$ 4 99 cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 3-9 July 2020 Government wins referendum appeal Page 11 Everything you need to know for the start of school Page 10 Cayman 2.0 COVID-19 has forced the country to pause and rethink its way forward. What does that look like? Pages 14-15 NEWS Lawmakers to make historic LGBTQ human rights decision Page 6 Sports Clubs, athletes return to practice Page 18 Parrot sanctuary wows all ages Page 16Matinees (matinee price before 6pm)•Seniors $8.00 (Mon-Fri before 6pm) Additional charges applyper 3D/VIP tickets 640-FILM (640-3456) Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: Foryour viewing pleasure, minorsunder the age of 18 will not WHAT’SPLAYING THIS WEEK BLOODSHOT (PG-13) (FRI & SAT) 1:30 |3:55VIP | 4:10|6:45VIP | 10:10 (SUN)3:20VIP | 4:10 |6:45VIP| 10:10 ( MON,TUE, WED) 1:30 |3:55VIP | 4:10 |6:45VIP | 10:10 BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (R) (FRI & SAT)12:45VIP | 7:10 | 8:10 |9:45VIP CALL OF THE WILD (PG) (SUN) 7:10 | 8:50 |9:45VIP LION KING, THE (1994) (PG) (FRI & SAT) 12:30 | 2:55 | 5:35 (SUN) 2:55 | 5:35 (MON, TUES, WED)12:30 | 2:55 | 5:35 CHRONICLESOF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH... (PG) (FRI & SAT)1:15 | 5:00 (SUN) 5:00 (MON, TUES, WED)1:15 | 5:00 THE INVISIBLE MAN (R) (FRI & SAT)8:50 (MON, TUES, WED)8:50 ONWARD (PG) (FRI & SAT)1:00 | 3:45 | 6:30 | 9:25 (SUN)3:45 | 6:30 | 8:00 | 9:25 (MON, TUES, WED) 1:00 | 3:45 | 6:30 | 9:25 Opening for dine in on 5 th July - LONG WEEKEND - 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 a 20% chance of showers. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 89°F 78°F HIGH LOW WINDS East at 10 to 15 knots SEA STATE Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass Positive cases in Cayman top 200 Up to press time on Thursday, 201 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands. Of those, 194 have recovered and there are six active cases. The total number of tests carried out stands at 24,321. Tourism leaders to contact stipend registrants The Tourism Ministry and Department of Tourism will be sending emails to those registrants who have qualified for the displaced tourism employees stipend, according to a DoT press release issued Wednesday. The email will be sent to verified registrants only and the DoT advises recipients to not share the email, as it will include a link specific to the verified applicant for securely providing their banking details. The deadline is Tuesday, 7 July. Those persons who were not approved will receive separate communications. The displaced tourism employee stipend is part of a government assistance plan for those who were severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Newly created entity TravelTime begins operation This week, government’s new authority TravelTime began its management of evacuation flights to and from the Cayman Islands. As of 1 July, TravelTime, according to a statement from the International Investment and Trade Ministry, is a single point of registration to streamline travel until Cayman’s borders are reopened to normal commercial travel and it will also manage the government isolation facilities for persons returning to the island. Those wishing to travel to, from, and within the Cayman Islands, whether by air or sea, now have to reconfirm their intentions and desire to travel at www.exploregov.ky/ traveltime. Nine repatriation flights, planned through 1 July to 11 July, scheduled to and from Grand Cayman, are currently being actively pursued by the TravelTime team. Those round-trip flights are to and from London, England; Miami, Florida; and Kingston, Jamaica. NEOC stands down The National Emergency Operations Centre has been stood down and the NEOC email discontinued as a source of information. Anyone with an emergency is advised to call 911. Those with queries regarding COVID-19 in the Cayman Islands and applicable policies can visit gov.ky/coronavirus and caymancompass.com. HSA Flu Clinics close The Health Services Authority will be closing its Flu Clinics in Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac on Saturday. The HSA cited the reduction in government’s COVID-19 pandemic suppression levels and fewer patients seeking treatment for COVID-like symptoms. The clinics were opened in February and registered more than 1,500 patients in Grand Cayman and more than 75 in Cayman Brac. Those experiencing flu or respiratory symptoms, including fever, cough or shortness of breath, should seek care at the Acute Care Clinic in the George Town General Practice Building or the Accident and Emergency Department, which is open 24/7 in Grand Cayman/Cayman Brac. The HSA’s 24-hour Flu Hotline will remain operational and persons with flu-like symptoms should call 1-800-534-8600 or 947-3077 prior to going to Accident & Emergency. Life in Cayman is slowly but surely starting to get back to normal as COVID-19 suppression measures continue to be relaxed. Weekly COVID round-up cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 3 JULY 2020 2FLOW CAYMAN EXPANDS ITS B2B OPERATIONS Company acquires IT Outsource increasing ability to offer a true end-to-end B2B solution by leveraging existing connectivity services George Town, Grand Cayman – July 1, 2020: Cable and Wireless Cayman, a subsidiary of C&W Communications which operates the C&W Business, Flow, BTC and UTS brands in the Caribbean, today announced the acquisition of IT Outsource Ltd . (“ITO”), a leading Managed Service Provider (MSP) in the Cayman Islands. Founded in 2004, IT Outsource provides IT managed and support services, cloud back-up, security services and enterprise hardware and software solutions focused on clients in the financial services, insurance, government and tourism sectors. ITO prides itself on simplifying the IT requirements of its clients with a reputation for outstanding customer service. This deal further demonstrates the ongoing commitment of Cable and Wireless in the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean region by investing strategically to grow and support business customers. Chris Coles, Chief Commercial Officer B2B in C&W Communications, commented, “The acquisition of IT Outsource represents an important step in the execution of our growth strategy and will strengthen our business by bringing innovative solutions and technologies to existing customers and solidifying our position as the leading provider of ICT services in the Cayman Islands. The combination of our highly complementary services will create greater value for our clients as we continue our drive to innovate in the market.” Garry Southway, General Manager and Managing Partner, IT Outsource, said, “As the entire world shifts to focusing on how to secure a mobile workforce we aim to expand our portfolio of solutions in the region for protecting people, services, and data – on the network and beyond. We know these are challenging and uncertain times, and we are excited about what this deal means for the expansion and profitability of your business and ours, and that in the process we hope to offer a more comprehensive and secure ‘end to end’ offering and to better serve our clients in the region with new and innovative solutions.” Speaking about the acquisition of ITO, Robert Moorhead, Head of C&W Business Cayman, said, “This is a significant moment for both companies as we bring together two leaders in the Cayman Islands technology industry.” ABOUT IT OUTSOURCE LTD. IT Outsource Ltd (“ITO”) is a full-service IT consultancy and business solutions firm, based in the Cayman Islands which has been providing technology-based solutions for clients in the English-speaking Caribbean since 2004. ITO focuses on clients in the Offshore Financial Services sector and the various small and medium businesses in the region and offers the best-of-breed solutions for each. ITO offers the following products and services: Disaster Recovery (DRaaS), IT managed services, IT support services, IT consulting services, hardware and software, Microsoft Azure Cloud, Backend as a Service (BaaS), private/hybrid cloud, offshore hosting, IT managed security and enhanced IT security. ABOUT C&W COMMUNICATIONS C&W Communications (“C&W”), part of the Liberty Latin America group of companies, is a full-service communications and entertainment provider and delivers market-leading video, broadband, telephony and mobile services to consumers in more than 20 markets. Through its business division, C&W provides data center hosting, domestic and international managed network services, and customized IT service solutions, utilizing cloud technology to serve business and government customers. C&W also operates a state-of-the-art submarine fiber network – the most extensive in the region. Learn more at www.cwc.com. C&W Communications Media Relations We are proud to welcome to the C&W family cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 3 JULY 20201234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Afraid (7) 5 Pay a call on (5) 8 Unofficial test of opinion (5,4) 9 A sugar cane liquor (3) 10 Symbol of servitude (4) 12 Pupil of a leader (8) 14 Elect (6) 15 Rigorous (6) 17 CommuniquÈ (8) 18 Cease (4) 21 Say further (3) 22 Bugbear (4,5) 24 Adversary (5) 25 Fidelity (7) DOWN 1 Arousing suspicion (5) 2 Earth’s atmosphere (3) 3 Domestic cock or hen (4) 4 Chance of success (4-2) 5 Speed (8) 6 Cause of hurt feelings (4,5) 7 Violent storm (7) 11 Information (9) 13 A legislative body (8) 14 A green leaf vegetable (7) 16 A handgun (6) 19 Devoutness (5) 20 Jealousy (4) 23 Harmful (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16421 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 16421 ACROSS: 1 Fearful, 5 Visit, 8 Straw poll, 9 Rum, 10 Yoke, 12 Disciple, 14 Choose, 15 Strict, 17 Bulletin, 18 Stop, 21 Add, 22 Bete noire, 24 Enemy, 25 Loyalty. DOWN: 1 Fishy, 2 Air, 3 Fowl, 4 Look-in, 5 Velocity, 6 Sore point, 7 Tempest, 11 Knowledge, 13 Assembly, 14 Cabbage, 16 Pistol, 19 Piety, 20 Envy, 23 Ill. If there is one thing that I am most infuriated and powerless over, it would have to be other drivers – other drivers who tailgate, drivers who cut me off, drivers who refuse to let me merge, drivers who are too selfish to use their indicators. I am sure that you have experienced the maniacs who drive too fast and also those who drive too slowly. I make a deliberate effort to be as courteous a driver as possible. Need to merge? No problem! Want to pass? Let me move out of your way, I am in no hurry. Have a nice day! This plan is simple but not always easy, especially with our narrow and twisty roads. At some time in the past I would have given a wild gesture or even given them a taste of their own medicine. These responses are not only futile but dangerous. Some of these drivers could be drunk or on drugs. Do not expect that the aggressive driver will learn their lesson from you or me. You mean that tailgating is bad? Thank you for pointing this out to me. I will never do it again! Maybe the aggressive driver needs to be pulled over so he will be forced to find the help he desperately needs. Maybe the reckless driver will get injured and learn some important lessons while he recovers. Maybe the teenager who is driving and texting needs to have their license revoked before they kill their best friend. I know for certain that I cannot change other people and how they drive. I can only control my own behaviour and my response to other drivers. Graham Walker Driving instructor calls for better behaviour on roads EDITORIAL BOARD It is easy to throw uplifting quotes at a crisis, telling people that, if only they look hard enough, there will be an opportunity hidden somewhere. For some, few experiences will have changed lives like the COVID-19 pandemic. No travel, no personal contact, no schools, no help with childcare, no services, no income. We all recognise some or perhaps all the effects that the lockdown has caused. Cautious, sensible decision- making has helped Cayman avoid the most tragic consequences of the coronavirus crisis. This unprecedented time has offered an opportunity for many to reflect on what is truly important. Sometimes you don’t know what you have got ‘til it's gone. And the restrictions on beach access, on socialising with friends and family and on fishing and diving, reminded us how important these simple things are to our way of life. We recognise that Utopian thinking must be tempered with a sufficient dose of real-world practicality. While half of the The chance to build a better Cayman population will be on ‘staycation’ over the holiday weekend, enjoying the charms of Cayman without the crowds, the other half is still in survival mode. There are thousands of people who needed a paycheque yesterday. Like a retreating tide, the virus has exposed some of the weaknesses of our society and made us aware of the real benefits of the natural world, work-life balance, and some of the simple but important aspects of living on an island. It has also given us a unique opportunity to press the reset button. This is a rare chance and should not be wasted. Saving jobs and businesses and learning how to function in a post-COVID-19 world will be the short-term goal. The longer-term ambition must be to build a stronger, more resilient and self-reliant Cayman that reflects a clear vision of where the islands want to go. The crisis is forcing us to ask hard questions about education, the economy, our infrastructure, the environment , tourism and more. Education requires a fundamental shift – using available data – to prepare Caymanians for the careers of the future, as well as retrain them for the jobs which exist today. Digital poverty has made access to online learning a challenge for so many families, and it highlights the concern of the inadequacy of the necessary infrastructure and training required to exist in our digital future. For those who have a job, the lines between home and work have blurred. As a result, childcare is now recognised more than ever as essential work and the flexibility needed during the crisis is here stay. The environment has seen unexpected benefits during the pandemic. The absence of traffic and the less intensive use of natural resources have shown what a greener world might feel like. But this does not mean that the path to recovery is predetermined to be green. It will be tempting to return to the old fossil-fuel ways in search of quick fixes, rather than take the path of revitalisation that would see a wider push for renewable energy, public transport, modern waste disposal and home energy efficiency. It is up to Cayman’s leaders – not just those currently in power, but those who see themselves as contenders come election time next May – to articulate a vision for this country that allows us to embrace the future while regaining some of that old-time charm that fosters a happy and supportive community. Over the next two months, in a special series for our Issues section, the Compass will explore the key questions at stake as the island seeks to chart a new course. From traffic and tourism, to jobs and training, development and the environment, food security and technology, and infrastructure challenges, we will delve into the central issues facing our country and seek to determine what kind of Cayman could emerge in the aftermath of the crisis. This is a chance to create our Cayman 2.0. What do we want it to look like? Letters to the editor Editorial cartoon No help please - By Caymanman 4cayman compass 5 FRIDAY, 3 JULY 2020 1 (345) 945-4040 1 (345) 640-4040 healthcitycaymanislands.com The future is bright, the future starts here. Our Healthcare Explorers education program has grown from strength to strength since its start in 2014. With over 8,000 student interactions to date, 4,303 in the last year alone - which represents more interactions than the first 5 years combined! We are investing in Cayman’s youth today, to create the medical professionals of tomorrow. Total Enrollments Since Inception 18 218 317 177 730 2414 4303 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 5000 Jun '142014 - 20152015 - 20162016 - 20172017 - 20182018 - 20192019 - 2020KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky When the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly next meets, lawmakers will face a historic human rights decision. The introduction of the Domestic Partnership Bill, 2020, aimed at providing a legal equivalent to marriage for same-sex couples, comes as an exception in the Caribbean, where few jurisdictions outside of Dutch, French and US territories recognise such a right. While some Cayman Islands legislators have been vocal in their opposition to gay rights, they have also been tasked by the courts with resolving the marriage issue - one rooted in five centuries of colonial history. For same-sex couples like Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden Bush, who began litigating for recognition of their marriage two years ago, the courts have become a battleground. Where legislatures and heads of government have so far been unwilling to act, courts in the region have provided LGBTQ and human rights advocates a means of resistance. In Bermuda, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and elsewhere, LGBTQ advocates are litigating for change as well. In November, Cayman’s Court of Appeals punted to the legislature, however, overturning same-sex marriage approval by the Grand Court and ordering the Legislative Assembly instead to act on the matter. “Chantelle Day and Vickie Bodden Bush are entitled, expeditiously, to legal protection in the Cayman Islands, which is functionally equivalent to marriage,” the November judgment read. “It would be wholly unacceptable for this declaration to be ignored. Whether or not there is an appeal to the Privy Council in respect of same-sex marriage, there can be no justification for further delay or prevarication.” Now, the legislature must amend one of the territory’s most divisive issues – or face the UK imposing a solution for them. So, how did Cayman get here? Long before the Day and Bodden Bush marriage case reached the courts, same-sex rights had become a contentious topic of debate in the Cayman Islands. The Caymanian Compass opened its first edition of the century, on 2 Jan., 2001, with a retroactive announcement: same-sex acts had been legalised in the overseas territories the previous day through an order issued by the UK Privy Council on 13 Dec., 2000. The order overturned 500 years of British colonial policy, starting with the Buggery Act of 1533, which first outlawed sodomy under the reign of Henry VIII. The 2000 Order in Council provided a blanket mandate for British Overseas Territories, but it did not hold power over the British Commonwealth. Some form of the Buggery Act remains in force in eight Caribbean Commonwealth nations, a result of a savings clause that grandfathered preexisting colonial law into the legal framework of newly independent Caribbean nations in the 1960s and 70s. The British colonial legacy has complicated human rights progress in the region and across the Commonwealth – a reality that has been recognised, but not fully amended, by the UK. “Across the world, discriminatory laws made many years ago continue to affect the lives of many people,” then-Prime Minister Theresa May told the Commonwealth Summit in 2018. “I am all too aware that these laws were often put in place by my own country. They were wrong then and they are wrong now." Governor Martyn Roper has supported the partnerships bill. Gay tourism Around the time of 2000’s Order in Council, one of Cayman’s main economic engines, tourism, began to drive attention to the gay rights debate. Cruise tourism aimed at gay and lesbian travellers was gaining popularity, and operators promoted the Caribbean in tour packages. In Grand Cayman, however, the business was not initially welcomed. The Cayman Islands Government denied landing of an Atlantis Events cruise, catering to gay and lesbian travellers, in January 1998. The decision made international headlines. “Careful research and prior experience has led us to conclude that we cannot count on this group to uphold the standards of appropriate behaviour expected of our visitors,” the Los Angeles Times quoted then-tourism minister Thomas C. Jefferson as saying. Notwithstanding, Atlantis Events would successfully return to Cayman with 3,200 gay and lesbian guests at the end of January 2006. Despite prior objections by the Cayman Ministers’ Association and the church community, the cruise passed without “any real protest or disturbance”, the Compass reported on 1 Feb., 2006. Unlike the response to 2000’s Order in Council, the response to the 2006 cruise was notable in the pages of the Compass. Letters to the editor filled the opinion page of the paper as the community debated the presence of openly gay, lesbian and otherwise non-conforming individuals on Cayman’s shores. In 2008, tourism forced the topic of gay rights back into the spotlight after the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service detained a visitor from Massachusetts for kissing another man on the dance floor of Royal Palms. Then-Director of Tourism Pilar Bush issued an apology the following week. “What happened to you was an isolated incident, and is not representative of Cayman,” Bush wrote to the male visitor. Frommer’s Travel Guide writes, “Most of the gay and lesbian community regards the Cayman Islands as gay-hostile as opposed to gay-friendly. None of the islands in the Caribbean are completely gay-friendly … but the government of the Cayman Islands has been particularly vocal and unapologetic in expressing its anti-gay attitudes.” Work permit-holder rights In recent years, Members of the Legislative Assembly have made far-reaching statements against same-sex rights, from contemplating independence over the issue to accusing gay individuals of provoking natural disasters, like earthquakes. In November 2019, legislators sparred with a familiar target of their ire, attorney Leonardo Raznovich. The lawyer won the right to reside in Cayman in 2016, after the Immigration Appeals Tribunal granted him permission to appear as a dependent on his husband’s work permit. After the Court of Appeals ruling in November, renewed debate in the legislature took aim at Raznovich, with MLAs Anthony Eden and Ezzard Miller calling for his deportation. Without directly naming Raznovich, Eden told the Legislative Assembly, “I don’t know how we can sit down and continue to house someone that has inflicted so much pain on so many of our people in Cayman.” The comments garnered condemnation from Colours Cayman, an advocate organisation for LGBTQ rights in the islands. “Our organisation views this behaviour as a blatant and gross abuse of power. Are we to believe that any lawyer or individual advocating for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people is at risk of facing deportation or being ostracised somehow by our own government?” When Day and Bodden Bush began their fight for recognition, the Raznovich case came as inspiration, Day said. The expatriate couple’s success gave Day hope that as a native-born Caymanian, her case might have a chance as well. “That opened the door,” Day said. “If foreigners living in Cayman can have some recognition, even if it wasn’t full recognition … then surely the same should be extended to Caymanians.” Day and Bodden Bush's lawyers announced plans to take the fight to the Privy Council in January. “I don’t think that our case has anything to do with religion. It has everything to do with human rights and equality,” Day said. “People are entitled to their religious views and that’s between them and their God. They’re also entitled to civil liberties. I’m entitled to civil liberties as a Caymanian to marry and to have a child and to have a loving relationship legally recognised - the same way it’s recognised for heterosexual couples." Vickie Bodden Bush and Chantelle DayNot everyone is in favour of allowing gay marriage in Cayman. Same-sex union bill challenges 500 years of history “The open ended contracts that first attracted me to Grant Thornton Cayman, have seen me progress from Senior Accountant to Senior Manager in 5 years” We’re hiring We’re looking for Audit Seniors and Managers with strong Funds experience. Join an exciting organisation with an open door to endless opportunities hr@ky.gt.com| grantthornton.kyAlan Shek, Senior Manager Chantelle Day Chantelle Day has been fighting for more than two years to have her marriage with wife Vickie Bodden Bush recognised by the Cayman Islands government. Day shared her experiences growing up in Cayman and why she is dedicated to raising her family here. View the full interview with Day at www.caymancompass.com. 6Changes will now prevent criminal trials from being called off simply because the only evidence is the testimony of a child. ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Lawmakers have voted in favour of amending the Youth Justice Law, which will now prevent criminal trials from being called off simply because the only evidence is the uncorroborated testimony of a child. The law previously mandated judges and juries acquit defendants in such cases. Section 17 subsection 4 read, in part, “… the accused shall not be liable to be convicted of the offence unless that evidence is corroborated by some supporting material evidence which implicates him.” “If [this is] the only evidence against an accused person and he is charged for, say, a sexual offence … then he has to be acquitted,” explained Attorney General Samuel Bulgin as he proposed the amendment to the law by way of a bill before the Legislative Assembly on Monday. Cases that come before Cayman’s courts involving victims who are minors often involve abuse of a physical or sexual nature. While the vast majority of the trials are able to go through the full process, which produces a verdict that takes into account all the evidence presented to the court, there are still instances where the trial is called off – simply because the only evidence is that of a child. The defendant is subsequently allowed to walk free. One such instance was in 2017, when a then 57-year-old man was acquitted of indecently assaulting his partner’s 8-year-old daughter. The difficult judge-alone trial had no corroborating evidence to support the child’s testimony, and that, coupled with other issues, led to the judge dismissing the trial. The passing of the amendment to the law does not mean that a defendant will automatically be convicted of a crime in cases where there is no corroborating evidence to support the child’s testimony. Instead, it means the defendant must now face the full and formal procedure of going before the court, having a trial followed by a judge or jury’s deliberations, and then coming to a verdict. Bulgin said by repealing the section of the law, Cayman’s courts would have to then do a legal test to satisfy itself that the child understands the importance and significance of speaking the truth and is credible. “Where that happens and the court is satisfied that the child is competent in that regard, then the person cannot be acquitted merely because the only evidence against him or her, for that matter, is that of a child,” said Bulgin. Although the proposed change of law was not met with any resistance, some MLAs expressed concerns that it could potentially lead to a wrongful conviction. “It appeared to me that we were removing some necessary safeguards, that may result in people being convicted on uncorroborated evidence,” said Newlands MLA Alva Suckoo. However, Suckoo pointed to jurisdictions like the UK and Scotland where similar changes in law have been made. “The research that they have used has demonstrated that child witnesses are no less reliable actually than adult witnesses,” said Suckoo. “Earlier studies that depicted child witnesses as dangerous have now being disputed.” Suckoo said if the Youth Justice Law was left unchanged, it would continue to view child witnesses as “legally incompetent”. The passing of the bill now brings the Youth Justice Act in line with Cayman’s Evidence Law, which also did away with a similar provision in 2018. Attorney General Samuel BulginThe Cayman Islands Courthouse, in George Town. MLAs vote in favour of changing Youth Justice Law cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 3 JULY 2020 Jimmy Whorms-Bodden Manager Fleet & Security Services Congratulations Promotions at CUC Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (CUC) recently promoted Jimmy Whorms-Bodden to Manager Fleet & Security Services. A 1998 graduate of John Gray High School, Jimmy joined CUC’s Production Maintenance Department (formerly the Mechanical Maintenance Department) in January 2008 as a Heavy Duty Mechanic Apprentice. He attended the University College of the Cayman Islands between September 2009 and July 2011 before heading off to Durham College in Oshawa, Canada in February 2012. He was awarded a CUC scholarship in 2013 while at Durham College and completed an Associate’s degree in Mechanical Technology in May 2014 with an emphasis in mechanical maintenance and control. Following his graduation, Jimmy returned to the Company and took up the post of Mechanical Technician II. In June 2015, he was promoted to Mechanical Technician III. As with all CUC scholarship recipients, Jimmy underwent extensive cross-training in a number of departments, which led to his eventual transfer to the Electrical Maintenance Department in January 2016 as a Production Planner. In January 2017, Jimmy returned to the Production Maintenance Department as Supervisor Mechanical Maintenance and in 2020, he transferred to the Fleet and Security Services Department to assume the role of Manager of the department. CUC is committed to promoting from within the Company and continues to provide opportunities for training, education and career advancement to all its employees. The Company established its scholarship programme in 1989 and since then has awarded full and partial scholarships to over 45 current and past employees in the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering, information technology, systems operations, human resources, environmental management and financial services. JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Members of Cayman’s Indian community head back to their home country Friday with their heads held high after helping each other through an “unimaginable experience” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of Indian nationals have been stranded in Cayman without jobs or income since the crisis began. With India’s borders closed, it has been impossible for them to return home. They have survived by leaning on each other for support. Naveentha Krishnan and Senthil Periyasamy told the Cayman Compass that they and their friends, with the support of the wider community, had made and delivered nearly 2,000 meals to those who were without work during the height of the crisis. Periyasamy, who is on sabbatical from his job at The Ritz-Carlton, said he had been lucky that his employer had helped with some pay and food. Others were not so fortunate. “After a few weeks, we came to know that our friends had difficulties with their daily routine. No food, no money ... they were starving,” said Periyasamy. “We organised to help and make one meal per day. Kind- hearted people helped with groceries and donations and spending their time cooking and delivering meals.” Krishnan, who works at Paperman’s coffee shop and kept some shifts during the pandemic, said he and his flatmates had managed to deliver daily meals to around 90 people for seven weeks. “These were our friends,” he said, “so we wanted to do something to help them.” He said numerous people had helped with groceries, bags of rice or money for food. Those who couldn’t donate financially, donated time. Periyasamy added, “We would like to thank each one of our Indian friends for the helpful contribution toward our daily lunch meal project. We appreciated the efforts. They all made it possible.” Both men are leaving the island on Friday, but they hope others will pick up where they left off and help support those in need if there is another outbreak and more people are left without work and food. “When we leave, we hope that others will take over,” said Periyasamy. The six people responsible for the meal project were – Marcus Joseph Raj, Joe Lambert, Tony Rozario, Naveen Santhanam, Krishnan and Periyasamy. They say they received help and support from many in the community, including the Tamilnadu cricket club. Indian community survives COVID-19 by leaning on each other Habeebbabu Sarbudeen plates the meals for delivery. Sriram Rathinasamy stirs the pot to help with the lunch programme. Hundreds of Indian nationals have been stranded in Cayman without jobs or income since the crisis began . cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 3 JULY 2020 Department of Agriculture working together, growing together Attention West Bay & George Town Farmers The Department of Agriculture’s Land Clearing Equipment service is currently being offered to all persons with a valid Commercial Farmer ID and organizations involved in agriculture in the districts of West Bay and George Town. Application forms can be collected from the Department of Agriculture’s Sales Office or downloaded from it’s website at www.doa.gov.ky (Agronomy/Revised Bulldozer Policy). No incomplete or late applications will be accepted. Deadline for receipt of applications for these districts is Friday 10th July 2020. Email: ciagriculture@gov.ky Ph: (345)-947-3090 or 916-8901 The Environmental Management System at the North Sound Road Power Plant is registered to ISO 14001 Never attempt to prune or trim trees that grow within 10 feet of power lines. Only qualified personnel approved by CUC should trim trees or branches within 10 feet of power lines. Contact with a high voltage power line can result in serious injury or even death. Always ensure that trees and branches on your property are properly maintained and grow away from power lines. Trees or branches that grow over 10 feet away from power lines can be trimmed by landscapers. Our tree trimming is aimed at keeping over 450 miles of transmission and distribution lines clear of trees and undergrowth. Through our focus on effective vegetation management, which includes periodic inspections of power lines and information from customers, we can identify trees that are growing too close to power lines and thus, cause concern for public safety and reliability. If branches on your property are within 10 feet of power lines, please visit our website at www.cuc-cayman.com, navigate to the “Tree Trimming” section under the “Customer Service” tab, review the Vegetation Management Guidelines and complete the line clearance request. After submitting the information, a CUC representative will be in contact with you once the information has been processed. Warning: Tree Trimming near Power LinesBodden Town West MLA, Chris Saunders Definition changes expected to cover signficantly more investment vehicles MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky In an effort to take the Cayman Islands off the EU tax blacklist, government introduced last- minute, ungazetted changes to the Private Funds Law, on Wednesday. The Private Funds Law was introduced in February of this year in response to EU pressure and required certain closed- ended funds, or private funds, to register with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority. Under the new law, private funds must file audited accounts, have appropriate internal asset valuation procedures and proper custodial and cash monitoring processes. The law also extends CIMA’s enforcement powers over the funds. Minister Tara Rivers said government had identified some areas in the law “which seem to be creating uncertainty among practitioners”. Changes to the definition of private funds in the law were needed to eliminate any “ambiguity regarding the registration of funds which were contemplated to be registerable,” she said. In other words, the government believes many more closed-ended funds have yet to register with the regulator. A six-month transitional period for private fund registration ends on 7 Aug. According to consulting firm Cartan, only 771 private funds have registered with CIMA so far. How many closed-ended funds are subject to the law is not certain, because they can be structured as companies, partnerships or unit trusts. Cayman has about 110,000 registered companies and almost 30,000 registered partnerships. In contrast to open-ended funds, closed-ended funds issue only a fixed number of shares which are not redeemable from the fund. Instead, their shares trade like a stock in the secondary market. It is expected that the new definition of private funds, introduced by the government during committee stage amendments on Wednesday, will significantly increase the number and types of closed-ended Cayman investment vehicles that need to register with CIMA. The changes leave service providers little time before the 7 Aug. deadline to explain to their clients that entities which were previously believed not to be in scope of the legislation, now are. Opposition MLA criticises industry consultation Opposition MLA Chris Saunders criticised the government consultation process with the financial services industry, arguing that it had created a culture of the regulated writing the rules that regulate them. “We cannot have the foxes write the rules to guard the henhouse,” Saunders said. He said lawmakers were reliant on feedback from lawyers and accountants and others in the industry to understand how laws are applied in practice. But in the case of the Private Funds Law, the legal profession had acted “selfishly” and done what was best for their clients, not what was best for the country or the financial services industry as a whole. Saunders said, “The truth of the fact is the very people that we depended on to help us through this issue, basically for their own self-serving purposes, wrote a definition that gives them a backdoor and a loophole out of this system.” He added, “The blacklisting of this country as a result of some people trying to be cute and running the risk that it did for the entire country was really unconscionable.” Quoting a Financial Times article about Singapore angling for Cayman’s fund business after the EU tax listing, Saunders said the Opposition recognises the importance of a transparent financial services industry that meets all international obligations and that is taken off the EU blacklist. Minister Rivers responded that by bringing the amendment forward, government was doing everything it could to ensure there “is no shadow of a doubt to the EU or anybody else” as to the government’s intention of having a robust regulatory framework that can withstand scrutiny, so that Cayman will be removed from the EU list at the earliest opportunity. Minister of Financial Services, Tara Rivers Government clarifies scope of Private Funds Law cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 3 JULY 2020 Tel: 640.6272 / 922.9711Email: carclinic.ky@gmail.com Oil & Filter Service + 26 POINT INSPECTION OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE Mon-Friday 7:30am - 5pm Saturday 9am -12pm. Auto Care Center diagnose the problem and fix it right the first time. We have certified licensed technicians. We diagnose and test your vehicle so we will NOT charge you for a FULL SERVICE if it’s not needed - NO HIDDEN FEES. FREE QUOTE. 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