cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 4-10 February 2022 Page 20 Small businesses hard hit by COVID Talks put return of cruise ships on the horizon Page 3 Prep students offered places at Cambridge Page 10 © 2022 Burger King Corporation. Go Big Big KingFIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass 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 NEWS EDITOR CAROLINE JAMES BUSINESS EDITOR MICHAEL KLEIN ISSUES EDITOR JAMES WHITTAKER LIVING EDITOR VICKI WHEATON HEAD OF SALES CHERYL BIRCH-GILLIES weather Friday Forecast FORECAST Partly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of evening showers. SEA STATE Moderate with a wave height of 3 to 5 feet. WINDS East at 10 to 15 knots 84°F HIGH 74°F LOW 16th COVID-related death, as Cayman reaches ‘peak’ of outbreak An 86-year-old woman has passed away from COVID- related causes, according to Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samuel Williams-Rodriguez, speaking on the Compass weekly talk show ‘The Resh Hour’ on 2 Feb. “The medical team did all that could be done to preserve her life, but unfortunately the patient passed away yesterday [1 Feb.],” Williams-Rodriguez confirmed. An update from Public Health on 2 Feb. added the deceased was “fully vaccinated and suffered from severe comorbidities”. It brings to 16 the number of COVID-related deaths in the Cayman Islands since the start of the pandemic. Meanwhile, Cayman has reached the “peak” of the COVID-19 wave, Williams- Rodriguez revealed, saying this assessment had been reached by Public Health and Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Autilia Newton. “Now the number of cases is plateauing, stabilising and going down,” he said, adding that the ‘CT’ values of the patients who are testing positive is high. “That means the viral load is less and that means that those individuals are likely to be in isolation for a shorter period of time,” he said. This pointed to signs that the recent outbreak was coming under control, in spite of the continued number of positive cases in the community, Williams-Rodriguez said. Public Health has also released its third COVID-19 situational report, covering 23-29 Jan., which showed a decline in new cases compared to previous weeks. PCR exit testing guidelines relaxed People in isolation who are still COVID-19 positive in their exit tests will have a shorter time to wait to be retested under a new screening regime announced by Public Health on 2 Feb. As part of the new plan, the department is also launching an online platform for individuals to check their eligibility for isolation release when they test positive on an exit PCR. The new guidelines apply only to people who have completed their full isolation period, are asymptomatic, and are within certain CT values. The new guidelines set out parameters for how long people in isolation will have to wait to undergo another PCR exit test, depending on their vaccination status and tests’ CT values. For more details, visit caymancompass.com. Homeowner locked in room after interrupting burglars A homeowner walked in on two masked burglars as they were removing a safe bolted to the floor at a house in Anne Bonny Crescent, off South Sound Road, in George Town on 31 Jan., police said. The owner was forced into a room at the home and locked inside, during the aggravated burglary, which occurred around 3pm. Police said the owner had interrupted the two men as they were using a crowbar to remove the safe, which contained documents and personal items. The burglars fled the scene, with the safe, in a black sedan. Police did not reveal the gender of the victim, but said the person did not report any injuries. Police are appealing to anyone with information to call the George Town Police Station at 949-4222. Anonymous tips can be provided directly to police via a confidential tip line at 949-7777 or through the RCIPS website. Auditor general distances team from leaked report Auditor General Sue Winspear has made it clear neither she nor her office was involved in the leaking of the controversial report which identified breaches of the law and Constitution in the setting up of Cayman’s international offices and participation in the Dubai Expo. “The leak did not come from me or anyone in my office,” Winspear told the Cayman Compass in a brief emailed statement. The report, obtained by and published on Cayman News Service on 31 Jan., claims the ministry, then under the remit of former Premier Alden McLaughlin, was in breach of the Constitution and the Public Finance and Management Act when it signed agreements and contracts to open overseas offices in Hong Kong, Brussels and Washington, D.C., as well as attend the Dubai Expo, before and shortly after the 2021 general election, without the sufficient budget provision and parliamentary approval to do so. The governor, deputy governor and former administration condemned the leak, but have declined to comment on the substance of the report, while it is being reviewed. Barracuda bite victim back home, vows to return to Cayman The woman who was injured after being bitten by a barracuda while swimming off Seven Mile Beach is expected to make a full recovery and has said she will return to Cayman, despite her harrowing experience, a family spokesman stated. “She’s going to be back for sure,” the spokesperson for the 70-year-old woman told the Cayman Compass via a Zoom interview from Canada, adding that, despite the unfortunate encounter, the German woman did enjoy her holiday in Cayman. “Everybody on shore… everybody worked so magnificently. So, a lot of praise for the people that helped,” the spokesperson said. The incident happened on the Heroes Day public holiday, 24 Jan.; the woman returned home to Canada on 29 Jan. The woman was bitten in the middle of her right arm while swimming on Seven Mile Beach, the Department of Environment said in a Facebook post. The DoE, in its original statement about the incident, said the responding DoE conservation officer had noticed several schools of sprats and some feeding activity in the water at the location of the attack. “The public is reminded to be aware of small baitfish jumping out of the water when swimming as this is usually an indication of feeding activity nearby,” it added. Barracuda are said to be attracted to shiny and glittery objects, like jewellery, which they confuse with the silvery gleam of the scales of the small fish they prey upon. A 70-year old woman was taken to hospital after being bitten on the arm by a barracuda on 24 Jan. - Photo: File news in brief cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2022 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. MOONFALL (PG-13) (FRI & MON, WED-THURS ) 4:00 | 4:25 VIP | 6:50 | 7:15 VIP | 9:35 | 10:05 VIP (SAT) 1:00 | 1:30 VIP | 4:00 | 4:25 VIP | 6:50 | 7:15 VIP | 9:35 | 10:05 VIP (SUN) 3:30 | 4:00 | 4:25 VIP | 6:50 | 7:15 VIP | 9:05 | 9:35 | 9:50 VIP | 10:05 VIP (TUE) 4:00 | 4:10 VIP | 6:50 | 9:35 | 10:05 VIP MY HERO ACADEMIA 3: WORLD HEROES’ MISSION (PG-13) (SUN) 10:20 VIP NIGHTMARE ALLEY (R) (FRI-SAT & MON-THURS) 7:00 VIP | 9:05 SCREAM (R) (FRI & MON-THURS) 3:50 | 6:40 | 9:55 VIP (SUN) 12:35 | 3:50 | 6:40 | 9:55 VIP SING 2 (PG) (FRI & MON-THURS) 3:55 VIP | 4:25 | 6:25 (SAT) 1:10 VIP | 1:45 | 3:55 VIP | 4:25 | 6:25 (SUN) 3:30 | 3:55 VIP | 5:00 | 6:25 SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME (PG-13) (FRI & MON-THURS) 3:40 VIP | 6:35 VIP | 9:30 (SAT) 12:20 VIP | 3:40 VIP | 6:35 VIP | 9:30 (SUN) 3:40 VIP | 6:10 | 6:35 VIP | 7:00 VIP | 7:45 | 9:30 THE KING’S MAN (R) (FRI, & MON -THURS) 3:25 | 7:05 | 10:05 | 10:15 VIP (SAT) 12:45 | 3:25 | 7:05 | 10:05 | 10:15 VIP WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK KIDS CLUB BOLT SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) KIDS CLUB MOANA SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) CLASSICS THE NOTEBOOK TUESDAY 7PM VIP (PG-13)cayman compass news N news 3 FRIDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2022 NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Government officials have completed a day of meetings with cruise line chiefs, in a bid to work out details of how Cayman can begin safely receiving cruise ship tourists again. Eight representatives from various cruise lines and the Florida- Caribbean Cruise Association took part in meetings on 2 Feb., which culminated that night with a networking event at the Kimpton Seafire resort, at which business owners from the private sector also had a chance to meet with the cruise line bosses. Representatives from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Disney, Celebrity and Holland America cruise lines were among the delegates. No announcement was made at Wednesday’s event regarding when cruise lines might return to Cayman. However, according to a summary of Cabinet minutes from its 25 Jan. meeting, the government extended the temporary ban on cruise ships only until 28 Feb. 2022, though that date can be extended further, if necessary. Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, speaking at the networking gathering following the day’s meetings, said, “At the very top of the list are our health and safety protocols that will allow cruise shops to return while keeping our community safe, because, right now, due to the pandemic, we have no cruise tourism at all, and that’s a sad day for our country. So, our immediate priority has been to discuss a way forward that will allow cruise ships to return while keeping our communities safe.” He said he was optimistic a “satisfactory outcome will be reached in due course”, and that the Ministry of Tourism would be releasing more information regarding the discussions. In 2019, 1.83 million cruise passengers passed through the Cayman Islands. Pre-disembarkation LFT ‘not practical’ Michele Paige, president of the FCCA, told the Compass that at least one of the conditions the government had hoped to place on the cruise ships before allowing them to make stops in Cayman – to ensure passengers underwent lateral flow tests before disembarking – could not happen, as it would not be practical. Bryan, speaking on Radio Cayman’s ‘For the Record with Orrett Connor’ the day before the cruise delegation arrived on island, had said that government would request that all passengers arriving in Cayman should be tested before getting off the ships here. Paige said testing people on board the ship before they got off would not work as it would require too many technicians to test thousands of passengers, or to observe and verify those results. Testing the passengers at the port after disembarking would also be impractical, she said. “Could you imagine having 3,000 or 4,000 passengers do testing?” she asked. “They already had to take a tender into port which took about half an hour or 45 minutes, maybe even an hour if they had to queue up. Now they have to stand in line to do a test.” First port of call During the meetings, making Cayman the port of first call for all ships stopping here, so that the passengers would not have visited other islands before landing, was another topic of discussion. Speaking with reporters on 2 Feb., Paige said government officials had asked how many ships would be willing or able to make Cayman the first port of call. Cruise lines would have to look into the financial impact this would have on the cruises, she said. “Recognising that there is a need, while we want to make sure that the safety and security of everybody in Cayman is taken care of, but there is an economic impact [on the cruise lines] here,” she said. “So, how do we prepare the private sector for the ships coming back, and how do we also look at what is possible within the cruise industry?” Bigger cut of revenue for Cayman operators? Another topic of discussion at Wednesday’s meetings was how local tour and water-sports operators on Cayman could get a higher percentage of revenue from the on- island tours and experiences booked by passengers on board the ships. Bryan said there was a “compelling need” for government, FCCA representatives and all cruise sector tourism stakeholders to work collaboratively “to find ways to rebalance the distribution of income derived from the cruise tourism industry so that Caymanian business owners have the opportunity to increase the earnings in return for the hard work they put into consistently delivering a high-quality tourism product.” Asked how talks on this subject went, Paige said the issue was not about the cruise lines taking a smaller percentage of the revenue, leaving more for local businesses, but “it is about elevating the product to create a higher price”. She said higher-spending cruise passengers would be willing to pay more, so long as they’re offered an exclusive, high-quality experience, perhaps ones that would show them a side of the Cayman Islands that they would not have seen pre-pandemic. She gave the example of quick trips to Cayman Brac, where the passengers could fly to the sister island and spend a few hours there, before returning to Grand Cayman and re-boarding the ship, or providing very local cuisine offerings and more interactive experiences with local Caymanians. Jobs for Caymanians on board the cruise ships was also discussed, Paige said. Cayman Islands ready for new guests The Cayman Islands will be ready to receive cruise visitors as soon as protocols and arrangements can be agreed upon, Bryan said. The minister explained that the Port Authority and all the major tourism attractions, as well the tour operators and service providers, already had COVID-19 protocols in place, and some entities, such as the Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre and the Tourism Attraction Board, had new tours in place “ready to receive new guests”. “So, yes, we are certainly ready from a preparation perspective,” he said. “And that’s why we’re keen to get to the point where we can safely welcome cruise ships back to our shores so people can get back to work doing the jobs they love, promoting our islands and our people to the rest of the world.” Paige, addressing the gathering on 2 Feb., said the cruise industry was looking forward to “renewing one of the best relationships we’ve ever had in the world, with the Cayman Islands”. She said, “The Cayman Islands, because of the private sector, has always delivered a phenomenal experience. You’ve always been at the highlight of every single cruise passenger’s experience. So, it is only fitting, that with the work that is being put in place, to make sure that we elevate the product and elevate the expenditure that the passengers and crew spend in the Cayman Islands, that it is going to be a very rewarding time for all Caymanians.” Paige described the meetings as being “very rewarding”, and the cruise lines had listened to officials on what was required to bring the ships back to Cayman and “how to respond to all the health requirements”. She said she hoped the cruise industry would soon be allowed to return to Cayman, adding that she was prepared to return here for talks “as many times as it will take... to be able to make it happen”. Paige said the cruise ship trips to Cayman may not resemble those that took place before the pandemic, and that the industry was looking to the future, and not to replicate exact experiences that passengers have had in the past. “The cruise industry has to respect what the Cayman Islands wants in terms of the cruise industry product,” she said. “So, it’s a respect back-and-forth, and that’s where we are right now, is discussing that respect. It’s almost like when you’re painting a picture, it’s like a blank canvas, and you can do whatever you want. There are no preconceived notions.” Cayman in talks to welcome back cruise passengers Cayman Islands government and Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association representatives pose for a group photograph at a networking event at the Kimpton Seafire on 2 Feb. In the centre of the front row, from left, are Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, Governor Martyn Roper, FCCA President Michele Paige and Premier Wayne Panton. - Photo: Ministry of Tourism 1.83 million cruise ship passengers visited the Cayman Islands in 2019. The islands have been closed to cruise ships since March 2020.1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Exemplify (3,2) 4 Lay in supplies (5,2) 8 A hard durable wood (3) 9 Beforehand (2,7) 10 Watch carefully (7) 11 A form of football (5) 13 Draw back in fear (6) 15 Start a journey (3,3) 18 The Devil (5) 19 To ham (7) 21 Deceitful treatment (3-6) 23 Follow persistently (3) 24 City of the Hanging Gardens (7) 25 A limited scale (5) DOWN 1 Display proudly (4,3) 2 Temporary substitute (9) 3 Earlier (5) 4 Sailors (6) 5 Coin’s ‘head’ side (7) 6 One’s relatives (3) 7 Devoutness (5) 12 Talk seemingly nonstop (2,2,3,2) 14 Means of restraint (7) 16 Weariness (7) 17 Supporting pillar (6) 18 Brushwood (5) 20 Flowering tree with berries (5) 22 To catch (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16919 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 16919 ACROSS: 1 Sum up, 4 Stock up, 8 Oak, 9 In advance, 10 Observe, 11 Rugby, 13 Flinch, 15 Set off, 18 Satan, 19 Overact, 21 Run-around, 23 Dog, 24 Babylon, 25 Range. DOWN: 1 Show off, 2 Makeshift, 3 Prior, 4 Seamen, 5 Obverse, 6 Kin, 7 Piety, 12 Go on and on, 14 Control, 16 Fatigue, 17 Column, 18 Scrub, 20 Elder, 22 Nab. Caymankind – the woman who recently suffered a serious barracuda... bite in the waters off Seven Mile Beach would like to thank the many people who came to her aid and helped her recovery: the Belgian couple walking the beach who saw her in distress and helped her out of the water; Mark, who arranged a call to 911 and stayed with her until the ambulance arrived; Julian, the paramedic who was great comfort to her medically and calmed her by speaking to her in German; Dr. Turner and the Accident and Emergency staff at Cayman Islands Hospital; Sue for transporting her to the hospital daily for necessary aftercare; and her friends and the community at Colonial Club condos who offered encouragement and support. Her recovery is going well and she returned to Canada on 29 Jan. Frederick (Rick) Baer Following the serious assault of two men in The Strand complex in early January, the Cayman LGBTQ Foundation is pleased to hear that a suspect has been arrested by police. The two men who were assaulted had been in a vehicle and were approached by two men who made homophobic remarks towards them, eventually assaulting the men by repeatedly kicking and punching them. I am glad that at least one of the [attackers] has been arrested on suspicion of assault. This was an unprovoked, serious attack on two innocent people, so we are very pleased that the RCIPS has been able to properly investigate the crime and arrest one suspect. I am particularly pleased with the tone taken by the RCIPS when it comes to this kind of hate crime. The detective overseeing the investigation of this crime has stated that this type of homophobic violence towards innocent people is inexcusable and had no place in our community. It is good news that the police are taking this zero-tolerance stance towards hate crimes against the LGBTQ community, and that they are conducting a thorough and diligent investigation, which we hope will bring the culprits to justice. The Cayman LGBTQ Foundation looks forward to the court date for the suspect and will be closely following the outcome of the trial. Noel Cayasso-Smith President, Cayman LGBTQ Foundation Woman bitten by barracuda thanks Cayman community LGBTQ Foundation commends police on arrest of assault suspect How to count days in isolation when testing positive for COVID-19 A more accurate headline: ‘How to tell if you’re living in tyranny’. – Amanda Branch Vierra So what happens if after nearly three weeks you have not received your PCR results? What a flipping disgrace and the person that was in line behind you has received his. How many more excuses they go- ing to come up with? – Della J. Watler-Marte If an article is needed to ex- plain this, it’s time for a new plan. None of the current rules are actually helping anyway. Time to move on from this ridiculousness. – Lisa Jarvis It’s crazy that they are allow- ing tourists in with a negative lateral flow test but we cannot get out of jail with the lateral flow test even if it’s been negative for three days running. – Ann Smith Gov’t to seek COVID testing for disembarking cruise passengers NOW is the time to charge more and get more money for local cruise operators! However, it will take everyone coming to- gether and push for this and any other historical issues to fix. The on-island tour companies, too, need to raise prices as all over. All local tour operator licences should be closed for the next two years, as well as all Trade and Business/Wildlife Interaction Zones/Port Authority Inspection Certificates, to allow further recovery of all current operators that have grossly suffered. This, too, is the time to enforce commercial licences and liability insurances for all commercial operators or have assets seized or heavily fined, including random safety checks, as per international standards. – Rob Smith Local tour operations better mean 100% Caymanian-owned ‘local’ and not front companies for the uber-rich looking to clean more than the barnacles off the bottom of their boats. How new water-sports companies popped up over lockdown and the past six months boggles my mind. – Skipper Whitney Lateral flow testing passen- gers won’t help the marine envi- ronment, which is damaged and dirtied by these filthy monster predator ships. – Rachel Osborne Just say NO to reintroduc- ing cruise ship tourism in Grand Cayman! – Michele Willey Irwin The last two times I visited Grand Cayman, both in 2019, we were told cruise passengers spend, on average, about $50 on their short stop. How is that even worth the damage cruise ships cause? Why not lessen the restric- tions for visitors arriving via plane who will spend substantial- ly more and have more respect for the island? We rented a condo, rented a car, shopped at the gro- cery stores, ate at restaurants and booked tours. We bought local artisans’ products, we picked up trash on the beach and out of the ocean. Grand Cayman is a beauti- ful place full of wonderful people. Those of us who spend quite a bit for the experience of being there are much more likely to leave it as good or better than we found it while helping to put money into the local economy. – Melissa Morgan Holder Aren’t the cruise lines mak- ing enough? Let the patient people of Cayman at least keep a year or two to themselves. How is a cruise line and a tiny island anywhere near in comparison for who needs more money? The cruise lines should be ashamed of themselves. – Sheree Dawe I can remember back in the early late ‘80s/early ‘90s when there were only a couple ships in at any time and they were only allowed to stay, I believe, for four hours. The good old days… – Valerie Jeanine COVID’s remote work trend could see Cayman jobs go overseas Economic substance laws will require companies to keep many jobs local or face large tax con- sequences. The fact is that many specialised positions, such as IT and compliance, lack suitably qualified and experienced staff. 60,000 people is a small pool to choose from and the top talent is fully employed. – Iain Kenny Open the island. Dominican Republic is having one of its best years because of less restrictions. – Michelle Hatch It can also see a TON of people coming to the island to work remotely elsewhere, too. If they work out work visas with US companies to hire Caymanians, there is a whole new job market out there. – Lexi Sprague One doesn’t have to look far to see that the powers that run Cayman are very, very short- sighted. They only see the ‘now’ in things and have little concept of how it will affect the future. Example: Dart. – Jan Morgan What they’re saying OnlineLetters to the editor cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2022cayman compass 5 news N news FRIDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2022 Compass takes the test JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky The conclusions from the chart on my iPhone app are surprisingly precise. I haven’t had a recent COVID infection, my vaccine-triggered immunity against known variants of the virus is currently extremely good, and I am approximately 119 days away from needing another booster shot. I know this because of a new seven- minute test – available in the Cayman Islands from this week. The Attomarker Covid-19 Antibody Immunity Test gives a real-time analysis of immunity levels, potentially crucial information for frontline workers who are consistently exposed to the virus. The blood sample analysis tracks both the waning immunity from vaccines and ‘natural immunity’ boosts from COVID infections. The data it generates amounts to a personal COVID-risk profile for each individual. Integra Healthcare, based at Grand Pavilion on West Bay Road, has brought the technology to Cayman – a first for this side of the Atlantic. It could be used, said doctors at the clinic, to generate more precise information for public health officials – or patients themselves – on when booster shots are likely to be needed. The data can also help avoid lesser known, but potentially serious side-effects of over- vaccination – auto-immune diseases. Developed using nanotechnology by scientists at Exeter University, with support from the UK government, the test is being promoted locally as a precision tool that can help businesses transition to ‘livingwith COVID’. So what does it involve? I roll up my sleeve and try not to wince as nurse Dee Ryan fixes the tourniquet and taps the vein. The blood sample is mixed, then spun through a centrifuge to separate the serum for testing. We watch the coloured lines rise and fall on a rapidly evolving graph on the iPad monitor. Seven minutes later, it produces a line graph and bar chart analysis, which I can scan to my phone using a QR code. The data read-out tells me my current antibody levels and protection against COVID, whether I have had an infection in roughly the last six months, and when I will likely need another shot. What does the information mean? The bar chart shows I am well above the immunity threshold for COVID. I have no antibodies which carry the markers for natural infection, so all my immunity is from the two Pfizer vaccines I had in March of last year and the booster shot I had in October. Interestingly, my protection against the new Omicron variant – believed to evade vaccines – is almost as high as against the original virus. That suggests that the relatively high rate at which vaccinated people are contracting Omicron is connected to its high transmission rate, not to reduced vaccine efficacy. The test sets a threshold of 3.4 milligrams of antibodies per litre of blood as adequate to be protected against COVID. My chart shows I have 14 mg/L for the original virus and 12 mg/L for Omicron. Based on the data, I will likely be on ‘the edge of immunity’ in 119 days. That means I should be due for another booster on 22 June. Well, not exactly… There are other factors that could change my immunity profile between now and then. If I contract COVID, it will give me an antibody spike that serves as a ‘natural booster’. It is also possible that my immunity rate will decline more slowly than the conservative projections factored into that 119- day prediction. Dr. Francisco Martinez, medical director of Integra Healthcare, advises that I come back in June and repeat the test. At that point, he believes, we will be able to pinpoint if and when I need a fourth shot – assuming the option is open to me in Cayman at that time. Should I contract COVID for the antibody boost? The doctor looks at me reproachfully. “No,” he says with his expression. “COVID is still COVID,” he elaborates, “It is better not to get infected.” Am I free to roam? My test results put my immunity levels at more than three times higher than what would typically be necessary to repel the virus. That means I can probably go to the movies or the supermarket on a Saturday with a greater sense of security. But it doesn’t mean I absolutely won’t get COVID. My chances of contracting the virus are less, but they are not zero, and the more I am exposed to it, the higher those chances become. What it does show, says Dr. Shivali Kohli, senior scientific officer from Attomarker in the UK, who is in Cayman to set up the technology and train staff, is that if I do contract COVID, I should be able to fight it off. What are the public health implications? The test hammers home one of the sobering truths that has emerged in recent months about the vaccines – their effectiveness wanes over time. I had the booster in October last year and, according to this data, I will need another shot in June. Only 29% of the Cayman Islands population has had the third shot. So those that have not had the booster, and especially those that got their first shots in the early days of the vaccine rollout, may now have antibody levels below the threshold to fight off the virus. Kohli says she has already seen patients who were wavering about whether to get the booster, who have been persuaded to do so by the results. Does this reinforce the message to ‘get boosted’? In general terms, it does, but more specifically, it provides a precision tool that can let each individual know when they should get their next shot. Some people – especially young people or those with strong immune systems – will see their antibody levels wane at a slower rate than others. Older or more vulnerable people may see those levels decline more rapidly. Everybody is different. Equally, the test factors in the impact of natural infections. If COVID shots do become part of the public health landscape for years to come, the technology could help optimise how and when those jabs are distributed to preserve resources and maximise protection. Can you be over-vaccinated? Pinpointing precisely when to get boosted is not just a matter of avoiding unnecessary jabs. There are rare but potentially serious side- effects to being over-vaccinated, a problem stimulated by repeated or excessive exposure to the same antigen. Data is emerging about the potential for autoimmunity – where the body’s immune system starts to attack healthy cells – in individuals that have excessively high antibody levels, says Martinez. While more research is needed in this area, especially for the relatively new COVID vaccines, he believes it makes sense for people who are already sufficiently protected against COVID-19 to delay their boosters until necessary. How else could this be used? The test is being marketed as a potentially useful tool for the business community to manage their staff during the pandemic. Restaurant and hotel owners were among the attendees at a product launch of the test at Integra’s Grand Pavilion clinic on Tuesday night, 1 Feb. Instead of simply advertising that a business's staff members are vaccinated, the test would allow them to demonstrate that they have high immunity levels. Andrew Vincent, director of Integra, said it could also be useful in helping to keep staff safe from infection and from the inconvenience of self-isolation. He said it would be a powerful tool in helping virus-hit hospitality operators to thrive in the new normal. “This is a technology that allows you to rapidly assess the degree of immunity in your workforce, allowing you to better protect more vulnerable or less protected workers, and deploy people, for instance, those facing the public or tourists, with much greater confidence,” he said. Could it be used as an immunity passport? It is theoretically possible for test results to be used as ‘proof of immunity’. Those who don’t want to be vaccinated could seek to use the test as evidence of natural immunity to bypass vaccine mandates, as tennis player Novak Djokovic attempted to do in order to enter Australia for the Australian Open. Armed with evidence of antibodies from his recent infection, he might have had a stronger case. Any exemptions to vaccine requirements, however, would depend on government policy. The test and consultation costs $175, some of which may be covered by insurance. For more information, go to https://integra.ky/antibody-test. New test measures COVID immunity Nurse Dee Ryan takes a blood sample from journalist James Whittaker for the test. – Photos: Alvaro Serey James Whittaker's profile shows he has vaccine-triggered immunity against COVID, including the Omicron variant, but has not had a recent infection.Osbourne Douglas and Justin Ramoon were transferred from Grand Cayman’s Northward Prison, pictured, to maximum-security Belmarsh Prison in London in 2017. – Photo: Taneos Ramsay cayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2022 Brothers were national security threat, governor claimed JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Gang killer Osbourne Douglas was involved in a relationship with a former Cayman Islands prison officer that began in the early days of his life sentence at Northward Prison and was still ongoing early last year, according to court documents. The affair is cited by the Governor’s Office as one of the reasons for heightened security concerns around Douglas, who was transferred to a UK prison along with his brother Justin Ramoon, amid allegations they were planning an armed jail break. The brothers were also alleged to be orchestrating criminal activity from behind bars. An affidavit from Governor Martyn Roper, submitted in court proceedings last year, pinpoints Douglas’s relationship with Nina White among numerous factors that raised his risk profile. Roper’s evidence suggests the romantic entanglement between Douglas and the former senior manager in the Cayman Islands Prison Service could allow the convicted killer to access sensitive information about other inmates. “There are serious concerns about Ms. White and Mr. Douglas’s relationship,” he stated. “Ms. White would have had access to personal/private information about her clients (prisoners) and potentially staff. There is a concern that she may share this information with Mr. Douglas.” Excerpts from the governor’s affidavit are included in a written court judgment from Acting Justice Michael Wood, following an April 2021 Grand Court hearing dealing with aspects of a human rights challenge from the two prisoners, which contested the decision to transfer them to the UK. The relationship between Douglas and White was ongoing at the time of that judgment, and she was supplying cash and exchanging calls with both defendants, according to Roper’s evidence. Wood rejected the brothers’ request to reverse the transfer, in part because of an earlier court ruling that determined that no process existed in Cayman for sensitive evidence supporting the governor’s decision to be properly scrutinised. The judgment was not made public at the time and was only released last week, along with an earlier judgment in the ongoing case, during a Court of Appeal hearing on the issue. Douglas and Ramoon argue, among other things, that the decision to transfer them to the UK violated their rights to a private and family life, making it difficult for their Cayman-based relatives to visit them in prison. The Governor’s Office has argued that the brothers, two of at least four ‘high-risk’ inmates known to have been transferred to the UK, present such a high risk to national security that they cannot be safely incarcerated in Cayman. A $25,000-a-year fund has been set up to allow family members to visit them in England and they are allowed frequent phone calls and video calls, court papers indicate. Much of the court proceedings to date have focussed on the determination of the Governor’s Office that the two men represent a threat to national security, as well as on their rights to contest that decision. That determination was the basis of the original decision, signed off by the UK Foreign Office, to invoke the Colonial Prisoners’ Removal Act 1884 to transfer the two men out of the jurisdiction. At an earlier preliminary hearing, the Governor’s Office was granted public interest immunity from divulging some of the evidence on which that decision was based. Lawyers for Douglas and Ramoon have questioned that immunity, saying it gives them no scope to challenge the case against their clients. The absence of legislation allowing for closed- door hearings in Cayman – known as Closed Material Procedure hearings – in cases impacting national security, has further complicated matters. Links to Jamaican hitmen Roper’s affidavit nonetheless summarises the gist of the case against the two men – that they represent a national security risk that rises above the level of normal criminality. It also indicates that informants or investigative methods could be jeopardised if the basis for that decision is presented in open-court hearings. “The basis upon which the Plaintiffs were originally transferred to the United Kingdom in June 2017 (before I took up my post) was that they could not be safely detained at HMP Northward and that their activities presented a threat to national security. That is an assessment with which I agree,” Roper’s affidavit states. “Despite their conviction and imprisonment, the Plaintiffs had continued to engage in serious criminal activity. Intelligence revealed that they had or were seeking to obtain high-powered automatic weapons; they had criminal associates with the knowledge and propensity to Gang killer’s affair with prison officer linked to security concerns Osbourne Douglas's affair with a prison officer, Nina White, was cited as a security concern by Governor Martyn Roper in an affidavit. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 16»cayman compass 7 FRIDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2022 THE 5TH ANNUAL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SYMPOSIUM IN UNCERTAIN TIMES 19 FEBRUARY 2022 Featuring an impressive line-up of speakers and panelists, this year’s event will be streamed via The Alex Panton Foundation Facebook page between 10am and 4pm. www.alexpantonfoundation.ky LIVE-STREAMPlenty of people hit the road early in the morning. – Photos: Taneos Ramsay Governor Martyn Roper was among the runners. - Photo: Gov. Roper's Facebook cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2022 MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky Hundreds of walkers and runners took advantage of cool winter breezes to participate in the Stride Against Cancer on Sunday, 30 Jan. The Cayman Islands Cancer Society’s fundraiser, which typically attracts more than 2,000 people, had to be modifi ed this year because of COVID restrictions limiting crowd gatherings to fewer than 250 people. Instead of a mass or staggered start on a set course, participants were encouraged to put on their Stride Against Cancer T-shirts and take on a walk or run of their choice, either on their own or in small groups of friends, family or colleagues. Cancer Society Operations Manager Jennifer Weber estimates between 1,400 and 1,500 people took part in the event. Given that so many other 5K runs and community events in Cayman’s calendar had been cancelled in response to COVID restrictions, she said, “we were really nervous that it just wasn’t going to work for us this year”. ‘Stride’ is an important fundraiser for the cancer charity, often bringing in up to $100,000. The need for the services and fi nancial aid the charity provides has increased, Weber said, and skipping the event one year would have been a big blow. “We really, really needed the community’s support,” she said. “It’s really important. So, I was thrilled with the turnout.” Stride is typically split into separate events, with the main route starting on Seven Mile Public Beach, and additional Strides at the same time in North Side and in the Sister Islands. The ‘Strides’ in North Side and on Little Cayman were able to go ahead as planned on 30 Jan., as they attract a few dozen participants and remain below the COVID restriction limits for public gatherings. UP TO 80% OFF More than 1,400 turn out to ‘Stride’ solo against cancer Cayman Brac’s ‘Stride’ will take place later this year as part of a series of Cancer Society events. To ensure people had gotten the message about the modifi ed format, Weber went to Seven Mile Public Beach, where she said many participants still passed by in the morning in small spread-out groups of fi ve to 10 people. Dr. Sook Yin, with her dogs Kiwi, who had his own Stride T-shirt, and Mr. Bao.cayman compass 9 news N news FRIDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2022 More than 1,400 turn out to ‘Stride’ solo against cancer This year's T-shirt featured the Cancer Society 'strider' in a mask, in a nod to the impact COVID has had on the community. The drop in temperature made the walk a little chilly for some. Each shirt contained a blank line on which people could write the name of a loved one to whom they were dedicating their run. Participants were encouraged to put on their Stride Against Cancer T-shirts and take on a walk or run of their choice. Runners and walkers could organise their own 'Strides' this year.Next >