SPICY TENDERS 6 49 6 49 3PC Tenders, Reg side & Biscuit cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Friday, 24 January 2020 Port vote review wraps up Page 2 Airport seeks $12.4M loan for upgrades Page 6 Friday, 24 January 2020 Now serving you from 3 locations: Savannah | Seven Mile Beach | Airport-Departure Lounge Hatitude on parade National Trust fundraiser celebrates chapeaux. Page 2 Nannette Williams at Hatitude 2019. Inside: Weekend Living Marriott resort seeks to regain beach Page 9Matinees (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. 1917 (R) (FRI, SAT & MON) 1:00 VIP | 3:50 | 7:00 VIP | 10:00 BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (R) (FRI, SAT & MON) 12:40 | 3:55 VIP | 7:05 | 9:55 VIP DOLITTLE (PG) (FRI & MON) 1:15 | 4:00 | 6:35 | 9:10 (SAT) 10:25 VIP | 1:15 | 4:00 6:35 | 9:10 (SUN) 3:15 VIP | 3:45 | 6:35 | 9:10 JO JO RABBIT (PG13) (FRI, SAT & MON) 1:30 | 4:15 | 6:55 | 10:00 (SUN) 4:15 | 6:55 | 10:00 PANGA (PG) (FRI-MON) 3:50 | 9:40 JAMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL (PG13) (SAT) 10:35 (SUN) 6:50 VIP JUST MERCY (PG13) (FRI, SAT & MON) 12:45 | 6:50 (SUN) 6:50 THE TURNING (PG13) (FRI, SAT & MON) 12:30 | 2:55 | 5:15 | 7:35 | 10:05 (SUN) 2:55 | 5:15 | 7:35 9:45 VIP | 10:05 UNDERWATER (PG13) (SAT) 10:20 (SUN) 2:40 | 5:05 7:35 | 10:00 KIDS CLUB CHARLOTTE’S WEB (G) (SAT) 10:00 WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK FRIDAY | SATURDAY | SUNDAY | MONDAY Fair to partly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of afternoon showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 83°F 73°F HIGH LOW WINDS North to northeast at 5 to 10 knots becoming north northwest at 10 to 15 knots by the afternoon. SEA STATE Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. 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 FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass Marquee Plaza SMB 947-2782 Country Corner Savannah 623-2782 /cimboco cimboco@cimboco.com www.cimboco.com Brunch & Breakfast til 3pm Saturday, Sunday & Holidays ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky A two-day judicial review wrapped up Thursday, with government’s attorneys urging Justice Tim Owen not to side with petitioners who are calling for the current referendum law to be declared incompatible with the Cayman Islands Constitution. Mark Shaw, QC, representing the government, said the plaintiff, Cruise Port Referendum Cayman’s Shirley Roulstone, is calling for the Referendum Law, passed by the Legislative Assembly last month, to be struck down because it does not meet “an idealistic standard”. He said this request falls outside the remit of the court. “The court must be careful not to step on the toes of the legislature, by implying characteristics it considers desirable in a law, that the legislature might not find desirable,” said Shaw. His statements came in the morning of day two of the judicial review of the Referendum Law. Shaw said that since December, when the review was filed, several grounds in the submission have either been addressed or are not a matter for the court. “This hearing is not about whether the port referendum will be held, nor is it about the merits or demerits of the port project. This is no longer about the question to be asked in the referendum,” Shaw said. “The battlefield has tremendously decreased.” At the heart of the judicial review is a discussion on how Section 70 of the Constitution ought to be interpreted, and whether it calls for one law to govern all referendums or a new law for each referendum, or both. The specific section being discussed reads, in part, “a law enacted by the Legislature shall make provision to hold a referendum amongst persons registered as electors”. On Wednesday, Roulstone’s attorney Chris Buttler argued that the current referendum law, which is specific to the cruise port referendum, lacks several safeguards outlined by Section 70 of the Constitution. Buttler claimed that those failings have impacted each voter’s inherent right to a free and fair vote. Buttler further argued that government should not be allowed to set the rules surrounding the referendum process, because it has an interest in the outcome of the referendum. Ultimately, Buttler is calling for a general referendum law or a framework to be put in place which would govern how each future referendum is to be conducted. In his response to Buttler’s arguments, Shaw stated that Section 70 of the Constitution was not meant to be construed in a light that calls for a single general referendum law. “Your task is not to strike down the Referendum Law because it doesn’t meet some idealistic standard,” said Shaw. “Rather, it is a matter of whether it fulfils Section 70 of the Constitution.” Shaw told Justice Owen that Section 70 was unclear on whether there was to be one law or multiple laws regarding referendums. Shaw said the government’s position is that Section 70 calls for both a general law or framework and a specific law for each referendum. He encouraged the judge not to strike down the current law. Justice Owen made it clear that his focus was on the current law and that he had no intentions of straying beyond that. “Whatever judgment I pass, it will not require the government to draft a general referendum law or a specific referendum law,” said Owen. “The task of this court is to take a look at whether the current Referendum Law is compatible with Section 70 of the Constitution.” Shaw then turned his attention to claims of unfairness on the part of government and to calls for a law that set out requirements on referendum campaigning expenditure. “The call for government to provide and promote neutral information during the referendum process is not a requirement of the law, nor are limitations on campaigning expenditure,” Shaw said. He pointed to the UK, where multiple referendums have been held, none of which, he said, had such requirements. Shaw stated that the terms of each referendum law varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and are policy matters which should be left for the government to decide. Shaw then addressed the claims of voter disenfranchisement. The plaintiff has argued that by setting out conditions on who is qualified to vote, as well as cut-off times for potential registration to vote in the referendum, some voters would be inadvertently disenfranchised. Shaw disagreed, stating that the nature of any policy is that some people would be affected. However, he said, there was no voter disenfranchisement. “If you are not registered prior to the first of the quarter, you have not been disenfranchised because your right to vote hadn’t arisen,” he said. In closing, Justice Owen said he would try to deliver his verdict sometime during the week of 10 Feb. Port vote review hearing ends At the heart of the judicial review is a discussion on how Section 70 of Constitution ought to be interpreted, and whether it calls for one law to govern all referendums or a new law for each referendum, or both . cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 24 JANUARY 2020Disclaimer : FIN Grand Cayman features and amenities are based on current development plans and concepts and are subject to change without notice. Some services and amenities are subject to service-based fees or homeowner fees. ART DECO INSPIRED RESIDENCES WITH UNIQUE FIVE-STAR AMENITIES Priced from US $1.9M Reserve your private tour and discover the last word in luxury + 1 345 326 1400 fin@fingrandcayman.com Guest suites Owners private Aquariva Private wine locker with sommelier service Personal car service & two parking spaces per residence Private business centre FIN.cayman fingrandcayman cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 24 JANUARY 20201234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Desire enviously (5) 4 Cogitate (7) 8 Nothing (3) 9 Dutch capital (9) 10 Scorned (7) 11 Drab (5) 13 Uncommon object (6) 15 Significant effect (6) 18 Fraternity of monks (5) 19 Offensively obtrusive (7) 21 Vietnamese statesman d.1969 (2,3,4) 23 Be ill (3) 24 Sated (7) 25 Healthily red (5) DOWN 1 Type of tree (7) 2 City previously Stalingrad (9) 3 Distinguishing feature (5) 4 Dwell (6) 5 Independence (7) 6 Purpose (3) 7 British soldier (5) 12 Former name of Malawi (9) 14 White ant (7) 16 Without exception (7) 17 Do a favour for (6) 18 Additional (5) 20 Detest (5) 22 Surpass (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16283 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 16282 ACROSS: 1 Commercial, 8 Graft, 9 Check-up, 10 Dwindle, 11 Tonic, 12 Wanton, 14 Far cry, 17 Heart, 19 Uncouth, 21 Laggard, 22 Until, 23 Taken aback. DOWN: 2 Ovation, 3 Muted, 4 Racket, 5 Inertia, 6 Liken, 7 Apocryphal, 8 Go downhill, 13 Outrank, 15 Caustic, 16 Burden, 18 Argot, 20 Crumb. cartoon Florida Freeze - By Caymanman This year’s National Heroes Day will honour pioneers who contributed to the first written Constitution of the Cayman Islands and the first women who stood for election. The celebrations begin in Heroes Square in downtown George Town at 9am on Monday, which is a public holiday. “The creation of the 1959 Constitution was a great milestone for the Cayman Islands, as well as a catalyst that helped shape the country we know and love today,” said Alfonso Wright, executive chairman of Celebrate Cayman, in a press release. “As we celebrate 60 years of our first written constitution, I encourage everyone across our islands to attend this patriotic event.” The celebrations will also recognise contributions of Cayman’s nine national heroes: James Manoah Bodden, Sybil Ione McLaughlin, Thomas William Farrington, Sybil Joyce Hylton, Ormond L. Panton, Desmond V. Watler, Mary Evelyn Wood, William Warren Conolly and Roy Edison McTaggart. “I look forward to this day every year when we all come together to pay tribute to those who have made these Cayman Islands great,” said Premier Alden McLaughlin in a statement. “We have so much to celebrate this year as we recognise those Vestrymen and Justices of the Peace who understood the importance of the Cayman Islands being protected by a written Constitution, as well as the women of these Islands who fought for their right to be counted and bravely stood in the 1959 general election.” The four female candidates were Birdell Jackson for West Bay, Ethel Cook-Bodden for George Town, and Francine Jackson and Laurel Watler, both for Bodden Town. Although none of them was elected in the 1959 poll, all had played roles in helping to secure equal rights for women in Cayman. Cabinet Secretary Samuel Rose said, “Previously, local history books had not accounted for the very important fact that in 1959 four courageous women ran for public office and forever changed our political and cultural landscape. We endeavour to rewrite history to include and celebrate them.” During the ceremony there will be a laying of wreaths and a moment of silence to commemorate Cayman’s deceased nation builders. The celebrations will include pre-entertainment by Triple C School, a walk-past by primary and secondary school children in a flag procession, as well as the traditional parade with contingents of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, the Cayman Islands Fire Service, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, Cayman Islands Cadet Corps, the Girls’ Brigade, Scouts and the Seventh-day Adventist Pathfinders. In case of inclement weather, the event will be hosted from Heroes Day celebrations on Monday inside the First Baptist Church, organisers said. Following the ceremony, the public is invited to stay for live music and free local cuisine, as well as to tour the exhibits at George Town Library and Constitutional Hall. Road closures The following roads will be closed from 6pm Friday, 24 Jan., until 9pm Monday, 27 January, to allow for setup and breakdown, and temporarily re-opened between 12am and 12pm on Saturday, 25 Jan.: • The top of Fort Street at the junction with North Church Street • The bottom of Fort Street by the Clock Tower • Edward Street at the junction with Main Street • The end of Edward Street, at the junction with Cardinall Avenue • Albert Panton Street at the junction with Cardinall Avenue Customers will have access to businesses and banking for those establishments opened on Saturday and the Monday holiday. The celebrations are set to start promptly at 9am and attendees are asked to be seated by 8:30am. The dress code is business attire; hats are optional. Who we are celebrating The 2020 National Heroes Day Celebrations honours those who pioneered the establishment of the Cayman Islands’ first written Constitution; celebrates the first four women who stood in the 1959 general election; and reflects upon the journey to modern-day Cayman. The Cayman Brac District Committee of the National Trust will hold an eco-friendly fundraiser next month with a ‘Roaring 20s’ theme. The Trust’s Habitat Protection Fund will be the evening’s beneficiary, according to organisers. The fundraiser will be held at the Brac Trust House on White Bay Road, West End, on Saturday, 29 Feb. “This will be an outdoor setting with an evening of food and musical entertainment from the past,” said Kathleen Bodden- Harris, one of the organisers. Auctioneer Doug Ross returns to the event this year to orchestrate the live auction, and DJ Mark Knowlton will entertain with “jazzy tunes and jitterbug music”. The event runs from 6pm to 11pm. Tickets cost $25, and cover entry, food, tea/water, entertainment and participation in the live auction, silent auction and split cash raffle drawing. Bodden-Harris said the menu selections will comprise a buffet of memories from the 1920s, with vegan choices and desserts. “With a hint of Prohibition, the event is BYOB for your alcoholic drinks,” she added. Attire for the evening will be period costume or smart casual. “Gatsby, Downton Abbey, flapper, zoot suit or Sherlock Holmes are some ideas, should you decide to dress up,” Bodden-Harris said. She added, “Each year, our fundraisers are based on raising money and awareness of being environmentally conscious, by reducing waste without diminishing the fun in our fundraising. You won’t be served any plastic and decorations are made mostly with recycled products. Recycling bins will be available for glass bottles and aluminium cans. Our neighbourly troop of Soldier Crabs will be on standby for clean-up duty.” Trust members are selling tickets under the direction of Edna Platts, on 547-0892. Event and raffle tickets will be available at the gate on the night. 'Roaring 20s' for Brac cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 24 JANUARY 2020AMENITIES • 6 distinct dining venues • 12,000 sq. ft. destination spa & fitness center • 3 resort style swimming pools & jacuzzis • Fully serviced beach cabanas • State-of-the-art screening room • 25,000 sq. ft. indoor outdoor conference meeting space • Beach activities including snorkeling, diving & water sports • Grand Social Clubs • Variety of shopping boutiques • Steam & sauna room • 5-Star concierge service • Kids club • 24-hour room service • 24-hour valet • 24-hour front desk • 24-hour security • Plus access to Grand Hyatt services THE NEWEST WORLD-CLASS RESIDENCES ON SEVEN MILE BEACH UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT BELOW MARKET PRICES To put this in perspective, the Grand Hyatt Residences are pre-selling at an average of only US$933 per square foot for a 5 Star Internationally Branded Seven Mile Beach Resort! Compare this cost, to recent sales at a random summary below of other popular Seven Mile Beach condominium developments: Villas of the Galleon (built around 1980) US$1,509 sales price per square foot Pinnacle (built around 2000) US$1,323 sales price per square foot Ritz-Carlton (built around 2005) US$1,662 sales price per square foot WaterColours (built around 2014) US$1,805 sales price per square foot Kimpton Seafire (built around 2017) US$2,031 sales price per square foot Water’s Edge (built around 2006) US$1,376 sales price per square foot These are all current market sales taken from the CIREBA MLS system over the last year. The difference in comparable prices above represents a huge current upside in value of around 40% to 100% for a 5 Star Grand Hyatt Internationally branded resort residence. If you bought the least expensive Studio Suite at US$521,375, the increase in value over Seven Mile Beach sales prices, would be approximately US$200,000 to US$500,000 - TODAY! This upside is real and prevalent across all of the residences currently for sale at the Grand Hyatt and presents an unprecedented opportunity for future capital appreciation, as the Grand Hyatt progresses through construction. Why not invest into real estate with a great profit already baked in? Grand Cayman has been experiencing record breaking tourism, almost every month. We have a rare, high quality, family safe destination. The ongoing boom in development along with the infrastructure upgrades are continually improving the quality of life here – it gets better every year! Make a good investment, both financially and for your families future enjoyment, with a 5 Star Grand Hyatt Residence. Prices will increase with construction. Contact me now, while they are still at these very best prices! ATTENTION RESIDENTS AND VISITORS: Capitalize on significant appreciation, right now, with even more expected during development. 35% SOLD Each office independently owned and operated. CIREBA MLS 408412 - 408593. Member of CIREBA. Kim Lund - Owner/Broker 345-916-5555 kim.lund@remax.ky | www.caymanlundteam.com cayman compass 5 FRIDAY, 24 JANUARY 20201 (345) 945-4040 | 1 (345) 640-4040 | healthcitycaymanislands.com The full-service Neurosurgery facility at Health City Cayman Islands treats a wide range of Brain and Spine disorders. Our Neurosurgery services form part of our Neuroscience Division, comprised of neurology, interventional neurology, neurosurgery, spine surgery, psychiatry and neuro-rehabilitation. We are the only facility in the Cayman Islands and the surrounding Caribbean to offer advanced neurosurgical services. Our Neurosurgery Department offers a wide range of treatments and services, including: • Brain Tumors - gliomas, meningiomas • Image-guided surgery • Neuronavigation • Intraoperative MRI • Pituitary tumors • Minimally invasive and endoscopic Brain Surgery • Head Injury • Spine Disorders • Disc Prolapse • Spinal stenosis • Minimally invasive Spine Surgery • Spine trauma • Spinal Tumors For more information on our Neurosurgical Services, please call 1 (345) 640-4040 or email neurosurgery@healthcity.ky Neurosurgery Services RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Cayman Islands Airports Authority is seeking a $12.4 million loan to fund additional upgrades to the airside area of the Owen Roberts International Airport. Work to expand the runway and the current perimeter of the airport has been ongoing. The multi-million-dollar project, which was announced last year, has been broken up into smaller sub- projects. The Airports Authority issued a request for proposal inviting companies to submit bids for airside upgrade project financing of $12.4 million over a maximum of 10 years. The RFP, which was posted on Tuesday, contains two categories – an overdraft facility of $8.5 million and a fixed loan facility of $12.4 million. The tender period closes on 14 Feb. The proposed loan follows government’s announcement in its 2020/2021 budget that there would be new borrowings from the Airports Authority in 2020 to assist with extending the airport runway and completing other airside works. The airfield upgrade work originally consisted of five sub- projects: milling and repaving the existing runway surface, a runway extension of 124 metres (400 feet), filling ponds within the airfield perimeter, establishing a robust airfield perimeter road and expanding the international ramp eastward. According to CIAA marketing manager Rhonda Verhoeven, the loan is required to help pay for three additional sub-projects. These upgrades comprise increasing ramp space at the General Aviation Terminal to accommodate demands for additional aircraft parking; a parallel taxiway from runway 27 to taxiway Delta to improve efficiencies of the runway for takeoff and landing and to provide a much quicker turnaround process for aircraft; and an extension to the commercial ramp to provide more parking pits for aircraft. Verhoeven said the additional work was laid out in the master plan for the airside upgrade, but it was planned that this work would start at a later date, in 2023 or 2024, and hence, had not been included in the original budget. “However, due to increased aircraft activity at the airport, we decided to move these projects forward at this time period. A loan is being sought to complete these works and will be covered by the Passenger Facility Charges collected,” she said. The Airports Authority began its pond- filling project last month “with the successful removal and relocation of dozens of wildlife from ponds within the airfield perimeter at ORIA. The project forms part of the CIAA’s Airfield Upgrade Project to improve operations and safety standards at the airport.” Airports Authority staff and local volunteers relocated hickatees, tarpon, mosquito fish, crusted goby and tilapia, and other wildlife that reside in the ponds west of the runway. The airfield upgrade project is expected to be completed in August 2020, according to the latest Airports Authority statement, issued this week. Last October, the authority and IDL Projects Joint Venture signed a $30 million contract for airfield upgrade work. IDL is a three-company partnership comprising local businesses Island Paving and Dart company DECCO, and Canadian-based firm IDL Projects, which specialises in airports and infrastructure. Airport seeks $12.4M loan The airside of Owen Roberts International Airport is undergoing a series of upgrades. 6 news N newscayman compass 7 FRIDAY, 24 JANUARY 2020US $ 834k 2019 investment in education programmes US $ 60m + Invested in education infrastructure 2 STEM awards 14 Education community partners 35 + Work-X students every year 5 STEM programmes 32 Scholarships awarded cayman compass 8 FRIDAY, 24 JANUARY 2020CAYMAN ORTHOPAEDIC GROUP DR. PERVEZ ALI, M.D., F.R.C.S.C. Orthopaedic Surgeon and Adult Hip and Knee Joint Reconstruction Specialist will be at Unit #1, Smith Road Plaza Monday, 27th January 2020 to Friday, 7th February 2020 PLEASE CALL 945-8380 FOR APPOINTMENTS CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky The Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort has applied for a coastal works licence to re-establish the eroded beach in front of its Seven Mile Beach property. The matter, which was submitted along with an application for $23 million renovation work at the hotel, was heard by the Central Planning Authority on Wednesday. Coastal works applications ultimately are decided by Cabinet, but the CPA and other government agencies act as advisory bodies on such issues. The resort pointed out in its application that erosion had removed almost all the sand from the beachfront of the Marriott hotel, and the neighbouring South Bay Beach Club, Tamarind Bay and Plantation Village. The project would entail moving 100,000 square feet of sand from the sea floor, adjacent to the hotel, to the shore to rebuild the beach. The cost of “renourishing” the beach, using what the company described as green “completely removable technology”, is likely to be about $950,000. That cost would be picked up by the owner of the Marriott – London and Regional Hotels – and the stratas of the neighbouring condos, but the applicant is asking that government waive duties for the project. Matthew Manning, a consultant with AMR Consulting Engineers, which is heading up the project, said at Wednesday’s meeting that the Marriott is at a point where it is losing revenue because the hotel has no beach and ends up having to relocate tourists. Manning said the Marriott had lost $4 million because of the erosion of the beach. “People are coming and being disappointed,” he added. The CPA questioned the consultant on how the relocated- sand project will hold up to norwesters. He responded that the technology that will be used has been proven to have worked in other locations around the world. Manning said part of the 18-month trial project would include the installation of “wave droids” to measure wave intensity. This will provide AMR with background readings to verify how to properly engage the beach- erosion problem, he said. Manning said that unless data regarding the erosion of the beach is collected, there will never be a true solution to the problem. The Department of Environment’s Technical Review Committee stated in the Coastal Works Review issued earlier this month that the project is wholly inconsistent with contemporary coastal-engineering practice for beach stabilisation. “It will be ultimately deleterious to the Marriott, Seven Mile Beach, and the Cayman Islands. The proposed plan should be rejected by the Marriott and by the Government,” DoE stated. DoE ended its report by saying that other solutions require a local strategic retreat, explaining, “Any opportunity to remove at least parts of an existing seawall to create additional upland for the beach is a means to create reliable beach recreation area and guests’ wading entry to the sea,” the DoE said. “It exchanges some upland terrace areas for valuable beach area that does not otherwise rely upon seasonal fluctuations, beach nourishment, or structures. This option is becoming more increaingly adopted in the face of rising sea levels and diminishing natural beach sand supply.” The hotel-renovation application encompasses all bedrooms and the beachside areas of the hotel. The application stated that the process would begin with the build-out of four sample/model rooms which would provide the blueprint for the full renovation of all 295 rooms, at a cost of $23 million. Marriott resort seeks to regain its beach The beachfront at the Marriott Beach Resort. RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell has said he expects the Environmental Assessment Board to move swiftly in its review of the environmental impact assessment scoping update for the cruise berthing and cargo project. The document was submitted to the board on Tuesday. EAB chair Gina Ebanks-Petrie confirmed receipt of the scoping update report and said that, over the next few weeks, her team will be reviewing the document. The Cayman Compass spoke with Kirkconnell on Wednesday about the new developments with the $200 million project, at the Caribbean Travel Marketplace event in Nassau, Bahamas which he is attending this week. The minister said government and Verdant Isle Port Partners expect to be in a position to determine the next steps on the updated EIA scoping report in the next three or four weeks. “We’ve turned that [report] over to the Environmental Assessment Board and we’re waiting for guidelines from them. I expect them to move quickly. I expect that in the short period of time, we will have some comments back. Ms. Petrie is well recognised in that industry, and she’s chairing it,” Kirkconnell said. The EAB has four weeks to issue a ‘scoping opinion’ based on the document. That opinion will determine what new work, if any, is required to update the 2015 EIA on the controversial pier proposal. That assessment, which was carried out by consultancy company Baird, concluded there would be significant losses of coral reef habitat in George Town Harbour, and adjacent reefs, including Eden Rock and Soto’s Reef, would suffer serious adverse impacts from the project. It also concluded that the project would have no significant impact on Seven Mile Beach. The proposed port project has been redesigned to set the piers in deeper waters which limits the amount of dredging required. The scoping update, Kirkconnell said, was also done by Baird, who reviewed the original 2015 document and “made recommendations based on the new guidelines and outline of the cruise berthing facility that has been changed by the government”. Royal HaskoningDHV engineering consultancy, he added, was contracted to do a peer review of what Baird had done when it looked at the 2015 document. “And we’re happy that that is now completed,” the minister said. Kirkconnell added, from government’s perspective, the EIA may be a 2015 document, but “it’s a 50-year project, so I’m going to assume the 2015 document was extremely well done again by best in class”. Once the EAB has completed its review and issued its recommendations, there will be a period of public consultation, including a public meeting, before an updated report is commissioned. The scoping document is yet to be made public. Additional reporting by Kayla Young. Kirkconnell expects swift review of port EIA scoping report cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 24 JANUARY 2020Next >