Established 1965 $333 million cayman compass $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 13-19 May 2022 Cayman loses two icons Page 3 Batabano in pictures Pages 14-15 Your most trusted news source A revolution in training Pages 18-20 The cost of COVID Page 2 © 2022 Burger King Corporation. Time to cool off Grab a Shake, Sundae or Soft Serve Cone. Chocolate, Vanilla, Caramel and OREOMatinees (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 lm starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE (PG-13) (FRI) 4:10 | (SAT) 1:00 | (SUN) 4:10 | (MON) 1:00 (TUES)-(THURS) 4:10 K.G.F CHAPTER 2 (HINDI) (PG) (FRI)-(WED) 8:00 MEMORY (R) (FRI & SAT) 6:45 | 9:45 (MON) 6:45 | 9:45 | (TUES) 9:45 (WED & THURS) 6:45 | 9:45 THE LOST CITY (PG-13) (FRI & SUN) 5:10 | 7:20 | 7:30 VIP | 10:00 | 10:10 VIP (SAT) 2:30 | 5:10 | 7:20 | 7:30 VIP | 10:00 | 10:10 VIP (MON) 12:30 VIP | 2:30 | 5:10 | 7:20 | 7:30 VIP | 10:00 | 10:10 VIP (TUES & WED) 5:10 | 7:20 | 7:30 VIP | 10:00 | 10:10 VIP (THURS) 4:40 | 7:20 | 7:30 VIP | 10:00 | 10:10 VIP SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 (PG) (FRI) 3:45 VIP | 4:00 | 6:55 (SAT) 12:30 VIP |1:00 | 4:00 | 6:55 (SUN) 3:45 VIP | 4:00 | 6:35 VIP | 6:55| 9:45 (MON) 1:00 | 3:45 VIP | 4:00 | 6:55 (TUES)-(THURS) 3:45 VIP | 4:00 | 6:55 K.G.F CHAPTER 2 (HINDI) (PG) SPECIAL MUSIC EVENT TWENTY ONE PILOTS CINEMA EXPERIENCE THURSDAY 7:30PM (PG) DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (PG-13) (FRI) 3:30 3D | 3:55 VIP | 4:35 VIP | 6:30 | 6:50 VIP | 9:30 3D | 9:30 VIP | 9:50 VIP (SAT) 12:30 | 12:50 VIP | 1:40 VIP | 3:30 3D | 3:55 VIP | 4:35 VIP | 6:30 | 6:50 VIP| 9:30 3D | 9:30 VIP | 9:50 VIP (SUN) 3:30 3D | 3:55 VIP | 4:35 VIP | 6:30 | 6:50 VIP | 9:30 3D | 9:30 VIP | 9:50 VIP (MON) 12:30 | 12:50 VIP | 1:40 VIP | 3:30 3D | 3:55 VIP | 4:35 VIP | 6:30 | 6:50 VIP | 9:30 3D | 9:30 VIP | 9:50 VIP (TUES) 3:30 3D | 3:55 VIP | 4:35 VIP | 6:30 | 6:50 VIP | 9:30 3D | 9:50 VIP | (WED)-(THURS) 3:30 3D | 3:55 VIP | 4:35 VIP | 6:30 | 6:50 VIP | 9:30 3D | 9:30 VIP | 9:50 VIP WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK CLASSICS HEAT (1995) TUESDAY 7PM VIP (R) KIDS CLUB THE BOSS BABY SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (G) KIDS CLUB FINDING NEMO SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (G) 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 50% chance of showers. SEA STATE Slight with a wave height of 1 to 3 feet. WINDS East to northeast at 5 to 10 knots. 86°F HIGH 75°F LOW RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Over the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has cost the Cayman Islands government at least $333 million, an auditor general’s report has found. The report on government’s COVID-related finances, released on Thursday, 12 May, looked at the estimated total financial impact to Cayman from the pandemic, which found that the government had recorded almost $202 million in expenditures connected with its COVID response, and nearly $131 million in lost revenue. “I, along with the rest of the citizens of the Cayman Islands, welcome the actions taken by successive Governments to suppress the spread of the disease,” Auditor General Sue Winspear said in a statement accompanying the report. “There is no doubt that [the] Governments have succeeded in preserving life during the pandemic. However, the actions taken, while sheltering residents from the worst effects of the virus for a significant period of time, have had a substantial financial impact, which we estimate to be at least $333 million over the two years to March 2022.” She pointed out that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on global health, societies and economies, and “the Cayman Islands has not been spared from this”. In mid- March 2020, the government started to take a number of actions to suppress the spread of the disease, and many of these have continued, she said. Those measures included the closure of Cayman’s borders, the operation of quarantine facilities, a local lockdown, and the purchase of essential medical supplies, among other initiatives. “In the 18 months to 30 September 2021, the financial impact of the Government’s response to the pandemic was almost a quarter billion dollars,” Winspear said. The 37-page report, which was the final in a trilogy of audits on ‘Improving Financial Accountability and Transparency’, pointed out that in the six months between 1 Oct. 2021 and 31 March 2022, the financial impact to the government was estimated to be $85 million, as it “incurred and committed an additional $70 million in expenditure” while foregoing revenue of around $14.6 million during this period. “The actions taken by the Government, particularly the closure of the border, had a huge impact on the tourism industry, and this has contributed to the financial impact. Half of the additional expenditure was to support individuals and businesses, particularly those in the tourism sector, and the majority of foregone revenues were also because of lost charges and fees from tourism,” Winspear said. The government has been paying monthly stipends to displaced tourism workers since the borders closed. When it came to healthcare costs, the report stated that government had spent an estimated $43.9 million from March 2020 to March 2022, including on personal protective equipment, medical supplies and equipment, among other items. According to the auditor general, the government was spending $1 million a month on COVID testing, up until August last year. Winspear noted that this monthly cost has most likely increased in response to the rising numbers of community transmission cases in Cayman late last year, although no updated figures on the cost of the testing were available to the audit office since September 2021. The report said it is expected that the costs relating to COVID testing would continue as the pandemic stretches on. “The financial consequences of COVID-19 could be with us for some time. The Government continues to manage the spread of the virus through testing and vaccinating people, and it could take some time for the tourism sector to recover fully to pre- pandemic levels. We will continue to monitor the additional costs,” Winspear added in her statement. As of 30 Sept. 2021, the date up to which audited accounts are available, the government’s financial support to local businesses and impacted workers, which came to $66.2 million, accounted for about half of its expenditure. The majority of this expenditure, about $61 million, went towards supporting the tourism industry, while $4.18 million was spent to help micro and small businesses. COVID costs Cayman $333M Includes $131 million in lost revenue Summary of estimated costs related to COVID-19 ACTIVITYTOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS Support for business118,134,168 Healthcare43,891,232 Quarantine and social distancing22,495,451 Public sector personnel costs6,532,128 Education4,419,851 Social assistance for individuals4,343,926 Other COVID-related costs2,177,732 TOTAL$201,994,488 Summary of estimated foregone revenues relating to COVID-19 REVENUE STREAMFOREGONE REVENUES Tourism accommodation charges63,000,000 Cruise ship departure charges21,717,000 Environmental protection fund fees10,316,000 Other import duties13,900,000 Gasoline and diesel duties8,928,000 Motor vehicle duty4,400,000 Work permit fees8,718,000 TOTAL$130,979,000 - Source: Office of the Auditor General cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 13 MAY 2022cayman compass 3 news N news FRIDAY, 13 MAY 2022 RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky As Cayman mourns the passing of National Hero Sybil Ione McLaughlin, preparations are under way for an offi cial funeral in her honour. Premier Wayne Panton, in a video statement following McLaughlin’s passing on 10 May, said she will be afforded the highest honours in the form of the offi cial funeral, the date and time for which had not been announced by press time. “Ms Sybil was truly talented and balanced an impressive career while raising two boys, still making time for church and community service. Her time in the Legislative Assembly from 1959 to 1996 allowed her to witness the development of and improvements to the Cayman Islands Constitution,” Panton said in his tribute, adding, “I consider it an honour and a privilege to have known Ms Sybil and I will truly miss her friendship and wise counsel.” McLaughlin, 93, passed away peacefully at her home, her son Gordon McLaughlin confi rmed to the Cayman Compass. “We will all miss her. She lived a good life. She would have been 94 in August,” he said in a brief telephone interview. McLaughlin was the fi rst clerk and the fi rst Speaker of the House at the Legislative Assembly. She received an MBE in 1967 for organising the fi rst Commonwealth Parliamentary Association regional conference held in the Cayman Islands. McLaughlin was declared a National Hero in 1996, the second individual to receive that honour, after the late Jim Bodden in 1994. She was the fi rst living person and the fi rst woman to be so honoured by the Cayman Islands government. All Cayman Islands fl ags were fl own at half-mast from 10-12 May in commemoration of McLaughlin’s life. Tributes pour in Many have hailed McLaughlin’s contributions to the Cayman Islands. Panton said Cayman had not only lost a national hero but “a daughter of the soil, a stalwart believer in democracy and an example of a life well-lived and a true friend”. Governor Martyn Roper, in a statement, pointed out that the 93-year-old had a long and distinguished civil service career and “made signifi cant contributions to the development of Cayman’s parliamentary system”. “I am grateful to have had the opportunity to meet her,” he said. “Her determination broke many barriers for Caymanian women and opened the door for women to progress in the parliamentary fi eld. She was the fi rst woman in the Commonwealth to be appointed Clerk of the Legislative Assembly and was the Cayman Islands’ very fi rst Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.” House Speaker McKeeva Bush extended his condolences and highlighted McLaughlin’s contributions to the Cayman community. “She served nobly and honorably. She was a religious and strong principled family-oriented person,” he said, adding, “She has presided over signifi cant legislative changes for the betterment of our society. Undoubtedly, she was a dedicated and committed public servant who made sterling contribution to civil society.” Opposition Leader Roy McTaggart also expressed sadness following McLaughlin’s passing. “Our Islands have been greatly blessed by her service and achievements. She was an inspiration to all and a true National Hero. Ms Sybil will be greatly missed,” McTaggart said. In his statement on behalf of the Opposition, McTaggart said McLaughlin was a quiet but strong Caymanian woman who broke many barriers and rose to be recognised as a National Hero. “She is a Caymanian of many fi rsts – the fi rst Clerk of the Legislative Assembly (now Parliament); the fi rst woman in the Commonwealth to serve as a clerk in a Legislative Assembly or Parliament; and Ms Sybil was also the very fi rst Speaker in the Legislative Assembly. Over the coming days, we will read and hear much about Ms Sybil and her remarkable life and contributions to her people and country. So respected was she that she assisted and worked in Parliaments elsewhere,” he said. Cayman mourns loss of National Hero “The Cayman Islands has not only lost a national hero, but a daughter of the soil, a stalwart believer in democracy and an example of a life well-lived and a true friend.” Premier Wayne Panton Sybil Ione McLaughlin, 1928-2022. RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Caymanian icon and the last surviving vestryman Arley James Miller has passed away. Miller, who was honoured on National Heroes Day in 2020, died on 8 May. Leader of the Opposition and political leader of the Progressives Roy McTaggart, in a statement, lamented the passing of Miller, who was celebrated among those who pioneered Cayman’s fi rst written Constitution. “With the passing of A.J. Miller, our Islands have lost yet another Caymanian icon who loved and served his country and his people. His name is written in our history books. So even with the passage of time, he will be remembered by future generations of Caymanians. We, the members of the Progressives, recognise and pay tribute to the legacy of Mr. Miller and his contribution, alongside his political colleagues, to the modernising of Cayman’s politics and economy,” McTaggart said. Miller had been the last surviving vestryman to serve in the Assembly of Justices and Vestry, Cayman’s original legislative body. The Assembly transitioned to the Legislative Assembly (now Parliament) on 13 July 1959. “Miller was one of the 35 Justices and Vestrymen who oversaw the transition to a more politically and economically modern Cayman Islands. A transition that included our receiving our Coat of Arms and our fi rst written constitution. As a politician and political campaigner, Mr. Miller was very respected, and he served his beloved Bodden Town and Cayman Islands for many years,” McTaggart said in the statement. The former vestryman had attended the formal ceremony in 2019 when the George Town Town Hall was renamed Constitution Hall. House Speaker McKeeva Bush described Miller as a “pioneer in our political and business landscape” who made a meaningful contribution to society. “AJ was not an ordinary politician,” Bush said. “He had the senses that led him to duck many showdowns, but pick up the mantle to stand and fi ght when the need arose. He was a great defender when the need arose.” Bush also extended condolences on behalf of Parliament. Last vestryman AJ Miller passes Former vestryman AJ Miller was honoured at the 2020 Heroes Day celebrations. - Photo: GIS1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13141516 17 181920 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Denim trousers (5) 4 Energetic and forceful (7) 8 Automobile (3) 9 Remote isolated area (9) 10 Continue after a pause (7) 11 Ooze out (5) 13 Peevishly sensitive (6) 15 Affectionate (6) 18 Purchaser (5) 19 Hurt (7) 21 Find place to hide (2,2,5) 23 Eisenhower’s nickname (3) 24 Take cover (7) 25 Lees (5) DOWN 1 Large accumulated prize (7) 2 Fit to fly safely (9) 3 Curved cavalry sword (5) 4 Period of ten years (6) 5 Out of the running (7) 6 A floor covering (3) 7 Source of misfortune (5) 12 Facing severe criticism (5,4) 14 Gathering of crops (7) 16 Set right again (7) 17 Reflect (6) 18 Spurious (5) 20 Islamic holy war (5) 22 A bond (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17003 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 17003 ACROSS: 1 Jeans, 4 Dynamic, 8 Car, 9 Backwater, 10 Proceed, 11 Exude, 13 Tetchy, 15 Tender, 18 Buyer, 19 Injured, 21 Go to earth, 23 Ike, 24 Shelter, 25 Dregs. DOWN: 1 Jackpot, 2 Airworthy, 3 Sabre, 4 Decade, 5 Nowhere, 6 Mat, 7 Curse, 12 Under fire, 14 Harvest, 16 Redress, 17 Mirror, 18 Bogus, 20 Jihad, 22 Tie. East End mental health facility aims for March 2023 opening Honestly, I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at this point. Shame on the Cayman Islands govern- ment that this isn’t completed by now. Yes, COVID brought a slow- down but that didn’t seem to slow down the massive construction everywhere. All about priorities. – Jane McCarthy I saw this coming a long time ago. They have no interest in caring for the less fortunate in this coun- try; they’d rather spend thousands of dollars every month sending them to Jamaica where they’re forgotten by the government and, most times, their own families. We have individuals in Jamaica now for over 13+ years who self-harm all the time and have practically given up on seeing their land of birth again. They were promised that by December 2021 they would be able to come home, then by April 2022, and now 2023. The government should be ashamed of themselves. Until it hits home for one of them, they’ll never know the pain families or the individuals feel. – Cathy Rivers Dart plans to open bar at Calico Jack’s site Calico’s was an iconic beach bar that was always busy with reason- able prices. Come on, Dart – let it return as it was (obviously with the correct regulations). But please do not make it yet another cocktail bar. – Amanda Clark There’s a reason why there’s a setback limit. If Calico Jack’s falls foul of that, then the reopening plan has to change in order to fall in line with that, surely? Alternatively, what’s the point in having protective development governance if (to be frank) we urinate over the governance framework when it doesn’t suit us? What am I missing here? – Nigel Von Sachsenburg ‘Prisma’ development approved, minus hotel Increasing the density of residential areas should be a high priority for the government. If you want an efficient public transit system and a reduction of land being developed, this is a good project. The simple fact of our geography is that we need more projects like this and less single- family units (which consumes the most land per capita). Over half of all workers in Cayman are non-Caymanian; the coun- try needs a better plan to house the thousands of service and construction workers (in higher residential units), which will help relieve housing prices on Cayma- nians and reduce the pressure to develop on untouched land. – James Bodden Yet they wonder why there is so much traffic in Cayman. Too much development is going on that [isn’t] benefiting the locals. Build- ing more roads ain’t gonna change anything. – Jamie Montero I read with great interest and dismay your article titled, ‘East End mental health facility aims for March 2023 opening’. How many times has this project been pushed back now? And by how many governments prior to COVID? I can recall at least three governments who have promised the opening of this facility. I invite the powers that be to ponder the fact that the current eight-bed facility that they have at the government’s Cayman Islands Hospital, for 70,000-plus people, is severely outdated in its functioning and is a human rights violation. The mere mixing of male and female patients on the ward is wrong and unacceptable. And while the staff is doing the best they know how, they are not fully equipped and trained for that type of setting. It amazes me how much Cayman boasts of having such fantastic financial services, ample government coffers and such a high standard of living. Yet Jamaica has a mental health facility, albeit substandard. As someone who has been waiting for the past three years to work at the new facility, and who is very familiar with this field, I would hate to see the new government use this project as a political football and campaign point like previous governments. More importantly, I also invite the powers that be to consider the fact that while they depend on mental health patients to be discreet about their illnesses, one day there will be a patient who is not going to be worried about covering up their mental health issues, and there will be a lawsuit on your hands. Sandra Tomlinson Lamenting lack of mental health facility pic of the week Gloomy forecast: With millions of tons of sargassum recorded in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, the Cayman Islands is bracing for another season of seaweed-laden beaches and ironshore, like these pictured in West Bay on 9 May. - Photo: Alvaro Serey What they’re saying Online Letters to the editor cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 13 MAY 2022cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 13 MAY 2022 5 NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky Dart’s Shoreline Development Company has applied for permission to modify parts of Calico Jack’s in anticipation of opening a beach bar/restaurant at the site - a proposal the Department of Environment is opposed to because the building’s seawall falls well outside the permitted high water mark setback limit. Calico Jack’s on Seven Mile Beach shutin April 2020, after 15 years, as the island was in lockdown and the closed borders meant the bar’s steady fl ow of tourist customers disappeared. Owner Handel Whittaker told the Compass at the time that the bar’s lease had been due to expire at the end of the year, and he had taken the diffi cult decision to shut it down. If the Central Planning Authority, of which Whittaker is currently the deputy chairman, grants permission for the modifi cations to go ahead, the bar could open later this year. Whittaker recused himself when the application was heard by the CPA on Wednesday, 11 May. The site is owned by Dart, which is planning to modify the bar’s existing building façade and parking layout, and add a new restroom building. In a letter to the Central Planning Authority accompanying its planning application, Shoreline stated, “With the return of tourism, our intent is to restore a signature destination beach bar and restaurant to fi ll a gap felt by both locals and visitors.” It said it planned to open the bar in time for the 2022-2023 high season. It added that the design “works within the existing footprint”, adding, “A primary design consideration is that the facility be a good neighbour and complement the activities at Seven Mile Public Beach without drawing upon its resources.” The planning application includes the installation of a 6-foot-high wooden fence to enclose the kitchen area and support facilities. Shoreline is also proposing including a pedestrian path from Calico Jack’s to its nearby Hotel Indigo development. At the meeting, Colleen Stoetzel, representing Dart, said the buildings had fallen into disrepair since the pandemic. She said the proposal was “simply a refi t of the existing facility”. The existing toilet block will be demolished as part of the plan and a new restroom facility situated between the building and the bike path. She said a small variation from the high water mark setback was needed to prevent the bathrooms from obstructing the pathway. DoE opposes plan However, the Department of Environment, in its submission, recommended that the Central Planning Authority refuse the application, and urged Shoreline to remove the existing seawall and instead build a more sustainable structure on the site. The DoE noted that minimum coastal setbacks for hotel/tourism zones, under the Development and Planning Regulations, state that a coastal setback of 130 feet from the mean high water mark is required. “Despite this, the proposal includes the renovation of the existing building, which was the subject of a lapsed temporary building permit (the current status of which is unknown to the DOE) and part of which is a seawall that was refused after-the-fact permission,” the DoE stated, adding that the seawall was measured as being 29 feet from the high water mark, “amounting to just 22% of the required minimum setback”. The DoE said it was “extremely concerned” about the continuing impact of a seawall not meeting coastal setback requirements, especially as it is located next to Public Beach. It noted, “The existing site has experienced instances of erosion in the past. With a proposal for redevelopment, the applicant now has the opportunity to build in a more sustainable and climate- resilient manner, future-proofi ng the current structure.” In its response to DoE concerns about the seawall, Dart in a letter submitted prior to the meeting, stated that after it had reviewed historical CPA decisions for this property, it found that the planning board had subsequently approved a request to re-instate planning permission for the restaurant/bar and for after-the-fact additions, and that “as part of their decision, CPA did not condition the need to obtain permits or Certifi cates of Occupancy”. The company also contended that the issues raised by the DoE were not part of the application, which only deals with modifying the interior of the existing building, and therefore “do not constitute or contribute to a material change in the use of the building”. According to Shoreline’s plan, the bar/restaurant will undergo internal changes only, and its existing fl oor and roofed areas will not be expanded. The company stated that the only elements of its proposal that require planning permission are the alteration of the building’s north façade, the restroom block, and the 6-foot fence, so “if the application were to be refused, renovations to the bar and restaurant could move forward subject to obtaining applicable permits”. DoE directives As well as recommending that Dart submit a revised plan removing the seawall, deck and seating section from the area surrounded by the not-permitted seawall on the beach, the DoE advised that no construction work, vehicle access, storage of equipment/materials or other operations should take place on the beach during turtle nesting season, between 1 May and 30 Nov., “without the express consent of the DoE”. The DoE, under authority delegated to it by the National Conservation Council, also issued two directives to the board in relation to the planning application. Those stipulated that all construction materials and debris be stockpiled at least 50 feet from the mean high water mark to prevent material entering the marine protected area; and that screens must be installed to catch any construction-related shavings, foam waste or polystyrene debris to prevent those entering the sea. Directives issued by the NCC to the board were considered to be binding under the National Conservation Act, but after the Central Planning Authority last year ignored a DoE directive not to approve an application to rebuild a seawall at a cabana on Boggy Sand Road, a judicial review is scheduled to get under way next month into whether the NCC has the power to infl uence a planning board decision. Dart plans to reopen bar at Calico Jack’s site Dart said it planned to open the bar in time for the 2022-2023 high season. Calico Jack’s closed down in April 2020, while Cayman was still in lockdown. - Photo: Alvaro Serey The Calico Jack's site on 12 May 2022. The Department of Environment argues that the structure is too close to the water. - Photo: Andrel Harriscayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 13 MAY 2022 Warning: This article contains descriptions of at-home abortions. NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky The upcoming decision by the US Supreme Court potentially to reverse constitutionally protected rights to obtain an abortion could have a knock-on effect on women in Cayman, leading to unsafe efforts to terminate unwanted pregnancies, advocates for women’s rights and healthcare in Cayman are warning. It is illegal to perform or get an abortion in the Cayman Islands, unless it is done to save a pregnant woman’s life. While the subject of abortion often hits the headlines in the US, and especially now with a Supreme Court decision on the Roe v. Wade case expected soon, it’s not a topic that is frequently publicly aired in the Cayman Islands. The issue was tackled at a roundtable discussion on 10 May, prompted by the results of a survey of local women carried out by University College of the Cayman Islands social work student Estefanie Barnett as part of a paper she is preparing on the subject, which found that more than 90% of the female respondents supported the legalisation of abortion in Cayman. Barnett told the gathering of about 15 people at the talk, “Criminalising abortion only pushes women to engage in unsafe behaviours in order to procure an abortion, sometimes with fatal consequences. ... My paper argues that the restrictive abortion law does not reflect the opinions of women across the island.” She added, “Restrictive abortion laws and regulations do not prevent abortion. It only pushes women to engage in self-induced, unsafe and clandestine abortions.” Barnett noted that after Barbados legalised abortion in 1983 – the first Caribbean country to do so – the rate of maternity mortality fell by 53% over the next 25 years. In Cayman, if a woman wants to get an abortion, she must either fly overseas to get one, or buy an abortion pill illegally here on island. Barnett said it costs $400 to get such a pill, with no guarantee of its effectiveness and no medical supervision; and about $2,000 to fly to Miami to undergo an abortion – money not easily available to many young women who become pregnant. Law Reform Commission examining abortion laws The abortion issue has also recently been addressed by Cayman’s Law Reform Commission; in December last year, it invited the public to weigh in on the subject of legalising abortion as, at the request of Attorney General Samuel Bulgin, it began examining sections of the Penal Code that need to be updated to bring them into line with the Bill of Rights. While the Penal Code has been revised with the introduction of new offences and amended for the type and length of punishment for other offences, the commission noted it has not undergone a comprehensive review since its introduction in 1975 to determine if any of the provisions are now outdated because of social change. The Law Reform Commission said in its discussion paper, “International human rights legal instruments and authoritative interpretations of those instruments support the claim that the right to access safe abortion services is a human right and compel the conclusion that women have a right to decide independently in all matters related to reproduction, including the issue of abortion.” It added, “Where abortion is illegal and unsafe, women are forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term or suffer serious health consequences and even death.” Approximately 13% of maternal deaths worldwide are attributable to unsafe abortions, it said. Survey results Barnett, as a part of her study, surveyed more than 250 women, who are members of the Women in Cayman Facebook group, which is made up of a cross-section of Caymanians and expats living the Cayman Islands, in a bid to gauge the thoughts of females of reproductive age on the subject. She pointed out that her research shows few surveys had been done on the issue – the most recent she could find was a study by government into adolescent health and sexuality in 2013, which surveyed teens aged 16 to 19. The findings of that survey showed that, of 202 female teens who responded, 9.1% of the 15-to-16 year olds, and 8.5% of the 17-to-19 year olds, said they had had an abortion. Four of those girls said they had had two or more abortions. Barnett’s results indicated that nearly one-third of those who responded to her survey, which involved females aged 16 and over, said they had obtained an abortion. Of those, 39 had travelled off island for the procedure, 14 had taken abortion pills on island, and 25 had terminated their pregnancies in their home countries before moving to Cayman. Asked if women should have the right to legal and safe abortion methods in the Cayman Islands, 90.4% agreed. The survey also asked, if abortion were to be legalised, should it be covered by health insurance. 78.6% believed it should. More than 80% of the respondents also said they would find it hard to reveal to their friends or family members that they had had an abortion. An overwhelming majority (96%) said they did not think schools were providing enough sex education to high school students, and 99.2% agreed that a more in-depth curriculum regarding female sexual and reproductive life and health should be available in secondary schools across the Cayman Islands. Unsafe termination efforts putting women at risk Another speaker at the 10 May roundtable discussion, part of the Studio Notes series of talks at Parcel 110 in George Town, was Carolina Ferreira, who heads the Red Cross’s child protection and sexuality education programmes. Ferreira, who said she had been working with young people in Cayman for almost 20 years, told of horror stories involving girls trying to end their pregnancies, from throwing themselves downstairs to inserting tampons soaked in bleach into themselves or drinking noxious teas and brews to make themselves ill – methods that don’t work to end a pregnancy but can greatly injure the mother. “So, that’s a lot of harm that young girls, that women, do to themselves when they’re trying to resolve a situation that can’t be resolved legally, by appropriate medical means,” she said. If the Roe v. Wade decision is reversed, it will likely limit the number of states in the US where a woman can obtain an abortion, which Ferreira said would probably increase the cost for a woman from Cayman travelling to get an abortion. Currently, it appears many women who do travel to the US for a termination go to Miami. Even before the Supreme Court makes a final decision on Roe v. Wade, Florida’s legislature has indicated it is in favour of restricting abortions – it has already passed a law that bans abortions after 15 weeks, replacing the current 24-week limit. That amended law comes into effect on 1 July. Barnett estimated, if it becomes more difficult to get an abortion in Miami, the $2,000 cost for someone in Cayman to obtain one legally in the US could potentially double. She worries that, once it becomes harder to get an abortion in the US, “it will cause more illegal abortions here. They’re going to try to buy pills, or find teas or fall down the stairs, or punch themselves in the stomach, or use hangers on themselves. It’s going to be worse for women here. Abortions will be even less accessible than they are now.” Tuesday’s discussions were moderated by Emily DeCou, a former political candidate, who pointed out that with doctors in Cayman restricted to only terminating pregnancies that put a mother’s life at risk, “there are no provisions for underage girls who may be victims of incest, women who have been raped, or in relation to foetal abnormality. These women need to travel to another country.” Roe v. Wade According to a draft opinion, leaked to Politico journalists, the US Supreme Court has voted to strike down the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which guarantees federal constitutional protections of abortion rights, as well as a subsequent 1992 decision – Planned Parenthood v. Casey – that cemented that protection. The final ruling is expected in July. If the judges’ decision outlined in the leaked document is accurate, it will mean that a nationwide legalisation of abortion in the US would end, and each state would instead decide whether to allow, restrict or entirely ban abortions. Roe v. Wade decision could impact Cayman “Criminalising abortion only pushes women to engage in unsafe behaviours in order to procure an abortion, sometimes with fatal consequences.” Estefanie Barnett, survey report author The US Supreme Court is expected to deliver its final decision on whether to uphold or reverse Roe v. Wade in July. Protesters in New York take part in a pro-choice demonstration in New York in 2019. An upcoming US Supreme Court decision will decide if federal protections to a right to abortion will be upheld. - Photo: FileTribunal failed to fully consider impact on Caymanian wife and son JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky A Colombian national convicted of smuggling cocaine into Cayman has won a significant legal victory in his battle to stay here with his wife and 4-year-old son. Alan Taylor Dominguez was stripped of his permanent residency certificate after he was sentenced to four years in prison for his part in a drug-importation plot. Now a judge has ruled that the Immigration Appeals Tribunal failed to fully consider the rights of his family before rubber-stamping a decision that would have seen him deported to Colombia. The tribunal has been ordered to reconsider the case. Acting Justice Alistair Walters, in a judgment delivered on 29 April, also questioned why government bodies making major immigration decisions had no clear written policies to ensure their rulings were fair and consistent. Dominguez was sentenced to four years in prison for his role as a middleman in a plot involving drug mules swallowing condoms filled with cocaine. Dominguez admitted his involvement and gave evidence that helped to convict customs officer David Lobo, who was sentenced to 16 years for a leading role in the operation to bring 1.8 kilograms of cocaine into the island in 2017. The Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board revoked Dominguez’s residency certificate in October 2019 – six months after he was sentenced for his role in the crime. The board’s decision was subsequently found to be erroneous. But, on a fresh hearing, the Immigration Appeals Tribunal in June 2021 concluded that his residency rights should be revoked, sparking an appeal to the Grand Court. Family ties After a hearing last month, Walters ruled that the tribunal should reconsider its decision, giving greater weight to Dominguez’s family ties in Cayman. The tribunal’s original decision, quoted in the judgment, indicates that the panel decided the offence of smuggling cocaine into Cayman was serious enough to outweigh the impact of the revocation of his RERC which would have the effect of requiring Dominguez to be separated from his wife, as well as his son and two stepchildren, all under the age of 18. His wife is a Cuban-born Caymanian and the couple have been married since 2013, according to background details set out in the judgment. Nonetheless, the tribunal decided Dominguez should have his RERC revoked. “The nature and seriousness of the offence weighs heavily in comparison to the other factors. The Tribunal noted the seriousness of the effects of cocaine use on addicts and the poverty and crime that results. The high number of known cocaine addicts seen begging on our streets along with the breakdown of family life was also considered,” according to that decision. Alastair David, of HSM Chambers, representing Dominguez, argued that the decision had failed to consider the best interests of Dominguez’s 4-year-old Caymanian son, as required by both the Constitution and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. He argued that the board’s power to revoke residency rights is discretionary and has to be balanced against the Bill of Rights, which guarantees the right to a private and family life – both for Dominguez and for his wife and son. Policy expressed ‘society’s revulsion’ Government’s case, summarised in the judgment, is that the tribunal did consider those rights but still decided to deport a convicted drug smuggler in the best interests of the islands. “Where a foreign national commits a serious crime, it is legitimate for the (Immigration Appeals Tribunal) to factor into its consideration the public policy need to express society’s revulsion at the seriousness of the criminality and an element of deterrence,” the summary stated. Walters decided that the tribunal had “failed to engage in any meaningful analysis” of the likely impact deporting Dominguez would have on his family and had acted “unreasonably”. Citing case precedent, he said it was rarely considered proportionate to uphold a removal order that severed a genuine relationship between parent and child. The judge said it was “surprising” that – despite previous court rulings – neither the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board nor the appeals tribunal had written policies or procedures in place for how to handle such issues. “…[W]ithout a clear framework... it is difficult to understand how decisions have been taken, on what basis, whether they are reasonable and proportionate and whether they are consistent”, he said. Walters added that the tribunal ‘erred in law’ by applying “incomplete and outdated legal principles” to the question of Dominguez’s constitutional rights and ordered the matter be remitted back for a new hearing. Colombian cocaine smuggler wins victory in fight to stay in Cayman cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 13 MAY 2022Martha Williams with the flexible damage detection system she and her team invented. - Photo: NASA Inventors Hall Of Fame cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 13 MAY 2022 cayman compass Your most trusted news source cayman compass Your most trusted news source © 2021 Bur ger King Corporation. King Stackers are here King Stackers are here King Stackers Dare to stack! Each patty is a quarter pound of flame-grilled beef. Triple cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 1-7 October 2021 Issues Cayman’s digital future Page 16 Sports Clubs mourn footballer killed in crash Page 23 School policies, mandat ory vaccination debate and mask effectivene ss – navigating the new normal COVIDCOVIDCOVIDCOVID Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Eastern Avenue compass 75 CENTS | Funding local journalism Ariel Christian, Pines’ oldest resident passes away Page 4 Alphabet supermar kets Split shopping shifts announced as 4 new coronavirus cases confirmed. T H R U Eastern Avenue compass Funding local journalism Ariel Christian, Pines’ oldest resident passes away Alphabet supermar kets Split shopping shifts announced as 4 new coronavirus cases confirmed. T H R U SingleDouble Triple School policies, mandat ory vaccination debate and mask effectivene ss – navigating the new normal Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with Living with © 2021 Bur ger King Corporation. COVIDCOVIDCOVID JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP ACADEMIC YEAR 2022 2023 20 2 2 WORTH CI$ 2,500 ENTRY DEADLINE: THURSDAY, 30 JUNE VISIT CAYMANCOMPASS.COM/SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MORE INFORMATION. CAYMAN HOME & GARDEN 1,542.0 209.0 686.3 95.6 Financial & Insurance Services TravelAccounting, Legal, & Other Business Services Other Services Cayman Brac's Martha Kay Williams blazes trail for female scientists RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Caymanian scientist and inventor Martha Kay Williams has joined the ranks of the elite in her field after recently being inducted into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Inventors Hall of Fame. The proud Cayman Brac mother-of-two credits her humble upbringing, steely work ethic and strong support network of family and friends for her successful, decades- long career. “Growing up in Cayman Brac with my five other siblings, I was taught early the appreciation of hard work and the importance of education. My first introduction to ‘probably’ a type of inventing, being creative, was making our own play areas out of limited resources, and making dolls out of painted rocks,” Williams, 64, told the Cayman Compass. She added, “For some growing up currently in the islands, that might seem far-fetched now, but [it was] a great foundation for developing creative concepts and learning things that has served me well.” Reflecting on her journey, Williams, nee Bodden, recounted the influence of American missionary families on the Brac that became pivotal to her life and career path. “There are a couple of descriptive scientific words that I use often in my career – game-changing and disruptive (significant positive change),” she said. “These are words that could also apply to what happened all those years ago in the Brac. American missionaries, the Kings and the Aldridges, came to Cayman Brac because of their spiritual callings, but ended up also having a big impact on the education pursuits of many of the young people. I was one of those young people.” It was through the Aldridges that she was able to go the US for the first time as a teenager, on a student visa, Williams said. There, she was introduced to the pastor’s sister and her husband, the Elliotts, who “loved me and supported me with great generosity as I learned to transition to a completely new life and the American high school culture. To this day, I am blessed with that extended family,” she said. The Kings, she added, also encouraged and supported young people on the Brac in pursuing higher education. A journey to NASA Williams always loved science, but her early dream was to pursue medicine. After graduating high school early at 16, with the Kings’ encouragement and support, she left for college with dreams of becoming a medical doctor, but that was not meant to be. “My professors at college were an inspiration, probably one of the big reasons I am a scientist today, but upon graduating at the young age of 19, there were roadblocks to my dream – not a [US] citizen and lack of funds. I was not sure where to go from there, but believed in my scientific calling and, with faith, returned to graduate school in From rocks to rocketscayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 13 MAY 2022 chemistry two years later,” she said. Her career in forensics and pharmaceuticals followed. “Then my dream job with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center began two weeks after I became an American citizen,” she said. Williams’s pursuit of education did not end after getting that job; in fact, it pushed her to continue to excel. “Being very transparent, during those doctoral study years, sometimes it was really diffi cult as a mother of two, a wife, and having a demanding job... Sometimes, the most diffi cult things also become our biggest accomplishments,” she said. Her Ph.D. in polymer chemistry, she said, allowed her to focus on research to help meet NASA space exploration needs. “[It helped] hone in on my creative concepts, innovation, and invention skills in collaboration with my colleagues across multiple disciplines. The career journey has not been an easy one, but never boring, always challenging, having to push myself, learn new things every day, and get to do work that hopefully makes a difference,” Williams said. Science and engineering are mostly male-dominated fi elds, she acknowledged. “Fortunately, the percentages of women are probably a little higher at NASA than in other non-government organisations. For example, [in] the NASA Inventors Hall of Fame, there [are] fi ve women out of a total of 40 inductees,” she said. Williams is one of the fi ve. After 10 years working in failure investigations for the Space Shuttle programme, Williams was awarded a NASA doctoral fellowship – “One of the highlights of my career,” she said. She spent the last 19 years of her career in full-time research, she said, leading multi-disciplinary teams, resulting in multiple inventions, which led to her Hall of Fame induction. “I have a saying that the ‘journey is as valuable as the destination’. Supporting the NASA vision and destinations were important – what we learned in and through the journey was valuable, benefi cial to me and the rest of the nation, the world, and will continue to do so,” she said. Encouraging female scientists With 29 years as a NASA scientist under her belt, after retiring in 2018, Williams continues to blaze a trail for women in her fi eld through her work at US start-up GenH2. “GenH2 is focussed on the mass production of liquid hydrogen infrastructure solutions necessary for the transition to a clean energy economy. Cryogenics is also a male- dominated discipline and I hope to encourage more women to be involved, using my specialty and interdisciplinary skills to support innovation and solutions for the hydrogen economy,” she said. She hopes her journey can inspire a new generation of female scientists, not just in the Cayman Islands, but around the region and world. “My advice to young Caymanian women, or young women in general, is do not let roadblocks defi ne you. It is a hard and challenging career path, but provides much diversity in career options and can be very rewarding,” she said. As a mentor, Williams said, she has encouraged women to pursue science and engineering, and develop business and project-management skills. However, “developing self- confi dence, being able to articulate your input or opinions while still being a team player is also very important”, she added. Her daughters, she said, did not follow her footsteps into science, but they are making their own marks, though her Caymanian niece is pursuing a Ph.D in the sciences. She said, “I hope the evolution of advanced research in the Cayman Islands will be expanded in the coming future.” Williams said she hopes sharing her story inspires others“to take a journey of your own, even if different and challenging”. “Many things are possible, even with challenges and loss, [such as] a young Caymanian girl who had a dream on a small 12-square-mile island with rocks and a Bluff and eventually ended up supporting the NASA space programme. Each of us have our talents, gifts and, as I share with my daughters, pursue excellence in whatever your vocation or calling,” she said. While recognition is great, Williams said it is also important to remember those along the way – to make them a part of the journey. Saturday, May 21, 2022 Starts and ends at Ristorante Papagallo, Conch Point Road, West Bay Course: Starts and ends at Ristorante Pappagallo, Conch Point Road, West Bay. Start Time:6:30 a.m. (Walkers) and 6:45 a.m. (Runners). Check-in time starts at 5:30 a.m. (to receive numbers (all participants) and race chips (for runners). Fee:CI$15 Adults and CI$10 Youth (Under 17). Registration: 1) Register online and pay at www.caymanactive.com 2) Register online and pay at www.racecaribbean.net 3) Download the PDF form from CUC’s website at www.cuc-cayman.com (click on “Events” under the “About Us” tab on the Home Page). Complete, scan and e-mail the form to communications@cuc.ky 4) Forms can also be dropped-off and payments made by cash or cheque (payable to CUC) at CUC’s Administration Building on North Sound Road between Monday, May 2 and Thursday, May 19 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Participants who register online can also collect their t-shirts and ‘power’ bag from CUC between May 2 and May 19. Note: There will be no registration on the day of the event. Amenities: First 300 participants to register will receive a t-shirt (sizes are not guaranteed), participation medal and ‘power’ bag. Light refreshments will be provided and trophies for the fastest and second fastest male and female finishers in the Adult and Youth (Under 17) divisions will be presented at the end of the event along with a number of Spot Prizes including vouchers for Cayman Airways and CUC Gift Certificates (you have to be present to win). Contacts: CUC’s Pat Bynoe-Clarke (914-1107), Japhia Augustine (914-1136) and Neil Murray (914-1110) or e-mail communications@cuc.ky or Cayman Athletics’ Cydonie Mothersill (928-2726) and Kenrick Williams (925-1943) or e-mail ciaageneralsecretary@gmail.com. CUC is taking to the streets again in West Bay on Saturday, May 21, 2022 for a fun run and walk as we raise money for the Sunrise Adult Training Centre and Cayman Athletics (formerly the Cayman Islands Athletic Association (CIAA). Everyone is welcome to join us. Martha Williams and co-inventor Luke Roberson at launch pad 39-A, where their hydrogen-sensing tape was deployed on the Space Shuttle launch pad. Their invention is now a licensed commercial product.Next >