AAdvantage Standard Mastercard AAdvantage miles 5,000 AAdvantage miles AAdvantage Platinum Mastercard 10,000 cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism | Tuesday, 3 December 2019 Local News Nat’l Trust port case in court Page 4 Local News PR firm paid $70k for pro-port campaign Page 7 Webb, Watson and RCIPS manager charged Page 2 Projected to top 35,000 next year Page 5 Concerns over rising work permits Up-close views of GT reefs Page 4 UK cricket club heads to Cayman Page 10• 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. - TUESDAY - 640-FILM (640-3456) 21 BRIDGES (R) 1:30 | 4:05 | 7:20 | 10:00 VIP FORD V FERRARI (PG13) 3:20 | 9:30 FROZEN 2 (PG) 12:45 3D | 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 CLASSICS @ THE CINEMA ALIEN (R) 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 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 30% chance of showers weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 86°F 72°F HIGH LOW WINDS North to northwest at 5 to 10 becoming northeasterly at 10 to 15 knots by afternoon SEA STATE Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky The number of open areas that provide a glimpse of Cayman’s beautiful turquoise waters along West Bay Road continue to decline as a concrete wall is being built adjacent to Seven Mile Public Beach. From the road, the view of the water has become completed blocked to motorists travelling north on West Bay Road on the curve taking traffic to the Esterley Tibbetts Highway. Dart is constructing the wall as part of an ongoing agreement with the Cayman Islands government, Dart’s public relations manager Hannah Reid said. The development is part of a multi-million-dollar project that is being constructed to the specifications of the government, she added. “The $3 million project undertaken by Dart to enhance the recreational areas at Seven Mile Public Beach was included in the Third Amendment to the National Roads Authority Agreement between the Cayman Islands government and Dart,” said Reid. “Dart has worked closely with stakeholders to deliver the improvements envisioned by government, including the soccer and volleyball courts, new bathroom facilities and upgrades to the parking lot. Design features have been built to specifications supplied by government in consultation with the Central Planning Authority and National Roads Authority.” The Cayman Compass reached out to government seeking clarification on why the wall was being built as well as a response regarding the obstruction to water views from the road. No reply had been received by press time. ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Charges were filed on Monday against three people accused of defrauding local and regional football bodies. Charmaine Moss, Jeffrey Webb and Canover Watson are all jointly charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football). Moss, 45; Webb, 55; and Watson, 49; between January 2012 and September 2014 allegedly created a fake company called Ironshore International Limited, according to court documents. Through the fake company, the trio is said to have claimed to be agents of Admiral Financial Centre Ltd. The charge further alleges that false, inflated invoices were submitted to CONCACAF. Moss and Webb are jointly charged with an additional count of conspiracy to defraud CONCACAF, which alleges the submission of more fraudulent invoices during the same time period. Moss also faces a third and final count of converting criminal property in relation to funds transferred to Ironshore International Limited and Moss International Limited. She is currently employed with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service as a business development manager, a civilian role. On Friday, Police Commissioner Derek Byrne confirmed that he had placed Moss on required leave, “pending the disposal of the charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions”. He added that the charges predated her employment with the RCIPS. At the time the offences are alleged to have occurred, Webb was serving as a FIFA vice president, CONCACAF president and Cayman Islands Football Association president. Watson also served in an executive role with CIFA. Moss was not a member of CIFA; however, she worked closely with the organisation. Webb remains in the US under strict bail conditions, as he awaits sentencing on several counts of money laundering, fraud and racketeering, charges to which he has already pleaded guilty. Waston remains on bail for matters of a similar nature that are currently before the courts. Moss is expected to make her first court appearance in January 2020. Moss, Watson and Webb charged with fraud Wall goes up near Public Beach ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky A police officer arrested in connection with a 2016 Royal Bank of Canada burglary is no longer employed with the RCIPS, a spokesperson for the police service confirmed. The officer in question was released on bail shortly after his arrest in July. RCIPS media officer Jodi-Ann Powery said the officer was placed on immediate suspension after being arrested. “Shortly after [the suspension] he was due for a contract renewal at which time the commissioner made the decision not to renew his contract,” she said. The burglary took place at RBC’s main branch on Shedden Road, George Town. During the incident thieves gained access to the tills at the desks of cashiers and made off with an undisclosed sum of money. They were not able to access the bank’s vault. It has been a little more than four months since the officer was arrested; however, no charges have been filed. The investigation remains open. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the police at 949-4222. Cop arrested in bank burglary no longer with RCIPS A wall is being built by Seven Mile Public Beach. 2Christmas Community bring the entire family to the Compass Media Parking Lot call penelope 949-5111 december 7, 10am - 2 pm meet santa 11am-1pm live music thank you to our sponsors crafts & jewellery Lots of christmas gift ideas Lots of christmas gift ideas CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky Kameron D’Hue grew up playing around the docks and waters of West Bay, and watching scuba divers head out to sea, leading to a curiosity about what awaited beneath the water’s surface. “I used to always see divers, dive staff and tourists coming and going scuba diving, and always wondered what it would be like to be under the water for a long period of time,” D’Hue said. Shaun Jackson, meanwhile, grew up in Bodden Town, in a family with a long connection to the sea, and he has always had an interest in marine life. The two young men waiting outside of the Inspire Cayman Training Centre caught up with each other ahead of the day’s scuba diving lesson. D’Hue, 21, from West Bay, and Jackson, 19, from Bodden Town, are the first students at Cayman’s new trade school,Inspire Cayman Training. They both chose the dive instructor certification course, under the authority of the Professional Association of Diving Instructors. Jackson was out of work when his grandmother saw an ad for the PADI programme at Inspire Cayman and sent it to him. Jackson also had always wondered what it would be like to scuba dive. Aaron Hunt, ICT instructor and director of Eco Divers Reef Foundation, said the same mindset of taking on coral reef management is what attracted him to work with programmes like Inspire Cayman. “There is value in protecting that which I see as critical for the future,” Hunt said. “So many people are interested in investing just for today, but Inspire Cayman is investing in the future.” Hunt has been working with the two students since August, instructing them on the foundations of open water diving and other aspects required to qualify as a divemaster. He said D’Hue and Jackson were both awarded Bob Soto Memorial Scholarships by the Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. “My goal is for these young men [not] just to be a dive instructor at a dive shop, but to be … leaders of the dive community.” Hunt said. Jackson agreed with D’Hue that the most challenging concepts of the PADI course would be learning the physics of the divemaster’s level, which is the first level of professional diving that teaches them leadership skills, managing groups, and getting their first experiences with various dive companies. Both students have found a renewed passion for their native waters. Learning about what the coral does for the ecosystem gave Jackson a new-found appreciation. “We Caymanians don’t know what we really have, because if everyone could see what we really have down there, I guarantee government wouldn’t have a choice [but] to shut down the [cruise port project],” Jackson said. D’Hue said before he started scuba diving, he had only a vague inkling of what was in Cayman’s waters. “We have to be grateful and appreciative with what we have down there, because it’s amazing,” he said. Hunt said the education he is giving the students is helping them develop the concept in their own minds about why Cayman’s underwater environment is worth protecting. “It’s a rare and unique opportunity that most other places in the world wouldn’t even be able to consider, and they are very lucky and quite excited about what these opportunities could translate to,” Hunt said. D’Hue and Jackson are set to complete the course in January. Dive students inspired at trade school Kameron D’Hue scrubs a piece of coral during diving training. Steps on how to become a DIVE MASTER Open water diving Advanced open water Rescue diver skills Dive master level cayman compass 3 news N news TUESDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2019JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The National Trust will be in court Tuesday morning for the first phase of its legal challenge to the referendum on the port project, according to the organisation’s executive director, Nadia Hardie. The hearing, scheduled for 9am, is not open to the public. It is fairly common for preliminary hearings such as this to be held ‘in chambers’, though dispensations are sometimes made in public interest cases to allow limited access to the press. The exact nature of Tuesday’s hearing is unclear and Trust officials were reluctant to discuss details Monday. It is understood that the legal challenge could result in a delay to the referendum. The Trust has filed for leave to appeal for judicial review of government’s decision to proceed with a public poll on the $200 million port project before an updated environmental impact assessment is completed. According to a 'letter before action' submitted by the Trust's lawyers to government last month, the organisation is seeking a legal ruling that the vote should be delayed until "all necessary studies" have been conducted on the new design. The Trust lists a revised environmental impact assessment, an analysis of the long-term viability of coral relocation and a review of the feasibility and ecological impact of moving the wrecks of the Balboa and the Cali, among the studies it says should take place before a referendum. The Trust also claims in its letter that the consultants who carried out the original EIA and have been retained for the update by Verdant Isle Port Partners, the consortium behind the project, are "no longer independent. "In the circumstances, there is and will be no relevant, perceived independent EIA, in respect of the cruise berthing project which is the subject of the proposed referendum." A leading member of the Cruise Port Referendum Cayman group is also seeking to bring legal action to ensure the vote is conducted in a “fair and lawful” manner, the organisation confirmed last week. Shirley Roulstone has filed an application for a ‘protective costs order’, which would shield her from potentially massive legal costs if the eventual judicial review is unsuccessful. If that costs application is approved, Roulstone will proceed with the legal action, CPR indicated in a press statement. Premier Alden McLaughlin commented on the legal challenges in the Legislative Assembly last week, acknowledging the vote could be delayed. “This action is most regrettable,” he said. “There is now grave uncertainty as to whether or not the referendum will actually proceed and the state of uncertainty and division in the country will only continue and heighten.” National Trust heads to court over cruise referendum What is judicial review? Judicial review allows applicants with sufficient interest in a decision or action by a public body to ask the Grand Court to review the lawfulness of rules and regulations, or other subordinate legislation; or a decision, action or failure to act in relation to the exercise of a public function. Tuesday hearing scheduled cartoon Jake Fuller KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky It is one thing to be told of a place and another to experience it. The National Trust for the Cayman Islands embraced the ‘show, don’t tell’ philosophy on Saturday morning, taking dozens of guests out on the Nautilus submarine to witness sites in George Town Harbour that many have only read about. National Trust director Nadia Hardie was not able to attend the full tour, instead leaving before departure to meet with lawyers regarding the judicial review of the 19 Dec. port referendum. “Unfortunately, I can’t come with you this morning because I’ve got to go spend two hours with some lawyers,” Hardie said in opening remarks, eliciting a round of applause from the public. “But the National Trust really wanted to try to show people what we have out here. We’re not telling you to vote yes or no. If you can vote, just vote. But I think it’s really important to actually see what’s at stake. … “If you can vote on Dec. 19, if the referendum does go on that day, then just make an informed decision. That’s all we’re asking. Sadly, I don’t think you will have the facts if we go ahead on the 19th.” The hour-long tour took guests to sites that are expected to feel the greatest impact of the proposed port project: the wrecks of the Cali and the Balboa, Eden Rock and Soto’s Reef. Aaron Hunt, of Eco Divers, guided guests as the Nautilus navigated reef structures, hardpan and sandy areas, schools of fish and other marine life. “Reef structures that are up to 30-feet tall and that reach within 10 feet of the surface are forming the future landscape and reef crests of this island,” Hunt said. Even for reef areas that are not projected to be moved, Hunt fears the effects of silt plume that could prove harmful for the surrounding ecosystem. “It needs to be looked at very seriously. The layout for what’s going on, the design and the concept, seems to fly in the face of what makes maritime sense,” Hunt said. Proponents of the port say they do not expect the ecological impact to be significant and have assured voters they will be able to mitigate the effects of construction through coral relocation. “Many of the proposals that have been tossed around recently speak of an almost magical quality for individuals to be able to solve problems of … the corals needing to be moved, of the reef structure being needing to move, of the financial impact.” Eden Hurlston joined the tour, sharing the experience with his partner and son. For him, the experience was a reminder of what makes Cayman special. “[It showed] how precious this reef system is, how unique it is, the fact that it is worth so much more alive,” Hurlston said. “The research and what we can learn from having this ecosystem thrive is worth way more than … any amount they want to put on it. We have a priceless treasure. You can’t sell that for any amount.” Long-time visitor to the island Elizabeth Barnum of North Carolina said that she knows of no other Caribbean capital city that offers such ease of access to shore snorkelling and diving. “As we were on the boat today and looking at the corals, what crossed my mind is that we may be some of the last humans to ever see this incredible reef here in Cayman,” she said. “It’s very sad to think that humans would contemplate destroying such an important and beautiful resource.” Tour encourages voters to judge for themselves “But the National Trust really wanted to try to show people what we have out here. We’re not telling you to vote yes or no. If you can vote, just vote. But I think it’s really important to actually see what’s at stake." Nadia Hardie, National Trust Director 4[] CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky As many as 10,000 new work permits could be granted within the next year, according to Cayman's leaders. Immigration officials expect the number of permits issued to foreign workers to rise from just more than 30,000 to somewhere between 35,000 to 40,000 by the end of 2020. Premier Alden McLaughlin confirmed the projected growth. Cayman issued a record 30,298 as of last month. George Town Central MLA Kenneth Bryan brought up that estimate during discussion on the final work permit numbers for 2019. Work permits were originally estimated to fall between 26,000 and 36,000 this year. Bryan questioned Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman and Employment Ministry officials on next year’s predictions. “Would it be fair to say then that [with the] same current trends … between 31,000 to 41,000, [there] would be at least 35,000 work permit holders?” Bryan pressed. McLaughlin, who is the Employment Minister, agreed that estimate was correct. “That’s what the projected numbers are, so we don’t know. The economy is driving along,” the premier said. “Unless we as the government make a policy decision that we are going to tell Caymanian business owners that you can’t hire any more people, we want you to shrink your business or stop growing your business, we have to make provision for the labour to run those businesses, so these are projections assuming the economy stays as buoyant as it is.” Michael Ebanks, the acting chief officer of the Ministry of Employment & Border Control, explained to Finance Committee that about 90% of work permit applications are approved. Given the estimated number of applications, Bryan said that it would be safe to assume there could be around 37,000 work permit holders next year. “I think this is something we have to be concerned about because another 10,000 people more projected and the government has not disagreed that there’s a possibility for that, what does that mean for traffic? What does that mean for the rental market?” Bryan asked. The George Town Central MLA, in an interview with the Cayman Compass following the committee meeting, said the government is “predicting up to 41,000 [work permits] next year”. Bryan defended his taking issue with the number of work permits during Finance Committee. “This is nothing about we don’t want people here or we don’t want work permit holders here,” Bryan said. “The projections of work permit holders that high shows that our economy is doing well and strong and that is good, but there are adverse effects and it’s our jobs to try our best to mediate them.” Bryan said at this point adding another potential 7,000 to 10,000 people next year into the traffic mix could have some serious adverse effects. “We are talking about kids not being able to get to school. We are talking about people not being able to get to work on time, it can have ripple effects on family and community life,” Bryan said. “There’s so much more to this, especially the cost of living; the rental market will skyrocket again because of the supply and demand of our market.” Concerns over rising work permit numbers 90% the approval rate of work permit applications this year. 0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 5 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 7 2 0 0 8 2 0 0 9 2 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7 2 0 1 8 N o v - 1 9 2 0 2 0 * *forecast Number of work permits reaches new record, expected to grow “The projections of work permit holders that high shows that our economy is doing well and strong and that is good, but there are adverse effects and it’s our jobs to try our best to mediate them .” Kenneth Bryan , George Town Central MLA cayman compass 5 news N news TUESDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2019BY MARK MUCKENFUSS The movement started in Katrina Jurn’s living room: six people gathered together after work because they didn’t like what they were hearing about a proposed cruise ship berth being built in George Town Harbour. They munched on potato chips and talked about what they might do to stop it. “We knew a petition for a referendum was the only choice,” Jurn said. They wondered what to call their cruise port referendum group, until the correlation with a lifesaving procedure suddenly struck them. “It was like, ‘CPR, oh my God!’” Jurn said. So the movement’s name became a metaphor – life support for the reefs. Johann Moxam, a partner in a corporate financial services company, said it was clear the battle would not be won on the political front. The make-up of the Legislative Assembly meant government was always likely to get its plans through the House. “It had to be a people-driven initiative,” he said. Some members had experience in activist causes. Jurn had previously co-founded Sustainable Cayman and led several other environmental groups, one of which was Save Cayman. That organisation was formed in response to the government’s actions in light of the environmental impact report on the cruise berthing project. The group organised demonstrations against the project. “A lot of us were involved in the 2015 movement in different ways,” Jurn said. She said photographer Cathy Church helped connect her with other activist-oriented people, such as Mario Rankin. All of them knew the territory. It was a matter of mobilisation. How many people could they convince to come along? Humble beginnings Within a week, they had printed petition forms and were setting up a table and canopy at Hurley’s supermarket. They asked shoppers coming and going from the store if they were registered to vote and, if they were, would they sign a petition for a referendum to stop the port project. “We didn’t even have a banner,” said Shirley Roulstone, a tour operator who was not at the initial meeting but joined soon after. “We only had a poster board.” Members chipped in to pay for materials. “We mostly all contributed similar amounts, whatever we could afford towards our startup costs,” Jurn said. She estimated those costs were “under $1,500 in total”. In addition to petition booklets, they spent money on banners, The anti-port movement: How a small campaign snowballed to force a referendum CPR members huddle during a recent public meeting. Members of CPR Cayman joined a protest Friday afternoon. Not everyone agrees with their methods or their message, but no matter how people feel about CPR Cayman or the port project, it is clear they have made history. The Compass met with the group’s founding members to get the inside track on how a small band of individuals started a movement that grew into a 6,000-strong group of citizens that forced the island’s first people-initiated referendum. cayman compass 6 I TUESDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2019 issuesT-shirts bearing a ‘Have Your Say’ logo, tables and canopies. A week later they held a meeting to recruit volunteers; 25 people showed up. The long, slow process of gathering more than 5,000 signatures took around nine months. The core members of the group insisted they never had any doubts they would succeed. “We were all optimistic,” said Rankin. Week after week, they staffed the table at Hurley’s. They also stationed themselves at other places around the island, including Hell gas station, Countryside Shopping Village and Books and Books in Camana Bay. The University College of the Cayman Islands’ Ecology Club set up a table on campus. Children dragged their parents to sign Some people were eager to sign. Some had to be cajoled. Roulstone said many times children dragged their parents over to sign the document. Moxam said a number of civil servants worried about putting their names on the petition. “There was a senior civil servant who told me I had to come to his house because he didn’t want anyone to see him signing,” he said. Jurn said the group wanted to make sure the signatures they collected were going to be valid in the eyes of the Elections Office. They painstakingly compared the names on the petitions with those on the Official Register of Electors, verifying addresses and signatures. They were operating largely in the dark. Although the Cayman Islands Constitution provides for a referendum process, there are no detailed guidelines as to how it should work. “Hundreds of people had changed their addresses,” Jurn said. There were duplicate names and signatures. If they were to do it over again, she said, “We would have collected phone numbers and email addresses.” But many people were wary enough just providing their signatures, she added. Asking for personal information likely would have scared many prospective supporters away, Jurn believes. Momentum Shortly before submitting the final signatures to the Elections Office, CPR held a public meeting in George Town’s Town Hall, now Constitution Hall. Members said they were surprised when about 300 people showed up. “I’ve been involved in other environmental movements,” Jurn said. “Never have I experienced the community coming together like this before.” Moxam said the group’s actions have changed Cayman politics. “We couldn’t understand that it would become this,” he said. “CPR represents every colour and type of Caymanian that exists: rich, poor, black, white, it doesn’t matter. Everybody is a hardcore multi-generation Caymanian. The support we have is from every type of Caymanian. “People are paying attention because this is unprecedented,” he added. “This is the first time that the feasibility of a people-initiated referendum has been shown and I think that strikes fear in the hearts of some in the government.” Rankin said he thinks it has changed the tenor of how people look at governance. “We changed the mindset of a lot of Caymanian people who thought, ‘No matter what we do, it’s not going to change government’s mind,’” he said. “We haven’t converted everybody, but we’ve converted enough.” And, Moxam said, the group has established a guideline. “I think people now have a clear example of what’s possible,” he said. “This is the model for grassroots politics going forward.” JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Public Relations firm Kelly Holding won a $70,000 contract to support government’s marketing push in support of the cruise port development, according to documents released under the Freedom of Information Law. The firm was one of three bidders for the contract for a “high intensity public education campaign” around the cruise and cargo project. Government is obliged to reveal its marketing spend in response to FOI requests. The $70,240 contract between Kelly Holding and the Ministry of Tourism takes the direct spending on port promotions past $200,000. Government has also taken out more than 4,000 ads with Radio Cayman. Though no money changed hands for the commercials, an earlier FOI response, indicates that the ‘set value’ for government entities for these types of ads is $20. The Ministry of Tourism ran 4,376 such ads between 1 Jan. 2018 and 1 Sept. 2019, the response indicated. Based on the $20 valuation, that amounts to in- kind expenditure of $87,340. Premier Alden McLaughlin had previously defended government's right to spend public money to promote the project. He said it was unclear how much CPR had spent as they were not required to make their spending public. “Government is entitled to spend taxpayers’ money to promote any of its projects,” he said in an inerview. “This is not a party political issue; this is a national issue for which the government has a mandate.” Katrina JurnMario Rankin Founders: The referendum campaign started with a small group of people. PR firm paid $70k for pro-port campaign How a small campaign snowballed to force a referendum 7 I issuesAlthough many people look forward to the holiday season, there are some for whom it is a reminder of lost loved ones. In this case, Christmas and New Year’s Eve can be particularly difficult, when everything from TV ads to parties celebrate the joy of this time of year. Jasmine, formerly HospiceCare, has sought to assist those dealing with loss by hosting its annual Light up a Life event. In past years, it has been held at Camana Bay, but this year it will be held at Jasmine Villa on Tuesday, starting at 5:30pm. Guests are invited to add their light to a tree in remembrance of a relative or friend. Previously, lights were placed on a metal tree. This time, stars will be hung on a tree. There is no cost to attend the event, but guests are asked to donate $10 for each star. As before, the Cayman National Choir will be performing, and special guests will speak. Jasmine Jasmine is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing professional, dignified and compassionate care, free of charge, to anyone in the Cayman Islands living with debilitating long-term or end-stage conditions. A staff of nine, a board of directors and numerous volunteers all actively participate in Jasmine’s operations and administration. Jasmine relies entirely on donations from the Cayman community. Cayman National Choir Although the choir includes professional musicians and experienced singers, it is a diverse group that welcomes singers of all ages, nationalities and ability. Some members do not read music, but with commitment to weekly rehearsals and practice, are able to fully participate. The National Choir is a part of the community and open to everyone with no auditions required. New members are always welcome. For more information about Jasmine, visit www.jasmine.ky. Light up a Life at Jasmine This year's Light up a Life event will be held at Jasmine Villa, off West Bay Road. In the past, guests would place lights on a 'tree' in Camana Bay. This year, they will hang stars on a tree. The National Choir, led by Sue Horrocks, will be performing once again this year. This image shows the launch of the Nereia, which was built by the Arch Brothers around 1952. The yacht was built for a New Yorker for US$36,000, and was the last yacht built in Cayman. Everyone always talks about the ‘good old days’ when times were simpler. Each week we will be publishing old photos of Cayman. See if you recognise the places and people in them. Looking back in time Let us know if you can fill in any blanks, share a short memory or submit a photo. Email vwheaton@compassmedia.ky. annual event 8123456 78 9 10 11 1213 14 1516 17 1819 2021 123456 78 9 10 11 1213 14 1516 17 1819 2021 ACROSS 1 Tapering flag (7) 4 Postpone (5) 7 Identical (4) 8 One in adversity (8) 10 Inexorable (10) 12 Evaluate (6) 13 Act of kindness (6) 15 Improvised (3,3,4) 18 Relevant (8) 19 Pacific islands group (4) 20 Sudden stagger (5) 21 No longer existing (7) DOWN 1 Difficult question (5) 2 Anonymous (8) 3 Mild stinging sensation (6) 4 Firmly established (4-6) 5 Lose vigour (4) 6 Habitual (7) 9 Et cetera (3,2,5) 11 Answer to problem (8) 12 Immeasurably low (7) 14 Near in time (2,4) 16 Swoon (5) 17 Excitement (4) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16238 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. YeSteRDAY'S SOLUtIONS Puzzle 16237 ACROSS: 1 Venus de Milo, 9 Octagon, 10 Sisal, 11 Neat, 12 Gadabout, 14 On foot, 16 Critic, 18 Accepted, 19 Saga, 22 Trite, 23 Puccini, 24 Under the sun. DOWN: 2 Extra, 3 Urge, 4 Denial, 5 Massacre, 6 Lash out, 7 Down-to-earth, 8 Plutocratic, 13 Complete, 15 Fiction, 17 Despot, 20 Adieu, 21 Ache. VICKI WHEATON vwheaton@compassmedia.ky The National Gallery of the Cayman Islands hosted its annual fundraising gala in the gallery grounds on Friday night. The theme was ‘A Night at the Museum’, and guests more than stepped up to the plate with costume choices ranging from René Magritte’s ‘The Son of Man’, to a slew of Vincent Van Goghs, complete with bandaged ear. Screens around the tent erected in the grounds displayed famous works of art, but there were also hanging frames featuring ‘live’ artworks, where volunteers posed to become the ‘Mona Lisa’, the ‘Girl with the Pearl Earring’ and the older couple in ‘American Gothic’. There were live performances to keep the audience entertained, with aerialist displays from Quinn McCrimmon and Renee Ravazanni of Quinntessential Movement, as well as a raffle and live auction. Live auction items included a staycation at the Kimpton Seafire, box seats at the Royal Opera House in London, and a dinner with Governor Martyn Roper and his wife. The gala is the gallery’s biggest fundraiser of the year, with funds allocated to its numerous programmers, including its ability to offer free art classes to all ages. National Gallery comes to life at annual gala Katie Moore and John Broad take their places in the frame for 'American Gothic'. Claire and Fleur Coleman certainly didn't shy away from colour. Living artwork was all part of the decor. Teri Quappe keeps the smiling to a minimum as the 'Mona Lisa'. This Van Gogh creation was very impressive. Governor Martyn Roper and his wife Elisabeth attended the event. Quite a few attendees channelled 'The Son of Man' by René Magritte. Half the fun was figuring out the different characters on the night. cayman compass 9 L living TUESDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2019Next >