SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism | Monday, 3 February 2020 Cayman ramping up its coronavirus response Page 3 Building code lauded following quake Page 5 Home invader gets two life sentences Page 6 Road to gridlock Issues - Pages 8, 9 and 10 6,534 more cars on Cayman’s roads in 2019Matinees (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) 1:00 VIP | 3:50 | 7:00 VIP | 10:00 BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (R) 12:40 | 3:55 VIP | 7:05 | 9:55 VIP DOLITTLE (PG) 1:15 | 4:00 | 6:35 | 9:10 GRETEL & HANSEL (PG13) 12:35 | 2:50 | 5:10 | 7:25 | 9:40 RICHARD JEWELL (R) 12:45 | 3:45 | 6:45 | 9:45 THE TURNING (PG13) 12:30 | 2:55 | 5:15 | 7:35 | 10:00 WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3 PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Cayman Compass Ltd. 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FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass OT Minister Ahmad assures continuity as Britain leaves EU RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Premier Alden McLaughlin has said that, based on assessments, Brit- ain’s exit from the European Union will have little direct impact on the Cayman Islands, but may present an issue for financial services. “We do anticipate that with the [UK] no longer providing a voice of advocacy and balance around the EU table, there could be some challenges in terms of ensuring there is a level playing field and fair consideration of the Cayman Islands’ efforts as it relates to EU-driven financial services initiatives,” he told the Legislative Assembly Friday. McLaughlin said the Ministry of Financial Services has been increasing its direct engagement with the EU for the past few years. “It has done this with the knowledge that the UK will soon not be around the EU table to speak on behalf of Cayman Islands’ Financial Services industry. CIG have been working closely with colleagues in UK government to get us in the best position ahead of 31 January 2020. The UK has undertaken that it will also find other ways through bilateral lobbying to support the Cayman Islands going forward,” he added. Despite this, McLaughlin told legislators the exit has the potential to bring with it many opportunities for Cayman and the UK to further enhance their constitutional and historical links. “One example of how the Cayman Islands government has taken steps to maximise these opportunities is the creation of the Ministry of International Trade, Investment, Aviation and Maritime Affairs in 2019, which will advance the economic and political interests of the government, local business community, and the Caymanian people. The purpose of this ministry is to assist with enhancing the reputation of the Cayman Islands and making it easier for potential overseas investors to do business in the Cayman Islands,” McLaughlin said. Britain commenced its separation from the EU on Friday, officially departing at 11pm UK time, midnight in Brussels. The departure comes 3½ years after the country voted by a margin of 52%-48% to walk away from the club that it had joined in 1973. This is the first time a country has left the EU. In Brussels, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lamented on Friday that “as the sun rises tomorrow, a new chapter for our union of 27 will start”. Friday’s departure will also herald the beginning of an 11-month transition period for the UK. McLaughlin said an analysis of the amount of trade that various local sectors conduct with the EU found that direct trade with EU members states is minimal. “Therefore, there are no obvious impacts on the Cayman Islands economy and little cause for concern in this regard,” he said. As far as travel within the EU is concerned, the premier said, Cayman Islands passport holders (i.e., British Overseas Territory Citizens) have enjoyed visa-free travel for up to 90 days within the Schengen area since 2014. “The arrangements with the EU for those travelling on BOTC passports are not contingent on the UK’s membership of the EU. As it relates to the right of Caymanians who are British passport holders to live and work in EU countries, we will have to wait and see the final results of the negotiations between the UK and the EU following 31 January 2020,” he said. For the Cayman Islands and other British Overseas Territories, the transition period and the exit of Britain has left a cloud of uncertainty. However, Overseas Territories Minister Lord Tariq Ahmad, in a statement Thursday, made it clear that a priority for him, and for the UK government, “has been to work closely with Territory leaders to identify the opportunities and concerns in each OT associated with Brexit”. He added in his statement, “I want to both assure you and to leave you in no doubt that the United Kingdom is absolutely committed to the safety and prosperity of each of our British OTs. Brexit is no exception to this.” Ahmad said during the implementation period OT citizens’ rights will not change, and neither will the relationship OT companies and non-government organisations have with the EU. He stressed that eligibility criteria for British passports of all types will not be affected by the departure from the EU. Additionally, the rules on travelling to the EU will remain the same throughout the implementation period. “This means British Citizen passport holders will be able to continue to live, work and study in the EU as they do now. The rights of British Overseas Territory Citizen (BOTC) passport holders, including 90-day visa-free access to the Schengen area in any 180 days, will also not change, either during the implementation period or afterwards,” he added. As for EU funding, Ahmad said, the UK government had agreed to cover EU-funded projects in the OTs if the EU were to cease payments. However, he said, “as part of the Prime Minister’s deal, there is no longer any risk of this: projects in the OTs under these funding streams will continue to be covered by the EU for their duration”. Premier: Brexit could bring opportunities A selection of front pages bearing Brexit headlines from British newspapers on Saturday at a newsagents in Central London. Pro-Brexit supporters gather in George Square, Glasgow, Scotland, on Friday as the UK left the European Union. cayman compass 2 news N news MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2020Seymour: Testing locally is planned RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s National Security Council is expected to meet early this week to consider whether travel restrictions should be implemented locally in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. This comes as the World Health Organization issued a global emergency alert last Thursday after the virus, first found in China, was reported in 18 other countries and the number of cases increased tenfold in a week. On Sunday, the first coronavirus death outside of China was reported in the Philippines. So far, 304 people have died from the virus and thousands have been infected. Local health and border officials in Cayman will hold a media briefing on the virus on Monday morning. A Government Information Service statement on the briefing said, “A multi-disciplinary committee is meeting regularly to plan and calibrate the Cayman Islands’ response to the virus.” Health Minister Dwayne Seymour told the Legislative Assembly Friday that the National Security Council will meet to discuss Cayman’s response “and will consider whether travel restrictions may be in the national interest and any further actions deemed necessary”. He said local healthcare providers have already been put on alert for the virus. Since WHO’s declaration of the global health emergency, a number of countries have announced travel restrictions on China. US airlines Delta, American and United have suspended flights to China. To date, China has reported at least 304 deaths from the virus, and more than 14,380 infected. Seymour said the Public Health Department held a multi- sectoral meeting on the virus last Wednesday, which included Customs and Border Control, the Port Authority, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority and Health Services Authority staff. Containment measures Seymour said a number of measures will be implemented, including distribution of face masks at the entrance of clinics for patients exhibiting respiratory symptoms, as well as monitoring of passengers with travel history to the countries affected by the virus. “Customs and Border Control officers have already been screening all arriving passengers for travel history to China who will be notified to Public Health. Public Health will then monitor these people for the incubation period and support their healthcare needs as necessary,” Seymour said. The Public Health Department, he said, has been communicating with Cayman Airways, offering support and advice. “Officials have been in contact with the cruise-ship industry and have been informed that cruise ships have been conducting screening on all joining passengers. It is also reassuring to know that travellers who are coming from China are being screened on arrival at USA, Canada, UK and beyond,” the minister added. He said the HSA is planning to increase its response capacity to deal with the virus, which will include sourcing additional equipment and supplies. Responding to queries from Deputy Leader of the Opposition Alva Suckoo, Seymour said costing for the equipment has been done. He added that the paperwork for the equipment would be delivered to Cabinet on Tuesday. Quarantine Suckoo questioned if Cayman had a quarantine area if infected people are detected. Seymour replied that an area has been identified at the Health Services Authority for quarantine, which would be for 14 days. “You would have to do some re-arranging of furniture, and beds will have to be bought and so forth, for the quarantine area, but the area has been identified,” he said. Seymour said private healthcare providers are on alert and are able to support as necessary. Suckoo also questioned what the monitoring of passengers entails, as well as the turnaroumd time for testing. The minister said Cayman has a machine for doing virus testing, and personnel will be trained to use it. “We are trying to get testing done locally so we can get quick results. At the moment, CARPHA [Caribbean Public Health Agency] is trying to ready up itself to be able to do testing. Other than that, there is no other testing being done, so we are trying to get it here on island at HSA,” Seymour said. The minister urged members of the public to educate themselves about the coronavirus, pointing out that it is in the same family of the virus that causes the common cold. He advised those who are travelling abroad to practise proper hygiene methods, such as frequent washing of hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitiser, covering nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections. Seymour added that high- visibility information will be posted at local ports within days. Cayman ramping up its coronavirus response Cayman’s UK office has called on all Caymanians overseas and those travelling to the UK to register with government representative offices or British embassies. This follows the World Health Organization’s declaration of a global medical emergency in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. In a brief statement Sunday, the Cayman Islands Government Office UK urged Caymanians who are living or travelling outside the UK where there are no Cayman government representative offices to register with the nearest British Embassy or High Commission, which would be their point of contact for information or assistance. “Caymanians living or travelling in the UK are urged to register with Cayman Islands Government Office UK as a point of contact for information/assistance,” it added. In the statement, the office shared Cayman’s latest update on the virus. It said that the Ministry of Health has been watching “closely and with concern” the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus acute respiratory disease, also known as 2019-nCoV. “The Ministry has been in close communication with the Pan American Health Organization, the Caribbean Public Health Agency and Public Health England, all of whom are providing regular recommendations, updates and web-based meetings,” it added. Caymanians can register at www.cigouk.ky/ sign-up. Updates on the virus can also be found at www.cigouk.ky/coronavirus-updates. Cayman UK office urges registration Chinese tourists turned away Jamaica implemented a travel ban to and from China on Friday amid rising fears over the international outbreak of the coronavirus. The Jamaica Gleaner reported that the country’s tourism minister, Edmund Bartlett, said that Jamaica’s travel and tourism industry could face economic fallout from the emerging global health crisis. “While the Latin American and Caribbean region has not yet reported any cases of the coronavirus, it is only logical to assume that the virus is likely to hit the region’s shores at any moment now, considering its current geographical spread and trajectory,” Bartlett told The Gleaner. A group of Chinese tourists was denied landing privileges on Friday night when they arrived at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport. The health ministry said quarantine protocols were applied on Friday night and the 19 travellers were sent back home at 10:50am on Saturday, according to The Gleaner report. Speaking at a press briefing at the North East Regional Health Authority offices in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, on Friday, Minister of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton said the severity of the restriction was necessary because Jamaica’s size made it “particularly vulnerable” should there be an outbreak of the virus. He noted that the government could deny access to the country to people known to have travelled to China, owing to how rapidly the virus was spreading. “The virus offers a clear and present danger. The consequences can be dire,” he said. Jamaica imposes China travel ban “Caymanians living or travelling in the UK are urged to register with Cayman Islands Government Office UK as a point of contact for information/ assistance.” Cayman Island Government Office UK statement What is emergency alert The World Health Organization defines an international emergency as an “extraordinary event” that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response. Symptoms of 2019-nCoV symptoms Fever Cough Shortness of breath Symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 after exposure cayman compass 3 news N news MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2020Aftershocks expected to continue RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Hazard Management Cayman Islands has said it will be looking at its after-hours operations, following last week’s 7.7 magnitude earthquake. Although the quake hit in the middle of the afternoon with emergency services and response agencies acting quickly following the tremor, officials have said that if the earthquake had struck in the middle of the night, the reaction may not have been as immediate. A review of after-hours operations was one of the points that came out of Friday’s operational debriefing among agencies involved in the emergency-response effort after the earthquake. Hazard Management’s Acting Deputy Director of Communications and Awareness, Simon Boxall, in a short video statement following the debriefing, said, “While the communications [were] fairly rapid in this instance, some of the lessons we learned today show that possibly for nights, weekends, public holidays, we need to look at some of the processes and improve.” He commended the efforts of those who assisted in ensuring Cayman was informed and kept safe after the earthquake. “In many regards, it was a pretty good team effort ... Cayman came through in a fairly resilient manner and we were fortunate,” he said. However, he said, one of the takeaways from Friday’s meeting, which was attended by 35 people from various government agencies, was the need to look at current operations. Premier Alden McLaughlin, in his comments following the earthquake, said if the tremor had happened at nighttime, things would have turned out differently. The earthquake struck at 2:10pm and was felt in Jamaica, Cuba and Miami. Describing the response, HMCI Director Danielle Coleman said, “We think the comms [communications] were actually very effective. It was a matter of two minutes after [the] ... verified tsunami warning, the actual radio interrupt came through, and then a minute later, the social media started.” She said discussions at the debriefing also focussed on what else, apart from operations, could ensure that the response is as effective as possible and that everyone is working together and collaborating. Coleman also said mental health should be a consideration in the response to an event like an earthquake. She added that, as of Friday, there had been 21 aftershocks, and more could be felt over the next couple of weeks. Several were also felt by residents over the weekend. This, she said, is why people should consider their families and friends. “Just to make sure that your neighbours, your family, are OK, and asking about that,” she said. Coleman said there are a number of resources available on island to assist with any mental health issues, but Hazard Management is available to help as well. She added that it is critical that everyone educate themselves on what to do in an earthquake. Boxall said HMCI is willing to hold public-awareness sessions about earthquakes and tsunamis. “There is information on our website [caymanprepared.ky], but we also willing to come out to your government agency or civic organisation, your school, your church. So, reach out to us, pick up the phone and call us, come to our office or go online and email us,” he said. FridAY'S SOLUTiONS 1234567 8 9 10 11 12131415 1617 1819 20212223 24 25 26 27 1234567 8 9 10 11 12131415 1617 1819 20212223 24 25 26 27 Puzzle 16289 ACROSS: 1 Politic, 5 Rhone, 8 Out of tune, 9 Act, 10 Flit, 12 Obsolete, 14 Outcry, 15 Finale, 17 Foreseen, 18 Peal, 21 All, 22 Of one mind, 24 Dwarf, 25 Gherkin. DOWN: 1 Proof, 2 Lot, 3 Tiff, 4 Chubby, 5 Rhetoric, 6 On average, 7 Extreme, 11 Inter alia, 13 Brush-off, 14 Offhand, 16 Belong, 19 Laden, 20 Cede, 23 Irk. ACrOSS 1 A corrupt payment (5) 8 Subordinate activity (8) 9 Circumvent (5) 10 Fish, source of caviar (8) 11 Poetry (5) 12 A hairstyle (3) 16 Alliance (6) 17 Writer of book (6) 18 Make fun of (3) 23 Hazardous (5) 24 To upset (8) 25 Cloth made from flax (5) 26 Ill feeling (3,5) 27 Break violently (5) dOWN 2 Professional critic (8) 3 On purpose (2,6) 4 Unpretentious restaurant (6) 5 Disparage (5) 6 Very steep (5) 7 Oscillate (5) 12 Entreat (3) 13 Alcove (3) 14 Impassivity (8) 15 Permanently (3,5) 19 Extirpate (6) 20 Leisure activity (5) 21 Poverty-stricken (5) 22 Pursue prey stealthily (5) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16291 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. EARTHQUAKE AFTERMATH HMCI to review after-hours operations Hazard Management Cayman Islands will review its emergency-response operations. cartoon Stuck - By Caymanman 7.7 The magnitude of Tuesday’s earthquake Representatives from Cayman's emergency-response agencies gather for a post-earthquake debriefing on Friday. cayman compass 4 news N news MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2020RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s strict building code came in for high praise from lawmakers after minimal damage was recorded following last Tuesday’s earthquake. “I say, by the 7.7 earthquake that hit us on Tuesday, with rarely any structural damage, that should prevail hard on the minds of us Caymanians, that what was done in implementing our building code was good for our islands, and especially good for Caymanians,” House Speaker McKeeva Bush said Thursday in an address to the Legislative Assembly. Bush reminded legislators about the public criticism that was levelled against lawmakers when the current building codes were being implemented. “Our people ought to take stock for something that was cursed and an administration that was accused, oh so much, of putting into place a system … and you have heard these words a lot … to hinder Caymanians and make foreigners and ourselves … meaning, elected members … rich. That is what we are being accused of. But that has been debunked,” he said. It is a point with which Opposition Leader Arden McLean agreed. He said sometimes he even had doubts about how much it was going to cost Caymanians to do their “little house”. However, McLean said Tuesday’s earthquake was testament to the code and the decisions made for the country. “For those who criticise us here, you must first step into this arena. This is where it happens and we are capable of making errors, but certainly we do what we think has to be done,” McLean said. Bush said his home also was impacted by the earthquake, where he found a 31-feet, 9-inch-deep sinkhole with 23 feet of water, and another which was 12 feet deep on his property. “But there was no other damage,” he added. The country, he said, should be thankful for the mercies shown in the aftermath of a major earthquake as there was no loss of life or substantial damage. Bush was critical of social media complaints lodged against MLAs Barbara Conolly and David Wight after pictures were posted online of them distributing water to residents in Windsor Park who had been without water after the tremor. Linking it to political agendas, Bush urged more consideration for the work the government is doing for the people. “This is the mindset of our people and we ought to say so because it is wrong. So, while we are accused, the facts are showing differently and rather than our accusers doing nothing to lead to a new dawn, they are busy doing what they accuse the elected assembly of: the entrenchment of old practices – accuse, belittle, blackguard and lie,” he said. Bush also made it clear he was not aspiring to be the leader of the country. “Do you think I want to face that as the premier or as a member of Cabinet? I say to my people: Not me. Oh, I will strive for the next seat, and I hope they carry that one,” he said, adding he did not want to be in the Cabinet. Bush lauded Hazard Management Cayman Islands for its efforts to educate Cayman’s students, pointing out that more than 2,000 students were briefed about emergencies such as earthquakes. QUAKE AFTERMATH Lawmakers praise building code A dive instructor and his girlfriend who was underwater in a swimming pool during Tuesday's earthquake have described their experience during the 7.7 magnitude quake. Joe Crane, a British dive professional at Ocean Frontiers, and his girlfriend Holly Simmonds were practising dive skills at the bottom of the pool beside Eagle Ray's restaurant when they felt the earth, or rather the water, move. “We were doing skills under the water. It was just mass confusion. The first thing I noticed was my girlfriend was lifted up off the bottom of the pool and I grabbed her back. Then I was lifted off the ground. We looked up and the whole pool was swishing around like crazy,” he said. The moment was caught on video and has since been circulating widely on social media. Crane, 31, describing the experience to the Cayman Compass, said, “My first thought was that someone had pulled the plug, followed immediately by, there is no plug.” He said he and Simmonds surfaced as water was still spilling out of the edges of the pool. “Someone was filming, and one of the managers asked if we were OK. To be quite honest, like you can hear in the video, I found it quite funny. We didn’t feel like we were in an earthquake,” he said, adding that this was the first quake he had experienced. "We don't get many earthquakes in the UK." Crane, who has been on island for four months, has been a diver since 2008 and became a dive professional in 2018. His girlfriend was visiting from the UK for 10 days. Other divers in Cayman who were in the ocean when the earthquake hit have said it felt and sounded as though a large boat was passing very nearby. Some have described how the water’s clear visibility dropped to just a few feet. Snorkellors also said visibility was immediately affected. Divers shaken in pool during quake Sites of sinkholes Cayman Islands Hospital staff carpark , George Town Windsor Park, George Town Seven Mile Public Beach (multiple) Watercourse Road, West Bay Harbour Heights apartments, West Bay Invicta Drive, West Bay Rum Point Drive, North Side Major Donald Road, Cayman Brac Guy Banks Road, Little Cayman South Sound Road, George Town Sinkholes at the Cayman Islands Hospital carpark following last week's earthquake. In this screengrab from video, Joe Crane and Holly Simmonds surface during the earthquake. Joe Crane and Holly Simmonds experienced last week's earthquake while carrying out diving skills in a swimming pool. cayman compass 5 news N news MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2020CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky Groups of cruise-ship passengers spent their time in Cayman on Friday volunteering at a number of local charities on island. Dozens of volunteers carried out work at the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, Bonaventure Boys Home and the Frances Bodden Children’s Home. At the NCVO’s New to You Bargain Shop, located by Miss Nadine’s Pre-School on Anthony Drive in George Town, 24 volunteers from the South Carolina-based Premier Foundation helped sort through donations of clothing and other goods. The Premier Foundation volunteers serve communities in need around the world during mission excursions at ports of call. The volunteers help out as much as they can during a four-hour period. Martha McField-Dunbar, officer administrator for NCVO, said the pre-school staff is appreciative of the help, as they are usually the ones who go through the donations that come into the shop. “We were just ever so grateful that we have them coming in to help us sort through all the gently used items that have been donated because the bargain store is manned by volunteers or staff,” McField-Dunbar said. The group arrived on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship chartered by Premier Foundation’s sister company, Premier Vacations and Events, for a Christian music radio station, K-LOVE. One of the volunteers at the NCVO on Friday, Jana Harlow, said she had planned just to enjoy the Christian music cruise until she saw in her emails that the organisation was looking for volunteers to do mission work while in Cayman. “We donate a fee and the donations go to the different organisations in Cayman, as well as getting us transportation and placing us where we are needed, volunteering in whatever our strengths are in,” Harlow said. Crystal Bancroft, team leader for the volunteer group, said this was the first time she had been on a K-LOVE cruise and done mission work with this group. “We love doing mission work and it’s a pleasure for us to be able to come in and bless different organisations and set some structure in the bargain shop so that NCVO can bless their community,” Bancroft said. ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky A 26-year-old George Town man was given a double life sentence for an aggravated burglary during which an elderly couple was tied up and robbed at gunpoint. Sitting before five prison officers and seven police officers – four of whom were armed police – Elmer Wright listened in silence as Justice Roger Chapple handed down the lengthy prison sentence on Friday. The judge said he had contemplated long on whether he should impose an indeterminate or a determinate sentence. An indeterminate sentence allows authorities to hold a person behind bars for as long as they deem that person to be a threat to the community. Ultimately, Chapple stated that his decision was strongly based on the numerous and overwhelming aggravated circumstances, a lack of remorse, and Wright’s “deep-rooted interests in firearms”. Last month, Wright was convicted of possessing 112 rounds of ammunition of at least three different calibres, and a bulletproof vest. Wright also faced charges for an unrelated matter for which he was convicted of attempted burglary, possession of an imitation firearm, damage to property, aggravated burglary and robbery. “Each and every one of the crimes you have been convicted of are simply serious,” said Chapple. “You have shown not one jot of remorse for what you have done. I doubt you care about anybody but yourself. You are a ruthless and dangerous man.” Wright is one of four men who are said to have played varying roles during a spree of criminal offences. Brothers Nikel Thomas, 25, and Cain Thomas, 19, were jointly charged with Wright. The Thomas brothers pleaded guilty to the charges they faced. Cain Thomas eventually went on to become the prosecution’s star witness. A fourth man has since been charged and awaits trial in relation to the various crimes. Despite the other parties involved, Wright was sentenced by himself on Friday due to security concerns that led police to have armed officers at the courthouse. During the sentencing hearing, Chapple reflected on Wright’s criminal history. His first major conviction came in 2008 at the age of 15. He was given a nine-year sentence for robbing a gas station at gunpoint, during which he beat a customer and shot at police. “Ten months after you were released, you embarked on a night of criminality,” the judge said. On that night, Wright and others attempted to break into a West Bay condo but were frightened off by an alarm. They eventually made their way to Prospect, where they broke into the home of a sleeping elderly couple. The court heard that the home invaders had tied the husband and wife to chairs and threatened to kill them. They were robbed of cash and jewellery. The robbers made degrading sexual comments about the wife, and the husband was hit with a hammer. Reading from a victim impact report, Chapple outlined the effects on the couple who has since had to move from their home. “The wife now becomes very anxious whenever she is in a gathering of young men with local accents,” said Chapple. “She has said this was the worst thing that has ever happened to her. She and her family have moved away from their house and have since moved somewhere else.” For the charge of aggravated burglary and robbery, the judge imposed a double life sentence. For the charge of attempted burglary, Wright was sentenced to five years in prison. He received a further 10- year sentence for the possession of an unlicensed firearm along with two years for the charge of damage to property. The judge then turned his attention to the 112 rounds of ammunition and bulletproof vest. “That amount of ammunition are serious indications of being involved in organised crime,” Chapple said. “It signals a deep- rooted interest in firearms and I agree it borders on the line of an obsession.” Wright was sentenced to eight years for the ammunition and five years for the bulletproof vest. All the charges were made to run concurrently. Although the judge imposed two indeterminate life sentences, such sentences are subject to Section 14 of the Conditional Release Law, which makes it mandatory that specific tariffs are imposed on anyone serving life in prison. A tariff is a set term of imprisonment that a prisoner must serve before they are eligible for parole. In Wright’s case, Chapple imposed a minimum tariff of 18 years. However, there is no guarantee that Wright will be released after he serves that time. “You will only be released when and if the Conditional Release Board is satisfied that you are no longer a threat to the community,” said Chapple before Wright was taken downstairs to an armed convoy that rushed him off to prison. The Cayman Heart Fund is reminding the public that February is Heart Month, a month-long initiative to help raise awareness about cardiovascular disease and its effects. The charity is inviting people to wear red this month in their schools, workplaces and neighbourhoods and to help raise funds for the Cayman Heart Fund. “Get into the team spirit and pick up your own ‘Wear Red for Heart Month’ T-shirts, which are available at the Cayman Heart Fund, Balance Cayman and Audi Camana Bay,” the charity said in a press release. Participants who wear red and send a picture to info@ Caymanheartfund.com, and donate $20 or more to the Cayman Heart Fund, will receive one of the T-shirts. Cayman Heart Fund coordinator Angelique Bodden said residents are encouraged to contact the CHF on info@Caymanheartfund.com to share their ‘Wear Red’ photos and inspiring stories on how they are honouring Heart Month. “Heart Month is a fantastic way to remind everyone to focus on their hearts and encourage them to get their families, friends and communities involved. The most important thing you can do is to speak to your physician about your risks and know your numbers by checking for blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar levels, weight, and BMI,” the charity stated in its press release. Heart Month events During this Heart Month, Team Nolan will host the Heart Warriors and Angels Beach Walk from 7am on Sunday, 9 Feb. at Seven Mile Beach. Cayman Heart Fund will hold its Heart Heroes Brunch from 11:30am to 3pm on Sunday, 16 Feb. at Ristorante Pappagallo. Cayman is joining countries around the world to mark the 20th annual World Cancer Day on Tuesday. Local charities that are raising awareness of cancer have organised a presentation by a medical expert, followed by a panel discussion, at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Dr. Lundie Richards, a Cayman Islands Health Services Authority oncologist and haemotologist, will make the presentation at the event, which is titled ‘Cancer in Cayman: Together we will fight’. The Cayman Islands Cancer Society, the Breast Cancer Foundation and Jasmine palliative and hospice centre, along with the Cancer Islands Cancer Registry, are hosting the event. The presention and discussion panel will be held at the hospital’s Hibicus Conference Room from 5:30pm-7pm. It is free and open to the public. World Cancer Day, held every 4 Feb. and led by the Union for International Cancer Control, was established in 2000, when a number of cancer experts drafted the Charter of Paris Against Cancer, putting forward an ambitious vision to address the ‘global burden of cancer’. The charter was signed by then French President Jacques Chirac and the general director of UNESCO, Kōichirō Matsuura. In line with the international marking of World Cancer Day, throughout this month, the Cayman Islands Cancer Society will be holding its ‘Light Up Lavendar’ campaign. Lavendar is the colour of awareness of all types of cancer, much as pink is the colour for breast cancer awareness. Cruise tourists volunteer at three local charities ‘Ruthless and dangerous’ home invader jailed for life Wear red for heart health awareness Cayman observes World Cancer Day About Premier Foundation The Premier Foundation has done mission excursions in locations including Nassau, Jamaica, Cozumel and Belize. It takes groups of passengers on cruises to serve in different locations while in port by cleaning, painting, spending time with children, carrying out repairs, or anything that can be done in a four-hour period. CRIMESENTENCE Aggravated burglaryLife in prison RobberyLife in prison Attempted burglary5 years in prison Possession of an imitation firearm10 years in prison Damage to property2 years in prison cayman compass 6 news N news MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2020June completion expected for runway work KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Upgrades at Owen Roberts International Airport are nearing the final stage before work begins on a new terminal, said Transport Minister Moses Kirkconnell. Lengthening of the runway, under way now, will be the final project before focussing on the terminal. “Land was left for the greenfield expansion, and that brings in a new terminal, new apron, runway considerations and the jet bridges that everybody wants,” Kirkconnell told the Cayman Compass during the Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Nassau last month. Greenfield refers to development on land that has previously not been built on. Current work on the runway is expected to be completed by June. “We have [Boeing] 777s that land from British Airways. So we had to strengthen the runway,” the minister said. “The lengthening of the runway will take care of us in the medium term, but there certainly has to be a consideration for a longer runway in the long term.” He addressed criticism that the newly upgraded airport, with an annual capacity of 2.5 million passengers, has already neared capacity on heavy traffic days. “People said, we should have built it bigger. But I tell you this straight, 15 years people talked about building that airport and nothing happened until I got elected and was put in that position as a minister,” Kirkconnell said. “And our team has finished it to that point. So my answer to them is, we’re moving forward with the business case, but what would have happened if we hadn’t done it then and we were still talking about it?” To alleviate crowding in the short term, he said more seating will be added to the second floor. He highlighted changes to customs and immigration processes, such as a ‘green channel’ for travellers with no goods to declare, and additional staff training as steps taken to improve the passenger experience. For stayover visitors, the airport is their first and last impression of the jurisdiction, he said, emphasising the importance of the islands' travel infrastructure. “It’s the first place that you come when you get to Cayman. I think it’s a good representation of a successful, small island nation,” he said. “You get a lasting impression that it’s an island that is doing work and it’s doing the work in the right places. It’s improving its infrastructure and it’s a sophisticated destination.” Kirkconnell added that Cayman Airways is considering the addition of a location on the US West Coast for direct flights to Grand Cayman. Kirkconnell: New airport terminal on the horizon CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky The year’s first lecture in the Central Caribbean Marine Institute’s ‘healthy reefs’ campaign focussed on the importance of sustaining the reefs, as well as difference types of coral growth. Visiting scientist Anya Brown from the University of Florida presented the free lecture, ‘Coral Health: From Microbes to branches’ at the National Gallery on 21 Jan. as part of the ‘We Need Healthy Reefs’ series. Brown has previously collaborated with CCMI scientists to study and better understand various aspects of coral reproductions and resiliency. Her lecture focussed on the importance of sustaining healthy reefs; the different types of coral growth, microscopic algae, and corals themselves; and the research and data gathered from the collaboration with CCMI. Brown explained the problem with studying coral disease is the difficulty in determining which pathogens are involved. Part of their research included restoring dying reefs and finding out the best way to create a coral nursery. She returned to Little Cayman the day after the lecture to continue her research on whether corals grow better hanging on a PVC structure or when stabilised on the ocean floor. She explained that, as part of her research, she wants to “find out about the growth and survival of the corals we helped plant in November at five different sites. The other thing we’re going to be doing is looking for disease in corals and, hopefully, taking bacteria samples in case there are diseases,” Brown said. Her collaboration with CCMI was a culmination of her “dream” of working with corals from the Caribbean. “I wanted to learn more about the Caribbean reefs, especially because so much of what we know as scientists is rooted in the Caribbean. I had this great opportunity to go to the University of Florida where they had already started this collaboration,” Brown said. She said the public can do its part to preserve the reefs simply by not touching them, as well as reducing the use of plastics. “Plastics, try and reduce that. I think that is a simple way of reducing your waste, but mostly when you’re diving try to avoid touching and grabbing onto things,” Brown said. She recently received her PhD from the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia. She conducted her master’s and PhD research in Moorea, French Polynesia. The next CCMI lecture in the ‘We Need Healthy Reefs’ series will be presented 21 April by Amy Apprill from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Apprill’s lecture, ‘Cuba’s Hidden Treasure’, will cover the coral research being conducted at Gardens of the Queen in Cuba. CCMI reef lecture stresses coral health Threats to corals Overfishing Plastic pollution Development Coral bleaching Coral diseases Chemicals Elevated temperatures Anya Brown answers questions from the public on coral reefs on 21 Jan. Moses Kirkconnell An Island Paving truck leaves the airport area as work on the runway continues on Friday. cayman compass 7 news N news MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2020Seeking solutions to gridlock on Cayman’s roads The faces of the drivers tell the story. Frustrated, angry, anxious. The morning and evening commutes have become a stressful endurance test for many. The term rush ‘hour’ is no longer sufficient to cover the growing chunk of time Cayman residents are wasting in traffic. Congestion is more than a nuisance issue. It is fundamentally about quality of life. Time spent behind the wheel is lost work time, lost family time, lost beach time. Island life was not supposed to be this stressful. Traffic congestion, a mounting concern in Grand Cayman for some time, reached a tipping point late last year. If you want to know why, look no further than page 9 of this section where the statistics are laid out in black and white. More than 6,500 additional vehicles were added to our already clogged roads in 2019 – an increase of almost 20%. The rise in car ownership is linked both to population growth and economic success. Government will argue, with some justification, that this is a good problem, that 'we are victims of our own success'. Premier Alden McLaughlin practically said as much in an interview with the Cayman Compass as he unveiled government’s budget for the next two years in November. Suggesting the islands’ population had grown by more than 10,000 in the last seven years, he acknowledged that economic growth had come with consequences. “The increase in economic activity has created a situation where the infrastructure in some areas, particularly the road network, is creaking,” he said. McLaughlin, who is also the representative for Red Bay, says traffic is the number one concern of his constituents. Ask any legislator east of George Town and they say the same thing. Government has proposed a handful of new road projects, the most significant of which is the planned extension to the East- West Arterial Highway linking Bodden Town to Savannah. The National Roads Authority is hard at work on tweaks to improve traffic flow at key bottle- necks. They are fighting the tide. With new residents and new vehicles arriving on island daily, there is growing consensus that road building will not be enough. It seems obvious that we cannot build our way out of this problem. Over the next month, the Cayman Compass Issues team will take an in-depth look at traffic congestion. To some extent, the causes are obvious – more people, more cars and clusters of housing and office developments that are concentrated in distinct centres. The answers are less clear. We will talk to the politicians, roads officials and town planners searching for solutions. We will profile Cayman’s public transport system and ask if it is fit for purpose. And we will spread the net further and examine case studies of countries that have implemented innovative solutions to control congestion. Informed columnists have been invited to share their complaints, concerns and ideas for the future. Our goal is to broaden the discussion and challenge Cayman to find long-term solutions for a problem that is unlikely to go away. By some projections, the island’s population could hit 100,000 within the next decade. The wisdom and consequences of that kind of growth are an issue for another day. What is clear is that without proper planning, the number of cars in Cayman could double again. If that happens, no amount of tarmac will be enough. Cayman must find solutions that go beyond paving paradise to build roads that resemble parking lots. The discussion starts here. In search of lost time Have your say. Contact Issues Editor James Whittaker on jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky. Traffic grinds to a standstill on Crewe Road last Thursday morning. We will be breaking down the causes and searching for solutions to the traffic problem. The morning commute in less than 3 minutes? Check out our time-lapse video at www.caymancompass.com cayman compass 8 I issues MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2020Traffic taking its toll on eastern district residents JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The sun has not yet risen over Beach Bay and the streets are already clogged with traffic. The frustrated blast of horns can be heard over the idling of engines as drivers nervously nose from a web of side streets into the long line of vehicles snaking back toward Bodden Town. The unhappy convoy moves in fits and starts. For occasional stretches, it is possible to near the 30mph speed limit, then the traffic slows as swarms of new cars from neighbourhoods in Newlands join the main stream. Around Prospect, it stops almost completely. From here it is a slow crawl to George Town. In most cases, there is just one person to a vehicle. The faces look sullen, annoyed, resigned. The occasional happy soul is rocking out to the car radio. Others distractedly scan smartphones or talk hurriedly on the hands-free link, trying to get the day under way. This is rush hour on a regular morning in Grand Cayman, where a three-mile journey can take 40 minutes. While traffic is a frustrating fact of life in many of the world’s busiest cities, congestion on this scale is new for the island. “I never dreamed that Cayman would become such a stressful place,” said Dorothy Davis. “It is worse than the UK, worse than Florida. It never used to be like this.” In some ways, Cayman is a victim of its own success. Both economic and population growth have taken car ownership to an all-time high. There were more than 6,500 vehicles added to Cayman’s roads in the last year alone. Line them up nose-to-tail and that is enough to cover 20 miles of a single-lane road. As dramatic as those figures are, they come as no surprise to motorists who have been snarled in some of the worst traffic the island has ever seen. For Sara Carlowe McKay, who lives in Beach Bay, the only solution is to start early. The mum-of-two gets the kids up at 5:30am and in the car for 6:15am for the seven- mile trip to George Town. She serves breakfast in the car and on a good day, she makes Cayman Prep before 7am. “I have to sit in the car and wait for school to open, but it is better than being stressed out in traffic,” she said. If she misses that window of opportunity before the main rush hour traffic ramps up, the journey can take over an hour. It’s the same on the way home. An after-school piano lesson for one of the children can mean the family doesn’t make it home till after 7:30pm. Subtle changes In subtle ways, traffic, and the desire to avoid it, are changing the way people live. “I’ve stopped taking my son to 4pm swim lessons because the time it takes to get home doesn’t make sense,” says Keri Jansen, who lives in Prospect and works from home. “It is supposed to be a 10-minute drive and it turns into 60 minutes.” She is concerned about the amount of new construction, with new developments seemingly going up every day in Red Bay, Prospect, Newlands and Savannah. “Where are all these people going to go?” she asks. Proper reliable public transport, safer roads for cyclists, walkers and runners, and moving some government offices to the outer ‘I never dreamed Cayman would become so stressful’ “In some families mum has a car, dad has a car, and the helper has a car to take the kids to school.” 4.5mph – Average speed on rush hour journey from Prospect to George Town 54 – The number of hours ‘wasted’ in traffic by the average American, according to a Texas A&M University study 245 – The number of hours ‘wasted’ in traffic by drivers commuting daily from Prospect to George Town using the same methodology 85% - Proportion of cars with only one occupant in Compass rush hour survey 12 – The number of vehicles imported to Cayman every day in 2018 18% - The increase in registered vehicles on Cayman’s roads over the past year 117 miles – The estimated length of single-lane road it would take to accommodate all of Cayman’s registered vehicles lined up nose- to-tail Morning and evening traffic jams have become intolerable, say commuters. Most commuters agree there are no easy solutions to Cayman's traffic problems. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 cayman compass 9 I issues MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2020Next >