100% Butte r Croissan t made with Mix n’ Match 100% Butte r Croissan t made with Sausage, Egg & Cheese Croissan’wich® Bacon, Egg & Cheese Croissan’wich® 2 5 $ for * © 2021 Burger King Corporation. $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 22-28 October 2021 cayman compass Established 1965 Your most trusted news source Prepare for landing Ahead of an expected formal reopening announcement, airlines begin their return to Cayman’s skies Page 7 FLIGHT FROM STATUS GCM 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 DUNE (PG-13) (FRI) 3:25 | 3:35 VIP | 6:50 | 7:00 VIP (SAT) 12:25 VIP | 12:50 | 3:35 VIP | 6:50 | 7:00 VIP | 9:45 VIP (SUN, MON & THURS) 3:25 | 3:35 VIP | 6:50 | 7:00 VIP | 9:45 VIP (TUE-WED) 3:25 | 3:35 VIP | 6:50 | 9:45 VIP HALLOWEEN KILLS (R) (FRI, TUE & THURS) 10:00 (SAT) 9:50 (MON & WED) 4:00 | 10:00 NO TIME TO DIE (PG-13) (FRI & MON-THURS) 3:50 VIP | 4:10 | 7:45 | 9:35 | 9:55 VIP (SAT) 12:15 VIP | 3:25 | 3:50 VIP | 5:35 | 9:05 | 9:35 | 9:50 VIP (SUN) 3:50 VIP | 4:25 | 6:20 VIP | 8:00 | 8:50 | 9:35 | 9:50 VIP (MON, WED & THURS) 3:30 VIP | 4:10 | 7:45 | 9:35 | 9:40 VIP (TUE) 3:30 VIP | 4:10 | 7:45 | 9:20 VIP | 9:35 RON’S GONE WRONG (PG) (FRI, SUN-THURS) 3:45 VIP | 4:20 | 7:00 (SAT) 12:25 | 1:00 VIP | 3:50 VIP | 4:15 THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2 (PG) (SAT) 1:00 (SUN) 4:05 | 6:30 THE LAST DUEL (R) (FRI) 6:40 (SAT) 2:50 | 6:15 | 6:25 VIP (MON -THURS) 6:20 VIP | 6:40 VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE (PG-13) (FRI) 4:00 10:20 | 10:25 VIP (SAT) 12:15 | 7:20 | 7:20 VIP | 10:20 | 10:25 VIP (SUN) 7:20 VIP | 10:20 | 10:25 VIP (MON) 7:15 VIP | 10:20 | 10:25 VIP (TUE) 4:00 | 7:15 VIP | 9:55 VIP | 10:20 (WED) 10:00 VIP | 10:20 (THURS) 4:00 | 7:15 VIP | 10:20| 10:25 VIP CLASSICS BEETLEJUICE (PG) TUESDAY 7PM KIDS CLUB THE ADDAMS FAMILY SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG-13) weather Friday Forecast FORECAST Partly cloudy skies with cloudy spells and a 40% chance of showers. SEA STATE Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet caymancompass.comfacebook.com/caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass WINDS East to southeast 10 to 15 knots 89°F HIGH 77°F LOW 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 FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass 263 active cases of COVID-19 Chief Medical Offi cer Dr. John Lee reported on 21 Oct. that Cayman has seen 28 new cases of community transmission of COVID-19, of which six are children. Speaking in his daily video update, Lee said that since 20 Oct., 874 PCR tests have been conducted in total across the islands. The two hospitalised cases remain stable, Lee added; neither person is requiring ventilator support. He said, “A number of people are presenting to healthcare, whether it be to the Flu Clinic or to the general practitioners’ clinics, who turn out to have COVID-19 disease, but their symptoms are mild and are being managed in isolation at home.” This brings the total number of active cases in Cayman to 263, two of which have required hospitalisation, as of 21 Oct. There have been 1,164 total cases to date in the jurisdiction. Booster eligibility expanded As per the update delivered on 21 Oct., Lee reported there have now been 111,027 vaccinations given in total across Cayman Of that total, 55,991 are fi rst doses, representing 79% of the estimated population of 71,106; 53,684 people, or 75%, have completed the two-dose course. In addition, 1,352 people have had a third, or booster, dose, which represents 7% of those over 50. The Health Services Authority announced on 19 Oct. that it had expanded its eligibility criteria for booster shots to include those people aged over 50. Healthcare professionals and anyone deemed “clinically vulnerable” are also eligible for the third jab. Those receiving a fi rst or second vaccine dose are able to attend the clinic at any time. Opposition hits out at ‘vague’ reopening plans Government needs to outline a clear plan for how and when it will reopen Cayman’s borders, Opposition leader Roy McTaggart said on 19 Oct. Describing announcements at recent press briefi ngs as “vague” and “lacking clarity”, McTaggart insisted urgent questions remain unanswered. He said people and businesses need reassurance that the islands will be able to welcome back tourists in a safe and structured way. He also claimed government had announced little in the way of substantive plans on how it would manage the return of visitors and the increased risk from COVID-19 that is expected to follow. McTaggart, in a video address and press release, specifi cally criticised Premier Wayne Panton and Health Minister Sabrina Turner for the apparent public dissatisfaction with the government’s response, citing a Cayman Compass poll and social media comments as evidence of widespread discontent. Corals get their own festival as battle against deadly disease continues The fi rst-ever Coral Fest will be held in the Cayman Islands on Saturday, 6 Nov. to celebrate the reefs that surround the islands and to educate the public on the challenges they are facing, such as the encroaching stony coral tissue loss disease. The festival will be held at the Grand Caymanian hotel (formerly the Holiday Inn) in Safehaven, from 11am to 5pm. The Department of Environment, which is organising Coral Fest, noted that Cayman’s reefs are home to more than 45 different kinds of corals and more than 125 different species of fi sh, and vital to the marine ecosystem. However, stony coral tissue loss disease – or SCTLD – is making its way around Grand Cayman and threatening local coral reefs. The disease, fi rst found locally in June last year, off North Side, has spread to almost every part of the island’s coastline. SCTLD was fi rst discovered in Florida in 2014 but it has now made its way to many coral ecosystems throughout the northern Caribbean. At Coral Fest, scientists of the DoE’s SCTLD Response Team will talk about their work and about coral biology, ecology and cultural signifi cance. Colours Caribbean to intervene in legal challenge against Governor Roper A court hearing to decide whether to allow Colours Caribbean to join a judicial review into Governor Martyn Roper’s use of his emergency powers to enact same sex legislation in Cayman, was held on Tuesday, 19 Oct. The review, which is set to be heard in December, has been brought by Kattina Anglin, who alleges that by enacting the failed Civil Partnership legislation, Roper behaved irrationally, illegally and outside the scope of powers conferred upon him by the Constitution. When applying to join the judicial review as an intervening party, Colours Caribbean, an LGBTQ+ activist group, requested to side with Roper as respondents to the legal challenge. Initially, Anglin and her legal team objected to the request, but later changed their position. “We understand that while they no longer object to us intervening, they object to us giving evidence,” said Alex Potts, who represents Colours Caribbean. Potts told Justice Richard Williams 42 couples have been able to access the legal protections and benefi ts provided by the civil partnership legislation and to bar them from presenting their case would mean “the courts would be fl ying blind evidentially”. “The court is bound to take into account the potential impact to them,” he said. In response to the request, Hugh Southey, who represents Anglin, expressed concerns that Colours Caribbean sought to provide evidence that was outside the scope of the judicial review. “The intervener has not demonstrated that they are capable of limiting their submissions to the scope of the narrow legal point, which is whether the powers granted to the governor didn’t authorise the legislation,” said Southey. Colleagues pay tribute to fatal crash victim Family and friends of Carlos Luyang Patricio have paid tribute to the 37-year-old who died in a fatal car crash on South Church Street on 16 Oct. He was a Philippines national who resided in Grand Cayman, police said, as they expressed condolences to his family and friends. Patricio worked at Tony’s Toys Automotive Center. “He was a part of the Tony’s Toys family, and since his death, one of his friends has been crying all day,” said owner Tony Williams. “I even had a customer call me in tears... ,” he added, saying that she had remembered many conversations with Patricio when he shuttled her to and from the service centre. Coral Fest will be held on Saturday, 6 Nov., from 11am to 5pm, at the Grand Caymanian hotel. - Photo: Mary Durden news in brief cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 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. cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 20211234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Packed with people (7) 5 Articles for sale (5) 8 Announce (4,5) 9 Find fault constantly (3) 10 Lie in ambush (4) 12 Playful repartee (8) 14 Dignified (6) 15 Feel regret (6) 17 Rabble (4-4) 18 Feeling dejected (4) 21 Armed hostilities (3) 22 On a large scale (2,1,3,3) 24 Plant of Viola genus (5) 25 Person seeking asylum (7) DOWN 1 Cud-chewing beast of burden (5) 2 A durable wood (3) 3 A nobleman (4) 4 Czech composer (6) 5 Canadian city (8) 6 Revive distant recollection (4,1,4) 7 Propose (7) 11 Exercise of harsh control (3,2,4) 13 Infinite time (8) 14 To bungle (5,2) 16 Business (6) 19 Possibly (5) 20 Petty quarrel (4) 23 Artificial head of hair (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16829 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 16829 ACROSS: 1 Crowded, 5 Wares, 8 Make known, 9 Nag, 10 Lurk, 12 Badinage, 14 Sedate, 15 Repent, 17 Riff-raff, 18 Glum, 21 War, 22 In a big way, 24 Pansy, 25 Refugee. DOWN: 1 Camel, 2 Oak, 3 Duke, 4 Dvorak, 5 Winnipeg, 6 Ring a bell, 7 Suggest, 11 Rod of iron, 13 Eternity, 14 Screw up, 16 Affair, 19 Maybe, 20 Tiff, 23 Wig. It is over 160 years since Karl Benz designed and built his first four-stroke combustion engine, which became the first automobile in series production. The internal combustion engine has had a good run, but its days are numbered. Electric vehicles (EVs) are the fastest-growing sector of the automobile industry. In the first six months of 2021, sales surged by 160% in the top three markets: China, US and Europe. Growth is driven by the governments’ commitment to cut back fossil fuel cars as part of their contribution to tackle the climate change catastrophe facing the world. The UK will ban the sale of fossil fuel cars from 2035 or sooner. Manufacturers have accepted the inevitability of change. GM aims to stop selling gas cars and trucks by 2035, Volvo by 2030. But here in the Cayman Islands, adoption of electric vehicles has been a trickle. A few private individuals have imported new EVs, and some pre-owned EVs have been available from Cayman Automotive. But most new car buyers like to go to a main dealer. They want to see the car, ‘kick the tyres’, take a test drive, and know that the dealer is there to support the vehicle No main dealers have been able to offer an EV. Now, that is changing. Arch Automotive, the Audi dealers, are offering four models for sale, variations of the style and specification of the Audi e-tron. Cayman is the perfect market for electric cars. In most countries, resistance to buying an electric car has largely been due to limited range, not enough charging stations, and the fear of battery power running out. The Audi e-tron has a range of 180 miles, so an overnight charge at home should be all that anyone needs. But are plug-in electric vehicles the way to go if you Adversity is not a concept unfamiliar to the Cayman Islands. In fact, in many ways, it has been the catalyst for our success. The financial industry rallied post 9/11, our infrastructure strengthened in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan, and real estate boomed after the global recession in 2008. A common desire to succeed formed the central ingredient necessary to overcome these obstacles and many more. Our response to the COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. Some evacuated when the news of the onset of a Category 5 hurricane broke. Though many chose to remain to take their chances and some simply could not leave, no one was deprived of the right to vacate harm’s way. Our individual or collective response did little to deter the need to forge ahead. Approximately 80% of those eligible have taken the vaccine, a strong indication of the desire to vacate harm’s way. Some have decided not to take the vaccine and take their chances, and some simply cannot. What is indisputable is the need and shared desire to forge ahead as we have done so many times before. The sustained closure of our borders represents a departure from the past and risks the path for the future. For the many that have nowhere else to call home, the sustained indefinite closure in effect closes their access to evacuate the storm only to leave them in harm’s way. It is time to realign our common desire, stop the division and forge ahead. Richard Barton I hear people say, “If it saves a single life then border restrictions are worth it.” But that same logic could be used to abolish cars, or even swimming. Both have undoubtedly claimed far more lives in the same period than the two COVID deaths on the island in the last 19 months. The world in not one-dimensional. We all face risks daily and if the reward outweighs the risk, we go forward. As a US resident and Cayman property owner, I have to tell you that Cayman’s tourist reopening is lagging far behind most island destinations, despite having one of the highest vaccination rates among them. Don’t kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Each day the long-term risks of not reopening grow as COVID risks continue to decline. Time to see the ‘Big Picture’ and lift the border restrictions. Samuel Barlow Lift the border restrictions Time to forge ahead and reopen Letters to the editor Letters to the editor Guest Column Are plug-in electric vehicles the way to go? want to play your part in reducing carbon emissions? It is true that the electricity used is, in part, generated from fossil fuels and most of Cayman’s electricity is created by Caribbean Utilities Company’s diesel generators. (Under Cayman’s National Energy Policy, 70% of all electricity generated will be from renewables by 2037.) And batteries are made from rare earth elements which have high CO2 emissions when mined. But electric cars today are still more eco-friendly than fossil fuel cars. European research shows that CO2 emissions from EVs are 17-30% lower than a gas or diesel car. Chevrolet’s popular EV, the Chevy Volt, on average emits 1.89 grams of carbon dioxide per mile compared to Toyota’s gas- powered Camry, which emits 3.85 grams per mile. EVs also provide an improvement in our quality of life by reducing air and noise pollution. Arch Automotive owner Craig Arch, said, “It has taken us almost four years to get Audi approval, and we are one of only seven countries in the Caribbean and Latin America to achieve that.” He expects high demand and has ordered 25 e-trons from Audi, and already sold 10. The cars come with an eight-year battery warranty, a five-year car warranty and five years free servicing. But with world demand so high, and an industry hampered by a semiconductor chip shortage, he expects supply problems, and anticipates that the waiting time from order to delivery could be three-to-six months, depending on the specifications. But buyers taking cars with Audi’s standard specs won’t have to wait as long as people seeking ‘special’ extras. Other dealers have also been frustrated by manufacturers’ resistance to approving and supplying EVs. Car City hope to have the Mercedes EQA, EQB and EQS here early next year. GT Motors are hoping they may get some electric BMW models in Cayman sometime next year as well. Prestige have ordered a Hyundai Kona, a small electric crossover, which they hope to have in the showroom in March. Other dealers who are sceptical about demand will be taking note. It’s been a long time coming, but as dealers overcome manufacturers’ lengthy approval processes, we can expect to see more EV brands in Cayman showrooms next year, and more buyers switching to a cleaner, quieter car. Graham Morse cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2021“We are very concerned about making sure when people are going through difficult circumstances ... that they have someone who is going to be that lifeline for them, who is going to be able to respond to them and check in on them.” Premier Wayne Panton Those who need this kind of support can call 1-800-534-8600, 925-6327 or 947-3077, or email flu@hsa.ky. Any people in quarantine who are at risk of having their utilities cut off are advised to email quarantine@hsa.ky, Turner said. Employees who are in mandatory quarantine and who need a letter to prove this is the case to their employer, can request a letter via the Flu Hotline. Who to contact People in quarantine throughout Cayman as a result of local outbreaks of COVID-19 are advised to call the Flu Hotline if they need assistance with groceries. - Photo: File NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky With COVID in the community now a daily reality, Red Cross director Jondo Obi is advising residents to prepare for the possibility of quarantine like they would for a hurricane. Over the past couple of weeks, Red Cross volunteers have been delivering food and other groceries to households that suddenly were placed in quarantine because they had come into contact with a COVID-positive case or because a member of their family had tested positive. Families in isolation have found themselves with empty fridges and cupboards as they had no notice they were about to be quarantined. Those short of money, or with no credit cards or internet access, who were unable to order food and groceries online had no option but to turn to neighbours, family members, colleagues and politicians to assist them, before government last week announced a new approach. Health Minister Sabrina Turner, at a 14 Oct. press briefing, revealed that people in quarantine should contact the Public Health Flu Hotline to request assistance. The Red Cross, Hazard Management Cayman Islands and Foster’s are part of the programme to bring groceries to those in need. How the process works To apply for help, a person in quarantine should first contact the Flu Hotline and put in a request for groceries; that request is assessed and then a referral is made to the Red Cross, Obi explained. The budgeting of the programme is carried out by Hazard Management. Foster’s supplies and prepares standard grocery kits, with tinned food and other non-perishable items – similar to hurricane food supplies – that are already placed in carts, ready for pick-up and delivery by Red Cross volunteers. Obi said a spreadsheet is provided to the Red Cross with the names and addresses of those in quarantine who are in need of deliveries, along with specific requests for additional items like diapers or baby formula, or feminine hygiene products. She said Foster’s prepares trolleys of items every morning, with enough supplies for about 10 large families. Obi said each cart has enough items to feed a family of five, though in one recent delivery, the Red Cross was called to help out a household with nine people in it. “In that case, we doubled up on the supplies,” she said. Between 9 Oct. and 20 Oct., Obi said, the Red Cross delivered groceries to 178 people – 104 adults and 74 children. She said the majority of deliveries are being made to homes in the George Town area, with each volunteer making an average of three deliveries a day. It’s not just people who suddenly find themselves in quarantine, without any income and short of money, who are calling the Flu Hotline looking for assistance in getting food. Obi said, in a number of cases, it’s simply that the householder may only have cash on them and doesn’t have a credit card, so can’t order food deliveries online. Because of COVID quarantine restrictions, people in isolation cannot pay cash to anyone bringing food to them. Obi explained that part of the assessment process is determining people’s ability to be able to access groceries and supplies, not just their financial needs. Buddy system She suggests that people in Cayman prepare for unexpected quarantine in much the same way they would be prepare for hurricane season, and have supplies on hand. Obi also advises establishing a “quarantine buddy system” with a neighbour, family member or colleague. In her own case, she said, if she suddenly had to quarantine, she has put money aside so that a friend can access that cash and use it to buy supplies for her. She also suggests swapping a food voucher or supermarket gift card with a neighbour, so that if that person is placed in quarantine, they can ask their neighbour to shop for them, and vice versa. Additional manpower More than 30 people had been seconded or hired to man the Public Health call centre, in anticipation of increased calls to the Flu Hotline, officials said at the 14 Oct. press briefing. These include people with clinical training and non-clinical staff who are specially trained as per a call tree. One common complaint among people in quarantine has been a lack of communication from authorities, with many not receiving a call or visit from Public Health from the beginning to the end of their isolation period, something Deputy Governor Franz Manderson apologised for during a debate on mandatory vaccinations in Parliament earlier this month. Manderson said a wellness team and manager would be established to deal with the issue. At the 14 Oct. press conference, Turner stated that this team and manager were in place as part of the new programme that had been set up to offer assistance via the Flu Hotline. She acknowledged that there were shortcomings in how authorities dealt with people who were quarantined as a result of local outbreaks. Since last year, Travel Cayman has been dealing with incoming travellers who are placed in quarantine immediately upon arrival in Cayman. However, when cases of COVID-19 began to emerge in local schools in September, there was no similar system in place to deal with their quarantine arrangements and welfare checks. “We've learned that there are areas of our public health response that definitely needs some support,” Turner said at the briefing. “In fact, the public healthcare system is ramping up in several ways to ensure we will be ready to meet the challenges that may land on our doorstep in the coming months. We have increased recruitment of additional staff, and I’m pleased to hear of new job placements of many, many Caymanians that will help to enhance our COVID response.” However, she said with the introduction of rapid lateral flow COVID testing in Cayman, the number of people isolating when there is an outbreak in a local school or workplace will “seriously diminish”. She added, “My humble apologies on behalf of this nation for not getting it right, but that’s why we’re working with it and putting and directing the resources as best that we can in real time.” Premier Wayne Panton also apologised for the lack of contact from authorities with families in quarantine. “We are very concerned about making sure when people are going through difficult circumstances, going through all these uncertainties, that they have someone who is going to be that lifeline for them, who is going to be able to respond to them and check in on them.” As of Monday, 18 Oct., the latest figure available as of press time, there were 1,555 people in quarantine, including both travellers and residents. Red Cross: Prep for quarantine same as for hurricane cayman compass 5 news N news FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2021JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Business leaders across multiple industries are calling for Cayman’s borders to reopen on 22 Nov. The ‘Reopen Cayman’ initiative extends beyond the tourism sector, which is most directly impacted by the pandemic, and includes supermarkets, salons, developers, real estate and telecoms operations among others. A total of 16 private-sector business people are spearheading the campaign, with almost 1,000 other employees and businesses making written pledges of support so far. Some say their own businesses, as well as their ability to employ people and contribute to government revenues, are directly affected. Others fear the longer-term damage to the economy from an extended closure or are supporting the campaign out of solidarity with the hotels, restaurants, transport and water-sports operators that have been most severely hit by the loss of tourism. Randy Merren, director of Hurley’s and managing director of the C3 cable and internet company, believes the quarantine requirements should be dropped as soon as possible. He said there was little sign that COVID-19 was going away and Cayman is now as prepared as it ever will be to welcome back tourists. “Our tourism industry is suffering. I feel for the people in the restaurant and service industry, they have weathered the storm and I am amazed at their resilience but we need this leg of our economy functioning again.” Increased risk Merren said there would inevitably be some increased risk from COVID-19 once visitors return. But he believes with the vaccine and the therapeutic treatments now available, that Cayman can reopen with some confidence. “We have got to reopen at some point. No one can fault the government; they have done all they can to get the people vaccinated. We are as ready as possible. “At this point it is a matter of personal choice and personal responsibility for individuals, but we have got to open.” James Bovell, broker/owner, with Re/Max Cayman Islands, said the impact of the border closure was starting to bleed across from tourism to real estate and other sectors of the economy. Highlighting a multi-million- dollar sale that had fallen through the day after the delay in reopening was announced, he said that one lost transaction had cost government $600,000 in stamp duty revenue. Bovell said he was also fielding calls from current vacation-home owners looking to sell as the border closure drags on. He said jurisdictions like Turks and Caicos and other islands were poised to benefit from lost clients in Cayman. While the positive and negative impacts of tourism and real estate industries on the jurisdiction have been debated, Bovell argues that both are important sources of revenue for Cayman. Beyond the 3,000-plus people in the tourism sector receiving the government stipend, he said whole entities, like Cayman Airways, the Department of Tourism and the Cayman Turtle Centre, were reliant on government subsidies and that visitors and the revenue they bring would inevitably be needed in the longer term. High season still possible He said he believes a November reopening can still ensure that the tourism industry gets some kind of high season and the chance to begin the long road to recovery. Bovell added, “I see the country being made of many types of services, business and attractions that all make for this amazing environment we live in and, as such, we need them all to survive.” Paul Pearson, who co-owns Davenport Development and Get Nailed & More beauty salon with business partner Ken Thompson, said they were supporting the campaign for the health and wellbeing of their staff. Pearson said the construction industry had weathered the impacts of the border closure quite well. But he said the beauty salon had been impacted and Thompson’s Island Taste catering group had also been affected. “We have to get the border reopen for everybody’s mental health as much as anything,” he added. “None of our people have left the island in two years. They can’t afford to leave and then be in quarantine for a week. We are lucky to live in paradise but it can feel like a prison as well sometimes. “We have been very lucky in how the government has handled it. Both government and the health services have done an excellent job but COVID is in the community now and it is not going anywhere so we have to deal with that.” Pearson said Davenport had implemented a mandatory vaccination policy for its staff and could ensure that all its employees and sub-contractors were fully vaccinated. He said the business has also bulk-ordered lateral flow tests in preparation for reopening. Difficult decisions Woody Foster, owner of Foster’s supermarket chain, said he understood why some people were reluctant to reopen. He said it was an enormous responsibility for government to contemplate the increased risk of infection, and the possibility of deaths from COVID-19, that could flow from the reopening of the borders. “We are moving from zero risk to some risk and you have to ask yourself is it really worth it?” he acknowledged. He said the reality that COVID could go on for five years or become endemic across the globe had persuaded him that Cayman should start the process of welcoming back visitors. “What is the difference between now and six months time? We would just be kicking the can down the road. We can’t stay closed forever and hope COVID goes away.” Foster said he understood if anyone, including the government, feels differently. “These are really hard decisions when you are talking about life and death. We can’t be so tough on people who feel a different way to [how] we do.” Business leaders call for November reopening Business owners argue that Cayman needs all legs of the economy functioning. Paul Pearson (centre) co-owner of Davenport Development is backing a November reopening. This photo was taken for the Reopen Cayman campaign. cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2021 6A JetBlue flight, which landed on 16 Oct., became the first US carrier to return to commercial service to Cayman in 19 months. More airlines return to Cayman’s skies As JetBlue touches down, Air Canada prepares for December flights RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Even before the announcement of government’s full reopening plan, international carriers Air Canada and JetBlue have started positioning themselves to gradually resume services to the Cayman Islands. However, American Airlines, the largest US carrier, is holding fast to a February 2022 restart of its flights, as confirmed to the Cayman Compass earlier this month. When asked for an update on the status of its flights, American Airlines officials said nothing had changed with their previously- stated position that “due to travel restrictions related to COVID-19, we’ve paused flights to GCM and expect to resume service in February 2022”. As of publication time, an official reopening date was still under wraps, with government expected to release details at a press conference scheduled for 22 Oct. There were no further hints on what the full reopening date would be, nor what shape the plan would take. Premier Wayne Panton previously stated he would give a month’s notice ahead of nominating a concrete date “sometime in November”, remarking at a media briefing on 14 Oct. that the introduction of lateral flow tests was a “game changer” in the effort to restart tourism to the islands. Coupled with this, 79% of the total estimated population had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, edging the jurisdiction closer to its previously- announced vaccination target of 80%. This is also expected to factor into government’s next steps. Air Canada set to return, JetBlue adds Boston route Air Canada has confirmed plans to resume flights to Grand Cayman starting the first week in December through its Air Canada Rouge service. An Air Canada spokesperson, responding to Compass queries, said on 20 Oct., “Our plan is to resume service to Grand Cayman beginning Dec. 4 with one flight a week from Toronto.” The Canadian carrier plans to then increase these flights through the winter season to reach three- times weekly service from 10 Jan. until 16 April. “Thereafter we will reduce the number of frequencies to once a week into the summer. The service will be operated by Air Canada Rouge, using a combination of Airbus A319 and A321 aircraft,” the spokesperson said. Cayman Islands Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, speaking on the Cayman Compass talk show ‘The Resh Hour’ on 13 Oct., had said discussions were ongoing with Air Canada about its return to service this year. However, nothing had been formalised, he said, adding that Cayman Airways stood ready to schedule flights to destinations, including Canada, to cover any shortfalls when the borders are unlocked. A JetBlue flight from New York’s JFK International touched down at Owen Roberts International Airport on 16 Oct., becoming the first commercial flight from a US carrier to return to Cayman, since March last year. Bryan, speaking with the Compass, confirmed the flight arrived empty, but he said “it did not leave empty”. He added there were passengers booked on the incoming leg but, due a Travel Cayman issue, they could not take the flight and were instead re-routed via other options. The tourism minister said he was pleased with the celebrations held to welcome the flight, which some have criticised since the plane was empty. Bryan said the ceremony demonstrated government’s gratitude for JetBlue’s “commitment” to returning to service ahead of a full reopening announcement. “We should be grateful for that,” he said, adding that, with JetBlue being the “first to the table”, he is hoping this will speak competition among other airlines to resume services sooner. JetBlue is listed as operating flights from JFK twice weekly (Tuesdays and Saturdays), as well as from Boston on 20 and 27 Nov., according to the Travel Cayman portal. The Compass also reached out to carrier WestJet, which prior to March last year, flew the Toronto- Grand Cayman route. A media relations advisor said there were no updates to share at this time. At present, British Airways is operating commercial flights three times a week via Nassau, Bahamas, while Cayman Airways is running regular flights to Miami and Tampa, the latter of which restarted on 16 Oct. CAL also operates flights to Kingston, Jamaica. Its La Ceiba flights, however, are facing challenges after Goloson International Airport issued a Notification To Airman (NOTAM) effectively downgrading “the airport’s operational capabilities to Category 6 with immediate effect, resulting in Cayman Airways not being able to operate its Boeing 737-8 jet aircraft into that airport”. Cayman Airways, in a statement, said it had to arrange “recovery flights” using its Saab 340B+ aircraft since the Boeing jet could not land. Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, centre, together with Department of Tourism Director Rosa Harris and Ministry of Tourism Chief Officer Stran Bodden, welcome the arrival of JetBlue’s first commercial flight to Cayman since March last year on 16 Oct. - Photo: Ministry of Tourism Cayman Airways resumed weekly non-stop flights to Tampa on Saturdays, from 16 Oct. JetBlue is advertising direct flights between Cayman and Boston, from 20 Nov. Air Canada plans to resume weekly flights from Toronto, from 4 Dec. cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2021NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Police have begun using court-issued Protection Orders to keep domestic violence offenders away from their victims, in cases where the abused individuals cannot or will not apply for such an order themselves. Although legislation enabling Protection Orders has been in place since 2012, it has mostly been used by the victims going to court and applying for the orders directly. More recently, Royal Cayman Islands Police Service officers have been using such orders to protect people who they feel are at extremely high risk. Detective Constables Elizabeth Owens and Brian Faint from the RCIPS Family Support Unit, speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, 21 Oct., said they had both, this year, filed successful applications for Protection Orders under the Domestic Violence Act, after Owens began developing an offender management programme in December last year. While in the past, officers in the Family Support Unit have supported and assisted victims in obtaining a Protection Order, prior to March, there had never been an instance of police unilaterally applying for an order for a victim where the criminal case had not first gone before the court. Victims unwilling or unable to act In a case in March this year, Owens said, she applied for a Protection Order after a female victim came to her attention in relation to a “high-risk offender in the community”. “It was a very vulnerable victim who had made a report of various issues relating to domestic violence [about] one particular offender,” Owens said. “She had initially given consent [to seek a Protection Order] and then withdrew that consent. On the day of the full Domestic Violence Court hearing for the Protection Order, she resumed her consent but she did not actually have to attend court, and that was the whole process. In my interaction with her, I identified that she was overwhelmed with her situation ... and was ill-equipped for various different reasons to make the application herself, so I took that initiative on and made the application.” The court granted the order, which will remain in place for a year. In that instance, the victim eventually cooperated with police on applying for the Protection Order. That’s not always the case, Faint noted. He referred to one domestic violence case in which serious assaults had occurred, but the victim did not want the offender prosecuted and wanted to stay in the relationship. “For me, the threat-harm risk to that individual was such that it gave me grave concern about what would happen should another incident occur,” Faint said. Initially the court granted an interim Protection Order, followed by a full hearing a week later, at which the application was challenged by a family law firm. The application was approved, and a Protection Order was put in place for three years. Faint said the offender in this case is now in prison. The victim still does not support the police’s actions in seeking the Protection Order, he added. “However, from our perspective, from the safeguarding aspect, there has been no further [domestic violence] offences,” he said. “[The victim is] living in the community with the knowledge that they are not going to be subject to assault.” Owens said she had also applied for two other Protection Orders. One was deemed by a judge to be outside the time limit of the law, while in the other case, the judge advised that a Protection Order under the Stalking Act would be a more appropriate avenue to pursue. The order was subsequently granted, she said. The detectives pointed out that Protection Orders do not just serve to keep offenders away from victims, but they can also impose conditions, such as mandatory counselling, anger management, drug or alcohol rehabilitation and other measures. Victims leave seven times Victims of domestic abuse, on average, leave their partners at least seven times before finally leaving for good, Nicole Quinland, from the Department of Children and Family Services, told reporters at the briefing, as she highlighted the importance of police and other support services being advocates for victims. “The idea that police can go ahead and do this order for them is a great benefit for them, even if they are not willing to go ahead and do it for themselves,” she said. Police and the Department of Children and Family Services work with the Multi- Agency Safeguarding Hub, that offers help for abuse victims in Cayman. These agencies also cooperate with the Cayman Islands Crisis Centre, WORC, the Needs Assessment Unit, the Health Services Authority, Customs and Border Control and local charities. All reports of violence involving children in domestic abuse situations are reported to MASH. Quinland said there had been 826 referrals to the MASH unit relating to children between 1 Jan. and 30 June this year, 11% of which involved domestic violence. Throughout last year, 27% of such referrals involved domestic violence. The total number of domestic abuse cases reported to police last year was 2,288. So far this year, 1,358 cases have been reported. Finding help Victims often find it difficult to leave an abusive relationship because of fears over how to support their family or a lack of somewhere to go outside the family home, or due to concerns that the abuser will find them and the violence will escalate. That’s where the various support services in Cayman come into play, Marjorie Whittaker of the DCFS said. If the victim does decide to leave, they often seem ashamed to seek financial or other support services, Whittaker said. “Cayman being such a small community, they don’t want people knowing what they’re going through.... Sometimes you have to take them yourself to make sure they go,” she said. Lions Club of Tropical Gardens 24 Years of Breast Cancer Awareness UPCOMING ACTIVITIES: Oct 28, 2021 - Breast Cancer Awareness Meeting at the Lions Community Centre on Crewe Rd @ 7pm. The guest speaker will be Oncologist Dr Sanjay Awasthi from Doctors Hospital. Free mammogram vouchers for women 40 years old and over, who haven’t had a mammogram in the past two years. *Conditions Apply Oct 29, 2021 - Dress Down Dress Pink Day: Pink T-shirts, Polo Shirts, pink lapel pins and other pink items are still available at the Lions Pink Shop located at 522 Shedden Rd, across the parking lot from Mango Tree Restaurant. Store Hours: Monday to Friday 11am to 6pm and Saturday 11am to 2pm . All funds raised during Breast Cancer Awareness Month pay for mammogram screenings for women in the community and assist breast cancer patients with food and transportation costs when they travel overseas for treatment. 24 Years of Breast Cancer Awareness Breast Cancer Survivor Sharon Hinds Guardian General Insurance The Estate of Lion Mike Simmons Premier Group Insurance Brokers When it rains, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars. - Oscar Wilde Detectives Brian Faint and Elizabeth Owens, of the RCIPS Family Support Unit, at a press briefing on 21 Oct. - Photo: Norma Connolly Police turn to Protection Orders to help abuse victims 911 Emergency Services 943-2422 Cayman Islands Crisis Centre 24-hour Crisis Line 649-5437 Kids Help Line 949-1693 Department of Community Rehabilitation 949-0006 Family Resource Centre 949-8789 The Counselling Centre 945-8869 Legal Befrienders Clinic (only available by phone Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-6:30pm) 949-0545 Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) 946-0024 Needs Assessment Unit 1-800- 534-6463 Mental Health Help Line 949-0366 Crisis Centre Estella’s Place Who to call for help cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2021enterprisecayman.ky We are preparing the next generation of Caymanian innovators Enterprise Cayman was created to give everyone in the Cayman Islands access to high quality learning experiences and opportunities to pursue dynamic careers in the technology and innovation sectors. Learn to code, how product development works, enter professional competitions, use our high-tech resources, network with industry professionals, and much more! Brought to you by Cayman Enterprise City. Get involved, find out how by visiting enterprisecayman.ky or contacting innovate@enterprisecayman.ky cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2021Next >