Stackin’ up Single Stacker Double Stacker Triple Stacker Quadruple Stacker cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 20-26 May 2022 'Miracle' child thanks Cayman Page 6 Cubans fl ee in near- record numbers Pages 22-24 GOLD RUSH Oly Rush in record-making swim around Grand Cayman Pages 5, 15 compass Weekly, 20-26 May 2022 Photo: Taneos RamsayMatinees (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. DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS (PG-13) (FRI) 3:30 3D |3:55 VIP | 6:30 | 6:50 VIP | 9:30 3D |9:50 VIP (SAT) 12:30 | 1:00 VIP | 3:30 3D | 3:55 VIP | 6:30 | 6:50 VIP| 9:30 3D | 9:50 VIP (SUN & MON) 3:30 3D | 3:55 VIP | 6:30 | 6:50 VIP | 9:30 3D | 9:50 VIP (TUES) 3:30 3D |3:55 VIP | 6:30 | 9:30 3D |9:50 VIP (WED) 3:30 3D | 3:55 VIP | 6:30 | 6:50 VIP | 9:30 3D |9:50 VIP (THURS) 3:30 3D | 3:55 VIP | 6:30 | 9:30 3D DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA (PG) (FRI) 4:30 VIP | 6:35 VIP | 6:50 | 9:30 VIP | 9:45 (SAT) 1:00 | 1:25 VIP | 4:30 VIP | 6:35 VIP | 6:50 | 9:30 VIP | 9:45 (SUN-THURS) 4:30 VIP | 6:35 VIP | 6:50 | 9:30 VIP | 9:45 FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE (PG-13) (FRI - THURS) 4:10 BHOOL BHULAIYAA 2 (PG-13) (FRI) 8:00 PM (SAT) 11:30 AM | 8:15PM (SUN -THURS) 8:00 PM FIRESTARTER (R) (FRI) 10:00 (SAT) 5:50 (MON - THURS) 10:00 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 (PG) (FRI) 3:45 VIP | 4:00 (SAT) 12:30 VIP |3:45 VIP | 4:00 (SUN - THURS) 3:45 VIP | 4:00 THE LOST CITY (PG-13) (FRI) 5:10 | 7:20 | 7:30 VIP | 10:10 VIP (SAT) 1:15 | 7:30 VIP | 10:10 VIP (SUN) 5:10 | 7:20 | 7:30 VIP | 10:00 | 10:10 VIP (MON - THURS) 5:10 | 7:20 | 7:30 VIP | 10:10 VIP WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK KIDS CLUB THE LEGO MOVIE SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) KIDS CLUB THE BOSS BABY SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (G) CULTURE NT LIVE 2022: THE BOOK OF DUST - LA BELLE SAUVAGE SATURDAY 8:00PM (PG13) 10:10 VIP ENTER THE DRAGON TUESDAY 7PM VIP (R) CLASSICS 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 news in brief Weather radar won’t be ready for hurricane season The Cayman Islands National Weather Service said prolonged supply chain issues continue to hamper repairs to the Doppler radar, and the instrument will not be operational in time for the June start of the Atlantic hurricane season. In a statement released Friday, 13 May, CINWS Director General John Tibbetts said a crucial component needed for the repairs of the radar, which had been ordered in 2021, was expected to have arrived earlier this year. However, “the order is still in progress and no updated arrival date has been provided”. The Kearney Gomez Doppler Radar, which is located in High Rock, East End, is used to detect and track precipitation. The radar went offline on 21 Oct. last year and has been out-of-service since. “We continue to follow up with the radar manufacturer on the status of our order and are making every effort to get the radar up and running as soon as possible,” said Tibbetts in the statement. Increased cruise arrivals on the horizon The Cayman Islands government and the Florida- Caribbean Cruise Association have signed a ‘tailored strategic agreement’ which could see more cruise ships heading here. In a statement on 17 May, the FCCA said that through the agreement it “will not only collaborate with the Cayman Islands government on enhancing their product and increasing cruise calls, but also will facilitate new experiences to offer cruise companies and will work with the local private sector to maximize any opportunities”. Cayman resumed cruise tourism in March this year after a two-year hiatus, with the return of Disney Magic, the first ship to dock in Grand Cayman since the border was closed in 2020. Travel Cayman, quarantine cost government over $15 million Over the last two years, the Cayman Islands government has spent $15.7 million in operational costs for Travel Cayman and local quarantine facilities, an auditor general report has revealed. By the end of September 2021, the government spent $1.7 million operating Travel Cayman and its predecessor Travel Time, according to the report on government’s COVID-related finances. The report revealed that over the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has cost the Cayman Islands government at least $333 million, with almost $202 million spent on the COVID response and nearly $131 million in revenue lost mainly due to border closures. The Kearney Gomez Doppler Radar has been out of service for approximately seven months, as weather officials await a part for its repairs. WALKER HAYES AA COLE SWINDELL & LANEY WILSON PARMALEE JASON ALDEAN MORGAN WALLEN THOMAS RHETT TIM MCGRAW CARLY PEARCE & ASHLEY MCBRYDE NEVER SAY NEVER TAKE MY NAME WILD HEARTS TROUBLE WITH A HEARTBREAK WASTED ON YOU SLOW DOWN SUMMER 7500 OBO NEVER WANTED TO BE THAT GIRL COUNTRY COUNTDOWN KEITH URBAN 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 10 10 TOP TOP 10 10 HOSTED BY DR DOUG 11 LUKE COMBS DOIN THIS TUNE INTO CAYMAN COUNTRY ROOSTER 101.9FM'S AFTERNOON DRIVE WITH DR DOUG EVERY FRIDAY TO HEAR THE LIST! The report, a public interest audit carried out by the Office of the Auditor General and released on Thursday, 12 May, found that the highest costs at Travel Cayman, initially formed in 2020 as Travel Time, were related to staff costs. Travel Time was created to manage travel and quarantining in the Cayman Islands when borders closed in March 2020 and was later renamed Travel Cayman when restrictions began to change; those functions are still being carried out by Travel Cayman, and government has said the entity will continue to operate for the “foreseeable future”. However, there have been calls from the private sector to do away with the need for travel approval to enter Cayman, which some within the tourism industry have said presents a hindrance to tourists. cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 20 MAY 2022cayman compass 3 FRIDAY, 20 MAY 2022LUCILLE SEYMOUR “A great woman to follow,” my mother often said while I was growing up in George Town. She would say it louder, especially when her friend, Mr. Val Hurlston from South Sound, visited “Sybil Lopez, the South Sound Queen.” To us young women on Shedden Road, Ms Sybil was like a rock star, someone followed by crowds. She exemplified grace and sophistication. That lady had class and was as beautiful as Gina Lollobrigida. She could match clothes and wear them better than Coco Chanel. She was an incredible dancer, especially Latin dances and waltzes. When she entered a room, it was with majesty and poise, just like a dame or princess. Yes, that was our Ms Sybil, an example for all young girls to follow. My early connection with her came through my mother, who worked with Ms Sybil’s aunt, Nurse Annie Bush, at the George Town hospital. Ms Sybil lived with her aunt’s family. In those days, few women held government jobs, but Ms Sybil did. She was educated, knew shorthand, and was an exceptional typist. When she typed, her fingers glided as if on a piano. All of us wanted to be just like her. She was an exceptional woman. She played tennis, and we played, too. She made sure that the tennis court at the Annex was available for us to also play netball. What an accomplished woman to emulate! She was born to be great, and everyone liked her. She made time for us and ensured we young women got invitations to prestigious functions. There was something special about this woman. She never looked down on us nor said we were too young to be included. Of course, she corrected us when she felt we were mis- stepping with manners, dress or meeting people properly. When, under Ms Sybil’s leadership as a speaker, the Legislative Assembly brought overseas people for legislative matters, she made sure we assisted, and she groomed us on how to deliver with pride. She was like a Mother Teresa who looked out for us. She knew everybody and, at opportune times, made sure we understood them, too. Our great Caymanian mentor wanted us to be just like her. I remember when Dame Hilda Bynoe, governor-general of Grenada, opened the Legislative Assembly. I said to Ms Sybil that I wished I could meet the Dame. She only smiled and, when the opportunity came, she introduced me to Dame Hilda Bynoe and the incomparable Dame Eugenia Charles, prime minister of Dominica. I remember her beaming with that graceful smile and predicting: “I think she will be a politician one day.” I was reminded of it when she spoke on my behalf at my first political meeting in the year 2000. Empowerment We followed in her footsteps and became Business and Professional Club members. There were opportunities to empower ourselves, and she knew how to empower others. She regularly kept in touch and gave me lots of hints on the business of parliaments for if and when I got there. She accompanied me to receive my British Empire Medal in 1993. She said that day to me, “Lucille, you will do well in life. Keep working to help others be just like you.” Our interactions decreased when she moved to East End, but Ms Sybil never forgot to invite me for conviviality and a meal occasionally. I admired Ms Sybil and saw her as a mentor. Knowing her and her closeness to politics helped me take that bold step and throw my hat into the ring. She was an excellent example for us. It was also good to have someone of that stature recognise us and ensure we walked in her shadow. My mother was right: This South Sound Queen was a great woman to follow. Indeed, Ms Maud knew that she would become our heroine with her demeanour and love for country and duty. And today, we pause with a slight bow when we visit the Centennial Park. There is the woman who gauged us to follow her. Our South Sound Queen and Cayman National Hero. The memory of awarding her as a National Hero will be with me all my life. As the Permanent Secretary of Women, Youth, Community Affairs, Sports and Culture, I chaired the 1996 investiture ceremony for this virtuous woman to receive this great honour. I don’t think I have had such an honour in my entire life. This occasion lifted me with a national feeling to do such an act for a phenomenal woman — a great woman whose shoes I cannot fill but one who gave me so many opportunities to be a nation builder. Thank you, Honourable Sybil McLaughlin, MBE, JP. We shall not forget you. The generations shall hail you for encouraging and empowering others to be like you. National Hero Sybil McLaughlin passed away on 10 May at the age of 93. Remembering Sybil McLaughlin pic of the week Despite the clouds that at times obscured the night sky, people in Cayman were treated to some incredible views of a total lunar eclipse or, more specifically, a Super Flower Blood Moon, starting Sunday, 15 May, into early Monday. Moongazers here had the added advantage of Monday being a holiday, so they could stay up to enjoy the full show. In this composite image of photographs taken by two local photographers in Cayman, you can see the progress of the eclipse as the moon made its way across the sky, and turned steadily redder due to being lit by “sunsets all around the world”, as described by Tiyen Miller of the Cayman Islands Astronomical Society. - Photos: Progression image by Janet Jarchow, close-up image by Jeremy Walton Lunar eclipse brings blood red moon 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 Deportment (7) 5 Steep rock-face (5) 8 Principally (2,3,4) 9 Person’s destiny (3) 10 Something owed (4) 12 Get along well together (3,2,3) 14 Send out new growth (6) 15 Hiring charge (6) 17 Australian city (8) 18 Speak irritably (4) 21 Deserter (3) 22 Heavy-handed (3-6) 24 Form of propeller (5) 25 Indistinct (7) DOWN 1 Construct (5) 2 Perform part in play (3) 3 Separate piece of news (4) 4 Free of charge (6) 5 Take into account (8) 6 Unlawfully gained (3-6) 7 Decisive (7) 11 A lawyer (9) 13 Pantomime (4,4) 14 Outlying parts of city (7) 16 Ill feeling (6) 19 Growing rice (5) 20 Prima donna (4) 23 Excessively (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17009 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 17009 ACROSS: 1 Bearing, 5 Cliff, 8 In the main, 9 Lot, 10 Debt, 12 Hit it off, 14 Sprout, 15 Rental, 17 Brisbane, 18 Snap, 21 Rat, 22 Ham-fisted, 24 Screw, 25 Shadowy. DOWN: 1 Build, 2 Act, 3 Item, 4 Gratis, 5 Consider, 6 Ill-gotten, 7 Fateful, 11 Barrister, 13 Dumb show, 14 Suburbs, 16 Animus, 19 Paddy, 20 Diva, 23 Too. cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 20 MAY 2022 ULTRA LIFE Sagicor Ultra Life is an equity-linked insurance plan that gives you and your family the protection you need and attractive investment benefits. Take this flexible approach to your personal financial planning. Floriza MillerMarcia Robinson (345) 326-9343 (345) 917-2072 April 2022 OUTSTANDING ADVISORS Record-making Rush swims round Grand Cayman JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky After more than 36 hours in the water, Oly Rush staggered through a scrim of sargassum fringing the beach, hauled himself to his feet and raised his arms aloft to accept the applause of a large crowd gathered at West Bay Dock. He had set off, almost alone, from the same spot in the half-light at 5am the previous morning. Now the 37-year-old plasterer from Dorset, England, enters the history books as the first person to swim around Grand Cayman. Rush was greeted by friends, family and awed onlookers, briefly chanting “Oly, Oly, Oly”, as he completed the record- making swim on Tuesday, 17 May. An ambulance was waiting to check his vital signs after a superhuman performance, swimming 65 miles over the course of two days and one night. Despite the gruelling 65-mile effort, he had enough energy to accept hugs and high-fives from well wishers. His swim was in aid of Plastic Free Cayman to raise money and awareness of its mission to rid the waters around the islands of plastic pollution. “It just goes to show that when we come together, we can achieve the impossible,” Rush told the Cayman Compass. “Plastic pollution needs us all to take ownership of the problem.” Rush, who broke the record for swimming around the Isle of Wight in the UK last year, set off from West Bay in the early hours of Monday morning, 16 May. He had passed Barkers peninsula around 9am, heading for Rum Point. By 8pm that night, he had reached East End and was approaching the halfway point in his swim. “As we headed into sunset and the night portion of the swim, Oly continues to be strong, steady and in good spirits,” Plastic Free Cayman wrote in an emailed update from the safety boat on Monday night. Despite swimming in deep waters through the night, there were no shark encounters. The safety kayaks accompanying him were equipped with shark guards that create an electromagnetic field to repel predators. As the sun came up Tuesday, he had been swimming without pause for more than 24 hours and was approaching Bodden Town. After a day of toil against the currents, he hit George Town around 3pm, within touching distance of history. It was quicker progress from then on, and with crowds following his every move, he powered along Seven Mile Beach to the finish. Two teenagers, Jake Fagan, 14, and Ben Coak, 13, joined him for the final few miles, playing their part in a piece of sporting history for the islands. Claire Hughes, of Plastic Free Cayman, which helped organise the event, and put on safety boats for the swim, said she hoped Rush’s efforts would raise awareness and put the promise of a single-use plastic ban back on the table. She said everyone involved had played a big part in his success. “He is like Aquaman,” she said. “He is an elite athlete. The Caymankind we saw today, it raised his spirits and he rose to his feet and he stood at the end. I am so proud of him and I am proud of Cayman.” She said the swim had also raised funds for Plastic Free Cayman which hopes to hire staff on island and eventually open an office. Pointing to the plastic pollution in the shallows around where Rush had finished his swim, she said the problem had not gone away. “We want people to open their eyes to plastic pollution,” she said. “All governments in every country need to do more.” Additional reporting by Seaford Russell Jr. FOR MORE PHOTOS, SEE PAGE 15 In early 2020, it seemed like a ban on single-use plastics in the Cayman Islands was a done deal. In February that year, a steering committee set up by the Progressives- led government recommended legislation be implemented to ban these plastics from January 2021. But, then, a month later, the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting Cayman and the impetus to introduce the ban was lost as the islands battled the health crisis. Premier Wayne Panton, in his first budget address as leader of the PACT government, in November last year, said, “We are ready to move forward with the ban of single-use plastics... We do not believe in reinventing the wheel and will therefore resurrect the work previously done on that and move forward.” The Compass reached out to government for an update on the delayed plastics ban following Oly Rush's swim to highlight plastic pollution. The government's response, on 19 May, indicated that the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency and the Ministry of Health and Wellness are preparing to reconstitute the steering committee "with updated and more focused terms of reference and a new timeline for providing recommendations to the Government". It added, "It is anticipated that the recommendations of the new committee will come to Cabinet by the end of June and the Ministry expects to provide legislative drafting instructions by the end of the August." A Plastic Free Cayman spokesperson told the Compass, “Our government needs to understand that plastic pollution is not going away and will become exponentially worse unless we intervene. We encourage our ministers to join us on Sunday, 29 May’s beach clean-up event in order to see the severity of the problem Cayman and the world is facing.” Waiting on a plastics ban cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 20 MAY 2022 5cayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 20 MAY 2022 3-year-old back home after recovering from COVID complications JAMES WHITTAKER jwhittaker@compassmedia.ky After a three-month struggle to recover from a life-threatening condition believed to be caused by COVID-19, 3-year-old Imani Hanson is back home with a simple message for the people of Cayman: “Thank you.” The toddler, who had to be flown off the island for life-saving surgery in Jamaica, managed a few words with the Compass on her return home. “I was being brave in the hospital and I feel better now,” she said. “I flew on an aeroplane and came back to Cayman.” She said “thank you” to everyone who had helped her. The youngster was taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital on 21 Feb. suffering coughing fits and shortness of breath. She was found to have a collapsed lung and was put on a ventilator. Doctors said the issues were likely complications from a recent bout of COVID-19. A charity campaign spearheaded by Acts of Random Kindness helped raise more than $20,000 for a medical evacuation to the Bustamante Children’s Hospital in Kingston, where she received two surgeries in March. It was another five weeks, however, before she was declared fully fit and free to return to Cayman. Her mother Malonia said, “We want to thank everyone who helped to save her life, and especially ARK.” ‘More dangerous than I thought’ Prior to this, she said, she was not particularly concerned about COVID-19. She had been vaccinated and she had read it was not a severe threat to children. “I would not have been concerned when she had a cold or something like that, but after taking her to the [Health Services Authority] and them saying it was related to COVID, it raised a lot of red flags,” she said. “It is a lot more dangerous than I actually thought.” At one stage, she said, she feared she could lose her daughter. Imani was on a ventilator for nearly a month and complications with the family’s insurance meant that, until ARK stepped in, there was no certainty she could be transported to Jamaica for surgery. But now, thanks to the help of doctors both in Cayman and Jamaica and the kindness of the community, Malonia said, her daughter is back to full health. “We are so happy and so grateful to everyone,” she said. The family arrived back in Cayman on 26 April. Shortage in US leading to concerns RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky Cayman’s stores have begun sourcing baby formula from countries other than the United States, following a shortage of the product there as a result of recent recalls and supply challenges. Julian Foster, senior marketing manager at Foster’s, told the Compass that stores were “working with our vendors to ensure we’re able to continue to receive product”. He added, “While we are facing some challenges due to the supply issues in the US, we’re looking for alternative supply in other markets to ensure we’re able to continue to have product on the shelf.” The US reported shortages of baby formula this month, following supply-chain disruptions and safety recalls. More imports heading to Cayman “We still have some large varieties of Enfamil, Similac, Cow & Gate, Lasco in-store at Hurley’s... [and have] a large supplement coming directly from the UK in the next month,” Erin French, the supermarket’s manager, told the Compass. French explained that what distributors are seeing with baby formula mirrors what they have experienced over the past two years with other products, since supply chains started to be affected by COVID. “The manufacturers simplify their range and stop production of their smaller brands/lower volume, [and] prioritize manufacturing of their core range,” she said. At Kirk Market, marketing manager Camille Humphreys said shelves are stocked and parents need not worry. “Apart from the brands affected by the Abbott recall, we currently do not have any stock or supply-chain issues with our other baby formula brands. However, we will continue to monitor the situation closely and work with our suppliers to ensure our stock levels of the unaffected brands remain uninterrupted,” Humphreys said. Nonetheless, some mothers continue to report difficulty in getting hold of the formulas they’ve been giving their babies. The most impacted brand is the Similac line of products which were recalled by the US FDA. Recalls In February, the US Food and Drug Administration advised consumers not to use recalled Similac, Alimentum or EleCare powdered formulas, after reports of illnesses among infants who had consumed these products, manufactured in Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis facility in Michigan. The shutdown of the massive plant, coupled with panic buying by retailers and customers, led to the ongoing shortage in the US. On Monday, 16 May, the FDA relaxed importation rules on certain infant formula products into the US to increase their availability. Enfamil’s manufacturer, Reckitt Benckiser, in a statement to Cayman’s Progressive Distributors, indicated that in response to shortages, it has instituted a number of measures, including shipping over 30% more product in the first quarter to ease the pressure on the market. The manufacturer said it is running factories 24/7 with three shifts per day, and focussing on larger-size products. “We have also significantly increased our quality assurance resources to make sure our rigorous safety standards are maintained... We understand that this situation is worrisome to parents and know how important infant formula is for babies and children who rely on it. We are doing all we can to reduce disruption,” Reckitt Benckiser said in its statement. Cayman bolstering baby formula supplies ‘Miracle’ child thanks Cayman “I was being brave in the hospital and I feel better now.” Imani Hanson, age 3 Imani Hanson, 3, with her mother Malonia. – PHOTO: JAMES WHITTAKERAetna, 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. ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Law students in their fi nal year of studies have paired up with practising lawyers to offer advice on civil claims of up to $20,000, as well as criminal, traffi c and family matters – all free to the public. The student-led initiative, the Cayman Islands Legal Assistance Clinic, is a partnership between the Truman Bodden Law School, Judicial Administration, the Cayman Islands Legal Advisory Council and the Cayman Islands Legal Practitioners Association. The students will also be able to advise on landlord-tenant issues, employment, immigration and human rights. “The advice is being given by students who are currently completing their [Professional Practice Course] and are studying to sit their bar exams,” Andrew Perkins, a lecturer at the Truman Bodden Law School, told the Compass. “Which means they know the law more than anyone right now because it is still fresh in their minds.” Perkins and former prosecutor Darlene Oko, the project’s facilitators, were assigned the task of bringing it to fruition by Chief Justice Anthony Smellie, QC, who is set to retire later this year. “It’s a fi rst of its kind for Cayman, and we expect it to be a tremendous benefi t for the community because it is accessible to everyone from the zillionaires to the paupers and everyone in between,” Oko told the Compass. To draw inspiration for the clinic, Oko and Perkins said they looked around the Caribbean, Canada and the UK and “took a little bit of the best from each section”. “The end result is that we have a perfectly unique model for Cayman that we believe will fi t the needs of the community and students alike,” said Oko. The clinic will be open one evening a month in the former Scotia Bank building in George Town. To receive advice, people must make appointments in advance and provide details about their questions. “The students then research the topic, and with the help of our friends from CILPA, they draft responses, letters of engagement,” said Perkins, who added that a bonus for the students is the chance to make lasting partnerships with infl uential lawyers. “These students will be getting ready to do their articles in the near future, and when they do go to the interview, they may very well see familiar faces of lawyers who they’ve worked with at the clinic,” he said. “Additionally, our students have worked so hard and learned so much that this is now a wonderful opportunity for them to put those skills into practice.” Anyone looking to book an appointment at the clinic should email cilac@judicial.ky or call 244-3798. Free legal advice clinic launched From left, senior lecturer of the Truman Bodden Law School Andrew Perkins; CILPA representative Richard Barton; TBLS director Mitchell Davies; legal counsel for the project Darlene Oko; Chief Justice Anthony Smellie; personal assistant to the chief justice Hilde Smith; and court administrator Suzanne Bothwell. - Photo: Government Information Services cayman compass 7 news N news FRIDAY, 20 MAY 2022A minute's silence to be observed 20 May RESHMA RAGOONATH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky People gathered at the Parliament building on Thursday, 19 May, to pay their respects to National Hero Sybil McLaughlin as she lay in state. A national day of mourning will be marked on Friday, 20 May, for her offi cial funeral, as Cayman says its fi nal farewell to McLaughlin, who was affectionately known as Ms Sybil in the community. Members of the public have been invited to pay their respects at Parliament. She passed away on 10 May, at the age of 93. Cayman Islands fl ags were fl own at half- mast in honour of McLaughlin, who was the fi rst clerk as well as fi rst Speaker of the House. A live broadcast of the ceremonial fl ag lowering and lying in state at the House of Parliament were broadcast through 19 May. Government Information Services, in a statement on 18 May announcing the national day of mourning, said that a minute of silence will be marked across all three islands to honour McLaughlin. “Members of the public are asked to pay their respects to the beloved departed National Hero and join in the offi cial Day of Mourning by observing a minute of silence at 9am on the day,” the statement added. All radio stations have also been asked to pause their broadcasts for one minute of silence at that time. All uniform branches have been requested to wear black armbands or ribbons on the day as well. Procession, hero’s farewell planned The offi cial funeral for Cayman’s national hero will take place at Elmslie Memorial United Church from 1pm. After the conclusion of the service, a ‘Hero’s Farewell’ will take place at Heroes Square, which will include a 21-gun salute by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. “The emotive cadences of the Last Post and Reveille will also be sounded. The offi cial fl ag draping the casket will be removed, folded and presented to the family,” the statement said. Acting Governor Franz Manderson, Premier Wayne Panton and other current and former Members of Parliament are expected to attend. The fi nal funeral procession will move from Heroes Square through South Church Street, turn on to Walkers Road past McLaughlin’s home and on to Bodden Funeral Home. No graveside service will be held, offi cials said. McLaughlin received an MBE in 1967 for organising the fi rst Commonwealth Parliamentary Association regional conference held in the Cayman Islands. A history of fi rsts She was declared a National Hero in 1996, the second individual to receive that honour, after the late Jim Bodden in 1994. McLaughlin was the fi rst living person and the fi rst woman to be so honoured by the Cayman Islands government. In 1959, when Cayman received its fi rst written Constitution, McLaughlin was appointed as the fi rst clerk of the constitution committee. She was also the clerk of the Executive Council, now Cabinet. Condolence books have been opened for members of the community to submit messages to the bereaved family and pay their respects. An online form for condolences can be found at www.gov.ky/ national-heroes/mrs-sybil. According to a notice from Bodden Funeral Service, in lieu of fl owers, donations should be made to the Business and Professional Woman’s Club which will be giving an award in McLaughlin’s name. Donations can be sent to BPWC’s Butterfi eld Bank account number 02101031492. National day of mourning for ‘Ms Sybil’ RCIPS offi cers provide a guard of honour over the coffi n of National Hero Sybil McLaughlin as she lies in state at the Parliament building on 19 May. - Photo: Andrel Harris “Members of the public are asked to pay their respects to the beloved departed National Hero and join in the offi cial Day of Mourning” Sybil McLaughlin cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 20 MAY 2022 8CONTACT: T: 9495111 E: SALESCOMPASSMEDIA.KY MEDICAL RESOURCE & DIRECTORY FOR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS FEATURING A NEW SECTION ON TOURISM HEALTHCARE! IN PRINT & ONLINE PUBLISHED FRIDAY, 27 AUGUST 2022 BOOK YOUR AD SPACE OR SPONSORED CONTENT! BOOKING DEADLINES DISPLAY ADS AND SPONSORED CONTENT FRIDAY, 1 JULY - -0.4% 3.2% 1.2% 2.7% -7.2% 1.2%1.3% 2.7% 2.8% 3.2% 3.2% 4.3% 3.9% -5.7% 20202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007 cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 20 MAY 2022Next >