hurricane Paloma, which in 2008 made landfall in Cayman Brac. The sister Island was devasted, but fortunately no lives were lost. “While this Referendum is the biggest political football in our history, I caution that pumping it up with misinformation and emotive rhetoric can be to the detriment of those whose jobs and business[es] could fall by the wayside without a proper facility.” House Speaker McKeeva Bush. MONDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2019 t Public access to Heroes Square has been closed off as work to upgrade the historic site began over the weekend. According to a GIS statement on Saturday, the work will add new features to Heroes Square ahead of the next National Heroes Day ceremony, slated for January 2020. It said the plans include new statuary at the site, and call for the semi-circular planters located in each corner of the square to be incorporated into the proposed monuments. The statement said public access to Heroes Square will be closed throughout construction. The first phase of the upgrade is expected to last several weeks. To prepare for the construction, the statement said, a number of plants, including some bull thatch palms located within the project’s footprint, are being uprooted and re-potted. The trees will eventually be relocated around Heroes Square and elsewhere. Heroes Square upgrades under way Work has started on upgrades to Cayman’s Heroes Square in George Town. 2019 Atlantic storm season at a glance: • 18 named storms • 6 hurricanes • 3 major hurricanes Strongest Storm: Hurricane Dorian • Category 5 • Winds peaked at 185 mph • Claimed more than 60 lives • Cost US$7billion in damages Bank of the Year 2019 BERMUDA Bank of the Year 2019 CAYMAN ISLANDS cayman compass 9 MONDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2019Next >