$ 6 Hot Honey Chicken 2PC Chicken, Reg Side & Biscuit EASTERN AVENUE cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 17-23 July 2020 News Orders in Council coming for beneficial ownership registries Page 5 News Compass survey: Virus led to financial and health anxiety Page 13 Sunrise Adult Centre gives classroom reopening a test run Page 8 Climbing Everest, one stair at a time Page 14 A green recovery Page 16 COVID fears could impact Cayman’s cancer cases Page 7 mbing rest stair tim Page 16 The latest in our Cayman 2.0 series examines renewable energy and sustainable tourismMatinees (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $8.00 (Mon-Fri before 6pm) Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets 640-FILM (640-3456) Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any film starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK BAD BOYS FOR LIFE (R) (FRI & SAT) 1:10 | 9:45 (MON, TUES, WED, THURS) 1:10 | 9:45 BLOODSHOT (PG-13) (FRI & SAT) 1:20 | 3:55 VIP | 10:10 (SUN) 6:55 | 9:25 | 10:10 VIP (MON, TUES, WED, THURS) 1:20 | 3:55 VIP |10:10 ENTER THE DRAGON (R) (FRI & SAT) 7:25 | 10:00 (MON, TUES, WED, THURS) 7:25 | 10:00 I STILL BELIEVE (PG) (FRI & SAT) 12:30 | 3:20 | 7:15 (SUN) 3:20 | 7:15 | 9:45 (MON, TUES, WED, THURS) 12:30 | 3:20 | 7:15 LION KING, THE (1994) (G) (FRI & SAT) 4:15 (SUN) 4:15 (MON, TUES, WED, THURS) 4:15 MY SPY (PG-13) (FRI & SAT) 12:45 | 1:00 VIP | 3:40 | 6:45 VIP | 9:10 (SUN) 3:40 | 4:00 VIP | 6:45 VIP | 7:10 | 9:10 | 9:40 (MON, TUES, WED, THURS) 12:45 | 1:00 VIP | 3:40 | 6:45 VIP | 9:10 ONWARD (PG) (FRI & SAT) 4:30 | 6:30 (SUN) 4:10 | 6:30 (MON, TUES, WED, THURS) 4:30 | 6:30 SHAWSHANK REDEPTION, THE (R) (FRI & SAT) 6:20 | 9:30 VIP (MON, TUES, WED, THURS) 6:20 | 9:30 VIP Indoor and Outdoor dining • 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 becoming cloudy at times with a 40% chance of localized showers and possible thunder. weather Forecast today Cayman Islands 90°F 80°F HIGH LOW WINDS East to southeast at 5 to 10 knots. SEA STATE Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s active COVID-19 cases remain low and the islands are scheduled to enter the next phase of eased public health restrictions on Sunday, 19 July. The most recent regulations will remain in place until 2 Aug., at which point an updated public health regime is expected to take effect. Cayman is still at Level 2, the minimal suppression phase, and has not been cleared of the COVID-19 threat. As of Wednesday afternoon, there were just two active cases on the islands, and only three new cases were confirmed this month. Between 19 July and 2 Aug. the following will be permitted: • Dancing and karaoke at bars and restaurants • Opening of nightclubs • Contact sports • Up to 10 people gathered on a boat • Boat and personal access to Stingray City, the Sandbar, Starfish Point and Rum Point Individuals over age 2 will still be expected to wear face masks in indoor or enclosed public spaces. While social distancing is still recommended, the regulations that took effect on 5 July reduced distancing within restaurants from six feet to three feet and removed the limit on the number of patrons that may dine together. Businesses reserve the right to impose their own, additional safety precautions and can deny service to those who do not comply. Travel between Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands was also opened on 5 July, with a few conditions. Travellers must notify the medical officer of health of their plans and be tested for COVID-19 prior to travel. On receipt of a negative result, the individual must be transported directly to the airport for the flight. For more information on government’s public health regulations, visit www. exploregov.ky/coronavirus. 2 Eased coronavirus restrictions take effect Sunday Karaoke will be allowed from 19 July. The number of active COVID-19 cases in the Cayman Islands as of 15 July cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 17 JULY 2020 2cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 17 JULY 2020 The Environmental Management System at the North Sound Road Power Plant is registered to ISO 14001 Updates on our Scholarship Recipients The Company currently has six other Caymanian scholarship recipients actively pursuing their degrees and qualifications - Victoria Powery, Jonathan Key, Briony Gallegos, Sebastian Martinez, Gabrielle Ramoutar and Natalia McCoy. 2017 scholarship recipients Victoria Powery and Jonathan Key are continuing studies in their respective designations. Victoria Powery is pursuing an online Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Health and Safety from Columbia Southern University in Alabama in the United States, while working full-time as an Administrative Assistant with the Company’s Environment, Health & Safety Department. Jonathan Key is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Indianapolis in Indiana in the United States. Much like Andrew, Jonathan has worked with the Company during the summer breaks gaining hands-on experience primarily in the Production Maintenance Department. A former CUC Employee of the Year recipient, 2019 scholarship recipient Briony Gallegos has worked with CUC since interning in 2012. She was then offered a permanent role in the Customer Services Department. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Briony began online classes in May 2020 and will continue her studies at the university once travel between the Cayman Islands and the United States resumes. 2019 scholarship recipient Sebastian Martinez is continuing his studies at David Game College in London, England. The current global health crisis has posed some challenges with physical school closures, however, Sebastian remained in the United Kingdom and has continued classes online. When Sebastian completes his studies at David Game College, he plans to pursue a degree in engineering. 2019 A level scholarship recipients Gabrielle Ramoutar and Natalia McCoy continue their studies at St. Ignatius Catholic High School and Cayman Prep & High School respectively. Both young ladies are pursuing A level classes with a focus on the sciences. CUC established its scholarship programme in 1989 and since then has awarded full and partial scholarships to over 50 current and past employees and high school students in the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering, information technology, systems operations, environmental management, occupational safety and health and financial services. In 2016, the Company further enhanced its scholarship programme by offering assistance for qualified students to pursue their A levels. Gabrielle RamoutarNatalia McCoy Briony GallegosSebastian Martinez Victoria PoweryJonathan Key Andrew Hafer-Greene Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (CUC) recently welcomed back 2016 scholarship recipient Andrew Hafer-Greene following his graduation with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Pennsylvania (Penn) State University in the United States. Andrew returned to the Company in June as a Graduate Engineer in the Engineering Services and Business Development Department following the completion of his studies in the United States. Throughout his four years overseas, Andrew worked with the Company during the summer and Christmas breaks in the Engineering Services and Business Development and Electrical Maintenance Departments, during which time he gained valuable hands-on experience. His interest is in renewable and sustainable energy and during his senior year at university, Andrew presented a project and submitted a publication on Power Electronics and Sustainable Energy Solutions for the regional Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in Maryland. He returns to the Company with a wealth of knowledge on renewable energy and an eagerness to contribute to the Company’s continued development and success.1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Separate and distinctive (7) 5 Money resources (5) 8 Not in due sequence (3,2,4) 9 Fifth sign of zodiac (3) 10 Be in a rage (4) 12 Poisonous (8) 14 Utter softly (6) 15 Swerve about wildly (6) 17 Infatuated (8) 18 Russian emperor (4) 21 Manipulate (3) 22 Listen eagerly (2,3,4) 24 Insertion in a register (5) 25 Gossip (7) DOWN 1 Hoax (5) 2 Examine critically (3) 3 Widespread (4) 4 Dark green glossy-leaf tree (6) 5 Frank and confidential (3-2-3) 6 Any applicants (3,6) 7 A surety (7) 11 An illusory discovery (5-4) 13 In fit manner (8) 14 Anarchy (3,4) 16 Remove (6) 19 Hazardous (5) 20 Tiny jumping insect (4) 23 Donkey (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16433 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 16433 ACROSS: 1 Several, 5 Means, 8 Out of turn, 9 Leo, 10 Fume, 12 Venomous, 14 Murmur, 15 Career, 17 Besotted, 18 Tsar, 21 Use, 22 Be all ears, 24 Entry, 25 Hearsay. DOWN: 1 Spoof, 2 Vet, 3 Rife, 4 Laurel, 5 Man-to-man, 6 All comers, 7 Sponsor, 11 Mare’s-nest, 13 Suitably, 14 Mob rule, 16 Detach, 19 Risky, 20 Flea, 23 Ass. Former West Indies cricketer Michael Holding has spoken out strongly against racism. He rightly did so. Acts 17:26 tells us that God “made out of one man every nation of men to dwell on the entire surface of the earth.” Of course, “every nation” includes people of all races. Since all races came from one source, they are all equal in the sight of God. Hence, no race of people is better or superior than another race. God accepts people from all races, as Acts 10:34, 35 prove. Black people and white people are equal. Satan the Devil, “who is misleading the entire inhabited earth,” influences many people to think that one race is superior to another race (Revelation 12:9). He always opposes God. So if we are racist, then we are actually siding with the Devil. If you are a racist, pray to God sincerely and ask him to help you get rid of feelings of racism. Simeon James Letters to the editor Will racism ever end? Want Cayman’s borders open? COVID’S incubation period – not testing – is the challenge With children only just having some normalcy and getting back to school in September, I don’t understand why we would risk opening up in September. - Priscilla Maragh Florida is now the epicen- tre of the world replacing New York. Most of our flights come through Florida. I know people are anxious to travel but we have survived so far and Cayman is making great progress. Surely no one wants to go back into lock- downs and curfews or, worse, loss of life due to the virus spreading and most especially reaching our most vulnerable. Our children are getting ready to go back to school as well. Patience please! - Shadden McLaughlin A number of Caymanians would love to return home with their family who are not Cayma- nians but can’t. Looking forward to some changes so we too can return home to see our family and friends. - Christopher Bryan Remember how many of our Caymanians are out of a job also. We want to be as safe as possible also. - Marjorie Ranjeet-Bancroft Remote Island: A new era for working life? Absolutely great idea to gen- erate and stimulate the economy. Totally agree that the tourism industry needs to be opened. Here is one example, take a look at Dubai which opens its tourism. Dubai just figured out a way to open tourism, but Cayman can take it to the next level. The motto should be Stay-Work- Play, in Cayman. - Gurvinder Singh Barbados has a good idea. What could be better than people living here, paying rent, spending What they’re saying money in our economy without taking a local person’s job? In fact, creating work for local people. But remember the time differ- ence. Currently six hours to the UK. If your working day here starts at 9am, then it’s already 3pm in London and 4pm in Paris. Not to mention 13 hours difference to Hong Kong. - Norman Linton Work from home will abso- lutely impact commercial real estate. However, a solid economic plan shifting into the digital economy will highlight the need for consumer/ residential growth based on shifting immigration or part-time living policies. I personally would welcome the op- portunity to live on island for an ex- tended stay while working remotely, as I’ve done from home, for the past 15 years of my career. However, if commercial and tourism remains stifled by COVID and the government is unwilling to open the borders (even in phases to other countries) till there is a vaccine, Cayman is in for a long period of financial collapse. The amount of secondary jobs lost due to these two industries alone will be devastating. I personally hope for the latter of these two options. - Geoff Bartlet HSA lab conducts 10 years worth of tests in three months Thank you for your hard work and determination in keeping us informed and safer. - Michel Lemay This is amazing progress. I know that converting a lab, training, implementing process- es and the time to do these was an enormous amount of work. Way to go, HSA labs! - Alecia Sowden Barbee Now it’s time for locals and Cayman people to get the jobs. - Kenneth Byrne Second Noah’s Ark flight takes to the skies I think this is fantastic. So happy for all of those animals. I hope they all get their forever homes ASAP! - Judye Garrahan Mobley Kudos to Nikole and all the folks who helped to get these dear animals to new homes. This article brought tears – very happy ones. Thank you so much for all your kindness, and also to all of the airline personnel. - Val Cottier Blue iguana death a ‘blow’ to recovery programme Very sad to hear this as we know how precious the blues are and are struggling to build up in numbers. - Julie Rix Well, that’s just brutal. Our visit to the recovery centre was so infor- mative – such care has been taken to restore this population. What a shame. - Kay Anderson Eidem Tropical wave causes power outage and flooding Crazy that a tropical wave can do all this in one area and another gets not a drop of rain! - Chris Lopez cartoon Ruff flight - By Caymanman Steve McIntosh, of recruitment company CML, was featured in last week's story about working from home. 4NOTICE THE DORMANT ACCOUNTS LAW,2010 (Section 6) Eame and/or Eumber of financial institution: JE Cayman Address of financial institution: 29 Elgin Ave, George Town W.K. Box 504 Grand Cayman KY1-1106 CAYDAE ISLAEDS Change of name, if any, of the financial institution: The public is hereby given notice that JN Cayman holds the following dormant The public is also hereby given notice of the following- 1. Unless one or more of the following transactions are effected on a dormant account listed above on or before 31st December next following, the monies in the dormant account will be transferred to the general revenue of the Cayman Islands without further notice- (a) Increase or decrease the amount held in the financial institution (b) Present the passbook or other record for the crediting of interest or dividend in respect of the items enumerated in section 4 (6)(a) and (b) of the Dormant Accounts Law, 2010; · (c) Correspond in writing with the financial institution concerning the monies; (d) In the case of a trust. Make a claim under the trust; or (e) Otherwise indicate an interest in the monies as evidenced by a memorandum concerning the monies written by the financial institution. 2. Subject to the Dormant Accounts Law, 2010, on the transfer of the monies in the dormant account to the general revenue of the Islands, the dormant account holder will no longer have any right against the financial institution to repayment of the monies transferred, but the dormant account holder will have against the Government such right to repayment of the monies transferred that the dormant account holder would have had against the financial institution. 3. Any interested person should contact the financial institution mentioned above to establish if that person is a dormant account holder. Dated this 6th day of June 2020 Interest paid by a financial institution on monies held in the financial institution shall not be regarded as a transaction which increases the amount held in the financial institution pursuant to section 4(5) of the Dormant Accounts Law, 2010 – Wublic Eotice Account number The Date the account was opened 20003716 20-APRIL-2012 20001042 27-OCTOBER-2006 846102 1-FEBRUARY-2001 20000932 23-AUGUST-2006 UK holds firm on imposition for British territories RESHMA RAGOONATH rragooanth@compassmedia.ky The United Kingdom government has said it will issue Orders in Council at the end of the year for all British Overseas Territories to implement beneficial ownership registries by 2023. Cayman, together with seven other overseas territories, has said it will establish publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership. Overseas Territories and Sustainable Development Minister Baroness Elizabeth Sugg, in a written statement Wednesday, welcomed the overseas territories’ commitment to transparency and encouraged other territories to follow suit. “In line with the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act 2018, the Government will prepare a draft Order in Council before the end of 2020, which will be published. We hope that the British Virgin Islands will also commit to publicly accessible registers of company beneficial ownership without delay,” Sugg said in the statement. The issue of public beneficial ownership registries has been a longstanding one between the territories and the UK. When amendments to the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act were passed in 2018 imposing the registries, they triggered widespread objection among overseas territories and prompted Cayman to seek constitution changes that would require the UK to consult with the premier on any proposed legislation or Orders in Council that will directly impact the Cayman Islands. Those changes were agreed to by the UK. Sugg, in addressing the deadline for implementation of the registries, said the UK government considers the end of 2023 “a reasonable deadline for the introduction of such registers”. “Meeting this date will be a considerable ask for many Overseas Territories, given their limited resources; especially those Overseas Territories that do not currently have a company beneficial ownership register. It will involve significant legislative and operational changes,” she said. Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman, the Falkland Islands, Montserrat, the Pitcairn Islands and St Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha, and the Turks and Caicos Islands have all committed to registries. Sugg said the eight territories “have all demonstrated good progress and political leadership as part of the global effort to increase transparency in financial services and tackle illicit finance”. Cayman’s government, in a statement Wednesday, welcomed the minister’s remarks. It said the UK’s 2023 deadline for the registers “aligns with its campaign to advance publicly accessible company beneficial ownership registers as a global norm, as it believes that action on beneficial ownership information in the OTs should be complemented by improved public access to beneficial ownership information internationally”. Government said Cayman had significantly strengthened and enhanced its beneficial ownership regime through the introduction of a more advanced technology platform for managing beneficial ownership information held centrally, and enhanced the powers of the beneficial ownership Competent Authority to verify beneficial ownership information, request additional information, and introduce penalties for non-compliance. “An administrative fines regime has been introduced with a breach in beneficial ownership obligations incurring a $5,000 fine, with a further $1,000 penalty every month until the issue is rectified. Where there is non- payment for 90 days, the BO Registrar has powers to strike the company off the register,” the government statement added. Overseas Territories Minister Baroness Elizabeth Sugg with Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin during his visit to London in February 2019. Orders in Council coming for beneficial ownership registries “In line with the Sanctions and Money Laundering Act 2018, the Government will prepare a draft Order in Council before the end of 2020, which will be published.” Baroness Elizabeth Sugg , Overseas Territories and Sustainable Development Minister 8 The number of British Overseas Territories that have committed to establishing beneficial ownership registries 5Property owners and those wishing to stay for extended periods of time may be among first allowed in Cayman due to ease of tracing, monitoring KEVIN MORALES kmorales@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s leaders continue to examine how stayover visitors could begin to arrive from 1 Sept., the date the country expects to reopen its borders to international travel. The big problem, according to Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee, is that COVID-19’s incubation period makes it difficult to ensure all visitors are free of the disease by the time they reach the Cayman Islands – even if passengers are screened just before boarding a flight. “The PCR test and other such molecular tests can be done exceedingly quickly these days,” Lee said, adding that tests conducted at airports could be turned around in as little as 45 minutes. “That’s not the issue. That’s easy. But people need to understand, the problem is the incubation period of this disease. So, even if you turn [in] a negative result within 48 hours or 24 hours before you bought that plane ticket, you could be harbouring something.” It generally takes around five to six days – sometimes up to two weeks – for an infection to show up after coming into contact with a person carrying coronavirus, according to the World Health Organization. “It will give a false sense of security,” Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez said. “So, we have to make sure that we have everything in order here in Cayman, just to make sure that if we get any of these imported cases, we are able to track them and manage them appropriately.” To that end, Lee and Williams- Rodriguez recommend a multi- pronged approach that could include isolation and testing before arriving in Cayman, along with health and location monitoring once visitors touch down. “The more intensely you monitor, the more likely you are to be able to assist them with any illness they may develop, and also to ring-fence the rest of the population,” Lee said. “It’s how well we can provide that intense surveillance on the visitors to the island which will dictate how we succeed, really.” Lee, on 3 July, announced he is trialling a device called BioSticker. The device has been approved by the US-based Food and Drug Administration and is used to monitor a person’s temperature, pulse and breathing. It potentially could be worn by visitors and alert public health leaders if the person experiences a spike in temperature or other symptoms common with a COVID-19 infection. “It’s the sort of thing we’re thinking of trialling to see whether it might assist us in really being leading edge in how we monitor people that are coming to the islands,” Lee said. Premier Alden McLaughlin last month announced government had formed a committee tasked with figuring out how to best reopen Cayman’s borders. “There are all sorts of discussions – discussions about travel bubbles, discussions about rapid testing,” the premier said. Testing in other jurisdictions London’s Heathrow Airport recently announced it is launching a PCR testing programme for arriving passengers. However, McLaughlin said such a test would not be suitable for the Cayman Islands. “There’s no point in flying them here, testing them, and finding a positive, and then what do we do with them?” he said. “The plane is not going to take them back. So, we’re going to have to put them in some facility, and we clearly can’t accommodate, you know, hundreds or more people, and there’d be hundreds of people coming every day.” Austria’s Vienna International Airport has a testing programme in which passengers are tested at the airport. Passengers make an appointment, samples are taken at the airport, and results are sent to the tested person generally within three to six hours. Earlier this month, it was announced that business travellers between China and Singapore did not need to quarantine for 14 days if they were tested 48 hours prior to departure, were tested again upon arrival, and remained in isolation for up to two days at a non-residential address until the test result is known. They must also avoid public transportation and download the TraceTogether contact tracing app for the duration of their stay. It may be easier to unroll similar COVID-19-prevention protocols with a certain type of traveller, McLaughlin said. “Long-term residents or people who will come and stay for more than the usual four or five days… how can we get them back?” he said. “Because, of course, they provide a greater opportunity for us to be sure about – because [of] the length of time here – whether they are safe or not. “And we’d like them to come back quickly because they will also provide us with information to see how well this can work, rather than the hundreds of people that come in once you open the borders and the commercial flights come back on a regular basis.” The Cayman Compass reached out to a Cayman Airways spokesperson to ask if the airline had discussed airport testing. The spokesperson referred the Compass to official government representatives. A Caribbean Airlines spokesperson responded to similar queries advising the Compass to reach out directly to other jurisdictions regarding their travel policies. While McLaughlin announced the creation of the committee, he did not provide a timetable as to when a plan would be announced. Incubation main challenge to reopening borders Dr. John Lee has said a multi-pronged approach beyond just testing is needed for international travel. The China-Singapore ‘fast-track’ protocol is an example. Isolate at non-residential address until arrival test result ready Test 48 hours prior to flight Test upon arrival No public transportation Tracing app Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Lee 1 2 3 4 5 While face masks are a requirement at many airports worldwide, some airports have introduced temperature testing and PCR tests for arrivals. cayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 17 JULY 2020Experts warn spike may be possible in coming months RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Local cancer experts are projecting a potential spike in newly diagnosed, late-stage cancer cases amid concerns that people were reluctant to visit their doctors during the COVID lockdown. The number of people who registered with the Cancer Registry between March and June this year – when the COVID lockdown was in force – was halved, compared to the same period last year, and the Cancer Society says it is seeing more people being diagnosed with late-stage cancers. Dr. Lundie Richards, haematologist-oncologist at the Health Services Authority, said he believes Cayman could see a rise in the number of new cancer patients and an increase in the severity of the disease. “I say that is possible, and what we may see coming up later on… [is] patients presenting with more advanced stage disease. Perhaps they would have been noticing something coming on earlier and, out of fear, maybe not sought medical attention,” Richards said. Cayman Islands Cancer Society’s operations manager Jennifer Weber said she has already seen cases where patients delayed seeking medical attention due to COVID fears and ended up with advanced stage diagnoses. “We would naturally find more early-stage cancers because we would be looking for them through the screening process. But we had to suspend those because our office has been closed. We weren’t seeing diagnoses that were sort of serendipitous because of a screening. Instead, we’ve been seeing really severe stage four cancers,” she told the Cayman Compass. Weber said it’s only the people who are in the “worst possible situations” that are now coming forward after having avoided seeking treatment due to COVID concerns. “They present at the hospital with severe stomach pain and end up getting diagnosed with stomach cancer. They present at the hospital with terrible pain in their lower abdomen – they ended up with colon cancer. Someone starts having trouble with their throat, swallowing, it’s throat cancer… the really difficult cases that would have probably presented anyway,” she said. Richards said patients with breast or colon cancer typically would not come to him first – they would be diagnosed by a surgeon before being referred to him to determine complete cancer staging and treatment, so it is hard for him to quantify a projected figure for local cases. Cancer Registrar Amanda Nicholson said the Cancer Registry has seen a 52% drop in registrations between March and June this year, compared to the same period last year. “From March-June of 2019, we had 27 new registrations. During the same period in 2020, we had 13,” she said. “I think it’ll be interesting to see, going forward, if maybe we see a sudden spike in cancer cases because folks hadn’t been going to the doctor previously,” she said. “I guess we’ll find that out shortly, and I know that a lot of medical facilities, not just here, but everywhere, all over, were only doing face-to-face consultations if absolutely necessary.” Nicholson believes that drop is a result of people not being able to register due to the restrictions imposed by government and self- imposed restrictions by cancer patients. She said people did not come into the registry during the curfew and shelter-in-place measures, and also the registry was trying to minimise person-to-person contact. “The one way that we were accepting registrations was through email, but that means that the registrar would have to have access to a printer and a scanner and not everybody [has access]. So, we have seen registration rates drop during the last few months, but it’s my hope that as things slowly go back to normal, we’re going to see those increase. For now, we’re just kind of waiting to see how things get back on track,” she said. Approximately 500 people are logged in the Cancer Registry database – 67% of whom are female and 33% are male. Fear of COVID raised risk for patients Richards said that during the lockdown period, cancer patients continued their treatments at the HSA under strict conditions to ensure their safety and to guard against them contracting COVID-19. “During that lockdown, patients whom we needed to see would come directly to the hospital. They would have a pass and maintained the physical, social distancing. So, they themselves did an enormous thing in terms of prevention and the whole aspect of hand hygiene and using a mask. I think most people across the society have been very good in following these,” he said. In fact, Richards said, Cayman as a community has followed the health protocols, and that has created a safety net for cancer patients and those with compromised immune systems. “It does provide us with some comfort that most of our patients will have weathered this pandemic without much complication, notwithstanding, I know, that we are going to have people who will have progressive disease, either because they may have contracted COVID or because for some reason they may have fallen through the cracks because they didn’t turn up,” he said. Richards said that during the COVID restriction period, patients did undergo their required cancer treatments, but some opted out of check-ups out of fear of exposure to the virus. “Some patients have actually self-deferred,” he said. In some cases, after reviewing their docket, he said patients’ appointments were also rescheduled to reduce their risk. Job loss increases demand for support When Cayman’s borders closed, many workers, especially those in the tourism and hospitality industries, ended up on the breadline, and that included cancer patients and their families. Weber said the Cancer Society is already feeling the additional demand from that change in circumstance for its clients. “Cancer is never easy for anyone, but it just gets exponentially harder when you factor in other things, like the fact that people don’t have much income stability, or… that now they don’t have any income. And then you factor in that they have low-level insurance, and then they don’t have any insurance. It just gets harder and harder for people,” she said. She said the demand for assistance from the Cancer Society has grown over the years and she expects that to continue as those who are now unemployed run out of money or health insurance. “I think what’s going to happen is it’s going to continue to be difficult for people because, under normal circumstances before this pandemic, it wasn’t like everybody was saying, ‘Wow, everything’s great. We have everything we need and there’s no unemployment or there’s no difficulty.’ People were already having a hard time, so this has exacerbated the problem for sure,” she said. Weber said those assisting cancer patients will continue to work to help impacted patients and their families. The Cancer Society provides vouchers that cover the cost of screenings for a variety of cancers for clients that cannot otherwise afford them. “When they start to reopen again and we start our vouchers, I think we’ll see a flood of people who [will] come in and start getting those screenings. And then it’ll probably be a couple of months of lag time before we start seeing those early cancer or pre-cancerous or stage one cancers starting to be diagnosed again,” she said. COVID fears could impact Cayman’s cancer cases Most commonly reported cancers FOR MEN 1) Prostate 2) Cancers of the blood 3) Lung FOR WOMEN 1) Breast* 2) Colon 3) Ovarian *Breast cancer remains the most reported cancer overall, comprising 36% of all cases. - Source: Cancer Registry 500 Approximate number of people registered with the Cancer Registry. Of those, 67% are female and 33% are male. Cancer Registrar Amanda Nicholson says she has noted a 52% drop in registrations over the COVID period. Dr. Lundie Richards, haematologist-oncologist at the Health Services Authority. Cancer Society Operations Manager Jennifer Weber says she expects demand for assistance to increase in the coming months. 7KAYLA YOUNG kyoung@compassmedia.ky As Cayman’s active COVID-19 cases continue a downward trend, the Sunrise Adult Training Centre in West Bay is trialling a return to in- person classes and support services. The facility for special needs adults shut its doors in March, when educational institutions were ordered closed by government as a coronavirus- control measure. Now, with public schools still shut for summer, the Sunrise Centre is one of Cayman’s first educational facilities to test a return to semi-normal operations. While operating an in-person summer programme has required extensive planning to ensure social distancing and proper hygiene, staff and clients have developed a renewed appreciation for the centre, explained Sunrise director Kimberly Voaden. “One of the best things that we can help with, in addition to the training that we offer and the vocational services that we offer, is just a safe and structured programme that our clients can come to, that families feel safe to send their family members to,” Voaden said. Services during shutdown For many Sunrise clients, the shutdown and abrupt change to routine was particularly challenging to process, Voaden said. Attending the centre allows clients to socialise, eat a meal, and access needed support services. While the centre was closed, providing such services remotely became complicated. A long list of community partners, including Mise en Place, Cayman National Bank, Meals on Wheels and the Christian Association for Civics Education, stepped up to provide free meals for clients. Meanwhile, staff helped connect families with the Needs Assessment Unit, coordinated at-home activities and circulated the facility’s two tablet devices among families to keep them connected, explained Sunrise employee Daniel John. Throughout the crisis, the staff’s priorities have been the “health, wealth and happiness” of clients, he said. But explaining the crisis and easing anxieties proved difficult. Despite distribution of easy-read materials, virtual activities and regular staff check-ins with clients, the three months of isolation were tough for many to understand. “We had some who were reporting our clients were sitting at home with their uniforms on, for example, waiting for the bus on a Monday because they’re so used to coming to the centre and it was such a break in routine,” Voaden said. “We also had some clients whose families said that they thought they were at home because they had done something wrong and that they had caused the pandemic.” The distress brought out increased behavioural concerns in some clients, Voaden added, as many families simultaneously struggled with the added stresses of unemployment and financial uncertainty. The combination of concerns created an unprecedented challenge for a facility whose staff is already accustomed to complex problem solving. For 17 years, the Sunrise Centre has made do with operating out of a retrofitted duplex meant to serve as a temporary location. Plans to establish a fit-for-purpose centre are part of ongoing government discussions. Operating without a centre, however, highlighted the importance of consistent, in- person services for adults with special needs. “I think that during this period of lockdown, the sense of being isolated or separated has really unfortunately been a reality for a lot of us,” Voaden said. “For any vulnerable population within society, something like this is extra challenging, but certainly for the adult special needs population or special needs population in general.” Sunrise Adult Centre gives classroom reopening a test run Activities at the Sunrise Adult Training Centre now require extra levels of precaution, including face masks and rubber gloves worn by staff. A cardboard cut-out of Queen Elizabeth II demonstrates proper face-mask wearing at the Sunrise Centre. A Sunrise Centre staff member wears a protective face shield as she begins a demonstration on making ice cream. news N news 8Back to Sunrise Returning to the centre for a modified summer programme marks a small return to normalcy, but in many ways, the reopened Sunrise facility has changed. Tape marks the tile floor, indicating walkways and denoting social distancing measurements with an ‘X’ placed every six feet. Cardboard cut-outs of Queen Elizabeth II and Mr. Bean also demonstrate social distancing and proper use of face masks. Sanitation stations for cleaning hands are accessible throughout the centre. Plastic partitions, donated by Phoenix Construction, separate work and activity stations. Outside, picnic tables, painted by Public Works Department employees, provide extra seating for outdoor lunches. Staff wear face masks throughout the day and prepare individual activity packs for clients, to avoid cross contamination. “Staff are really stepping up to do activities they don’t normally do,” Voaden said. Clients and staff have been broken up in two groups to reduce the numbers at the facility at any time and to provide an extra layer of protection against spreading disease. Every morning, staff call each client’s family for a health check and to screen any potential virus symptoms. Those who don’t pass the check, or who do not answer the morning’s phone call, cannot attend the centre that day. A top priority when reopening was also checking in on the emotional wellness of clients. On the first days back, staff guided conversations on the experiences lived during lockdown and helped clients process what they had gone through. “We talked a lot about what we’ve experienced as people during coronavirus and asked about feelings, asked how they were doing, talked a lot about being OK with feeling afraid, feeling uncertain, feeling anxious, feeling all those things that each one of us has had to manage,” Voaden said. At the end of the day, staff do another check-in with clients and ask how they would rate the experience. “One of our clients said, you know, on a scale of one out of 10, this is 100,” Voaden said. “That just made me feel like that’s exactly why we need to be in here, if we can make that sort of positive difference in the lives of our clients.” Not all clients have been able to return, however. The need for social distancing and increased sanitation measures has meant the centre does not have the space or capacity to serve its full list of clients. Some adults with the greatest needs have not yet been able to return Plastic partitions separate activity workspaces as an added health measure. Tape on the Sunrise Centre floor indicates pathways for walking and marks every six feet with an 'X'. Each Sunrise Centre client is provided with individual activity packs to avoid cross-contamination. Sunrise Centre director Kimberly Voaden Tribute To My Son, John 19 July 1971 - 31 July 2019 It is very hard for me to write this, but I have to do it because I love you and I miss you. It is difficult and very sad for us all to not have you here on your upcoming birthday, 19 July, and it was also difficult to not have you around this past Father’s Day. We love you and we miss you so much. Happy first birthday in Heaven. Love, Mom, Dad Your brothers, Harry, Dean, and Robert Sister, Gina Condolences can be registered at boddenfuneralservice.com & Bodden Funeral Service Facebook page The Family of the Late Erna McKoy regrets to announce her passing on Wednesday, 8 July 2020. A private family service will be held 10:00 a.m. Sunday, 19 July, 2020 at Bodden Funeral Service Chapel, 117 Walkers Road, George Town. Interment will follow in the Bodden Town Cemetery (New). due to space and staffing constraints. “We make the best of the space that we have and we’re going to make a success out of this because we have that ‘can-do’ attitude here at the centre, but I wish that we were able to have the space to bring everybody in,” Voaden said. Summer outings In the meantime, the summer programme provides a test-run for the centre before resuming life-skills and classroom lessons in September. Clients in the summer session are now preparing for some of their first community outings in months, including a trip to the Parrot Sanctuary in East End and a day at the cinema. Voaden’s goal is for each client to have an in-centre day, a field trip and a big group activity every week. “You come and have an easy day, a happy day, a day with meaning and purpose,” she said. For those who would like to support Sunrise Centre clients, John said staff are always looking for ways to help get them out in the community. Sponsoring a meal for a day’s outing, he said, is one way to help make such activities possible. To read more about the Sunrise Centre, visit www.sunrise.gov.ky. 9 news N newsNext >