Red Bay Seven Mile Beach Waterfront Walkers Road 100% W hopper ® 0% Beef Patty made from plants. TM & © 2020 Burger King Corporation. Impossible is a trademark of Impossible Foods Inc. Used under license. cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 11-17 December 2020 Editorial MPs must hold Bush accountable Page 4 Cayman 2.0 21 people for 2021 Page 26 Bermuda back in lockdown Page 8 Parents bristle over holiday extension Page 10 Cayman's World Cup qualifying schedule set Page 31 FOCUS ON VACCINATION Cayman learns when it may receive the COVID-19 vaccine and when the borders may reopen. PAGE 6Matinees (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 BECKMAN (R) (FRI & SAT) 4:30 | (MON & TUES) 4:30 CHARLIE’S CHRISTMAS WISH (PG) (FRI & SUN) 4:25 | 6:50 | 9:15 (SAT ONLY) 11:20 | 1:45 | 4:25 | 6:50 | 9:15 (MON & TUES) 4:25 | 6:50 HONEST THIEF (PG-13) (FRI ONLY) 5:10 VIP | 7:35 VIP | 10:03 (SAT ONLY) 7:00 VIP (SUN ONLY) 7:00 VIP | 9:25 VIP LOVE ACTUALLY (R) (FRI ONLY) 7:00 (SAT ONLY) 1:15 | 7:00 | 9:30 VIP (MON & TUES) 7:00 NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION (PG-13) (FRI ONLYY)Y 4:35 |10:00 VIP (SAT ONLY) Y) Y11:25 | 4:35| 10:05 (SUN ONLY) 4:35 | 7:35 | 10Y) 4:35 | 7:35 | 10Y:05 (MON & TUES) 4:35 THE CROODS: A NEW AGE (PG) (FRI ONLYY)Y 6:55 | 9:20 (SAT ONLYT ONLYTY) Y11:40 | 1:00| 1:55| 4:20 | 6:55| 9:20 (SUN ONLY) 4:15Y) 4:15Y| 4:20 | 6:55 | 9:20 (MON) 4:00| 6:55 | (TUES) 4:20| 6:55 VANGUARD (PG-13) (FRI ONLY) 4:40 | 7:25 | 10:00Y) 4:40 | 7:25 | 10:00Y (SAT ONLYT ONLYT) 2:05 | 4:40 | 7:25 | 10:00Y) 2:05 | 4:40 | 7:25 | 10:00Y (SUN ONLY) 4:40 | 7:25 | 10:00Y) 4:40 | 7:25 | 10:00Y (MON & TUES) 4:40 | 7:25 KID CLUB ELF (PG) SATURDAY 10AM CLASSICS GREMLINS (PG) TUESDAY 7PM WONDER WOMAN 1984 OPENS DEC 16TH 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 weather 77°F HIGH 74°F LOW Friday Forecast FORECAST Partly cloudy skies with a 40% chance of afternoon showers. WINDS East to northeast at 10 to 15 knots. SAT 80°F HIGH 75°F LOW SUN 80°F HIGH 75°F LOW MON 88°F HIGH 76°F LOW TUES 88°F HIGH 76°F LOW WED 88°F HIGH 76°F LOW THUR 88°F HIGH 76°F LOW caymancompass.comfacebook.com/caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass SEA STATE Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. More security following quarantine breach The government is increasing security at one of its quarantine facilities after a traveller breached mandatory isolation there on Sunday, 6 Dec. Five additional security officers will monitor the exterior of premises, bringing the total number of officers providing 24- hour security to 16, Travel Cayman said in a press release, which did not identify the facility that was involved. Tasha Ebanks-Garcia, director of Travel Cayman, said security officers are stationed on each floor of the facility, with one officer outside each exit. Also a police officer is on duty at all times and a police car is parked outside the facility. A security patrol vehicle monitors the facility every 30 minutes. $2,600 payment ordered for quarantine costs in breach case Skylar Mack, 18, and Vanjae Ramjeet, 24, were both ordered to pay $2,600 and complete 40 hours of community service for a quarantine breach that occurred last month. Mack, from the US, was found without the government-issued electronic geo-fencing bracelet mandated for arriving air passengers participating in the quarantine-at-home programme, according to court documents. She was ordered to pay $2,600 to cover mandatory-quarantine accommodation costs and complete 40 hours of community service for breaching quarantine. Ramjeet is said to have aided and abetted her in the breach. Westin lays off 100 staff The Westin resort has laid off just over half of its staff amid the continued impact of the coronavirus on tourism in the Cayman Islands. The Seven Mile Beach hotel has not reopened since the borders closed in March. Until this month it had kept all of its staff on the payroll, but with no guests expected over Christmas and no significant return of tourism anticipated during the winter high season, managing director Jim Mauer said it was impossible to continue to maintain full staffing. Just over 100 people, both Caymanians and work-permit holders, have been let go. Dogs poisoned in West Bay Several dogs were euthanised Wednesday after being poisoned in West Bay. Animal charities issued warnings over social media about the poisonings this week, after a number of owners reported that their dogs had been poisoned after eating food on the side of roads while on walks or in their yards. The Cayman Animal Rescue Enthusiasts organisation said some of the poisoned animals had been euthanised, while “others are unconscious and fighting for their lives at the vets”. Wednesday’s poisonings occurred on Northwest Point Road, Town Hall Road and Conch Point Road in West Bay. Flu vaccine runs out, more doses on the way Supplies of Cayman’s free flu vaccine have been exhausted, the Public Health Department has announced. The department said that more vaccines have been ordered, but did not provide a timeline for delivery in its statement. However, the Health Services Authority said it expects the additional vaccines to arrive by mid-December. European poultry imports banned Cayman’s Ministry of Agriculture has put a temporary ban on the importation of fresh, chilled and frozen poultry meat from the United Kingdom and European Union countries amid fears over the spread of avian flu. The ministry advised that the ban will not affect the importation of products already treated to destroy the virus, such as canned poultry products and those in airtight containers. Aviation firm gets green light for Brac base An aviation and intelligence firm which plans to station Black Hawk helicopters on Cayman Brac has been granted planning permission for an airfield on the island. The Development Control Board approved plans submitted last month for the air base on land adjacent to the Charles Kirkconnell International Airport following a meeting on 1 Dec. In granting permission for the project, the board noted there were “numerous conditions” attached to that approval which have yet to be made public. Cuban migrants placed in quarantine A dozen Cuban migrants were taken into custody after landing in Little Cayman on Sunday, 6 Dec., after fishermen spotted the 10 men and two women aboard their makeshift vessel off Little Cayman. “Upon reaching land in Little Cayman, the Cuban migrants indicated they had been at seas for some five days,” a Customs and Border Control press release stated. As of 6 Dec., there were 38 Cuban migrants in CBC custody. Little Cayman National Trust gets US$200K donation for land Little Cayman resident Brigitte Kassa has donated US$200,000 to the island’s District Committee of the National Trust for the purchase of 17 acres of environmentally and ecologically important land. According to a press release, the parcel of land adjoins another Trust-held property on the Nature Trail at the west end of Little Cayman’s interior. The land nearly doubles the contiguous protected area “at a time when pressures of speculative real estate development are increasing”, the Trust stated. The parcel lies in prime Sister Islands rock iguana habitat and may contain historic artefacts from the phosphate mining industry that was on the island at the end of the 1800s, the release noted. news in brief The Westin has laid off more than 100 staff due to the continuing closure of Cayman’s borders. cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2020Discover your masterpiece. Christie’s International Real Estate’s and Provenance Properties’ curated networks of property specialists are trusted advisors in the Call +1.345.640.7000 or visit the website. provenanceproperties.com MEMBER OF CIREBA Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman From US$1,400,000 MLS#: 408247, 50, 57, 409578-79, 410013, 411301, 411361, 411752-55, 412160 when others see a we see a HOUSE WORK ART of cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 11 DECEMBER 20201234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Form a judgment of (3,2) 4 Seer (7) 8 Invite (3) 9 In control (2,3,4) 10 Kill wholesale by gunfire (3,4) 11 Hazardous (5) 13 To show (6) 15 Relax (6) 18 Mean grasping person (5) 19 Quick sharp reply (7) 21 Unexpected transformation (3,6) 23 Purpose (3) 24 At no great cost (7) 25 Absolute (5) DOWN 1 Speak haltingly (7) 2 Cause trouble (4,5) 3 Ancient Greek philosopher (5) 4 Obvious (6) 5 Exceed a fixed limit (7) 6 Gradation of colour (3) 7 British soldier (5) 12 In good order (9) 14 A dirigible (7) 16 A visionary (7) 17 Wild excitement (6) 18 Pleasing sound (5) 20 Make insistent demand (5) 22 Grow old (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16559 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 16559 ACROSS: 1 Sum up, 4 Prophet, 8 Ask, 9 At the helm, 10 Mow down, 11 Risky, 13 Reveal, 15 Unwind, 18 Miser, 19 Riposte, 21 Sea change, 23 Aim, 24 Cheaply, 25 Sheer. DOWN: 1 Stammer, 2 Make waves, 3 Plato, 4 Patent, 5 Overrun, 6 Hue, 7 Tommy, 12 Shipshape, 14 Airship, 16 Dreamer, 17 Frenzy, 18 Music, 20 Press, 22 Age. The historic opening of Cayman’s newly minted House of Parliament was accompanied by many grand speeches. Unfortunately, the words that resounded most clearly were those that were left unsaid. The disgraceful behaviour of Speaker McKeeva Bush has been met with near total silence by his parliamentary colleagues. Only independent legislator Ezzard Miller has dared suggest he be removed from one of the most prestigious offices in the country, even a week on from his public admission of a drunken assault on a woman. The message from many of the speeches at last Friday’s event was that Cayman was taking a bold new step towards political maturity that would bring greater independence and international respect to these islands. The sentiment, however, was totally undermined by the continued presence of the Speaker, front and centre, at the official ceremonies. Only 24 hours earlier Bush had sat, head bowed in the back of the courtroom, as video footage of the assault was played in court. The only defence he has offered is that he was too drunk to remember a minute of it. When the allegations first surfaced – and Bush offered a partial admission and a qualified apology – we called for him to resign. If, as appears the case, he is disinclined to do the honourable thing, it is now time for the decision to be taken out of his hands. This situation is no longer one where parliamentarians must wait for the wheels of justice to turn. Bush has pleaded guilty to two counts of common assault and one count of disorderly conduct stemming from the incident at a West Bay Road bar. On the evidence of the video, shown in court, he could hardly do otherwise. The footage clearly shows him throwing plastic tubs at a female member of staff and pushing her around the kitchen as he grappled to grab her phone. He is also alleged to have thrown punches at the woman, who came to his aid after he fell over drunk, leaving her with bruises on her arms and legs. The extent of his sentence remains to be seen. It is possible that, as his lawyer requested, he may avoid a criminal conviction being recorded for his actions. But the acceptable minimum standard of behaviour for someone holding one of the highest offices in the land should not start and end with criminal conduct. Neither should our elected officials need a code of conduct to know that one should not stumble blind drunk across the island and assault anyone. Most Caymanians would expect to lose their jobs in such circumstances. Why should the Speaker be any different? And what message does his continued presence in the role send to victims of drunken violence, especially women, about their government’s respect for them? It is hard to imagine an elected politician in the UK – or any modern democracy – remaining in office after admitting to allegations of this kind. The pressure, both internally from colleagues and externally from the media and the public, would have made their position untenable. The elevation of Cayman’s Legislative Assembly to become a House of Parliament will be meaningless if all that changes is the words over the door. If Cayman’s elected officials want the prestige associated with being MPs instead of MLAs, they must hold themselves to that standard. Sitting idly by and keeping quiet in the face of such behaviour taints the reputation of all Members of Parliament and leaves the impression that this is a house where political expediency trumps common decency. Holding the speaker fully accountable for his behaviour is the only acceptable step commensurate with the respect that should be conferred to a parliamentarian. Anything else looks like a lack of regard for the role. cartoon Email from God - By Caymanman MPs need to hold Bush accountable Do you agree with government's decision to extend the Christmas holiday break by two weeks? cayman compass Total: 397 UndecidedYes No ONLINE POLL 41% 164 54% 215 5% 18 Cayman’s government schools will remain closed for two weeks longer than planned as the holiday break has been extended, Education Minister Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has announced. cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2020cayman compass 5 FRIDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2020 Actual Photo Actual ViewsRESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky While Cayman Islands Tourism Association president Marc Langevin welcomes the planned roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines in the Cayman Islands, he does not see it as a “silver bullet” for the reopening of local borders. In fact, the Ritz-Carlton general manager believes banking on one strategy, like a vaccine, “is very dangerous”. “The vaccine is really, for us, an assurance that in the future the world would be a better place,” Langevin said on the 9 Dec. episode of The Resh Hour. He says it’s a long-term answer rather than a short-term remedy. His comments came hours before Premier Alden McLaughlin provided an update on government’s vaccine plans. “I think the vaccine should be incorporated into our layered protocol. There were different numbers announced from the point of view of how many vaccines are going to be available, who is going to be [getting it] and how long it’s going to be [available],” Langevin said. Premier McLaughlin has said Cayman’s reopening plans “are contingent on a successful vaccine programme locally and internationally.” The CITA president said, as it stands, it is not easy for him to judge the impact of the vaccines as, “I don’t think that’s going to lead to any opening by Easter or summertime.” Langevin said those in the tourism industry are anxious to hear what government’s vision for Cayman’s reopening will be and what its next phases will look like. Without that information, he said there is no way anyone can plan for their businesses or their staff. “I don’t think that [vaccines] is the one silver bullet that’s going to lead us to a return to tourism. For the long term, that’s the right thing. I’m hoping that a vaccine by the fall or by next year will allow us to be in a position where we can go back and say, ‘Alright, now we can travel, customers can travelers and we can relax,’” he said. Cayman, he suggested, should look at a multi-layered approach to reopening, as is being done in other countries. He said the approach could include vaccinations for tourism workers, a tracking app for visitors and changes to local COVID-19 protocols to require pretesting and reducing in quarantine times. “I think there are a lot of ideas that as a private sector, as a hospitality industry… tourism industry, we can bring to the table. We can add to the conversation because obviously we have means, we have cooperation that help us to develop protocols and ideas. That’s what was successful when at the beginning of the lockdown when we reopened, we came as a group between restaurant and hotel and presented protocols for sanitation,” he said. Langevin said he is going to take the vaccine once available, so it is not a question of fear. However, he said that are a number of factors still to be considered. “The issue with the vaccination for visitors is, assuming that they are giving... [the] vaccine to first anybody that worked in the medical field and the people most at risk or the aging population, that is not necessarily the population that is coming on the island,” he explained. CITA boss: Vaccine is no silver bullet Marc Langevin calls for a "layered protocol" that works in tandem with the COVID-19 vaccine. Premier eyes March reopening RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Cayman will be rolling out a mass inoculation campaign starting early January once COVID-19 vaccines arrive on local shores, Premier Alden McLaughlin said on 10 Dec. He pledged to be among the first to take the jab. Speaking in Parliament, McLaughlin said based on the planned roll-out of vaccines and how well government is able to convince the population to get vaccinated, government would be in a position to feel secure about opening local borders by March. “Because by then we would have had enough of our people inoculated to create the oft- talked-about herd immunity which will protect the entire community,” he said, adding that all of this remains contingent on the public’s participation in the vaccination exercise. As he unveiled the national plan, which has been approved by Cabinet, McLaughlin said priority will be given to those over 60 years old, and people who have certain defined conditions and diseases that make them more vulnerable to the effects of the coronavirus. “And while I am not yet in those ranks, I will say that I will be one of the first in line to take the vaccine to lead by example and to demonstrate my confidence in the safety of the vaccine,” he said. The vaccine will greatly reduce the chances of getting COVID-19, and “the potential severity of the illness if we should contract it, but nothing is guaranteed”, he said. Staged roll-out planned While McLaughlin said he could not provide an exact arrival date, he said he expects doses of the Pfizer/ BioNtech vaccine to arrive here within the first week of January. “We anticipate receiving a sufficient number of vaccines in the first batch to immunise several thousand people. Additionally, government has contracted with the coronavirus COVAX facility organised by the international vaccines agency, Gavi, to provide further vaccines. The premier said the vaccines will be provided by the United Kingdom and will be free. He stressed inoculation will be voluntary but he encouraged the public to do their to do due diligence, and to keep their minds open to the benefits that participation will offer. “It is an opportunity for us, as individuals, to take action to protect this community that we love so much, and which has done so much for us, while at the same time we protect ourselves,” he said. The vaccinations will be rolled out in stages, McLaughlin said, and Cayman will be in a position to deliver 3,000 doses per week based on current resources. “Once the vaccine arrives on island, a number of groups have been prioritised for the voluntary vaccination,” he said. These groups include healthcare workers and institutional residents to reduce the risk of spreading COVID between Cayman to roll out COVID-19 vaccinations in January Health workers will be among the first to be vaccinated. Proposed travel protocols • Proof of vaccination • PCR test on arrival • PCR test on day 5, 10 & 15 PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 18» 6cayman compass 7 FRIDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2020 3 X US$5,000 CASH WINNERS 5 X US$1,000 CASH WINNERS AND OTHER GREAT PRIZES! Every US$100 purchase at any Kirk Freeport store made before noon on December 24th qualifies for all prize draws! Winners will be announced on CayRock 96.5 FM and HOT 104.1 FM in the afternoon, and X107.1 FM and KISS 106.1 FM during the breakfast shows the next day. RULES AND REGULATIONS: Minimum US$100 purchase to enter. One entry per purchase. Receipts can be combined to reach US$100 requirement. Winner must claim prize at Kirk Freeport on Cardinall Avenue within 7 days of announcement. Non-winning valid entries from Kirk Freeport Christmas Sweepstakes will be included in the Rolex Drawing. Kirk Freeport employees and immediate family members are not eligible to enter. Rolex giveaway is on January 4th, 2021. Entries begin Tuesday 1st Dec Friday Dec 11thUS$5,000 Friday Dec 18th US$5,000 Thursday Dec 24thUS$5,000 BAYSHORE MALL, CARDINALL AVENUE & THE STRAND+1(345) 949-7477 • KIRKFREEPORT.COM CHRISTMAS SWEEPSTAKES $1,000 each day Wednesday Dec 16th, Thursday y Wednesday Dec 16th, Thursday y Dec 17th, Monday Dec 21st, Tuesday Dec 22nd, Wednesday Dec 23rdesday Dec 23rdJAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Bermuda is experiencing a second wave of the coronavirus, with indoor bars and schools forced to shut their doors amid a fresh outbreak of the virus. The island had been highlighted, locally and internationally, for successfully reopening its borders in July. But a recent surge in cases has put the British Overseas Territory in a precarious position. There were 24 new cases announced on the island on 9 Dec., bringing the total number of active cases to 98 at press time. The island’s Premier, David Burt, has described the results as “alarming”, according to reports in the Royal Gazette newspaper. He warned, “We are in the midst of a large outbreak of the coronavirus here on our shores. The scale and scope of the number of positive cases is alarming and proves that we are not exempt from the realities of this global pandemic.” Burt acknowledged the island could have introduced tougher prevention measures earlier, according to the Gazette report, stating, “We got complacent and we believed our own hype.” Bermuda, which has a population of 64,000 and a similar economy to the Cayman Islands, does not require visitors to quarantine, relying instead on a system of extensive testing and contact tracing before and during the trip, and a system of contact tracing. Even amid the latest outbreak, there are no new restrictions on incoming flights or movement of visitors arriving in Bermuda, other than a new requirement to wear a yellow ‘traveller wristband’ for 14 days. Announcing that measure earlier this week, Health Minister Kim Wilson emphasised that the island was still very much open to tourism. “I want to remind everyone that Bermuda’s borders are open and we continue to welcome visitors and our returning residents home,” she said. Cayman watching and learning Michael Tibbetts, vice- president of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association and the owner of Clearly Cayman which has dive resorts on all three islands, has advocated for Cayman’s leaders to look closely at other reopening plans in the region and allow some return of tourism to the island. He said the setback in Bermuda should not detract from that goal. He believes Cayman can look at the failures as well as the successes of other islands to come up with its own protocol involving a combination of testing, shorter quarantine periods and contact tracing. He said there were flaws in Bermuda’s system – including a policy of allowing returning residents who had a pre-arrival COVID-19 test – to travel freely around the island and return to work immediately. “For the outbreaks that have occurred, we should learn from the protocol’s weaknesses and not simply throw up our hands and give up,” he said. He highlighted St Kitts, British Virgin Islands and Barbados among countries that were still successfully controlling the virus – through a mix of testing, tracing and restrictions on movement – while allowing some resumption of tourism. Tibbetts said he hoped Cayman would continue to look into plans for a safe reopening and not solely rely on a vaccine to reopen the borders. He said while the recent vaccine approval is promising, there are still many unanswered questions, including the safety and efficacy of the vaccine for children, pregnant women and previously infected individuals. He said outbreaks in countries that had reopened their borders thus far had been largely attributed to returning residents. “I am not aware of any situations in which stayover visitors seeded COVID-19 outbreaks in countries requiring serial PCR testing (pre-arrival, on arrival and every four days after arrival) and resort/villa isolation or ‘tourism corridor’ restrictions to limit visitors movements across the islands,” he said. Tourists line up at a testing centre in Bermuda's capital Hamilton. Bermuda facing second wave of COVID-19 Bermuda Premier David Burt There were 24 new cases announced on the island on 9 Dec., bringing the total number of active cases to 98 at press time. 8 news N newscayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 11 DECEMBER 2020 In 1980, David Foster identified the need for a modern supermarket on Grand Cayman that provided quality food and a larger selection of items at a lower cost. With the help of his mother, Alta, and brother, Steve, the trio came up with an idea that would soon become a reality. 40 years later, Foster's is the island's supermarket that shoppers trust, and we couldn't be more thrilled to celebrate this momentous occasion with our community! HERE'S TO ANOTHER 40 YEARS OF CARING. fosters.ky/our-storyNext >