cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism | Tuesday, 17 March 2020 Businesses shutter as travel ban bites Page 6 Whistle blows on Cayman sports Page 9 Cayman closes airports for 3 weeks Restaurants restrict customers, shut doors Page 5 Page 2 Photo: Taneos RamsayPRINTED 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 85°F 74°F HIGH LOW WINDS Easterly 15 to 20 knots. SEA STATE Rough with wave heights of 6 to 8 feet. A small craft warning is in effect. Temporarily closed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. cayman compass news N news TUESDAY, 17 MARCH 2020 2 Air travel in and out of the Cayman Islands will be shut down for three weeks in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, Premier Alden McLaughlin announced Monday. The air traffic closure starts from 11:59pm on Sunday, 22 March, and covers both the Owen Roberts International Airport in Grand Cayman and the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on Cayman Brac. Inter- island travel will be restricted to essential movement only. Cargo and courier flights will continue to keep the supply line to the islands open. The premier stated that flights by private jets will also be restricted, and said passengers on those planes have been subjected to the same health screenings as those being done at the airport. For all destinations except for the United Kingdom, inbound flights will operate for returning residents only from Thursday. Outbound flights will operate as usual through the end of Sunday, in part to allow people to leave the country if they wish to do so. With immediate effect, anyone arriving on island will be required to isolate for 14 days. All passenger air traffic will stop Sunday when the islands will essentially be on lockdown. “People who wish to leave should hustle to make arrangements to leave by Sunday,” McLaughlin said at a press conference Monday. He added, “We have not taken this decision lightly, but it is in the best interest and for the health of the people of the Cayman Islands. “This decision will help ensure that the Cayman Islands will be able to not only protect our people but to also protect the welfare of our tourism business and our guests over the long term.” Hotels, restaurants and some businesses already have begun closing their doors in response to a drop in tourism. The premier encouraged people who no longer have a job to leave the island in the coming days. He said Governor Martyn Roper was working on helping to establish a continued ‘air bridge’ to the UK to allow medical supplies and other essentials to arrive as necessary. McLaughlin added that Cayman Airways could be used to assist the island as needed. As of Monday afternoon, there was still only one confirmed case of coronavirus on the island, with 44 other tests, including 30 from Health City, pending. Chief Medical Officer John Lee, also speaking at the briefing, said Public Health England experts are on island assisting with Cayman’s response. He said more than 400 testing kits have been secured and they have already assessed the need to order more just in case. Premier’s update on COVID-19 The new emergency measures follow a 60-day ban on cruise ship arrivals, announced on Friday. Other special measures include the closure of schools until the end of April and a ban on public gatherings of more than 50 people. Cayman’s first coronavirus case was confirmed last Thursday. The victim, a 68-year-old Italian man who was initially taken to Health City from a cruise ship after suffering a heart attack, died from complications associated with the virus on Saturday. Economic impact Government is also moving to stem the economic damage caused to the tourism industry. McLaughlin said there was no way government could afford to cover the payroll for the industry. He said banks had agreed to consider mortgage and loan payment holidays for those impacted on a case-by-case basis, and CUC and the water companies had agreed not to cut people off and to work with impacted customers. The premier urged people to follow the social distance guidelines and abide by the rules on public gatherings. He said police would tackle the issue if necessary. He said anyone who had symptoms of the virus had a “moral obligation” to self-isolate. He warned failure to comply could be a “death sentence” for the elderly and vulnerable. He added that he was encouraged by the support and compliance of the community. “Some of the measures we have put in place are fairly radical but we have had complete support from all sectors of the community,” he said. “Short-term pain for long-term gain is the tagline we want to attach to the measures we have put in place.” Reporting by James Whittaker, Reshma Ragoonath and Kevin Morales Cayman shuts down air travel for 3 weeks From left, Health Minister Dwayne Seymour, Premier Alden McLaughlin, Governor Martyn Roper and Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee addess the media at a press conference announcing the airport closures and the latest developments on COVID-19 at a press conference on Monday.cayman compass 3 N news TUESDAY, 17 MARCH 2020 JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said the closure of Cayman’s borders to tourists was a difficult but necessary decision to keep the country safe. He acknowledged that the move would cause disruption throughout the economy, particularly to the tourism industry, which effectively shut down as of this weekend. The three-week shutdown of air travel, which starts Sunday, follows a decision to ban cruise ships from the island, effective Monday. “The lives of our people in the Cayman Islands are our first and foremost concern,” Kirkconnell said in a press release. “We are confident that the long-term benefits of this border control measure will help us to prevent wider impact throughout our country.” He said “stringent measures” which also include a ban on all- but-essential travel to the Sister Islands were necessary to keep people safe and would ultimately safeguard the longer term interests of the industry. “It’s hard to believe how much our lives have changed in such a short period of time, and I know we all feel some level of unease. These measures are to protect all of us — Caymanians, residents, and those who call the Cayman Islands home,” he said. “We know that the measures we are putting in place now are going to have an impact on our day-to-day lives and businesses, but we are fully confident that the efforts we make today are to protect us all." Tourism minister: Lives come first “We are confident that the long-term benefits of this border control measure will help us to prevent wider impact throughout our country.” Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Cayman stepped in to help passengers stranded on the MS Braemar cruise ship that has been trying to dock for days. On Saturday, an RCIPS Air Operations Unit team delivered emergency medical supplies for the ship, which is currently sitting off the Bahamas and unable to dock due an outbreak of COVID-19 on board. The MS Braemar has more than 680 passengers on board, most of whom are British. They include a number of people who are in urgent need of medication. Governor Martyn Roper and Premier Alden McLaughlin authorised the operation, according to a Government Information Services statement issued Monday. “This is a time when the world needs to come together to help each other. The RCIPS helicopter has proved vital in saving lives not only in Cayman but also in the region,” the premier said. “This operation was essential to provide vital medicines to vulnerable passengers and I am pleased that here in Cayman we have the capability to protect people at home but also to help those in distress on the sea,” McLaughlin added. The medications, which are not related to COVID-19 treatment, were standard prescription items which were urgently required by passengers and in good supply on Cayman, the statement said. Roper commended the Air Operations team for their service. “This mission was vital to ensure the passengers on the Braemar had access to life saving medicines. My thanks also go to the pharmacy team at the Health Services Authority for providing such a professional response,” he added. The operation was coordinated by the Governor’s Office and the British High Commission in Nassau. The supplies were landed in the Bahamas and then delivered by the Commission to the ship, which is off Grand Bahama. Cayman delivers medical supplies for stricken cruise ship The RCIPS helicopter pictured in Cuba on Saturday as it refueled for its humanitarian mission to deliver medical supplies to Bahamas for passengers aboard the MS Braemar. ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky For several Lakeside residents, the fear and drama sparked by the most recent landfill fire was nothing short of biblical proportions. “I thought it was something out of a movie, it looked and felt apocalyptic, almost end-of- days-like,” said Emily Hewson, who has lived at Lakeside with her husband for three months. “The flames were so high you could see them above the trees and there were loud explosions as well.” The fire originated from atop the solid waste mound, sometime after 2:30pm on Sunday, 8 March. Strong gusts of winds exceeding 20 knots caused the fire to spread, eventually making its way downhill to a stockpile of tyres. Once ignited, the tyre and solid-waste fires belched out thick plumes of black smoke which travelled directly over the Lakeside apartments, raining down ash and burning debris. “I was also at home when I saw the smoke and thought, ‘oh well, the landfill was on fire – again’.” said Bibiana Butasova, who lives in a unit facing the landfill. “I looked out through my kitchen window and saw what looked like a sea of people just watching the fire and standing in the smoke. It was thick and choking.” The ferocity of the fire forced officers to shut down the section of the Esterley Tibbetts Highway between the landfill and the Lakeside complex. Within hours, a mandatory evacuation order was given for all Lakeside residents. While a cautionary evacuation notice was given for residents living in smoke- affected areas of Watlers Drive community. “We rushed home. When we got inside, there was a hole in the door so there was smoke everywhere,” said Hewson. “We got our dog, a few personal items and then left. But we are new to the island and didn’t know where to go or where to stay.” Hazard Management Cayman Islands opened two shelters, the first, the newly renovated Red Cross building on Huldah Avenue in George Town, and, the second, a pet-friendly shelter at the John Gray High School gymnasium. While some people were able to take advantage of the shelters, Suzanne Reynolds and her family had to look elsewhere. “At about 5:30pm, an officer came to our door and told us we had to leave. My husband and I have a special needs son, so the shelter just wasn’t an ideal place for us,” said Reynolds. “Although we had a few offers, they just were not ideal for our son. So we rang around and eventually got a hotel room for about $200 a night.” The fire burned for more than four days. Once the flames died down and the smoke plumes were significantly reduced, the all-clear was given for Lakeside residents to return to their homes. Upon arrival, several residents learnt the premises were simply uninhabitable. “Although there was no fire damage, the smoke got in to everywhere,” said Laura Lesseus. “I was upset when I got back home because there was smoke still bellowing, and I could smell smoke everywhere. I’m worried about smoke inhalation because cancer runs in my family, and so I have had to move.” “I’ve checked every day since they said we could go back, and the smoke is so thick that we just can’t stay,” said Reynolds. “I’m frustrated at the lack of information that we’ve been given,” said Hewson. “I’m also disappointed with the safety issues of the apartment and I would like to know why the all-clear was given despite the smoke damage.” Cayman Compass received a copy of a message sent out to the residents of Lakeside which reads, “Attached is an information sheet that with two companies who have offered their services for cleaning and air purification, etc. Kindly note, should you opt to contact them and have your unit cleaned, it will be at your own expense.” The message goes on to tell residents that the staff of the Lakeside complex would “continue to work at the West Bay office as the smoke on the property is still quite intense”. The living conditions at the complex have left several of the residents “frustrated and searching for answers” while they try to piece their lives back together. Cayman Compass reached out to the Lakeside complex management. They declined to comment. ‘Apocalyptic fire’ leaves residents frustrated “Although there was no fire damage, the smoke got in to everywhere.” Laura Lesseus , Lakeside resident1234567 8 910 111213 14 15161718 19 2021 1234567 8 910 111213 14 15161718 19 2021 ACROSS 1 Reckoned to be such (7) 5 Air force division (5) 8 Make efficient (4,4,5) 9 Eccentric person (5) 10 Attire (7) 11 Grieve (6) 12 To climb (6) 15 Accomplish (7) 17 Become different (5) 19 Out and out (13) 20 Each single (5) 21 Furious (7) DOWN 1 Memento (5) 2 Select fastidiously (4,3,6) 3 Intermittent flow (7) 4 Discover existence of (6) 5 Zest (5) 6 With very little money (2,1,10) 7 Glad (7) 11 Surprise suddenly (7) 13 Walk unsteadily (7) 14 Alliance (6) 16 Hard dark wood (5) 18 Inflexible (5) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16328 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 16327 ACROSS: 1 Fancy, 8 Baritone, 9 Poise, 10 Once-over, 11 Merit, 12 Pro, 16 Pagoda, 17 Apollo, 18 Yak, 23 Beryl, 24 Dead wood, 25 Moral, 26 Let alone, 27 After. DOWN: 2 As one man, 3 Cast-iron, 4 Garner, 5 Widen, 6 Solve, 7 Merry, 12 Pay, 13 Oak, 14 Lone wolf, 15 Play safe, 19 Amount, 20 Idyll, 21 Malta, 22 Swell. Over the last three years, we have seen Premier Alden McLaughlin make some wise calls and some not-so-wise calls, but throughout it all, he has kept walking his line. Love him or hate him, McLaughlin is no stranger to drawing on his leadership skills in times of need. With the COVID-19 global threat, acting fast to protect Cayman – no matter if it may open him up to ridicule from those who think he’s overreacting – remains paramount. As the emerging, uncharted waters of the coronavirus pandemic stretch out before us, we applaud government for taking action. Yes, as of Monday afternoon, there has only been one confirmed case of COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands, but we’ve seen what has happened when others were too slow to respond. Some say McLaughlin took too long to stop the cruise ships from coming here. Certainly, that’s up for debate. After all, it was the same Costa Luminosa cruise ship that Jamaica refused to allow to call that ended up docking in Cayman the next day, carrying the man who eventually was confirmed as being the first person in Cayman with COVID-19. But the reality is that decisions made two weeks ago seem like a lifetime ago. The situation has escalated quickly since then and, in the meantime, the premier has had to think about the thousands of Caymanians and residents involved in the hospitality industry looking for a way to put food on their own tables. We know the decisions to close the airports for three weeks and to ban cruise ships for 60 days were not made lightly, especially as the reality of unemployment is creeping in and an almost-guaranteed recession is looming on the horizon for these verdant isles. In the last few days, the world as we know it has changed – borders, including ours, are closing, plus how we live our daily lives and even the way we engage with our friends and loved ones have been altered. The concept of social distancing a few days ago may have been a joke among friends. Today, it’s among the top measures to keep you safe. To those who seem to find the time to spread fear and rumours, we ask you to wash your hands frequently instead so we can stop any bouts of unjustified hysteria. For those who seek to criticise and throw cheap political punches, this is not the time for it. Politics and pettiness have no place in this climate in which we find ourselves. We appeal for both government and opposition to come together and get the job done like our lives are depending on it, because this time, they really are. Editorial Government’s drastic COVID-19 response welcome cartoon Jake Fuller What they’re saying In the last few days, the world as we know it has changed – borders, including ours, are closing, plus how we live our daily lives and even the way we engage with our friends and loved ones have been altered. Cayman to shut down air travel for 3 weeks A very hard decision but in the best interest for staff, passen- gers and our islands. – Jennifer Scott Wise call Cayman! We will rebook when able. Stay healthy!! – Lisa Godzyk Good job. I wish Jamaica would do the same. – Donna Reid Tourism industry in free fall as virus paralyses travel Hoping hotel owners will give their employees and their family free accommodations. Let’s hope it won’t last long. Prayers, and keep safe everyone. – JöyZël Wälsh The island that time forgot has gone back to the way it use to be. Give the people a chance to breathe; smell the roses! We re- covered from Ivan, took a while, so pray we will recover from this to just try to stay healthy! – Sue McLaughlin Hope your government will step in and help temporarily dur- ing that hard period. – Renée Grenier Our beautiful island has a lot of wonderful people! The kind of people that help each other. We will survive this storm! – Sharon Glatz Postponing our flights until next year. Can’t wait to visit your beautiful island again. – Georgina Evans The whole world has stopped. Don’t fret, we’ll soon come back! – Christine Harris HSA to start local COVID-19 testing Everyone needs to calm down! This is just the flu - just another strain. I under- stand it is critical for some people, just like the flu every season. My goodness, this is getting all kinds of crazy now! – Valerie Nuyen Also important to note that HSA has announced they have closed except for emergency and essential services. – Hollie Whitelocke 4Most are staying open… for now JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Restaurants across Grand Cayman are starting to restrict customers or shut up shop completely amid new restrictions on public gatherings. Royal Palms was the first to announce it was closing following new guidelines restricting social gatherings to a maximum of 50 people to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Other business owners said they would try to stay open for now, with many restaurants fearing the downturn in tourism will eventually force them to close. Despite the impact, most businesses that spoke to the Cayman Compass said they understood the need for the restrictions and would follow them in the interests of public safety. Darren Baber, operations manager at Royal Palms, said the venue was closed until further notice. He said without cruise ships coming in, it made little sense to stay open. He said the temporary closure would allow staff to be home with their families, and management was working on a strategy to make sure its employees were taken care of through the downturn. “We are just waiting for the whole thing to blow over really,” he said. At Sunset House on Saturday, staff were keeping a head count of arriving customers to restrict diners to the 50-person maximum. The same policy was in effect at Rackam’s Waterfront bar and grill in George Town. Manager Julie Allan said the business would be operating with a slightly trimmed-down staff to serve its loyal local clientele. “We plan on keeping on as much staff as possible,” she said, “with shortened shifts to try and make sure they all make a bit of money.” She said it had been hard to turn away people, but she understood the need for the restrictions. At the Lighthouse Restaurant in Breakers, owner Giuseppe Gatta said the venue was running different sittings in an effort to cater to more diners while staying within the restrictions. “At the moment, we are able to cope,” he said, “but I think the situation is going to close us down at some point down the road. “There aren’t going to be any customers and, with the cruise ships not coming in, the locals are not going to have money to go out either.” He said it wasn’t option for many of his overseas staff to go home because of the travel restrictions. “It is going to be hard for the next couple of months. It is like Hurricane Ivan again, but I think we will manage. It will be tough but we will bounce back.” Some restaurants are already innovating to adapt to the new conditions. Edoardo’s on West Bay Road announced it was offering free home delivery from West Bay to South Sound, taking payment over the phone. Luciano De Riso, manager at Grand Old House and The Wharf restaurants, said both venues would remain open. He said management was staggering reservations and spreading out seating to allow diners to maintain a social distance. “We appreciate the government effort and we will be complying strongly, but we have also decided to stay open no matter the business level, as long as government allows us. “We cannot lay off employees when they have nowhere to go, and if no people are coming, at least the staff and their family will be fed.” A fence has been erected at the beach side of Royal Palms, which closed over the weekend. Restaurants restrict customers, shut doors “We plan on keeping on as much staff as possible, with shortened shifts to try and make sure they all make a bit of money.” Julie Allan , manager, Rackam’s 5 To find out more about these highly regarded academic and professional programmes please contact Marjorie Corbridge at marjorie.corbridge@port.ac.uk HR PROGRAMMES TO BE DELIVERED IN CAYMAN ISLANDS IN 2020 THE UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH is delighted to be offering 2 CIPD accredited HR programmes in 2020 • Masters in HRM (MSc HRM) • Certificate in HR Practice (CHRP) These are fully taught on island by Faculty with substantial Cayman Islands experience. Master’s in HRM (MSc HRM) Starting 27 April 2020 Professional Certificate in HR Practice (CHRP) Starting 19 May 2020 This programme is perfect for HR profession- als and senior managers who want to enhance their people management knowledge and skills and gain a Master’s degree in HRM. 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CHRP classes are delivered on-island in 6 daytime workshops – 20 days of teaching from May to November 2020 The Professional Certificate in HR Prac- tice will develop your HR knowledge and skills in: 1. The role of HR and the strategic business context: 4 days 2. Managing performance and rewarding employees: 4 days 3. Managing HR information: 2 days 4. Professional Development in HR: 2 days 5. Labour law, discipline, dismissal, gender equality: 4 days 6. Talent planning, recruitment, selection interviewing and on-boarding: 4 days ADVISORY Potential DEBT Servicing Challenges with the detection of COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands Rest assured that your Cayman Islands Bankers’ Association member lending institutions are committed to working with you to find a realistic solution in servicing your debt obligations in the advent of an emergency impacting your income. It is important to engage as early as possible with your financial services professional at your bank who will advise and try to assist in developing a strategy to manage your financial commitments. This message is sponsored by our member lending institutions: JAMES WHITTAKER, KAYLA YOUNG Multiple businesses closed or scaled back operations as the news began to break Monday that the Cayman Islands was closing its borders. Further announcements are expected in the coming days as businesses scramble to unravel the implications of a blanket ban on travel. The airport closure is initially for 21 days, but with a 60-day cruise ship ban also in effect, many retailers, operators and hoteliers are looking at long-term loss of custom. Kirk Freeport confirmed the closure of seven of its 21 stores on Monday, impacting approximately 50 staff. Kirk Freeport's Chris Kirkconnell said no- one was losing their job but some staff would be asked to take a temporary leave of absence. He said overseas workers would be given an extra week of paid vacation, allowed to use their sick leave, and asked to consider going home for 90 days until the crisis blows over. Kirk Freeport closed seven of its 21 stores on Monday. He said the business was shuffling around staff and trying to keep its other stores open as long as possible. “We are trying to hold out as long as we can,” he said. Robert Hamaty, owner of Tortuga Rum, said he was closing at least four stores, including two on the Royal Watler pier, and may scale back hours at other locations. He said the priority was to keep the company’s 170 employees paid. “We came though 9/11, we came through Hurricane Ivan and the financial crisis. We will come through this,” he said. He added that he hoped banks would give mortgage holidays and offer breaks on loan repayments. “This is an invisible enemy,” Hamaty said of the coronavirus. “How can you fight a war when the enemy doesn’t wear a uniform?” One business that has had to shut down completely is Caribbean Marine Services, which runs tender boat services to the cruise lines. David Carmichael said seasonal staff, who would have left in April anyway, would have to be let go. He said the salaried staff would be kept on, possibly with reduced wages, to allow them to survive until the crisis abates. He said it was unclear how long the impact would last. “Our revenue has dropped to zero overnight,” he added. Dive industry facing ‘slaughter’ Aaron Hunt of Cayman Eco Divers said there were lots of tears shed over the weekend at Rackam’s bar, where members of the dive industry gathered to process the painful months ahead. “Everyone is laying off employees left and right. It’s kind of the end of diving for the next 60 days, 30 days at least,” Hunt said. “It’s slaughter out there right now.” He said there have already been difficult discussions and layoffs by most of Cayman’s dive operators, especially those along the George Town waterfront that depend on the cruise business. “Pretty much every operator out there is either telling everybody, ‘you probably need to go home’ or ‘we’ll try to offer options to help you avoid being homeless while you’re here’,” Hunt said. “But where the hell are people going to go? Where are they going to fly to?” By forcing workers to return home during a global pandemic, he feared current work permit holders would be put at a health risk as they navigate crowded airports and home countries that may already be badly affected. Gyms impacted Elsewhere, gyms began to feel the impact. Ryde spinning gym at Camana Bay announced it was closing till at least 30 March, and Anytime Fitness, also in Camana Bay, said in a Facebook post that it was closing temporarily. Samuel Young Jr, owner and managing director of World Gym Fitness Centre, said group classes had been suspended as the gym was limited to no more than 50 people, including staff, at any one time. He said all surfaces are cleaned several times daily, using hospital-grade disinfectant and sanitiser in spray bottles. Lobster Pot open as normal At the popular waterfront restaurant, the Lobster Pot, staff has been reduced but owner Marcus Cumber said the establishment is continuing normal operations, for the time being. With border closures and travel restrictions being announced all over the world, Cumber said it is not a viable option to tell staff to simply go home. “To say to our staff, ‘Hey, you should go back to Germany or go back to the Philippines’, we can’t. They’re trapped,” he said. At his other business, Island Air, he said operations have been busy. The company, which services private and commercial aircraft, processed more than 20 planes on Friday and Sunday, and just under 40 on Saturday, Cumber said. He said the flow of traffic has been standard for this time of year, when many come down to the island for spring break. “A lot of people were caught with their pants down and didn’t see this coming,” he said. He disputed recent headlines alleging that there has been a spike in the wealthy jetting off to Cayman, in an effort to escape COVID-19. He estimated about three-quarters of private aircraft were coming to Cayman to take people off island, adding that many have arrived empty of passengers with the intention of transporting clients back to the US. About two-thirds of passengers who left over the weekend through Island Air were visitors, and about a third were individuals who have vacation homes here. He added that private aircraft are subject to the same security, immigration and customs protocol as all other arriving flights. Businesses close doors as travel shutdown bites 6 I issuesRESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Health Services Authority has cancelled all elective surgeries and specialist services at the Cayman Islands Hospital and Faith Hospital effective Sunday night as it moved to insulate the institutions from COVID-19. This is the second such step by the authority to minimise public contact with the hospital. On Saturday, the HSA banned visits by members of the public to patients at the Cayman Islands Hospital. Only parents of children in the paediatric ward and those accompanying women in labour will be allowed into the hospital. The authority also said, as a precautionary measure, all staff who have returned from overseas as of 13 March will be placed on home isolation for 14 days before returning to work. Where possible, these employees will be assigned tasks that can be done remotely, the HSA said. “Protecting our patients and the community is our utmost priority as we prepare for COVID-19,” HSA CEO Lizzette Yearwood said in the statement. The HSA said the cancellations were done “in order to minimize any potential transmission of COVID-19 within the hospital environment and ensure the ability to sustain vital healthcare services to the country”. Patients will be contacted to reschedule their appointments. “We understand that cancelling appointments is an inconvenience, however, we are doing so in the overall best interest of our patients and the community,” Yearwood said. “With the global outbreak of COVID-19, we are taking these measures to help mitigate the spread in our islands.” Further changes, the authority said, will be made throughout various departments, such as pharmacy, which will be limiting the number of seats in the waiting room and offering additional seating in the atrium, in an effort to ensure patients maintain a safe social distance. All doors into the facility will be locked and only accessible to authorised personnel. The Accident and Emergency Unit will be open to patients who require immediate emergency care. While these policy changes have been implemented, HSA said, its outpatient clinics will operate as normal. The expanded Flu Clinic has been moved to the former Mental Health Outpatient Unit and will be open from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. The Flu Clinic in Cayman Brac will operate out of the medical wing of the Aston Rutty Centre, as of Tuesday, 17 March, 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. All dental clinics, (George Town, Bodden Town, West Bay and Merren) and the eye clinic will be open for emergencies only. Paediatric acute care services will be offered from the Specialist Clinic. Children with flu symptoms will be seen in the dedicated Paediatric Flu Clinic, which is located in the old physiotherapy department. The Health Services Authority is encouraging members of the public who are experiencing flu-like symptoms to call the flu hotline on 1-800-534-8600 or 947-3077, or email flu@hsa.ky. Patients vetted for virus symptoms CTMH Doctors Hospital is on a “war footing” as it prepares to do its part to keep the Cayman Islands safe amid the coronavirus pandemic. A perimeter has been established around the hospital and anyone who enters is being vetted by nurses in protective masks to establish if they have symptoms consistent with the virus. Dr. Yaron Rado, the chairman of the hospital board, said the 18-bed private facility was also cancelling elective surgeries and focussing on emergencies. He said it was already dealing with cardiac patients that would ordinarily have gone to Health City, which was forced to close after a patient tested positive for coronavirus and subsequently died. He expects the initial role of CTMH Doctors Hospital to be to pick up the slack for non-coronavirus-related emergencies as the Health Services Authority takes the primary role in dealing with any outbreak. “People still get appendicitis, they still get a gall bladder, there are still all kinds of other emergencies,” Rado said. “We are not preparing to offer coronavirus services at the moment until the other systems start to get overloaded.” He said the main aim of social distancing and other restrictions was to slow the rate at which the virus spreads and prevent health services from becoming overwhelmed. Rado said his staff were in constant dialogue with the Health Services Authority about what the private facility could do in support. The hospital donated 10 beds, from its own storage, to the HSA this week and are prepared to take patients as necessary. “Cardiac, chemo, maternity, emergency surgeries. We will take those patients. We are going to do everything we can to help the system,” he added. Jennifer Williams, chief nurse at the hospital, said no visitors would be able to enter and people using the pharmacy will have their drugs brought to them at the curb. She said staff were being asked to strictly follow social distancing guidelines to keep them virus-free and able to perform their duties. Rado said the greatest threat was not the pandemic itself but its potential impact on the health system if it spreads too quickly. He said Cayman’s government had acted quickly and the island was ahead of the threat. “This is a national emergency and we are treating it as a national emergency ... We are ahead of the curve.” He said Cayman has a strong, first-world healthcare system and is equipped, with the right planning and the right measures in place, to respond to the threat posed by the virus. Hospital is monitoring patients RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Health City Cayman Islands has issued assurances that patients are being monitored and strict protocols are being followed as the hospital lockdown continued for the fourth day Monday. “We have very strict infection control protocols in place at Health City Cayman Islands, and therefore we can safely manage those patients internally who cannot be relocated due to the complexity of their situation during this two-week suspension of services,” Health City clinical director Dr. Binoy Chattuparambil told the Cayman Compass in an email response to queries. “Any patient who displays any symptoms related to COVID-19 infection will be further isolated. However, this is not necessary at present as no further patients are exhibiting any flu-like symptoms,” he said. The hospital is also giving patients the option of moving to another healthcare facility of their choice to continue their treatment if they wish. On Friday, the hospital closed its doors to the public and new patients on the heels of the announcement of Cayman’s first COVID-19 case. The patient, a 68-year-old Italian man who was taken off a cruise ship on 29 Feb. with a critical cardiac emergency, has since passed away. His wife remains in isolation at the East End hospital. She has been tested for COVID-19 as well and the hospital is awaiting the results. The hospital has isolated 40 members of staff, 30 of whom have been tested. The families of staff who were at direct risk from the patient are also in isolation. Those in the community have raised concerns about COVID exposure since they attended the hospital while the coronavirus patient was there, but Chattuparambil said those concerns are unwarranted. He said the patient was isolated when he came in, given his cardiac condition and further quarantined following the positive test result. “Many people in the larger community will also have been in contact with persons from the USA, Canada, the UK, Italy etc., either through travel themselves or from persons coming to our shores from those jurisdictions into the Cayman Islands. If they are without symptoms, we wouldn’t tell them to self-quarantine,” he said. Established protocols state that only individuals displaying flu-like symptoms should stay home and self- isolate for two weeks. “The same is true for individuals who have been in contact with people at Health City. Please take heed of the other cases present throughout the Caribbean and bear travel history in mind. Our population travels extensively, so we should all listen to the advice from HMCI [Hazard Management Cayman Islands] regarding travel-related safeguards,” Chattuparambill added. The hospital will not be contacting patients since “it would not follow the current international health guidelines”, he said. “If individuals have no symptoms, they are to follow what Hazard Management Cayman Islands has been communicating regarding prevention measures, i.e., washing hands frequently, refraining from non-essential travel and avoiding large gatherings,” Chattuparambil said. Nurse Shanna Gay Grant and Dr. Zanele Balang run through coronavirus vetting procedures at the CTMH Doctors Hospital on Monday. Health City following ‘strict infection controls’ Doctors Hospital on ‘war footing’ HSA cancels elective surgeries Outpatient services operating normally • Dialysis • Chemo • Mental Health • Phlebotomy • Pharmacy • Little Cayman Clinic • General Practice and all District Health Centres • Accident & Emergency 7JEWEL LEVY jlevy@compassmedia.ky Nothing has the power to bring you back to the good old days like stepping into a quaint, local variety store that you remember visiting years ago. Godfrey’s Enterprise on Elgin Avenue may not look the same today as it did at the beginning, but its family-oriented atmosphere and core philosophies remain the same – delivering quality products to its customers while making sure everyone feels special. In the beginning Ashley Godfrey and his wife Hazel started a tiny family restaurant in June 1958. Ashley built the place himself. Sixty- one years later, after multiple expansions carried out by son Neals, it has grown into a fashionable family enterprise, according to son Nick, who has run the store with some assistance from Neals since their parents passed away. From mini to maxi and bell bottoms to tie dye, Godfrey’s has seen fashion and prices change since those early times of the ‘50s. Lunch back then at the restaurant cost two shillings and sixpence; that got you a plate full of turtle meat, lobster or stewed conch with ‘breadkind’ and some heavy cake thrown in on the side. “Those days it was very hard to get things for the restaurant because we didn’t have the supermarkets like we have today,” said Nick. Neals added they had to buy just enough for that day; there were no deep freezers to keep food. “People shopped every day for what they needed,” Nick said. I remember heading into Godfrey’s after a convention at the Church of God on the waterfront to purchase Vanity Fair makeup. They always boasted about the many colours they had, which were usually difficult to come by for dark-skinned people. “The atmosphere dealing with the public has remained the same; we are down-to-earth and when people come into the store, we try to make them feel at home,” said Nick, adding that most of the time he will go out of his way to help someone and Neals still plays his pranks to make people laugh. “I feel bad if they come for something and can’t find it, but I make sure on the next shopping trip I find something for them,” he said. Nick said his father was a jack-of- all-trades in the community. He was butcher, coffin-maker, land appraiser, doctor’s referral agent, vestryman, husband and good father. When they were young, both sons left their parents and sister Janice to go to sea. Nick joined the US Emperor in 1955 at age 19, while Neals joined the SS Commonwealth at 17. They retired from sea life in 1965. Nick moved to the US with his wife and Neals returned to Grand Cayman to marry Olsey and carry out construction work. Before going to sea, Nick recalls the old George Town police station being across the street where it is still located today. Next to the police station was a two-storey building where Dr. Hortor’s clinic was located. It later became a dental clinic, Nick said. He said kids from as far as Triple C School would walk over to purchase lunch at the restaurant and some people in the community paid their bills when they received money from the men working overseas. Adding the grocery store Nick laughed as he recalled moments from his younger days … a police officer waiting on a prisoner in lockup to cross the street to purchase cigarettes. That was after Godfrey’s had expanded the side of the restaurant to include a grocery store to make extra money, as a lot of restaurants had started to spring up in Cayman at the time. Neals recalled a Honduran national in lockup sneaking a drink of rum when he was allowed across the road to the store. “He quickly wiped his mouth just in case the policeman saw him take a swig,” Neals laughed, remembering the hilarious occasion. More variety After their mother passed away in 1976, Nick returned to Cayman to assist Janice with the business, which they had expanded to a variety store, selling anything you could think of. He was 50 at the time. “I used to work in New York in the garment district, so I knew a lot about the fashions and the wholesale places,” Nick said. He makes sure the store keeps up with the latest fashion trends, He also personally travels to the US to purchase items for private customers who trust him to bring back a wardrobe they desire. The store carries an array of goods, including ladies’ garments, two-piece outfits, dresses, children’s clothing and hats. “Our place was a favourite for the men to buy shoes and suits because the prices were reasonable and they still are today,” Nick said. “People will find in Godfrey’s a lot of things that you would not find in the other stores because most of them have gone into big time,” he added. “Whether you are rich or poor, [wear] small or large sizes, the store carries something for everyone.” He said they carry some name brands such as BB Grant, Gloria Vanderbilt and Vanity Fair, a lot of colognes and costume jewelry, household items and accessories. In addition to having the business on Elgin Avenue, the company opened another location on Godfrey Nixon Way in March 1986. That was a good decision, both brothers said. “Times change, so we had to move ahead,” said Nick. “We still try to keep the little things that you can’t find around. When I am gone, I don’t know what will happen.” Nick and Evelyn have three children: Jen, Michael and Bernadette; and Neals has two daughters, Carmen and Tonilee, with his wife, Olsey. Godfrey’s Enterprise: an iconic store still going strong Nick and Neals Godfrey in the store. Godfrey's Enterprise on Elgin Avenue. “People will find in Godfrey’s a lot of things that you would not find in the other stores because most of them have gone into big time,” he added. “Whether you are rich or poor, [wear] small or large sizes, the store carries something for everyone.” – Nick Godfrey L living 8Rugby tournament on hold due to COVID-19 SEAFORD RUSSELL JR. srussell@compassmedia.ky The on-field clash between Fidelity Cayman Storm and the John Doak Tradeview Markets Iguanas, scheduled for this weekend’s rugby Vase finals, has been cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19. However, in the semi-finals last weekend at the South Sound rugby pitch, the Storm, who won the season’s Alex Alexander Memorial Cup, beat the Advance Fire and Plumbing Buccaneers 34-23 to advance to the tournament’s final round. Both teams got off to a good start, with Storm’s Cornal Keane getting the first six points after converting two penalties. That was followed by another penalty from Buccaneer’s Shakur Welcome and a try from teammate Matthew Hanson to take the Bucs ahead early. However, after going back and forth, at the end of the first half, it was the Storm who were ahead 24-23. In the final 20 minutes of the game, Storm started to pull away, showcasing their kicking dominance, and gaining a penalty and a conversion from Keane, and a try from teammate Dan John to win 34-23. In the second Vase semi-finals, the John Doak Tradeview Iguanas came out on top against the Queensgate Pig Trotters in a match that ended 30-27. The Iguanas got the first try, from a simple defensive error that allowed Quintin Herbst to get his team five points. That didn’t discourage the Pigs Trotters, though, as they came out of the first half ahead by two points. In the second half, however, each team locked down their opponent on defence, not allowing the opposition to convert a try. But it was Iguanas’ Jack Walters, with a penalty in the final seconds of the game, who sealed the 30-27 victory. “Both teams gave it their everything. It was great to see such competitiveness so late in the season,” said technical director of Cayman rugby Jovan Bowles. “Obviously, the Vase competition has been with the union for many, many years, and a lot of players reset their ideas from the season … Working away from the Heineken charity shield at the beginning of the season and pushing themselves through the Alex Alexander and, finally, having a Vase. So, it’s a great opportunity for a lot of the teams to push through and get some silverware.” The Pigs Trotters were scheduled to play against the Buccaneers for bronze in the Vase, while the Iguanas were set to take on the Storm for first and second place, but that has been put off until further notice, like every other sporting event in the Cayman Islands. “As COVID-19 becomes a close reality for many of us, we have taken a number of steps to minimise the risks of exposure. Our primary responsibility has to be the health and safety of our membership - players, volunteers, employees and everyone involved with the CRFU (Cayman Rugby Football Union),” stated rugby president Mick Kehoe. He added, “We have cancelled all junior rugby programmes and competitions, which brings our junior season to an unfortunate early end. The CRFU has also suspended all men’s and women’s rugby programmes until 14 April 2020, at which time we will reassess the situation.” Kehoe said the South Sound club, pitch and facilities will be closed to the public. SEAFORD RUSSELL JR. srussell@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s sporting associations have all cancelled or postponed upcoming games, events, and training both locally and internationally, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 worldwide. Premier Alden McLaughlin announced Friday that all sporting events will be put on hold in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Following the premier’s announcement, the Cayman Islands Basketball Association, Cayman Islands Football Association, Cayman Islands Aquatic Sports Association and Cayman Islands Athletic Association, as well as various leagues and organisations, postponed their upcoming events until further notice. Cayman sports shut down by coronavirus Premier Alden McLaughlin Postponed sporting events BK Big Fish Cayman Cricket league CI Men’s Basketball CINA women’s league CIFA premier league Colour Me Purple 5K Corona Volleyball league CUC CARIFTA trials Fred Speirs 5K Gaelic football Guiding the Way 5K Inter-primary meet Intl Women’s Day Squash Doubles Junior squash JGHS Pie eating competition Little League McGarth Tropical Relay Challenge National Dressage Show St. Patricks Day 5K Irish jog St. Paddy’s Squash Doubles SeaLand Adventure Aquathlon Ultimate Frisbee Vase rugby finals Youth Hockey Theda Whittaker Memorial 5K Vase finals delayed The Fidelity Cayman Storm beat the John Doak Tradeview Markets Iguanas in the Vase rugby semi-finals, 34-23. In the second half, however, each team locked down their opponent on defence, not allowing the opposition to convert a try. But it was Iguanas’ Jack Walters, with a penalty in the final seconds of the game, who sealed the 30- 27 victory. 9Next >