Our tender, crispy butterfly shrimp, served up in our Buttermilk Biscuit breading with our Red Pepper Jelly sauce. Pair it with a Signature Side and biscuit. cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Friday, 21 February 2020 NEWS 4.4 magnitude earthquake felt Page 2 Issues Court’s port ruling explained Pages 18-19 Gov’t schools get new buses for field trips Page 10 'Grouper Moon' spawning monitored Page 16 54,000 iguanas culled so far this year Page 17 Turtle nesting numbers celebrated Page 6PRINTED 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 20% chance of showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 86°F 75°F HIGH LOW WINDS North to northeast at 10 to 15 knots. SEA STATE Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass Matinees (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. WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK FRIDAY | SATURDAY | SUNDAY BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (R) (FRI) 12:55 VIP | 3:55 | 4:00 VIP | 7:00 VIP | 7:00 | 9:55 VIP (SAT) 12:55 VIP | 3:10 | 4:00 VIP | 7:00 VIP | 9:55 VIP BLUMHOUSE’S FANTASY ISLAND (PG-13) (FRI) 1:15 | 2:45 | 9:50 (SAT) 12:30 | 2:45 | 9:50 (SUN) 2:50 | 9:15 CALL OF THE WILD (PG) (FRI) 1:40 | 4:20 | 6:50 | 9:20 (SAT) 10:15 | 1:40 | 4:20 | 6:50 | 9:20 (SUN) 4:20 | 5:30 | 6:50 | 9:20 THE DARE (R) (FRI-SAT) 12:20 | 5:25 | 7:50 | 10:15 FINDING NEMO (G) (SAT) 10:00AM EMMA (2020) (PG) (FRI) 12:30 | 3:30 | 6:50 | 9:50 (SAT) 10:40 | 12:30 | 3:30 | 6:50 | 9:50 (SUN) 3:30 | 6:50 | 8:00 | 9:50 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG (PG) (FRI) 12:45 | 3:40 | 6:40 | 9:10 (SAT) 10:20 VIP | 12:45 | 3:40 | 6:40 | 9:10 (SUN) 2:45 VIP | 3:40 | 5:10 VIP | 6:40 | 7:35 VIP | 10:00 VIP THE PHOTOGRAPH (PG-13) (SUN) 4:30 | 7:05 | 9:40 Marquee Plaza , Seven Mile Beach 927-2782 • Country Corner , Savannah 623-2782 www.cimboco.com | cimboco@cimboco.com | /cimboco | chicken@chicken2.com Happy Ash Wednesday Holiday! Brunch & Breakfast til 3pm this Saturday & Sunday! RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Grand Cayman was rattled by a magnitude 4.4 earthquake on Wednesday evening, which was reportedly felt by residents from the eastern districts to West Bay. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 6.2 miles and was located 30 miles south of Bodden Town. It struck at 6:16pm. No damage was reported. Hazard Management Cayman Islands acknowledged the tremor. Its deputy director Simon Boxall told the Cayman Compass no tsunami alert had been received from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. He said there was “a considerable number of felt reports from residents”. Wednesday’s seismic event was the first tremor in roughly two weeks. It follows a total of 28 aftershocks which were felt in the days after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck the region on 28 Jan. Last month’s earthquake was the strongest recorded in the Caribbean in recent history, and was felt not only in Cayman but also in Cuba, Jamaica and south Florida. On Wednesday evening, local residents took to social media to report that they had felt the tremor. Posters on the Cayman Compass Facebook page reported feeling the tremor from Bodden Town to West Bay. Hazard Management, following the 28 Jan. earthquake, said Cayman could experience aftershocks for up to two weeks or more. Boxall provided a timeline of Hazard Management’s response following the earthquake. He said at 6:20pm, Hazard Management was contacted by the Department of Public Safety Communications stating that numerous reports were coming in of a ‘felt’ earthquake. Five minutes later, Hazard Management staff Mark Codling and Lennox Vernon accessed the feed from the local seismograph network “because initially there was no confirmation of the event by the United States Geological Survey”, Boxall said. At 6:30pm, Hazard Management staff confirmed that a tremor had been recorded on the Cayman Islands network of seismographs. He said at 6:36pm, Hazard Management issued a notification on social media stating that an earthquake had occurred and there was no alert from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and no threat to residents, additional information would follow about strength and location of the earthquake. 4.4 earthquake shakes Cayman • Stay calm • If you are inside, stay inside. • Take cover under a heavy desk, table, bench, in a reinforced doorway, or a corner. Never use elevators to evacuate after an earthquake. • If you are outdoors, stay outdoors. • Get to an open space and stay there until the shaking stops. Practise ‘Duck, Cover and Hold’ Duck Get under a sturdy piece of furniture, making yourself into a little ball Cover Keep your head and eyes protected from falling or flying objects. Cover your head with one hand. Hold With your other hand, hold onto the piece of furniture. Stay under shelter until you are sure the shaking has stopped. Simon Boxall, deputy director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands, speaks to the media following the 28 Jan. earthquake. What to do during an earthquake cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 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 OCEANFRONT RESIDENCES INSPIRED BY THE SEA Single-Level and Multi-Level Residences Priced from USD 1,950,000 Reserve your private tour and discover the last word in luxury + 1 345 326 1400 fin@fingrandcayman.com Salt water lagoon Cantilevered glass-bottom pool Private beach Use of a centre console boat exclusive to residents Coral reef backyard protected by FIN Environment Project LAST CHANCE TO PURCHASE! Only Four Residences Remain cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 20201234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Sharp decline in trade (5) 4 Large sports ground (7) 8 Eccentric (3) 9 Highly delighted (9) 10 Tallest living animal (7) 11 Extortionate moneylending (5) 13 Long-winded (6) 15 Concealed marksman (6) 18 Obnoxious person (5) 19 Mean and grasping (7) 21 Consequently (2,1,6) 23 Hole-making hand tool (3) 24 High broad-brimmed hat (7) 25 Devoutness (5) DOWN 1 Temporary expedient (7) 2 Subdued utterance (9) 3 Conclusive evidence (5) 4 Country of north Europe (6) 5 Suspend proceedings (7) 6 Climbing plant (3) 7 Turbid (5) 12 Capital letters (5,4) 14 Influence deeply (7) 16 Payment to author (7) 17 Call in question (6) 18 Category (5) 20 A stomach exercise (3-2) 22 Reverential fear (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16307 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 16306 ACROSS: 1 Knockabout, 8 Bigot, 9 Ophelia, 10 Overrun, 11 Lapse, 12 Battle, 14 Loofah, 17 Balsa, 19 Amateur, 21 Organza, 22 Add up, 23 Strike home. DOWN: 2 Neglect, 3 Cater, 4 Abound, 5 Othello, 6 Tulip, 7 Take the rap, 8 Blow-by-blow, 13 Learner, 15 Freedom, 16 Damask, 18 Lagos, 20 Awash. cartoon Progress - By Caymanman The underwater environment in Cayman has always been under threat from forces outside of the Cayman Islands. At first, they ate all the turtles. Then, lobsters and conch slowly vanished. The mangroves that protect the island from the sea are no more. The parade of crabs that used to cross West Bay Road are gone, smashed by the cars. The fish pots are no longer tended, yet are full of dead fish – a perpetual killing machine. The influx of tourists will get huge with a new dock. Mount Trashmore will grow. The silting of the coral on your famous seven- mile-long beach. A mere seven miles! The underwater sound of a cruise ship will be deafening to the divers and the fish. Bob Soto and then my dad, Ron Kipp, and others showed people the underwater world around Cayman. People wanted to visit. It was a destination. In a few years, you will have to relocate your dock, and real estate will plummet. I am sure you do not want this. They will quit coming if you destroy what was founded upon the seas. Brad Kipp and the Kipp family Cayman’s educational system appears to have a fatal flaw. I am an American tourist and occasional visitor to the Cayman Islands. I quickly noticed that the preponderance of frontline hotel staff are foreign born, and was puzzled by that. A cab driver informed me that students are passed ‘on age’, regardless of competence. This policy is a recipe for social disaster. Over time, Caymanians will increasingly be unprepared to enter the workforce for higher paying island jobs. More foreign workers will displace them. This will lead to social unrest, including higher crime rates. It is not good for Cayman. The island generates great revenue from tourists. Better to devote more resources to public education than expand tourism. Social justice requires it. Christopher Gable Save Cayman’s marine environment Put more resources into education Letters to the editor What they’re saying Road projects focus on quick wins More roads won’t treat the source of transport and road safety issues we have. Put $40 million into safer roads for bikers and pedestrians, a public transport sys- tem (all this would reduce traffic) and better education and testing for new drivers. – Naomi Johnatty This is good to hear, but I think the priority should be getting the ‘airport connector’ to the airport directly, not diverting more traffic into Industrial Park. I hope they can make that the goal as soon as possible. We are all sitting in traffic for hours, and now arriving tour- ists are doing the same. It is their first and last impression of Grand Cayman! – Jesse La So I’ve been wondering with all the ‘quick wins’, why does the Linford Pierson bypass go down to one lane by the Equestrian Center through to the cricket pitch, when there is vacant land on all sides. Seems like that bottleneck could be a quick win. – Jackie Myles Of course, there is an election coming up. – Linda Clark Or, you know, just solve the public transportation woes and limit car ownership, like every- where else. – Elizabeth Larsen Maybe an eight-lane autobahn down the middle of the island with no speed limits would help. – Patrick Murphy Virtual highways: How smart data is shaping Cayman’s future road network You can’t go from four lanes down to two lanes, then into one lane, around a roundabout and not expect bottlenecks all over the place. Doesn’t take $50K to figure that out. Common-sense stuff. – Chris Lopez Come on, y’all. Cayman is only 22 miles wide. Really. It takes $50,000 for a traffic study. How about this? There are too many cars on the road. Car pool or public transportation. Now send me a cheque. LOL. – Ken Sheely Are overpasses being consid- ered? Maybe if they shared some info and ideas with the gen- eral public, they could get some feedback and better make their decisions. – Beto Anglin Sort out the hundreds of left and right turns going on every minute along North Sound Road from the A.L. Thompson round- about to Dorcy Drive. It’s a joke now. Killing our business, all the delays. – Paul Slijper Maybe if they’d have done this from the beginning... – Angela Ebanks Could have hired the most expensive bulldozer on the island to flatten the roundabouts and still have more than half of the money for something that is needed. That piece of equipment is only as good as the information programmed into it, so eliminate the round- abouts, and smooth sailing. – Roger Ebanks LOL. Caymanian government needs $50,000 of software to explain something a 6-year-old can understand, and you wonder why there are so many expats and work permit holders? Go figure. – Mac McDermid Smith Barcadere project paused We were at the protest party on Saturday at Smith Barcadere. On the way home to West Bay, we drove through George Town and noticed four cruise ships moored there. If this new parking was in place, many of those cruise ship people would have taken a coach to Smith Barcadere. Cayman residents first, please. Not cruise ship people. – Norman Linton 4 FRIDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 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, 21 FEBRUARY 2020Trident Trust (Cayman) Limited is pleased to offer an annual scholarship of US$10,000 for furthering the growth and development of Cayman’s richest resource, its young people. We are currently accepting applications from Caymanian students pursuing a university degree in the field of business administration, finance or accounting, trust administration or law. The offer is subject to the following terms: 1. The University or College must be approved by Trident. 2. The program offered by the University or College must be accredited and approved by Trident. 3. The applicant must demonstrate a financial need and academic achievement. 4. The scholarship will be available for the length of time needed to complete the course of study. 5. Avancement of tuition will continue for the prescribed period upon presentation of the relevant receipts and grade reports of completed terms and maintenance of a cumulative 3.0 GPA (B average) or better. 6. Upon completion of the degree you may be required to work for Trident for at least a period equal to that of the course of study. The Human Resources Manager Trident Trust Company (Cayman) Limited P.O. Box 847, Grand Cayman, KY1-1103 Email: humanresourcesTCAY@tridenttrust.com Candidates interested in competing for this educational program should submit a typed personal statement of 400-500 words, including resume, to: TRIDENT TRUST SCHOLARSHIP The Chamber of Commerce is expecting its 2020 Careers Expo at the University College of the Cayman Islands on Friday to attract more than 1,000 students and recent graduates. The expo, which begins at 10am, is free and open to the public. Organisers said people in attendance will have a chance to speak with 38 different businesses and organisations, some of which will be presenting scholarship, education, internship and career opportunities. “The Careers Expo is the largest event of its kind held annually and enables students and the public to meet with leading public and private sector employers and organisations from all industry sectors,” said Chamber CEO Wil Pineau in a press release. He added, “Exhibitors showcase career, scholarship, training, tertiary education, internship, work experience and employment opportunities. It is an excellent opportunity for students and school leavers to meet directly with exhibitors and to learn what is available under one roof.” At the expo, Butterfield Bank will be promoting a $30,000 undergraduate scholarship opportunity as well as its summer internships, while the Kimpton Seafire Resort & Spa will giving details of its $20,000 undergraduate scholarship. Also, the government’s Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman will be offering assistance with employment skills, and giving information on internships and apprenticeships. Maples Group will showcase its non-legal scholarship programme for high school and college students over 16 years of age, and Health City Cayman Islands will promote its Healthcare Explorers, ‘Shadow a Doctor’ internships, and Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships. At the event, the Chamber will be showcasing several of its own programmes, such as its Training Centre courses and workshops, Leadership Cayman, Mentorship Cayman and summer work experience initiatives, while other organisations and businesses will be showcasing their career opportunities and provide information on their specific industries. Chamber gets ready for annual Career Expo Chamber CEO Wil Pineau CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky During the 2019 turtle-nesting season, the longest one ever recorded, 675 nests were found across all three islands. This total marked the second highest number of turtle nests found in a year since the Department of Environment began monitoring nests in 1998. In 2017, 689 nests were recorded. DoE research officer Janice Blumenthal said the department was surprised by the length of the 2019 turtle-nesting season. The first nest of the season was recorded in Grand Cayman on 12 April; the last nest was laid in Little Cayman on 3 Dec., hatched on 9 Feb., and excavated on 15 Feb., she said. Turtle-nesting season typically lasts from May to November. “This weekend in Little Cayman, DoE volunteers Lorri Lamb and Marique Cloete excavated the last nest of the 2019 turtle-nesting season,” Blumenthal said. She said DoE staff and volunteers excavated all the nests after the turtle eggs hatched, to evaluate hatch success and fertility, and to confirm the turtle species in each nest. She said that three of the nests found in Little Cayman were laid by hawksbill turtles, the rarest species that nest in the Cayman Islands. “During an excavation, volunteers dig into the egg chamber, remove the empty eggshells, and count them to determine how many eggs hatched,” Blumenthal said. “They also break open unhatched eggs to determine if they were fertilised and to examine the development of the embryos; this allows the team to determine if the nest was inundated by waves during the incubation period, and to evaluate the possible influence of other threats.” Blumenthal said that nests are excavated several days after the eggs hatch, and occasionally a few baby turtles are found to be trapped within the nests. She said one nest in Little Cayman contained one live hawksbill hatchling that the volunteers released. However, Blumenthal said that with increasing nesting numbers come increasing threats. “A Turtle Conservation Plan, with provisions aiming to manage artificial lighting in critical sea turtle-nesting habitat and to reduce poaching, driving of vehicles on beaches, and other threats, has undergone public consultation and is currently under consideration by Cabinet,” she said. Without the 70 volunteers that work with the DoE in its turtle- nesting efforts, Blumenthal said the department couldn’t have monitored this successful year so closely. “We are extremely grateful to the dedicated volunteers across the three islands who have assisted with turtle monitoring this year. We would never be able to monitor and protect our nesting populations without them,” Blumenthal said. Second highest turtle nesting numbers recorded Grand Cayman: 468 nests 342 green sea turtles 125 loggerheads 1 hawksbill Little Cayman: 154 nests 86 green sea turtles 65 loggerheads 3 hawksbills Cayman Brac: 53 nests 5 green sea turtles 48 loggerheads 0 hawksbills Total: 675 nests 2019 turtle-nesting season A volunteer holds a hawksbill turtle hatchling that was trapped in a nest in Little Cayman. 6 news N news FRIDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2020cayman compass 7 FRIDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2020campbellslegal.comCAYMAN l BVI l HONG KONG Allowing Talent to Flourish It all starts with a solid foundation. Campbells is committed to supporting the education and development of the youth in our community and is pleased to offer a scholarship in the Cayman Islands. Campbells’ scholarship is open to eligible Caymanians. It offers US$20,000 per annum for up to three years, with preference given to applicants pursuing a degree in law or a postgraduate professional legal qualification. To learn more about Campbells’ scholarship and to find out how to apply visit our website at www.campbellslegal.com/careers/scholarships. CAROLINA LOPEZ clopez@compassmedia.ky The Office of Education Standards has released six inspection reports so far this year, with most schools receiving ‘satisfactory’ or ‘good’ grades, apart from Calvary Baptist Christian Academy, which was deemed to be ‘weak’. The other schools inspected were Red Bay Primary School (satisfactory), East End Primary School (satisfactory), Cayman International School (good), Sprogs Garden Play School (good), and Shining Stars Childcare and Education Centre (satisfactory). The government inspectors found “serious weaknesses in students’ attainment in all core subjects and progress in science” at Calvary Baptist, which is located on Walkers Road in George Town. According to the report, “The quality of teaching, self-evaluation and improvement planning were also weak.” Inspectors judged that attainment in English, mathematics and science for Calvary Baptist’s elementary and high school students was weak. They also found that students’ progress in mathematics in the school’s kindergarten was weak, as was the quality of teaching as teachers were failing to check the kindergarten students’ understanding of the material or to intervene when the youngsters had misconceptions about what they were being taught. Calvary Baptist is a private K-12 Christian school that opened in 2017 with 29 students. For 2020, the school has grown to 76 students out of a capacity of 86. Its curriculum is taught using a series of workbooks and texts called Packets of Accelerated Christian Education, known as PACEs. The Office of Education Standards inspectors gave weak scores to the quality of teaching, self-evaluation and improvement planning. However, the inspectors rated the school ‘good’ both in students’ behaviour for learning and communicating with parents. The report noted that the school had five teachers and nine support staff, but that some teaching staff did not hold “suitable educational qualifications”. Inspectors said the schools’ principal, Chadwick S. Martin, since taking up the role in July 2019, had “effectively established a safe school environment where student behaviour was good as were links with parents”. Martin told the Cayman Compass in an email, “For next year, we are excited to add a science room, library, and introduce a new curriculum. We are confident that these changes, coupled with other proposed upgrades, will serve to meet the expectations of the framework provided by the Ministry of Education and will ensure the success of our fledging school as we move into our fourth year of operation.” The inspectors made five recommendations on raising attainment in the core subjects of English, maths, and science, as well as improving teaching, curriculum, self-evaluation, support and guidance for students. “There are suggestions that came [out] of the inspection that we have already implemented, such as a better tracking system, a more robust teacher review and training, and a more challenging honour roll,” Martin said. Inspectors said they will return in six months to check the school’s progress. Inspectors judged that attainment in English, mathematics and science for Calvary Baptist’s elementary and high school students was weak . The Calvary Baptist Christian Academy in Walkers Road received a ‘weak’ score from school inspectors. cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 21 FEBRUARY Inspectors give ‘weak’ rating to Calvary Baptist schoolAs well as our commitment to recruit world- class experienced professionals, we are intently focussed on supporting the next generation entering a career in law. We are now recruiting for our Appleby Legal Scholarship. To find out more visit APPLEBYGLOBAL.COM/CAREERS APPLEBY LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP 2020 LOCAL EXPERTISE. GLOBAL AMBITION. Kerseanna Ewers | Articled Clerk JOIN US. cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 21 FEBRUARYNext >