cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 4-10 March 2022 Walk and Wag and Coco Fest in pictures Pages 14 and 15 Cayman model tells of struggle and survival Page 19 Faulty lights leave sports teams in the dark Page 31 © 2022 Burger King Corporation. The Big FishThe Big Fish F O R L IM IT ED TI M E O N LY Ships Ahoy Cruise tourism to return this month Page 3Boat captain in court on manslaughter charges More than two years after being charged with manslaughter following a collision at sea in which two people died, boat captain Sean Michael McDonald, 38, appeared in court on 1 March as his two-week trial began. Former RCIPS police officer Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Brown, 49, and John Turner, 70, a British resident in Cayman, were killed, and a female passenger was badly injured when their boat, a Godfrey Hurricane, and the vessel McDonald was piloting, a 32-foot Scarab called the Pepper Jelly, collided near Harbour House Marina in Prospect on Sunday night, 11 Aug. 2019. In relation to the injured woman, McDonald is also charged with endangering human life or safety through reckless and negligent acts. The first person to give testimony in the judge-alone trial before Justice Cheryll Richards, was the prosecution’s marine accident expert from the US, Patrick Michael Neal, who told the court that GPS tracking indicated the Pepper Jelly had been travelling at 50 miles per hour when it collided with the Hurricane at 7:44pm. Neal said this level of speed, at night, while approaching shore where background lights could make it difficult to see another boat’s lights, was “reckless” and posed a danger to those on the boat and to vessels in the North Sound at the time. McDonald is accused of causing the deaths of Brown and Turner “by culpable negligence in the discharge of the duty to pilot the marine vessel Pepper Jelly with reasonable care to avoid endangering the life of other persons, in particular by navigating Pepper Jelly at dangerous and excessive speed when approaching the shore and the entrance to a channel during the hours after sunset”. In the third charge, he is accused of navigating the boat “in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life". The trial resumed as this edition of the Cayman Compass went to print; McDonald denies the charges. Tributes paid to Derek Bogle Derek Bogle, who founded his namesake Bogle Insurance Brokers in 1988, passed away on 28 Feb. His son Arthur, in a Facebook post, thanked the community for the support and the words of comfort sent to the family. He said, “As his passing sets in, all I can feel is a great emptiness. There is a void in the universe and certainly in my life and the lives of so many people that my dad loved that seems like it could never be filled. As I receive messages of condolence, it is quite overwhelming to reflect on the moments I have shared with him and all the fond memories he has left with his friends. “He was a special person who touched many with his big heart, his legendary jokes, sense of humor, and his friendship." Premier Wayne Panton and Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart were among those who offered their condolences. McTaggart, on behalf of the Progressives, said Bogle was “beloved and respected by many; and amongst the many who called him a friend are members of the Progressives family. Derek was not an overtly political person but he loved the Cayman Islands and its people. Derek adopted these islands as his home many decades ago and embraced everything about Cayman – indeed he was every bit Caymanian. These Islands are the better for his life and work and he will be missed by many. But the legacy of Derek Bogle will live on in our memories,” he told the Compass. A post on the Bogle Insurance Brokers Facebook page read, “Derek, your life has ended, but your legacy of wisdom, integrity, and courage will go on forever. We will cherish the moments that we shared, the jokes in the office and your beautiful singing voice letting us all know that ‘you did it your way’. You fought as hard as you could and we are all truly privileged to have worked with and for you. Sleep easy, Big B.” Police investigate stabbing reports prior to fatal crash Police say they are investigating reports that the person involved in a fatal car crash on 26 Feb. might have been the victim of a stabbing minutes before his vehicle hit a wall. In a brief statement issued to the Compass, a RCIPS spokesperson said, “Police are investigating information regarding a possible altercation that may have taken place immediately before the collision took place.” The statement added, “The Criminal Investigations Department and Traffic and Roads Policing Unit are working jointly on this ongoing matter and no further details can be provided at this stage in the investigation.” The single-vehicle crash occurred shortly before 1:30pm on Saturday, 26 Feb., along Mangrove Avenue in Prospect. Police say the unresponsive male driver, who is believed to have been the only person in the vehicle, had to be extricated from the car by the Fire Service. Kids' vaccines key to avoiding long isolation Avoiding prolonged quarantine and isolation periods – and the knock-on impact on children’s school and social lives – along with removing the necessity for repeated lateral flow tests are among the top reasons for parents in Cayman to consider vaccinating their 5-to-11 year olds, according to two local paediatricians. Integra Healthcare’s Dr. Sara Watkin stated that the availability of the vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 would help to remove some of these concerns from family life. She made those comments when she appeared on the Compass and Rooster 101‘s news review show ‘Beyond The Headlines’ last week. It comes as Public Health confirmed to the Compass that, as of 28 Feb., 137 children in the 5-to- 11 age range have been vaccinated thus far. Watkin stressed there were other benefits, too, including allowing children to avoid mask- wearing and to travel safely overseas and reconnect with family abroad, whom they may not have seen for several years. She cautioned that we don’t yet know if there could be another wave of the virus, which may prove a more serious threat to children. Getting vaccinated, she said, was the best way to ensure the whole family is protected. Amateur bakers sought for Platinum Jubilee In celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this year, the Governor’s Office is looking for Cayman’s best amateur bakers to participate in the ‘Cayman Platinum Cake Competition’. According to a press release, the office is looking for “talented, home bakers with tasty recipes to add to an illustrious list of royally- celebrated foods”. The winner of the baking competition will be invited to work with the chef at Government House, to recreate their masterpiece for the Queen’s Birthday Party in June. The deadline to submit entries is Sunday, 3 April. Application forms can be found online at gov.ky/jubilee/cake. Matinees (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $9.00 (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. (FRI, SUN, MON, WED, THURS) 4:25 | 6:40 (SAT) 1:50 | 4:25 | 6:40 (TUES) 4:25 | 6:40 | 9:45 DOG (PG-13) (FRI, SUN, MON, WED, THURS) 3:30 | 7:00 VIP | 10:15 (SAT) 4:00 | 7:00 VIP | 10:15 (TUES) 7:15 VIP ALGORITHMS (PG-13) (TUES ONLY) 6:00 WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK THE BATMAN (PG-13) (FRI, SUN, MON, WED, THURS) 3:30 VIP | 4:00 | 4:25 VIP | 6:30 | 7:30 VIP | 7:40 | 8:10 VIP | 9:15 (SAT) 11:45 | 12:00 VIP | 12:15 | 12:40 VIP | 3:30 VIP | 4:00 | 4:25 VIP | 6:30 | 7:30 VIP | 7:40 | 8:10 VIP | 9:15 (TUES) 3:30 VIP | 4:00 | 4:25 VIP | 7:40 | 8:10 VIP | 9:00 | 9:15 BLACKLIGHT (PG-13) UNCHARTED (PG-13) (FRI, SUN, MON, WED, THURS) 3:55 | 4:00 VIP | 7:00 | 9:30 VIP | 9:45 (SAT) 12:20 VIP | 1:15 | 3:55 | 4:00 VIP | 7:00 | 9:30 VIP | 9:45 (TUES) 3:55 | 4:00 VIP | 7:00 | 9:45 VIP KIDS CLUB SING SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (G) CLASSICS THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG TUESDAY 7PM VIP (PG-13) KIDS CLUB THE LITTLE MERMAID SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) (1989) Derek Bogle news in brief 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 30% chance of evening showers. SEA STATE Slight with a wave height of 1 to 3 feet. WINDS East to northeast at 5 to 10 knots 87°F HIGH 76°F LOW cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 4 MARCH 2022The Disney Magic cruise ship, seen here with several other vessels in George Town Harbour in 2017, will be the first ship to arrive in Cayman in two years on 21 March. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay cayman compass 3 news N news FRIDAY, 4 MARCH 2022 NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky On Monday, 21 March, the Disney Magic, with its iconic Mickey Mouse silhouette emblazoned on its funnels, is scheduled to sail into George Town Harbour, becoming the first ship to arrive here in two years. In the days following that, 20 more ships are expected to arrive. In total, the 21 ships could bring as many as 74,208 passengers to Grand Cayman. However, Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan told the Compass that while the maximum capacity for passengers is listed in the ship schedule, released on 1 March, not all ships will be carrying that many on board. “Industry trends are going towards 70-80% of capacity,” he said, “so those numbers don’t necessarily reflect the actual [passenger load].” He said once Cabinet finalises the regulations regarding the health and safety protocols for the ships, passengers and crews – likely to be done at Cabinet’s next meeting on Tuesday, 8 March. – a press conference would be held to release more detailed information. The resumption of cruise tourism in Cayman is being done in two stages, with the first phase lasting from 21 March to 17 April. In a press release announcing the cruise arrival dates, Bryan said his ministry was releasing information at this point on what ships would be arriving, and when, because he wanted to ensure that industry partners and stakeholders were provided “with as much time as possible to plan for the return of cruise passengers and prepare their operations accordingly”. He added, “Cruise tourism makes up a significant portion of our tourism industry and the return of cruise passengers will bring welcomed relief to many Caymanians who depend on this industry for their livelihoods. Every cruise call that brings passengers to our shores is helping to support Caymanian employees and business owners that have been hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.” The last ship to arrive here was on 12 March 2020, when reports of COVID-19 on cruise ships put a sudden halt to Cayman’s booming cruise tourism industry. In 2019, 1.83 million cruise passengers came to Grand Cayman. This week’s announcement of the resumption of cruise to the island is the culmination of recent talks between the Cayman Islands government and the cruise industry. Representatives from the Florida- Caribbean Cruise Association and various cruise lines were here last month for face-to-face discussions. Getting prepared To get the passengers to shore, two vital components must be in place – the port must be ready to receive the ships and tender boats must be on hand to transport the thousands of tourists from the ships to the terminals in George Town. David Carmichael, business manager of Caribbean Marine Services, which operates the tender boats that take passengers from the cruise ships to shore and back, told the Compass that staffing levels at the company means it can currently only handle about 3,000 passengers a day. “Like everyone else, we’ve been closed since 12 March 2020,” he said. “We kept on eight or nine of our crew on maintenance work.” With the government announcement that the ban on cruise ships would be lifted on 21 March, Carmichael said the company is in the process of hiring more staff, and as employee levels increase, more of its 15 tenders will return to service. “Equipment is not the problem,” he said. “Staffing is the problem.” He added that Caribbean Marine Services will have to sort out insurance, fuel supplies and staff issues before taking passengers on board its tenders. “It’s like starting a company from new,” he said. Bryan , for months, has been calling on companies that rely on the tourism industry to start staffing up – with a focus on hiring Caymanians rather than bringing back workers that had been on work permits. The tourism minister told the Compass that he believes companies have been given plenty of notice to prepare for the return of tourists, both by sea and air, and hopes the tender company will have more staff on board to operate more tenders by 21 March. Caribbean Marine Services’ large tenders are open-air vessels, unlike the smaller, enclosed boats that some cruise ships carry, so it may be easier on those tenders to maintain COVID safety protocols that are likely to be implemented for the transportation of passengers. The numbers of cruise passengers arriving into Cayman on some days in March and April look likely to far exceed 3,000 people. On 6 April, for example, which according to the Port Authority ship schedule will be the busiest day of the first phase of cruise resumption, three ships carrying up to 11,494 passengers are slated to arrive, including the Carnival Vista with a capacity of 4,977 passengers. Bryan said on days when the local tender company cannot accommodate the numbers, the ships will be requested to use their own boats. Port is ‘ready and waiting’ Meanwhile, Port Authority Director Beth McField says the port is “ready and waiting” to start accepting the ships. She said she is awaiting Cabinet’s decision on the specific protocols and arrangements that will apply to the incoming cruise liners. She also clarified that a ship schedule on the Port Authority’s website is not the finalised schedule for vessels that are expected to arrive in Cayman. The site, throughout the pandemic, has continued to run the schedule for ships that had applied to stop here long in advance of Cayman closing its borders, and each cruise ship since 12 March 2020 has been marked as a ‘missed port’ call. Cline Glidden, chairman of the Port Authority board of directors and a former tourism minister, said because of good management of human resources by McField, the current director, and Joseph Woods, the former acting director, the port did not need to add staff to welcome back cruise ships this month. “It’s common knowledge that the revenue from cruise to the port would have been significant,” Glidden said. “Without that for the past two years, the port has still been able to remain financially strong and hasn’t had to do any major layoffs. That management has been of great benefit to the country. There is no real significant upstaffing needed.” He said that the port had been ready to receive Holland America Line’s Nieuw Statendam, carrying 1,600 passengers, which had been scheduled to arrive on 28 Dec., as a trial run for the return of cruise ships. That stop was later cancelled as the more contagious Omicron COVID variant spread around the world. “We were ready to go at that stage,” Glidden said, adding that as the port was already in operation, receiving cargo, and was fully staffed, it was easier to welcome back cruise passengers than many other businesses that cater to the cruise industry. “Some of the operators, like the tenders, the taxis, the tour bus operators, ... getting insurance and getting staff back would have been very difficult for them for just one day, for one ship,” he said. CRUISE SHIP SCHEDULE – PHASE I Cruise ShipDate Maximum Passenger Capacity Disney Magic21 March 20222,700 Carnival Paradise23 March 20222,697 Carnival Sunrise23 March 20223,920 Celebrity Apex24 March 20223,385 Carnival Glory24 March 20223,806 Emerald Princess25 March 20223,092 Disney Fantasy29 March 20224,000 MSC Seashore29 March 20224,560 Celebrity Reflection30 March 20223,480 Rotterdam31 March 20222,650 Celebrity Edge1 April 20223,385 Carnival Vista6 April 20224,977 Carnival Paradise6 April 20222,697 Carnival Sunrise6 April 20223,920 Celebrity Apex7 April 20223,385 Carnival Pride8 April 20222,680 MSC Seashore12 April 20224,560 Carnival Pride12 April 20222,680 Carnival Horizon13 April 20225,101 Celebrity Edge13 April 20223,385 Celebrity Equinox17 April 20223,148 TOTAL74,208 Cruise ships to return on 21 March1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Centre of interest (5) 4 Parry (4,3) 8 Monotonous routine (3) 9 Fundamentally (2,7) 10 In a nervy state (7) 11 Little-used side road (5) 13 Ill feeling (6) 15 Member of learned society (6) 18 Fragrance (5) 19 A tedious walk (7) 21 Have required qualifications (7,2) 23 Intelligence (3) 24 Seer (7) 25 Frightening (5) DOWN 1 List of ingredients (7) 2 Allow very little margin (3,2,4) 3 Discernible change in opinion (5) 4 Garland (6) 5 Ludicrous (7) 6 Confess (3) 7 Ardent (5) 12 Self-control (9) 14 Falsehood (7) 16 To struggle (7) 17 Road lined with buildings (6) 18 Recapitulate (3,2) 20 Plentiful (5) 22 In the past (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16943 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 16943 ACROSS: 1 Focus, 4 Ward off, 8 Rut, 9 In essence, 10 Uptight, 11 Byway, 13 Animus, 15 Fellow, 18 Scent, 19 Traipse, 21 Measure up, 23 Wit, 24 Prophet, 25 Eerie. DOWN: 1 Formula, 2 Cut it fine, 3 Swing, 4 Wreath, 5 Risible, 6 Own, 7 Fiery, 12 Willpower, 14 Untruth, 16 Wrestle, 17 Street, 18 Sum up, 20 Ample, 22 Ago. FRIDAY, 4 MARCH 2022 How disappointing it is to see the development on Little Cayman was approved. The good news is the overwater cottages have been denied. Further development will destroy the habitat and charm of Little Cayman. Seven Mile Beach continues to be overbuilt. How unfortunate it is, compared to 25 years ago. I feel for the Caymanian people, the cost of living is out of sight. As a frequent visitor to Grand Cayman, the reason my family has returned for years is the friendly, lovely people we have met on our visits and the beauty of the island. Robert Gartelman Has common sense gone out the window? I had to laugh when I read that the Cayman Islands are soon going to allow cruises to come back, and allowing people to disembark. What is concerning to me is that the government still has not [recognised] natural immunity [in] those of us that have had COVID. Furthermore, and more importantly, those that are unvaccinated must still quarantine for seven days. Who can promise that a person on a cruise could at anytime while disembarking in another country, [not] catch COVID and be a carrier? It is a fact that everyone, regardless of being vaccinated or unvaccinated, will or can catch Omicron. It is also a fact that Omicron can be very mild and the person may not know [they have it]. In fact, we caught COVID from a fully vaccinated individual. It is unfortunate that the Cayman Islands can continue [to] disregard those of us that have been coming to the islands for a great number of years. There are many that have moved on to other destinations and sadly will remember the good times, before the government determined that we, the unvaccinated, with full immunity, are continuously shunned. Isn’t it time you stop with the fear and live and let live? Michelle Fick Cayman should accept visitors with ‘natural immunity’ Dismayed by approval of Little Cayman resort What they’re saying Online Letters to the editor Domestic violence victim wins right to fight to stay in Cayman I don’t necessarily agree with this decision. If the basis for the perma- nent residency is a relationship and that relationship no longer exists (for whatever reason), the permanent residency should be revoked. That said, the domestic abusers, if found guilty, should face the maximum available punishment under the law. There is no excuse for physical violence in a domestic relationship. – Bruce Smith I am amazed at the people who assume she was in the marriage for [residency] papers. I agree she should have the opportunity to remain and deal with her circumstances. – Laurie L Welcome And so she should be allowed to stay. Deport the husband to Russia so he can join Putin. – Graham Pfeil 10,600 work permits deferred over last 10 months So sad. So many businesses have been desperate to hire but cannot get interested candidates They managed to hang on during COVID-19 restrictions and now their efforts will go up in smoke. So many will lose what little they have left. – Regina Ecclefield It will be interesting to see exactly what they are offering as jobs to Caymanians. We all know that when they hire foreigners, some companies abuse their employees by holding that work permit over their heads; that is why they rather employ foreign- ers. God knows, we have all heard the horror stories. Government needs to have a task force to ensure they are all complying with the labour laws – whether they are Caymanian companies or foreign-owned. Straight across the board. – Della J. Watler-Marte If people want to work; let them show up! And show interest! That’s all. I won’t go on. But I could. – George Ebanks It would be great if employers could view the profiles of candi- dates, making it a fluid process. It is rare to receive any applications from Jobs Cayman. – Lisa Small So that means no Caymanian should be jobless as we speak. – Iamskye Chelsea Interfering in the labour force, without cause, seems like a waste of time and money for all involved. If there are so many jobs, why are stipends continued to be paid? Perhaps because the jobseekers do not want those jobs, do not like the compensation for those jobs. Perhaps they are not equally qualified, perhaps they are waiting for a tourism/hospitality resurgence? Jobseekers have their choice of what to pursue. The default position should not be deny/defer. If there is cause to investigate, please do so, but do not make decisions based on feelings over facts. – Scott Ebanks-Bodden 21 ships to arrive in first month of cruise resumption It’s all about the head-tax rev- enue, not about keeping Cayman safe, unless they have a negative test before they set foot on land. Let’s see how this plays out. So much for a graduated return to this. – Wanda Viscount I board a ship in Miami on Sat- urday. We set sail that evening. We are at sea all day Sunday. We arrive in Grand Cayman on Monday. Let me see... I took a COVID test one day before boarding the ship, so by the time I disembark at the first port of call (Cayman) it will have been three days since my negative COVID test. If I fly to Grand Cayman I must get a travel certificate from Travel Cayman and provide proof of a negative COVID test one day before arriving on-island. If for some reason my flight gets delayed and I am rescheduled on a flight the following day, I am required to get a new COVID test. You can’t make this stuff up. – Beth Freeman I was really hoping we wouldn’t see another cruise ship here. We don’t need this. Our environment won’t last with it. Sad news – Fiona Moseley That would be an average week 2+ years ago. Let’s not get back to those figures please! – Andrew Bodden Do cruise ship tourists really spend much money there? I was on Grand Cayman one day and hardly spent a dime. Then we had to be back on the ship at 5pm to sail away. Dinner was on the ship. – Barbara Chapman Cudney With all the COVID-19 restric- tions, I am waiting another year. Cruise ships are going to spoil the progress that was made for your environment. – Bud Harris What a shame. Too bad you couldn’t put some limits on it. – Carolyn Fenn cayman compass 4 news N newsCar rental companies sell out as tourism ramps up JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky For the past two years, Rosa Harris has had one of the most diffi cult jobs in tourism – marketing the Cayman Islands to people who couldn’t come here. The Department of Tourism was in the midst of its elaborate ‘Dream in Cayman’ campaign when the pandemic struck, the airport closed and the islands locked down. At that time, the messaging out of Cayman “went dark”, says Harris, the islands’ director of tourism. No one could travel and the world’s focus was almost entirely consumed by the pandemic, so it made sense, she says, to keep the marketing dollars for another day. The challenge, as travel resumed elsewhere and Cayman remained closed, was to keep the islands in people’s minds at a time when they could not visit. The marketing slogan quickly evolved from ‘We will be reunited’ to ‘Cayman is worth the wait’ – campaigns that sought to keep the destination in travellers’ hearts and minds while they remained largely barred from entry. Since the announcement of government’s fi ve-stage reopening plan last year, the catchphrase has been ‘Prepare for departure’. It was a tricky balance, says Harris, to entice people to Cayman without stoking frustrations about the rules of entry. While some were willing to negotiate the paperwork and testing requirements, the feedback from others was, “We want a holiday, not homework.” Government’s decision to drop its post-arrival testing regime, announced on 17 Feb., signifi cantly changes the dynamic, lifting one of the key barriers to tourism’s return. So, is it now simply a matter of rolling out the welcome mat and letting the sun, sea and sand speak for itself? Not quite, says Harris. From boomers to resilient travellers A sophisticated targeted marketing campaign takes time to put together, and Cayman is still computing the consequences of COVID for its key markets. Baby boomers, in the most vulnerable age bracket for the virus, may be more reticent to travel, she cautions. And the appetite for overseas vacations among families with young children – another key group for Cayman – may also have declined amid the risks from COVID and the limited availability of vaccines for that age group. The strategy, for now, is focussing on wealthy and ‘resilient’ travellers – a new industry buzzword for those who are willing to navigate inconvenience for a priority destination. That’s a pivot for Cayman, that acknowledges the possible loss of previously loyal repeat customers. “We have, in the time that we were locked down, lost legacy business from families that came here every year and booked for the next year before they checked out,” Harris acknowledges. Turks and Caicos, which was quick to reopen after the pandemic, may have picked up some custom from Cayman. Over the longer term, Harris believes those customers will come back. But diversifying the islands’ visitor base to include younger travellers, in search of experience or the dazzling backdrop to the perfect selfi e, is part of the strategy. The fi lm and television industry and sports tourism are seen as key niche markets that have potential to expand. New frontiers There have been some curious sponsorship agreements announced – with Portsmouth NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Finding a rental car in Cayman at the moment can be challenging, as the islands’ border reopening brings in an infl ux of tourists who are snapping up vehicles. Calls to all the major rental fi rms on island over the weekend found that most were unable to supply vehicles at short notice, as their cars were booked. Since Cayman eased restrictions on unvaccinated children visiting here, lifted a requirement for post-arrival COVID testing and welcomed back fl ights from more US airlines, planes fi lled with tourists have been landing, and those passengers are looking for vehicles in which to explore the island. Jordyn Foster, manager of Avis, said the company had seen a big increase in the number of tourists renting cars, to the point where there have been weeks recently when the stock was sold out, including this week. “There’s been a pretty big infl ux already,” Foster said. “Once [restrictions] are dropped completely, we should start to see it building back up even more.” She said some of the bookings were being made at short notice and, in some cases, “people have been calling every week for the past two years” to check on bookings they made in 2020 and had been unable to take up. Almost as soon as government lifted the regulations that curtailed families with young children who could not get vaccinated from travelling here, the numbers of people booking cars started growing, Foster said. Supply chain issues During the pandemic, the company, as it does regularly, had fl eet sales, selling some of its car inventory, but it also brought new vehicles on island. “We watched the whole situation and we timed it accordingly. We’re doing OK with our fl eet, and we’ve purchased more cars,” Foster said, though she acknowledged that Avis, like others, is experiencing some supply chain issues. In the past, Avis has rented cars on a daily basis to cruise tourists who take vehicles to explore the island during the hours they are on shore. With the return of cruise tourists on the horizon, Foster said the company would assess if it would resume that service. Over at Hertz, general manager Joshua Richards says business is “booming”. “We’re pretty much sold out for March The challenge, as travel resumed elsewhere and Cayman remained closed, was to keep the islands in people’s minds at a time when they could not visit . Rosa Harris, director of tourism PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 21» PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 21» Cayman continued its marketing campaigns to attract visitors to the islands even while the borders were closed. This image was part of the 'Dream in Cayman' campaign. Selling Cayman: Tourism’s marketing machine restarts cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 4 MARCH 2022 5Cayman currently has one solar farm in Bodden Town. CUC is planning at least six more, to kick start the island's renewable energy transition. JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Caribbean Utilities Company hopes to build as many as six major solar farms in an effort to slash Cayman’s carbon emissions, meet renewable energy targets and cut the cost of electricity. Sacha Tibbetts, vice president of CUC, said it was time to “press go” on the island’s energy transition, arguing it will save millions of dollars. There has been some scepticism about Cayman’s ability to meet ambitious goals of deriving 70% of its power from renewable sources within 15 years. But Tibbetts said those goals are realistic and argues that large- scale solar can make the biggest, swiftest gains without negatively impacting the environment. Utilities regulator OfReg is about to begin rolling out a series of auctions for renewable power projects and CUC plans to be heavily involved in the bidding process. Tibbetts said the company is eager to get started. “If we could have just gone ahead and done it, we would have reached the national energy goals by now,” he said, referring to the national target that 70% of the island’s power supply should come from renewable sources. The current ratio is less than 5% but Tibbetts said a single project could move the needle significantly. OfReg has been debating the best means to procure energy supply contracts for some time, ultimately deciding on a competitive auction process that allows qualified bidders to vie for projects. Tibbetts said CUC, in its Integrated Resource Management Plan, had indicated 140 MW of renewable energy would be needed by 2037. Cayman currently has one 5MW solar farm. He hopes the bidding process will begin this year and that work can start soon after, on what is likely to be the first of several $100 million projects. Tibbetts acknowledged CUC would likely have competition for power supply contracts, but said the company aims to be a big part of the island’s energy transition. If successful in its bid, he said the company had a long-term vision that could include as many as six 150-acre solar farms, each supplying somewhere between 20MW and 40MW of power. Environmental impact not a concern Addressing concerns that utility-scale solar projects eat up valuable land, he said six solar farms would take up less total area than the airport. Citing a Department of Environment survey that indicated there are around 1,500 acres of undeveloped land across Grand Cayman that are not considered environmentally sensitive, Tibbetts said this was more than double what would be needed. He said all solar farms would be subject to the usual planning process and insisted CUC would not do anything to impact important ecological land. He added that the company had been running a mangrove education programme for schoolchildren for two decades and would not do anything that negatively affected important habitat. Tibbetts insisted there was room for expansion of both solar farms and smaller scale rooftop solar, known as distributed energy. He said CUC was currently increasing its battery storage capacity, which will grow further as utility-scale solar farms, with on-site batteries, are developed. That should provide more capacity for schemes like the CORE programme, which facilitates homeowners putting solar panels on their roofs. While wind and other forms of renewable energy are in the mix, CUC is firmly focussed on solar, believing it has the best potential for the quickest gains, said Tibbetts. “One project could be significant enough to reduce our fuel usage by 10%, which would reduce our CO2 emissions by 10%. “It is just a matter of saying go and we are ready to go.” He reiterated CUC’s analysis that solar is now significantly cheaper than fossil fuel- generated energy. “If you can generate 50% of your energy from a source that is 30% or 40% cheaper than diesel, that is potentially millions of dollars in savings. “Every day we don’t press go, that is thousands of dollars we are losing in potential savings.” Sacha Tibbetts of CUC argues that solar farms do not eat up as much land as some believe. CUC reveals ambition for six solar farms “If we could have just gone ahead and done it, we would have reached the national energy goals by now.” Sacha Tibbetts, CUC vice president 70% The target for renewable energy by 2037 cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 4 MARCH 2022 6cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 4 MARCH 2022 Aetna, Cayman First, CG BritCay, CINICO and Pan American Life Insurance Group (PALIG) include Baptist Health in their insurance plans. In addition to the above insurance carriers, BAF Insurance and Vanguard Risk Solutions are accepted locally at Baptist Health PET & CT Imaging Center in Grand Cayman. For more information or to schedule an appointment contact: BaptistHealth.ky 345-749-3304 BHICayman@BaptistHealth.net What matters most is your health. Be proactive about it. JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky A domestic violence victim who faces having her permanent residence revoked after the breakdown of her marriage has won an injunction allowing her to remain in Cayman and fi ght to stay here permanently. Anneisha Thomas, 43, from Jamaica, separated from her Caymanian husband after she reported him to police and he was jailed for three months for various offences against her. As a result of the separation, she lost her right to live and work in Cayman. Last week, lawyers acting for Thomas brought emergency proceedings to the Grand Court to prevent her from being forced to leave the islands, while they prepare a human rights challenge on her behalf. They plan to challenge a section of the Immigration Act which states anyone who has a Residency and Employment Rights Certifi cate as a result of marriage automatically forfeits those rights if the marriage breaks down, regardless of the circumstances. That lack of fl exibility is incompatible with various human rights guaranteed under the Cayman Constitution, lawyers for HSM Chambers argue. The Bill of Rights petition has yet to be fi led, but the substance of the argument was outlined by Thomas’ lawyers in a successful appeal forLegal Aid last month. And they won an early victory in the case on 24 Feb., when Acting Justice Alistair Walters agreed to a temporary injunction so Thomas could remain in Cayman to fi ght her corner. The judge quashed the decision of the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board to revoke her Residency and Employment Rights Certifi cate, pending the outcome of the larger case. ‘Current law discourages reporting of domestic violence’ Alastair David, representing Thomas, argued that the decision of the board, and the law that it was based on, impacted Thomas’ right to a private life and her right to freedom from discrimination. He added that the Act discouraged victims of domestic violence from leaving their abusive spouses due to fear of losing their immigration status. In that context, it could be seen as breaching the Cayman Islands’ obligation to protect victims of domestic violence, he said. According to a statement this week from HSM Chambers, Justice Walters accepted that there was a serious issue to be tried between the parties, and the balance of convenience favoured quashing the decision of the board pending a full hearing on the matter. A writ seeking a declaration of incompatibility and a permanent injunction allowing Thomas to stay in Cayman will be fi led shortly, HSM said. The court’s decision could impact other similar cases. HSM said in its statement that it would make sense for the board to refrain from revoking any permanent residency certifi cates under the contested section of the Act until the case had been decided. Lawyers for Anneisha Thomas argue that the law, as currently written, incentivises women not to report domestic violence and to stay in abusive relationships. - Photo: File Abused wife wins right to fi ght to stay in Caymancayman compass 8 FRIDAY, 4 MARCH 2022 Under New Ownership You now have global backing added to your local banking experience. Join us in celebrating the much-anticipated announcement of our acquisition by PROVEN Investments Limited following regulatory approval. This new chapter positions us exceedingly well for continued desirable service and growth. Under new ownership, Fidelity Bank (Cayman) Limited will continue to serve you and meet your day-to-day banking needs. www.fidelitygroup.com/caymanislands If you have any questions about the announcement, contact us at: info@fidelitycayman.com or 345-949-7822 Fidelity.CaymanFidelityBankCaymanFidelity Bank (Cayman) Limitedcayman compass 9 news N news FRIDAY, 4 MARCH 2022 MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky Nothing says Russian billionaire like a Cayman-flagged superyacht. Some of these Russian-owned luxury ships will soon be permanently anchored or find themselves on the run from authorities in some Pacific archipelago. On Wednesday, 2 March, France seized the Cayman-registered 88-metre Amore Vero, a yacht allegedly linked to Igor Sechin, the head of Russian oil- giant Rosneft, in the Mediterranean port of La Ciotat. The French finance ministry said the yacht was owned by an entity of which Sechin was the main shareholder. According to website vesselfinder.com, the Amore Vero is owned by Monaco-based Kazimo Trade & Invest Ltd. Also on Wednesday, German authorities confiscated the Cayman-registered, 156-metre, $600 million Dilbar belonging to Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov in a Hamburg shipyard, according to a report by Forbes. German authorities so far deny the ship has been impounded. Hamburg’s port authority said no yacht had been seized, but added that no yachts were leaving port that were not allowed to do so. German customs declined to comment, according to media reports. EU sanctions Usmanov, the owner of industrial holding company USM, is, like Sechin, on the European Union Russia sanctions list. The list is targeting wealthy Russians with ties to the regime of President Vladimir Putin in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The EU added Usmanov to the sanctions list on Monday, 28 Feb., together with 25 other wealthy Russian individuals, who are now subject to a travel ban and will see their European assets frozen. Usmanov also has various properties dotted around Europe, including a historic mansion in London, three villas at Lake Tergern in southern Germany, and other luxury homes in Switzerland, Monaco and Sardinia. His yacht Dilbar has been in the Hamburg shipyard of Blohm+Voss for a refit since October. Vesselfinder.com identifies the owner of the Cayman-registered Dilbar as Klaret Continental Leasing Ltd., a subsidiary of the Klaret Group, which Usmanov reportedly controls. Cayman is the world’s preferred flag state for ultra-large yachts. More than 80% of yachts that are longer than 80 metres are registered in the islands. In the superyacht segment of vessels that are longer than 30 metres, Cayman ranks second in the world. These superyachts almost never visit the Cayman Islands and are generally indirectly owned. They are typically held by a special purpose vehicle or leasing company. One advantage of registering a yacht in Cayman is that there is no value added tax or duty due on the sale of a vessel. In other flag states, VAT alone can be as high as 15% to 25% of the purchase price. German business newspaper Handelsblatt reported that shipbuilders Blohm+Voss had stopped work on two other yachts, the Marshall Islands-flagged Luna and the Maltese-flagged Solandge, in addition to the Dilbar. Search for yachts continues But a yacht allegedly tied to Putin – the 80-metre Russia-flagged Graceful – left the German yard on 7 Feb. and is now docked in Kaliningrad in Russia. The search for yachts tied to Russian billionaires started as soon as sanctions lists were issued last week. The White House said in a tweet on 26 Feb., “This coming week, we will launch a multilateral Transatlantic task force to identify, hunt down, and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russian companies and oligarchs – their yachts, their mansions, and any other ill-gotten gains that we can find and freeze under the law.” Spanish maritime authorities requested information from ports and marinas in the country on all Russian-owned yachts anchored there. They found that the 78-metre mega- yacht Tango, which flies the flag of the Cook Islands and is owned by billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, is docked for repairs at a shipyard in Mallorca. The UK, on the other hand, has banned all Russian shipping from British ports. This might be because the UK government is struggling to enforce sanctions against Russian oligarchs. The Times newspaper reported on Thursday, 3 March, that the UK government is finding it difficult to prove reasonable grounds for asset freezes and seizures under current legislation and is now seeking to change the law. Many Russian owners saw the writing on the wall and ordered their ships to set sail out of European marinas to move them out of reach of European and US authorities. Five Russian oligarch-owned superyachts are currently moored off Malé, the capital of the Maldives, data from ship-tracking websites confirms. At least three of the yachts are Cayman-flagged: Oleg Deripraska’s Clio, Alexey Mordashov’s Nord and Vladimir Potanin’s Nirvana. Russia sanctions Cayman-flagged superyachts a prime target Cayman is the world’s preferred flag state for ultra- large yachts. More than 80% of yachts that are longer than 80 metres are registered in the islands. In the superyacht segment of vessels that are longer than 30 metres, Cayman ranks second in the world. German authorities confiscated the Cayman-registered, 156-metre, $600 million Dilbar belonging to Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov in a Hamburg shipyard, according to a report by Forbes. Billionaire Alexey Mordashov’s Nord yacht is among five owned by Russian oligarchs that are currently moored off Male, the Maldives capital.Next >