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. Your most trusted news source Weekly, 18-24 December 2020 Speeding, DUI tickets up despite lockdown Page 8 More dogs fall ill, die due to suspected poisonings Page 14 Speeding, DUI tickets up despite lockdown Cayman's tough stance over a quarantine breach lands Skylar Mack and Vanjae Ramgeet in jail, sending a message that was heard around the world. Page 6 $1 Funding local journalismWeekly, 18-24 December 202002 ZERO TOLERANCE Photo: Taneos Ramsay Established 1965 cayman compass 21 people for 2021 Page 20Matinees (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 lm starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK BECKMAN (R) (FRI) 10:10 (MON & TUES) 10:10 BOLSHOI BALLET: THE NUTCRACKER (G) (SAT) 3:30 | 8:00 (SUN) 3:30 | 8:00 (MON) 3:30 | 7:25 CHARLIE’S CHRISTMAS WISH (PG) (FRI & SAT) 12:45 (MON - THURS) 12:45 HOME ALONE (PG) (FRI & SAT) 4:25 HONEST THIEF (PG-13) (FRI & SAT) 7:00 | 10:20 VIP (SUN) 7:00 | 10:20 VIP (MON & WED) 7:00 | 10:20 VIP (TUES) 10:20 VIP (THURS) 7:00 THE CROODS: A NEW AGE (PG) (FRI & SAT)1:00 VIP | 3:30 | 7:25 (SUN) 4:35| 7:25 (MON - THURS) 1:00 VIP | 3:30 | 7:25 VANGUARD (PG-13) (FRI) 1:40 | 4:40 | 7:25 | 10:05 (SAT) 12:50 | 10:05 (SUN) 10:05 (MON) 12:50 (TUES & WED) 1:40 | 4:40 | 7:25 | 10:05 (THURS) 1:40 | 4:20 | 7:00 WONDER WOMAN 1984 (PG-13) (FRI & SAT) 12:30 | 3:30 VIP | 4:00 3D | 7:00 VIP | 9:30 (SUN) 3:00 VIP | 4:00 3D | 7:00 VIP | 9:30 (MON-WED) 12:30 | 3:30 VIP | 4:00 3D | 7:30 | 9:30 (THURS) 12:25 | 3:05 VIP | 3:50 3D | 6:25 KID CLUB HOME ALONE (PG) SATURDAY 10AM CLASSICS DIE HARD (R) TUESDAY 7PM VIP 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 85°F HIGH 74°F LOW Friday Forecast FORECAST Partly cloudy skies with a 30% chance of showers. WINDS Northeast at 15 to 20 knots. SAT 80°F HIGH 75°F LOW SUN 86°F HIGH 75°F LOW MON 82°F HIGH 76°F LOW TUES 86°F HIGH 76°F LOW WED 86°F HIGH 76°F LOW THUR 86°F HIGH 76°F LOW caymancompass.comfacebook.com/caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass SEA STATE Moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet. Cayman up to 310 COVID cases There were 18 people who tested positive for COVID-19 out 2,190 test results reported between 10 and 17 Dec., bringing the total number of people who have tested positive for the virus in the Cayman Islands to 310. Two of the 18 positive results came from Cayman Brac, and all of those who tested positive were asymptomatic with recent travel histories. There are 26 people with active cases of COVID-19 as of 17 Dec., with 21 asymptomatic. Two people have died from COVID- related complications in the Cayman Islands since the start of the pandemic and Cayman has administered more than 57,400 tests. Pedestrian struck by car Cayman International School elementary physical education teacher Greg Simcoe remains hospitalised after being struck by a vehicle Wednesday night on West Bay Road, near Cemetery Beach. He’s in critical but stable condition, CIS principal Jim Urquhart told the Cayman Compass. “He’s a beloved member of the Cayman community and certainly CIS’s community,” Urquhart said. “We definitely wish him a speedy recovery. Personally, I think everyone is looking forward to seeing his smiling face and hearing his voice in our halls soon.” Urquhart said the school’s counsellors are working with students and faculty members. An email sent to an RCIPS spokesperson the morning of 17 Dec. seeking further details was not returned by press time. Hill fined $3K for ICT harassment Cayman Marl Road administrator Sandra Teresa Hill has been fined $3,000 and ordered not to publish any future posts about businessman Matthew Leslie. The sentence, which was handed down on Tuesday, 15 Dec., comes a little more than four months after Hill was convicted on a single count of using an information and communications network to abuse/annoy/harass. The conviction followed a judge-alone trial before Justice Roger Chapple, for a series of allegations that she made against Leslie in February 2019. 7 new fire vehicles arrive on island The Cayman Islands Fire Service has added three tankers and four rapid intervention vehicles, costing a total of more than CI$2.45 million, to its firefighting fleet. The vehicles were conveyed from the port to the Central Fire Station on 14 Dec. According to a government press release, the three tankers cost $518,844 each, while the four other vehicles each cost $222,803. Chief Fire Officer Paul Walker, in the release, stated that the old tankers had been in service for 13-15 years. DEH removes more than 300 tons of bulk waste The Department of Environmental Health had cleared 333 tons of waste as of 16 Dec. as part of its annual bulk waste removal campaign. According to the DEH, 173 tons of refuse have been removed from Bodden Town, making it the largest haul as of press time. East End is next with 135 tons, with North Side recording 20 tons. Items such as appliances, furniture, and a mixture of other household waste, make up the 214 tons of items collected so far. Scrap metal accounts for 79 tons, the remaining 40 tons resulted from vegetation discarded at the drop-off sites. news in brief Christmas squash pic of the day Dave Smith shows off a giant squash that grew wild on his daughter Darria Sinclair’s land in Breakers. Smith brought the 49-pound squash to the Compass office last week, after securing it with a safety belt on the passenger seat of his car. cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2020cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2020 Actual Photo Actual Views1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Reinforce (7) 5 Create (3,2) 8 By its very nature (2,7) 9 Silvery-white metal (3) 10 Obligation (4) 12 Leave-taking (8) 14 Indisposed (6) 15 Insignificant person (6) 17 Ultimate (8) 18 Cut down (4) 21 To mimic (3) 22 Ready for immediate duty (2,7) 24 Impressively high (5) 25 Extremely bad (7) DOWN 1 To increase in intensity (5) 2 Be situated (3) 3 Job to be done (4) 4 Charge for hiring (6) 5 Structural framework (8) 6 Utterly (2,3,4) 7 A fine (7) 11 Alone (2,7) 13 Habitual greed in eating (8) 14 Gain mastery (7) 16 Intense disgust (6) 19 Faithful (5) 20 Crazily ridiculous (4) 23 Slow to understand (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16565 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 16565 ACROSS: 1 Bolster, 5 Set up, 8 In essence, 9 Tin, 10 Debt, 12 Farewell, 14 Poorly, 15 Nobody, 17 Eventual, 18 Fell, 21 Ape, 22 On standby, 24 Lofty, 25 Abysmal. DOWN: 1 Build, 2 Lie, 3 Task, 4 Rental, 5 Skeleton, 6 To the core, 7 Penalty, 11 By oneself, 13 Gluttony, 14 Prevail, 16 Nausea, 19 Loyal, 20 Zany, 23 Dim. Do you agree with the 4-month prison sentence issued to Skylar Mack and Vanjae Ramgeet for their breach of quarantine? cayman compass Total: 1,478 No, the sentence is too harsh Yes, this will serve as a deterrent No, the sentence is too lenient ONLINE POLL 62% 918 27% 392 11% 168 Premier Alden McLaughlin declared that the next phase of border reopening will commence once the highest risk residents are vaccinated, hopefully by March 2021. In this next phase, all incoming residents and visitors who can show proof of vaccination and submit to testing at five-day intervals will avoid quarantine. I fully support the emphasis on vaccination and commend the proactive path of the vaccine roll-out. Now that the reopening process for the vaccinated has been announced, I believe that a second parallel path needs to be defined for the unvaccinated. This plan must obviously provide a higher level of safety and community protection. A plan for the unvaccinated is necessary because although the approved vaccines are safe and effective for most adults, there are still unanswered questions. Most notably, the vaccines have not been studied in children under age 16. As a result, residents and visitors under age 16 will be excluded from vaccination until the late summer of 2021 when clinical trials are completed. A vaccinated individual can still A parallel path to reopening is needed cartoon Bad idea - By Caymanman Letters to the editor be a carrier of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This means that the person may not get sick but could still pass the virus to someone else. BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin believes that the vaccine may only reduce transmission by 50%. Vaccination by itself is, unfortunately, not the magical key to open our borders without additional safety measures. A parallel protocol to permit unvaccinated residents and visitors should be provided along with the vaccination plan for March. The unvaccinated protocols must include additional layers of protection such as pre-arrival testing (in addition to on-arrival and every five-day testing), and specific sanitation and mask- wearing protocols in place in approved accommodations, restaurants and attractions. Other elements such as a contact-tracing app would further enhance the level of safety. Combined, these elements could provide a greater degree of risk mitigation against the community spread of COVID-19 than vaccination alone. To be clear, this pathway would be specific only for unvaccinated arrivals that can comply with pre- arrival testing and the enhanced protocols. With this strategy, businesses can begin to make reopening plans and hope will be provided to thousands of struggling Caymanians. I invite you to learn more at reopencayman.com and post your questions to the Reopen Cayman Facebook page. Dr. Michael Tibbetts, MD I am writing to ask questions that are surely on the minds of visitors who would like to enjoy vacations in the beautiful Cayman Islands next year. Two issues are of utmost importance: First, is there any decision on how long the quarantine requirement will continue for visitors? This requirement is almost impossible for those with limits on time and money. Second, will only visitors who have taken the vaccine be allowed on the island? There are millions around the world who have grave concerns about the actual danger of the virus given the recovery rate for the majority of people that is well north of 90%. There are also many professionals in the healthcare field, specifically virology and immunology, who have serious concerns about a untried type of RNA vaccine, especially one with a unacceptably short time of testing. I am looking for answers to these burning questions as I already have scheduled a visit in May 2021 and will lose a significant sum if I don’t cancel before a certain date. James Troxler Potential visitor wants clarity on COVID restrictions cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2020cayman compass 5 FRIDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2020 Discover 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 ofFRIDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2020 ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Skylar Mack and Vanjae Ramgeet, who were both jailed for four months over a breach of quarantine, are appealing their sentences. Pre-med student Mack, 18, from Georgia, US, removed her monitoring wristband and left quarantine two days into her mandatory 14-day isolation period to attend a jet-ski competition in which her 24-yer-old boyfriend Ramgeet, who is from Cayman, was taking part. Their case has garnered international media attention, with People magazine, ABC News, Yahoo News, Good Morning America, and Inside Edition all picking up the story. The pair were initially ordered to do 40 hours of community service and to pay $2,600 for the cost of quarantine accommodation after appearing before Summary Court on 7 Dec. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed that sentence on the basis that it was unduly lenient. Grand Court Roger Chapple agreed and imposed the four-month prison sentences on 15 Dec. The judge told the court that “the gravity of the breach was such that the only appropriate sentence would have been one of immediate imprisonment”. When sentencing Mack, Chapple said, “This was entirely deliberate and planned, as evidenced by her desire to switch her wristband the day before to a looser one that she was then able to remove.” Mack and Ramgeet are the first people to be sentenced under recently amended regulations to deal with COVID-19 quarantine breaches. Those regulations increased the penalties for such violations to a $10,000 fine and up to two years in prison. The couple’s lawyer, Jonathan Hughes, confirmed to the Cayman Compass that both defendants are appealing Chapple’s decision to overturn the Summary Court’s sentence. Tuesday, 22 Dec., has been set as a provisional date for the hearing before the Court of Appeal. Mack’s grandmother Jeanne Mack, who was interviewed on ABC’s Good Morning America, said the family feel the four-month sentence is too harsh. “Skylar is the last person we thought something like this would happen to, and the fact that this can happen to a kid like her is scary,” she said, adding that her granddaughter had tested negative for COVID. “Four months for breaching isolation when you are negative – why did she have to be the example?” she asked. Director of Public Prosecutions Patrick Moran had told Chapple at the Grand Court hearing that the initial sentence was not stringent enough, saying, “When it comes to a matter of deterrence, the sentences imposed are likely to have little to no effect on other like-minded individuals.” But Hughes told the judge that Mack and Ramgeet had already suffered a significant toll, saying Mack had received hate mail and death threats. “There is no way that it can be right that a custodial sentence is imposed for a first-time offence on an 18-year-old defendant, who entered an early guilty plea,” Hughes told the Grand Court. Both Mack and Ramgeet, through their lawyer, issued letters of apology for their actions before the Grand Court revised the sentence. In her letter, Mack said, “I was afforded the opportunity to enter the islands during these trying times and I abused it. I am humbly asking for the forgiveness of the community.” Ramgeet, in his letter, admitted he should have known better than to put his local community at risk, adding, “I made a decision without thinking about the long- term effects it would have on our community; words cannot express how truly sorry I am for the anxiety, frustration, and inconvenience that you all have experienced.” Following the quarantine breach, six people, including Mack, were placed in mandatory isolation after contact tracing was carried out. d iod n ws Justice Roger Chapple agreed The couple’s l Hughes, confirmed to the Breach case appealed; story attracts international attention Tuesday, 22 Dec., has been set as a provisional date for the hearing before the Court of Appeal. iposed for a rst-tie offence on an 1-year-old defendant, ho n prisonto two years in prison. The couple’s lawyer, Jonathan tion when are negative – why did she n an 18-year-old defen entered an early guilty plea,” Hughes told the Grand Court. t and Ramgeet, through their lawyer, issued letters of apology for their actions before the Grand Court revised the sentence. In her letter, Mack said, “I was afforded the opportunity to enter the islands during these trying times and I abused it. I am humbly asking for the forgiveness of the community.” o cayman compass news N news 6cayman compass 7 FRIDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2020 www.deloitte.com/ky As we come to the much-anticipated end of 2020, we look back and admire the invincible spirit, strength and unity of our Cayman community, who came together and worked together through the many challenges that our Islands - and the world - have faced this year. We are inspired by the infinite kindness of individuals, the support from public and private sector organizations, and the tireless efforts of our local non-profits, who all united to help those in need and make a positive impact in our society during some very difficult times. These Holidays, in lieu of gifts and cards, at Deloitte we are celebrating by making a CI$25,000 donation to the R3 Cayman Foundation, and renewing our commitment to making an impact that matters for our community in 2021. We wish all our people, clients, friends and Cayman family a happy, healthy Holiday Season, and a bright, positive start to the New Year. The Partners and Staff at Deloitte Cayman Islands Our Year End Holiday wish Supporting R3 and the community 2021 2021cayman compass 8 N FRIDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2020 Nadia Lewis-Hamilton Promoted to Assistant Vice President Group Insurance Services Warren Rolle, Managing Director of Cayman First, is pleased to announce the promotion of Nadia Lewis-Hamilton to the position of Assistant Vice President – Group Insurance Services, effective November 10th 2020. Nadia is an experienced Life and Health insurance professional with over 10 years’ experience in underwriting and risk management. She was previously the company’s Underwriting Manager – Health. Prior to joining Cayman First, Nadia worked with Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited as Assistant Vice President, Underwriting & Risk Management. Nadia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Actuarial Science from the University of the West Indies and the Associate of the Life Management Institute (ALMI) qualification. a o s i c f n sed to announce f Assistant Vice 020er 10th 2 with ovesional wasnt. She r to joininh. Prio ed as Assistanmit ience from the fe Management NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Police have issued 827 more speeding tickets so far this year than for the entire of 2019 even though Cayman Islands residents were in lockdown for three months. According to Royal Cayman Islands Police Service statistics, 3,945 speeding tickets have been issued since the start of the year, compared to 3,118 last year. Already in the first two weeks of December, 106 speeding tickets have been handed to drivers and 15 people have been arrested for DUI. Acting Superintendent Brad Ebanks said the number of speeding offences that have been flagged is “alarming” considering that Cayman was under shelter-in-place protocols between 27 March and 21 June. For much of that period, there were limits on the number of people who were allowed out in public, with only essential workers having permission to be out and about, and other members of the public restricted to what days they could visit supermarkets or banks. But, as restrictions were gradually eased over several weeks and traffic began returning to local roads, speeding offences started to rise. By mid-May, speeding drivers were becoming a concern for police, leading Police Commissioner Derek Byrne to appeal to motorists to slow down after his officers issued 404 speeding tickets in the two-week period between 15 and 29 May. Some drivers were clocked at 100 miles per hour, he said. The maximum speed limit in Cayman is 50 miles per hour. There have been nine fatal accidents in the Cayman Islands so far this year, with three of the victims being pedestrians, police said. The RCIPS noted it investigates 10 road fatalities a year on average. The number of cases of driving under the influence of alcohol has fallen somewhat this year, with 251 people being arrested for DUI as of 16 Dec., compared to 329 people in 2019. However, that number is likely to increase as the holiday season progresses and additional police check points are put in place as part of the RCIPS annual road safety campaign, called Operation Winter Guardian this year. The highest blood alcohol level recorded this year was .336%, more than three times the legal limit. Ebanks, in an interview with the Cayman Compass, said the main focus of Operation Winter Guardian is to target drunk drivers and speeders. He said the priority of the RCIPS is to keep the roads safe, but he also appealed to drivers to take responsibility for their actions and to consider their families and communities when they get behind the wheel. He added that it was distressing to see that motorists were being caught speeding or driving under the influence even within 24 hours of news of a fatal accident. “People are dying,” he said, as he stressed the importance of driving safely on local roads. Despite lockdown, speeding cases rise news NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Police have issued 827 more speeding tickets so far this year than for the entire of 2019 even though Cayman Islands residents were in lockdown for three months. According to Royal Cayman Islands Police Service statistics, 3,945 speeding tickets have been issued since the start of the year, compared to 3,118 last year. t riers 1 ele number of speeding offences that have been flagged is “alaring” considering that Cayan as under shelter-in-place protocols between rc 1 Despite lockdown, speeding cases rise 251 arrested for DUI in 2020 329 arrested in 2019 Highest blood alcohol level: .336% Speeding Tickets Drunk Driving 3,945 in 2020 3,118 in 2019 cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 18 DECEMBER 2020Next >