Cayman Compass - 1 April, 2022

cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 1-7 April 2022 Rampant inﬂ ation and ﬂ uctuating fuel costs Pages 8 & 15 Young activists seek action on climate change Page 7 Free Family Fishing Clinic Saturday & Sunday, April 2-3, 12pm-4pm, GTYC Barcadere Marina An excellent introduction for anyone to sport fishing, please come join us on either day. A mini kid‘s fishing tournament will be held at the marina each day so participants can try their newly acquired skills! WHAT LIES BENEATH Stark warnings about the future of Cayman's reefs Page 16 Photo: Alvaro SereyMatinees (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. AMBULANCE (R) (FRI, MON-THURS) 8:45 VIP | 9:50 (SAT) 3:40 | 8:45 VIP | 9:50 ATTACK PT1 (PG) (FRI, SUN -THURS) 3:50 | 6:50 (SAT) 12:45 | 3:50 | 6:50 FIRE HEART (PG-13) (FRI -THURS) 3:30 | 6:20 MORBIOUS (PG-13) (FRI, MON, WED & THURS) 4:00 | 4:20 VIP | 6:45 | 7:00 | 9:30 | 9:40 VIP (SAT) 12:45 VIP | 1:00 | 4:20 | 6:45 | 7:00 VIP | 9:30 | 9:40 VIP (SUN) 4:00 | 4:20 VIP | 6:45 | 7:00 VIP | 9:30 | 9:40 VIP | 10:00 (TUES) 4:20 VIP | 6:45 | 9:30 | 10:10 VIP THE BAD GUYS (FRI, SUN-THURS) 3:45 | 4:20 | 6:15 VIP (SAT) 1:00 | 1:15 VIP | 3:45 VIP | 4:20 |6:15VIP THE BAT MAN (FRI, MON - THURS) 3:30 | 7:00 | 7:30VIP | 9:00 (SAT) 12:30 VIP | 12:35 | 3:30 VIP | 7:00 | 7:30 VIP | 9:00 (SUN) 3:30 VIP | 7:00 | 7:30 VIP | 8:45 VIP | 9:00 WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK KIDS CLUB BAMBI SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (G) KIDS CLUB ENCHANTED SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) CLASSICS AIR FORCE ONE 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 BIRCHGILLIES weather Friday Forecast FORECAST Partly cloudy skies with a 40% chance of showers. SEA STATE Moderate to rough with a wave height of 4 to 6 feet. Small craft should exercise caution over open water WINDS Green activists call for action on climate change 88°F HIGH 75°F LOW Former legislator Benson O. Ebanks dies Former West Bay lawmaker Benson O. Ebanks has died. Premier Wayne Panton announced Ebanks’ passing in a statement on 30 March, praising the former Member of the Legislative Assembly’s “contributions to our country’s development across private, public and civic life”. “He embodied the truest essence of being Caymanian and will be sorely missed”, the premier said in the statement. Ebanks served as Minister for Health, Education and Social Services from 1969 to 1976 and then was Minister for Education, Social Services and the Environment from 1984 to 1992. A “stalwart champion of education and higher learning”, Ebanks helped to establish the Sunrise Adult Learning Centre. The government-operated centre offers integrated services and programmes for adults with a broad range of special needs. Ebanks began his banking career working for Barclays Bank in 1954. A founding shareholder of Cayman National Bank, he served as chairman of the board from its inception in 1974 until 2010. Ebanks held a long and distinguished career in banking and was instrumental in Cayman National establishing a presence in Cayman Brac. In 2016, the Brac branch was dedicated in his honour. Ebanks helped charter the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman in 1966, and was the ﬁ rst chairman of the National Council of Voluntary Organisations (now the National Children’s Voluntary Organisation). Flags ﬂ ew at half-mast on 30 March at all government sites, and will again be lowered for two days before Ebanks’ funeral, which has not yet been announced. Bodden Town man arrested for Spotts Beach attack Police have arrested a 57-year-old Bodden Town man in connection with an alleged assault on a woman at Spotts Beach on 21 March. In a brief statement to the Cayman Compass on 25 March, police conﬁ rmed the man was apprehended around 3pm the previous day. He was arrested for causing fear and provocation of violence and common assault, in relation to the incident, police said. The man has since been released on bail, as investigations continue. In an exclusive interview, published in last week’s Compass, Jolene Nelson-Henry shared her experience and details of the encounter that left her terriﬁ ed. She said that she and her two friends were at the beach when they were intimidated and attacked. She also released video footage of the alleged assault. Man arrested on suspicion of running cockﬁ ghting ring Police have arrested an East End man on various offences related to what appeared to be a cockﬁ ghting operation at a residence on John McLean Drive. He was taken into custody on Sunday, 27 March, on suspicion of cruelty to animals and possession of ganja with intent to supply. Ofﬁ cers from the eastern districts “had cause” to attend the residence and “observed the gathering of a crowd and what appeared to be illegal sale of liquor and illegal animals (fowls) ﬁ ghting matches”, according to a Royal Cayman Islands Police Service press release. After searching the area, police found cages with roosters and other chickens, some shaved and groomed, and others wearing spurs, the release said. In addition, police found two more roosters in a ﬁ ghting ring with injuries. The police called in the Animal Welfare Unit of the Department of Agriculture which assisted the ofﬁ cers by recovering 17 roosters, believed to have been used in illegal cockﬁ ghting. During the police operation, the RCIPS said the people at the location “became aggressive towards the ofﬁ cers and a larger crowd also began to gather”. Ofﬁ cers also recovered “ganja in individual packages, as well as other items associated with cockﬁ ghting” and seized a “signiﬁ cant quantity of alcohol”. The man, 55, was also warned for intended prosecution in relation to offences committed under the Liquor Licensing Act. Turtle Centre employee asks that $300K theft trial move to Grand Court A former Cayman Turtle Centre employee, Rachel Ann Naomi Ebanks, who is accused of stealing more than $300,000, has asked that charges be transferred to the Grand Court. Ebanks has been charged with two counts of theft and one count of false accounting. The charges stem from allegations that Ebanks, between 1 Aug. 2014 and 18 June 2018, stole US$288,203.54 and CI$82,299.78 from the Turtle Centre. “You are also alleged to have dishonestly and with a view to gain for [yourself] or others or with intent to cause loss to another, concealed and falsiﬁ ed Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre Ltd records and documents for accounting purposes,” read Chief Magistrate Valdis Foldats as he presented the charges to Ebanks. The nature of the charges that Ebanks faces can be dealt with either in Summary Court or in Grand Court, where she can be tried by a jury of her peers, should she plead not guilty to the charges. Although Ebanks chose to have the charges sent to the Grand Court, she did not enter any pleas. According to court ﬁ les, the alleged theft is said to have come to light when KPMG auditors noticed bank statements did not correspond with the Turtle Centre’s ledgers. She was released on bail and will be appearing before the Grand Court in the coming weeks, at which time she is expected to enter a plea. EIA paused for ReGen project at George Town landﬁ ll Work on the Environmental Impact Assessment for the multi-million dollar ReGen project at the George Town landﬁ ll is on hold, Department of Environment Director Gina Ebanks-Petrie has said. Ebanks-Petrie, speaking at a National Conservation Council meeting on 23 March, said the project has been paused as government continues its discussions with the Dart-led DECCO consortium to ﬁ nalise the ﬁ nancial close for the project. “We were informed several months ago now (the project) has been put on pause while the parties to the public-private partnership that is ReGen, that sort of encapsulates the whole project… they need to sort out some issues and some contractual issues. So whilst that discussion is going on, the EIA has been paused. So we’re basically waiting for that to resume,” she told the Council. Last month, Auditor General Sue Winspear conﬁ rmed to the Cayman Compass that her ofﬁ ce was carrying out an audit review of the contract between government and a Dart consortium on the stalled ReGen project. news in brief Benson O. Ebanks- Photo: Cayman Islands National Archive Photographic Collections, via Facebook, Ofﬁ ce Of The Premier Police and DoA welfare ofﬁ cers seized 17 roosters believed to have been used in illegal cockﬁ ghting. Some of the roosters were discovered wearing spurs. – Photo: RCIPS cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 1 APRIL 2022cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 1 APRIL 2022FRIDAY, 1 APRIL 2022 www.millerschool.orgCo-Educational Boarding School for Grades 8-12 JOIN US Meet Miller School of Albemarle’s Head of School and learn more about American boarding schools. In partnership with Dorm & Day, this event will help you find the right fit for boarding school and introduce you to one of America’s premier coeducational boarding schools located in beautiful Virginia. WEDNESDAY 6TH APRIL 6:30-8:30 PM (PRESENTATION AT 7:00 PM) COMPASS LOFT, SHEDDEN ROAD, GEORGE TOWN, GRAND CAYMAN RSVP REQUIRED: admin@dormandday.ky 345.936.36761234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Exclusive social class (5) 4 Brass wind instrument (7) 8 Equal status (3) 9 Without speaking (2,7) 10 Cover up (7) 11 Espouse (5) 13 Dried reed roof-covering (6) 15 Ancient Japanese religion (6) 18 Short literary sketch (5) 19 Without previous thought (7) 21 Under intense strain (2,3,4) 23 Earth’s atmosphere (3) 24 Ornamental shrub-clipping (7) 25 Mass meeting of supporters (5) DOWN 1 Slavish imitator (7) 2 Using force (6-3) 3 Select group (5) 4 Struggle (6) 5 Let loose (7) 6 Write (3) 7 Negotiate (5) 12 Useless (2,2,5) 14 Dangerous infectious disease (7) 16 Methodically arranged (7) 17 Gypsy (6) 18 Power of effective action (5) 20 Itinerant Hindu ascetic (5) 22 Piece of advice (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 16967 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 16967 ACROSS: 1 Caste, 4 Trumpet, 8 Par, 9 In silence, 10 Conceal, 11 Adopt, 13 Thatch, 15 Shinto, 18 Cameo, 19 Offhand, 21 On the rack, 23 Air, 24 Topiary, 25 Rally. DOWN: 1 Copycat, 2 Strong-arm, 3 Elite, 4 Tussle, 5 Unleash, 6 Pen, 7 Treat, 12 Of no avail, 14 Cholera, 16 Orderly, 17 Romany, 18 Clout, 20 Fakir, 22 Tip. Conservation and planning boards court showdown set for June Seven Mile Beach, if not already, should be given protected and heritage status. Owned by nobody, not to be built on, obstructed or abused by developers. Walls or concrete should be made to be kept back at least 100 feet from the water’s edge. – Marion Webb Looking forward to this. Some- thing has to be done with the plan- ning board. They are out of their minds or just plain stupid! – Jenna Nixon Research project investigates Cayman’s food security We are screwed the day we stop receiving shipments of food from abroad. We should have and should’ve had long ago, the ability to feed our people at the very least. Instead of clearing land to build skyscrapers, and luxury condo complexes, use the land to farm! Cayman has good soil! The ability to go pick a mango and eat sounds great to me vs a concrete brick. Anyone in PACT government ever ate a concrete brick before? – Jared Bush ReGen EIA paused Meanwhile, the mountain of rubbish continues to grow ever larger and still no effective recycling programme in place. You may put this ‘on hold’ but the problem is never going to go away. It is only going to get worse. Tick tock, tick tock… – Clare Marshall They got to revise the pack- age the previous administration had on the table. – Gerald Bush How long has this can been kicked down the road? – Patrick Murphy Protect Our Future activists call for action on climate change Really proud of our young people for standing up for their future and trying to get support for a more environmentally sustainable future pathway for our islands. I really hope the powers that be will listen and will take action to pre- serve and protect the beauty we are privileged to enjoy here, for future generations. – Sarah Dyer I think it’s important to encourage our young people to participate in issues that are important to them, and to listen to their concerns. After all, it is they who will contend with the impact of our choices today, in the future. I think we can also acknowl- edge that their experiences and privileges allow them the space to engage in this way, while others may have more immediate ‘basic needs not being met’ concerns. This is not an either/or but rather an AND situation, and everyone can choose to be a part of the solution, in whatever way we can be right now. – Jacqueline Leticia Ebanks We need more intelligent arguments when discussing climate change. This is not it. Lo- cal environmental issues should not be conflated with the global phenomenon of climate change. – James Bodden Police urge drivers to be ‘more responsible’ I’m sure ‘more responsible’ driving would help tremendous- ly! Problem is the irresponsible are not going to read what the police are ‘calling for’! The only real hope is more [and] consistent enforcement! – Dean Miller Not good news for our island visitors to hear. – Robert Harrold I was driving to work recently and there was a large SUV liter- ally sitting on my back bumper. Obviously, I was not going fast enough (e.g. speeding) for him so he overtook and I watched him weave in and out, thinking to myself he will cause an accident. Then, further up the road that same car – yep, in an accident. – Pauline Lambert They need more unmarked police traffic cars on the road. Speeding is the main reason for such a high number of accidents. – Garth Mckenzie This is evidence that not everyone that comes to Cayman should be allowed to drive and not every Caymanian should have a car. Public transport system needed badly. – Charles S. Whittaker One big problem I see constantly is some drivers don’t know they have to use their blinkers when they are moving from left to right. Blinkers are used to let other drivers know your intentions. – Zena Rochester I was behind a woman this week who was driving while putting on her makeup. I was also behind another woman who had a child standing and walking around on the back seat of her vehicle instead of being secured in a child seat. I am also seeing a lot of vehicles with expired registrations. – Bruce Smith pic of the week Botanic Park’s iconic blue iguana statue beheaded What they’re saying Online The iconic blue iguana statue that greets visitors to the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park has been badly damaged with its head removed. Luke Harding, Blue Iguana Conservation programme manager, who is based at the park, said he made the startling discovery on Sunday, 27 March. Calling the statue “a symbol that this is the home of the blue iguana” and “an irreplaceable piece of art”, he said, “that’s something we’re all really upset about here at the park and the blue iguana project”. Noting Cayman’s “amazing” pieces of artwork, natural places and historic buildings, he added the damage to the statue was “really sad and we should be protective of what we have”. Harding is encouraging anyone with information on the vandalism to contact the police or the Botanic Park (947-9462). “Please say something and help us discourage people from doing this sort of thing in the future.” cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 1 APRIL 2022ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Governor Martyn Roper has welcomed a Grand Court ruling in his favour, which declared he was right to have used his reserved power, granted to him by the Cayman Islands Constitution, to enact civil partnership legislation in Cayman. In a judgment, posted directly to the court’s website on Monday, 28 March, Justice Richard Williams stated that, although the law in question was domestic in nature, there were external human rights obligations tied to it; and the failure of Cayman’s lawmakers to enact civil partnership legislation placed the jurisdiction in breach of those rights. “I am satisfied when reviewing the Constitution as a whole that the responsibility for compliance with the obligation in the [European Convention on Human Rights], one so clearly expressed by the Court of Appeal, falls within external affairs and is a special responsibility,” wrote Williams. In a statement released by the Governor's Office, Roper responded, “The judgment confirms that passing the legislation was within the scope of my responsibility for external affairs as set out in s.55 of the Constitution.” It goes on, “I am pleased that the Judgment provides welcome certainty for those couples who have relied on the [Civil Partnership Act] to date as well as those looking to do so in the future.” Echoing the governor’s comments, LGBTQ+ activist group Colours Caribbean endorsed the judgment and stated that it now provides a means for all minorities in Cayman to “have an effective remedy for declared breaches of their human rights under the ECHR”. “Parliament does not have the choice of whether to comply or not – it has only the choice of the remedy by which to redress the breach. Failure by Parliament to provide a remedy – as it did on 29 July 2020 – will result in the need for The Governor to rely upon his reserved powers,” reads the statement. The judicial review, filed by Kattina Anglin, asked two questions, which were whether the reserved power, granted to the governor by section 81 of the Constitution, gives him the right to enact legislation, and, if so, to what extent; or, whether the Constitution limits such powers to Cayman’s Parliament. When arriving at this decision, Williams said he took into account that, when the 2009 Cayman Islands Constitution was being drafted, both the Cayman Islands and UK delegations sought to have a legislative document with checks and balances that would enable Cayman’s lawmakers to govern themselves, while allowing the UK to retain oversight on some matters. In his judgment, Williams also noted that, through the Civil Partnership Act, the governor provided same-sex couples with a form of legal protection which the Court of Appeal had urged Cayman’s legislators to bring about “expeditiously”. His judgment goes on: “Therefore, the Governor having ensured that the checks and balances set out in s.81 of the Constitution were followed, was entitled to exercise his reserved power and enact the [Civil Partnership Act]. I am satisfied that the Governor has not acted contrary to the Constitution or other Laws in force in the Cayman Islands.” In September 2020, when Anglin first filed the judicial review, she requested that the court rule Roper’s actions were outside of the scope of his power and to quash the legislation. By ruling in favour of the governor, Williams has upheld both the Civil Partnership Act and the package of associated changes to other laws, necessary for it to function. It comes after the UK’s Privy Council ruled earlier this month that Cayman’s Constitution does not provide a right for same-sex marriage. The Cayman Compass reached out to Anglin seeking comment on the ruling, and whether she intended to appeal the decision. No reply had been received by press time. Governor welcomes court ruling in favour of reserved power use Governor Martyn Roper cayman compass 5 news N news FRIDAY, 1 APRIL 2022 CUC advises customers on Poindexter Road in Prospect and the Frank Hall Homes developments on Rex Crighton Boulevard that they will experience interruptions to their electrical service on Thursday, April 7, 2022 between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Areas aﬀected include all of Poindexter Road from the junction with Shamrock Road north to the gates at Patrick’s Island including customers on Spotts Haven Circle, Lakehaven Close, Tarpon Circle and Palmira Court and the Frank Hall Homes developments on Rex Crighton Boulevard including customers on Norfolk Drive, Tidewater Avenue, Tuscany Drive, Adventure Street, Cloudscape Court, Quartz Court, Indian Summer Link, Hybrid Drive, Rose Valley Drive, Trumpet Link and Canyon Dawn Drive. Motorists are asked to drive with caution when utilising Shamrock Road at the junction with Poindexter Road as CUC will have a number of vehicles and personnel in this area and may be required to temporarily block one lane on this section of the road. CUC advises customers on Water Cay Road, Finger Cay Road and Camp Drive in Cayman Kai that they will experience interruptions to their electrical service on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Areas aﬀected include all of Water Cay Road, Finger Cay Road and Camp Drive from the junction of Water Cay Road and Finger Cay Road south including The Kaibo. Motorists are asked to drive with caution when utilising Water Cay Road, Finger Cay Road and Camp Drive as CUC will have a number of vehicles and personnel in the area and will be required to temporarily block one lane on sections of these roads. CUC apologises for these interruptions, which are necessary to facilitate required overhead infrastructure upgrades to provide our customers with safe, reliable and eﬀicient power. Notice of Scheduled Outages Poindexter Road and Frank Hall Homes, Rex Crighton Boulevard Thursday, April 7 . 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Water Cay Road, Finger Cay Road and Camp Drive Tuesday, April 5 . 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information on these outages and the areas aﬀected, please contact CUC’s Customer Service Team at 949-5200 or e-mail service@cuc.ky.JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky Do you know the name of Cayman’s first financial secretary, the colour of the underside of a parrot’s wings in flight or the distance in miles between George Town and Miami? If the answer is no, then you might not want to apply for a job as a bus driver in the Cayman Islands. The curious range of questions – taken from a mandatory test for public transport drivers – is one of a range of administrative hoops that applicants must jump through before they can get behind the wheel of a bus. The islands’ two major bus companies claim needless red tape is holding up the process of hiring drivers and preventing them from ramping up services and getting unemployed Caymanians back to work as tourists return. But the Public Transport Board insists the permitting process – which also includes a drug test and a criminal records check – is essential to ensure the safety and comfort of the travelling public. And they argue the written test – based on the Department of Tourism’s ‘Know your Cayman Islands’ courses – is important knowledge for anyone interacting with visitors. The board acknowledged, however, that some recent applications had taken “longer than normal” to process but insisted those issues have been rectified. Both Kenrick Webster, of Webster’s Tours, and Nigel Mitten, of Majestic Tours, collectively responsible for almost 50 buses, say it can take several months to get drivers certified to work by the Public Transport Board. Mitten said he was unable to put his full fleet of buses into service because he currently does not have enough staff – 10 out of 20 buses remain in the depot. He said, “It takes longer to hire a bus driver than it would to hire someone to drive a fuel truck.” Mitten says he has no objection to the drug test, medical, traffic and criminal records clearance, though he is sceptical about the nature of the questions on the written test about Cayman’s history and culture. But, he said, the process took too long and costs in excess of $300 per driver. Hampering recruitment Webster said it had been a difficult and expensive two years, maintaining a fleet of 26 buses and paying a skeleton crew to keep them in working order, with the borders closed and almost no income coming in. Now that the islands are back in business, he is concerned that he can’t get people hired fast enough to put his vehicles back on the road. He said the expense and length of the process were the biggest. Many candidates drop out or find other jobs before their application is processed. “It is hampering my recruitment big time,” he said. To get to where we need to be, I need 10 more drivers. We have good local people that want to work but the system makes it difficult.” Strange test questions Both Webster and Mitten argue that the written test has nothing to do with a person’s ability to drive a bus. Anyone they hire already has a group 3 driver’s licence and clean references. The questions are drawn from the Department of Tourism’s ‘Know Your Cayman Islands’ training courses. The Public Transport Board defended the test this week, saying it was essential that anyone working with visitors had a good knowledge of the islands. “All tourism industry service providers, particularly those who have direct visitor contact, such as drivers of public transport licensed vehicles, are encouraged to familiarise themselves with this information, to be able to accurately share historical and cultural facts about the Cayman Islands with visitors,” the PTU said, in a written response to questions from the Compass. But Mitten argues the test goes too far and doesn’t differentiate between tour guides and drivers doing simple airport or hotel transfers. “I don’t think we have ever had a single tourist ask any of our drivers who the islands’ first financial secretary is,” he said. He added that it was off-putting to many applicants who were otherwise suited to the work. “A lot of these guys are practically very capable. They can drive a bus, I don’t have any issues with criminal records or traffic records but they struggle with the test,” he added. Webster suggests that, if the test is considered necessary, the PTU should fast-track temporary licences for those who have cleared the more critical fitness-to-work and drug tests and give them a longer period to take the written exam. The unit says there is no provision in the law that allows them to do this. Drugs test challenges Another concern is that the drugs test can now only be performed at the Health Services Authority. Webster said he used to get medicals and tests done privately for his drivers, with results processed within 48 hours, but, when there are staff out at the HSA, it can take weeks. These issues have been a source of frustration for some time, but have reached boiling point in the past months with the return of tourism prompting a recruitment drive. Both Mitten and Webster say they pay for the full range of tests for all their applicants. But the lack of a definitive start date for people who have been out of work for years, means they often look elsewhere for work, and the businesses end up out-of-pocket. “I could hire you tomorrow, but I can’t tell you when you can start,” said Mitten. The Public Transport Board acknowledged that there had been occasions when applications had taken “longer than normal” to process, blaming this on changes in membership at board level and insisting this has now been resolved. The statement said all applications are processed by the Public Transport Unit in the order they are received and then approved by the board at its monthly meetings. It said the cost to obtain a permit is under $300, with most of those fees going to outside providers, such as the police records department. “The safety of the travelling public is a responsibility that the PTU takes very seriously on behalf of the Cayman Islands government, and is why relevant information, from the RCIPS for example, forms part of the application,” the statement reads. Explaining the decision to mandate that drug tests can only be carried out by the Health Services Authority, the board statement added that the forensic science lab at the Cayman Islands Hospital is the only entity approved by government to carry out those screenings with the required level of accuracy. Stuck in park: Webster’s buses at the company’s headquarters with no one to drive them. - Photo: Submitted “I don’t think we have ever had a single tourist ask any of our drivers who the islands’ first financial secretary is.” Nigel Mitten, Majestic Tours Buses stuck in park as ‘red tape’ holds up driver recruitment Buses stuck in park as ‘red tape’ holds up driver recruitment Multiple buses are out of action. cayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 1 APRIL 2022Green activists call for action on climate change Young activists gathered at Government House on 25 March. - Photos: Alvaro Serey RESHMA RAGOONATH, ALVARO SEREY rragoonath@compassmedia.ky, aserey@compassmedia.ky Just over 100 young environmental activists joined in a climate protest on 25 March at Government House, calling on local leaders to take action on climate change. “We need action and we needed it a long time ago,” said Emily DeCou of Amplify Cayman when she joined with members of Protect Our Future and Mangrove Rangers to shine light on climate change. Waving signs and chanting “We want change and we want it now,” the local environmental groups, mainly consisting of students, pleaded for local legislators to pay serious attention to climate issues. Nicolas Corin, of Protect Our Future, led the environmentally- conscious students in their demonstration. He said one of the changes they would like to see is a ban on sunscreens unsafe for reefs – products which may be linked to the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease that is ravaging local reef structures. “There is so much we would like to see in the future, it’s almost an endless list with development, over- development, the mangroves, conservation... ” he said, adding that there is so much that can be done, but they are not seeing anything being done. “We are participating in our democracy by letting our elected officials know what we need as citizens, and that they have our support to make the changes that are needed,” DeCou said. DeCou pointed to the environmental charter signed 20 years ago, which she said Cayman PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 10» Overdevelopment and the mangroves were hot topics. cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 1 APRIL 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.cayman compass 8 FRIDAY, 1 APRIL 2022 but your home looks like this. If you have a loss, you will only be paid for a proportion of your claim. You paid to insure this... To find out if you’re at risk, call us at +345 949 7280 Underinsurance —are you at risk? Underinsurance —it’s just not worth it. Islandheritageinsurance.com/underinsurance 199123_1-Ad-Compass-2colx10-UndePage 1 8/5/21 11:50:27 AM …this could be you. Study Local at Caymans #1 Massage & Beauty School Contact Ph: +1 345 936 2228 • Email: info@caymancareeracademy.ky Smith Road Plaza, Suites 5-7, # 60 Smith Road, George Town, Grand Cayman www.CaymanCareerAcademy.ky Schedule an appointment today! Now accepting applications for courses starting in April & September 2022. Dead line 30th April Dead line 30th April 2022 Schola rships and grants availa ble for Caym anian s MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky Cayman Islands residents saw average price increases of 7.6% in the final quarter of last year compared to the same period in 2020. It followed 6.4% higher average prices in the third quarter of 2021. Cayman’s inflation rate for the entire year was 3.3%, the Economics and Statistics Office reported. Prices increased in 10 of the 12 categories used to calculate Cayman’s consumer price index, Rampant inflation of 7.6% at the end of 2021 1.4% 2.8% 1.4% 2.4% 3.2% 3.8%3.4% 1.7% 4.5% 3.8% 6.0% 8.4% 3.0% 2.1% -0.4% -0.7% -1.0% 0.2% 6.4% 20172018201920202021 Annual inﬂa�on rate by quarter 2017-2021 cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 1 APRIL 2022 with transport, housing and utilities as the biggest price drivers during the fourth quarter. The global rise in energy costs hit Cayman with a 27.6% increase in the cost of fuel. Air travel was 12.3% more expensive, while the cost of motor vehicles rose by 11.8%. Housing-related costs jumped 10.7% for imputed rentals of owner-occupiers and 5.1% for rentals during the three-month period. The average cost of electricity and water supply went up by 26.5% and 13.1%, respectively. Cayman’s annual inflation rate of 3.3% was skewed by a first quarter of deflation, as prices dropped on average by 1%, and a second quarter of flat prices (0.2%). Since then, a post-pandemic surge in consumer demand has been contrasted by various supply issues and bottlenecks that have caused prices to rise. Cayman’s high inflation has most likely continued in the first quarter of this year, as price increases have taken hold globally. Moreover, the war in Ukraine and related sanctions targeting Russia are adding fuel to already rising energy prices. The United States, Cayman’s most important source market for goods, reported consumer price increases of 7.5% in January and 7.9% in February of this year. Cayman’s CPI tends to track US inflation numbers over time, although some aspects, like housing costs, are subject to local price dynamics. Global inflation expectations have shifted considerably since last year. Ratings agency Fitch now expects US CPI inflation to peak at 9% and average 7% for the year as a whole. In the UK, the Bank of England believes inflation will reach 8% in the spring but could go even higher later in the year. -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Consumer prices in the US and Cayman US inﬂa�onCayman CPI The United States, Cayman’s most important source market for goods, reported consumer price increases of 7.5% in January and 7.9% in February of this year.Next >