Red Bay Seven Mile Beach Waterfront Walkers Road Steakhouse King ™ Also available in single Limited Time Only TM & © 2020 Burger King Corporation. cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism Weekly, 21-27 August 2020 CI Regiment holds first passing-out ceremony Page 8 COVID-19: The race for a vaccine is just the start Page 10 Back to school Anxiety, relief and concern ahead of a school year like no other. Page 6 Shop Local BACK TO BUSINESS FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST 2020 Free Inside Photo: Alvaro SereyMatinees (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 BLOODSHOT (PG-13) (SUN) 9:25 HARD KILL (R) (FRI & SAT) 4:05 | 9:40 (MON - THURS) 4:05 | 9:40 THE RENTAL (R) (FRI & SAT) 4:25 | 7:15 | 10:05 (MON - THURS) 4:25 | 7:15 | 10:05 SAAND KI AANKH (PG) (FRI & SAT) 12:35 | 6:50 (SUN) 3:40 | 5:40 | 9:10 (MON - THURS) 12:35 | 6:50 UNHINGED (R) (FRI & SAT) 1:00 | 2:00 | 7:30 (MON - THURS) 1:00 | 2:00 | 7:30 ONWARD (PG) (SUN) 3:15 GRAVITY (PG-13) (FRI & SAT)4:20 VIP | 10:00 VIP (SUN) 4:20 VIP |10:00 VIP (MON - THURS) 4:20 VIP | 10:00 VIP MY SPY (PG-13) (FRI & SAT) 1:00 | 3:30 | 6:40 | 9:15 (SUN) 3:30VIP | 6:40 | 9:15 (MON - THURS) 1:00 | 3:30 | 6:40 | 9:15 GREENLAND (PG-13) (FRI & SAT) 1:25 VIP | 3:30 | 7:00 VIP | 9:50 (SUN) 3:30 | 7:00 VIP | 9:50 (MON - THURS) 1:25 VIP | 3:30 | 7:00 VIP | 9:50 of 18 will not be admitted CULTURE NT LIVE: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (R18) 8:00 VIP 623.2290 SAVANNAH 7 MILE BEACH 945.2290 623.2782 SAVANNAH 7 MILE BEACH 947.2782 COME DINE WITH US PICK-UP | TAKE-OUT | FREE DELIVERY AVAILABLE (Delivery times 8am-2pm & 5pm-9pm ) 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 Cloudy skies with an 60% chance of showers and thunder mainly over Grand Cayman Forecast today 89°F HIGH WINDS East to southeast at 15 to 20 knots with higher gusts today, 10 to 15 knots tonight. SEA STATE Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass weather Cayman Islands 78°F LOW Cayman sees first positive COVID results in 37 days Cayman went 37 days without anyone returning a positive COVID-19 test result, but that streak came to an end on 18 Aug. Cayman Islands health officials announced two new positive coronavirus cases. Both people who tested positive are travellers who arrived in Cayman on separate flights. They have been in isolation since landing here more than two weeks ago. They are both asymptomatic, health officials confirmed this week. Both tested positive as part of routine screenings on completion of their mandatory 14-day isolation period, according to a statement issued by Government Information Services on Wednesday. “They will remain in isolation with their travelling parties until they have completed the necessary additional period of isolation,” the statement said. Since the start of the pandemic, 205 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Cayman Islands. On Thursday, all tests returned negative. There are now two active cases, and nearly 34,000 test samples have been taken. Tropical Depression 14 to pass Cayman A tropical wave in the Caribbean was upgraded to Tropical Depression 14 Thursday morning. It triggered a Tropical Storm Watch for parts of Honduras. The system is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm between Thursday and Saturday as it passes south-southwest of the Cayman Islands, according to US National Hurricane Center forecasters. Further east, Tropical Depression 13 formed in the Atlantic and was expected to strengthen into a tropical storm, according to the NHC. Saba and St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Anguilla were all under a Tropical Storm Watch as of Thursday afternoon. Further east, a tropical disturbance has formed off the African coast. This system is expected to make its way into the Atlantic Ocean. 2 hospitals expanding to Camana Bay Both of Cayman’s private hospitals are opening medical centres in Camana Bay. Doctors Hospital, based on Smith Road in George Town, announced this week that it will be opening a “complementary Information and Testing Centre” for COVID-19 screening in Camana Bay on Monday, 24 Aug. Health City Cayman Islands, based in East End, announced on 5 Aug. that it would be opening a “satellite specialty medical care centre” on Forum Lane within six to eight weeks. WORC to accept credit card payments Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman will no longer accept electronic funds transfer as a form of payment but will start accepting online credit card and debit card transactions, according to a government press release. The change takes effect on 24 Aug. WORC accepted transfers to receive payments relating to applications and permanent residency annual fees during COVID-19 shelter-in-place restrictions, but now it will be offering other online options through the JobsCayman portal. Customers must be registered on JobsCayman to use this payment option and instructions on how to register and pay online are available on www.worc.ky. For more information, call 945-9672 or email worc@gov.ky. Widespread power outage caused by generator problems Technical issues with one of Caribbean Utilities Company’s larger generators led to power outages across various districts in Grand Cayman on Wednesday. According to a CUC spokesperson, 16,054 customers were affected by the outage, which occurred between 1:37pm and 2:15pm. “This interruption to service was caused by a loss of generation as one of the Company’s larger generating units experienced technical issues, which triggered a shutdown of other generating units,” CUC said in a statement. Outages were reported in West Bay, George Town and Bodden Town. news in brief IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS AS OF : 20 AUGUST 2020 cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST 2020Pane & Pasta has brought authentic Italian cuisine to the heart of Camana Bay! Choose from Pane & Pasta’s menu of traditional Italian dishes as you dine inside or al fresco in the lushly landscaped Heliconia Court. With an open-concept kitchen, witness the art of pasta, bread and pizza making by Pane & Pasta’s chefs. Enjoy the freshness in house or pick up all the fixings to bring a taste of Italy home with you. www.paneandpasta.net | +1.345.547.9208 where life blossoms CAMANABAY.COM Located on Market Street Monday–Wednesday 10 a.m.– 8 p.m. Thursday–Saturday 10 a.m.– 10 p.m. CAMANA BAY WELCOMES PANE & PASTA cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST 20201234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Venomous snake (5) 4 Economical (7) 8 Not to be considered (3) 9 Keen-sighted (5-4) 10 Disperse (7) 11 A monastery church (5) 13 Uproar (6) 15 Depart suddenly (6) 18 Unexpected extra benefit (5) 19 Melancholy (7) 21 Orange and black flower (5,4) 23 Flying saucer (3) 24 Imply (7) 25 Ostentatiously smart (5) DOWN 1 Proverbially rich king (7) 2 Army unit (9) 3 Proficient (5) 4 Excessively sentimental (6) 5 Ordinary standard (7) 6 Climbing plant (3) 7 Pious (5) 12 Produce results (4,5) 14 To merit (7) 16 Expose to ridicule (7) 17 Unfastened (6) 18 Shooting range (5) 20 Stratum (5) 22 To silence (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16463 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 16463 ACROSS: 1 Cobra, 4 Sparing, 8 Out, 9 Eagle-eyed, 10 Scatter, 11 Abbey, 13 Shindy, 15 Decamp, 18 Bonus, 19 Doleful, 21 Tiger lily, 23 UFO, 24 Suggest, 25 Ritzy. DOWN: 1 Croesus, 2 Battalion, 3 Adept, 4 Sugary, 5 Average, 6 Ivy, 7 Godly, 12 Bear fruit, 14 Deserve, 16 Pillory, 17 Adrift, 18 Butts, 20 Layer, 22 Gag. 2 new positive COVID cases among incoming travellers reported Cue the mass hysteria... these are returning Caymanians or residents that are in a government isolation facility until they test negative. – Steve Bull If they are in true quarantine and not released until two stag- gered tests come back negative, I don’t think should affect any plans to move us to level 1. – Kirstin Micucci Borders need to remain closed. Wish USA would buckle down to slow the spread. – Lou Powers Can someone explain how some people are currently al- lowed to be in isolation at their home? If there is a protocol to get permission, as for medical reasons, why was that never explained to the public? Maybe other people, without access to ‘the right persons’, could have benefitted from valuable infor- mation that should be public! – Ellen Cuylaerts Disappointing, but was always going to happen one day. – Neil Armstrong Two travellers in quarantine. The system is working. – Charmaine Phillips This is why I don’t want to send my son to school. The school year should’ve been suspended until next year. – Zamayra Castro Tatum Masks in the classroom part of current school-opening guidelines The kids can’t wear masks all day! Especially at their desk and whilst running around. It just cannot work! How are they going to breathe? When we go to the restaurant, we walk in with the mask and take it off when we are seated. Kids don’t know how to take care of a mask. That mask will have so much germs on it before the day is over. Please consider the kids’ health. Isn’t this what it’s all about? – Tania Morla People don’t need to wear them in the work place when at their desk, people don’t need to wear them sitting in a restaurant, kids have not been wearing them at camp, and best of all we have worked so hard to get to this point as an island with sacrifice for all only to make the smallest members of society and their teachers wear them all day? I get it if we had active cases and I get it if the borders are open, but I do not get it under the certain circumstances and am actually surprised that the very people that are advising the well- being of the children on this island thought this was a good choice. It will come to a time where we won’t have a choice so let these kids live the closest to normal they can for a bit before it all changes. I believe all the people who made the choice should sit in those exact chairs, with those masks all day, have someone try to teach you something new and then tell us your thoughts. – Margaret Fantasia What they’re saying Online I know how I feel after being in a mask to go to the supermarket! I can’t imagine having it on all day and having to learn as well. And, nooo, the kids won’t abide by that and the teachers will have their hands full with enforcing that rule. Better we keep the kids at home if this is what is expected of them! Can we petition for the online schooling to continue please! – Lorna Allen I’m am so very upset to be reading this, not only its content but that the news outlets are relay- ing the information to us. This should have been done via a press briefing to the country! – Vicky McClenaghan If the point of wearing masks is to protect germs from entering one’s system, how is that effec- tive with children? There was all this promotion on keeping masks clean, laying them on clean sur- faces, not touching them, remov- ing them by the ear straps, etc. Children are not going to do this, so, honestly, what is the point of having them wear it? – Monique Narcisse Children wearing masks all day will activate a lot of other medical issues. That is going to give those children a lot of headaches and re- spiratory illness. I would class that as child abuse. Please protect these beautiful children. No masks! – Elizabeth Gaio Maybe Dr. Lee and the oth- ers should conduct a full press conference whilst wearing a mask and see how the communication breaks down. Imagine being a pri- mary student trying to learn pho- nics from someone whose mouth is hidden and speech is muffled. Or the teacher trying to understand the poor kids who are just learning how to communicate effectively. – Kirstin Micucci Re-educating Cayman: Economic crash highlights gaps in workforce development Congratulations and the very best wishes to Mr. [Michael] Myles and Inspire Cayman. They and other innovators like Mark and De- nise Demercado of Superior Auto and their mechanic training pro- gramme, have had to take up the mantle which our public education system has seemingly abandoned for generations of school children – in its continual practice of ‘flooding’ our jobs market with unqualified and unprepared school-leavers, soon to be adults in our society. The results of the public education system approach are clearly obvious. Hopefully, the results of Mr. Myles’ and the Demercados’ approach will be evident to the ‘powers that be’ and convince them to at least support these independent initiatives and, hopefully, re-introduce substantial vocational programmes into the pubic school system. – Kerith McCoy Cayman’s construction engine kicks into high gear This boom started long before this year. We are seeing the result of a few years of design coming down the pipeline. It is private investment at their own risk. Cay- man used to be this busy but you just forgot. – Sam Small cartoon Maskless - By Caymanman cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST 2020After spotting blood in her urine over a three-day period, Simone Ross became concerned. She contacted her doctor, who ordered an urgent ultrasound and CT scan, the latter of which con- firmed a solid mass on her left kid- ney. Simone was then referred to a urologist/oncologist in Miami. “I was very lucky that my cancer was contained to my left kidney, so a full removal of the kidney was all the treatment I needed, other than surveillance scans and kidney functions every six months,” she says. It was late March 2019 when Simone, an elementary teacher at a Montessori school, was di- agnosed. “I was 41 years old when I was diagnosed,” she says. “In the weeks leading up to my surgery, I continued to work and stay as positive as possible.” FAMILY IMPACT Simone and her husband, Dominic Ross, have two daugh- ters. The experience impacted her entire family including her parents, in-laws and two sisters. “My illness was a shock to our family but not one that we allowed to take over or define us,” she says. Before surgery, Simone spent a great deal of time researching kidney cancer, sourcing as much information as possible from her medical team, the Cayman Islands Cancer Society and the Cayman Islands Cancer Registry. “I read a lot and put all my energy into fighting and beating this cancer,” she says. After a lengthy and somewhat complicated surgery, Simone be- gan her road to recovery. “The days ahead of me proved to be very painful, and difficult. As hard as each day was, and as much as I wanted to give up some days, I persevered and the pain started to get less and less,” she recalls. “I was able to start eating more, and my strength started to increase, allowing me to focus on my healing.” After a few months, it was time for the first set of scans, which Simone says caused a lot of anx- iety and questions. “All of a sudden ‘scan anxiety’ was something real to me and not something anyone around me – other than other cancer survivors – could understand,” she says. After doing more research about cancer survival and healing, Simone set about making chang- es. She stopped eating red meat, began yoga and meditation class- es and completed a Holistic Can- cer Coach training course online. “With all of these changes I be- gan to feel healthier, both physi- cally, and emotionally,” she says. She hopes by sharing her story it will help others, as well as raise awareness about organ cancer. “Cancer hit me out of no- where, and kidney cancer I knew nothing about,” she says. “Organ cancers are not cancers that we often hear about – or at least I didn’t. This is something we need to change.” Simone is now cancer-free, which she considers a blessing. “The emotional journey of cancer affects us all but, together with hope and strength, I do be- lieve we can win,” she says. “As for my scars, well, they tell a story – one I believe made me a stronger, wiser and better human.” Kidney cancer: risks and symptoms Kidney cancer is among the 10 most common cancers. The average age that adults are diagnosed with this cancer is 64, and it is rare in those under 45. It is twice as common in men than women, and the most common kidney cancer in adults is renal cell carcinoma. Cancer in the kidney is linked to the following risks: • Smoking • Obesity • High Blood pressure • Family history • Genetic and hereditary risk factors What are the symptoms of kidney cancer? Early Kidney cancers may not hurt or show any signs. Sometimes, though, they can cause: • Blood in the urine – urine may appear dark or red in colour. • A persistent pain in your lower back or side that doesn’t go away. • Lump or swelling in your side. • Loss of appetite and weight loss for no reasons. • Anemia (low blood levels) or excessive tiredness. • Persistent fevers – usually a low-grade fever felt continuously. • Spread - If the cancer spreads beyond the kidney, symptoms depend on where it spreads to. Shortness of breath or coughing up blood if the cancer is in the lungs or bone pain and fracture if the cancer is in the bone. What can I do to reduce risks? The best ways to reduce your chances of getting kidney cancer: • Keep to a healthy weight with good eating habits that includes plenty of fruit, vegetables, whole grains. Limit red and processed meats, sugary drinks and highly processed foods. • Maintain a healthy blood pressure. • Don’t smoke (avoiding all tobacco products). For more information, visit the Cayman Islands Cancer Society | website: cics.ky | tel: 949-7618 Simone says her husband, Dominic, has been supportive throughout her journey. SPONSORED CONTENT My illness was a shock to our family but not one that we allowed to take over or define us. Simone Ross, kidney cancer survivor ter spotting blood in her e over a three-day period ne Ross became concerned e contacted her doctor, who red an urgent ultrasound and can, the latter of which con- Kidney cancer: risks and symptoms Kidney cancer is among the 10 most common cancers. The average age that adults are diagnosed with this cancer is 64, and it is rare in those under 45. It is twice as common in men “The emotional journey affects us all.” SPONSORED CONTENT cayman compass 5 FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST 2020Anxiety runs high ahead of school reopening WATCH THE VIDEO ONLINE The Cayman Compass will be hosting a special Back to School edition of our ‘Ask the Experts’ panel on our website on Friday from 12pm, featuring Lyneth Monteith , the acting chief officer in the Ministry of Education. Mix of emotions for parents as children return to class JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Anxiety, uncertainty and, in some cases, outright rebellion are the prevailing emotions among parents in the Cayman Islands ahead of a school year like no other. Children begin returning to school in phases from next week. But the first day of term this year will be no ordinary school day. No assembly, no loitering in the corridors, no school dinners. Hand-washing stations have been put in place and mask etiquette and social distancing will be taught alongside the times tables and the ABCs. The central controversy for many parents is the requirement that all children must wear masks, except when working silently. Concerns have also been raised about the staggered start to the school year and restrictions on physical education and music. Some parents question the need for such strict protocols. At the other end of the spectrum, others claim it is too risky to resume in-school learning, with the prospect of the borders reopening in October, bringing potential for a new spike in infections. Though the Ministry of Education produced a document in June, outlining the guidelines for reopening, and re-iterated some of the key rules in a press release this week, several parents who spoke with the Cayman Compass felt the communication had not been clear enough and that officials had not adapted quickly to the changing situation on island. Mask concerns Prathna Bodden, a criminal defence lawyer and mother of two children, said the prospect of sending her 5-year-old son to school in a mask was not something she looked forward to. “That decision should be mine, as a parent. I agree with other parents’ right to put their child in a mask if that is what they choose, but I haven’t put my kids in a mask and I don’t want to do it.” She feels it will be difficult and disorientating enough for children to start a new school year in the aftermath of a pandemic that has seen them out of class since March, without the added complication of masks. She also believes it is impractical. “We struggled to understand each other in court so I don’t see how a class of 5-year-olds is going to manage,” she said. Around 800 parents had signed an online petition by press time on Thursday calling for a change in policy on masks, particularly for children under 11. Though government explicitly stated in a press release Monday that students would be required to wear masks in class, unless the children are sitting silently, officials may be reconsidering that policy. Minister of Education Juliana O’Connor-Connolly reportedly told public school teachers at an orientation day that students would be permitted to remove their masks once they were at their desks. Bodden said the communication from her children’s school, St. Ignatius Catholic School, had been good. But she feels, nationally, government has not been quick enough to explain its policies. “I think everybody feels like the rules will change on this but it seems to be being left to the last minute,” she said. Phased reopening Beyond the controversy over masks, the phased reopening of school is cause for consternation among many parents. Raven Solomon, a mother-of-two and a nurse who has been closely involved with COVID-19 testing on island, said working parents needed schools to be open for all age groups. She said her daughters, ages 3 and 7, had been safely attending summer camps since lockdown measures were lifted. The staggered restart means she will be left with the challenge of home-schooling her oldest daughter while her youngest will be attending school. “This poses major challenges for working parents who have already returned to work,” she said. “Who is expected to home-educate these children? Or even watch over them?” Solomon, whose children go to Cayman International School, said parents would be able to live with and adapt to the regulations if there had been better communication and clearer explanation of the logic behind them. Government held daily televised press conferences throughout the pandemic, but wound down to once a week as the threat lessened, and now has not held a briefing for over a month. Jackie Myles, who has a 6-year-old daughter at Montessori by the Sea, said communication appeared to have dried up just when parents needed it most. “The lack of updates around the guidance for school reopenings is causing extreme frustration,” she said. “Children have seemed like an afterthought throughout the pandemic response and more so now than ever,” she said. Fears of a second wave For other parents, like George Ebanks, the idea of sending children back to school while the threat of the pandemic still lingers is negligent. With the borders expected to reopen in October, he said there was no guarantee that the island or its schools could remain COVID- free. Ebanks’ 90-year-old mother lives at home with the family, and he is concerned that his daughter could pick up the virus at school and pass it on to her grandmother. “I think if the borders reopen in October, we cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST 2020 6From quarantine to school reopening in just over a month JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky It is not the introduction Jim Urquhart expected when he accepted a new job as director of the Cayman International School. The Canadian educator spent his first weeks on island quarantined at the Palm Heights hotel, watching the waves from the window of the room where he isolated for 15 days with his wife. Behind closed doors, he had plenty of time to consider the challenges of taking on a new job in a new country in circumstances that neither he nor anyone else in the world had ever really considered. Urquhart, who arrived in mid-July, came out of isolation in time to oversee the final preparations for the return of students next week. Much of the logistics had already been organised – based on guidelines from government – by staff on the ground. His aim now is to address the varying expectations and questions of parents, meet the logistical challenges posed by the pandemic, and ensure the focus remains firmly on education. “No one has ever started school year in a pandemic before, so if there is confusion, that is understandable,” he said. “The whole world is both anxious for children to return to school and anxious about children returning to school.” While there is scepticism and, in some cases, outright opposition among parents to some of the measures the Cayman Islands government has put in place for the new school year, Urquhart believes the guidelines have been clear. Proving particularly unpopular have been the mask policy and the staggered start, which means around a third of the school’s students won’t return to class for another two weeks after the official beginning to term. But he believes some caution is justified. “I don’t think we should have a false sense of security around the virus. We have seen globally that as soon as a country lets its guard down, it creeps back in.” For educators, the coronavirus creates some practical challenges. Physical education will be restricted to individual non-contact sports, for example. In the music department, choral, wind and brass instruments will be left in the storage cupboard. Even something as simple as sharing a beaker for a science experiment will be off limits. School drop-off – always a fraught time for parents – will become a more structured exercise with detailed instructions for where and when to drop children at the Camana Bay premises. After nearly six months out of the classroom, and with the added stress of pandemic protocols, Urquhart accepts it could be difficult to get children focussed on learning. Part of the education experience, at least in the opening weeks of term, will be about helping children process what has happened to them and to the world over the past months. “We have to address the elephant in the room,” he said. “We can’t just sit down and get straight into the quadratic equation.” Baptism of fire for new international school principal A ‘typical’ school day at CIS will see spikes in cases, and who is to say it won’t get into the schools. What if she picks it up at school and brings it home to her grandmother? It could be fatal.” Ebanks, who is on the Parent Teacher Association at Savannah Primary School, said he was considering refusing to send his child back to school. He believes continuing with home learning should be an option for parents in his position. He said his daughter had access to a computer and a printer, and had prospered during lockdown. He accepted that not all parents had the resources to help their children in the same way, and is advocating for government to fund computers and WiFi access for those students who don’t have such facilities. Three kids, one computer For Melvy Chelisa Bautista, the return of school is a blessing. Home-schooling three children, aged between 9 and 16, in a cramped apartment with one computer, has been a serious challenge. Though she has some trepidation about the lingering threat of the virus, she said she trusts the government, based on how it has handled the pandemic so far. Bautista, originally from the Dominican Republic, lost her retail job during the virus, and has been struggling to get by with support from her children’s father and from the charity Acts of Random Kindness. Her youngest son Carlos Ebanks, 9, is part of ARK’s Mentor Educate Reinforce programme and received targeted one-on-one tutoring over Zoom during the pandemic. Sometimes those lessons were delivered over cellphone, with spotty reception and intermittent internet access. Despite the hardship, she was positive about the experience and confident that her children have kept up with their schoolwork in the most trying circumstances. “It is hard to be teacher, mother, principal… everything. English is not my first language and I learn so much with them.” With three kids across the age spectrum at George Town Primary School, John Gray High School and Cayman Islands Further Education Centre, the logistics of getting her children to school is another challenge. “I have to get everything ready, including the mask, and then try to multiply my body. Being a mother is not an easy job,” she said. “I am scared a little bit to send them back. I already have the masks for them and government has done a good job with the pandemic, so I am happy with that.” Jim Urquhart came out of quarantine less than a month before the start of the school year. Ready for school: Carlos Ebanks, 9, and Rianna Ebanks get used to their masks at home in George Town. Though some parents are concerned about masks in schools, their mother Melvy Chelisa Bautista is happy that measures are in place to keep them safe. Working from home: George Ebanks helps his 5-year-old daughter Arianna with her school work. Ebanks says he is reluctant to send his daughter back to school while the threat of COVID-19 still lingers. • Self-screening at home.Students with signs of fever are advised not to come into school. • Drop-off in the designated zone for your year group. • No assembly. Students go straight to first class. Youngest students may walk with their parents to a designated area. • Masks must be worn while around school and in class. • Students hand sanitize regularly at mobile stations. • Teacher takes temperature of students with a digital thermometer as they enter classroom. • Lessons with masks on and desks at least 3 feet apart. • Children/teacher wipe and clean desks after class. • Lunch is taken in class or at designated areas outside. • Recess is taken in stages and zones. • Afterschool activities do not begin until the end of September. cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST 2020 7Second batch of recruits ‘soon come’ RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky The Cayman Regiment has its first batch of reservists. The inaugural class of 51 recruits took part in a passing-out ceremony at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex at the weekend, after two weeks of intensive training. Premier Alden McLaughlin said he felt “gratified” seeing the reservists on the green at the sports complex, adding that this initial platoon is a start, as he aims to reach a target of 175 personnel for the regiment, and plans to begin the next round of recruitment in the coming weeks. He lauded Governor Martyn Roper for his persistence in getting the regiment up and running, saying it was something that the UK had rejected when McLaughlin floated the idea years ago, following Hurricane Ivan. The six women and 45 men, including 35 Caymanians, in the new platoon will be called into action in the event of a disaster. For many of them, it’s a chance to give back and a matter of national pride, they told the Cayman Compass at Sunday’s ceremony. Former fireman and police officer joins up Jerad Ebanks has previously worked as a fire officer and a policeman. He said he had no hesitation in signing up to join the regiment to support his country. “The feeling to know that we have a regiment that is Caymanian and predominantly Caymanian… it feels good. It feels good to know that [in] the Cayman Islands, in the event of any national disaster or pandemic, we are ready to support each other,” he said. Ebanks, a 36-year-old father of four, said he was working as a fire fighter during Hurricane Ivan and, as such, was a first responder. He said seeing a lack of UK support and the humanitarian efforts from the Bermuda Regiment following Ivan inspired him to join a Cayman regiment if there ever was one. “I saw a lot of things back then... when the regiment started up, I said ‘You know what, I got too much [of a] skill set to be sitting down when I can help and do my part to make the Cayman Islands ready for any disaster.’ So that’s why I decided to join up.” Ebanks, who works at the Cayman Islands Airports Authority’s operations department, said safety of the aerodrome and the airport falls under his responsibility, so it was a natural for him to want to extend that to the entire country. “In the event of any disaster, with the strengths that we have within the regiment and certain skill sets that we have learnt – and some of us already had – I think Cayman would benefit on the whole because we are ready to support each other and build the island back,” he said. Even with his fire and police background, Ebanks said, the two-week intensive training tested his resolve, but seeing the pride and excitement in his children’s faces when he came home every evening, and the support from unit members, pushed him to carry on. “In terms of regiment, punishment is not like regular punishment. It’s the punishment when we don’t work together as a unit or we don’t achieve an objective together... So getting that punishment together and going through and holding your brother’s arm, we all felt it. Certainly, those were one of the moments that I would say tested my strength in terms of ‘Oh, I can’t deal with this,’ but it built my character,” he added. Regiment completes full circle for former cadet The regiment is filled with individuals from varied walks of life and work backgrounds. Teresita DaSilva, 31, is a preparedness and planning officer at Hazard Management Cayman Islands. That job, together with her Cadet Corps training, spurred her to join the regiment, even though she had recently given birth to her son Ronin. “I’m really excited that the regiment was formed in Cayman because now I can finally take that step to be a part of a military organisation, which is something that I always wanted to do,” DaSilva said. She is one of six women who are now regiment reservists. Being female did not mean the training they underwent was any easier or different to that of their male counterparts. DaSilva said while the training was more of a refresher for her, given her cadet background, it was taxing at times. “I think the hardest part was the physical training. It’s a lot of running… I mean, a lot of running. It is something I don’t normally do, so it highlighted that weakness physically that I need to work on over the coming months and weeks, just to make sure I’m in tiptop shape and can have that endurance that is needed when you are deployed, knowing you can be out for weeks at a time, having to move sandbags, move casualties and dig trenches,” she said. DaSilva, who was one of the first cadets in Cayman, said she was pleased to be a pioneering member of the regiment. “It’s almost like full circle coming back around that I’m the first in a military organisation again. So, it’s really great,” she said. DaSilva said being a reservist and a part of the Hazard Management team places her in a unique position. “With the regiment essentially being a resource available to Hazard Management [and] with me having the knowledge from [the] Hazard Management perspective, I can essentially bridge a potential gap between the two,” she said. She added that, as a member of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, there is the opportunity for Hazard Management to be deployed overseas to different islands in the region that are impacted by disasters. Cayman Regiment holds first passing-out ceremony 35 8 6 2 Nationality breakdown of regiment reservists Caymanian Jamaican British Overseas Territory Citizen UK Premier Alden McLaughlin speaks with the reservists at the passing-out ceremony at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 21 AUGUST 2020She encouraged other Caymanians to consider joining the regiment as it gives opportunities for personal character building. “You learn so many skills. There’s opportunities to go overseas and train, and it can allow you to find that job that you’re really passionate about,” she said. Sailor finds a way to give back James Macfee, 33, is no stranger to grit and determination, having battled the high seas for the Round the World Clipper race in 2018. So, it should come as no surprise to those who know him that joining the Cayman Regiment would be a natural choice for the Cayman sailor. But even though he always wanted to join a military unit, Macfee said it was his desire to contribute to Cayman that was the driving force behind his enrolment. “Since I’ve been living out here, ... my mom, my dad, and myself have always done bits to get involved with the community,” he said, “whether it’s reading to school kids at Red Bay Primary, doing Meals On Wheels, charity dinners for the Red Cross, helping my mom do something like that. ... “I was just looking for something that I was going to make my own and commit to more long-term.” Though he was born in the UK, Macfee has spent most of his life in Cayman and works as an accountant at a local firm. However, he said his career path could have led him to a military life, as during his university days he had contemplated enlisting. “I think I... first got interested in any military when I was studying for my accounting exams, and every time I had a resit to do, that if I failed, I was going to get kicked out. I decided my alternative... was going to be to go into the military instead. Somehow, I managed to scrape by, I never actually got that,” he said. Regiment training was fun, he added. However, the drill side of things was “a bit awkward”, as he had never done anything like that before. “Having spent the last 32 years of my life walking around perfectly fine, suddenly being taught how to walk again was a bit more challenging. The rest of it was fairly in my stride,” he said. Macfee said he found many similarities between his sailing experience and the regiment training, especially the teamwork aspect. He said he would encourage anyone to join the regiment. “There’s a strong focus on the discipline and the integrity that you have to hold yourself to. “I’d like to think I had that already through a few years of building a career, and the sailing stuff as well, but it’s a nice reminder, and that... bit of a kick in the [butt] to make sure that you actually do hold yourself to those and you don’t let any of that slip, whether it’s because you’re representing your firm, the regiment, or another team of any sort,” he said. Regiment members 6 women/45 men The 51 reservist members of the Cayman Regiment salute at the passing-out ceremony. 9 news N newsNext >