EASTERN AVENUE Hello Family. Meals. cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Friday, 13-19 August 2021 Road to reopening enters Phase 2 Page 5 Local author's book heads to TV Page 11 Tiny homes solution to big housing problem Page 14 Code RedCode Red What the UN's climate change projections mean for Cayman. Page 6 Photo: James Whittakerweather Friday Forecast FORECAST Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with a 60% chance of showers and some thunder mainly over the Sister Islands. SEA STATE Smooth with wave heights less than 2 feet. caymancompass.comfacebook.com/caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass WINDS Southeast 5 knots or less. 89°F HIGH 77°F LOW Matinees (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 BLACK WIDOW (PG-13) (FRI-SAT, MON-THURS) 3:34 (SUN) 3:30 VIP | 3:45 DON’T BREATHE 2 (R) (FRI-SAT, MON-THURS) 7:10 | 10:15 VIP F9 THE FAST SAGA (PG-13) (SUN ONLY) 6:30 VIP | 9:45 | 9:45 VIP FREE GUY (PG-13) (FRI, MON, WED-THURS) 4:20 | 4:30 VIP | 7:00 | 7:15 VIP | 9:45 VIP | 10:10 (SAT) 12:45 VIP | 12:45 | 4:20 | 4:30 VIP | 7:00 | 7:15 VIP | 9:45 VIP | 10:10 (SUN) 4:20 | 4:30 VIP | 7:00 | 7:15 VIP | 10:10 | 10:10 VIP (TUES) 4:00 VIP | 4:20 | 7:00 | 10:10 | 10:10 VIP JUNGLE CRUISE (PG-13) (FRI, MON-THURS) 4:05 VIP | 6:50 (SAT) 12:50 | 1:00 VIP | 4:05 VIP | 6:50 (SUN) 3:45 VIP | 6:50 RESPECT (PG-13) (FRI, MON-THURS) 3:30 | 6:45 | 7:00 VIP | 9:45 (SAT) 1:15 VIP | 3:30 | 6:45 | 7:07 VIP | 9:45 (SUN) 3:30 | 6:40 VIP | 6:45 | 9:45 | 9:55 VIP SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY (PG) (SUN) 3:45 | 6:55 | 9:50 THE SUICIDE SQUAD (R) (FRI, MON-THURS) 3:40 VIP | 6:45 VIP | 9:50 | 10:00 VIP (SAT) 1:10 | 3:40 VIP | 6:45 VIP | 9:50 | 10:00 VIP WRATH OF MAN (R) (FRI-SAT, MON-THURS) 4:20 | 9:40 CLASSIC FIGHT CLUB (R) TUESDAY 7PM KIDS CLUB DESPICABLE ME 2 SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) DoE and Dart spar over environmental assessment requirement The Department of Environment and Dart have locked horns over the requirement for an environmental impact assessment for a Planned Area Development in West Bay. This follows the developer’s criticism of the EIA requirement, which was endorsed by the National Conservation Council, calling it a “fundamentally flawed” decision. The DoE, in a statement issued 6 Aug., maintained it was in Cayman’s “best interest” to ensure a “thorough assessment of the potential environmental and socio- economic impacts” for the PAD. Dart, in a two-page statement released on 30 July, had protested the EIA requirement which was handed down in an April screening opinion. Mark VanDevelde, Dart chief executive officer, expressed concern over what he called “the inconsistency in the interpretation and application of the current law when determining at what stage an EIA is required”. Dart contended, in its statement, that its PAD application did not seek permission to develop or alter the land. It added: “[M]uch of the proposed PAD area is already zoned so as to permit 10-storey hotel/tourism related developments. Therefore, the proposed PAD does not contemplate any development that exceeds current parameters,” the statement added. However, the NCC and DoE, through a joint statement, contended that Dart has been asked to provide an EIA because the “PAD application that has been submitted by the organisation seeks permission to develop on a scale that substantially exceeds the allowances indicated in the Development and Planning Regulations. Therefore, the DoE believes it is imperative that an EIA is carried out as part of its due diligence.” Dart’s PAD application proposes development, which will take place from 2021 to 2034, of 398 condominiums, 58 house lots, 4,480 hotel rooms across multiple facilities, approximately 100,000 square feet of new retail space, and a 220-slip marina and fuel station. Suspected lightning strike knocks out weather radar generator Cayman’s National Weather Service radar is currently down for repairs after a suspected lightning strike, NWS Director General John Tibbetts confirmed. Tibbetts, in an emailed response to queries from the Cayman Compass on 11 Aug., said the Kearney Gomez Doppler Radar went down on 6 Aug. However, he said the issue with the radar is being resolved and it will be up and running by Wednesday, 18 Aug. He explained that the generator at the radar site in High Rock in East End went offline and it is believed this was triggered by a possible lightning strike, but that was “unconfirmed”. At present, the NWS site and weather notices have advised the public that the radar is down for maintenance. Little Cayman’s National Trust opposing over-water bungalow resort The Little Cayman District Committee of the National Trust for the Cayman Islands has launched a petition objecting to the proposed construction of a resort with over-water bungalows on the island. The committee said this is a matter of “critical importance” because the plan would involve constructing the bungalows in a protected Marine Park Zone, and is calling on Cabinet to reject a coastal works permit application from the developer, Peppercorn Investments Ltd. Peppercorn Investments has applied for planning permission and a coastal works permit for the construction of the resort, at the site of the current Kingston Bight Beach Bar at South Hole Sound. The proposed resort includes 19 one-bedroom bungalows built along a 542-foot dock that would extend out over the water, as well as six two-storey three-bedroom cottages and 12 single-storey two- bedroom cottages on the beach. In a press release, the committee said it was “deeply concerned about the precedent this would set and damage this would cause in the Marine Park Zone”. Turtle saved from poacher’s trap The Cayman Islands Coast Guard sprang into action and rescued a juvenile hawksbill turtle on 10 Aug., after it became entangled in a poacher’s trap. Taking to social media, the Coast Guard posted that a member of the public had raised the alarm about a distressed turtle which had been caught in a net that was attached to two buoys. “The reporting party provided a detailed location and CICG officers were able to respond and locate the trapped turtle and subsequently release the turtle,” read the post. “No visible injuries were observed on the turtle. The net and buoys were retrieved and it appears as though this is a net designed and set to entrap turtles.” According to the World Wildlife Fund, hawksbill turtles are critically endangered. WWF estimates the global population of nesting hawksbill turtles is 8,000, with only five active sites where more than 1,000 females nest annually. “It should be noted that the area where the turtle was found is a designated Environmental Zone which strictly prohibits the taking of any marine life,” wrote the Coast Guard in its post. Osbourne Bodden appointed chairman of HSA board Former health minister Osbourne Bodden has been appointed chairman of the Health Services Authority board. According to an announcement in the government’s 6 Aug. gazette, Bodden’s two-year appointment became effective as of 2 Aug. He replaces Jonathan Tibbetts, who was first appointed as chairman of the board in 2014. Bodden served as health minister from 2013 until 2015. Lawyer Jaron Leslie has been re-appointed as deputy chair, effective until 1 Aug. 2022. news in brief A juvenile hawksbill turtle is pulled on board a Coast Guard vessel after it was found entangled in a poacher’s trap. - Photo: Cayman Islands Coast Guard 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 FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 13 AUGUST 2021Disclaimer : FIN Grand Cayman features and amenities are based on current development plans and concepts and are subject to change without notice. Some services and amenities are subject to service-based fees or homeowner fees. GRAND CAYMAN’S ART DECO ICON IS OPEN AND READY FOR OCCUPANCY Priced from US $2.5M Reserve your private tour and discover the last word in luxury + 1 345 526 7777 fin@fingrandcayman.com FIN.cayman fingrandcayman Owners are moving in, the pool is lled and ready for dips, the wine lockers are stocked, the Teslas are charging and the boats are wet. All that is missing is you! Three (3) residences remain for sale, a single level home with two oversized terraces, and two multi-level penthouses complete with private rooftop garden and plunge pool. Book a viewing today to discover why FIN is the Last Word in Luxury. Disclaimer : FIN Grand Cayman features and amenities are based on current development plans and concepts and are subject to change without notice. Some services and amenities are subject to service-based fees or homeowner fees. GRAND CAYMAN’S ART DECO ICON IS OPEN AND READY FOR OCCUPANCY Priced from US $2.5M Reserve your private tour and discover the last word in luxury + 1 345 526 7777 fin@fingrandcayman.com FIN.cayman fingrandcayman Owners are moving in, the pool is lled and ready for dips, the wine lockers are stocked, the Teslas are charging and the boats are wet. All that is missing is you! Three (3) residences remain for sale, a single level home with two oversized terraces, and two multi-level penthouses complete with private rooftop garden and plunge pool. Book a viewing today to discover why FIN is the Last Word in Luxury. Disclaimer : FIN Grand Cayman features and amenities are based on current development plans and concepts and are subject to change without notice. Some services and amenities are subject to service-based fees or homeowner fees. GRAND CAYMAN’S ART DECO ICON IS OPEN AND READY FOR OCCUPANCY Priced from US $2.5M Reserve your private tour and discover the last word in luxury + 1 345 526 7777 fin@fingrandcayman.com FIN.cayman fingrandcayman Owners are moving in, the pool is lled and ready for dips, the wine lockers are stocked, the Teslas are charging and the boats are wet. All that is missing is you! Three (3) residences remain for sale, a single level home with two oversized terraces, and two multi-level penthouses complete with private rooftop garden and plunge pool. Book a viewing today to discover why FIN is the Last Word in Luxury. cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 13 AUGUST 20211234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Express approval (7) 5 Orderly succession (5) 8 Divert attention of (9) 9 Droop (3) 10 Fashion (4) 12 Occur at same time (8) 14 Scatter (6) 15 After much delay (2,4) 17 Fail to have intended effect (4,4) 18 Excitement (4) 21 Behave (3) 22 Worldwide (9) 24 Clever expedient (5) 25 Escape (7) DOWN 1 Tea-growing Indian state (5) 2 Walk with soft tread (3) 3 Concerning (2,2) 4 Use as a source (4,2) 5 Observe carefully (4,4) 6 Attacker (9) 7 Fail to do (7) 11 Laid waste (9) 13 Political independence (4-4) 14 To swindle (7) 16 An economy (6) 19 Mass meeting of supporters (5) 20 Strong inclination (4) 23 Carpentry tool (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16769 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 16769 ACROSS: 1 Applaud, 5 Train, 8 Sidetrack, 9 Sag, 10 Mode, 12 Coincide, 14 Dispel, 15 At last, 17 Fall flat, 18 Stir, 21 Act, 22 Universal, 24 Dodge, 25 Getaway. DOWN: 1 Assam, 2 Pad, 3 As to, 4 Draw on, 5 Take note, 6 Assailant, 7 Neglect, 11 Desolated, 13 Self-rule, 14 Defraud, 16 Saving, 19 Rally, 20 Bent, 23 Saw. Spotlight on Cayman’s hidden housing crisis ARK, angels. God bless you all. I wish I was really, really rich. Keep pushing for donations from the really, really rich. They can continue to help. The imbalance of rich to poor is so blatantly obvious. – Cyndy Ebanks I’m so glad to see an article focussing on this problem, because it is definitely a huge issue. We have had several people come to our house to try to get help, because they don’t have anywhere to stay. Their stories are complicated, and there’s not an easy solution. But it breaks my heart, because these people are really suffering, and everyone should have a place to live. I’ve been wondering how to best help them and make sure they don’t fall through the cracks. It’s not always easy to know what to do. – Sarah Monticue Knox I have seen many places like this and it’s because a lot of Cayman families are without jobs and can’t get [one] despite trying like crazy. It’s sad to know they have to live like this is in our own little paradise when people can come here so easy [and] can get jobs. The government needs to enforce employment, for these families are suffering. – Izzy Banegas I am sorry there is so much suffering among many families. However, these problems have more than social, economics components attached. Personal responsibility also plays an important part in a person’s standard of living. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory should be studied more carefully by those of us who wish to better our lives. There will not always be sufficient charities to help everyone. I am sure grateful to these entities in helping to relieve some of burdens the government is asked to carry. – Betty Ebanks So much wealth owned by a few whilst far too many live in poor standard housing and on what we know as below the poverty line. Wealth should be more evenly distributed among the poorer of society. – Jerry Young Go on food deliveries with Meals on Wheels and you will see a totally different Cayman from the SMB standard we have become used to. – JoDz Shamzy White Cayman’s vaccination rate slows Sadly I fear it will not be until Cayman’s hospitals see a surge of people that it will hit home. And it is heartbreaking to think about. There is so much disinformation flying around and people are passing things on without doing any critical checking of what they see popping up on their phones. Delta is hyper infectious and it affects all ages, including young healthy people and kids under 12 who cannot access the vaccine yet. If you know a storm is coming, you take precautions before it hits. If you know a highly infectious pathogen is going around, you need to listen to the hundreds of thousands of doctors and virologists who know what they are talking about and take their advice. – Rachel Osborne I honestly don’t know what it’s going to take since the very real threat of severe illness and death doesn’t seem to [faze] them. Here in the US, especially in my state of Florida... my ignorant governor is hellbent on killing us. – Gail Missy [M.] Mitchell There are countries on the planet where people would dream about being vacinated. Should the borders be closed forever? Should we all be hostages of these few guys ? Open up, people choose already. – Caldo Caldo Turtle saved from poacher's trap And they say farmed turtle meat prevents poaching! These are endangered species! Should be a complete ban! When the seas and oceans are dead you’ll question then whether maintaining all traditions was worth it! – Clare Marshall This will not stop until the poachers are sent to prison for a minimum of five years. Fines do not deter these criminals. – Alan Patino Thank goodness for the rescue but [those] who set the trap should be found and locked up. – Ruth Smestad Anglin Cayman author's novel being adapted for TV Congratulations Sara! I think about this book often during the course of my day. It really stuck with me. – Caroline Neale-Allenger What they’re saying Online pic of the week Jon Roney and his family were recently staying in a condo at Ocean Frontiers in East End. Before his took this photo he said they were having a “mini family argument”. But then his wife, Philippa Roney, spotted the rainbow, which made all the difference. “We all ran outside to watch it, with quarrel forgotten by the magic,” he said. The magic of nature cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 13 AUGUST 2021NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Phase 2 of the Cayman Islands’ border-reopening plan went into action Monday, 9 Aug., with certain vaccinated arrivals allowed to quarantine without GPS monitoring, and weekly PCR tests for unvaccinated frontline workers. Up until Monday, any incoming traveller who could be ‘securely verified’ and who was eligible for the five-day quarantine option was issued with a ‘Stay Safe Cayman’ smart wristband and a mobile phone with an app that allowed the person to be monitored via GPS. Under Phase 2 of the plan, GPS monitoring is being removed for securely verified arrivals, which, according to officials, will allow the government “to assess local impacts and build capacity to manage the increase in traveller volume anticipated with the opening of the borders in Phase 3”, scheduled for 9 Sept. Securely verified travellers are those whose vaccination certificates can be electronically verified or who have been vaccinated in Cayman by the Health Services Authority. Vaccination certificates from Barbados have also been added to the list of inoculation documents that are accepted in Cayman, to allow people to avail of the five-day quarantine. That list now includes vaccination certificates issued by the HSA, the UK’s National Health Service, Smart Health Cards from CVS Health, Walmart Pharmacy, Sam’s Club Pharmacy, the US states of California and Louisiana, UC San Diego Health and UC Health, as well as vaccination records from EU member states and other countries that meet the EU Digital COVID Certificate standard. According to a press release issued by government on 10 Aug., Travel Cayman staff will initiate daily contact with people in five-day quarantine, and will increase physical welfare checks. When they arrive at the airport, those eligible for five-day quarantine will have a blue bracelet placed on their wrists and be issued with a government cellphone, without GPS tracking. Those isolating without GPS technology are still required to follow quarantine protocols, which include remaining in their residence for the duration of the isolation period, receiving no visitors and having contactless food deliveries. Breaching quarantine regulations can result in a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a two-year prison sentence. In a statement, Deputy Governor Franz Manderson said the use of GPS technology had greatly assisted the continuous monitoring of people in quarantine, but added that it was notable that Travel Cayman identifies most breaches as a result of checks by its mobile compliance team and by reports of suspected breaches by the public. Vaccinated travellers whose certificates cannot be electronically verified in Cayman are still required to undergo 10- day quarantine and will continue to use the monitoring wristbands and phones. Unvaccinated travellers undergo 14 days of quarantine and monitoring. All arrivals are still required to undergo a PCR test before they are released from quarantine. Health Minister Sabrina Turner, in the statement, said that quarantine remains mandatory for all vaccinated and unvaccinated arrivals. “While vaccination reduces the chances of infection and transmission, and offers the best possible protection against severe disease and death, it is still possible for vaccinated travellers to transmit the COVID-19 virus,” she said. Testing for frontline workers Phase 2 also includes weekly PCR tests for unvaccinated frontline workers. However, as of 12 Aug., government had not published regulations regarding this mandatory testing. According to information released by government in June regarding this testing, frontline workers will be defined in a list provided by the Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams- Rodriguez. Again, as of 12 Aug., this list had not been released to the public. However, in a statement issued by government on 16 June, frontline workers include, “all those working directly with travellers, such as Customs and Border Control Officers, airline staff, Owen Roberts International Airport and other port workers elsewhere, port security staff, Travel Cayman customer facing operatives and those assisting with compliance, staff working in government quarantine facilities (including cleaners) and those providing transport”. A 10 Aug. Government Information Services press release announcing the launch of Phase 2 did not provide any additional details relating to the PCR testing for frontline staff. Next phases The third phase of the reopening plan, set to start 9 Sept., involves the introduction of a limited number of tourists, and is subject to Cayman reaching an 80% vaccination rate. As of 11 Aug., Cayman’s vaccination rate stood at 68%. The fourth phase is expected to begin on 14 Oct., when quarantine requirements will be removed for all securely verified vaccinated travellers, and larger numbers of tourists will be allowed to enter Cayman as the islands gear up for tourism high season for the first time since 2019. Premier Wayne Panton has said that, as restrictions are reduced, the likelihood of COVID-19 re-entering the Cayman Islands community will increase, and that vaccinating against the virus offers the best protection for all residents. He added that practising COVID-19 prevention protocols, including handwashing, mask wearing and social distancing are among the ways that members of the public “can protect themselves, their loved ones and the wider community”. “Our goal, led by the science, is to guarantee minimal risk to the community and we are continuously reviewing and upgrading our processes with this in mind,” he said. Travel Cayman said anyone who suspects an individual has breached quarantine can make a report to the quarantine tip hotline at 943-7233 (943-SAFE). Phase 2 of reopening plan begins Securely verified vaccinated travellers arriving in Cayman are now given blue wristbands, to replace the smart wristband and app which allowed for GPS monitoring. - Photo: Submitted cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 13 AUGUST 2021 5 Vaccinated travellers whose certificates cannot be electronically verified in Cayman are still required to undergo 10-day quarantine A phased reopening of Cayman's borders is under way.Warning bells for Cayman JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Described as a ‘code red’ for humanity, the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change spells out a stark warning over the future of the planet. The United Nations report demonstrates unequivocally that climate change is man-made and that some of the impacts, including sea-level rise, are unavoidable. There are a number of ‘possible futures’ and the world’s developed nations have a rapidly closing window of opportunity to radically reduce fossil-fuel emissions and prevent the most severe consequences. Here we look at five key areas with the most direct influence on Cayman. Rising seas a certainty Continued sea-level rise is an irreversible consequence of climate change that is “locked-in” for centuries, the report concludes. While there is scope to slow the pace at which that happens, the window of opportunity to alter that trajectory has passed. Melting ice-sheets and warmer ocean temperatures – the two main causes of sea-level rise – are being driven by past emissions. There is a time lag between cause and effect that means policy intervention now will not make an immediate difference. “It is virtually certain that global mean sea level will continue to rise over the 21st century in response to continued warming of the climate system,” the report states. Over the longer term, the level will “rise for centuries to millennia due to continuing deep ocean warming and ice sheet melt, and will remain elevated for thousands of years”, it adds. Speaking to the ‘The Conversation’ news site, climate scientist Robert Kopp, one of the lead authors of the report, said sea- level rise presented an escalating threat to coastal communities over the coming decades. He said an increase of between six inches and a foot is “locked in” by 2050. Beyond that, the scale of sea-level rise becomes more sensitive to the world’s emissions choices, he added. On the current path, an increase of two feet is likely by the end of the century. If the world meets the Paris agreement target of restricting global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius, that could be reduced to around 1.6 feet, he said. The consequences of rising sea levels include increased flooding, coastal erosion and salinisation of the water table, the IPCC has warned. In some communities, ‘retreat’ could be inevitable and the data has stoked fears that some Pacific islands in particular could be uninhabitable by 2100. Super storms increasingly likely The report concluded that it is now an “established fact” that human behaviour has led to an increased frequency or intensity of some weather and climate extremes. There is less certainty about the specific impacts of climate change on hurricanes, but the report’s authors suggest we are likely to see more intense, if not more frequent, storms as the climate continues to change. While the number of cyclones is likely to stay the same or decrease slightly, the storms of the future are likely to come with higher average wind speeds and heavier rainfall, the report indicates. “The proportion of intense tropical cyclones (Categories 4-5) and peak wind speeds of the most intense tropical cyclones are projected to increase at the global scale with increasing global warming,” it states. Rising sea levels are also likely to increase the impact of storms for small islands, bringing more severe flooding. Marine heatwaves a hazard to coral reefs Marine heatwaves – severe but temporary spikes in ocean temperatures – are expected to become more common as the planet warms. The impact could be devastating for coral reefs, contributing to bleaching, loss of marine life and loss of ‘ecosystem services’ like flood protection. An earlier IPCC report states such heatwaves are projected to become more commonplace and will likely “push marine organisms and ecosystems to the limits of their resilience”. The 2021 report, published this Five key takeaways from UN climate change report The IPCC report projects numerous possible futures for the planet based on how successfully the world controls greenhouse gas emissions. Even in the best case scenario global temperatures are expected to rise by 1.5C over the next 20 years. In the worst case, a projected rise of 4.5C by 2100 would have disastrous consequences for the planet. Water laps against a seawall at the southern end of Seven Mile Beach this week. Erosion, caused by numerous factors including development too close to the water, is expected to get worse as sea levels rise. – Photo: James Whittaker WGI The Physical Science Basis Summary for Policymakers Climate Change 2021 Working Group I contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change °C 0 -1 19502000202120502100 1 2 3 4 5 1 3 2 cayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 13 AUGUST 2021week, adds that man-made climate change is the primary driver of these events. “Marine heatwaves have approximately doubled in frequency since the 1980s and human influence has very likely contributed to most of them since at least 2006,” it states. Controlling the increase in the earth’s temperature would limit, but not eliminate, the threat from marine heatwaves. “Marine heatwaves have become more frequent over the 20th century and are also projected to increase around the globe over the 21st century,” the report adds. Managing other coral reef stressors, such as fishing pressure and water quality, are cited as the best means to mitigate impacts. Shoreline retreat to continue apace One of the starkest and most visible impacts of climate change in the Cayman Islands might be the ‘retreat’ of the shoreline. Recent images of water lapping against seawalls fronting condos and hotels on Seven Mile Beach aptly demonstrate the potentially devastating economic consequences of permanent beach loss to the island’s economy. While there are other factors at play, most significantly the impact of development on the active beach, the influence of climate change cannot be dismissed. Continued sea-level rise will mean more coastal erosion and shoreline retreat for small islands over the next several decades, the IPCC report warns. This could happen gradually over time or as an ‘episodic event’ such as extreme storm surge wiping away chunks of shoreline. “Shoreline retreat is projected along sandy coasts of most small islands,” the report indicates. The IPCC notes, in an earlier report on the impact of climate change on the world’s oceans, that preserving natural features, like coral reefs and mangroves, is the best way to mitigate the impacts of coastal erosion. Raising the height of the bottom floors of shoreline buildings, moving structures further inland and avoiding new development in low-lying coastal zones, are also highlighted as potential strategies to avoid the worst consequences of rising seas and shoreline retreat. Hotter, drier conditions expected It is no coincidence that the Cayman Islands has experienced some of the hottest, driest conditions on record over the past few years. According to the IPCC report, this trend will continue projecting a “likely decrease in rainfall” during summer in the Caribbean. “These drying trends will likely continue in coming decades,” the report states. “It is very likely that most Small Islands have warmed over the period of instrumental records and continued temperature increases in the 21st century will further increase heat stress in these regions.” Globally, droughts will become more common and more severe, the report projects. Lower rainfall is unlikely to impact drinking water in Cayman, which comes from desalinating seawater, but it would be a problem for farmers who rely on wells to water their crops. Underground aquifers need regular rainfall to replenish themselves. Young people in Cayman are helping put a greater focus on the threats posed by climate change. - Photo: Alvaro Serey Evidence of damage can be seen in Cayman RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Premier Wayne Panton said Cayman stands ready “to help avoid or mitigate climate change crises” as he expressed concern over the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. Panton, in a statement to the Cayman Compass, said it was “a sobering and frightening assessment of our planet’s future”. The premier, who is also minister for sustainability and climate resiliency, agreed with the UN scientists on their findings “that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, oceans and land”. “We see evidence of the damage caused by climate change all over the world and even here in the Cayman Islands. I was dismayed when I looked over the erosion of Seven Mile Beach last week. That singular issue has been caused by many factors, including bad policy and bad decisions, but is also undoubtedly attributable in part to changes in our climate,” he said. The world’s leading scientists raised the alert level on 9 Aug., saying global warming was dangerously close to being out of control, necessitating deeper cuts in carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades. The IPCC, in its sixth assessment report, placed the blame for the damaging environmental effects squarely on human activity. The premier contended that for “far too long Cayman has been guilty of ignoring issues such as climate change and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels”. However, he said the PACT government is taking a new approach to these issues. “We now have a Ministry focused on sustainability and the reality and impacts of climate change on our Islands and how to best mitigate those,” he said, as he pointed out that a task force is looking at short- and long-term ways to deal with the coastal erosion on Seven Mile Beach. He cautioned, however, “if the climate continues to warm, we – along with the rest of the world – face dire problems”. Department of Environment Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie agreed, adding that the report “essentially confirms, with greater levels of confidence in the assessments, the serious consequences of continued climate change for small islands like ours”. “This underscores the urgent need for the country to have a climate change strategy which addresses both options to adapt to the predicted impacts, and indeed to those impacts which we are already seeing, as well as options to mitigate and hopefully reduce the level of greenhouse gases emitted,” she added, in a statement to the Compass. The report, she said, also makes it clear that while “the window to take action is rapidly closing, it is still within our collective power globally to limit the extent of climate change by taking concerted action to reduce and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions”. As for climate change sceptics, Ebanks-Petrie said, the report “is unequivocal in attributing climate change to human influence”. Building on this point, the premier said, Cayman also needs to do a better job of educating children and the wider public about the environment and the negatives effects of climate change on every aspect of our lives. “While the IPCC report paints a scary picture, it also offers a ray of hope. The scientists behind the report say that catastrophe can be avoided if the world acts fast to cut emissions and greenhouse gases,” he said, adding that government will do this by revising the National Development Plan. In addition to this, he said, government will be “protecting and enhancing our natural carbon absorbing environment, reducing and managing traffic, electrification of transport, levying stiffer fines for environmental violations and fully implementing the National Energy Policy”. An increased duty on items that are unfriendly to the environment, he said, and changing laws to regulate construction in the dynamic beach zone, are among the actions planned. Premier: Climate report ‘sobering and frightening’ An increase in severe storms is anticipated as the Earth’s climate changes. – Photo: Taneos Ramsay 4 5 cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 13 AUGUST 2021Nelsons Law Firm joins collaboration with Andersen Global Establishing a presence in the Cayman Islands, Andersen Global reinforces its existing Caribbean footprint through a Collaboration Agreement with Nelsons Law Firm. Founded in 1994 and led by Managing Partner Steven Barrie, Nelsons Law Firm provides clients with full-service capabilities including expertise in corporate and commercial law, immigration, local licensing, litigation, insolvency, private client services, trusts, property, and criminal law. “We are relationship driven and committed to providing customized, seamless services in the best interest of our clients,” Steven said. “Collaborating with Andersen Global allows us to work with like-minded individuals as we continue to deliver best- in-class solutions for clients locally and internationally.” “The addition of Nelsons is complementary to our other firms in the region and their quality is evident in the work we have done with them to date,” said Mark Vorsatz, Andersen Global Chairman and Andersen CEO. “I am confident that our synergy will result in independent, integrated client solutions.” Andersen Global is an international association of legally separate, independent member firms comprised of tax and legal professionals around the world. Established in 2013 by U.S. member firm Andersen Tax LLC, Andersen Global now has more than 8,000 professionals worldwide and a presence in over 281 locations through its member firms and collaborating firms. In addition to the announcement of their collaboration with Andersens, Nelsons are pleased to announce the addition of Garth Gilbert as the newest member of their team of experienced lawyers. Steven commented that “Garth is a welcome addition to the firm, having gained extensive experience through a very diverse legal practice in Trinidad and Tobago. We look forward to working with him. His knowledge and insight from practicing law in the Eastern Caribbean will bring a new and refreshing perspective to the many varied and complex issues we deal with on behalf of both our domestic and overseas clients as part of our Cayman legal practice.” Nelsons provided a brief biography for Mr. Gilbert, stating: Garth gained extensive experience advising clients in the private sector on commercial disputes, business development, and business incubation. He has also provided support on litigation and transactional matters, wills and probate, drafting, conveyancing, shareholder disputes, and enforcement proceedings. Garth served as a director and legal advisor to several companies within the Oil and Gas sector by providing advice on industrial relations and contract-related disputes. Garth has also participated in arbitrations, mediations, and Judicial Settlement Conferences for them. Garth practiced as an Attorney in Trinidad and Tobago for over 16 years before joining Nelsons and was also a founding executive member of the Trinidad and Tobago Association for Sport and Law. RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky With Cayman’s borders still closed to visitors, local marriage registrar Joy Basdeo’s destination wedding business may have taken a hit, but she says her enterprise is still flourishing, thanks to a spike in local nuptials. “Our borders are closed in 2021 [but] we are seeing a lot more resident weddings and the couples tell me, ‘We had planned a wedding overseas. Our family can’t get here, we want to do a simple wedding and get the legal part done’,” Basdeo, owner of Simply Weddings told the Cayman Compass in a recent interview. More locals tying the knot She said in 2019, she officiated 260 local weddings; that number climbed to 349 ceremonies for Cayman residents last year “despite being locked down for six weeks during March and April.” “Up until the end of July 2021, we will have officiated 206 local weddings,” she added. “For 2020 and 2021, we’ve had a lot of Zoom weddings [where family and friends can view the nuptials online.] We’ve had a lot of weddings in our wedding room as people sort of do a very, very simple ceremony to get the legal requirements,” she said. Over at the Cayman Islands General Registry, the data shows that at the end of 2020, 714 marriages were registered here. These would include the 349 conducted by Basdeo, who is a civil registrar of marriages and a civil registrar of civil unions. It stands to reason that most of these would have been local weddings, after borders closed to visitors in March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. In 2019, the overall number of marriages was higher, with 821 unions registered in Cayman; however, this number also includes visitor weddings. As for this year, from 1 Jan. through 20 July, 358 marriages were registered according to the numbers provided by the registrar, most of which were done through Simply Weddings. Saying ‘I do’ in small ceremonies Basdeo said there are a number of reasons for the surge in locals tying the knot. She said she believes some residents on work permits want to leave the island and take their significant other with them, while in other cases, some want their spouse to be able to remain in Cayman. Outside of this, some couples who decided to get hitched, Basdeo said, have told her, “If we can survive a pandemic together we can survive anything”. She added, “When we first reopened, after the initial lockdown in May, June and July [2020], we had a lot of weddings because people were getting ready to leave the island and they wanted to take their significant other, their partner, with them and most other countries were locked down as well and so the only way they could do that was to take them as their wife or their husband. So we had like a flurry of resident weddings.” That trend continued into this year, which Basdeo said has helped stave off some of the adverse impacts of the border closures, as Cayman is a popular choice for destination weddings. “I think our business has been impacted the same way everybody else’s has, but so far, we have been able to stay open...[T]he wedding business is not a primary source of income,” she said, adding that the uptick in local wedding numbers has also helped. She said clients are opting to do simple ceremonies to complete the legal formalities because their Local weddings on the rise 358 marriages registered 1 Jan. through 20 July “If we can survive a pandemic together we can survive anything,” some couples shared. Joy Basdeo, Simply Weddings owner. – Photo: Reshma Ragoonath Lower Valley residents Eddie and Jenneth Powell were among the 206 couples who have tied the knot so far this year through Simply Weddings. – Photo: Déjà vu Maggie Jackson cayman compass 8 FRIDAY, 13 AUGUST 2021families are not with them to share in the celebrations and so they plan other festivities to mark the milestone, instead. One such couple is Eddie and Jenneth Powell. The couple, who have been together for eight years, tied the knot recently in a small ceremony and plan to do a wedding celebration in the Philippines next year. Powell said, having been married previously, he was not “gung-ho” to do it again, but he knew it was Jenneth’s dream to get married and he felt it was the right time. “We’re starting a new life and we’re moving to the Philippines. I thought it’s only fitting that we’d be married and we get together and live as husband and wife now,” he said. For him, the pandemic did not impact their marriage plans in terms of accelerating their decision- making or planning, he said. However, it did affect the way they got married, as Jenneth said she would have liked to have had her family with her for the special occasion. This was not possible, but she said she was still very happy to get married to her longtime partner. “Every woman’s dream [is to have a wedding] that’s their dream. It’s my dream too, but [also] having to marry the person you love... I’m so happy that I would be spending the rest of my life with Eddie,” she said. Jenneth said she would have liked a church wedding when they said “I do”, but they are planning to do that when they go to the Philippines in 2022. She said her wedding did not turn out the way she dreamed it would, but her relatives were still part of the life-changing event. “They’ve been constantly communicating with me. So during the wedding too, we talked on video call,” she said. The couple said they are looking forward to their new journey and are excited to return to the Philippines, where they first met and fell in love. “I am so happy I met Jen. I had to go to the Philippines to find her and we have been having a real good time together. It’s really an exciting time of my life,” he said. As for advice to couples planning to take the leap, Powell suggested they not take that decision lightly. “Jen and I get along very well. We are soulmates. First, you’ve got to know the person, if you don’t know that person well enough, then I would suggest you don’t get married, but if it’s your soulmate and you share a lot in common I think it’s right to be married,” he said. Jenneth advised that you should only get married when you are ready and you really love the person. “Make sure that you have God between you, so that you will be on a good path,” she said. Newlyweds Eddie and Jenneth Powell with their pet parrot, Ziggy. – Photo: Reshma Ragoonath Simply Wedding resident wedding statistics 2019 260 2020 349 1 Jan. – 20 July 2021 206 General Registry marriage statistics 2019821 2020 714 1 Jan. – 20 July 2021 358 *2019 stats include visitor weddings, hence the higher figure To see the full interview, see the video on caymancompass.com cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 13 AUGUST 2021 newsnews NNext >