SEVEN MILE BEACH WATERFRONT WALKERS ROAD TOWN CENTRE PLAZA RED BAY cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 26 June - 2 July 2020 Boat family welcomes new hand on deck Page 8 Saharan dust layer clouds Cayman skies Page 6 Photo: Taneos Ramsay News Hearing reveals Cayman’s ‘broken’ pension system Page 12 News National emergency operations team stands down Page 14 Staycations boost tourism industry Page 9 Testing 2.0: How the new antibody tests work Page 10640-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. Open for outdoor dining CURBSIDE PICKUP • TAKE-OUT • DELIVERY 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 dust haze and a 30% chance of showers and possible thunder. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 89°F 78°F HIGH LOW WINDS East at 5 to 10 knots SEA STATE Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet. FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass More than 22,000 tested As of Thursday afternoon, Cayman had a total of 196 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with about a third of the population having been tested for the virus. More than 22,000 people have undergone coronavirus testing, with most being tested as part of the ongoing community screening programme. Between Friday, 19 June, and Thursday, 25 June, out of 2,883 tests, three were found to be positive. Currently, only 12 cases are active and all of these are asymptomatic. ‘Stay safe’ replaces ‘Stay home’ Cayman came out of its state of lockdown on Sunday, when the daily hard curfew and shelter-in- place measures were revoked. Premier Alden McLaughlin, at Tuesday’s press briefing, said the easing of regulations as Cayman moves into Level 2 (minimal suppression) meant that the islands were transitioning from the message of ‘Stay home Cayman’ to ‘Stay safe Cayman’. He urged people to continue to wear masks, observe social distancing and wash or sanitise their hands. Incubation period a challenge for travel Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee on Monday said testing international travellers bound for Grand Cayman is the “easy bit” and that COVID-19’s incubation period is the main problem with opening up Cayman’s borders to international travel. He said PCR tests can now return results in as little as 45 minutes, and results could be sent to a person’s mobile phone or to airline representatives at the airport. But the incubation period is up to two weeks, meaning a negative result could show up if a person recently acquired the disease. “Even if you can return a negative result within 48 hours or 24 hours before you board that plane, you could be harbouring something,” Lee said. Postal service still working to restore international post Postmaster General Sheena Glasgow says Cayman’s postal leaders are working with the Universal Postal Union to arrange air transportation for mail destined for the Cayman Islands. Cayman’s domestic mail service restarted on 29 April and there has been some incoming international mail from Curacao, Trinidad and Tobago, Germany and France. Some mail has also arrived from the UK and was expected to be cleared late last week. Efforts are ongoing to get mail from the US. The airline contracted to carry the mail is not yet allowed into Cayman with the closure of our airports. The US is unable to send mail to more than 100 countries. Outpatient care, surgeries resume at HSA With the implementation of the Level 2 suppression measures, the Health Services Authority is again offering elective surgery and outpatient care at the Cayman Islands Hospital, health officials have announced. Non-urgent care is also now available to outpatients at all district health centres, Faith Hospital and the Little Cayman Clinic. All patients who have previous appointments that were postponed during the lockdown will be contacted to reschedule, according to a HSA statement. For more information or to make an appointment, contact 949-8600. Summer camps and daycare to reopen in July Daycare and summer camp facilities will begin reopening on 5 July, as Cayman continues its move into Suppression Level 2. Eased public health protocol, announced by Premier Alden McLaughlin on 17 June, will allow tutoring centres, pre-schools, summer camps and bible schools to receive children in person. Primary and secondary school classes are not scheduled for the summer, however, and students are expected to return to classrooms in autumn. Weekly COVID round-up Of the 22,266 COVID-19 tests that have been carried out in Cayman since March, more than 99% have been negative. cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 26 JUNE 2020cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 26 JUNE 20201234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Planet’s curved course (5) 4 In theory (2,5) 8 Large African gazelle (3) 9 Improbable tale (4,5) 10 White of egg (7) 11 Surpass (5) 13 Languid (6) 15 Undertake (6) 18 Command (5) 19 Avoiding commitment (7) 21 Payment to remain silent (4,5) 23 Sailor (3) 24 Fast (7) 25 Championship in sport (5) DOWN 1 Defensively vigilant (2,5) 2 Noble birth (4,5) 3 Clan emblem (5) 4 Rectangular figure (6) 5 Have as a quality (7) 6 In favour of (3) 7 Regal (5) 12 Violent seizure of power (4,5) 14 Egyptian royal tomb (7) 16 Declare one’s approval of (7) 17 Instrumentality (6) 18 Further (5) 20 Until now (2,3) 22 Undermine (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16415 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 16415 ACROSS: 1 Orbit, 4 On paper, 8 Gnu, 9 Tall story, 10 Albumen, 11 Excel, 13 Droopy, 15 Assume, 18 Order, 19 Guarded, 21 Hush money, 23 Tar, 24 Rapidly, 25 Title. DOWN: 1 On guard, 2 Blue blood, 3 Totem, 4 Oblong, 5 Possess, 6 Pro, 7 Royal, 12 Coup d’etat, 14 Pyramid, 16 Endorse, 17 Agency, 18 Other, 20 As yet, 22 Sap. Money or life? A thought experiment This article is very valid, valuable and timely. Thank you for preparing and presenting this, despite the “rudimentary” averaging of numbers, your conclusion is what matters. I happen to agree with your conclusion, however, had I not agreed I would still have commended your decision to present the article. It is important to share such data/ sentiments/opinions in a tangible format. From the outside, I’ve heard of a lot of the criticism the premier and government has received from a lot of the public. ... It’s clear that there is a broad sentiment which valued the continuation of life (“open up”, “life must go on”, “the economy will crash if we don’t”) more than the protection of life (“we have to be uber-protective until it’s safe to be less so”). To me, that in itself was disappointing from a common-sense and moral aspect – that many people would unquestionably put financial survival above all else, safety and life itself. But, to each his own, that’s why were a diverse world and must accept that diversity. Good for the government to hold out until this time of gradual easing of restrictions. Hopefully, the latest measures aren’t too soon and results will be no more surprising or damaging than Government expects. Meanwhile, personal habits to protect oneself and others are all we can depend on. No question that social distancing, as best as can be applied under individual circumstances, and the wearing of appropriate protective gear in appropriate places will assist in keeping community transmission to a minimum. Each person must make genuine efforts to implement those safety measures when they interact with others. If that is done, as a general rule, that is the best we can expect. However, it will fundamentally take a generally different moral attitude and broad practices to reflect same for some people to respect one another in order to protect each other, and the community at large. Despite sentiments for urgent and full re-opening, “freedom” and resistance to wearing masks, etc., people with such sentiments must realise and respect that how they feel personally should not be enforced on others in their areas of circulation. One can maintain one’s feelings about those things but all I would like to see as a general attitude is when one is out in public where one interacts with others who are more cautious of their own safety, please be respectful and considerate and wear protective gear. No need to disregard the safety of others’ because one is a bit “cavalier” about one’s own safety, “freedoms” or rights. Respect the rights of others, also, who want to stay safe. Ultimately, with a weak (or worse) economy, there would be perishing of sorts; with a full blown pandemic there would be perishing. However, as you have indicated the value of life, generally supersedes a financial component, as it should. Hopefully we would never become a society which is prepared to sacrifice lives for the economy, at whatever cost. Kerith McCoy Economic ruin has hit Cayman’s most vulnerable, while economic uncertainty has hit a high percentage of the Cayman populous in general. A 20% dip in GDP in 2020 will be followed by potentially another reduction in GDP in 2021 equal to 2020. The islands is not self- sustainable. What they’re saying cartoon My new friend - By Caymanman Online The Cayman Islands government needs to open tourism slowly, but it needs to buy into technology that aids in doing this – rapid testing kits, thermo-scans, arrivals from destination airports that will be considered hubs of inclusion. This way, you can control volumes of people and testing results. If you are not pre-screened and deemed a safe traveller, you can’t travel to the island. Cayman needs to define countries of access. If Cayman is waiting on the US to be considered a safe travel nation, they may as well close the doors and throw away the keys. If Cayman is waiting on Dart and all developers to ramp up on their infrastructure programmes, you might want to start begging them to employ all the remaining locals who are unemployed. As of 18 June, the islands had 195 confirmed cases, 143 fully recovered, 1 death (although this was an emergency distress due to a heart issue, elderly cruise passenger) and 20,000-plus samples tested. That is a third of the Caymanian population tested, there should be zero cases, period. This should have been a shut-down slam-dunk island, easily. Especially considering the hard lockdown that was initiated. It’s time to quit congratulating yourselves on saving lives, you’ve saved them. You now need to quickly concentrate on making sure the people you, the government, told could not work, have money to eat and keep a roof over their heads. I honestly have not seen that happen; three small token payments of $1,000 will not cut it. Geoff Bartlett COVID-19 prompts increased plastic use I’d be keen to know if there is a phase where we are able to bring our own bags back to the grocery (among other things). This seems like it should be soon. Jackie Myles I would love to see a ban on plastic/polystyrene take out con- tainers. Not only are they toxic to the environment, they are toxic to our health... especially when hot food is served in them. Julie Plumley Mr. Premier, you’re wrong on stayover tourism Starting in schools, education is at the core run by a Machiavellian minister who can only bark out recommendations without any real guidance as to HOW these are to be achieved. Teachers here are significantly undervalued and that is where the real problem lies. Nicole Anthorp So many important points raised here. But the overarching theme here is investing in our people to provide more engage- ment in strategic industries. Educating in the value of service careers, regulating to ensure op- portunities for Caymanians and incentives to both individuals and businesses to train Cayma- nians at all levels and sectors of the industry. It’s time for the Caymanianisation of our tourism industry, especially as we will likely have a smaller industry in post-COVID Cayman. Troy Leacock cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 26 JUNE 2020cayman compass 5 FRIDAY, 26 JUNE 2020 A Message from the Chief Executive Officer of CINICO – COVID – 19 Update #4 CINICO’s Offices Reopening – Tuesday June 23, 2020 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. Members receiving care in the Jamaica can call 1-868-798-9627 or 1-876-406-8479 or email casemanagment@cinico.ky Members in the Cayman Islands or other jurisdictions requiring urgent assistance can call 345 - 949-8101 or email casemanagment@cinico.ky We will provide further updates as we further transition to our customary opening hours. Stay Safe. Kind Regards Michael Gayle CEO Dear Valued CINICO Member, In accordance with the Government’s Shelter-In-Place directive, for your safety and the safety of our staff, we were obliged to close our offices in March of this year. While we were closed, we still continued to offer a full range of services through committed staff, most of whom were working remotely from their respective homes. We are delighted at the success of our country’s containment measures which have now given rise to the relaxation of the restrictions on movement. As such, we are pleased to announce the phased reopening of CINICO’s offices in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac effective Tuesday June 23, 2020. Our offices will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m . until further notice. We have implemented the recommended Physical Distancing and enhanced sanitization procedures in our offices. Visitors to the offices will be required to wear face masks and will not be admitted without masks for the safety of all concerned. We are cognizant of the fact that the threat of COVID-19 is still real and as such, the majority of our staff will continue to work from home, but our customer-facing Client Service staff will be in attendance at our offices. A number of the procedures which were put in place during the closure will still be in effect, so we will continue to make some payments elec- tronically, obviating the need for everyone to physically come into the offices. Premium payments can still 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. 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. Member Distribution by First Letter of Last Name Assigned Phone Contact H, L, P, R, V, Y 345-815-7316 M, W, X 345-815-7312 B, C, F 345-815-7311 A, D, E, I, K, N, O, Q, U, Z 345-815-7315 G, J, S, T 345-815-7317Cayman's skies took on a grey hue as the Saharan Air Layer blanketed the islands, and the region. cayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 26 JUNE 2020 KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Hazy conditions began in Cayman on Tuesday and was forecast to last several days, as a plume of Saharan dust settled over the Caribbean region. The Public Health Department encouraged individuals with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, to stay indoors as much as possible and to contact a healthcare professional if they experienced any difficulties. “While this phenomenon is typical at this time of the year, this plume of dust is observed to be denser than in previous occurrences,” the Cayman Islands National Weather Service said. Researchers have described the current Saharan Air Layer as the most significant in decades. In Puerto Rico, where a public health advisory was issued over air conditions, Olga Mayol of the Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies told media that the event had brought the highest concentration of dust particles to the region in 50 to 60 years. Mosquito spraying halted By Wednesday, the dust forced the Mosquito Research and Control Unit to pause its aerial spraying, despite the increased mosquito population in Cayman. “This is to prevent material released by MRCU planes binding to the dust and rendering that material much less efficient in controlling biting mosquitoes,” an MRCU release said. “Truck spraying will continue as the material sprayed is released at ground level and therefore not impacted by dust in the upper atmosphere. Due to current weather conditions, the trucks are most effective to continue fighting the recent increase in mosquitoes.” The MRCU advised the public that the current mosquito population is not disease- carrying. Aerial spraying was expected to continue after the dust plume had passed. Hazard Management Cayman Islands explained in an online post that most of the dust during these events originates from dried-out portions of Lake Chad. Despite the negative impact on visibility, the dust provides needed nutrients to certain ecosystems. “The Saharan dust is the single largest source of dust on planet Earth and has a vital role in providing nutrients for plants, including in our own region. It also provides a significant source of nutrients for the marine environment,” the Hazard Management post read. “The dust also has an important role in feeding the plants in the Amazon Rainforest and even the US wheat crop is supported by the dust, which contains important minerals such as iron which are vital for plant growth.” Individuals with respiratory issues were encouraged to contact Public Health for advice. “The extra particles in the atmosphere may contribute to beautiful sunsets,” Hazard Management wrote, “but the downside is that it can also cause air quality to worsen and some persons with allergies or respiratory illnesses may find they are somewhat affected by the dust during large plumes.” MLA Alva Suckoo said that a meeting with Hazard Management on Tuesday had indicated the dust should have minimal impact on Cayman. “However, this is an unprecedented event based on the size and there is some uncertainty,” Suckoo said in a written message on Tuesday. “Based on information coming out of Jamaica, some of the dust will be low lying, therefore, asthmatics and others with respiratory issues need to take precautions such as wearing masks when outside and staying indoors as much as possible.” Suckoo said he anticipated the impact on the Cayman Islands to last about six days, with the initial surge coming Tuesday night and Wednesday morning. The plume was forecast to continue westward, according to weather.com, and affect the US Gulf Coast by the weekend. Despite the effect on air conditions, the Saharan Air Layer comes with a silver lining. The dust plumes are associated with suppressed hurricane activity, in part due to the dryness of the air mass. They also can cause colourful sunsets, although the sunsets seen in Cayman this week were decidedly muted. The US National Hurricane Center reported Tuesday that the dust had covered most of the Caribbean, and the dry, stable air was inhibiting convection in the region. Saharan Air Layers typically start forming in mid-June and continue through mid-August. Saharan dust layer clouds Cayman skies What is the Saharan Air Layer? The Saharan Air Layer is a mass of very dry, dusty air that forms over the Sahara Desert during the late spring, summer, and early fall, and moves over the tropical North Atlantic every three to five days. Saharan Air Layer outbreaks usually occupy a 2 to 2.5-mile-thick layer of the atmosphere with the base starting about 1 mile above the surface. The warmth, dryness, and strong winds associated with the Saharan Air Layer have been shown to suppress tropical cyclone formation and intensification. Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration1 (345) 945-4040 1 (345) 640-4040 healthcitycaymanislands.com WE’RE HERE to welcome you We are open and ready to welcome patients for all diagnostic, outpatient treatment and surgical care. You may have chosen to delay or skip medical care over the past few months, but your health has never been more important. We are here and we are looking forward to seeing you in an environment you know and trust. cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 26 JUNE 2020 KEVIN MORALES kmorales@compassmedia.ky Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee said on Monday that health leaders still have a lot to investigate when it comes to determining the importance of antibody testing and interpreting the results the tests provide. “It is much more of interest at the moment to see... what the prevalence of COVID has been over the last few months here in Cayman, which [this test] will probably give us some idea about,” Lee said, during a Cayman Compass live roundtable discussion on health and the coronavirus. “However – as we’ve said again and again – although we think that having had COVID may infer some immunity, and the immunity is being demonstrated by the antibody test, we still don’t know what that immunity is; how (long) it lasts for. “And if you’ve had COVID, and yet you have a negative antibody test – as we are getting quite a few people who have – what does that mean as well?” Unlike the PCR tests that are used to determine whether a person currently has the disease, antibody testing aims to determine whether a person has had the disease in the past and now has antibodies that could help form an immunity against COVID. Lee, at the 15 May government press conference, downplayed the latter tests’ role in suppressing COVID-19 in Cayman. “I wouldn’t say they were critical,” he said. “I think actually the PCR testing has been the critical influence in decision-making. (The antibody testing), as I mentioned, is more of a history of whether someone has been infected, and it may well be that we see that as some sort of immunity status.” A positive antibody test shows a person may have antibodies from an infection with the virus that causes COVID-19, or possibly a related virus from the same family of viruses, according to the US-based Mayo Clinic. That could include a virus that causes the common cold. Health experts still do not know if having antibodies to the virus that causes COVID-19 can protect someone from getting infected again or how long such protection might last, according to the CDC. “We’re still learning about the science, what the antibody test means, and its implications to the clinical management of the disease,” Lee said. “We do understand much better what having a positive PCR test means; that means you have virus particles in your body. That’s quite clear. The antibody test is not as clear. “So, although we were hoping it was going to provide some sort of a passport, it may still do so, but we need a lot more time to investigate.” Three healthcare providers in Grand Cayman – Health Services Authority, Health City Cayman Islands and Doctors Hospital – now offer antibody testing. Public Health does cover the cost of the testing if it’s done through the ongoing screening programme. Otherwise, the public can contact their healthcare practitioner if they’re interesting in being tested, but they may be required to pay for it. HSA Chief Executive Officer Lizzette Yearwood said hospital staff and frontline workers will be among the first to undergo the testing. The HSA will be reaching out to those groups to schedule tests. Lee: Much to learn from antibody tests Difference between the tests Diagnostic tests (Do you have COVID-19?) * Molecular test detects genetic material of the virus using a polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, test. Fluid from a nasal or throat swab or from saliva is used. * Antigen test detects proteins that are part of the virus. A nasal or throat swab is used. Antibody tests (Have you had COVID-19?) Also known as serology testing, this is done after full recovery from COVID-19. A blood sample from a finger prick or by drawing blood is used. The sample is tested to determine whether you’ve developed antibodies against the virus. cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 26 JUNE 2020 Baby Kaia born on 9 June NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky The Larouche-Kelly family’s sailboat has a new crew member – newborn baby girl Kaia. The Canadian family, who sailed into Cayman in early March and became stranded here during the COVID-19 crisis, welcomed the new arrival earlier this month. Over the past three months, there has been an outpouring of generosity from local residents who have helped them with land-based accommodation, transport, baby items and groceries. When they arrived on their boat Ohana, Marie-Michelle Larouche, her husband Philip Kelly, and their two children planned to stay in Cayman for just a couple of days before setting course for Guatemala, from which they had booked a flight to take them home to Canada when she was 31 weeks pregnant. COVID-19 scuppered those plans. At first, they had to stay on their boat, moored off shore, but then a berth became available at the Cayman Islands Yacht Club and they were give special permission, amid the virus-suppression protocols, to dock there. After reading about them in the Cayman Compass, reader Karin Scherfenberg was moved to offer the expectant mum and family her condo on Seven Mile Beach, free of charge. On the morning of 9 June, Larouche gave birth to Kaia at the Cayman Islands Hospital. The baby was 8.15 pounds, born at 41.2 weeks of pregnancy. Her name means ‘ocean’ in Hawaiian. “The delivery went very well,” Larouche said in an email to the Compass. “I entered the hospital at 6:00 in the morning on June 9 and our little Kaia was born at 10:59.” She added, “I am recovering very well and I am so grateful my daughter was born in such a safe and caring environment. Coming back from the hospital to the apartment was also a relief. We are still very comfortable and happy to be here.” Already a mother to a son and daughter – Alexis, 8, and Rosie, 2 – Larouche said she found Cayman’s healthcare system “much different” to Canada's. “The quality of care I received from Dr. [Howard] Deosaran and his team at the Trincay Clinic was amazing. We received such devoted and professional care. I still can’t believe I have my doctor’s personal phone number and that I can reach him at any time with concerns or problems,” she said. “Also, Dr. [Ayanna] Ennis, the Trincay Clinic anesthesiologist, made the delivery much easier with her comforting care. Kaia’s pediatrician, Dr. [Christine] Chen, was also with us to ensure Kaia was delivered healthy and safely. She was caring, gentle and answered all our concerns during the delivery.” At this point, the family still does not know when they will be able to return home to Canada. There is an evacuation flight from Cayman to Canada scheduled for next month, but that’s not enough time to get a passport organised for the new baby, and the family also does not want to leave their boat here, Larouche said. “So we’re waiting for Kaia’s passport that we should get within 6-8 weeks, and then we can decide where we will be heading,” she added. Larouche said her family’s logbook usually contains accounts of their crossings and seafaring journeys. However, the entry on 9 June depicts a different type of journey, as she describes the birth of her daughter in nautical terms, and ends with the following words: “This morning at 11 o’clock, our little boat finally shows up. A three- hour crossing that has set the course of our lives in a different direction forever. “Little Kaia, brought by the sea, out of the storm and on the run, under the foreign sun of an exotic country. She is not only the latest member to join the ranks of the Ohana crew, but above all, she is my new little girl whom I already love.” Boat family welcomes new hand on deck Proud mum: Marie-Michelle Larouche with baby Kaia at the Cayman Islands Hospital on 9 June. OPEN FOR BUSINESS!R E: theautospa@candw.ky • www.theautospa.ky Godfrey Nixon Way • T: 943-1946 Hours: Mon. - Sat.: 8:30am – 5:30pm • Sunday: Closed The Auto Spa Car Wash has now returned to it’s normal services menu, but continues social distancing resulting in a few more minutes to complete each vehicle. Hand washing will continue for sometime until it’s possible to have the technicians come from abroad to install our brand new state of the art Tunnel System, which will be even better than before. The equipment is on Island and stored. We thank you for your patronage, patience and understanding at this time and look forward to serving you better soon. JOEY EBANKS BOOKING DEADLINE ISSUE Tuesday, 30 June Friday, 3 July Tuesday, 7 July Friday, 10 July AD BOOKING DEADLINE Monday, 6 July Public Holiday 949-5111 • sales@compassmedia.ky • classifieds@compassmedia.ky Booking Deadline: 10am | Artwork Deadline: 3pm Public Holiday Constitution Day cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 26 JUNE 2020 The purpose of this notice is to inform you of a partial settlement of a class action lawsuit pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit involves the alleged manipulation of U.S. Dollar LIBOR (“LIBOR”) and its impact on Eurodollar futures contracts and/or options on Eurodollar futures (“Eurodollar Futures”) that are linked to LIBOR. The lawsuit against the Non-Settling Defendants remains ongoing. This lawsuit (referred to as the “Exchange-Based Plaintiffs’ Action”) has been consolidated within In re LIBOR-Based Financial Instruments Antitrust Litigation, 11 MDL No. 2262 (S.D.N.Y.). There are proposed Settlements reached separately with Bank of America Corporation and Bank of America, N.A. (collectively “BOA”), Barclays Bank plc (“Barclays”), Citigroup Inc., Citibank, N.A., and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (collectively, “Citi”), Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., and DB Group Services (UK) Limited (collectively, “Deutsche Bank”), HSBC Bank plc (“HSBC”), JPMorgan Chase & Co. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (collectively “JPMorgan”), and Société Générale (“SG”) (BOA, Barclays, Citi, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, JPMorgan, and SG are referred to collectively herein as the “Settling Defendants”). These Settlements impact persons, corporations and other legal entities that transacted in Eurodollar futures contracts and/or options on Eurodollar futures on exchanges, including without limitation, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (the “CME”), between January 1, 2003 and May 31, 2011 (the “Settlement Class Period”). The lawsuit asserts that the Defendant banks (listed on the settlement website, www.USDLiborEurodollarSettlements.com) artificially manipulated U.S. Dollar LIBOR and Eurodollar Futures during the Settlement Class Period by misreporting their borrowing costs to the organization that calculated LIBOR. The alleged manipulation of the U.S. Dollar LIBOR rate allegedly caused Eurodollar Futures prices to be suppressed and/or inflated to artificial levels, thereby causing Settlement Class Members to pay artificial prices for Eurodollar Futures during the Settlement Class Period. Plaintiffs have asserted claims under the Commodity Exchange Act and Sherman Antitrust Act and for unjust enrichment. The Court has issued at least eight published opinions addressing various legal matters raised by the parties in this action. The Settling Defendants have entered into these proposed Settlements to resolve the claims asserted against them. The Settling Defendants deny all claims of wrongdoing. Claims against Non-Settling Defendants have been limited by the Court’s prior rulings. The Court previously dismissed claims against certain defendants for lack of personal jurisdiction and other claims as against SG on statute of limitations grounds. The Court also denied Plaintiffs’ class certification motion. Plaintiffs petitioned the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for interlocutory review of the Court’s denial of class certification. The Court of Appeals denied that petition. As a result, your participation in these Settlements may offer the best, and perhaps only, chance for you to receive any monetary recovery from this lawsuit. Am I included? The Settlement Classes are defined in the Full Notice and the Settlement Agreements, which are available for review on the settlement website. In general, you are a Settlement Class Member if you transacted in Eurodollar futures contracts and/or options on Eurodollar futures on exchanges, including without limitation, the CME, between January 1, 2003 and May 31, 2011. Excluded from the Settlement Class are: (i) Defendants, their employees, affiliates, parents, subsidiaries, and alleged co-conspirators; (ii) the Releasees (as defined in the Settlement Agreements described below); and (iii) any Settlement Class Member who files a timely and valid request for exclusion. Notwithstanding these exclusions, and solely for the purposes of the Settlements and the Settlement Class, Investment Vehicles shall not be excluded from the Settlement Class solely on the basis of being deemed to be Defendants or affiliates or subsidiaries of Defendants. However, to the extent that any Defendant or any entity that might be deemed to be an affiliate or subsidiary thereof (i) managed or advised, and (ii) directly or indirectly held a beneficial interest in, said Investment Vehicle during the Class Period, that beneficial interest in the Investment Vehicle is excluded from the Settlement Class. What do the Settlements provide? In order to resolve the claims against them, the Settling Defendants have separately agreed to individual settlement amounts totaling $187,000,000 in the aggregate for the benefit of the Settlement Class in exchange for releases of the claims against them, as fully detailed in the Settlement Agreements. Specifically, BOA has agreed to pay $15 million; Barclays has agreed to pay $19.975 million; Citi has agreed to pay $33.4 million; Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay $80 million; HSBC has agreed to pay $18.5 million; JPMorgan has agreed to pay $15 million; and SG has agreed to pay $5,125,000. The Settlement Agreements are available for review on the settlement website referenced below. The Settling Defendants have also agreed to provide certain specified cooperation to the Plaintiffs that can be used in the prosecution of claims against the Non-Settling Defendants. If You Transacted in Eurodollar Futures Contracts and/or Options on Eurodollar Futures on Exchanges, such as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, between January 1, 2003 and May 31, 2011, You May Be Eligible to Receive Payment of a Portion of Aggregate Settlement Funds Totaling $187,000,000 1 1 The aggregate Settlements, if all receive Final Approval from the Court, will create a $187,000,000 Settlement Fund. Settling Defendants have separately agreed to settlements as follows: BOA has agreed to pay $15 million; Barclays has agreed to pay $19.975 million; Citi has agreed to pay $33.4 million; Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay $80 million; HSBC has agreed to pay $18.5 million; JPMorgan has agreed to pay $15 million; and Société Générale has agreed to pay $5,125,000. How can I get a payment? If you transacted in U.S. Dollar LIBOR-based Eurodollar futures contracts and/or options on Eurodollar futures on exchanges such as the CME between January 1, 2003 and May 31, 2011 and do not exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must file a timely and valid Proof of Claim Form to be potentially eligible for any payment. You may obtain a Proof of Claim Form on the settlement website referenced below and submit it online or by mail. The amount of any payment under the Settlements will be determined by a Plan of Distribution approved by the Court. A copy of the proposed Plan of Distribution is available for review on the settlement website at www.USDLiborEurodollarSettlements.com. The proposed Plan provides for distribution of 75% of the Net Settlement Fund on the basis of pro rata “Recognized Net Loss” and 25% on the basis of pro rata “Recognized Volume,” subject to a guaranteed minimum payment of $20. Only Eligible Claimants may participate in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund. An Eligible Claimant is a Settlement Class Member whose proof of claim is found to be timely, adequately supported, properly verified and otherwise valid pursuant to the Plan of Distribution all as determined by the Settlement Administrator. At this time, it is unknown how much, if anything, each Eligible Claimant may receive. To be timely, all Proof of Claim Forms must be postmarked by mail or submitted electronically by December 1, 2020. What are my rights? You have the right to remain a member of the Settlement Class or to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class. If you remain a member of the Settlement Class, and if the Settlements are approved, you may be eligible to share pro rata in the Net Settlement Fund by timely submitting a valid Proof of Claim Form. If you participate in the Settlements, you will, however, lose your right to individually sue any of the Settling Defendants or their affiliated persons and entities for the alleged conduct at issue in the lawsuit, and will be bound by the Court’s orders concerning the Settlements. If you stay in the Settlement Class, you may object to one or more of the proposed Settlements, the proposed Plan of Distribution, the requested attorneys’ fees, expense reimbursement, and service awards mentioned below by August 27, 2020. Any objections must be filed with the Court and delivered to the designated representative for Settlement Class Counsel and counsel for the Settling Defendants in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Full Notice. The Settlements will not release your claims against any Non-Settling Defendants, and the lawsuit continues against them. If you want to keep your right to individually sue the Settling Defendants or their affiliated persons and entities, you must exclude yourself from the Settlement Class for that Settling Defendant(s) by August 27, 2020, in the manner and form explained in the detailed Full Notice. All Settlement Class Members who have not timely and validly requested exclusion from the Settlement Class will be bound by any judgment entered in the lawsuit pursuant to the Settlement Agreements. If you properly and timely exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will not be bound by any judgments or orders entered by the Court pursuant to the Settlement Agreements and you will not be eligible to receive any payments from the Net Settlement Fund if the Settlements are approved by the Court. A fairness hearing will be held on September 17, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. before the Honorable Naomi Reice Buchwald, United States District Court Judge, in Courtroom 21A, at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, located at 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York 10007, for the purpose of determining, among other things, whether to approve the proposed Settlements, the proposed Plan of Distribution, Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees of up to one-third of the Settlement Fund, plus reimbursement of litigation expenses, and payment of service awards to the Settlement Class representatives of no more than $25,000 each. You or your own lawyer may appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense. THIS IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF THE FULL NOTICE AND SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS, WHICH CONTAIN MORE DETAILED INFORMATION THAT YOU SHOULD READ. THE FULL NOTICE AND THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENTS ARE AVAILABLE AT www.USDLiborEurodollarSettlements.com. Settlement Class Members should continue to review the settlement website for important updates about the Settlements and the litigation. You may also contact the Settlement Administrator below (A.B. Data, Ltd.) to obtain additional information. USD LIBOR EURODOLLAR FUTURES SETTLEMENT c/o A.B. DATA, LTD. P.O. BOX 170990, MILWAUKEE, WI 53217 www.USDLiborEurodollarSettlements.com info@USDLiborEurodollarSettlements.com 1-800-918-8964 JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Staycations are starting to sell out across Cayman as residents shake off months of lockdown and opt for holidays at home. With the borders closed until September at least, hundreds of families have been forced to cancel summer vacations overseas. Since government gave the all-clear for hotels and villas to reopen last week, there have been significant local bookings. The Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa is sold out for the next two weekends – something tourism industry leaders did not expect to see this year. Across Grand Cayman, from The Ritz- Carlton on Seven Mile Beach to the Morritt’s Tortuga Club in East End, hoteliers are reporting two months of solid bookings. Luxury villas and holiday condos are also seeing a spike in interest. It is a temporary boost for the ailing tourism industry and a period that many business owners say will allow them to fine-tune their post-COVID protocols before overseas visitors return. Steven Andre, general manager at the Kimpton on Seven Mile Beach, said the resort had offered a special rate for locals and had been thrilled with the response so far. Fewer rooms than usual are available as the resort complies with measures mandated by government for all hotels. “We are fully committed on available rooms and suites for the next two Saturday nights,” Andre said. At The Ritz-Carlton, general manager Marc Langevin said the hotel was seeing a mix of families booking weekend getaways and ‘staycationers’ checking in for seven- night stays. While he said the number of reservations is “modest” compared to normal times, the influx of local tourists has allowed the hotel to put another 100 people back to work. “This is the true victory as we slowly but surely bring our resort back to life and we jump back on the road to recovery,” he said. Jim Leavitt, general manager of Grand Cayman Villas and Condos, is responsible for 86 properties, ranging from $200-a-night one-bedroom condos to $12,000-a-night luxury Seven Mile Beach homes. Since staycations were sanctioned, he has taken more than 150 bookings for the next few months across the full spectrum of properties. He said people who would ordinarily holiday overseas were using the money saved on airfares to splash out on large villas for family get-togethers. Juliet Cumber-Forget, managing director of Cayman Villas, which has 85 properties island-wide, says residents are looking for a break after months of lockdown. “Pre-COVID19, many were so busy with work, school, families, and life, that they may not have taken the time to go up to East End, Cayman Kai, Barkers Beach, or even Seven Mile Beach for that matter,” she said. She said most were looking to recharge their batteries and refresh their minds. East End, North Side prove popular Cumber-Forget said North Side, Rum Point and Cayman Kai were proving most popular among the latest bookings. Bill Powers, who runs the Morritt’s Tortuga Club, is seeing a similar trend. He believes those extra few miles from George Town make East End and North Side particularly attractive destinations. “That drive out east feels like an excursion in itself,” he said. He has seen significant take-up of the resort’s staycation offer and he believes the charm of the location is a big selling point. “East End can feel like a different part of the Caribbean. It is quiet, it’s laid back, it’s peaceful,” he said. Dark cloud hovers over industry While staycations are providing a temporary boost to struggling businesses, it is a silver lining to what is still a very dark cloud for the tourism industry. “It is a Band-Aid, but it helps,” said Powers. Leavitt agrees. “Staycations aren’t really going to move the needle for us as a company,” he acknowledged. “It is more of an opportunity to get our people back to work, our housekeepers and property managers, and to shake off the cobwebs.” For others, like Sunset House, the staycation market isn't the answer. The George Town hotel's business model is geared to vacationing scuba divers booking multi-day dive packages. While its restaurant and dive business are open, manager Anne Briggs said the hotel was undergoing renovations to prepare for overseas visitors. Until that happens, she says, most resorts are in limbo. Hiring staff and renewing work permits will remain difficult until a date is set for reopening borders. She believes customers will be desperate to come to Cayman. “They are really not asking us about testing or coronavirus protocols," she said, "they just want to know, when can we come visit?” Staycations boom provides boost for tourism industry Kimpton bellman Andre Campbell gets ready to welcome staycationers. ADVERTISEMENTNext >