cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism | Tuesday, 21 January 2020 News Revised voters list released Page 2 Issues A radio greeting to Cayman from sea Page 8 Former OfReg boss passes away Page 3 Dive industry mourns loss of Wayne Hasson Page 4 Cayman Cookout proves a breeze Page 6 Photo: Stephen Clarke Swimmers call for protection of Eden Rock Page 3 dustry s loss neMatinees (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00 (Mon-Fri before 6pm) Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets 640-FILM (640-3456) 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. BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (R) 1:00 VIP | 3:30 | 3:55 VIP | 9:25 DOLITTLE (PG) 12:45 | 4:30 | 6:40 | 9:30 JUMANGI: THE NEXT LEVEL (PG13) 12:40 | 3:40 | 6:40 JUST MERCY (PG13) 12:35 | 3:45 | 7:00 | 9:30 UNDERWATER (PG13) 2:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LIKE A BOSS (R) 7:15 | 10:05 | 10:15 VIP SPIES IN DISGUISE (PG) 1:30 | 4:20 CLASSICS @ CINEMA SUPERMAN (PG) 7:00 WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 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-IN-CHIEF 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 20% chance of showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 85°F 74°F HIGH LOW WINDS Easterly 15 to 20 knots. SEA STATE Rough with wave heights of 6 to 8 feet. A small craft warning is in effect. FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky Architect Thomas Posedly and his wife Penny visited Lighthouse School to sign his life story to the students and staff on Friday. The Posedlys first came to Cayman on a cruise ship last year and, with only eight hours to explore, they chose to take a taxi to Lighthouse School. “Last year, I asked the [deputy] principal if he would mind if I’d give a little talk for 10 minutes in the classroom. We learned the Lighthouse School serves all sorts of different disabilities,” Posedly said, as he initially thought it was a school for the deaf. He delivered his talk to students, and was interviewed by the Cayman Compass, through sign language translated by his wife, an accredited American Sign Language interpreter. “I gave a talk to students that were there and I told them my name and what I do for a living as an architect and I spelled out that word and explained it, and then they wanted to know how I could go through a public high school and in college,” Posedly said. Janice Headley-Thorpe, acting principal of Lighthouse, said the school was excited to host the Posedlys again last week. “It is wonderful to come to know how successful Mr. Posedly has been in his life with his differences in communication. It is a testimony to his hard work and determination and the support and understanding he has availed of and fostered,” Headley-Thorpe said. Posedly was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was diagnosed as completely deaf by the age of 2, after being taken to 20 different doctors, he said. Despite his challenges in communication and being the first deaf student at Tucson High School in Arizona, he earned a two-year scholarship to the University of Arizona because he ranked ninth out of his class of 350. Posedly said that he went on to major in architecture, with a minor in studio art. He worked in his own architecture office, doing basic architectural services and architectural renderings for 18 years. “It’s so important to learn reading and writing,” he said. “Sign language is very good if you’re deaf, it really is, but it’s important to have your mind connected with your eyes. If you don’t hear anything, what’s left is your eyes and your brain and that’s important to keep active.” In 2009, Posedly became a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. In 2014, he helped set up an organisation called World Deaf Architecture, which helps professional architects and designers who are deaf, deaf-blind, or hard of hearing to network internationally. Both Headley-Thorpe and Aidan Tumilty, deputy principal of Lighthouse School, said It was hugely beneficial for the students and staff to hear Posedly’s story. “His life’s journey exemplifies what our students can also achieve through hard work, determination and not giving up on their dreams. LHS would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Posedly for making the effort to increase awareness of the hearing impaired community and understanding differences,” Headley-Thorpe said. Deaf tourist inspires students From left, Lighthouse School Acting Deputy Principal Aidan Tumilty, Principal Janice Headley-Thorpe, Penny and Thomas Posedly, and Lighthouse sign language interpreter Denise Williams. The Elections Office will publish its latest revised voters list on Tuesday, 21 Jan. In the Revised Register of Electors, which is set to become effective on 1 April, there are 21,782 registered voters. The new list reflects an additional 462 voters who have registered since 1 Oct., and 62 voters who were removed from the previous list, including 53 who died since the last revision, according to the Elections Office. Registration for the new revised list closed on 2 Jan. The Elections Office is now asking people who registered to vote between 1 Oct. 2019 and 2 Jan. 2020 to review the list on its website (www.elections.ky) or in print at post offices. The office is also encouraging the public to review the list for invalid entries or outdated information, such as cases where a voter has moved to a different electoral district or may no longer be residing in the Cayman Islands. The deadline for submitting claims and objections is 11 Feb. Once the revised list is finalised, it will become the Official Register of Electors on 1 April, according to a statement from the Elections Office. “The Elections Office reminds those wanting to register to vote, that they can register at any time. The deadline to be included in the next Official Register of Electors list (which will be effective from 1 July 2020), is 1 April 2020,” the Elections Office statement continued. Individuals who have claims in relation to applications submitted during the last registration period are asked to email the Elections Office at office@elections.ky or phone 949-8047. Revised voters list released The deadline for submitting claims and objections is 11 Feb . 2RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Swimmers of all ages took to the water off Eden Rock Sunday after- noon to support the conservation of the popular George Town dive and snorkel site. Led by organiser Rory Joe McDonough, around 60 people participated in the Eden Rock Solidarity Swim, which involved swimming roughly 150 metres from the shoreline and back, to show their love for the spot. “We’re just a group of concerned citizens, as well as residents on island, that are coming together just to show some support for the reefs, to show some appreciation for one of the massive draws that this island has to offer, to recognise that it is a place worth fighting for,” McDonough told the Cayman Compass Sunday. He said while the swim was not organised to make a political statement against the $200 million cruise berthing and port project, the issues of protecting the site and the port development could not be separated. “I chose to make this focus more about what we appreciate and what we have, as opposed to making it an outright political statement,” he added. While the swim carried with it a serious message for those who joined hands in the effort, the kids taking part in the event, it seemed, were just happy to have fun in the water. This is part of the message McDonough said he wanted to send to government – that people get joy from visiting the area. “People care about the reefs. People care about having a natural environment, a clean environment, world-class reefs, recreational diving that brings people in from around the world. This is a very famous spot, and to just throw it away so callously for more T-shirt sales in town just doesn’t make any sense,” said McDonough. Government has said previously that dive sites like Eden Rock would not be impacted by the project. However, McDonough said a 2015 environmental impact assessment showed that silt will make its way to the South Church Street sites. In the absence of new reports, that is the finding the public has to work with, he said. “We have not seen anything that would convince us that this will not be affected by the silt dredging,” he added. On Wednesday, a judicial review brought by Cruise Port Referendum Cayman member Shirley Roulstone is set to begin. She has challenged the referendum on the cruise berthing project, saying the question set by government was biased, and updated reports were needed before the vote could progress. She also challenged the timing of the vote. The referendum originally was planned for 19 Dec. 2019, but the court delayed the vote to hear Roulstone’s case. The Solidarity Swim initially had been scheduled for 19 Dec., but was postponed due to bad weather. CPR member Michelle Lockwood, who was among those that attended Sunday’s swim, said it was a community event and a great way for those who cannot participate in the referendum to show their support for the environment. “There are some Caymanians that are still concerned about this, that aren’t registered to vote yet or might have missed the mark, as well as a lot of community people, kids that are underage. So, this is a really amazing way to be involved and let these people have an opportunity to voice their concerns,” she said. Caymanian student Chris Fletcher said he was happy to be involved in the swim. “I just feel it’s important to come out with people who have a similar mindset ... about the whole issue. It’s just like coming together for a good cause, the environment, and to appreciate the beauty that Cayman has to offer,” Fletcher said Swimmers call for protection of Eden Rock Swimmers get ready to join the swim at Eden Rock. J. Paul Morgan, the former chief executive officer of the Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg), has died. Morgan was the first CEO of OfReg, which commenced operations in 2017. His contract with the regulatory body came to an end in August 2018. According to reports in local media in Jamaica, Morgan died Sunday morning. The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper said Morgan was a founding member of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) in Jamaica. Morgan also served in the capacity of deputy director general of the organisation before being appointed director general. He was a regional consultant on energy, telecommunications and water policies and had more than 40 years of experience in utilities, engineering, utility regulation and management. Morgan, the Gleaner said, was also a founding member of the Organisation of Caribbean Unity Regulators and served as chairman on more than one occasion. Former OfReg boss passes away J. Paul Morgan Power cut causes water outage Homes and businesses in George Town and Savannah experienced low water pressure or complete water outages Monday morning following a power cut, the Water Authority-Cayman reported. In a statement released Monday afternoon, the Water Authority said technical issues had caused some of its customers to experience the problems. “The issue was the result of an early morning power outage, which caused the pump control equipment to shut down,” the Water Authority said. The company said normal service resumed within 60 minutes. The Cayman Heart Fund’s 13th annual International Sym- posium in March will feature cardiovascular disease special- ists who will talk about the latest research, technology and advancements in heart medicine and healthcare. The symposium will be held at the Margaritaville Resort on Thursday, 19 March. Participating hospitals include Cleveland Clinic Florida, Holy Cross Health, Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute of Baptist Hospital South Florida, Jackson Health Systems, Memorial Healthcare Systems, and Broward Health International, according to organisers. Dr. Bella Baraha, symposium organiser and Cayman Heart Fund chairperson, said she believed that the topics and discussions will offer vital information to Cayman’s medical practitioners. CHF is inviting members of the medical community to register for the symposium and receive Continuing Medical Education credits. To register for the event, visit https://www.surveymonkey. com/r/M936ZXS. International speakers to feature at heart symposium Brittany Balli and Michelle Lockwood donned mermaid tails for the Eden Rock Solidarity Swim. cayman compass 3 news N news TUESDAY, 21 JANUARY 20201234567 8 910 111213 14 15161718 19 2021 1234567 8 910 111213 14 15161718 19 2021 ACROSS 1 Brutal (7) 5 Sham (5) 8 In most people’s view (2,3,8) 9 Projecting shelf (5) 10 Japanese warrior caste (7) 11 Half-asleep (6) 12 Killed in battle (6) 15 Fragrant flower (7) 17 Passage between rows (5) 19 Giving fair return for outlay (4-9) 20 Purport (5) 21 No particular person (7) DOWN 1 Confused sound of voices (5) 2 Make sense (5,2,6) 3 Ailment (7) 4 Destructive swarming insect (6) 5 Long-handled brush of twigs (5) 6 Supreme commander (13) 7 Meeting of legislature (7) 11 Amount short (7) 13 Total absence of order (7) 14 Plant-tying fibre (6) 16 Defamatory accusation (5) 18 Antagonist (5) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16280 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 16279 ACROSS: 1 Study, 8 Nosedive, 9 Buggy, 10 Headland, 11 U-boat, 12 Eon, 16 Superb, 17 Amount, 18 Bag, 23 Otter, 24 Ribaldry, 25 Haven, 26 Wide-eyed, 27 Choke. DOWN: 2 Thumbs-up, 3 Dog-eared, 4 Bolero, 5 Verdi, 6 Vital, 7 Weedy, 12 Ebb, 13 Nag, 14 Footpath, 15 Knee jerk, 19 Agreed, 20 Prawn, 21 Abide, 22 Blues. “He’s done a tremendous amount of work to publicise the Cayman Islands as one of the world’s leading dive areas,” Milburn said. Hasson, through stewardship of the Cayman Aggressor, led dives around the Cayman Islands and elsewhere. “He was very good at what he did, highly respected by many, many people,” Milburn added. In 2018, Hasson was inducted into the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. Hasson is credited with helping to install the first 112 permanent moorings in the Cayman Islands and took the concept and idea to Belize, Turks and Caicos, the Bay Islands, Kona and Truk. He also invented SASY (Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth). In addition, Hasson was known for his award-winning photography, which has been featured in publications worldwide. A number of international dive magazines paid tribute to Hasson, describing him as a “sea hero”. Aggressor CEO and Hasson’s friend, Wayne B. Brown, and the Aggressor team also paid tribute to the hall of famer on the Aggressor Adventures website. “The dive industry has lost a true legend. Aggressor Adventures would not be where it is today without Wayne Hasson. He will be missed so much by not just our work family but the dive community around the world. We at Aggressor Adventures will do everything possible to keep his vision alive,” the tribute read. Brown, in his message, described Hasson as a mentor, innovator, dedicated family man, lover of all things oceans. “His passion for the scuba diving world was clearly evident to everyone that met him. In the 35 years with Aggressor, he never once wavered in his dedication to the company and its staff. We are all blessed to have crossed paths with him. May his memory and accomplishments be remembered forever,” he said. Aggressor founder Wayne Hasson passes A school bus carrying Theoline McCoy Primary School students was involved in a collision on Shamrock Road in Savannah on Monday morning. An Education Ministry statement on the incident said that all passengers on the bus were assessed and reported to be injury free. According to the statement, the collision was between the contracted school bus and a private motor vehicle. The crash happened just before 7am, in the Savannah Meadows area. The RCIPS and emergency services responded to the crash. Two passengers in the private vehicle were treated by EMTs, the statement said. The students were transferred to another school bus which arrived on the scene and were driven to school. A full investigation by the ministry and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service will be launched into the matter, the ministry said, adding it will release more details once the investigation is complete. Acting Director of Education Services Tammy Banks-DaCosta expressed relief that the collision did not result in injury to the students. “I am relieved and happy to inform the public that our students have been cleared and deemed safe from all physical harm and injury after what was a most unfortunate incident this morning. Our staff followed proper protocol in making sure our students’ safety was the utmost priority, and also ensuring that they arrived to their studies on time,” she said in the statement. School bus, car collide in Savannah Wayne Hasson About Wayne Hasson Wayne Hasson, 70, founded the Aggressor Fleet and had been an avid diver since 1967. He began his love affair with the sea during an eight-year stint in the Marines, where he certified scores of his comrades and their families. According to the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame, after departing the Marine Corps in 1978, “he immediately began to furrow a deep trough in the dive world. Among his myriad accomplishments, Hasson founded the Aggressor Fleet in 1984 and captained the first Cayman Aggressor. His approach to the luxury liveaboard concept has literally changed the way we explore the world. Today there are 12 Aggressor-franchised liveaboards.” While in the Cayman Islands, Hasson helped install the first 112 permanent moorings and took the concept and idea to Belize, Turks and Caicos, the Bay Islands, Kona and Truk. He also invented SASY (Supplied Air Snorkeling for Youth) and his award-winning photography has been featured in publications worldwide. cartoon Jake Fuller RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky International Scuba Diving Hall of Famer Wayne Hasson has passed away. Hasson, 70, who lost his battle with renal cell cancer over the weekend, founded the Aggressor Fleet and the Oceans for Youth organisation, and was an avid diver who started his underwater love affair with the sea in 1967. He was one of the most well-known names in the diving industry, not just in Cayman, but worldwide. Local divemaster Peter Milburn said he and Hasson had been friends for more than 30 years and he was saddened by Hasson’s passing. He said he had been hopeful that the international diving expert would have made a full recovery from his illness. “It’s a very sad time, obviously, that he passed away. I did know that he was sick for quite a long time, but I was hoping for the best, but sometimes these things don’t work out. He was a very nice, great person. [He was] easy to work with,” Milburn told the Cayman Compass Monday. Milburn said Hasson was a part of the Cayman Islands Watersports Association, then called the Watersports Operators Association. He lauded Hasson’s contribution to the local diving industry. 4Daily Horoscope THE LOCKHORNS By Bunny Hoest & John Reiner ARIES (MARCH 21 TO APRIL 19) You will be more popular in the next four weeks, especially with younger people. Enjoy these interactions as well as increased involvement with clubs and orga- nizations. TAURUS (APRIL 20 TO MAY 20) You will make a fabulous impres- sion on bosses, parents, teachers and VIPs in the next four weeks because the Sun is at the top of your chart casting you in a flat- tering spotlight. Make the most of this! GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) In the next four weeks, you will want to travel, get further edu- cation or do something to expand your experience of the world. Be open to all possibilities. CANCER (JUNE 21 TO JULY 22) Shared property, inheritances, insurance issues and responsibili- ties for others will be your top pri- orities in the next four weeks. LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG. 22) You will need more sleep in the next four weeks because the Sun is opposite your sign. This is the only time all year this happens. Respect this need. VIRGO (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) In the next four weeks, you will enjoy working hard and will want to accomplish a lot. You will set high goals for yourself, including improving your health. Yes, you want it all! LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT. 22) It’s play city for your sign for the next four weeks. Accept all invitations to socialize. Enjoy sports events, fun activi- ties with children and romantic outings! SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) Home, family and your private life will be your primary focus in the next four weeks. Enjoy cocooning at home. Expect increased inter- action with a parent. SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) The pace of your days will accelerate in the next four weeks because of a busy schedule! Enjoy short trips and conversations with others, plus increased reading and writing. CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN. 19) Money, earnings and cash flow issues will be important in the next four weeks. Trust your mon- eymaking ideas! AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 TO FEB. 18) In the next four weeks, you have an opportunity to recharge your batteries for the rest of the year. Important people and favorable situations will be attracted to you. PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MARCH 20) Seek out solitude in pleasant sur- roundings so you have time to define goals for your new year ahead. Your new year begins after your birthday! BY FRANCES DRAKE TUESday, JaNUaRy 21, 2020 CURTIS By Ray Billingsley BLONdIE By Y. Marshall PEaNUTS By Charles M. Shulz HägaR THE HORRIBLE By Chris Browne THE aMaZINg SPIdERMaN By Stan Lee and Alex Saviuk cayman compass 5 TUESDAY, 21 JANUARY 2020José Andrés chose to enter with a 'Mad Max' theme this year, riding in on an ATV. Or, was he ... ? VICKI WHEATON vwheaton@compassmedia.ky Despite the unexpected absence of host, chef Eric Ripert, Cayman Cookout 2020 displayed no lack of attendance at events, nor muted enthusiasm among guests. In fact, life-sized cardboard cutouts of Ripert were found popping up everywhere, keeping him there in spirit. Thanks to particularly strong breezes, many of the outdoor events were pleasant and cool, enhancing visitors’ experiences. Thursday Islanders mingled with tourists at the Jacques Scott Wine Fair and Auction, held in The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman’s ballroom in the evening. The foyer was filled with silent auction items, from autographed pictures of famous film stars to designer handbags and unique travel experiences. Inside the ballroom, guests sampled dishes created by visiting chefs from The Ritz-Carlton’s overseas properties, as well as Grand Cayman staff. The Goodnight Hannah band with lead singer DannyLoops entertained the bustling crowd, which was also taking advantage of the wine stations in the centre of the room, provided by Jacques Scott. Funds raised were split between the Cayman Islands Cancer Society and The Ritz-Carlton’s Culinary Scholarship Fund. Friday Celebrity chef José Andrés, known for his splashy, unique and unexpected entrances to his signature event on the beach each year, turned the tables on guests eagerly awaiting his arrival on Friday morning. As the theme from ‘Mad Max’ drummed through the tent, Andrés seemed to be approaching on a Raptor ATV along the beach, flanked by characters dressed in the style of the futuristic film. As he dismounted the transport and made his way into the tent, photographers snapped away, with the curious crowd enthusiastically following him in. After a few waves to his audience, his disembodied voice announced that he would remove his mask. The person revealed beneath was, in fact, the owner of the ATV - Nicholas Bodden. Andrés had slipped in via the back of the tent and through the crowd. The switcharoo was greeted with laughter and applause, and soon after, Andrés was in the throes of presenting his paella demonstration. At 11:30am, a large crowd gathered on the Great Lawn at The Ritz-Carlton for Andrew Zimmern Explores the Flavours of Cayman. An American chef with a penchant for bizarre foods, Zimmern took a turn around local restaurant booths with resident foodie, Alan Markoff, giving him the lowdown on certain cooking traditions and ingredients. Zimmern spoke enthusiastically about the dishes he tasted, raving about the delights of saltfish and ackee - a popular Jamaican and local dish - and encouraged guests to try the green iguana on offer. Kirk Market, Cracked Conch, The Westin and Nyamaste were just a few of the companies represented at the event. Once Zimmern had visited every booth, he sat on the stage for a Q&A session with Compass Media’s Living editor, Vicki Wheaton, and answered questions from members of the crowd. On Friday night, the Barefoot BBQ was once again held at Royal Palms on the beach. Chefs had stations set up all around the venue, including Andrés and Zimmern at the water’s edge, with OneWorld’s DJ Natural, accompanied by Gary Ebanks on saxophone and Luis Eden on percussion, keeping people dancing until the event ended at 10pm. There was a firework show at 9pm, sponsored by Cayman Firepower. Saturday Catamarans and cars headed to the Rum Point Beach Bash at lunchtime, hosted for the second time by ‘The TODAY Show’s Al Roker, while some of those who remained on Seven Mile Beach attended Un Lunch Quebequois with one of Quebec’s most revered chefs – Normand Laprise – and Cape Landing wines. Cayman resident and owner of the winery, Mark Lewis, took diners through the courses, explaining the wine pairings. The award-winning Cape Landing Cabernet Sauvignon was presented to guests for the very first time at the lunch. On Saturday night, the Harbour Club at The Ritz-Carlton was in the pink for the Rose it Out event presented by Moet & Chandon. Guests were greeted at the entrance by two models sporting lit hoop skirts that held many glasses of Champagne. Guests danced on the plexiglass platform situated over the pool to a DJ on an elevated stage with large video displays below. Carnival girls from the CayMAS Swanky group wearing the latest costumes from the 2020 collection joined in a conga line that culminated in a Champagne spray José Andrés unmasked his stuntman, Andrew Bodden, who pretended to be the celebrity chef until Andrés snuck in through the back of the tent to surprise everyone. Cayman Cookout proves a breeze WATCH THE VIDEO ONLINE CAYMANCOMPASS.COM cayman compass 6 L TUESDAY, 21 JANUARY 2020 livingon the dance floor. The event ended at midnight. Sunday For two professional local chefs, a lot was riding on their performance at the Bon Vivant Chef Competition Brunch, hosted by Cynthia Hew of Bon Vivant and Roker. Sara Mair-Doak of Smokies fame and Roman Kleinrath of Luca battled it out on the main stage before judges Andrew Zimmern, Emeril Lagasse, Charles Joly, Rainer Zinngrebe and Frederic Morineau, as well as a sold-out ballroom audience. Each chef was given a mystery basket of basic ingredients, featuring tuna, and had access to a pantry from which they could pick further items. With very little time on the clock, both came up with impressive dishes, but it was Mair-Doak who emerged victorious, winning the coveted title. After the brunch, guests made their way to Rum & Robusto at the Harbour Club Pool where the sounds of Trio Vivo band permeated the air. Cayman Cigar Company had a rolling station, which joined a coconut-chopping booth and sugar cane station, along with myriad food and drink stops around the pool area. Overcast skies and those persistent breezes were a welcome break from the hot sun. The final event of Cayman Cookout 2020 was held in Blue by Eric Ripert on Sunday night. The Grand Gala once again had many cooks in the kitchen creating a multi-course meal that has gained such a reputation over the years, that the dinner was one of the first events to sell out online. What is in store for Cayman Cookout 2021? We’ll just have to wait and see. The Beach Bash at Rum Point is one of Cayman Cookout's most popular signature events. The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman's general manager Marc Langevin spends time with Al Roker, the host for the day. The chefs work very hard at the Beach Bash event. The judges of the cookoff competition. From left, Andrew Zimmern, Emeril Lagasse, Charles Joly, Rainer Zinngrebe and Frederic Morineau. Chef Roman Kleinrath of Luca keeps his cool under pressure. Sara Mair-Doak celebrates her victory next to Al Roker, the co-host of the competition. Chef Maureen Cubbon worked a booth at the Flavours of Cayman event. Chef Dylan Benoit's chicken dishes were a huge hit. Unique costumes worn by models were covered in filled Champagne glasses. Sergio 'The Matador' Serrano was working one of the wine stations at the Wine Fair. cayman compass 7 L living TUESDAY, 21 JANUARY 2020Tales of an engine room fire and ham radio from Andrew Eden KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky At age 17, Andrew Eden of Savannah joined his first crude oil tanker, the Dea Maris, with National Bulk Carriers in 1966. Eden started as a messman, earning US$132 a month, but he quickly worked his way up the ladder. Taking advantage of correspon- dence courses, he ascended to the status of chief engineer by the age of 25. An active member of the Cayman Islands Seafarers Association, Eden has continued to honour Cayman’s maritime legacy, serv- ing as a past president of the organisation and current member of the council. As part of the Cayman Compass #SaveO- urStories series, he recounts tales from his days at sea. Eden takes us aboard a tanker in distress and later he shares his love of ham radio. Below are his experiences in his own words. Sailing the world The National Bulk Carriers were looking for a full crew to take over a ship, which was under Spanish crew up in Portland, Maine, and I was one of them that was chosen. There was 17 of us from Grand Cayman or the Cayman Islands. Some from the Brac also that went over to Portland, Maine, to assume control over that ship. I started out as a messman, which is the guy who shovels food and makes up beds and all those kinds of things. So, I started right at the bottom of the totem pole there. I was 17 years old at that time, and I sailed until I was 34 before I retired from the sea, but I’m 71 now. I’m still trying to figure out how to retire. I got to visit all over the world – a lot of ports in the US, ports all over Europe, all over the Middle East and into Asia, South America, the Caribbean. My very first trip at sea, I was gone 26 months, and I worked my way up from a messman to a second pumpman, engine maintenance. From my first ship, I started studying, taking correspondence courses from a Seaman’s Church Institute in New York, which was an engineering school. At the age of 25, I had my chief engineer’s licence and was sailing as a chief engineer after that. For me, it was truly, truly very great because at the age of 24, I was married, and my wife, Lerita, sailed with me for five years on board ship. As officers, we could take our wives on board and sometimes she was out there nine, 10 months of the year with me. Fire in the engine room As far as storms are concerned, the ships were so large, to us it was fun watching the waves wash right over the ship and all that. You’d see half the ship under the water at times, you know, and it was exciting. But my very first trip at sea, we had a very scary moment. I was still a messman at that time. And just after 6 in the morning, the fire alarm goes on. So everyone rushed to the cabin to get their life jacket. The mess hall, everywhere, is full of smoke. What had happened in the engine room, it had a busted oil line. It caught fire, so it had the whole ship quarters full of smoke. Luckily, we had one guy from Cayman who was an oiler at the time, and he stayed down there to eventually get the fire out because as I was going down to get my life jacket, I saw the third engineer who was on watch in the engine room, [and] he’s running out. Luckily, this Caymanian stayed down there and really saved us. But the most scary part of that, we were all at our station up on the boat deck, you know, preparing to abandon ship if necessary. And what happened to all the heat in the engine room was, up on that deck we had a lot of empty oil drums, 55-gallon oil drums, and the heat from that, it blew the deck up and all of those empty drums popped up. And, oh my, it scared everyone to death. You know, we thought that was the end of us. So, it was a really scary time. I’d say it was probably the most disturbing time I had out there. We were probably about 18 hours out of France at the time and when we got to port, you know, a bunch of [the men] were gone. They said, hey, we’re not going back out there. Radioing home to Cayman After sailing as a chief engineer, there was no higher to go there. And I was so used to studying, I said, well, let me study for a commercial radio operator. Because those days we carried radio operators on board the ships, and while studying for that, I found a magazine on amateur radio or ham radio. I got my amateur radio licence back in 1978 and been A radio greeting to Cayman from sea heat in the eck we had a on oil drums w the deck up Radioing home to Cayman After Clippings from the Caymanian Compass highlight some of Andrew Eden’s accomplishments while at sea. After reaching officer status, he was able to sail with wife Lerita aboard the ships. cayman compass 8 I issues TUESDAY, 21 JANUARY 2020enjoying the hobby ever since. Believe it or not, I had my own radio station aboard ship, and I used to talk back with Cayman every day, morning and evening, no matter what part of the worId I was in, and it was really exciting. I had a friend on the island here who was a ham radio operator. There are a few of them actually, but one specifically. He was a manager at one of the condos on Seven Mile Beach. And I used to talk with him every morning and every evening. I have [used] three call signs because I have a Cayman licence, I have a US licence, and at that time, I had a Liberian licence also. From aboard ship, I used the Liberian call sign, which is EL0AV. My local one here is ZF1EJ or Zulu, Fox, One, Echo, Juliet. And I also have a US licence, which is KE4LB. Every day you get on there, there’s someone you’ve never heard before and someone who’s never heard you before. And they are always looking to talk with the rare call signs and all of that. And it is a hobby that’s growing every day. Every day there’s something new, you know. We started over spark gap back in the early 1900s and today a lot of radios, they’re linked with computers and all of that. Where ham radio comes in great is in times that are more intense, like hurricanes or earthquakes or something like that. You know, all communications are down. We can easily get back on the air. For instance, everything I have here can operate on 12 watts DC. So, I have a bank of batteries outside, which is charged by solar power. If all that intel has come down, we put up a piece of wire and we can still communicate with people around the world, sending traffic, health and welfare communications or whatever’s necessary. Andrew Eden has three ham radio call signs, from Cayman, the US and Liberia. As officers, we could take our wives on board and sometimes she was out there nine, 10 months of the year with me . Andrew Eden poses aboard the Dea Maris with his cousin Nimitz Ebanks in Port Said, Egypt, in September 1966. It was Eden’s first trip to sea. While at sea, Eden picked up amateur radio, a hobby he still enjoys today. As a member of a Liberian-flagged ship, he would use the Liberian call sign displayed here, EL0AV. cayman compass I issues TUESDAY, 21 JANUARY 2020 9Next >