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More ATMs. More smiles. cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism | Wednesday, 12 February 2020 News Mandatory quarantine implemented for coronavirus Page 3 Business Ocorian and Estera complete merger Page 14 Runway damaged by aircraft blast Page 8 More Caymanians attending private schools Page 3Matinees (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) 12:30 | 9:30 BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (R) 1:00 VIP | 3:40 | 6:40 | 9:55 VIP BIRDS OF PREY (R) 1:10 | 4:05 VIP | 7:00 VIP | 9:15 DOLITTLE (PG) 1:15 | 4:00 | 6:35 | 9:10 GRETEL & HANSEL (PG13) 12:35 | 2:55 | 5:10 | 7:25 | 10:00 WAVES (R) 12:35 | 3:45 | 6:50 | 9:55 WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 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 Partly cloudy skies with a 30% chance of late night showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 86°F 75°F HIGH LOW WINDS East to southeast at 10 to 15 knots today, 5 to 10 knots tonight. SEA STATE Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass People may have noticed something different this month about the lighting at night at a number of buildings throughout Grand Cayman. To mark World Cancer Awareness Month, the buildings of several organisations and businesses are lighting up lavender. So far, the lavender glow can be found at the Health Services Authority and the Cayman Islands Cancer Society, and throughout Camana Bay. Jennifer Weber, operations manager at the Cancer Society, explained that lavender is the colour that denotes all cancers, much as pink represents breast cancer, blue for prostate cancer, black for melanoma, or gold for childhood cancer. “We join the world in observing World Cancer Awareness Day in Cayman on 4 Feb. each year and extend the awareness throughout the month of February,” Weber said. “Around the world, cancer impacts so many people as a worldwide health concern, so we do what we can to spread awareness. “Every year, we have people from the community tell us they appreciate seeing all the cancer colours represented because their loved one had bladder cancer or lung cancer and they feel like the less-common cancers often go unnoticed.” She added that she hoped that during this month, people will be encouraged to spread awareness, provide support and inspire hope in some way. “If they want to do something to show their support for all cancers, they should. Some businesses ask staff to do a dress-down day in February, or call us to ask if they can buy something lavender for staff, like a bracelet or a pin. Others post the list of all the cancer awareness ribbon colours in a common place for members of their school, staff, or church to see,” Weber said. The Cancer Society has sent information to corporate human resource departments, schools and churches to let them know the specific ribbon colour for each cancer, but the lavender ribbon shows “universal support for the fight against cancer”, she added. “So, if anyone is wondering why lavender lighting is in our community this month, this is the reason,” she said. For more information, call 949-7618 or visit www.cics.ky. Lighting up lavender for cancer awareness Diver dies after getting into difficulties A 65-year-old woman who got into difficulties during a boat dive died on Tuesday morning, according to police. The woman was brought back to shore by boat, and emergency services responded to a report of a person in distress at the West Bay Dock shortly before 10am. She was transported by ambulance to the Cayman Islands Hospital where she was subsequently pronounced dead. The woman was a visitor from the US. Woman killed in jet-ski accident A 69-year-old woman, visiting from the US, was killed Sunday in a jet-ski accident off Seven Mile Beach. Police said the woman was riding a jet ski that collided with another jet ski around 12:30pm, in the vicinity of Piper Way. She was transported by ambulance to the Cayman Islands Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The rider of the other jet ski was uninjured. Police said the matter was under investigation. Man arrested after three-car collision Police arrested a 29-year-old man from West Bay Sunday on suspicion of leaving the scene of a three-car collision in Savannah. The collision occurred shortly before 10pm on Shamrock Road, near the Savannah Rubis service station. “A red Honda Civic collided with a green Chevrolet which was waiting to turn right onto the eastbound lane of Shamrock Road. The Civic then travelled left into oncoming traffic on the eastbound lane and collided with a white Honda Accord which was travelling eastbound,” police said in a statement. The occupants of the Chevrolet and the Honda Accord were transported to the Cayman Islands Hospital and were treated for minor injuries. The driver of the Honda Civic left the scene of the accident, police said, and was later transported to the Cayman Islands Hospital for treatment for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. He was reported to be in stable condition on Monday. 2 injured in Brac crash Police are investigation a two- vehicle collision that occurred on Friday night along South Side West Road in Cayman Brac. Police and other emergency services were dispatched by the 9-1-1 Communications Centre just before 11:20pm. “It appeared that both vehicles were travelling in the opposite direction on South Side West Road, when one of the vehicles swerved into the lane of the other causing a head-on collision,” police said in a statement. Two people complained of injuries following the crash. One person was taken by ambulance to Faith Hospital and treated for minor injuries. The other travelled by private means to the hospital and was also treated for minor injuries, according to police. The driver of the vehicle that swerved was warned for intended prosecution on suspicion of careless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the RCIPS. News in briefs The Cayman Islands Hospital, run by the Health Services Authority, is another site which has joined the lavender lighting campaign this month. cayman compass 2 news N news WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020Scott: Change needed in public-school perception RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Enrolment in private schools is increasing as more local parents opt out of placing their children in Cayman’s government-run public schools, the Public Accounts Committee heard last week. PAC member Chris Saunders flagged the issue when he pointed to enrolment numbers in private schools, which have risen in recent years, while those at public schools have dropped. Saunders, referencing numbers from the 2010 census and 2018 statistics, said the Caymanian student-age population (0-14) rose by 928 over that time, but enrolment within public schools by the end of 2018 had dropped by 7%. Overall enrolment in private- sector schools, he said, went from 2,787 in 2012 to 3,618 in 2018 – an increase of about 30%. He questioned if this trend was being analysed. Education Council chairman Dan Scott said the Education Ministry is working to address the issue, but said if any of the ministry’s efforts are to work, there has to be buy-in from parents. Scott, speaking at the PAC meeting, which had convened to hear matters arising from the Auditor General’s November 2019 report into education, welcomed the Bodden Town MLA’s point, saying the ministry is working on initiatives to increase the attractiveness of public schools. He said Cayman had to create an environment that enabled public schools to be of high quality and able to compete with other schools, not just in Cayman, but regionally and internationally. “So, that’s the goal I think that we have as Education Council and it’s been embarked upon. ... We’ve looked to ensure now that you have an independent inspection of schools, both public and private, so that it is out there and it is transparent.” This, he said, ensures “parents as the buyers get to see what’s good”. He said there had also been changes to the curriculum and efforts to provide the resources that teachers need to be able to teach students. Scott pointed out that Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has talked about increases in pay for public school teachers. “There’s been debate around that, but now one can’t question whether you can indeed attract the best talent globally because you certainly can pay for it,” he said. All these elements, he pointed out, can come together to ensure that “public schools have to be able to be good at what they do, be extremely competitive, and deliver an outstanding product”. Scott also addressed the issue of segregation in schools, whereby expatriate students are not allowed to attend public schools. He said it was not borne out of deliberately trying to segregate expat students from local children, “but more out of we only have a certain amount of physical space and budget ... so you prioritise Caymanians, which I think is absolutely right, and, you know, other folks [have] to go to a private school”. However, he said, this creates barriers as young people in different schools are not getting to work together and learn about each other. He said there are projects that the ministry is looking at to reduce the disconnect. Those, he said, could be the private sector building schools and government giving “coupons for kids to go to these schools, or guarantee a certain amount, or indeed that you can do so the other way with the government school,” Scott said. He said he believes the starting point was to focus on making sure government schools are delivering high-quality education. “As we are going to continue to grow [and] our population is growing quite rapidly, it is important that you put kids together, that they learn about each other,” he added. Prospect MLA Austin Harris raised the issue of technical and vocational training and what emphasis was being placed on translating that into employment for Caymanians. Scott said technical and vocational training is part of the over-arching strategic plan for education and a subcommittee is looking at that area. He said support from the private sector and legislators has been “outstanding” and the Education Council is focussing on areas of employment where there is a real demand and training Caymanians to fill that demand. “This is our endgame. It’s not just a student has gone through and done a course; that course needs to lead to employment and real-life opportunity,” he said. At the meeting, PAC chairman Ezzard Miller took issue with the requirement that certified plumbers and electricians have to complete City and Guilds training and then still have to undergo two years of working with an experienced tradesman. “They should be able to go and get a job,” Miller argued. He said he sees that as one of the impediments for Caymanians. “Even after they get the qualifications, they are then expected to work for somebody else for two years, which is ridiculous. So, I think it needs to see if we can influence the ministries who are doing the licence to change that,” he said. Scott said he will take the concerns on board. RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Government has imposed mandatory quarantine and is working on travel restrictions for travellers and residents who have been to mainland China. This means people with recent travel history to China will have to submit to quarantine, rather than voluntarily doing so. Last week, the Public Health Department confirmed a “very small” number of people have been isolated and they were “asymptomatic”. There has been no further word on these individuals and their medical condition. Cayman is set to join more than 50 countries or territories that have imposed travel restrictions and tightened visa requirements to contain the novel coronavirus, according to the International Air Transport Association. In a statement Monday evening, Cayman’s Ministry of Health said travellers who have been to China within 14 days prior to their arrival in the Cayman Islands will be subject to mandatory quarantine, following measures implemented by Cabinet. “Cayman nationals and returning residents who have been to mainland China and are planning on returning or have already returned to the Cayman Islands will be subject to quarantine and surveillance for up to fourteen days since departing mainland China at a location to be determined by the Medical Officer of Health – which may be their homes in some circumstances,” the statement said. Non-residents would be taken to a designated quarantine facility. The release did not specify the location of the facility. It said Cabinet has approved the drafting of “new Regulations under Section 34 of the Public Health Law (2002) to restrict the entry of visitors by aircraft or ship to the Cayman Islands if they have had a recent travel history to, from or through mainland China”. No timeframe was given for when those regulations will be ready. However, Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee said on Twitter Monday night that the regulations require Cabinet approval, which should be ready “within days”. Novel coronavirus has been added to the Schedule of Notifiable Diseases of the Public Health Law, providing government additional powers to manage the disease. Individuals subject to quarantine would be legally required to adhere to the restrictions. The travel notice does not include travellers who have visited Hong Kong or Macau. Individuals would be held for surveillance for up to 14 days after their departure from China. Families who travelled together would be quarantined together. Cabinet has approved a budget of up to $100,000 for quarantine measures. While the Cayman Islands does not receive direct flights from China or Asia, a government release stated that many law firms and financial institutions in the jurisdiction have offices in the region. Many companies, however, have reduced or stopped travel to China in recent weeks. “Since last week, cruise ships have been denying boarding to anyone with a travel history from mainland China; additionally, many of our neighbours (including the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and the USA) have instituted similar travel restrictions,” the release read. No cases of coronavirus have been recorded in the Cayman Islands. The ministry, in its question-and- answer fact sheet on the virus, said that for visitors who might need quarantine, the emergency provision currently in place is that of designated hurricane shelters, “although alternatives may be selected”. “We have considered the need to provide food and drink, toiletries and internet access. Locally, families will generally tend to their own personal requirements. However, where this is not possible, Public Health staff will be able to purchase and deliver groceries to the residence. It is our goal to ensure those quarantined are comfortable, well attended by Public Health staff, and have access to outside communication such as internet access,” the government release said. As for commercial imports originating from China, the release said, those should not pose a risk “as the virus will not survive the journey”. More Caymanians opt for private schools Mandatory quarantine implemented for coronavirus Education statistics (2010-2018) Population of student-age Caymanians (0-14) rose by 928 Enrolment in the private schools increased from 2,787 in 2012 to 3,618 Passengers wear masks at Hong Kong International Airport. Cayman is set to join more than 50 countries or territories that have implemented travel restrictions on passengers from mainland China. Coronavirus stats Globally 43,103 confirmed cases China 42,708 confirmed cases 7,333 severe cases 1,017 deaths Outside China 395 confirmed cases 24 countries 1 death cayman compass 3 news N news WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020YesterdaY's sOLUtIONs 1234567 8 9 10 11 1213 14 151617 1819 20 21 22 23 1234567 8 9 10 11 1213 14 151617 1819 20 21 22 23 Puzzle 16298 ACROSS: 1 Hapless, 4 Pound, 7 Mean, 8 Sporadic, 10 Referendum, 12 Former, 13 Asylum, 15 Hoity-toity, 18 Initiate, 19 Warm, 20 Gaffe, 21 Concern. DOWN: 1 Homer, 2 Platform, 3 Supine, 4 Perquisite, 5 Undo, 6 Decorum, 9 True to life, 11 Ultimate, 12 Fawning, 14 Static, 16 Yemen, 17 Tiff. aCrOss 1 Equivocal and unclear (9) 8 Abnormally fat (5) 9 Grant of public money (7) 10 Hostility (6) 11 Stock of wine (6) 12 Breed of retriever (8) 15 Advance (8) 18 Go (6) 20 Smother (6) 21 To baffle (7) 22 Part of horse’s harness (5) 23 Rendered powerless (9) dOWN 2 Small rodent (5) 3 Offensive remark (6) 4 Be basis of (8) 5 In preference (6) 6 West Atlantic islands group (7) 7 Unhurried (9) 11 Self-possession (9) 13 Unfounded (8) 14 Supplement to a will (7) 16 Enjoy (6) 17 Mood (6) 19 Inexperienced (5) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16299 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. The problem of too many cars and traffic- congested roads in Grand Cayman will not be solved by curtailing auto imports into the country. The appalling lack of road infrastructure initiated by the Cayman Islands government is the problem. Government would do well to push new roads to alleviate the present 24/7 traffic situation instead of worsening gridlock on Cayman’s roads by pushing for mega cruise ship arrivals of many more thousands of tourists. If the government-proposed huge berthing dock for mega cruise ships is built in downtown George Town, vehicular traffic will come to a standstill. Too many cruise passengers off the ships in Hog Sty Bay will flood the narrow streets of the capital. Constructing more new roads will provide more viable venues for workers commuting from East End and North Side and South Side into town for their jobs. Catboats and sailing vessels used to ferry people all over the Cayman Islands before the people of all three islands built magical roads. Nan Socolow Cayman needs more roads Letter to the editor Smith Cove parking plan ignites debate over site covenant We have been coming to Cayman since 1990 and love the unspoiled beauty of Smith Cove. We love to see all the friends and families gathered there for picnics under the trees while the kids play in the water. Leave it alone for them and for the beauty of it. – Sonya Tucker Norman . One can just imagine the powers that be saying: “This is a beautiful spot, let’s try to improve it even though we may ruin it for everyone.” – Jerry Young They have stripped it already and it’s just the start. – Miriam Bodden Every time we come back to Cayman, something is forever gone. It’s pretty sad. Before long, all the treasures will be but a memory. – Larry Ayer It is a beautiful place. Leave it like it is. – Carol Guenther Smith Cove enhancement to start in March “The statement said the number of cabanas in the new plan has been reduced from eight to one ... additions to the popular beach site included a new 45-space carpark, new restroom facilities, six deck platforms, walking pathways, accessibility ramps and mat, lighting, and two timber cabanas. It appears that plan has been modified.” 1) Parking should be limited to across the street. 2) The article says the plan reduced the cabanas from eight to one, but then says there will be two timber cabanas. Which is it? 3) Why do they need any deck platforms, let alone six of them! 4) Where is the retaining wall being built and what is it retaining? – Jim Hinckley Will the cove area be out of bounds to tourists? We arrive in March and it’s my favourite beach on the island. – Deirdre O’Dowd Getting it ready for thousands of cruise shippers so they can justify the port. Total disgrace. The Cayman Islands government is destroying Cayman. – Mac McDermid The real question: if everyone parks at an angle, how is that going to look when someone tries to get out – especially with buses dropping off and people who don’t realise the lot is full? – Lisa Ramond Kistner Improved parking is all the enhancement needed. Please don’t spoil this beautiful place. – Brenda Rennie Falconer And another beautiful spot bites the dust. Why not leave it alone? – Cindy Dennis Phillips Why in the world would we need a parking lot so close to the beach? – Clifford Chotan Smith Cove desperately needed a bathroom upgrade, that part I agree with. – Megan Elizabeth Well needed, I think. – Cairan Foster What’s next? Governors Beach? – Margot Weber-Dommisse Just no. – Coco Mackay Caymanians in China encouraged to leave Wouldn’t it make more sense to stay put and isolate yourself from others until it subdues? History should remind us how easily we travel and spread disease. – Jesse La They must have a ship waiting out sea to receive them. – Rachel Williams-Kentish A bit late for that message. – Sandy Hill Makes perfect sense! – Valerie Nuyen Leave and go where? Because it can’t be Cayman. – Shanice Pollock Hopefully not back here to Cayman? – Shannon Ritch Where will they go? – Blair Webb Ebanks Cap on car imports proposed That won’t help much. It’s either put more lanes from Savannah to Bodden Town, sky bridge/tunnel from North Sound Estates area to about Camana Bay. Cayman is growing; we gotta get efficient if we wanna still drive. Also too many roundabouts. – Robert Smith Just curious as to how a cap on the number of cars will help. A person can only drive one car at a time. If I have 30 cars, only one of them will be on the road. The rest will not affect traffic at all. – Mark Wilder What about a proper driving test rather than the joke you have now. Better drivers improve traffic flow; like, take the licences off all the idiots that stop at roundabouts like it’s a four-way stop and cause a backlog. – Mac McDermid They only want to put a cap on import of cars to hurt the poor man that can try to save and get one from overseas that they can fully have the right of it. The car dealers are the ones making a killing from their car sales. Poor people can’t buy them and may be not able to get a car loan. – Mae Myles Yes! I’ve been saying buses for private schools for years! It would help with morning traffic especially! – Patricia Arczynski cartoon The Solution - By Caymanman Online What they’re saying cayman compass 4 news N news WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 20201 (345) 945-4040 | 1 (345) 640-4040 | info@healthcity.ky | healthcitycaymanislands.com Worldwide, nearly 1 in 100 new born babies are born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). We’ve healed the hearts of over 500 children from all around the world affected by CHD. This work is part of our mission to bring high-quality and affordable healthcare to more people. Join us as we recognise the annual Congenital Heart Disease Awareness Week from February 7-14. Become #CHDAware. Transforming healthcare. Changing lives. Mending the littlest hearts ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Former police officer Daniel Meeks has been convicted of a single count of misconduct in a public office, after attempting to get an elderly woman to add his name to the deed for her property. The conviction stems from a series of events that occurred in November 2017 when Meeks, 34, was called to a domestic dispute at a George Town home. The complainant in the matter, who was referred to as Vernice Johnson-Carter in court documents but said she prefers to be called Vernice Johnson, was 71 at the time and had called police on her daughter following a heated dispute between the two women. When Meeks attended the scene, he learned that Johnson’s daughter had damaged the complainant’s phone, the court heard. The following day, Meeks returned to Johnson’s home, with a gift and a proposition. He gave her a phone, and told her he wanted her help to secure a property for himself. During the trial, Johnson told the court she could not read well and that Meeks pressured her to add his name to the title of her land; and she did so because he was a police officer. She said she was taken to a Justice of the Peace and she signed documents that were then submitted to the Department of Lands and Survey. Those documents were processed, and an initial approval was granted, with the condition that a $20,000 stamp duty fee be paid. However, when Johnson reported the matter to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, Meeks submitted a letter withdrawing the application. During the trial, Meeks accepted that he had attempted to add his name to Johnson’s property deed, but claimed he was acting upon her request. When giving evidence, Meeks claimed that it was Johnson who had requested that he add his name to her land, because she was worried that her daughter would not be capable of overseeing the property and she wanted her grandson to inherit it. Meeks’ attorney, Margeta Facey- Clarke, urged the judge to dismiss the complainant’s evidence, saying she was “an unsatisfactory witness who should not be viewed as credible”. When returning her guilty verdict on Tuesday, Justice Linda Dobbs said Meeks had provided “no reasonable grounds for his actions”, which were done to “exploit a vulnerable person”. “I found Ms. Johnson to be an honest witness,” said Dobbs. “She remained firm on who instigated the request for Mr. Meeks to be added to the land.” The justice added, “The defendant has provided no reasonable grounds for why he returned to the house. He admitted he knew that Ms. Johnson was a vulnerable person. He used his position of trust as a police officer to pressure her into adding him to her land title. I find him guilty of the Daniel Meeks is escorted to court cells. Former police officer convicted of misconduct offence charged.” Following the decision, Facey- Clarke announced her intention to appeal the conviction, and applied for Meeks’ bail to be extended. Facey-Clarke argued that Meeks has attended every court hearing during the last two years, despite knowing that there was the possibility he could be imprisoned. Facey-Clarke proposed strict bail conditions. Prosecutor Candia James- Malcolm opposed bail, saying Meeks’ conviction now changed his circumstances and made him more of a flight risk. Dobbs granted Meeks bail, on the condition that he provide two sureties at the cost of $10,000 each, and that one of the sureties put a $50,000 lien on his property. Despite being granted bail, Meeks was taken into custody on Tuesday because he was not able to meet the conditions at the time. cayman compass 5 news N news WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020Marco P. O. Rankine February 12th 1992 On Your 7th Birthday away from us Forever in our hearts We will always love you Mel and Haileigh CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky The Department of Environment says unapproved mangrove-forest clearing is a problem they are not authorised to act on. Tim Austin, deputy director of the DoE, said that planning permission is needed before mangroves can be legally cleared. “Technically, clearing land, including mangroves, by mechanical means requires planning permission, but frequently this is not adhered to. This was not an offence under the National Conservation Law, but a Planning Law infringement that was beyond the jurisdiction of the NCL and thus we were limited in our ability to intervene,” Austin said in an email to the Cayman Compass. “If the NCL Mangrove Species Conservation Plan comes into force as proposed, clearing mangroves without [Central Planning Authority] approval or Cabinet coastal works approval will be a recognised offence under the NCL, and we will be able to act accordingly.” In March last year, the National Conservation Council sent the Mangrove Species Conservation Plan to the Ministry of Environment for consideration by Cabinet. The plan, if approved, will allow the DoE to impose fines for unauthorised mangrove clearing. Currently, the Central Planning Authority is required to take into account DoE and National Conservation Council advice on planning applications to clear land, but can grant after-the-fact approval in relation to land that has been cleared before authorisation is given. The CPA comes under the remit of the Planning Department, which is authorised to take enforcement measures against people who clear land without permission. The Planning Department said if someone applies for permission for after-the-fact clearing, the application fee becomes 10 times the regular $100 fee, and so would amount to $1,000 per acre of land cleared. Ron Sanderson, deputy director of planning, said that if the director of planning has issued an enforcement notice for illegal land clearing and no application for permission is submitted, then the matter progresses to Summary Court, as per Section 21 of the Development and Planning Law. “At that point, any ‘penalty’ rests solely with the court. Section 21 does state that a person is liable upon summary conviction in court to a fine of $5,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine of $1,000 for each day after the first day that there is no compliance with the terms of the enforcement notice,” Sanderson told the Compass in an email. He added that it is also in the court’s discretion to apply such fines or other penalties as it sees fit. The DoE’s Austin said the Mangrove Species Conservation Plan is “vitally important because, at the moment, there is very little recognised protection for the four mangrove species themselves and, in particular, coastal mangroves”. Under the National Conservation Law, mangroves are listed as ‘Part 2 species’, which means they are not protected unless a specific conservation plan is in place for them. If Cabinet, in the case of a coastal works application, or the Central Planning Authority gives clearing permission, under the NCL there is no mechanism for either the DoE or the National Conservation Council to prohibit the clearance of mangroves or impose fines relating to removing them. However, Austin said that if the Mangrove Species Conservation Plan is implemented, the DoE and the NCC can prosecute people who clear land that is home to protected species. “The Species Conservation Plan envisaged will extend protection to the [mangrove] species, as well as recognising officially the value that mangroves and their associated ecosystems provide for these islands. The penalties remain the same as those outlined in the National Conservation Law but, importantly, the protection has increased so activities that were previously unchallenged will now be an offence and these include removal of mangroves on a large scale without the requisite permissions,” Austin said. John Burke is one developer who was given a stop notice, in August 2019, for land clearing without planning permission. On 8 Jan. Burke attended a Central Planning Authority meeting which addressed the unapproved clearing and his proposed development of a subdivision on the site. Burke wrote in his application that he “did not realize that clearing the land required special permission and there was no possible other way for me to determine what was required to develop the land”. Burke stated in his application letter that the area attracted undesirables and illicit activity, and said the site would become a safer place to live without the mangrove forest he cleared. The CPA adjourned that application and saw Burke again on 5 Feb. when it approved the subdivision application and the clearing with some special conditions. The Compass reached out to the Planning Department for details of those conditions, but no response had been received by press time. Another developer recently cleared and filled more than 1.2 acres of mangroves in Prospect Point without planning permission. The Planning Department confirmed that he is set to appear before the CPA in early March. The Planning Department also confirmed that he has paid a $2,800 after-the-fact fee. This is the second case this year involving after-the-fact applications of land clearings. Martin Keeley, executive director of the Mangrove Education Project in Cayman, said that many developers just get a slap on the wrist and pay their fines when they clear land without authorisation. Keeley said that Cayman needs the Mangrove Conservation Plan to stop developers from getting away with clearing valuable wetland. “[The plan] has been sitting in Cabinet for what, six months, seven months, nobody’s acting on it and we need that in place so that there is control over this sort of thing because this is happening on a constant basis,” Keeley said. The DoE said it is currently working on an up-to-date wetland loss figure, which will include the latest aerial imagery of mangrove land. The previous aerial imagery taken in 2013 showed that Grand Cayman had lost 69% of its wetlands on the western side of the island since 1976. The site of an illegal mangrove clearing carried out by a developer at Prospect Point earlier this month. Mangroves cleared while protection plan awaits Cabinet approval 7 The number of after-the-fact land clearing applications for 2019: 2 The number of after-the-fact land clearing applications for 2020: Mangrove species found in Cayman: • Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) • White mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) • Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) • Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) A mangrove forest site that was cleared in West Bay last year. cayman compass 6 news N news WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020 Members of the public are asked to submit comments on a plan that seeks to restore and maintain the natural functioning of the Meagre Bay Pond protected area, as well as facilitating sustainable public enjoyment of its bird life and natural landscape. To establish separation between waters of the protected area and adjacent submerged quarries To preserve the protected area water level’s ability to overflow and discharge after extreme rain episodes To facilitate natural regeneration of Black Mangrove forest and other wetland communities around the pond To maintain the historic seasonal patterns of diversity and abundance of bird life and other native species in the protected area To provide appropriate access for the visiting public to view and enjoy the bird life and the natural landscape of the protected area Location Meagre Bay Pond is located in Bodden Town, Grand Cayman near the south coast in Pease Bay. It lies on the southernmost margin of the Central Mangrove Wetland and immediately east of a complex of submerged quarries. The protected area boundary (shown in red in the map below) lies 300 ft. landward of the pond shore or to the edge of the Bodden Town Road reservation. Public review: Meagre Bay Pond Management Plan GOAL #1 GOAL #2 GOAL #3 GOAL #4 GOAL #5 PUBLIC REVIEW: The National Conservation Council is seeking public comments on the proposal to manage the Meagre Bay Pond protected area. The public consultation period on the management plan will begin on 19 Feb., 2020 and end on 18 April, 2020. Copies of the management plan proposal may be obtained at the Department of Environment (DoE) offices, 580 North Sound Road, Grand Cayman, at the Bodden Town public library, the Brac administration building or at the Little Cayman administration building. The plan may also be viewed online at www.doe.ky Please note: Comments on the proposal may be received at the DoE offices, mailed to PO Box 10202, Grand Cayman KY1- 1002, or sent via email to ConservationCouncil@gov.ky. A survey document will also be made available at www.doe.ky and on DoE social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). cayman compass 7 WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The runway at the Owen Roberts International Airport resumed full flight operations Tuesday morning after an aircraft blast damaged a temporary asphalt ramp, leading to the runway’s closure on Monday, according to the Cayman Islands Airports Authority. The CIAA, in a statement Tuesday afternoon, said operations were suspended Monday at 3:23pm after the temporary ramp was damaged. It had been put in place on Sunday evening during runway rehabilitation work, which is currently under way. “Safety inspections and controlled observations by airport engineers were carried out immediately following the incident, in which the temporary asphalt ramp was ‘lifted’ as a result of aircraft blast,” the CIAA said. It said work was carried out Monday evening to repair the temporary ramp and “to ensure the permanent pavement was not affected”. This led to the runway being closed for approximately two and half hours. It partially reopened at 5:55pm Monday evening with a redeclared distance, allowing limited flight operations to resume, the CIAA said. The runway fully reopened at 7am Tuesday morning, according to the CIAA. Albert Anderson, Cayman Islands Airports Authority CEO, said in Tuesday’s statement, “We had a slight set-back [Monday] on flight operations.” He said immediate action was taken to secure the runway, “only resuming flight operations after safety inspections and controlled observations indicated it was safe to do so”. The CIAA said its project team and the contractor met Monday to discuss and agree to “enhanced methodologies to be used in the construction of temporary ramps to prevent a re-occurrence throughout the remainder of the project”. Those methodologies were not released. When the runway project was revealed last year, plans were announced to close the airport on Tuesdays to allow for paving works, but that decision was rescinded in favour of carrying out the work during nighttime hours when no flights were scheduled. Flight delays Monday’s incident caused a number of flight delays and diversions. Cayman resident Djurre Woudstra said he was one of the few passengers on a British Airways flight from Heathrow, London, via the Bahamas, who was able to secure another flight out of Nassau on Tuesday. However, several others have to wait until Thursday to catch a flight to Cayman. “Most of the fellow passengers were shipped off to hotels. We went to BA to see if we can be rescheduled on other flights,” he said, speaking to the Cayman Compass from the airport in Nassau. Woudstra said he and a couple of passengers booked an American Airlines flight to Miami from Nassau Tuesday afternoon, and they would then be taking a Cayman Airways flight to Cayman on Tuesday evening. “It is messy,” he said. Woudstra said there was confusion Monday about what was happening with the flight and the reason for the delays. “We were up in the air {Monday]. We were first told there was an earthquake that affected Cuba and there was a sinkhole in Cayman on the runway. Later, we found out it was not a sinkhole," Woudstra said. He said his employers have been understanding about him returning late to the island, but he believes the situation was not handled well. “It was clear the staff in Bahamas was not very good at coping with this kind of situation,” he said. The CIAA said work on the runway began last week and will take approximately five months to complete. “The works will require the runway to be closed nightly to all aircraft movements, between the hours of 10pm and 7am,” it added. Win a trip to Tokyo with your VISA ® Debit ScotiaCard . KY The Insurance Broker for all your Insurance needs Unit# 10B Cayman Falls | P.O. Box 11118 Grand Cayman KY1-1008 Tel: 345-943-2475 | Fax: 345-943-2472 Email: info@cipil.net www.cipil.net Relax You’re with us. Runway damaged by aircraft blast “Safety inspections and controlled observations by airport engineers were carried out immediately following the incident, in which the temporary asphalt ramp was ‘lifted’ as a result of aircraft blast.” Cayman Islands Airports Authority What the project entails • The CIAA explained that the runway rehabilitation project entails the runway to be milled to a nominal depth of 25mm to remove the existing grooves, paint and rubber deposits. • Following this, 180mm of hot mix asphalt will be placed on the runway in a series of three paving layers. • At the end of each night’s production, a temporary asphalt ramp will be placed on the runway to account for the difference in the elevations of the new and existing pavement, and temporary paint striping will be installed. • After the final layer of pavement is completed, the runway will be grooved and final markings placed. cayman compass 8 news N news WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020The Cayman Islands’ most trusted news source and #1 website in the Cayman Islands CaymanCompass.com receives 50,000 unique views, 200,000 media impressions each week. Sign up for the Compass e-newsletter delivered daily to your inbox. News: newsdesk@compassmedia.ky Tel: (345) 815-0095 Advertising: sales@compassmedia.ky Tel: (345) 949-5111 cayman compass 9 WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2020Next >