Stackin’ up Single Stacker Double Stacker Triple Stacker Quadruple Stacker cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism Weekly, 18-24 February 2022 Nuts about return of Coco Fest Page 28 Post-arrival testing lifted as major airlines touch down Phot o: Alv ar o Ser ey Page 3 Soaring inflation hits home Page 20 Baby Violet gets $2.2M medication Page 6Police hunt drug suspect Police are searching for Allen Ronald McLean, who is wanted for drug-related offences. The 54-year-old man was last known to be living in the George Town area, according to a police statement issued on 14 Feb. McLean might be armed, police said, and the RCIPS is advising the public not to approach the man, but instead call 911 immediately if they see him. Investigators are encouraging anyone with information about McLean’s whereabouts to call either the George Town Police Station at 949-4222 or 911, specifically if the circumstances are time-sensitive. The police are also encouraging McLean to turn himself in to the Cayman Islands Detention Centre, or the nearest active police station, at any time, day or night. Crash leaves man with head wound and burns A 43-year-old man sustained a serious head wound and burns to his face and body, after a single- vehicle crash Wednesday evening, 16 Feb., in Bodden Town. Shortly before midnight, police and other emergency services were dispatched by 911 to a report of a collision on Shamrock Road in the vicinity of Valley Drive, Bodden Town, according to a press release issued Thursday by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. The Cayman Islands Fire Service extricated the man, who was trapped in the vehicle. On arriving at the Cayman Islands Hospital, he was assessed to be in critical condition due to the serious head wound and burns, which required surgery. According to police, initial reports indicate that the vehicle was travelling east along Shamrock Road, towards Bodden Town, when it veered to the other side of the road and overturned, coming to a stop in bushes. Police are investigating the incident, and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit at 649-6254 or the Bodden Town Police Station at 947-2220. Search for Cayman’s new chief medical officer under way Interviews for Cayman’s new chief medical officer are set to get under way soon, interim CMO Dr. Autilia Newton has confirmed. Newton, speaking on the 9 Feb. episode of the Cayman Compass Facebook talk show ‘The Resh Hour,’ said candidates have been selected based on responses to advertisements for the highest medical professional post in Cayman. “We are going to interview shortly for the permanent post and these are quite senior people we are interviewing. It is a very important position with extremely high responsibilities,” she said. Newton was temporarily appointed last year following the resignation of Dr. John Lee in September, ahead of the May 2022 expiration of his contract. Back in December, Governor Martyn Roper paid tribute to Lee, who he called a “Cayman icon and hero” for his efforts leading Cayman’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years. Newton, the Overseas Territories advisor for the UK’s Health Security Agency (previously known as Public Health England), took up the role late last year. Her contract is due to end on 6 March, but she expects that the recruitment process could see her time in the post extended slightly. 12 years on, family mourns Jeremiah Barnes Valentine’s Day is usually filled with love, hope and happiness, but for the last 12 years, this time of year has been marked by pain for Dorlisa Ebanks and her family. On 15 Feb. 2010, the mom, founder of support group Against All Violence In Cayman, lost her 4-year-old son Jeremiah Barnes when the toddler was shot and killed during an assassination attempt on his father, Andy Barnes. “It hasn’t gotten easier and as the time passes to me, it actually gets harder. Obviously, this is a very sensitive time for us. This time of the year is a low point. It’s just very hurtful. As a family unit, we try to be supportive of each other and move forward,” she said recently in a Zoom interview with the Cayman Compass. Ebanks’s son was shot as he sat behind his father, who was driving the family car at the time and had stopped at the Hell gas station in West Bay. “I think if we all come together in unity in regards to the violence that’s going on in our islands and just around the world… just this little start,” she said. Ebanks said they will also be hosting their annual family day at the airport park on 23 April. “If Jeremiah could hear me… I want him to know that we love him so much and I am blessed to have him as a son,” she said through tears. Ebanks can be reached at number4@yahoo.com should anyone want to support her initiative to stamp out gun violence in Cayman. New area commander appointed for the Sister Islands RCIPS Chief Inspector Malcolm Kay has been appointed the new area commander for the Sister Islands, based in Cayman Brac. Kay succeeds Inspector Ian Yearwood who was temporarily appointed to the role in April 2021. Yearwood has returned to uniform policing duties on Grand Cayman. According to a press release from the police, Kay has over 25 years of operational policing experience in the Cayman Islands. His career path has had a focus on serious and complex investigations in the Cayman Islands as well as other British Overseas Territories. Prior to his new assignment, Kay was chief inspector in charge of specialist operations for the RCIPS, which included oversight of the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit, the Firearms Response Unit, and K-9 Unit, among others. 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. BLACKLIGHT (PG-13) (FRI, SUN-THURS) 5:00 VIP | 7:10 | 7:40 VIP | 10:10 | 10:15 VIP (SAT) 2:10 | 5:00 VIP | 7:10 | 7:40 VIP | 10:10 | 10:15 VIP DEATH ON THE NILE (PG-13) (FRI & MON-THURS ) 3:50 VIP | 4:10 | 6:45 VIP | 9:45 (SAT) 12:50 VIP | 1:15 | 3:50 VIP | 4:10 | 6:45 VIP | 9:45 DUNE (PG-13) (FRI & SUN-THURS) 6:25 (SAT) 12:40 KING RICHARD (PG-13) (FRI & SUN-THURS) 3:20 | 9:50 (SAT) 4:05 MARRY ME (PG-13) (FRI & SUN-THURS) 4:50 | 7:30 | 9:40 VIP (SAT) 2:20 VIP | 4:50 | 7:30 | 9:40 VIP UNCHARTED (PG-13) (FRI & SUN-MON & WED-THURS) 4:15 VIP | 4:25 |7:00 VIP | 7:10 | 10:00 VIP | 10:00 (SAT) 1:10 | 1:30 VIP | 4:15 VIP | 4:25 | 7:00 VIP | 7:10 | 10:00 | 10:00 VIP (TUE) 4:15 VIP | 4:25 | 7:10 | 10:00 | 10:05 VIP WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK KIDS CLUB PLANES SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) KIDS CLUB TOY STORY 3 SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (G) CLASSICS A BEAUTIFUL MIND TUESDAY 7PM VIP (PG-13) FIND 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 Slight with a wave height of 1 to 3 feet. WINDS Northeast at 5 to 10 knots. 83°F HIGH 71°F LOW news in brief Allen McLean Chief Inspector Malcolm Kay is the RCIPS's new area commander for the Sister Islands. - Photo: Alvaro Serey cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2022Change comes in a week when two major US airlines resume routes JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Vaccinated travellers will no longer face multiple COVID tests after touching down in the Cayman Islands after government announced it was ditching the unpopular measure. Speaking at a press conference Thursday, Premier Wayne Panton said the number of COVID cases on island was starting to decrease and government felt confident in rolling back some of its control measures. Perhaps the most significant of those was the lifting of the requirement for arriving travellers to carry out lateral flow tests on days two, five and seven after their arrival in Cayman. The regime – and the requirement to isolate if found to be positive – has been cited by tourism chiefs as the key remaining barrier to restarting the industry. The announcement on the easing of restrictions, which come into effect on Friday, 18 Feb., was made on a week when Cayman celebrated the return of two major airlines to the islands. The first United Airlines and American Airlines jets to touch down on Grand Cayman since before the pandemic were greeted with water canon salutes as the tourism industry celebrated significant milestones. United resumed flying from four key gateway cities on Saturday, 12 Feb., including Washington and Newark, and American Airlines resumed its service from Miami on Thursday, 17 Feb., just minutes before government held its press conference announcing the lifting of some, but not all, restrictions. Panton said incoming tourists and travellers will still be required to provide evidence of a pre- departure negative COVID test one day before travelling here. “The removal of post-arrival testing is a blessing to one and all who travel,” he said. Crowd size limits The premier also announced an increase of the limits on public gatherings. The new maximum capacity is 500 for indoor events and 1,000 people for outdoor events. Testing requirements for gyms have also been lifted and the capacity limit for boats has been raised to 500. Bars and clubs can resume normal operating hours. Panton said the measures would be “good for business” and “good for families”. Unvaccinated travellers who are required to quarantine will be able to be released on the basis of consecutive negative lateral flow tests on days six and seven, rather than requiring a negative PCR test, which is more sensitive and takes longer to achieve. Anyone who actually contracts the virus will still be required to quarantine and face an exit PCR test before getting released. Panton said medical chiefs were confident Cayman could move forward without risking its success in combating the virus. “This decision is in the light of the good news that the number of positive cases continue to go down,” he said. “The measures we have put in place continue to prove effective to protect our health and education systems as we have seen limited hospitalisations and limited severe illness,” he said. “We are cautiously optimistic that we can move forward towards reduced restrictions while still seeing a drop in positive cases.” Lateral flow tests Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan said the industry would be breathing a collective sigh of relief at the changes, which he said would save time, money and inconvenience for travellers and make Cayman more attractive to international visitors. “The LFT testing regime was presenting major hurdles for visitors,” he said. “Many were not happy with having to line up three different days during their vacation to take certified tests which took away precious time from their ability to enjoy our beaches and attractions.” Bryan arrived at the press conference straight from welcoming Post-arrival testing for vaccinated travellers lifted What’s changing No more post-arrival LFT testing on days two, five and seven for incoming vaccinated travellers Quarantine period for unvaccinated travellers reduced from 10 to seven days, with negative LFTs required on days six and seven. No PCR test required. Vaccinated people travelling between Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands no longer require testing Indoor gatherings increased to 500 Outdoor gatherings, including at sporting events, increased to 1,000 Testing for unvaccinated people using gyms and sporting facilities discontinued No mask wearing for spectators at sporting events Passenger capacity for boats raised to 500 Bars and clubs can resume normal operating hours What’s staying the same Pre-arrival testing one day before entering Cayman Unvaccinated people travelling between Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands must still supply a negative test. Social-distancing requirements will remain in place. COVID REGULATIONS PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 19» Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, waving the American flag, alongside local mascots, welcoming passengers arriving on board an American Airlines flight from Miami on Thursday. - Photo: Alvaro Serey cayman compass news N news 3 FRIDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2022 Have to remove all restric- tions for a real return for tourism first to get back onto the road of recovery – Rob Smith Overhead covering for inclem- ent weather should be the first project. Every airport in the world has some type of protec- tion for weather conditions for their travellers! I can’t figure out why this wasn’t part of the original building plan. Tropical weather is our constant. – Hayward Watts First thing first is to build covering for passengers as they exit through the arrival hall. Also to invest in some jetbridge so they won’t get soaked while we have inclement weather because our weather in Cayman is unpredictable. Those should be our major investment, and also upgrading Little Cayman airport with proper security and a runway that can be used for night landings. Also upgrading Cayman Brac airport with more room for passengers and more parking pits for other carriers to land their aircraft. – Jamie Montero Green iguana culling programme may have reached its limit Could we check the chicken population please? They seem to be growing exponentially. – Alecia Sowden Barbee I have not seen a green iguana in over a year, but in my neigh- bourhood (Crystal Harbour) there are a zillion chickens. I would rather see some balance. – Ellen Marcher Culling has been proven to fail time and time again in all parts of the world and often does more harm than good. It’s also inhumane. Humans are always the cause of the issue and I’m afraid we reap what we sow. It is only us that are the true invasive species on Earth. – Clare Marshall Don’t stop or they’ll be back in a flash! – Chris Lopez Government targets vaccine booster rate of at least 60% Moving the goal posts… again! We made the top 10 list of the countries with the most cases in the world (we are #7) and that will soon dip in a few weeks (as it did in all countries). These decisions have been poorly made and the negative impact made was 100 times worse than COVID itself. On top of it, the goal to vaccinate children is baseless; countries have dropped vaccinating children since the risks outweigh the benefits and here we are in 2022, setting percentage goals that don’t make any common sense. – Seb Nehme If the first two vaccines are classified as ‘fully vaccinated’, then why would anyone get any more? The boosters have expiry dates, so once you start, you have to continue? – Zoe Wall A lot of people in Cayman didn’t get their first or second shot until the island ‘started to open’ last November, so they wouldn’t even be eligible for a booster yet. And the way that Omicron has flown through the community recently means that a huge percentage of the population now has immunity that will last them a few months at least. These targets when the rest of the world has already moved on are absolute nonsense. – Maya Lewis I’m good, thanks; two was enough. – Latoya Parker Those who want to get vac- cinated have been vaccinated and boosted. It’s not that hard to understand. We are 2+ years in this pandemic. People know the risks and have made up their own minds what’s best for their bodies. – Renee Bernardo Baby Violet receives lifesaving $2.2 million drug infusion These drug companies use a value-based pricing model which calculates the cost based on how many years of life gained rather than the actual cost to make the drug. This is outright extortion and should be illegal. A prime example of big pharma looking for maximum profit. – Lewis Wilson Prayers for beautiful baby Violet. And for her family. – Darlene Glidden The house that hope built Fantastic. Legislation should be put in place that for every $1 million worth of condos and houses that developers build, they have to do- nate enough materials and to build just ONE of these. – Alan Gordon Cayman has one of the best community support systems. People and companies really step up. It’s not only financial but even just vol- unteering is helping and supporting. – Verity Radford I am happy for this couple and kudos to ARK. Meanwhile, here in the Brac our wonderful caring government is hellbent on putting a family with an 8-month-old baby that have been renting a house owned by government for 14+ years out on the street for no other reason than they need the place to renovate it and not for the family to move back into. The family has explained that they cannot afford to rent somewhere else and even if the Needs Assessment Unit were to offer help, most homeowners are unwilling to rent to NAU and they have nowhere else to go. This has fallen on deaf ears and they were told they have until the middle of March to vacate. Is this what our government has come to? Are they not supposed to be by the people, for the people? Sad times we are living in. – Janet Ebanks This the best news I have read. May God bless you, everyone who helped to make a home for these people. – Patience P Wright This is awesome and welcome news considering the climate we are living in right now! Great job and well done to all involved! – Stefon Bovell Community efforts and kindness still exist. – Olive Narcisse Tara at ARK is an absolute rock star. Congrats to this lovely couple on your beautiful new home. – Nicola Martyn That’s called the best commu- nity. Amazing efforts. – Bhavesh Choudhary Another expansion on the cards for Owen Roberts? Yes, because they wouldn’t listen and build it properly the first time. No accountability with poor plan- ning and management. – Jennifer Woodford 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Small miserable dwelling (5) 4 Forestall (3-4) 8 Nothing (3) 9 French tragic actress, died 1923 (9) 10 A flavouring substance (7) 11 Domineering (5) 13 Partially dried grape (6) 15 Dazed state (6) 18 Pop music ensemble (5) 19 Sad and abandoned (7) 21 Director of Jurassic Park (9) 23 Dejected (3) 24 Richly luxurious (7) 25 Pleasing in flavour (5) DOWN 1 Northwest German city (7) 2 Italian-American silent film actor (9) 3 Malicious defamatory publica- tion (5) 4 Social outcast (6) 5 Show publicly (7) 6 Disfigure (3) 7 Shabby (5) 12 Ancient Greek playwright (9) 14 A sudden inclination (7) 16 Flee (3,4) 17 Accomplish (6) 18 Zest (5) 20 Completely (5) 22 Acknowledgement of debt (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16931 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 16931 ACROSS: 1 Hovel, 4 Pre-empt, 8 Nil, 9 Bernhardt, 10 Vanilla, 11 Bossy, 13 Raisin, 15 Stupor, 18 Group, 19 Forlorn, 21 Spielberg, 23 Low, 24 Opulent, 25 Tasty. DOWN: 1 Hanover, 2 Valentino, 3 Libel, 4 Pariah, 5 Exhibit, 6 Mar, 7 Tatty, 12 Sophocles, 14 Impulse, 16 Run away, 17 Effect, 18 Gusto, 20 Right, 22 IOU. How does the government ever expect visitors to visit Cayman when they keep changing the rules, all of which are more restrictive? Why have they not been pushing boosters for the last year? They are not interested in the island, its people, or its businesses. Only their power. Small people in power make for a disaster. Ty Lockhart Osbourne Bodden embraces home owner Janice Trusty at a blessing ceremony for the Trustys' new house in Bodden Town. – Photo: Alvaro Serey Government should have promoted boosters sooner What they’re saying Letters to the editor Online cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2022MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky The Cayman Islands is looking at another vaccine threshold to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic – this time for booster shots. The Ministry of Health and Wellness is about to roll out a booster campaign to increase the local uptake of the third COVID-19 vaccine dose. The ministry said in a statement that 80% coverage would be the typical target for any successful campaign. In this case, the government is looking at “milestones”, or a series of smaller steps, and has decided to first target “a basic 60%, but with a final aim of 80%, especially for the older age groups, which are the most vulnerable to severe disease/death”. The ministry said that because “reaching the most ambitious target of 80% might take some time, we did not want this to hamper the move toward re- opening of our society and economy, hence the choice of the 2-step approach”. The targeted 60% coverage would be an excellent starting point, the statement added. In Cayman, only 30.6% of the population have received the booster so far, based on a population of 69,656 newly determined by the 2021 census. This contrasts with Cayman’s much higher full vaccination rate of 83% of the population and 95% of people who are eligible to be vaccinated over the age of 12. Speaking on the weekly Cayman Compass talk show ‘The Resh Hour’ on 9 Feb., Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Autilia Newton noted that countries like Denmark are now able to lift restrictions because the virus transmission is stabilising and their booster rate is quite high. Generally, countries with high primary vaccinations and strong booster rates are the ones able to lift restrictions more quickly. The UK, which announced the lifting of all remaining COVID restrictions for March or shortly thereafter, has a booster rate of more than 60%. This is why a new booster campaign is going to be launched in Cayman, Newton said. The booster rate, in combination with other trends and the experience of other countries that have lifted restrictions, is likely to determine policy decisions in Cayman. Despite the comparatively slow take-up of the third vaccine shot, Newton said, the booster rate among the over-60 year- olds, and especially those over 80, “is not bad”. Need to promote booster take-up Newton said more work needed to be done to encourage younger age groups to get the third shot and achieve the 60% milestone, along with 80% or more for the most vulnerable older age groups. These rates would give government and healthcare officials “reassurance”. At this stage, the take-up has been limited because “there hasn’t been a very open, strong booster campaign so far”, the chief medical officer said. To reach the 60% threshold, a step-up of the booster programme will be needed. As of 12 Feb., 21,282 people had received a third shot of the COVID vaccine since the boosters became available in October 2021. Over the past month, the ongoing vaccination effort has been flagging, dropping from 1,156 weekly administered booster doses in mid-January to only 313 last week, the health ministry’s situational reports show. At those rates, with an average of about 650 people a week, it would take almost eight months to achieve a 60% booster rate for the population as a whole. The government is hoping that the number of people who have received the booster shot so far will double, under its new ramped-up campaign. - Photo: File Gov’t aims for 60% booster target “[Because] reaching the most ambitious target of 80% might take some time, we did not want this to hamper the move toward re-opening of our society and economy, hence the choice of the 2-step approach.” - Ministry of Health statement cayman compass 5 news N news FRIDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2022NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Violet Fitzgerald, who is just 11 weeks old, has received an infusion of a gene therapy medication that costs $2.2 million for a single dose, which her family hopes will halt the potentially deadly condition she was born with. The baby’s parents, Brooke and Dan Fitzgerald, were with her on Tuesday as medical staff at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia administered the gene therapy drug Zolgensma, which is considered the most expensive medication in the world. Violet has type 1 spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic disorder characterised by weakness and wasting of muscles in young infants. If untreated, the life expectancy of a child with SMA is about 2 years. Speaking after the family left the hospital Tuesday, mom Brooke told the Compass, “The infusion went well. … They had to put IV drips in both of her arms. And that was the hardest part, because obviously that’s needles in her little, little hands. … And then it was a 55-minute infusion attached to the IV. They had to check her vitals every 10 minutes to make sure her blood pressure was OK and her temperature was OK.” While her mother and father watched and waited anxiously, Violet slept through the entire procedure, Brooke said. The baby remained at the hospital for two hours after the drug was given, while medical staff monitored her vitals. “But now we’re home with her,” Brooke said, adding that they’ll be keeping an eye on the baby to look out for reactions, like vomiting or fever. “She’ll probably be a little fussy for a while,” she said. What’s next? The family, who live in Prospect on Grand Cayman, are staying at accommodation in Philadelphia, where they will remain for the next three months, through follow-up hospital visits and physiotherapy sessions. Now that she has received Zolgensma, Violet will need to take steroids every day for a month, and then be weaned off them over the following two months. “We have to go in weekly for a month and then bi-weekly for two months after the first month for [lab tests], so they can monitor her liver enzymes and a couple other things. … So that’s why we have to get her blood drawn every week,” Brooke said. One of the side-effects of Zolgensma is increased liver enzyme levels, so those must be carefully and constantly monitored. Next week, Violet is due to see a pulmonologist, as well as a neurologist who specialises in spinal muscular atrophy, and this will be followed by weekly visits to a physiotherapist. “We’ll stay here in Philadelphia for three months,” Brooke said, “and we do a lot of physio with her. We have to set up a little jungle gym so she can start to move her legs and arms more with straps.” At this point, they don’t know when they will begin to see improvements in the little girl’s movements. “The pediatrician told us sometimes you can see it within a week or two,” Brooke said. So far, the baby’s breathing and feeding do not seem to be affected, as they can be in some newborns with SMA. “It really just depends on the age of the baby and how the baby reacts, so we just have to wait and see, and make sure all her blood work is OK, make sure she keeps feeding well, make sure she keeps breathing well. ... Our worst fear is that something goes wrong with her breathing or her eating because that means she has to get hooked up to something. “So we’re just hoping she improves from here and we start to see some kind of signs in the next week that it’s working. It should, for $2.2 million.” The earlier the condition can be diagnosed in babies and the earlier the drug can be administered, the more effective it is. In Violet’s case, as there is currently no requirement or standard practice in Cayman for newborn babies to be screened for SMA, she was not tested for the genetic anomaly until she was five weeks old. It took another two and a half weeks for the results to come through, and several more weeks before insurance could be sorted out to cover the astronomical cost of the medication she needed. Eventually, CINICO and the Cayman Islands government agreed to cover the insurance cost. “We lost a lot of time for her so we can’t really gain back what she’s lost,” Brooke said. According to Novartis, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Zolgensma, more than 1,600 babies worldwide have been given the drug since it was approved for children under the age of 2 by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2019. Fundraising reaches more than $118,000 While Cayman’s national insurance company CINICO is covering the $2.2 million cost of the drug, it’s likely that Violet will face a lifetime of medical challenges and expenses. SMA severely impacts the development of muscles and nerves in babies. The drug can halt SMA, but it does not reverse the deterioration a baby may already have undergone. More than 500 people have donated on Violet’s GoFundMe page, which, as of 15 Feb., had raised at least CI$118,000 since it was launched a week ago. To help cover expenses not covered by CINICO or the family’s private health insurance provider, a GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the Fitzgeralds with the costs they will face. As of Tuesday evening, the total raised stood at £104,858, equivalent to $118,000. “We are so thankful,” Brooke said. “And I can’t believe how many messages and words of support I receive daily. It’s so hard, I want to respond to everyone but it’s almost impossible. It is all so nice.” She added, “It’s been absolutely incredible the amount of support we have received from the community and friends and family, and also people we don’t even know. We are so grateful and couldn’t have done this without the support we are receiving.” 55 The number of minutes the infusion took “So we’re just hoping she improves from here and we start to see some kind of signs in the next week that it’s working.” Brooke Fitzgerald, Violet’s mother Brooke and Dan Fitzgerald with their baby girl Violet, pictured in December. The family will remain in Philadelphia for three months to attend follow-up appointments and checks for little Violet. – Photo: Submitted Tiny Violet sleeps through the infusion of the $2.2 million drug administered to her at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on Tuesday, 15 Feb. – Photo: Submitted Baby Violet receives lifesaving $2.2 million drug infusion cayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2022More than 600 recipients of a stipend for displaced tourism workers who are now employed full-time will be receiving reduced financial assistance from government this month and in March. Following a review by the Ministry of Border Control and Labour, which took over responsibility for the monthly stipends in January from the Ministry of Tourism, 625 people will receive $1,000 this month and $750 next month. Previously, the government had paid them $1,500 a month. According to a statement from the ministry issued on Thursday morning, 2,400 individuals will continue to receive the $1,500 monthly stipend. The ministry said the February payments will be made on Friday, 18 Feb. After the labour ministry took over the stipend-payment scheme, which had been costing the government about $5.5 million a month, it issued a survey asking recipients to provide information on their employment status and other data – the results of which led to the restructuring of the initiative. Recipients who failed to complete the survey will not have their February payment processed this week, the ministry said, and it urged them to respond to the survey “at their earliest opportunity, in order to ensure that they have provided their most accurate and up-to-date information”. In March, the 625 people who have been transitioned from the Displaced Tourism Employees Stipend scheme to the new Tourism Recovery Grant programme in which they’re receiving the reduced payments, will again be asked to answer a questionnaire on their current status to find out if they need to continue in the grant programme or if further support is needed, the ministry said. Wesley Howell, chief officer in the Ministry of Border Control and Labour, said in the statement, “At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Displaced Tourism Employees Stipend was an emergency measure put in place to assist all of those Caymanian workers who had suddenly lost their incomes. Since the reopening of tourism in November of last year, the economy and local situation have steadily improved, and we are pleased to say that around 625 previously unemployed stipend recipients are now back to work full-time.” He added, “As the Ministry responsible for Caymanian employment, having responsibility for this stipend changes the focus to a more active pursuit of full-time employment for these job seekers. With the new Tourism Recovery Grant programme, we are stepping away from simply administering stipend payments without continued vetting and assessment and moving to providing proactive support in both finding jobs and providing training and certification opportunities to those who have resumed employment.” Job opportunities Deputy Premier and Minister for Border Control and Labour Chris Saunders said several training and job placement opportunities had been and will be made available to stipend recipients, in an effort to ensure Caymanians could return to gainful employment as the borders reopen. He said his ministry was working with Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman (WORC) to encourage all Caymanian job seekers to register via the JobsCayman employment portal. “The leadership teams at the Ministry and at WORC have made a concerted effort to encourage tourism stipend recipients to both register with WORC for employment assistance and to register via the JobsCayman portal to assist in their search for full-time employment. At the moment, there are over 800 jobs available on the JobsCayman portal – with many of them in the tourism industry. We have tourism industry partners who are eager to employ Caymanians as the hospitality industry continues to recover from the dire effects of the pandemic,” he said. Acting Director of WORC Laura Watler noted that there were “limitations with accessibility to the job listings and we are working on solutions to remove these”. She said, “In fact, this week, we will begin advertising all local job listings in the printed weekly newspapers so job seekers can see the available jobs and then follow the registration process to apply online. This is being done in tandem with our efforts to make job listings on the JobsCayman portal visible without registration and looking to make the application process through registration more streamlined.” Support still needed for ‘fully employed’ Chief Officer Howell explained that the Tourism Recovery Grant programme had arisen out of the awareness that some formerly displaced tourism workers would require financial assistance to make ends meet, given potentially reduced hours with the tourism industry not being back to its full speed. He also acknowledged the situation of self-employed tourism business owners who are back to work and considered fully employed but are not operating at their usual capacity, with a significant reduction in revenues. “We fully understand that being back to work and fully employed does not mean that people are back to their former level of income,” he said. “It is understood that people will still need some support. To underscore that these people are no longer considered to be displaced workers but are instead part of the industry’s post-pandemic recovery, this support is going to be provided via the Tourism Recovery Grant programme, which will not be solely a financial assistance programme but will also offer training and other employment and business support.” Saunders also referenced new programmes being put in place to provide remaining stipend recipients, as well as recovery grant participants, with training in new fields that would offer technical and vocational certification, as well as government- subsidised on-the-job training with participating local businesses. “Through these new efforts, we hope to provide training and certification to stipend recipients, recovery grant participants and other Caymanian jobseekers that will equip them for success for the rest of their working lives and provide the Cayman Islands with a local workforce of certified technical and vocational employees and entrepreneurs. We will also be paying people to receive on-the-job training, while feeling the pride of doing a day’s work. More details on these efforts will be published in the coming weeks once we finalise agreements with training providers and local businesses,” he said in the statement. The ministry noted that the stipends and grants will be distributed as normal either via direct bank deposits or cheque payments as previously arranged, but stated that requests for a change from direct bank deposit to cheque cannot be accommodated at this time. Also, no new applications for the displaced tourism worker stipend are currently being accepted, the ministry said. | For more information on the Tourism Stipend Programme and the Tourism Recovery Grant programme, email stipend@gov.ky. Government and the private sector have held job fairs for Caymanians and permanent residents who are seeking to return to the tourism and hospitality industry. - Photo: Norma Connolly Stipend reduced for 625 tourism workers What the stipend programme had been costing government per month $5.5 million cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2022NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Staff in Cayman, like in the rest of the world, have come to grips with working from home over the past two years, as the pandemic closed offices and workplaces across the globe. One side-effect of this enforced teleworking has been the impact on the mental and physical health of employees. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization released a report based on reviews of several international studies looking into pros and cons of working from home, and examining both the detrimental effects and the benefits that have been seen. While slumping over a laptop on a coffee table for hours on end have no doubt caused plenty of back and neck problems, and working alone has led to isolation and loneliness for some, having more time to exercise and spend with family rather than commuting to and from work has led to a healthier work-life balance for others, the report from the two United Nations bodies found. Prioritising mental health Here in Cayman, the Employee Assistance Programme, which offers counselling and advice to workers, has seen a rise in the number of people reaching out for assistance, as the stress of working from home and living in the middle of a pandemic takes its toll. Cindy Blekaitis, programme manager with the EAP, said, while this increase may be seen as a dilemma, it is an indication that people are prioritising their mental health – something that may not have happened pre-pandemic. “More people are taking their mental health seriously,” she said, adding that there had been a push for years to “normalise” mental health and to break the stigma that is often associated with it. “There has been a uptick in social anxiety,” Blekaitis told the Compass, as people deal with whether to return to work or attend gatherings while COVID is spreading through the community. But this anxiety, and other stresses that have come to the forefront during the COVID pandemic, means that everyone is becoming much more aware of the impact on their mental health, and taking steps to address it. “One of the advantages of this has been that people are making their mental health a priority,” Blekaitis said. “They’re having more discussions with their friends and families about their mental health. People are more accepting about feeling anxious and are no longer just pretending that something isn’t bothering them. Now, people are more willing to discuss in their peer groups.” She added that, in the past, people were far more reluctant to admit that ailments they had might be stress-related. “People would rather have something physically wrong with them than admit to some form of anxiety or psychological issue. … Now they’re more open to the idea of therapy and getting help,” she said. Overworking is also an issue that people are dealing with, with individuals putting in longer hours than they would in their office, just because their computer is right there in their homes and they find it hard to disengage. Laptops on kitchen tables Physiotherapist Lindsay Bridgeman said she and her colleagues at Cayman Physiotherapy have seen an uptick in patients coming in for treatments to address issues caused by working from home or home-schooling, “possibly more so last year when people weren’t well set up for home working”. She added, “Some companies are very good at helping staff be ergonomically well set up at home but lots of people, including me, are on laptops at their kitchen table, which is ok for short spells but really not for full work days.” According to the WHO and ILO report, “Telework settings may fail to meet the occupational safety and health standards available at traditional worksites. Poor physical environment and workplace design and inadequate equipment and support can result in musculoskeletal disorders, eye strain and injuries.” However, when organised and carried out properly, “telework can be beneficial for physical and mental health and social well- being”, the report continued. “It can improve work–life balance, reduce traffic and time spent commuting, and decrease air pollution, all of which can, indirectly, improve physical and mental health. Telework can also have public health and social benefits.” Overall, the review of studies reported that home-based telework is generally seen by workers as having a positive effect on their self-reported health, but can lead to problems arising from workstation design and long working hours. “The pandemic has led to a surge of teleworking, effectively changing the nature of work practically overnight for many workers,” said Dr. Maria Neira, director of the WHO’s Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health in the report. “In the nearly two years since the start of the pandemic, it’s become very clear that teleworking can easily bring health benefits and it can also have a dire impact. “Which way the pendulum swings depends entirely on whether governments, employers and workers work together and whether there are agile and inventive occupational health services to put in place policies and practices that benefit both workers and the work.” Vera Paquete-Perdigão, director of the ILO’s Governance and Tripartism Department, said in the report that teleworking and, particularly, hybrid working – a mix of working from home and in the office – are here to stay and are likely to increase after the pandemic, as both companies and individuals have experienced its feasibility and benefits. “As we move away from this ‘holding pattern’ to settle into a new normal, we have the opportunity to embed new supportive policies, practices and norms to ensure millions of teleworkers have healthy, happy, productive and decent work,” she said. • Employers should encourage workers to set boundaries on work hours and keep to a regular schedule, to ensure they do not to work an excessive number of hours. Timers and hour logs can help workers track their hours and stay within a healthy work schedule, but such tools must be confidential, and workers should not feel they are being monitored or are under constant surveillance. • Employers should avoid contacting workers outside of scheduled work hours, and should encourage co-workers and managers to communicate only during scheduled work hours. • Regular social interactions during telework (e.g. virtual meetups and dedicated social time before and after meetings) may decrease the sense of isolation and detachment during telework. Workers should be encouraged to connect with co-workers for virtual gatherings and informal chats. • Employers should provide teleworkers with ICT tools and software that will help them to connect efficiently with co-workers and managers. Regular communication with managers and peers about current happenings, sharing of information and problem-solving ideas, and discussing performance-related issues can reduce psychosocial strain. However, it is important for employers and managers to be aware of the number of online meetings employees are involved in, especially the number of back-to-back meetings. • Workers should be encouraged to engage in enjoyable social and recreational activities during work breaks. This could include short physical activity breaks. • Workers should be informed about the potential psychosocial risks related to telework, the early symptoms of mental ill health, and how and where they can access psychosocial and mental health supports. • Teleworkers should be trained on appropriate work behaviour and digital etiquette while interacting with colleagues, and on how to identify and respond to abuse or bullying. Perks and pains of working from home “Poor physical environment and workplace design and inadequate equipment and support can result in musculoskeletal disorders, eye strain and injuries.” - WHO/ILO report Working from home has become the reality for millions around the world. Report’s recommendations cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2022The Alex Panton Foundation’s fifth annual Youth Mental Health Symposium, set for Saturday, 19 Feb., will focus on how people are dealing with the struggles and challenges of living through the pandemic. The symposium audience numbers are restricted to 100 this year, due to COVID regulations on indoor crowd sizes, so the event is by invitation only for those attending in person, but will be streamed live via the foundation’s Facebook page. This year’s theme is ‘Thriving in Uncertain Times’ – a topic organisers say will resonate “with many, following the challenges over the last few years, and aims to offer solutions to those still struggling in various ways due to the pandemic”. The foundation said the symposium would offer a platform to connect young people and their families with the practitioners, researchers and policymakers committed to creating lasting change across the youth mental health sector. Jane Panton, chairperson and co- founder of the Alex Panton Foundation, said in a statement, “We have all faced unprecedented challenges over the past year, and as a mental health organisation, we acknowledge the effects the pandemic [have] had on our youth. Community transmission of COVID-19 across our Islands has brought with it disruption to education and a return of social isolation. “There are many struggling with the emotional barriers that are fostered by social isolation. Global, political, and social movements have exacerbated feelings of uncertainty. We must continue to work together to prepare the youth of the Cayman Islands by providing them and their families, teachers, mentors, and the wider community with resources to not only succeed but to thrive in these uncertain times.” The Alex Panton Foundation is reminding the local community that there are resources and support networks available for children, teens and young adults dealing with mental health concerns. Following the recent death of a teenager in Cayman, the foundation says it wants to highlight the fact that help is at hand on island, through a variety of in-person, online and phone resources. The National Drug Council’s Cayman Islands Student Drug Use Survey in 2020 indicated that one in six local students had seriously considered suicide. A 2021 report from the World Health Organization showed that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-19 year-olds across the globe, the foundation noted. In a statement issued on 11 Feb., consultant clinical psychologist Dr. Erica Lam, a board member of the Alex Panton Foundation, said, “It is imperative that young people and their families know where to turn for support and guidance, particularly during such a challenging time. The Alex Panton Foundation initiatives have been developed based on local data through the collaborative efforts of policymakers, practitioners and organisations, committed to creating lasting change.” The foundation has shared the following list of support groups it will be hosting in the coming weeks, as well as organisations and services available more broadly, for people affected by mental health issues. It advises anyone who is currently struggling and needs immediate assistance to call emergency services on 911. SUPPORT GROUPS Bereavement Support Group FACILITATOR: April Lewis AGES: 18+ WHEN: Every Thursday, 6:30-7:30pm ACTIVE DATES: 24 Feb.-31 March WHERE: Counselling Centre, Unit 4, 68 Mary Street, George Town EMAIL: edu@alexpantonfoundation.ky Teen Talk virtual support group FACILITATOR: Dr Shari Smith AGES: 13-17 WHEN: Every other Saturday, 1-2pm CURRENT DATES: 5 March, 19 March, 2 April, 16 April, and 30 April WHERE: via Zoom (link provided upon registry) WEBSITE: https://alexpantonfoundation.ky/teen-talk/ EMAIL: support@alexpantonfoundation.ky Breaking Barriers support group FACILITATOR: Shane Purcell AGES: 18-30 WHEN: Every Saturday, 12:30-2pm WHERE: Parcel 110, 3rd Floor, Royal Plaza, 40 Cardinall Avenue, George Town WEBSITE: https://alexpantonfoundation.ky/support/ EMAIL: info@alexpantonfoundation.ky Mental health resources and support available Youth Mental Health Symposium to be held this weekend How to take part Registration is not necessary to participate in this year’s online event. Visit the Alex Panton Foundation Facebook page to learn more about live-streaming on the day. Coverage will begin at 10am. The foundation will facilitate an online exhibition area where participants can learn more about key services available, and event sponsors. The virtual exhibitions will be available via the foundation’s website over the coming weeks. Youth Ambassadors and community mental health leaders at the Alex Panton Foundation's annual Mental Health Symposium in 2020. This year's event will be held on Saturday,19 Feb., and will be streamed live via the foundation's Facebook page. - Photo: File Welcome remarks – Jane Panton, chairperson, Alex Panton Foundation; and Governor Martyn Roper Opening addresses – Minister of Health and Wellness Sabrina Turner and Minister of Investment, Innovation and Social Development André Ebanks Planning to Thrive in Uncertain Times – Dr. Shari Smith, clinical psychologist, Life Options Sit with It: Accepting Life’s Punches and Building Resiliency – Sutton Burke, clinical director, Infinite Mindcare Youth Voice: How We Maintain Hope in These Uncertain Times – Youth Ambassador Programme panel: Bill LaMonte, education coordinator; Jhadari Lumley, Youth Ambassador leader; and Youth Ambassadors Cristin Jackson (moderator), Isabella Do Valle, Soleil Parkinson, Lilly Haug, and D’hani Bodden How Adults and Parents Can Support Young People at Times of Uncertainty – Deirdre Carmola, special education needs case manager, Inclusion, Ministry of Education Touching Tomorrow from Today: The Value of Mentoring – Pastor Christopher Murray, counsellor at John Gray High School and founder of Boyz2Men Cayman; Seaford Russell Jr, director, Boyz2Men; and Mark Phillips, student, Boyz2Men Learning to Thrive – Three short presentations from a group of young adults, sharing their personal experiences: Alanna Warwick-Smith, immediate past president, Rotaract Blue; Brittany Evans, law student, Truman Bodden Law School; Zaria Anthony, trainee pharmacy technician, Doctors Hospital YES, WE CAN! Don’t Rule Us Out! – Clare Panyandee, PE teacher, Lighthouse School Youth Voice: Inclusion4All – Monina Thompson, Youth Ambassador leader The Unique Reflection – Mario Garraway, mental health worker and youth counsellor LGBTQ+ Research Data Presentation – Cavelle Chai-Hong-Delfosse, clinical psychologist, Aspire Therapeutic Services; Jhadari Lumley, Youth Ambassador leader; and Isaias Pascual, Youth Ambassador Closing remarks – Hailee Robinson, deputy chairperson, Alex Panton Foundation See caymancompass.com for a full list of additional local and international resources recommended by the Alex Panton Foundation. Schedule of events The schedule for the symposium, which runs 10am to 4pm, is as follows: cayman compass 9 news N news FRIDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2022Next >