$ 4 99 Drive through open 10am - 7pm on Eastern Avenue, or order delivery with the Let’s Eat app. cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 22-28 May 2020 New legislation named after missing Anna Evans Page 5 Olive Miller passes away at age 98 Page 8 Marine patrols watching the waters Pages 12 and 13 Back to the sea Cayman residents hit the water as fishing, swimming and boating resume . Page 7 Photo: John McDowSome normalcy returns, but COVID-19 cases persist Back to the beach Cayman Islands residents rejoiced responsibly as measures banning boating, fishing, swimming and beach walks were lifted this week. More than 150 anglers took to the ocean on Tuesday, the first day the restrictions were lifted. Others fished from shore, snorkelled and swam or ran on the beach. Social-distancing rules still apply and beach access is restricted to alternate days based on the alphabet system. Most people seemed to be abiding by the regulations and there were no reports of significant problems on the water or on the beaches. Coronavirus cases reported at prison Two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed from screening tests taking place at HMP Northward. The two impacted prisoners are being kept in isolation and the prison is closed to visitors. A prison- wide screening programme has been ongoing since last month and that will continue with some staff and inmates being retested. Inmates are being confined to their cells in the short term. Prison Director Steven Barrett issued a statement Thursday denying social media reports of unrest at the prison. Curfew breakers in court The Summary Court expanded into Constitution Hall this week as the first batch of hard-curfew cases went before Magistrate Valdis Foldats. While several $500 fines were handed down, Foldats sought to implement community service as an alternative punishment for individuals already facing financial difficulties. Social-distancing measures were in place at the makeshift courthouse. Five defendants were allowed into the hall at a time and all were required to wear a face mask and to sanitise their hands before entering. Chairs were cleaned by court staff in between hearings. Returning work-permit holders must fund isolation costs Work-permit holders marooned overseas since the closure of Cayman’s borders can now return on emergency flights along with their spouses and dependents. They will be required to spend two weeks at an isolation facility at their own cost. Officials said the cost was about $1,600. Before this announcement, only Caymanians and permanent residents could fly into Cayman while the borders remained closed, and they were housed for free at government isolation facilities – a practice which will continue. Mandatory mask policy comes into force It is now mandatory to wear a mask when indoors at a public place or in shops or businesses where it is difficult to enforce the six-feet social-distancing measure. Premier Alden McLaughlin said proprietors can deny entry to anyone who refuses to wear a mask on their premises. Antibody testing could be in the works Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee announced that Cayman would soon be introducing antibody testing, which will show if a person has previously had the coronavirus. He said such tests would help indicate how prevalent COVID-19 has been in the Cayman Islands. The testing taking place right now only shows if a patient currently has the virus. Multiple new cases surface There was some alarm on Tuesday when public health officials announced 17 new cases, including two on Cayman Brac. But those cases were out of a large batch of 1,182 tests carried out over the holiday weekend. A further 494 results were announced Wednesday with no further positives. Cayman tops charts for testing More than 10% of the Cayman Islands population has now been tested with hundreds of samples being processed each day. “The volume of tests now being undertaken is impressive,” tweeted Governor Martyn Roper on Wednesday. “We are in the top 10 in the world for No. of tests per head of population.” 640-FILM (640-3456) Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 Camana Bay Cinema is currently closed. Stay home and stay safe Cayman. Follow us on social media for Movie Trivia Tuesdays. 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 to cloudy skies with a 30% chance of showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 89°F 77°F HIGH LOW WINDS Easterly at 10 to 15 knots. SEA STATE Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass COVID-19 weekly round-up Two inmates at Northward Prison tested positive for COVID-19 this week. Page 1 photo: Five-year-old Ian McDow reels in a tarpon on Tuesday. “It is the happiest I have seen him in months,” said his dad, John McDow, who snapped the image. cayman compass 2 news N news FRIDAY, 22 MAY 2020The Environmental Management System at the North Sound Road Power Plant is registered to ISO 14001 ilm Leadership CUC recognised the achievements of 38 employees who successfully completed the Level 2, 3 and 5 Certificate in Leadership Management from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) in early March. The graduates included managers, supervisors, foremen and members of the Company’s Top Talent group. The Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) programme, which is offered by Management Solutions Ltd., is focussed on key leadership principles, which include Understanding Effective Teamwork, Workplace Communication, Leading and Motivating a Team Effectively and Managing Projects. Mr. Eric Jenkinson, Principal of Management Solutions Ltd., and his team of instructors have coordinated CUC’s ILM programme since November 2015. The ILM Level 2 Certificate in Leadership and Management is designed for new and aspiring team leaders as they are introduced to the role and its responsibilities giving them the skills and knowledge needed to tackle this role with confidence. The ILM Level 3 Certificate is a comprehensive course designed to give practicing or aspiring first line supervisors and managers a solid foundation in their formal development as a manager. The ILM Level 5 Certificate is designed for practising middle managers, helping them to develop their skills and experience, improve performance and prepare for senior management responsibilities. Addressing the group, CUC’s President and CEO, Mr. Richard Hew, Vice President Operations Mr. David Watler and Vice President Finance, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer Ms. Letitia Lawrence congratulated the 38 employees and encouraged them to use the learning they attained during the course to improve their effectiveness as leaders of their teams and to bring alignment with the strategic objectives of the Company. “Since beginning this leadership development training, 90 graduates have received the benefit of enhancing their leadership and team- working skills. On a daily basis we witness the enhanced learning and development skills of those who have completed the ILM training,” said CUC’s Learning and Development Specialist, Mrs. Erin Kaufman. Level 2 ILM Level 2 recipients with Vice President Operations David Watler (left), President & CEO Richard Hew (fifth right) and Vice President Finance, Corporate Services & Chief Financial Officer Letitia Lawrence (second right) include (from left) Aaron Frederick, Michael Powell, Geraude Holness, Gary Ebanks, Smarnell Thomas and Dania Strachan. Missing from photo is Jennifer Elliott, Sharon Bodden, Reynaldo Limonta-Belicer and Carlos Archibold. ILM Level 3 recipients with Executive Team members David Watler, Richard Hew and Letitia Lawrence (standing from left) include (standing fourth from left) Aaron Perera, Neil Murray, Heric Moxam, Philip Parchment and Shirley Terry. (Seated from left) Albert McLean, Alvin Calub, Raymond Stewart, Stephen Baker and Botshelo Webster. Missing from photo is Marlon Smith, Roger Wood, Troy Powery, Anthony Verhoeven and Michael Owens. ILM Level 5 recipients with Executive Team members Letitia Lawrence (seated left) and Richard Hew (seated second left) include (standing from left) Chad Powell, Richard Solomon, Corey Miller, Joshua Ebanks, Jimmy Whorms-Bodden and Jason Burke. (Seated second from right) Felicia Deslandes and Mechon Evangelista-Ebanks. Missing from photo is Joy Oremule, Dana Smith and Randy Mellaneo. Level 3 Level 5 cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 22 MAY 2020EDITORIAL: Rebuilding our tourism industry A lot of people might hate these ships coming in but it’s a big part of my life. I’m 24 and I grew up taking people on my boats to see, play, feed, take pictures of the wonderful stingrays. Without these ships me and my company won’t be here. Can’t wait to see them return again at a safe state but I wouldn’t be surprise if the ships don’t return until the end of 2021. I guess, in a weird extreme way, this is what happens if ships don’t stop by. If Cayman reopens again and start to rebuild its tourism industry, I would say let’s focus on our infrastructure and then maybe a port anywhere but in town. I miss talking and meeting new customers daily and showing them my island and its stingrays. – Robert Smith A good source of tourism income would be vulnerable people who wish to stay here for months at a time because it’s safe from coronavirus. They would have to be tested before getting on the plane to get here. – Norman Linton Why doesn’t the Cayman Compass create a portal or a site where people can just list in very short words, ideas to rejuvenate the economy? It should also have a name and phone, and then someone can shortlist the best ones worth investigating. At that point, call upon the person to explain in more detail what he or she has in mind. Let the authorities listen to this as well and, you never know, you could find various [ways] via media to come out of this economic deadlock. – Gurvinder Singh Have faith, Cayman Islands. As a Canadian, I can say we will come back as soon as we are able to. – Bill Rafoss This will not be a popular post. That being said, I hope Grand Cayman NEVER allows the number of cruise lines they allowed in daily. The first time I experienced Grand Cayman was on a cruise in the early ‘90s. I was amazed and felt honoured to be there because we were only allowed a few hours in port and, from what I remember, they were very selective of who they let in their port. We need to get back to that! – Valerie Nuyen We are yearly visitors to Cayman. We fly and stay. Can do without the annoyance of TOO MANY ships... small island, so please cut back. – Claire Magne-Klassen We have been coming to Grand Cayman since 1987, almost annually. We will be there as soon as you reopen! – Arnie Knudsen Collins You are talking up the right tree, we totally agree. We’ve been coming since 1984! We’ve stayed at most resorts on Seven Mile Beach and you don’t need the cruise ship clientele! – Josephine Smith My bags are still packed. Flight was cancelled due to COVID and airport shutdown. – Catharina Tocchio-VanVelzen We have been timesharing in Grand Cayman since 1993 – we have seen many changes over the years. The cruise ships bring in many people who flood the town as well as popular destinations like Stingray City. We visit the rays every few years and the amount of visitors grows exponentially each time. It’s hard to fathom that this goes on day after day. I believe the ships negatively impact the island. However, I also feel the island caters to the ships. The shops and some restaurants close up when the ships pull out. Special offers and discounts apply to cruise passengers only. Perhaps when you rethink your strategy, you can consider catering more to your returning stayover visitors. Perhaps some nightlife activities. – Linda Di Gregorio-Kuebler I wish they wouldn’t reopen the borders to those petri dish of mega ships and only bring in stayover tourists. – Josee L. Anderson To our one-of-a-kind extended family, the Cayman people, we enjoy visiting so much. It is a shame we are restricted from visiting you all; we have been coming for 12- plus years, but it looks like we will have to find someplace else and, dependent on future restrictions, we may end up divesting entirely and sell our stake in our condo, which will probably be at a loss. We are patiently waiting for a favourable outcome for all of us. Humbly thankful you have shared your home with us over the years. – Rick Mooney And yet ... Celebrity Cruises is STILL accepting bookings to visit Cayman this summer! – Rachel Osborne Rebooked my flights three times now, missing those beautiful beaches and amazing sea life. Can’t wait to be back in September. – Aaron James West 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Concealment of wrongdoing (5-2) 5 To assent (5) 8 Done spontaneously (9) 9 To capture (3) 10 Fine sheer linen (4) 12 Anxious uncertainty (8) 14 Rational motive (6) 15 Discharge (6) 17 Peevishly impatient (8) 18 The chances (4) 21 Historical period (3) 22 Small large-bore pistol (9) 24 Insincere (5) 25 Set out in detail (7) DOWN 1 Fast swimming stroke (5) 2 Examine critically (3) 3 Boisterous frolic (4) 4 Disconcert (3,3) 5 U.S. gangster (2,6) 6 English medieval outlaw (5,4) 7 A highbrow (7) 11 US lawman . . . (5,4) 13 . . . and his friend, Doc (8) 14 Completely full (7) 16 False (6) 19 Ragged strip (5) 20 A speech defect (4) 23 Wildebeest (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16385 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. TODAY'S SOLUTIONS Puzzle 16385 ACROSS: 1 Cover-up, 5 Agree, 8 Automatic, 9 Bag, 10 Lawn, 12 Suspense, 14 Reason, 15 Unload, 17 Petulant, 18 Odds, 21 Era, 22 Derringer, 24 Empty, 25 Expound. DOWN: 1 Crawl, 2 Vet, 3 Romp, 4 Put out, 5 Al Capone, 6 Robin Hood, 7 Egghead, 11 Wyatt Earp, 13 Holliday, 14 Replete, 16 Untrue, 19 Shred, 20 Lisp, 23 Gnu. Readers give their feedback on last week's editorial on the future of tourism in the Cayman Islands. cartoon The Beach - By Caymanman Letters What they’re saying 4MOTOR INSURANCE Eligible policyholders with new or renewed policies will benefit from ecial consideration with their premiums*. PREMIUM INSTALLMENTS Intere on Home and Motor premium inallments will be waived for a period of six months for qualified policyholders. This oer is available between April and July 2020 for new and renewed policies*. Massy United Insurance has implemented the following measures in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, to assi our cuomers and enable them to keep their insurance proteion in place. EMERGENCY SERVICES WORKERS Motor excess due to accidents will be reduced by 50% for emergency services workers until July 2020*. * ecial conditions apply For more information please give us a call today or conta us via our website or Facebook page. RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Missing mom Anna Evans has been etched into the law books of the Cayman Islands as legislators agreed Wednesday night to rename the Presumption of Death Law in her memory. Evans, a Department of Environmental Health worker, went missing on 27 Jan. 2011 while on duty at the George Town landfill. In January this year, nine years after her disappearance, she was declared legally deceased, which enabled her five children and sister Noreen Dixon to begin the process of administering her estate. The proposal to have her name added to the title of the new legislation was made through an amendment piloted by George Town Central MLA Kenneth Bryan. The law, originally titled the Presumption of Death Law, was laid in the Legislative Assembly by Attorney General Samuel Bulgin on Wednesday. Bulgin said the law provides for ‘civil status’ of missing persons which leads to the presumption of death. Prior to this law being established, relatives would have had to petition the court for an order to have missing family members declared dead in order to access their estate. Bulgin said the legislation provides for the granting of a presumption-of-death order; the conditions under which families can be granted the order: and sets out who can apply for such orders. Bryan said the legislation was long overdue. He said it not only provides the legality for presumptions of death of missing people, but it also can give their families “human closure”. “I am happy, not because people go missing, but at least this piece of legislation will help [families] put some closure or finality to their loss,” he added. He said in Evans’ case, her children could not access their missing mother’s life insurance to help pay for their care, because there was no proper legislation under which she could be presumed dead. The family, he said, can take this piece of legislation as a symbol of her life and know that “she is cemented, though in a very untraditional way, into the books of Cayman’s history”. Bryan also pointed out that the law will be helpful in relation to those lost at sea, such as Gary Mullings, Edsell Haylock, Nicholas Watler, Kamron Brown, 11, and his brother Kanyi Brown, 9, who went missing at sea in March 2016. “I pray that no other Caymanian or human being ever has to use this law,” Bryan said. Premier Alden McLaughlin supported Bryan’s amendment for the legislation’s title to include Evans’ name “as a mark of respect of her and for her family and the many families that have found themselves over the years in the same position”. McLaughlin said he was close to the Evans’ family and recounted Anna Evans’ disappearance and the search of the landfill for her. “I was actually part of the huge search party up on the landfill that fateful day and night," the premier said. " I remember it well... very, very painful, not just on that occasion, but for many, many years. "The family has deeply mourned the loss of Anna and the inability to understand what really happened to her and, of course, the inability to have her presumed dead for the other purposes." He said the law will fill “a significant gap” in Cayman’s legislative framework. The law was passed Wednesday night. Law named after missing DEH worker Anna Evans Anna Evans 5The government has eased shelter-in-place and hard-curfew restrictions, with newly amended regulations coming into effect Tuesday, 19 May, and these will remain in force until 2 June, at which point they will be reviewed. Here’s a quick reference guide to what the regulations say in regard to the new rules on the wearing of masks, access to the beach and water activities, exercise, and where you can drive to and when. MASKS When and where am I required to wear a mask? As of Tuesday, 19 May, everyone at an indoor public place, where social distancing of six feet or more cannot be maintained, is required to cover their mouth and nose with a mask or cloth face covering. I have asthma. Do I have to wear a mask? Under the revised regulations, people with certain medical conditions are exempted from wearing masks, and they do not have to provide documentation proving they have that condition. Health officials are expected to release guidelines on what medical conditions are included in this exemption this week. What if I just don’t want to wear a mask? Masks can help you avoid getting COVID-19 and can also prevent you spreading it if you have the virus and don’t know it yet, so it’s not just about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting others as well. But if you’re determined not to wear one, bear in mind that the revised regulations state that the owner or operator of a public place can refuse to allow anyone inside their premises if that person isn’t wearing a mask. Do I have to put a mask on my baby? No. The requirement to wear a mask does not apply to children under the age of 2. Do I have to wear a mask at work? If you’re just at your desk in an office, “sitting or eating, without talking”, you are not required to wear a mask, the regulations state. However, if your work involves interacting with the public, when a distance of six feet cannot be enforced or maintained, you must wear a mask. I take the bus to work. Do I need to wear a mask? Yes, you have to wear a mask on a public bus, as does the bus driver. If you’re standing inside a semi-enclosed bus stop with other people, you are also required to wear a mask. Passengers and drivers of taxis must also wear masks. BEACH ACCESS AND WATER ACTIVITIES Can I go to the beach? Yes. The beaches are now open every day, from 5:15am to 7pm, except on Sundays. But you can only go there for the purpose of exercise. You can’t sunbathe, build sandcastles, or hold parties, picnics or barbecues on the beach. You are allowed to run, walk, swim, snorkel, paddleboard or kayak. There is a caveat, though – you can only go to the beach or into the sea on your ‘letter day’. So, if your surname begins with a letter from A-K, you can go on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and if it begins L-Z, you can go on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. If you have a double-barrelled surname, the first name of the surname applies. No one gets to go to the beach on a Sunday, regardless of your surname. Can I drive to the beach? Yes, you can drive to the beach or the sea; however, the ‘letter day’ rules apply. You can also drive to other places you want to exercise on any day of the week, so long as it’s not the beach. Can I fish? You are allowed to fish from shore, including from ironshore, and from a boat every day except Sunday. You may fish from the shore on your own, with other people you live with, or with one other person who is not from your household if social distancing is maintained. When fishing from a boat, a maximum of two people are allowed to be on board the same vessel together, and children count in the two-person limit. No other boating activities are allowed. Fishing is allowed between the hours of 5:15am and 7pm. You can fish from a public beach any day of the week, apart from Sunday, but only for two hours a day. Can I go visit the stingrays? No. The Stingray Sandbar is out of bounds. You are also not allowed to travel by boat to Starfish Point and Rum Point or hang out on the beach in those areas, even for the purpose of swimming or other exercise. Can I take my boat to Cayman Brac? Travel by boat between Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands is still prohibited. Can I take my boat and go meet my friend on his boat and hang out together? No, all congregations and gatherings remain banned, including on boats. The only activity involving boats which is allowed is fishing. Can I go diving? No, scuba diving is still prohibited. Can I ride my Jet Ski? No, you are not allowed to operate Jet Skis or WaveRunners in the water. What if I break these rules? Then you’re liable, upon conviction, to a fine of $1,000 and imprisonment for six months. EXERCISE How long can I exercise for each day? Under the new rules, exercise time has been extended by half an hour, so you can exercise for up to two hours a day now, between the hours of 5:15am and 7pm. What kind of exercise is allowed? You can exercise outside – walking, running, jogging, skipping, etc. – on any day of the week, but can only go to the beach to do those activities on your letter day. If you want to go swimming in the sea, you can also only go on your letter day. You can also drive to the beach or the sea for exercise on your letter day, and can drive to do exercise anywhere else on any day. Public and strata gyms remain closed. Can I swim in my strata pool? Starting Tuesday, stratas have been allowed to reopen their pools but the number of people allowed to use them at any one time is restricted by social-distancing requirements. According to the regulations, you can only be in the pool together with other people who reside within the same household; or with one other person who is not in your household. Can I play tennis? Private and strata tennis courts also reopened from Tuesday. You can play tennis with one other person, who does not have to be in the same household as you. PUBLIC TRANSPORT Are the buses back? Yes, Cayman’s public buses are back on the roads from this week. Some new restrictions apply, though. Each bus can only carry half its passenger capacity so that social distancing can observed. Everyone on the bus – driver included – will be required to wear a mask. What about taxis? Taxis have been allowed to operate over the past few weeks, but again, only if they could ensure that passengers were sitting six feet apart. From this week, anyone travelling in a taxi will also be required to wear a mask. CaymanCompass.com (6397) 526-NEWS (345) 526-NEWS News Tipline Message us with your news tips, photos, videos, etc. Got news to share? NEW REGULATIONS: What’s allowed and not allowed People can again visit Cayman's beaches for up to two hours of exercise on their 'letter days'. 6Access your account statements online Due to current restrictions with postal mail, we are unable to continue mailing out credit card statements. As a result, effective June 4, 2020, we will be moving to paperless statements. Our online platform gives immediate 24/7 access to your monthly account statements. It is also a more secure method than having statements mailed. Your online account is con�idential and secured by your login credentials so your statements can only be accessed by you. Scotia Online and Scotia Mobile App In order to access your statements online, you will need to login to Scotia Online Banking. If you have not yet registered for Scotia Online Banking, you can do this by visiting ky.scotiabank.com, and following the instructions to ‘Register Now’. The Scotia Caribbean Mobile app also provides you with a summary of your statement in order to see the outstanding balance and minimum payment. Once you have downloaded the app, you can sign in with the same card number and username for Scotia Online Banking. Scotia Online Banking and the Scotia Caribbean Mobile App also offer a simple, convenient and safe way to bank from home. In addition to viewing your statements, you can pay bills, transfer funds between accounts and to any local bank, pay your credit card and so much more! We want to ensure that this change makes receiving statements and payment noti�ications more convenient for you. Should you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at customercarecayman@scotiabank.com. Migration of Credit Card statements to e-Statements ®Registered Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia KEVIN MORALES kmorales@compassmedia.ky As far as birthday presents go, Isabelle Welds said this one is up there with the best. “Phenomenal. The beach is everything on this island,” said Welds, who is about to turn 17. She was one of many Cayman Islands residents who made their way to the beach Tuesday to exercise. It marked the first time in more than a month those living in Grand Cayman could access the water. For many, it was the first time they’d been to the beach at all since COVID-19 prevention measures were tightened in April. “It was really hard and me thinking that – my birthday’s coming up – that I wouldn’t be able to get out here. So it’s just great to be out here,” Welds said. Waters off the west side of Grand Cayman were a bit rougher than normal thanks to a high pressure system across the Caribbean. That didn’t stop residents from taking in the sun and sand on Seven Mile Beach. “It’s fun because in quarantine we couldn’t do anything,” said 12-year-old Andre Campbell, who was swimming with his family. “I normally go outside, play with my sisters, play with my friends. In quarantine, we’re just stuck in the house.” Naomi Welcome was all smiles as she chased after Campbell, covering them both in sand as the sun began to set. “It’s really nice. I’ve (only) been outside for like two days. It’s really amazing and the beach is all we’ve got here in Cayman,” she said. Government prohibited beach access entirely following Easter weekend, when Police Commissioner Derek Byrne and Premier Alden McLaughlin bristled after reports of large gatherings on the beach. Now, under recent loosening of restrictions, residents can go to the beach for up to two hours for exercise, which includes walking, running, swimming, snorkelling, kayaking or paddleboarding, on their ‘letter day’. Further south, beachgoers flocked to Smith Barcadere. “It’s amazing, the water is beautiful. I missed it big time,” said Mark Mimnagh, who said he was not counting down the days, he was counting down the minutes. “It was almost like getting your freedom back. I was just waiting for the weekend to finish so we can come swimming.” It was a big day for Cayman’s anglers as well. Restrictions on water-based activities, including fishing from a boat or from the shore, were eased. “I’m really excited and I’m looking forward to being out on the water,” said Ben Jarod Ebanks. “I love it. I started back work last week so after work I’m definitely going to be back out on the water just about every day, so I’m just looking forward to that.” He said fishing is more than just about the catch. “As a youngster, it is really a good stress relief for me because I love being out on the water. It is just my natural way of releasing stress; with the COVID-19 going on. I feel like it’s really stressful,” Ebanks said. Over at Red Bay dock, however, Dennis Ames wasn’t ready to head out just yet, being content simply to relax near the water. “I do some fishing myself. I try to line out here, but I catch more water than fish,” Ames said. “I will be passing my line maybe later in the week; right now I’m just relaxing watching the water.” Ames says he hopes people have learned a lesson and will adhere to the restrictions. “Remember, it is a privilege to fish,” he said. “At least we have the freedom to do it now.” Additional reporting by Reshma Ragoonath Residents hit the beaches under relaxed rules See the photo gallery and video online at caymancompass.com Ronald Douglas, left, and other anglers clean their catch after a morning on the water. 7Priyanka Hansraj, Audit Senior “As a team, we are all committed to the continued growth of Grant Thornton Cayman, knowing we’ll be presented with unrivalled opportunities.” We’re hiring From Trainee Accountants to Directors, join an exciting organisation with an open door to endless opportunities. hr@ky.gt.com| grantthornton.ky Olive Miller, a much-loved and respected resident who left her mark on the Cayman community, died on Tuesday. She was 98. Flags were lowered to half-staff at government buildings on Wednesday in memory of the woman who was pivotal in establishing the Girls’ Brigade, the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, the Pink Ladies Volunteer Corps and The Pines Retirement Home. At a Legislative Assembly meeting Wednesday, several legislators paid tribute to Miller, including her nephew, North Side MLA Ezzard Miller, who described “Aunt Olive” as a special lady who lived life to the fullest and never missed an opportunity to celebrate life and to help others. “Her footprints will forever be clearly marked in the social-economic development of the Cayman Islands,” he said. “From her arrival in the Cayman Islands, up to her death, she never missed an opportunity to help others less fortunate. In fact, on many occasions, she was the person who created those opportunities.” He said he could imagine his aunt looking down at the lowering of flags in her honour and smiling and saying “What a palaver”, as “none of the things that she did was for self-gratification or public acknowledgment. They were truly, truly altruistic,” he added. Premier Alden McLaughlin described her as an “absolute institution”, who in her latter days “was still very much a part of the community, a real social butterfly” who was always “lending her advice, her good cheer and good counsel”. He said she has lived an “incredibly productive life”, one that was filled with love, happiness and tears “but she never lost her will to live, to participate in her community”. Several other legislators shared their fond memories of ‘Miss Olive’, including being taught by her at Sunday school. Her daughter, Kathryn Myles, confirmed that her mother had passed away at The Pines on Tuesday. Miller was born in Rayleigh, Essex, in England, on 9 Nov. 1921. Having first worked as a youth organiser, she later became a missionary youth worker for the Church of Scotland, work which took her to the Caribbean in 1946. She went to Jamaica to work with the Presbyterian Church, now known as the United Church in Cayman, and would come to Cayman for six weeks at a time. In Jamaica, she helped found Knox College in Clarendon. Also in 1946, she founded the Girls Guidry, which later became the Girls’ Brigade. She answered the local Presbyterian Church’s request for a mission worker, and in 1949, helped Rev. George Hicks start the new Cayman High School and worked there as a teacher. On the weekends she worked with district churches. She met the late Ray Miller, from Olive Miller, national icon, passes away at 98 North Side, and the couple married in England in 1953. They returned to Grand Cayman in 1957 with their young daughter Kathryn. Their son Nigel was later born in George Town. In the mid-1960s, she helped Billy Bodden establish Cayman’s first newspaper, Trade Winds. Later, she helped him found its successor, The Caymanian. “This experience made her a natural choice in 1971 to be the first Government Information Officer,” according to a biography of Miller issued by the Government Information Services. Since 1978, she had been a Justice of the Peace, serving in Juvenile Court and as Chairman of the Bench. Also in the 1970s, she organised annual International Nights for several years, to encourage harmony between the people of different cultures living in Cayman. As a grandmother and great- grandmother, in 1994, she organised the first annual Glamorous Granny competition in the Cayman Islands. Her work in the community has been officially recognised in many ways over the years. In 1967, she was awarded the Queen’s Badge and Certificate of Honour; she was named a Member of the British Empire in 1977; she was the only living recipient of the Quincentennial Distinguished Woman Award in 2003; and in 2010, she received a Golden Apple Lifetime Achievement Award for her years of dedication to educating young people. In 2018, she was named an Officer of the British Empire in the Queen’s New Year Honours List for her lifelong community service to the Cayman Islands. In an interview with the Cayman Compass at the time, she described that award as the “crown” of her career. She said in that interview, “Of all the things I’ve done, in my opinion, it’s because God sent me to do a job.” “Ms. Olive was a phenomenal woman,” said Debra McLaughlin, chairman of the Cayman Islands Girls’ Brigade National Council. “Her contributions span many areas but for her Girls’ Brigade Cayman family, she was not only our founder, but she continued to contribute and participate in Girls’ Brigade activities until her passing.” From 1985 to the present, she was vice-patron of Brigade International. Miller was the first manager of The Pines Retirement Home and, when she retired, she remained engaged in all its activities, serving on its board of directors until 2016. She also lived at The Pines, first at a villa on the property before moving into the main residential quarters in 2017. “To capture the trajectory of Ms. Olive, one would have to write for decades,” said Lynda Mitchell, director at The Pines. “She loved her family and the people of the Cayman Islands. “She was a beloved and respected resident, and she will be missed dearly by The Pines residents, staff, past and present members of the board,” Mitchell said. Many in the community expressed great regret over the loss of this soft-spoken woman of God, whose work continues to impact the community. Osbourne Bodden, former Bodden Town MLA, said she was a friend and caring person who contributed much to the development of the islands. “Her contribution to our Girls’ Brigade is immeasurable and this extends itself to thousands of young ladies going on to become productive citizens in these Cayman Islands,” said Bodden, who added, “She was a humble, intelligent and caring person and a personal friend… she will be missed.” In 1980, Miller founded the Pink Ladies Volunteer Corps in Cayman with Evelyn Andresen. Pink Ladies historian and director Jane Moon said the organisation will miss Miller’s “sharp mind, quick wit, generous heart, wise counsel and her absolute commitment to and love of the people and community of the Cayman Islands. “She never ceased to find ways and means of helping those in need and her contribution to the Cayman Islands is unsurpassed,” she said. Deputy House Speaker Barbara Conolly, who delivered Miller’s obituary in the Legislative Assembly Wednesday, said she was a community stalwart who lived a long and fruitful life. She said Miller had suffered many hardships in her life, including the loss of her husband Ray and son Nigel, “but she never lost sight of her mission to the community”. Conolly said Miller’s daughter, Kathryn, had told her, “Miss Olive had a wonderful life, and the only things she never did were bungee jump and jump out of an airplane.” Miller had a deep love and appreciation for the Cayman Islands, as evidenced in a book she published in 2011, ‘Cayman Rhyme Time’ which featured traditional songs, as well as information, pictures and history of her adopted homeland. Funeral arrangements for Ms. Olive will be announced later. Reporting by Reshma Ragoonath and Jewel Levy Olive Miller shows her MBE and Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour awards in 2018. Olive Miller with Queen Elizabeth II at the opening of The Pines Retirement Home in February 1983. 8Tourism chief Rosa Harris says she believes Cayman's tourism industry can bounce back. DoT boss: It will take a community effort RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s tourism industry was on track for a positive first quarter, with air arrivals for January and February exceeding numbers for the same period last year, but then COVID-19 happened. What ensued in the wake of the ongoing pandemic was the complete collapse of the industry as government closed Cayman’s borders. However, Department of Tourism Director Rosa Harris said in a Zoom interview with the Cayman Compass that she is confident in the industry’s reliance and ability to bounce back. “We’ve been receiving lots of emails and phone calls relating to when the airport will reopen, when they can rebook. I get a lot of LinkedIn messages from professionals across the world that say, ‘I was booked for this summer. I’m going to push it back. We were sad that we couldn’t make it, but we still want to come’,” she said. Cayman, she added, remains a desired destination. “Our tourism partners have been very busy, being able to adjust and shift reservations as the decisions on the border are made,” Harris said. This week, Premier Alden McLaughlin said the projected 1 Sept. reopening of local borders is not “looking good”, given the scale of the virus now ravaging the US, Cayman’s largest tourist market. Getting Cayman back on track Earlier this month, Deputy Premier and Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell said a plan is being developed to rebuild the industry. Cayman registered 42,851 air arrivals in January and 50,707 in February, and Harris believes Cayman can get back to those kinds of numbers. However, she said the process will take some effort and it will take all hands on deck, with Caymanians leading the charge for economic recovery. Tourism, she said, is “the second pillar of the Cayman Islands economy. We have a role to play, to re-establish and get back on the road to where we were.” “I think that we also have to take it one day at a time knowing that there’s a lot of things that we need to prepare for before the first [tourist] visits the Cayman Islands when we reopen, and what I would say is we’re not in this alone. The entire world is figuring this out, and our goal at the Department of Tourism is to support our partners here on island,” she said. A part of that, she said, is having a positive point of view as to how Cayman approaches its relationships with those in the travel trade, “those that book travel, airlines, those that call into Cayman and also all of the events and the various platforms that we use to promote the destination.” With borders closed since March, a number of tourism- related companies, such as restaurants, bars and dive shops, have already shut their doors, and Harris said as the border closure continues, “there’s a number of businesses that may or may not make it through this period”. However, she said the DoT is available to offer support for those that require it. “We’ve been doing focus groups with tourism partners here in Grand Cayman and we’re also having discussions with travel partners and advertising partners for when we will be ready to re-enter the market. A lot is unknown, but we still have to remain positive,” she said. Opportunities for Caymanians Thousands of work- permit holders have already left Cayman due to job loss and, with many more set to depart, Harris said now is the time for Caymanians to take a good look at tourism careers or opening their own tourism business. She said the DoT has hosted free webinars as part of its Personal Responsibility in Delivering Excellence (PRIDE) programme to assist in this regard and it includes workshops on Cayman’s history and tourism- related training. “I believe that when our industry is relaunched, there will be prime opportunity for Caymanians to apply and to pursue the career that they’ve always wanted to pursue and had not done so, for whatever [reason],” she said. “I also see the entrepreneurial opportunity. There’s a lot of businesses in the industry that are bespoke, small but successful, and they grow over time,” she said, adding that opportunities would also be identified through Cayman’s national tourism plan. “We still have the same commitment for tourism to be able to grow community tourism, to be able to offer more opportunities to Caymanians. Now’s the time for anyone who’s interested to take up our webinars and have that continued training and professional development,” she said. “We’re very proud of our School of Hospitality Studies and being able to place more Caymanians in the industry, but now we have this period to reconsider a professional path,” Harris added. “You know, owning a business [or pursuing a career in] tourism, now’s the time to be able to learn as much as possible ... through the webinars that we have for entrepreneurs,” she said. Anyone interested in attending the webinars can register at pride.ourcayman.ky. Rosa Harris Turning Cayman's tourism around in a COVID world Air arrivals 2019 Jan41,365 Feb44,876 2020 Jan42,851 Feb50,707 Cruise arrivals 2019 Jan271,111 Feb197,234 2020 Jan240,476 Feb207,959 Tourism statistics “Our tourism partners have been very busy, being able to adjust and shift reservations as the decisions on the border are made.” Rosa Harris , DoT Director 9 news N newsNext >