EASTERN AVENUE Hello Family. Meals. cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 25 June - 1 July 2021 Open the next Compass Cold Case fi le Page 6 Generation Z talks sexual harassment Page 22 Reopening plans compared across Caribbean Page 11 Through the roof Rising costs hit Cayman’s builders and buyers. Page 3 Photo: Taneos RamsayMatinees (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 A QUIET PLACE PART II (PG-13) (FRI-SAT, MON-THURS) 4:10 VIP | 5:00 | 6:35 VIP 7:30 | 10:00 (SUN) 5:00 | 6:35 VIP | 7:30 | 10:00 | 10:15 VIP CRUELLA (PG-13) (FRI-SAT, MON-THURS) 1:35 | 4:20 VIP (SUN) 4:20 VIP F9 THE FAST SAGA (PG-13) (FRI & TUE) 12:30 VIP | 1:00 3D | 1:00 VIP | 3:00 | 3:45 VIP | 6:45 | 9:00 VIP | 9:30 3D | 10:00 VIP (SAT, MON, WED-THURS) 12:30 VIP | 1:00 3D | 1:00 VIP | 3:00 | 3:45 VIP | 6:45 | 7:00 VIP | 9:00 VIP | 9:30 3D | 10:00 VIP IN THE HEIGHTS (PG-13) (SUN) 6:20 | 7:20 SPIRIT UNTAMED (PG) (FRI-SAT, MON-WED) 12:15 | 2:30 | 7:30 (SUN) 3:45 | 7:25 VIP (THURS) 12:15 | 7:30 THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT (R) (FRI-SAT, MON-WED) 4:45 | 9:45 (THURS) 9:45 THE HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD (R) (FRI-SAT & MON-WED) 12:30 | 1:35 VIP | 4:15 | 7:00 | 7:30 VIP | 10:00 | 10:15 VIP (THURS) 1:35 VIP | 4:15 | 7:00 | 7:30 VIP | 10:00 | 10:15 VIP KIDS CLUB CINDERELLA (2015) (PG) SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE CLASSICS WHEN IN ROME (PG-13) 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 EDITORINCHIEF KEVIN MORALES weather Friday Forecast FORECAST Partly cloudy skies with a 30% chance of showers and possible thunder. SEA STATE Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet. caymancompass.comfacebook.com/caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass WINDS East to southeast at 10 to 15 knots. 88°F HIGH 77°F LOW SAT 88°F HIGH 77°F LOW SUN 88°F HIGH 78°F LOW MON 88°F HIGH 78°F LOW TUES 88°F HIGH 78°F LOW WED 89°F HIGH 78°F LOW FRI 89°F HIGH 78°F LOW FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass Green light for Cayman The UK has moved Cayman to its ‘green’ list for travel. Travellers from countries and territories on the green list are not required to quarantine upon arrival in the UK. Cayman joins 16 other new additions to the list, which was announced shortly before press time on 24 June. Governor Martyn Roper, responding to the update on his Facebook page, said he was “delighted” with the decision. For the full story, visit caymancompass.com. Dart appeals Britannia ruling The Dart group has fi led an appeal of the Grand Court’s judgment which would compel the developer to provide golf access and use of beach facilities to neighbouring residents as a condition of its 2016 purchase of a suite of properties including the old Hyatt hotel and Britannia golf course. The judgment, released earlier this month, followed a landmark trial that pitted 200 homeowners against the island’s largest landowner. If the decision is upheld, it would drastically impact the scope of any future development Dart can carry out at those sites. In a statement on 23 June, Dart confi rmed it had fi led a notice of appeal. Citing uncertainty within the judgment over the future use of the golf course – which is no longer playable – Jackie Doak, president of business development at Dart, said the company believed further clarity was needed. While the judgment upheld the Britannia owners rights to use the course, the court ruled that Dart was not required to maintain it. Doak suggested this could lead to a stalemate with the Britannia owners over the future use of the land. 14 in isolation following possible COVID exposure at hospital The Health Services Authority confi rmed on 23 June that 14 people, including eight members of its staff, are currently in isolation after employees at the Cayman Islands Hospital were exposed to a highly symptomatic COVID-19 patient. The HSA said all members of staff who are in isolation had been vaccinated. On 22 June, the HSA stated that staffers and their household members had been isolated for 14 days after one member of staff who had come into contact with the patient had not worn an isolation gown or shoe protection, but did have on other personal protective equipment. The patient is an unvaccinated traveller who was hospitalised in the Critical Care Unit with COVID-19 symptoms near the end of the mandatory 14-day quarantine period, according to a statement issued by the Public Health Department on 21 June. According to an emailed statement from the HSA to the Cayman Compass, the staffers and their household members who had been approved by the medical offi cer of health, have been allowed to isolate at their homes. Tourism stipend registration reopens Any out-of-work tourism employees who have not yet signed up for the monthly government stipend will have another chance to do so over the next week. Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan announced on 23 June, in a statement, that registration for the tourism stipend will be reopened to give displaced workers in the sector who missed the previous registration deadline a chance to apply. As of May, 3,371 people were receiving the $1,500 stipend, which Bryan said is costing the government more than $5 million a month. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism has launched a mandatory survey for stipend recipients. Bryan said that the purpose of the survey was to “collect accurate data that will enable the Ministry to plan for the future needs of the industry, in preparation for reopening”. The deadline for completion of the survey is Friday, 2 July. Bryan said that his ultimate goal as tourism minister was to ensure that displaced industry workers who wish to return to the sector are given fi rst preference to fi ll vacancies. Government has previously stated it would be extending the stipend programme until the end of year, with full payments of $1,500 a month until October, and a reduction in the stipend to $750 in November and December, pending the reopening of the borders. Governor reassures LGBTQ community over civil partnership rights Governor Martyn Roper has said he believes the right of LGBTQ+ people in Cayman to civil partnerships will be protected, regardless of the outcome of a legal challenge before the courts. Roper, speaking at Colours Caribbean’s fi rst anniversary celebrations on 19 June, said there are several options on the table, even if a judicial review challenging the use of his special reserved power in enacting the Civil Partnership Law succeeds. On 4 Sept. 2020, Roper used his emergency powers outlined in Section 81 of the Cayman Islands Constitution Order to assent to the civil partnership legislation. While the governor pointed out he could not comment on that case, he said the law will still stand. “Even if there is an outcome to that [challenge] which says that certain powers should have been used or a different power should have been used, I believe the law will remain in place,” he told the audience gathered at Central Terrace in Bayshore Mall. 24 road accidents over weekend as police target speeding, DUI Despite high-visibility patrols and more vehicle checkpoints, police are continuing to see traffic accidents, speeding and DUIs on local roads. Over the weekend of 19-20 June, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service reported 24 road accidents, including one collision with serious injuries; made 11 DUI arrests; and issued more than 50 traffic tickets, as it continues Operation Quaker, which is targeting drunk driving and speeding islandwide. According to a press release issued by the RCIPS on 22 June, particular attention was focussed on Sunday during daylight and late-evening hours. To help with the campaign, the National Roads Authority has been running road safety messages on digital billboards across the Cayman Islands. Police said that the majority of the tickets they issued were for speeding. News in brief Homes line the now-closed Britannia golf course. There is an ongoing dispute over the use of the land.- Photo: Taneos Ramsay cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 25 JUNE 2021JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky A global shortage of building supplies is driving up the cost of construction, leading to delays in new developments and fuelling predictions of even higher house prices in the Cayman Islands. The cost of materials – including copper, lumber, PVC and concrete – has escalated across the globe because of depleted production during the worst of the pandemic in 2020 and surging demand from economies coming out of lockdown this year. The same factors are the cause of rising food prices, reported in the Cayman Compass last week. With the cost of oil rebounding after a slump during the pandemic, higher electricity bills and petrol prices could also be in the pipeline. Dave Johnston, president of the Cayman Contractors Association, said the impact would eventually fi lter through to everyone in Cayman. “The cost of living is going to increase. Food prices are up, fuel is up, housing is going to go up,” Johnston added. Record-breaking price rises Daniel Murphy, retail manager at A. L. Thompson’s, said there had been record-breaking price increases throughout COVID and beyond on raw materials. At one point last year, the price of lumber had gone up 300% on some products. That has since come down but the market in raw materials remains volatile. “I can’t think of any vendor that has not been impacted signifi cantly by the effects of the pandemic,” said Murphy. “We have seen a drastic increase in terms of lead times, items being on back order for extended periods and then when the items are available, the price has gone up signifi cantly across the board.” The problem is compounded by the increased cost of shipping. The price to bring a 40-foot container from China – which produces more than half of the world’s steel – to Jamaica has gone up from US$2,500 a year ago to US$11,500 today, according to Richard Pandohie, president of the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association. The pandemic had no impact on the number and frequency of cargo ships coming in to Cayman from Jamaica and Florida, according to Cayman Port Authority Director Joey Woods. But he warned the availability of containers and price of shipping from Asia have inevitably had an impact on the cost of goods coming into the island. Delayed projects The net effect of all those factors is increased costs for contractors and developers, along with delayed progress on a number of housing and hotel projects that were accelerated to boost Cayman’s economy in the aftermath of last year’s lockdown. Matthew Wight, president of NCB, which is building the OLEA residential development at Camana Bay as well as a boutique Curio Collection by Hilton Hotel opposite Kirk Market in George Town, said price increases and lack of availability of materials would impact its ability to deliver projects on time. NCB is particularly hard hit because it acts as both contractor and developer. “Our contracts are based on a fi xed price and when the cost of materials escalate, it’s a huge loss to us as we’re having to cover these price increases. This is a risk we take unfortunately, but it’s defi nitely hurting us,” said Wight. On pre-sold homes there is no possibility for a developer to recoup costs by pushing up the price. Higher home prices But Wight said the situation would lead to higher property prices in the long term. “The prices of homes in the future will absolutely increase as there is a direct correlation between the cost of materials and unit prices,” he said. Neil Purton, director at BCQS International, said anyone building property will be immediately impacted. “Homeowners that are looking to start construction now will be paying a premium as the shortage of raw materials is pushing up construction costs in the short term,” Purton said. He believes contractors that bid on fi xed price building projects will also be hurting because of the “massive escalation” in material prices and delivery times. Rick Riyat, a valuation surveyor at the firm, said it was inevitable that some of these costs would be passed on to the public. While buyers who bought homes in new developments prior to construction are protected against spikes in pricing, he said the impact would be felt by anyone looking to purchase homes or condos right now. “Higher costs and declining availability for building materials and even appliances will drive up the price of new homes,” he said. “Developers will be looking to maintain profi t margins and this will inevitably push up list prices.” Construction fi rms are already feeling the pinch. Johnston said some fi rms had bid on projects a year ago, judging their price for the job on costs of raw materials that had since increased by as much as 70%. He said the cost of everything needed for a building job, from rebar and PVC to steel, wood and drywall, has gone up signifi cantly. Contractors that don’t have ‘escalation clauses’ in their contracts with the developer could be facing the prospect of working for free or even making a loss on jobs, he warned. The association is advising members to talk to developers and to seek compromise where possible. He said it would be in the long-term best interests of developers and fi nanciers of projects to share the pain. “There is going to have to be compromise," he said. "If a contractor is going to do a job for a year and lose $100,000, some will inevitably ask, what is the point?” Labour challenges The cost escalation is compounded by a lack of supply and greater cost of labour. Wages have gone up in the industry as businesses compete for talent while the cost of bringing in skilled tradespeople has become more diffi cult and more expensive amid global restrictions on travel. Factoring in the cost of a potential 14-day quarantine, COVID tests, higher air fares and reduced availability of fl ights, Johnston said businesses were facing an additional bill of $3,000-$5,000 to bring in workers. He said Caymanian employment across the industry was effectively “maxed out” and businesses that needed skilled workers had no choice but to bear the additional expense of bringing in qualifi ed people from overseas. Beyond the pandemic It is not only the pandemic that is causing cost increases. Flash freezes in Texas contributed to a worldwide shortage of PVC resin, which is used not only in pipes, but also in many other products such as windows, doors, and other composites, according to Murphy of A. L. Thompson’s. A global shortage of microchips, used in everything from kettles and washing machines to generators and refrigerators, also means shortages and cost increases on household appliances, he added. Murphy said A. L. Thompson’s had been strategic about how it had managed prices to keep the impact on consumers to a minimum. In some cases, he said increases were simply unavoidable. “Our fi rst cost on some of these goods is now higher than our ‘Pre- COVID’ retail price,” he added. He believes prices are starting to settle and will decrease when the global supply chain kicks into gear once more. “It is incredible the impact that COVID-19 has had in terms of commerce. We hope to see prices come down in the near future and are seeing signs of that, but we are at the mercy of the market. There is not much any of us can do.” Diesel fuel prices, which plummeted during a series of coronavirus lockdowns across the globe last year, are on the increase, meaning higher electricity bills for consumers in Cayman. The fuel cost – which makes up a sizable portion of the average monthly electricity bill – has almost doubled since May last year. The impact of that increase amounts to an additional cost of around $60 on the average monthly bill. Caribbean Utilities Company passes these costs directly to the consumers with no mark-up. “Diesel fuel prices in the Gulf Coast where a majority of CUC’s fuel comes from have been increasing over the past few months after a signifi cant decline in 2020,” a spokesman for the utility said in response to questions from the Compass. In May 2020, CUC average purchase price was $1.41 per imperial gallon, which translated into an 8.5 cents per kilowatt hour fuel factor on consumer bills for July 2020. The average price paid in the past two months, April and May, was $2.40 per imperial gallon which translates to 14 cents per Kwh on consumer bills in June and July. That would mean a difference of $60.50 for Cayman Islands residents based on the average monthly consumption rate of 1,100 kWh for CUC customers. While that seems drastic, the fuel price did dip dramatically during 2020 and the current rate is around the same as it was in December 2019. Fuel-price rebound means higher electric bills House prices could increase Food already impacted Electricity bills also rising Building supply shortage fuelling new cost-of-living concerns cayman compass 3 news N news FRIDAY, 25 JUNE 20211234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Large bird of prey (5) 4 Religious day of rest (7) 8 Make fun of (3) 9 Halt abruptly (4,5) 10 Sanitary science (7) 11 Before due time (5) 13 Sudden jerk (6) 15 Specialist treatment facility (6) 18 River of northwest Africa (5) 19 Correctly reasoned (7) 21 Take place (4,5) 23 Sphere (3) 24 A pledge (7) 25 Glass for artificial gems (5) DOWN 1 Range of hearing (7) 2 Be unwanted (2,7) 3 Follow as result (5) 4 Brief fall of rain (6) 5 Dr Johnson’s biographer (7) 6 In the past (3) 7 With vehemence (5) 12 Happen to meet (3,6) 14 Great slaughter (7) 16 Strength of character (7) 17 With maximum effort (3,3) 18 Mother-of-pearl (5) 20 Arrange (3,2) 22 To spoil (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16727 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 16727 ACROSS: 1 Eagle, 4 Sabbath, 8 Rib, 9 Stop short, 10 Hygiene, 11 Early, 13 Twitch, 15 Clinic, 18 Niger, 19 Logical, 21 Come about, 23 Orb, 24 Earnest, 25 Paste. DOWN: 1 Earshot, 2 Go begging, 3 Ensue, 4 Shower, 5 Boswell, 6 Ago, 7 Hotly, 12 Run across, 14 Carnage, 16 Calibre, 17 All out, 18 Nacre, 20 Get up, 22 Mar. Why we published the Bush assault video EDITORIAL BOARD We all knew the details of Speaker McKeeva Bush’s drunken assault on a woman prior to the Cayman Compass’ publication on 18 June of the CCTV footage from the incident. A vast majority of us, however, had never seen the footage presented as evidence in the trial, which was played in court proceedings open to the public. We believe – as any ethically sound news outlet should believe – people have a right to know, with as much clarity as possible, exactly what took place at Coral Beach in February of 2020 concerning an official in elected office. It’s our duty as journalists to provide this information and let members of the public form an opinion for themselves. In order for justice to be done – and be seen to be done – the public and the media are granted access to legal proceedings. This is one of the fundamental tenets of journalism: The public has a right to access information. So the Compass, in partnership with Nelsons law firm, reached out to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to inquire about the possibility of obtaining the video. Everyone in Cayman, it seems, has formed an opinion about the incident, based on the video. That’s why we see the release of the footage as a success. For some, seeing for themselves the events that took place that night changed their opinion about the incident and, possibly, Bush himself. For others, the video further confirmed the opinions they previously held. That’s exactly what we sought to achieve – to provide the information and let you decide for yourself. It is not for news organisations like the Compass to seek to dictate opinion about the content of the video or make judgements about the verdict of a trial. It is, however, beholden on a journalist to provide the public with accurate information, from which they are free to draw their own conclusions. With sensitive material and per due process, conditions from the ODPP were attached to the release of the footage prior to it being provided, notably obtaining the consent of the victim in the incident. The Compass took steps to provide all the relevant elements of the video in its coverage, so members of the public have the full picture of facts. The public interest in publishing material used in the conviction of an elected official for assault is undeniable and we made the video available on our website as soon as it was released to us – literally the same day. Whether seeing the footage makes viewers more or less sympathetic to Bush or his victim is not something we wish to influence. We believe the release of the video gives everyone in Cayman a clearer picture of what happened and better evidence to draw their own conclusions. The tale of the tape cartoon RIP Iguana - By Caymanman Editorial What they’re saying Online 24 road accidents over weekend as police target speeding, DUI Why is nothing being done about people using their phones while driving? Surely this is be- hind a large percentage of these accidents? I have almost been hit several times by people looking at their phones. – Steven Daker Then you wonder why our car insurance is so high. People need to stop and think and get a designated driver, but no they believe they can drive without consequences. – Jamie Montero [Use] speed cameras to issue tickets to these careless drivers. – Valda Hilton Taylor I remember when we never even had 24 accidents in a year, times are certainly changing... – Kurt Danlaw Anderson I’m not driving at night there this fall. 1/2 mile to Rum Point. That’s about it... – Eric Johnson “... 2:45am on Sunday, 20 June, at the intersection of Shamrock Road and Beach Bay Road, where a silver Honda Accord wagon crashed into a tree.” What can the government do about these highly aggressive trees and utility poles? They apparently come alive in the middle of the night and leap in front of unsuspecting drivers. Seriously though we take our lives in our hands every time we drive, or even worse, cycle, on our roads. Every day some lunatic in an aging Honda or Toyota whizzes past me on the Esterley Tibbetts Highway at 60 mph plus. Motorbikes are even more dangerous. I’m sure I’m not alone. Then there are the swerving drivers and those whose license plates are impossible to read. Yet we hardly ever see a police cars on the streets. Could they walk around supermarket car parks and give out tickets? Could there be a force of special traffic cops using their own cars who could ticket these individuals? – Norman Linton Cayman's C-section rate more than double WHO recommendations According to the article, the rate is 31% in the US to give some comparison. Also, keep in mind our residents are from all over the world so their diverse health backgrounds will factor in. – Hollie Whitelocke As a person who has had 2 sections, the first in a country that did trial by labour and the second in the States, I think the OB/GYN not WHO should make the call. My first ended up being an emergency C-section and they had trouble finding a doctor to do it after we had already gone into a very dark place. It all turned out very well but I hope no one should ever go through the fraught hours of them getting their act together. It was a scary time. – Regina Ecclefield cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 25 JUNE 2021cayman compass 5 FRIDAY, 25 JUNE 2021Murder investigation continues 11 years on RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky About one month after celebrating his 32nd birthday, Courtney Delroy Spence’s life came to an untimely and violent end when the Jamaican national was gunned down in January 2010. In this month’s Cayman Compass Cold Case series, in partnership with the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, we take a closer look at the events leading up to Spence’s murder and the investigation that now spans more than a decade. The Spence family declined to be interviewed for this article. However, his widow, who requested her name not be used, issued a short statement to the Compass, saying, “I just hope they catch whoever has done this.” Pursuing a new life Detective Constable Alan Sherwin, of the RCIPS Serious Crime Review Team, is heading up the investigation into the murder of Spence - codenamed Operation Convoy - who was originally from St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. He offered some insight into the life of the father of two, who he said came to Grand Cayman in 2005 after being sponsored by his cousin, who was a serving police offi cer at the time. He started to build his new life in Cayman, initially picking up work as a gardener. Over 2006 and 2007, Spence worked for local security companies before getting hired by Progressive Distributors. A premediated attack Fast forward to 2010. By then, Spence had established a solid reputation at Progressive and would often take up split late shifts. However, that practice of working lengthy hours late into the night would set the stage for Spence’s murderer to ambush and kill the unsuspecting victim. “I think a lot of planning went into this to know that he was working late. It’s not just an incident outside a bar or a nightclub where someone unfortunately got stabbed... And so, certainly there’d be more than one person involved in it,” Sherwin said in an interview with the Compass. The 28 Jan. 2010 workday started as an ordinary one for Spence, but its end would leave his family shattered and a company grieving a valued employee. Sherwin said Spence would generally work day shifts, but on Thursdays and Sundays he would take split shifts which meant he would work during the day, head home and then return at night to unpack containers. Sherwin said, on the day in question, Spence’s wife dropped him to work at 7:30am and she came back later in the day where they had lunch at the eatery opposite his workplace. They then ran errands, after which he dropped her back to her work and returned to Progressive. At the end of his day shift, he collected his wife and they headed home. Sherwin said later CCTV cameras showed Spence returning to work at 6:45pm. “He interacts with various members of staff. He completes his work, but there was a delay in the shipping containers that were getting delivered that night. At approximately 10:50[pm]... he gets permission from the manager for him and other members of staff to leave early because they’re not required,” Sherwin said. Killer lies in wait At 11:05pm, according to the CCTV footage, Sherwin said Spence was seen leaving with a co-worker; he then called his wife. Both workers head to their cars. “Courtney gets into the vehicle. He starts the engine, turns his lights on and with that you see a fi gure emerging from [nearby] palm trees. The fi gure then runs towards Courtney’s vehicle. Courtney sat in the driver’s seat. There is a slight struggle to get the door open. The door is opened, and Courtney is then fatally shot in the head,” Sherwin said. The killer then ran off into the darkness. His co-worker, who was further down the carpark waiting for his car’s air-conditioning to kick in, then drove past to see Spence on the fl oor next to his vehicle. The worker then drove to the security offi ce and an offi cer is sent to check. He called “the police at 11 minutes past 11 that evening. And the police arrive about seven minutes later and then the murder inquiry starts,” Spence said. International connections explored That inquiry involved analysis of cellphone records which showed Spence was in regular touch with a woman named Tracy in Jamaica as well as Facebook contacts named Mike – an American previously resident in Cayman – Nadine and Delise. “At the time, offi cers were preparing to go to Jamaica, but never got dispatched there. I think other things happened on island and, consequently, that line of inquiry went cold,” he said, adding when he took over the investigation in 2018, the police tried to contact those four people by phone and then email. “Unfortunately, we’ve been unable to make contact with either Tracy, Nadine or Delise,” Sherwin said. Contact has been made with Mike, however, who Sherwin said is now in the US. “If anyone does know those people, that would be fantastic for them to either make contact with us either via Crimestoppers, direct to the police or via the Serious Crime Review contact number, which if you are calling from Jamaica is 1-345- 649-2930,” he said. The motive for Spence’s killing remains unclear at this time, Sherwin said, though he noted the police are looking into several lines of inquiry. He said after the murder, police received tips which were investigated while others turned out to be crank calls. The CCTV footage and other evidence in the case, though now 12 years old, is being run through updated forensic technology which Detective Constable Russell These is involved in analysing. In Spence’s case, These said there is no clear picture of what exactly was happening in the available footage. However, with some enhancement “we’re able to corroborate other things that have been discovered in the investigation”, he said. These said with the additional work they have done, the team has been able to piece together the puzzle of how Spence was murdered. However, he said, they have progressed the investigation to the point where they have done all that they can as police offi cers. “What we need now is for people to come forward with either direct evidence or any other kind of corroborating evidence that we are able to push the investigation even further to the point where we can charge the person with the eventual aim of convicting them in court,” These said. Who killed Courtney Spence? Anyone with information relating to Courtney Spence’s murder can call the Serious Crime Review Team confi dential tip line at 649-2930. WATCH THE VIDEO ONLINE CAYMANCOMPASS.COM Serious Crime Review team detective constable Russell These points to a screengrab of CCTV footage from the night of his murder. Serious Crime Review team detective constable Alan Sherwin looks at fi les from Operation Convoy, the codename for his investigation into Courtney Spence's 2010 murder. – Photos: Alvaro Serey cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 25 JUNE 2021 6butterfieldgroup.com Address 12 Albert Panton Street, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Mastercard® debit or credit card for a chance to at local restaurants. Every purchase will enter Plus, three lucky cardholders will win a four-night stay at a local hotel. Visit our website to learn more. Perks, by . 197413-Ad-Compass-FP-Mastercard.indd 12/8/21 2:30 PM cayman compass 7 FRIDAY, 25 JUNE 2021Entrepreneur outlines vision for multi-year project JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Wild tamarind trees smother the weathered shells of rusting construction equipment lining the dirt road that runs from the quarry to Scott’s dock on Cayman Brac. Standing on a small hill, overlooking the water, Frank Schilling outlines some of his ideas for the future of the site. “What you are standing in, whether you know it or not, is a small village that will eventually cascade down this rambling hill towards the water in the distance,” he says. “In the future we will have a small inlet and marina and the ability to bring in fi shing boats.” Schilling paints a picture of an old-fashioned Mediterranean-style village and harbour that he says will bring amenities and investment in a way that fits with the slower pace of the Sister Islands. The entrepreneur, who made his fortune as the founder of Uniregistry – a registrar for internet domain names – has branched out into development since selling the business in early 2020. Schilling has acquired some 300 acres on Cayman Brac, including 80 acres surrounding the airport. In a relatively short period of time he has become one of the biggest landowners on the Sister Islands. He aims to slowly develop a village, port and private air- services business over the next two decades. His dream is still some way from reality. Planning applications to the Development Control Board and a Coastal Works Application to Cabinet will be required before any work can begin. Port Zeus The most ambitious, and, potentially, controversial aspect of the project, is a plan to excavate six acres of land next to Scott’s dock to create an inland safe harbour that could accommodate around 20 fi shing or pleasure boats. Situated on the northwest coast, Schilling argues it will have minimal impact on the fringing reefs and will Marina and village part of Schilling’s Brac plan Schilling’s 80 acres of property close to the airport are marked in red. – Image: Supplied cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 25 JUNE 2021Oil & Filter Service + 26 POINT INSPECTION OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE Mon-Friday 7:30am - 5pm Saturday 9am -12pm. Auto Care Center diagnose the problem and fix it right the first time. We have certified licensed technicians. We diagnose and test your vehicle so we will NOT charge you for a FULL SERVICE if it’s not needed - NO HIDDEN FEES. FREE QUOTE. 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Kirk Motors Buildingwww.carclinic.ky create a new amenity for the Sister Islands that can provide security for a local fl eet of boats and access to cargo ships and possibly even a car- ferry from Grand Cayman. With just 1,500 people currently living on the Brac, Schilling believes the margins for any development are small. He claims he is investing out of a love for the island and to fi ll what he sees as a needed niche rather than in expectation of signifi cant profi ts. He says he wants to include the community in the conversation about how the land is developed. An email has been set up for feedback and questions at PortzeusCB@gmail.com. “In an island of 1,500 people you can’t impose your vision – everything will happen at the natural pace and progress that is good for the community,” he said. Schilling believes his Port Zeus marina project will be welcomed by the community. “There is no viable port or safe harbour currently on the Brac,” he said, highlighting the potential to bring in fresh seafood and other supplies through a thriving port. “It is a modest harbour in keeping with the island. We are not talking about a sea port here, it is a fi shing village.” Schilling returns to the Mediterranean theme as he describes his hopes for the ‘village’ – a town square, a taverna and shops with apartments on the upper fl oor. He insists the aim is to be low key, with a development of a few hundred homes springing up in phases over several decades. “I love the Brac. I have been coming here with my son for over a decade,” he said. “It feels soulful and good and under-appreciated and we would like to try to enhance it at a pace that the community will accept.” He said the land side of his proposed project is on an industrial site – largely used to dispose of junked construction equipment. Airside development The first element of a multi- stage plan to fall into place will be his ‘Brac and Forth’ air- services business. Schilling acquired the site where Daggaro had planned to station an aviation company specialising in search and rescue. He aims to submit new plans for a hangar, cold storage facility for food and a retail space on that property. Schilling believes that will help provide a level of infrastructure, including a fresh food supply, that the Brac has not had previously. The second stage, he said, would be to seek permission for the marina project. The village will be the third part of the plan to fall into place, though approvals could be sought simultaneously. He believes there is some room for the Brac to grow and boost services that will add to the economy and to the population without it becoming a new Grand Cayman. “Everything we are doing is long term and modest in scale,” he said. “I am trying to stake this out with a village, a town square, shops, homes, a restaurant, and a protected harbour and we will see what springs from there.” Schilling at the site of his proposed development on the Brac last week. – All photos: Alvaro Serey Schilling bought land from Daggaro and plans his own aviation business on the site. Schilling aims to build Port Zeus on land extending east of Scott’s dock (to the left of the pier in this picture). He also wants to create a safe harbour by excavating the earth as far inland as the buildings in this image. cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 25 JUNE 2021 news N newsNext >