DRIVE THRU OPEN Eastern Avenue cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism | Monday, 23 March 2020 Stores impose limits to halt panic buying Page 4 Isolation of arrivals a legal requirement Page 5 Men cleared in gold smuggling trial Page 6 Page 2 Cayman's air travel ban begins Passengers line up to check in for some of the last flights to leave the Cayman Islands on Sunday. - Photo: Stephen ClarkeTemporarily closed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. 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 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. FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass Premier: airport closure could go beyond three weeks JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The Cayman Islands closed its borders at midnight Sunday with no certainty over when they will be reopened. The ban on air travel in and out of Cayman could be extended beyond three weeks, Premier Alden McLaughlin acknowledged at a press briefing Thursday. Both Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman and Charles Kirkconnell International Airport on Cayman Brac will be closed to international passenger travel for an initial 21 days. Cruise ships have already been banned since 16 March, initially for 60 days, and the premier confirmed late last week that ban also includes private boats. With cases of the virus still rising in other countries, including in the UK and the US, where most of Cayman’s visitors come from, the three-week airport closure may have to be extended, McLaughlin said. “It is impossible to sit here today and say what we will do in three weeks’ time. The most likely decision three weeks from now is an extension of the current state,” he said. He added that the situation was changing daily and he was monitoring developments constantly. “As soon as we open our doors, if the virus is still raging around us, it will be here again,” he said. “We have to really think much longer term than just the three-week lockdown. I don’t see this going away in three, six or even nine weeks.” He said government had the finances to cope for the next several months, but the country and the world would need to grapple with a longer-term answer. “I don’t think any country in the world has the answer to what happens beyond six weeks,” he said. Scene at the airport Hours before Owen Roberts was slated to close, the normally busy and bustling facility was already showing signs of slowing down. The arrivals area was completely devoid of travellers. Meanwhile, in the departures terminal, the last groups of outbound passengers were checking in. The travellers had varying reasons for their departure. However, the one common theme among most of them was the urgency of leaving so as to avoid potential economic hardships. “I work as a bartender and my restaurant is closed because we don’t have clients,” said Jose Andres Pintado, who is returning to his home in Cuba. “I’m hoping to be back in a month or two. We honestly don’t know how long this is going to take,” he said. Patricia Leon Ramirez, who was also travelling to Cuba, said the emergency measures put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 left her with little choice but to go home. “I can’t stay here,” said Ramirez, who was wearing a face mask and blue gloves. “Everything is happening at the same time – all this coronavirus situation, my permit just finished, and I can’t apply for an extension, so it is better if I just go home.” Restaurant worker Antonio Canamar was on his way back to Mexico. “Well, there are no tourists, and we work in the tourism industry, so there is no point in staying,” he said, adding, “This is also a chance for me to go back home and take care of my family and spend some time with them.” Although Cayman’s airports closed on Sunday, at least in the afternoon there was no indication of overcrowding or a rushed exodus. This was partly because some passengers had departed earlier, as the airports in their home countries were closing. On Saturday, two flights from Owen Roberts filled almost to capacity, left for Jamaica ahead of the closure of airports there. Cayman’s air travel ban begins RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky A student who returned to Cayman this past week and was staying in one of the isolation facilities provided by government, has been investigated for a viral illness, health officials said Saturday. Officials did not specify if the student was a suspected COVID-19 case. The student was taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital by ambulance for assessment Friday evening and was placed in isolation there, Government Information Services confirmed in a statement Saturday. Officials declined to provide any further information on the student’s location, citing patient confidentiality. A statement issued by Government Information Service said, “All medical staff and vehicles in contact with the student have taken necessary precautions to prevent onward transmission of any infectious condition. Appropriate contact tracing will take place in any case deemed necessary by Public Health.” Last week, students and returning residents were mandated to self-isolate as a measure to suppress the spread of the coronavirus. Government has established isolation facilities at local hotels. The students at the isolation facility, the statement said, were screened prior to departure from the airport and are in regular contact with medical professionals while they remain in isolation. Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee spoke of the importance of the isolation facilities. “I am reassured that the protocols we put in place are robust and this situation reminds us exactly why these isolation facilities are a necessary step in our efforts to protect the public. We are trying to keep all persons, especially the vulnerable, safe by limiting their exposure to any arriving passenger from a high- risk area. I would like to wish the student all the best for recovery,” Lee said. Isolated student being monitored for ‘viral illness’ Passengers wait to be checked in for their flights on Sunday, the last day that flights were being allowed to arrive or depart before a three-week shutdown. 2Member Distribution by First Letter of Last NameAssigned Phone Contact H, L, P, R, V, Y345-815-7316 M, W, X345-815-7312 B, C, F345-815-7311 A, D, E, I, K, N, O, Q, U, Z 345-815-7315 G, J, S, T345-815-7317 Kind Regards Michael Gayle CEO After-hours For members receiving care in the USA, call 345 - 949-8101. Selecting Option 3 will direct after hours calls to 1-888-543-1328, our US network provider’s call centre and Option #1 should be selected. You may also email: casemanagment@cinico.ky for assistance. For members receiving care in the Jamaica, call 1-868-798-9627 or 1-876-406-8479 or email casemanagment@cinico.ky For members in the Cayman Islands or other jurisdictions requiring urgent assistance, call 345 - 949-8101 or email casemanagment@cinico.ky We apologize for any inconvenience that these measures may cause, but trust that you will recognize that they are being implemented for the safety of everyone concerned and for the entire country. We do not believe that there is any reason to panic, but we believe that we need to treat this potential outbreak with the level of seriousness that it deserves. We encourage you to follow guidelines set out by the Government, some of which can be viewed on www. hsa.ky. We will provide further updates as the situation unfolds. Dear Valued CINICO Member, We continue to monitor the COVID 19 situation and take comfort in the fact that it seems have been contained thus far. CINICO continues to prioritize the safety and welfare of you, our valued members, our members of staff, and their families, and as such, our social distancing measures remain in place. As indicated in our previous update, our offices are closed to the public. We do recognize that some of our members will need to collect cheques or membership cards and as such, we will open our George Town office for those collections only on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. When the cheques are ready for collection, our Client Service Team will call you so that you can collect on either morning at your convenience. Our Cayman Brac office remains closed to the public until further notice. There will continue to be no collection of premium payments at either of our offices. Payments which are being made by cheque can be deposited in the dropbox outside of our office. Claim forms can also be deposited in the dropbox. Cash payments must be made at Cayman National Bank (CNB). You will need to provide the bank with your name and Member I.D.. Payments can also be made online at CNB, RBC and Bank of Butterfield. We are also making arrangements to facilitate payment by debit card via telephone and will advise you when these arrangements are in place. Should you have any queries, you can call us on 345-949-8101 or email us at info@cinico.ky. Customers on Cayman Brac or Little Cayman can call 938-7310 or email jdixon@cinico.ky. For urgent assistance with medical case coordination matters, members may call the respective number listed below based on first letter of the member’s last name. A Message from the Chief Executive Officer – COVID – 19 Update #2 cayman compass 3 MONDAY, 23 MARCH 2020Dr. John Lee: We need to preserve those stocks for critically ill RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee has issued a strong warning to local pharmacists to “act responsibly” when it comes to prescriptions relating to the drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine. The drugs, which are anti- malarials, are currently being tested internationally for effectiveness in the treatment of COVID-19. The medications have been showing preliminary positive results when used in combination with an antibiotic called azithromycin. These findings are being investigated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Last week, US President Donald Trump endorsed the use of the drugs as a treatment for coronavirus. However, Lee, speaking at Friday’s COVID-19 briefing, urged caution when it comes to dispensing the drugs locally as these immunosuppressants are used to treat patients with life-threatening conditions, like lupus (an auto- immune disease) and rheumatoid arthritis. “Obviously, those are a critical, absolutely critical bunch, and they must have access to their regular supplies. What we don’t want to see is for prescriptions popping up for people who don’t currently have a need for it, that we really don’t want to see,” Lee said. “But anybody who’s currently on that medication, and it’s ... often for quite complex reasons that they’re on some sort of immunosuppression, they should remain on it.” While research is pending on the efficacy of the anti-malarial drugs on COVID-19, the science on their impact on treating chronic auto- immune diseases has been widely established. These medications have been helpful in improving the longevity and quality of life for those struggling with debilitating conditions. In the case of lupus patients, the drugs prevent damage to vital organs. Lee said since the reports broke about the use of the anti-malarials, he has received a lot of texts related to the medications as initial drug trials have shown some promise. “In Cayman, whether they be pharmacists or doctors, please continue to act responsibly with regards to prescriptions for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine because we may need [them]. We may need to preserve those stocks for use for people who are seriously unwell. So, please, act responsibly,” he said. Lee said the Health Practice Commission is looking at the issue and has sent a similar correspondence to pharmacists. While he did not say if there was anything in place to prevent the unscrupulous distribution of the drug, Lee said that a system has been enacted to protect the supplies. “I can certainly say that, as far as the Health Services Authority is concerned, any new prescriptions for the drugs in question will need to go through the chief pharmacist,” he said. The Washington Post reported Saturday that the US has “all but exhausted its supplies” of the two anti-malarial drugs. Following Trump’s statement, Health Minister Dwayne Seymour said on Friday he spoke with the HSA and he was assured that Cayman has adequate supplies of the drug. “We have a considerable amount, and more is on the way. Also, more has been ordered because of what we’ve seen. So, we’re on it,” he said. The Post has said Novartis, the parent company of Sandoz, one of the manufacturers of the drugs, was prepared to donate 130 million doses of hydroxychloroquine worldwide by the end of May, “if its use is approved by governmental authorities”. FridAY'S SOLUTiONS 123456 78 910 1112 13 141516 17 181920 21 2223 24 123456 78 910 1112 13 141516 17 181920 21 2223 24 Puzzle 16331 ACROSS: 1 Guess, 4 Lasting, 8 Did, 9 Eagle-eyed, 10 Erratic, 11 Decry, 13 Shoddy, 15 Ardour, 18 Tenor, 19 Artisan, 21 Birdbrain, 23 Ego, 24 Oddment, 25 Otter. DOWN: 1 Godless, 2 Eiderdown, 3 Sweet, 4 Legacy, 5 Slender, 6 Ivy, 7 Giddy, 12 Crow’s-feet, 14 Durable, 16 Rancour, 17 Vacant, 18 Taboo, 20 Tango, 22 Red. ACrOSS 1 Clairvoyance (6,5) 9 American arboreal marsupial (7) 10 Slight trace (5) 11 Exposed (4) 12 Forebear (8) 14 Cease to be valid (6) 16 Fooled (6) 18 An equestrian (8) 19 Report of a gun (4) 22 Hours of darkness (5) 23 Strongly disapprove of (7) 24 Blissfully happy (2,5,4) dOWN 2 Inspire (5) 3 Drive out (4) 4 Insistent request (6) 5 Fearless (8) 6 Having resident ghost (7) 7 As a first consideration (3,3,5) 8 Long hard interrogation (5,6) 13 Eastern (8) 15 Model of excellence (7) 17 Horsedrawn carriage (6) 20 Beautify (5) 21 Favourable interpretation (4) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16333 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. JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s major supermarkets are imposing purchase limits on most items in their stores in an effort to prevent people from panic-buying. Foster’s, Priced Right, Kirk Market and Hurley’s Marketplace all agreed to put limits in place across all of their stores. The measures, announced in a joint statement Saturday, include a limit of two products containing the same UPC or barcode number per customer across the entire grocery, frozen food, and health and beauty care departments. Meat, seafood, dairy, deli and bakery departments are unaffected. That means, for example, one shopper cannot buy more than two packs of Quaker Instant Oatmeal original flavour, but will be allowed to purchase two more of another flavour of the oatmeal since their UPC is different, according to the statement. The retailers say the supply lines remain open and the aim of the limits is to stop people from panic buying and hoarding goods. “While this limit may seem like it could be cause for panic, it’s not,” the statement read. “Shipments are still coming in multiple times a week and the supermarkets are still sourcing product from any quality source we can. “We’ve come together to help ensure product is available for as many people as possible during this uncertain time.” The stores added in their statement, “Putting the product limits in place stops panic buying and should keep products on the shelf longer. In speaking with our suppliers, we will continue to get product and shipping lines continue to say that the ships will sail.” The four retailers say the measures have been driven by high customer demand for disinfectants and certain grocery items, which has put a strain on manufacturing and supply chains. They also urged people to examine their shopping and consumption habits and urged families to allocate a “designated shopper” to reduce the number of people going to the store. They recommend maintaining social distancing within their outlets and using cards rather than cash where possible. “While the uncertainty around COVID-19 remains, customers can rest assured that the supermarkets in Cayman are taking action to keep shelves stocked and stores clean for customers. We’re committed to providing the best service possible, and we ask that the community remain calm, think rationally and use proper hygiene practices throughout the day.” Stores impose limits to halt panic buying The retailers say the supply lines remain open and the aim of the limits is to stop people from panic buying and hoarding goods . Pharmacists warned against prescribing anti- malarial drugs cartoon Someday Vacation - By Caymanman 4PERSONAL BANKING | BUSINESS BANKING | FIDUCIARY SERVICES | FUND SERVICES | INVESTMENT SERVICES caymannational.com Interest Rate Decrease Customer Notice Cayman National Bank advises that its CI$ and US$ Prime Rates will decrease from 4.25% to 3.25% effective 24th March 2020. All products linked to CI$ and US$ Prime Rates will be adjusted on this date. We thank you for banking with us. caymannational.com COVID19 what we’re doing Dear Valued Customer As COVID 19 impacts our community, we’re committed to supporting your banking needs while taking the necessary precautions to minimise the spread of the virus and protecting you and our staff. We’re actively keeping our team updated on preventative practices and preparedness plans; following the handwashing and sanitising guidelines, and we’re cleaning and disinfecting our premises and ATMs continually throughout the day. In the spirit of Customer Care, we encourage you to make use of our electronic banking services as far as possible. You can easily make bill payments, bank transfers and Electronic Funds Transfers via online banking, free of charge, as well as making deposits and getting cash from one of our many ATMs throughout our Islands. Deposits can be made at any of our ATMs at; • Elgin Ave Lobby • Buckingham Square • Camana Bay CSC • Countryside CSC • Centennial CSC • Cayman Brac CSC Please carefully consider your banking needs and choose an option that best allows for the required social distancing to help control the spread of the virus. If you do have to visit a branch, we will be controlling the flow of clients into our offices to allow for social distancing we ask that you kindly stand three to six feet behind the person in the line ahead of you. We continue to monitor this situation closely and thank you for your support and community spirit. Please do not hesitate to contact us by phone at 9498300, by email at cnb@caymannational.com or you can send us a Facebook message. JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Residents who have returned to the Cayman Islands from overseas since Monday, 16 March, are required to self-isolate for 14 days following their arrival. The requirement reinforces the announcement to this effect by Premier Alden McLaughlin that same day that people returning are legally required to isolate themselves under the Public Health Law, officials said Friday. Failure to do so will be a criminal offence punishable by up to six months in prison. Thousands of residents, including hundreds of students, flooded into Cayman over the past week, prior to the Sunday night closure of its air border to travellers. Dr. John Lee, Cayman’s chief medical officer, made an unequivocal demand of those people during Friday’s press briefing – isolation is not optional. Lee read from the Public Health Law during the briefing, emphasising that it was a legal requirement to follow the guidelines. He said concerns over people not following the guidance to self-isolate for 14 days had caused health officials to harden it to a legal mandate. “I am making it a requirement that all returning people to this island be isolated for 14 days,” he said. “If you don’t comply with that, you are guilty of an offence.” Lee added, “There have been a lot of concerns and reports that people are not complying ... it is of utmost importance to protect the health of the people of the Cayman Islands. We felt it was necessary to require people to stay put.” Officials are concerned that returning travellers could cause a new introduction of COVID-19 to Cayman. Even for those who have not travelled or potentially been exposed to the virus, Dr. Lee said the best advice was to stay home and not gather with others. McLaughlin said that it was essential that anyone coming into Cayman followed the isolation protocols. “We require that anyone who is returning to these islands isolate for a period of 14 days,” the premier added. “If it is not self- isolation, then they must be isolated in one of the facilities that the government has made available.” Empty hotels are being used as isolation centres for returning students. A separate hotel is being used for essential employees who need to be isolated from their families to allow them to keep working. Expats stranded Responding to concerns about expat workers stranded in Cayman without income because their jobs had been impacted by mass closures, the premier said the government would do what it could for them. “We can’t and won’t let people who are here be without a roof over their head or without food,” he said. He acknowledged this is a “worldwide crisis” and many countries’ borders were closed. He said the Needs Assessment Unit would take calls from people without the means to live, regardless of where they come from, and urged them to call the hotline on 946-0024. He added that, where possible, employers should step up. McLaughlin praised local banks for putting mortgages on pause for three months and urged landlords to be charitable to tenants struggling with rent. He said that with thousands of people leaving the island in the past weeks because of the collapse of tourism, apartments would be empty and market forces would drive rents down. Health City tests complete Cayman’s first coronavirus case – a 68-year-old Italian man who was transferred to Health City Cayman Islands from a cruise ship after suffering a heart attack – died from complications associated with the virus on Saturday, 14 March. A total of 41 people associated with the East End hospital who came into contact with the victim were isolated and tested for the virus. Two medical staff tested positive. Their symptoms were said to be mild. In a statement Friday, Health City confirmed that no further staff members currently in quarantine have tested positive for COVID-19. “All of the 41 samples submitted for testing from Health City have now been tested, with a total of two medical staff members testing positive for the virus,” the hospital said in a statement. “All Health City staff members, their families and any other individuals who were considered to be in direct risk of infection were tested. The direct contacts of the two individuals (who do not have any children) who have tested positive have also been in quarantine.” Health Minister Dwayne Seymour expressed confidence that the hospital could reopen within the next week. Additional reporting by Reshma Ragoonath and Kevin Morales. Isolation a legal requirement “I am making it a requirement that all returning people to this island be isolated for 14 days, If you don’t comply with that, you are guilty of an offence.” Dr. John Lee , Cayman Islands chief medical officer cayman compass 5 news N news MONDAY, 23 MARCH 2020ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Four men accused of money laundering more than $6 million worth of gold were acquitted by a Grand Court jury on Friday. The jury returned unanimous not guilty verdicts for Daniel Alberto Aguilar Ferriozi, Antonio Di Ventura Herrera, Juan Carlos Gonzales Infante and Kody Zander. The men were arrested after Cayman’s Customs and Border Control flagged what they deemed to be suspicious activity during two trips to Cayman. The men faced two counts of money laundering, and one count of concealing criminal property. The first charge of money laundering alleged that between 27 May and 31 May 2019, the defendants played varying roles in laundering 140 pieces of gold in various shapes and sizes. The gold had a combined weight of 240 pounds and was worth approximately $4 million. The second charge claimed that the men laundered $2.4 million worth of gold into Cayman. The prosecution itself acknowledged the case was based on “circumstantial evidence”. Lead prosecutor James Hines, QC, told the jury that prosecutors could not prove where the gold came from, but that was “dirty”. “This gold was derived directly or indirectly from crime,” said Hines. “The gold itself might be criminal property, in that it might have been stolen, or gained from an illegal mine, or it might be payment for a crime.” The defendants denied the charges. Aguilar Ferriozi claimed that he was transporting the gold and that money for the gold originated from business ventures in his home country of Venezuela. Ventura Herrera said that while he knew about the gold, his knowledge was very limited, and he had hitched a ride on the private jet to visit his girlfriend who lived in Miami. Gonzales Infante, the pilot of the plane, denied any knowledge of the gold and said he was simply contracted to fly the aircraft. Caymanian Kody Zander said he understood the gold to be from a credible source, and that all the requisite paperwork was filled out. Zander said he served as a facilitator between Aguilar Ferrriozi and foreign buyers. At the start of the trial, five men were listed on the indictment. By the end of the prosecution’s submissions, Pedro Jose Benavidez Natera’s attorney successfully made a no-case-to-answer submission, and his name was removed from the indictment. The trial, which spanned nearly three months, was plagued with delays. The initial start date was set for 25 Nov. 2019, but legal arguments surrounding what could and could not be admitted as evidence delayed the proceedings. Eventually, the trial was moved to 2 Dec., but hours before it started, the first set of jurors had to be discharged after the numbers were reduced to 11 members. The nature of the charges was so serious that the case required a jury of no fewer than 12 for it to proceed. On Thursday morning, while Justice Cheryll Richards approached the end of her summing up, one of the jurors presented a sick note requiring that they be removed, which almost derailed the trial. In the end, the jury was allowed to deliberate. After three and half hours of deliberation, which took place over two days, they returned unanimous not guilty verdicts against all the defendants on all the charges. Men cleared in gold smuggling case The trial, which spanned nearly three months, was plagued with delays . RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The police file on the alleged assault involving House Speaker McKeeva Bush has been handed over to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a legal ruling, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said. In a brief statement to the Cayman Compass over the weekend, the RCIPS confirmed that police have concluded their investigation into the 21 Feb. incident. “We are awaiting a decision and direction at this time,” the police statement said. It is unclear how long this process will take. The Compass has reached out to the DPP for comment. No response was received by press time Sunday. Bush, who has taken a leave of absence from his duties as Speaker of the House, was allegedly involved in an assault on the female manager at the Coral Beach bar on West Bay Road, on the night of 21 Feb. Police, who have not named Bush in relation to the case, but merely referred to “a public figure in the Cayman Islands”, have declined to say much about the investigation. They have appealed for witnesses to come forward, but it is not known if that call was successful. In the days following the alleged assault, Bush issued a statement saying he had been at Coral Beach to collect food to take home and he was told that while there he had passed out and fell. He said he was told that when he was being helped to his feet, he “reacted badly to the very persons who were surrounding me and assisting me”. The Speaker said in the statement he had been struggling with grief since losing his daughter in 2011; the anniversary of her death was at the end of January. He also committed to stop consuming alcohol and get help. Bush took his leave of absence following a meeting with Premier Alden McLaughlin in London last month. Coral Beach assault file sent to prosecution office Speaker of the House McKeeva Bush cayman compass 6 news N news MONDAY, 23 MARCH 2020Customer Announcement Re: Interest Rate Adjustments Scotiabank & Trust (Cayman) Ltd. wishes to advise that due to the announcement by the Federal Reserve to decrease the federal funds rate by 1.00%, on March 15, 2020, the following changes will occur: • USD Prime Rate decrease from 4.25% to 3.25%, effective March 20, 2020 • KYD Prime Rate decrease from 4.25% to 3.25%, effective March 20, 2020 All products linked to USD and KYD Prime Rates will be adjusted on the effective dates indicated. The Chamber Pension Plan is pleased to provide their performance for the calendar year 2019. Excellent investment returns, as well as continued reduction in operating expenses of the Plan, allows for further growth in each member’s overall pension account. Thereby providing more funds for retirement. View full plan updates at www.chamberpension.ky Follow Chamber Pension Plan on Strathvale House | 2nd Floor 90 North Church Street | P.O. Box 609 Grand Cayman KY1-1107 | Cayman Islands T: 345-745-7630 E: admin@pensions.ky W: WWW.CHAMBERPENSION.KY EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE WITH CHAMBER PENSION PLAN Fund 1 Year Return Asset Allocation Performance for the year ended 31 December 2019 2050 Fund 2060 Fund 2040 Fund 2030 Fund Income Growth Fund Income Conservative Fund 25.58% 23.62% 22.94% 18.90% 14.11% 11.72% 90.7% Equities / 9.3% Fixed Income 94.6% Equities / 5.4% Fixed Income 78.3% Equities / 21.7% Fixed Income 58.4% Equities / 41.6% Fixed Income 35% Equities / 65% Fixed Income 25% Equities / 75% Fixed Income 949-5111 | sales@compassmedia.ky | classifieds@compassmedia.ky Please by advised there will be NO NEWSPAPER on Good Friday, 10 April and Easter Monday, 13 April AD BOOKING DEADLINE EDITION DEADLINE Thursday, 9 April Monday, 6 April Friday, 10 April HOLIDAY NO PUBLICATION Monday, 13 April HOLIDAY NO PUBLICATION Tuesday, 14 April Tuesday, 7 April Wednesday, 15 April Wednesday, 8 April Thursday, 16 April Thursday, 9 April Friday, 17 April Tuesday, 14 April Booking Deadline: 10am | Artwork Deadline: 3pm CELEBRATE 10- 13, APRIL CICS understands the importance of bringing awareness to all gynecologic cancers—cervical, ovarian, uterine/ endometrial, vaginal and vulvar cancer—and declared March as our Female Cancers Awareness Month! Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the ad sponsored by: C A N C E R S O C I E T Y C A Y M A N IS L A N D S 25 ANNIVERSARY th Go to www.cics.ky for ideas on what you can do. For more information call the CI Cancer Society: 949 7618 cayman compass 7 MONDAY, 23 MARCH 2020KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Carnival’s Costa Luminosa, operated by Costa Crociere, has left a trail of alarm and, in several Caribbean and European countries, patients sick with coronavirus. So far, the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico have been connected to the ship. Now, the Costa Luminosa is causing alarm in Europe, where the ship has evacuated passengers, many of them confirmed ill, in the Canary Islands, France and Italy. Here is a timeline of Costa Luminosa’s impact in recent weeks. 24 Feb. – Fort Lauderdale, Florida The Costa Luminosa departed with passengers from Fort Lauderdale. 27 Feb. – Amber Cove, Dominican Republic The Costa Luminosa was listed on the Amber Cove port schedule as planned on 27 Feb. and appeared to land without problems or note by the press. The next day, the Dominican Republic rejected another cruise ship, the Braemar, for fear of coronavirus. The Braemar has since confirmed cases of coronavirus aboard the ship and passengers later evacuated in Cuba. 28 Feb. – Ocho Rios, Jamaica The Costa Luminosa encountered trouble in Jamaica, where Italian passengers were barred from disembarking the ship in Ocho Rios. Jamaica’s Health Minister Christopher Tufton said the decision fell in line with travel restrictions at the time, barring entrance of those with recent travel history to China, Italy, South Korea, Singapore or Iran. Tufton said that health checks on the ship indicated four people on board were showing flu-like symptoms. “We therefore requested additional information about those four persons, and based on their travel history or where they were in the last 14 days, the health authority took the decision that they would not represent any risk around the coronavirus,” the health minister said in the Jamaica Gleaner. In response to Jamaica’s decision to bar the Italian passengers, Carnival threatened to withdraw Jamaica and the Cayman Islands from itineraries and assured that no one aboard its ships had coronavirus. “Our CEO Arnold Donald had met with leaders from the Caribbean on Sunday to let them know we needed more certainty, and based on the absence of certainty, we implemented our decision,” a statement from Carnival read. This announcement came after both islands had already denied landing of the MSC Meraviglia over coronavirus concerns. 29 Feb. – George Town, Grand Cayman All 2,100 passengers from the Costa Luminosa were allowed to disembark in Spotts, Grand Cayman, on 29 Feb. Public health officials in Cayman said they were not aware of any medical issues with the ship. Port officials said they had no reason to withhold entry to any passengers on board. “There is no need for any public fear, alarm or panic,” said Joey Woods of the Cayman Islands Port Authority at the time. “There is good collaboration and cooperation between the cruise lines, ourselves, Customs and Border Control and Public Health.” It would later be revealed that a 68-year-old Italian man was transported to Health City from the ship that day with cardiac problems. That man would become Cayman’s first confirmed coronavirus case. 2 March – Roatan, Honduras Costa Luminosa caused a stir when it docked in Roatan, according to local press. “The ship’s arrival has generated diverse commentary among the island population who are fearful, since [its home port] Genoa is a port city and capital of the Liguria region, where there have been recorded cases of coronavirus,” La Tribuna of Honduras wrote on 2 March. The local health authority in Roatan reassured that the ship had not been to Italy in three months and that there was no virus on board. “The declaration of health previously supplied by the cruise line has been reviewed. It indicates that neither the crew nor the passengers present respiratory cases or suspicion of coronavirus,” the health authority wrote. “During the last two weeks, according to the destination itinerary, there have been no arrivals in places with recorded cases of coronavirus.” 3 March – Cozumel, Mexico While Cozumel appeared on the Costa Luminosa itinerary, it does not appear on the Puerta Maya port schedule for any day in March. The ship was not mentioned in local press. The Cayman Islands Ministry of Tourism denied that Carnival would stop bringing ships to Cayman. “In fact, the Ministry continues to Ship connected to COVID-19 cases in Cayman, Puerto Rico Costa Luminosa leaves sick passengers in Spain, France and Italy cayman compass 8 I issues MONDAY, 23 MARCH 2020“He underwent cardiac treatment, and began his recovery with no COVID-19 symptoms. “Over 30 medical professionals and staff members who would have come into contact with the patient during this time are being quarantined and tested for the virus. … “After six days of his primary treatment, he developed a dry cough. Although he had no other COVID-19 symptoms – such as other flu-like complaints or a fever - based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, a sample was taken and sent to the Caribbean Public Health Agency for testing.” In addition to other measures, the Cayman Islands government announced it would ban cruise ships for 60 days, starting 16 March. Costa Crociere, the operator of Costa Luminosa, announced it would be suspending its cruises until 3 April. Meanwhile, the man and woman who disembarked the Costa Luminosa in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 8 March both tested positive for coronavirus. They became Puerto Rico’s first confirmed cases, alongside a local man. 14 March The coronavirus patient at Health City died at 4:40am as the result of complications of the virus. 15 March - Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands The Costa Luminosa unloaded sick passengers in the Spanish Canary Islands at the Santa Cruz de Tenerife port. “The Costa Luminosa cruise ship left three affected people on island yesterday and three of their companions in relation to the coronavirus,” reported Tenerife’s El Día newspaper on 16 March. Two people were subject to an emergency evacuation the news organisation indicated. Individuals were transported to two different clinics. No other passengers or crew were allowed to disembark the ship. The ship also bypassed a planned stop in Malaga, Spain. 18 March – Marseille, France A Marseilles port spokesman told the New York Times that the ship had been authorised to dock in the port city but no one on board would be allowed to disembark due to health concerns. The Miami Herald reported that dozens on the ship were now sick with an unconfirmed illness. “At least 24 crew members on board the ship are classified as sick and are isolated, according to ship logs obtained by the Miami Herald, and at least 50 passengers are classified as sick, or are roommates of passengers who are classified as sick,” the newspaper wrote. 19 March French media reported that 640 passengers, including French, Americans and Canadians, were released from the ship in Marseille. Seventy-five passengers were tested for the virus. Thirty-six of those tested positive and one 70-year-old passenger from Switzerland was hospitalised. Many released passengers boarded planes in attempts to return home. In Atlanta, AJC news reported that a plane carrying Costa Luminosa passengers had landed, carrying three individuals who had already tested positive and 13 sick individuals who had not yet been tested. 21 March – Savona, Italy, and Puerto Rico The Costa Luminosa arrived in Italy, one of the nations hardest hit by coronavirus, with 84 passengers in isolation, the Italian press reported. The ship, which docked in Savona, was greeted by ambulances waiting at the dock and passengers began to be unloaded, with Italians taking priority. Local press indicated that 718 passengers and 868 crew members who remained on board were expected to disembark. The Puerto Rico department of health announced that one of the ship’s passengers who tested positive for coronavirus, an elderly woman, has died. work collaboratively with cruise line partners and are adhering to established medical protocols with respect to the docking of cruise ships and landing of cruise ship passengers,” a ministry statement read. 5 March – Fort Lauderdale, Florida Costa Luminosa picked up new passengers in Fort Lauderdale. 8 March – San Juan, Puerto Rico The Costa Luminosa immediately caused a splash in Puerto Rico. A 68-year-old Italian tourist was removed from the ship with symptoms that appeared to resemble COVID-19. Her 70-year- old husband accompanied her. They would later became Puerto Rico’s first confirmed cases. Other passengers from the ship were allowed to disembark as normal, according to El Nuevo Día of Puerto Rico. 9 March – St. John’s, Antigua The ship was denied entry when it continued on to Antigua over coronavirus fears. “The Ministry [of Health] issued a press release alluding to ‘incompleteness and inconsistency’ in the vessel’s maritime health declaration,” the Antigua Obserser wrote. A Ministry of Health statement read, “The Ministry has noted that the declaration did not include timely notification of a passenger who had been on board with symptoms of an infectious disease.” The patient who was offloaded in Cayman on 29 Feb. is tested for coronavirus on this day, 10 days later. 12 March The Cayman Islands Public Health Department confirmed that one person on island had tested positive for coronavirus. “The patient is a visitor who was transferred from a cruise ship for a critical cardiac issue,” said Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez. “The patient was doing well but subsequently developed breathing difficulties, was isolated and a test taken has confirmed is suffering with the novel coronavirus.” It was still unknown at this time that the passenger was from the Costa Luminosa. A Facebook post from Hazard Management Cayman Islands that day said, “Government confirms a single imported case of Coronavirus from a cruise passenger that was medivacked off a cruise ship that did not offload visiting tourists in the Cayman Islands.” The ship did, however, offload tourists on its arrival on 29 Feb. 13 March Health officials confirmed to the Cayman Compass that the passenger had arrived on the Costa Luminosa. Health City Cayman Islands released more information about the positive case: Churchill’s Funeral Home We have been asked to announce the passing of Mr. Michael A. McField AKA “Mikey”, who passed away on Wednesday, March 04, 2020. A Thanksgiving Service will be held at Lions Center, Olympic Way, George Town, Grand Cayman On Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. Viewing: 11:00 a.m. –12:00 p.m. Interment at: Prospect Cemetery Condolences can be registered at churchillsfuneralhome.com Staff on board the Costa Luminosa cruise ship cover their mouths with napkins as they deliver drinks on board earlier this month, in a photograph taken by a passenger. 9Next >