cayman compass Your most trusted news source Established 1965 $1 | Funding local journalism | Weekly, 12-18 August 2022 Hungry households lean on charities for help Pages 18-21 Miss Cayman Universe faces court on assault charges Page 10 Fraud and football: Executives stand trial Page 3 2 8 $ for Yumbo Ham & Cheese Whopper® Crispy Chicken Original Chicken Sandwich Big Fish Mix n’ Match © 2022 Burger King Corporation. Make it spicy Make it spicyJamaican murder suspect among 4 detained in Cayman by police A Jamaican national wanted for murder by that country’s authorities, identified as Neville Peter Butler, 27, was among four men arrested in an operation in Cayman over the weekend, police have said. He is the second Jamaican murder suspect arrested on local shores in recent weeks. Last month, Rudolph Almando Shaw, who was wanted in Jamaica for multiple murders, was arrested in Cayman. He was “escorted” out of Cayman by police and Customs and Border Control officers on 27 July in accordance with section 101(3) of the Customs and Border Control Act, 2021 Revision. Butler, according to a Royal Cayman Islands Police Service statement issued on 8 Aug., is wanted for murder by Jamaican authorities and is also believed to have been the man who fled during the arrest of Shaw on 8 July. On Saturday, 6 Aug., Butler’s time on the run ended when RCIPS officers stopped a vehicle on Batabano Road, West Bay. The RCIPS said as the driver stopped, one of the occupants was seen throwing a package from the vehicle; it was found to contain suspected ganja. All four men were arrested on suspicion of possession of ganja. Police said it was later confirmed that three of the occupants – ages 27, 29, and 29 and all Jamaican nationals – were on island illegally. Butler was among those three. They were also arrested on suspicion of illegal landing. A fourth Jamaican man, age 34, is a work-permit holder. Police are continuing their investigations. Man jailed for smuggling cocaine in canned cheese A 35-year-old man, who is believed to have been the mastermind behind a failed attempt to import 22 ounces of cocaine in a can of ‘Tastee Cheese’, has been jailed for 11 years. Andre Caine, who is originally from Jamaica and was residing in the Rock Hole area of George Town, was arrested in April 2020. According to court documents, Customs and Border Control officers found the can of cheese in the luggage of Odain Davis, who arrived at the Owen Roberts International Airport on a Cayman Airways flight from Kingston, Jamaica, on 20 April 2020. He told officers he was simply carrying the suitcase to Cayman as a request from a friend – identified as Joseph Caine, 27, of Jamaica, who was later arrested. Caine denied any knowledge of the failed drug smuggling, saying he had asked Davis to carry the suitcase as a favour for his cousin Andre Caine. Upon his arrest, Andre Caine also denied any knowledge of the drug. He was convicted of two counts of importation of a controlled drug following a Grand Court trial in January 2022, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison in May. His sentence was reduced by 114 days for time spent in custody and on an electronic monitor tag. Davis and Joseph Caine were also charged, and eventually acquitted by the jury. Stolen kiteboarding gear recovered in East End Police have returned kiteboarding equipment worth about $30,000 to its owner after finding the gear in bushes in East End nearly six weeks after it was stolen in West Bay. The equipment was taken from a trailer at Kitesurf Cayman on Barkers Beach on 20 June this year. Among the gear stolen from the kitesurfing school were 20 kites, 10 boards, 20 harnesses and at least eight helmets. Some of the equipment belonged to Wind4Future, a charity that provides free kiteboarding instruction to Caymanian teens. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, in a statement issued 9 Aug., said police received a report of a large blue bag found in the bushes by a new development on Farm Road, East End on Thursday, 4 Aug. The equipment matched the description of the items stolen from Kitesurf Cayman, whose owner, Jhon Mara, and a colleague confirmed to police the following day that it was the missing gear. Almost all of the stolen equipment was recovered, apart from one kiteboard and six helmets, police said. Police are asking anyone who may have information about the outstanding stolen equipment to contact the Bodden Town Police Station on 947-2220. Driver arrested in fatal George Town crash Police have arrested a 39-year- old woman on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving in relation to a fatal collision in which 20-year-old Aleiny Reve Villegas was killed in the early hours of 8 Aug. The arrested driver, and the other two occupants of the car were injured in the crash that occurred around 3:40am on Eastern Avenue, near Shedden Road. One of the passengers remained in hospital Thursday with serious, but non-life- threatening injuries, police said. Revé Villegas, who worked at Foster's Camana Bay, had moved to Cayman from Cuba in 2016 when she was 15 years old. Her family is in the process of trying to repatriate her body to Cuba and have started a fundraising page for donations. Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. They are “particularly interested in speaking to the driver of a small sedan who may have witnessed the collision”. The RCIPS said CCTV footage shows the sedan was passed just before the collision occurred. The driver parked nearby and ran to assist, and was the first person on the scene. The driver is asked to contact PC 244 Jameson of the Traffic and Roads Policing Unit at 939-5722. news in brief Kitesurfers at Barkers Beach. - Photo: Alvaro Serey FIND US ONLINE Caymancompass.com Facebook.com/Caycompass cayman_compass@cayCompassCayman Compass PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY: Cayman Compass Ltd. Compass Centre, Shedden Road, George Town, Cayman Islands SEND US YOUR VIEWS OR NEWS: P.O. Box 1365 Grand Cayman, KY1-1108 Cayman Islands Telephone: (345) 815-0095 Email: newsdesk@compassmedia.ky ADVERTISE WITH US: T: (345) 949-5111 E: sales@compassmedia.ky W: caymancompass.com NEWS EDITOR CAROLINE JAMES BUSINESS EDITOR MICHAEL KLEIN ISSUES EDITOR JAMES WHITTAKER LIVING EDITOR VICKI WHEATON HEAD OF SALES CHERYL BIRCH-GILLIES weather Friday Forecast FORECAST Partly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of showers. SEA STATE Slight to moderate with a wave height of 2 to 4 feet. WINDS East to southeast at 10 to 15 knots. 87°F HIGH 77°F LOW cayman compass 2 N news FRIDAY, 12 AUGUST 2022 Matinees (matinee price before 6pm) • Seniors $9.00 (Mon-Fri before 6pm) Additional charges apply per 3D/VIP tickets 640-FILM (640-3456) Cayman Cinema@cbcinema6cbcinema6 SATURDAY NIGHT: For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted to any lm starting after 6pm, unless accompanied by their parent. BULLET TRAIN (FRI) 1:10 | 1:30 VIP | 3:25 | 7:00 | 7:20 VIP | 9:35 VIP | 9:55 VIP (SAT) 1:10 | 1:45 | 4:00| 7:00 | 7:20 VIP | 9:35 VIP | 9:55 VIP (MON-THURS) 1:10 | 1:45 | 4:00| 7:00 | 7:20 VIP | 9:35 VIP | 9:55 VIP DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS (PG) (FRI) 12:50 | 6:45 (SAT) 1:25 | 4:05 VIP | 6:45 (SUN) 4:00 | 4:05 VIP | 6:45 (MON-WED) 1:25 | 4:05 VIP | 6:45 (THURS) 12:50 | 6:45 ELVIS (PG-13) (FRI) 6:40 VIP | 9:20 (SAT) 3:15 | 6:40 VIP | 9:20 (SUN) 3:15 | 6:40 VIP | 8:00 | 9:20 | 9:35 VIP (MON-THURS) 3:15 | 6:40 VIP | 9:20 MINIONS:THE RISE OF GRU (PG) (SAT) 12:35 | 1:50 VIP | 3:50 (SUN) 3:50 | 4:35 (MON-WED) 12:35 | 1:50 VIP | 3:50 (THURS) 12:35 | 3:50 WHAT’S PLAYING THIS WEEK FALL (PG-13) (FRI) 1:00 VIP | 3:50 VIP | 4:10 | 7:00 VIP | 7:25 | 10:00 | 10:20 VIP (SAT) 1:00 VIP | 3:50 VIP | 4:45 | 7:00 VIP | 7:25 | 10:00 | 10:20 VIP (SUN) 3:50 VIP | 4:15 | 7:00 VIP | 7:25 | 10:00 | 10:20 VIP (MON) 1:00 VIP | 3:50 VIP | 4:45 | 7:00 VIP | 7:25 | 10:00 | 10:20 VIP (TUES) 1:00 VIP | 3:50 VIP | 4:45 | 7:25 | 10:00 | 10:20 VIP (WED) 1:00 VIP | 3:50 VIP | 4:45 | 7:00 VIP | 7:25 | 10:00 | 10:20 VIP (THURS) 4:25 VIP | 4:45 | 7:25 | 10:00 | 10:20 THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER (PG-13) (FRI) 4:30 VIP | 6:50 | 9:40 | 10:10 VIP (SAT) 1:00 | 4:30 VIP | 6:50 | 9:40 | 10:10 VIP (SUN) 6:50 | 7:30 VIP | 9:40 | 10:10 VIP (MON-WED) 1:00 | 4:30 VIP | 6:50 | 9:40 | 10:10 VIP (THURS) 1:00 | 6:50 | 9:40 | 10:10 VIP For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted KIDS CLUB EMOJI MOVIE SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted KIDS CLUB COCO SATURDAY 10AM VIP AVAILABLE (PG) For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted DR. NO TUESDAY 7PM VIP (PG) CLASSICS For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted For your viewing pleasure, minors under the age of 18 will not be admitted FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE THURSDAY 7PM VIP (PG) CLASSICSTrial of soccer execs Canover Watson and Bruce Blake under way MICHAEL KLEIN mklein@compassmedia.ky Witnesses for the prosecution have been testifying during the first week of a fraud trial against Canover Watson, who is accused of conning regional football governing body CONCACAF out of US$1.54 million. His former fellow football executive Bruce Blake is charged with helping Watson transfer and launder the stolen money. The trial started in Grand Court on Friday, 5 Aug., five years after the two men’s initial arrest and three years after they were charged. Watson, a former treasurer of the Cayman Islands Football Association and former member of CONCACAF, is charged with receiving secret commissions, transferring criminal property and false accounting. Blake, also a former CONCACAF and CIFA executive, is facing money- laundering-related and false- accounting charges. Both men have pleaded not guilty. Trial opens In her opening statement, Eloise Marshall, QC, for the Crown, told the jury that the indictment may sound complicated, but the alleged offences were “actually quite simple”. “At the heart of this case is a theft by Mr. Watson,” she said. “And having stolen the money, he set about spending it or laundering it. He was assisted in doing that by Mr. Blake.” The prosecution alleges that Watson, through Forward Sports International Management, a company he controlled in Panama, issued three fake invoices amounting to US$1.54 million to CONCACAF for sports equipment that was never delivered. At CONCACAF, the prosecution said, the false invoices were “waved through” by general secretary Enrique Sanz, who was appointed by then CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb, Watson’s friend and close associate. Forward Sports International Management had a similar name, but was unrelated, to Forward Sports (pvt) Ltd from Pakistan. CONCACAF had an existing business relationship with the sports equipment maker in Pakistan because Watson had established a distribution company, Forward Sports Inc., in Panama, together with Kaleel Khawaja, a sales representative for the company, with the aim of promoting the brand within the Caribbean and Central American region. But the Crown asserts that neither Khawaja nor CONCACAF were aware of the second Forward Sports company that was entirely owned and controlled by Watson. It is alleged that Watson used genuine invoices by Forward Sports as a cover for, and in the creation of, the fake ones sent by his own company. CONCACAF paid $1.54M, but ‘no goods received’ On Monday, 9 Aug., the second day of the trial, the court heard evidence from CONCACAF’s head of finance, David Cruz, who in 2013 processed more than $1.5 million in payments to the Panamanian company allegedly controlled by Watson. Cruz, a finance supervisor at the time, testified that the payments were made on the instruction of Enrique Sanz, then-secretary general at CONCACAF, but that there was no record of the organisation ever receiving any of the goods they paid for. Cruz told the court that he knew Watson in 2013 because the former CIFA treasurer served on CONCACAF’s finance committee when the payments were made. However, Cruz said he was not aware of any affiliation between Watson and Forward Sports. The finance supervisor said he did not question the three invoices but confirmed that they had not been part of the organisation’s budget. Jonathan Martinez, the head of Professional Football Development at CONCACAF, told the jury Tuesday that he unsuccessfully tried to track down the pre-paid, invoiced sports equipment from vendor company Forward Sports in Panama. One of the allegedly fraudulent bills for 15,000 ushers’ vests for the 2013 Gold Cup was sent a week after the football tournament started and the quantity was unrealistic and excessive, he said. When cross-examined by Dapinder Singh, QC, defence counsel for Watson, Martinez confirmed that Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Commission investigators years later had shown him documents to review and comment on that he had not seen before. Singh put to the witness that there were senior officials at the organisation who would not necessarily share all information with him, for example, in relation CONCACAF’s commercial activities. The defence counsel noted that senior managers had the ability to make ad-hoc decisions, change orders, or, like Webb, use existing stock to give a “Christmas present” to every member organisation of CONCACAF in the form of hundreds of footballs. CONCACAF’s development department was also separate from its competition department, Singh said. The defence counsel pointed to differences between invoices, pro- forma invoices, order confirmations and shipping invoices relating to Forward Sports orders, which indicated that orders had been split into several shipments or altered later on. “If you don’t have the full picture, it is reasonable to assume that you can make errors and mistakes,” he added. In reference to the order of 15,000 ushers’ vests for the 2013 Gold Cup event, Singh said, “You weren’t aware why these vests were required […] but someone else clearly was,” Singh said. Martinez said he attended the event and watched the opening match, two group matches, a quarter-final, a semi-final and the final across various cities in the US. “I am 100% certain I did not see any CONCACAF vests,” he added. Witness ‘puzzled’ by Panama company structure Forward Sports sales manager Khawaja, who according to corporate documents sent to him by Watson was the 51% shareholder of Forward Sports Inc in Panama, testified Thursday that he was “puzzled” by the various Forward Sports company names mentioned in his conversations with Watson. Khawaja told the jury that he was presented by Watson with incorporation documents for a Cayman-based Forward Sports company in his name that he had not authorised and that he “was not happy about”. He had previously told Watson that he could imagine setting up a company in the Caribbean, possibly even in Cayman, so that somebody would be on the ground to take care of business whenever he was absent. Watson then established a company in Panama under the name Forward Sports Inc and presented him with incorporation documents, Khawaja said. The other shareholder in the document was Green Day Foundation, which Khawaja said he believed to be an investor represented by Watson. “It was only much later that other facts transpired,” he said. The jury was shown an email in which Khawaja asked Watson whether any other Forward Sports companies were active and what their ownership structure was. Watson in response sent a corporate diagram showing Forward Sports International Management Inc as a related company owned by Forwards Sports Inc. Asked who he thought owned Forward Sports International Management, Khawaja said, he believed it to be same shareholders as Forward Sports Inc., “but I don’t know how these things work”. The trial continues Friday. Crown: $1.54M stolen in football fraud case Canover Watson, left, and Bruce Blake are facing fraud-related charges. Charges • Canover Watson is charged with receiving secret commissions, transferring criminal property and false accounting. • Bruce Blake is charged with money- laundering and false accounting cayman compass 3 news N news FRIDAY, 12 AUGUST 20221234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 1234567 89 101112 13 1415 16 171819 20 212223 2425 ACROSS 1 The status of celebrity (7) 5 Dried grain stalks (5) 8 Without precedent (7-2) 9 Signal for action (3) 10 Neat (4) 12 Logically thought-out (8) 14 Extract essence of (6) 15 Inducement (6) 17 Speed (8) 18 Natural aptitude (4) 21 Possess (3) 22 Writer of malicious letters (6,3) 24 Austere (5) 25 Deteriorate (2,2,3) DOWN 1 Retard growth of (5) 2 A forest tree (3) 3 Elicit (4) 4 Irritate intensely (6) 5 A sentimental weakness (4,4) 6 Restore to friendship (9) 7 Coax by flattery (7) 11 Without speaking (2,7) 13 Vital component part (8) 14 Underhand (7) 16 Series (6) 19 Firmly held belief (5) 20 Dash away suddenly (4) 23 Seed of apple etc. (3) The Compass Crossword Puzzle The Compass universal kakuro Puzzle 17081 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 17081 ACROSS: 1 Stardom, 5 Straw, 8 Unheard-of, 9 Cue, 10 Trim, 12 Reasoned, 14 Distil, 15 Motive, 17 Velocity, 18 Bent, 21 Own, 22 Poison pen, 24 Stern, 25 Go to pot. DOWN: 1 Stunt, 2 Ash, 3 Draw, 4 Madden, 5 Soft spot, 6 Reconcile, 7 Wheedle, 11 In silence, 13 Linchpin, 14 Devious, 16 String, 19 Tenet, 20 Bolt, 23 Pip. pic of the week Cayman was treated to an incredible display of lightning during a rainstorm on Tuesday evening, 9 Aug. The sky was lit up by spectacular forked lightning bolts flashing both vertically and horizontally, accompanied by equally impressive claps of thunder. Brian Phelps was able to snap this split- second shot of lightning taking over the sky. Nature’s light show Calls for answers as ‘fearless’ service dog dies in police care This is just a reflection of the lack of protective measures, education and accountability for animal owners on island. This happened within our ‘police force’, imagine what’s happening amongst the citizens. Something’s gotta give and something’s gotta change. Animals deserve more than this, they behave more like humans than we do sometimes. Disgraceful, to say the least. – Abby Guilmette This speaks volumes. – Cindy Oostvogels We need justice. – Amanda Castaneda Wilson They need to be held accountable and if neglect is determined, they should be prosecuted and pay the price. – Laurie L Welcome The person who would do this to a service dog should be made to endure the same treatment that the poor dog had to endure. – Jill Tibbetts Tuley This is a sick sad story. Someone has to pay. – George Nowak Cayman’s permanent residency points system under review I hope this review considers more than owning real estate. I can agree real estate is a considerable commitment, but most of those buying same use it as an investment property so the real benefit is still to the individual, not the country. – Betty Ebanks Can it be changed that you can only own property once you have residency, so our islands aren’t bought up by a bunch of billionaires? – Miriam Foster I think that doesn’t make sense. How about the people who live and work here for years without permanent residency? Why shouldn’t they be allowed to buy a home? – Pekko Kuusela This should have been reviewed a long time ago, but it’s good it’s being [done] now. I am not understanding how it has been so easy for people to get permanent residency in Cayman. – Donna Parchment More than 25 turtle hatchlings lost due to condo lights Really how difficult is it to install amber bulbs? It’s even better for us as they don’t affect our night vision. Should have been planning regulation for all beachfront properties from years ago. – Jesse La Another example of animal welfare not taken seriously, and such a simple solution. How hard is it? – Paula Wythe Yes, all beachfront properties should be fined if we had laws to protect. Fined per day. – Verity Radford Cayman continues to not prioritise their most valuable resource, the environment. We have noticed a decline in everything from coral and sea life to increased garbage all over the island to building the large resorts which bring in more people than the area [can] handle without consequences. – Alice Hamernik McNally All they have to do is change the lights. With all the money these condos are making, they could surely invest in light changes; it’s not even that expensive. – Ayala Felner Hananel How hard is it for the Department of Tourism to take an ATV ride up and down the beach and note all the condos with inappropriate lighting and get it sorted? – Michele Brown Ebanks They are disturbingly blinding for people walking at night along the beach. Imagine the poor baby creatures! – Linda Mary McPeek I would like to understand what the difference is between these turtles and the ones I see advertised as a delicacy in turtle stew around the Island. Honestly curious, not a provocative question. Thanks! – Charlotte Bailey Can Cayman succeed without population growth? I just wish it was not overdeveloped. My wife and I have been visitors for the past 24 years, on island three or four times a year. I miss the small island feel and look. I remember when they built The Ritz and I hated the size and height and it’s gotten worse since then. It’s just sad to see it all change. – Brian Branco Brian Branco, thank you for being such a loyal visitor to Our Beloved Isles. I’m glad you got to experience Cayman pre-Ivan, as the building boom kicked off soon after and has really ramped up since the pandemic. I’m sorry we refuse to tame this juggernaut and are quickly becoming 1979 Miami. The vast majority of generational Caymanians that I know despise the direction we’re going as well. – Eden Hurlston What they’re saying Online cayman compass 4 news N news FRIDAY, 12 AUGUST 2022ANDREL HARRIS aharris@compassmedia.ky Since 1994, brothers Prentice and Stanley Panton have owned and operated the Reflections chain of liquor, food and clothing stores. During that time, they’ve grown their business from a single outlet with a handful of employees to multiple locations and a staff complement of 75 people. Over the years, the men say they have learned many valuable lessons, but perhaps the most surprising is that robberies and other petty crimes are an apparent cost of “doing business” in Cayman. “This has happened to me over 15 years now, so I would say, yes, this is a part of doing business,” said Prentice Panton, who added that he wasn’t desensitised to the situation, but, instead, had come to terms with the unrelenting scourge of crime he has had to deal with to keep his business afloat. His comments came days after the latest robbery at his Reflections Food4Less store along Airport Road, George Town. The incident, which was caught on CCTV, shows a lone robber rushing through two sets of doors, brandishing what appears to be a black handgun, then throwing a yellow cloth bag at an employee and demanding he “fill it with all the cash”. The robbery lasted about one minute. The gunman threatened to shoot or kill Melvin Moran five times, during those 60 seconds. Moran, a father of five young children, is the sole provider for his family back in the Philippines. Three days after the incident, he was still visibly shaken by the ordeal. “I’ve never been in a situation like that before, and all I could think was that one wrong move and either I will live or I will die because the guy is too aggressive,” Moran told the Compass, speaking in his native Tagalog. Covered from head to toe with a hat, a long-sleeved shirt, jeans and gloves, the robber’s identity was concealed. After securing an undisclosed amount of petty cash, he fled on foot. ‘Frustrations’ with the system According to the crime statistics released by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, serious and volume crimes have trended downwards in the past decade. During that time, 407 robberies, 5,210 burglaries, and 7,229 thefts were reported to the police. However, there are no details on how many of those cases were solved, abandoned, or remain active. “My frustrations, other than we have been robbed, is that really the persons have never been brought to justice... because we know who these individuals are,” said Prentice. He pointed to a burglary that happened 10 years ago, during which the thieves were caught calling each other’s names on camera, as one of many incidents where the crooks were never arrested or questioned. The Compass has seen CCTV footage of that incident at the store, located off Godfrey Nixon Way. Names are audible in the recording. No one was prosecuted. “We often catch people shoplifting, we always call the police,” Prentice said. “I can say I have only ever been to court once in 28 years of business and we have caught hundreds of people.” “My fear is that others will see this and say to themselves that they can get away with it too, which is just going to lead to an increase in these types of crimes,” he said. Jailed criminals should ‘serve full sentences’ Over the years, Prentice Panton has sought out ways to try to deter would-be criminals and to protect his staff and customers. “We have spent millions on various security features, systems and upgrades, and still we keep getting robbed,” he said. “At this stage, we would have saved that money if we hadn’t spent it and instead just offer up the petty cash during the incidents. In the end, our internal systems and policies failed, and we ended up helping the robber.” He told the Compass that the majority of the offenders who have been caught either shoplifting or robbing the store are repeat offenders, who take advantage of Cayman’s judicial system to either delay potential jail time or get out early upon conviction. “The system and laws are in place for a reason, and we need to jail these people and make them serve the full sentence before we consider releasing them back into the community,” said Stanley Panton. “There is no point in just releasing someone because they served a portion of prison time.” Cayman’s recidivism rate currently stands at 42%, down significantly from 63% nine years ago. According to the latest data, as of 30 June 2022, 62 inmates, or 42% of the prison population, were returned to custody for re- offending within the past two years of being reintegrated into society. Stanley Panton believes that a percentage of those re-offending inmates are fuelling the crimes upon early release. “I took the first and second persons to have ever been released from prison under the early release programme and gave them a job,” he said. “At that time, they had served their sentence and, after being rehabilitated, they were ready to return to the community.” “But now we release them early to no jobs and no rehabilitation, so they return to a life of crime,” he added. ‘More protection needed’ The persistent wave of crime has left Prentice Panton calling for his staff to be equipped with items such as bulletproof vests and/or pepper spray, to protect themselves – but he fears those calls are falling on deaf ears. “I have always believed that bulletproof vests, even if they had to be licensed… or pepper spray for women leaving work late at night, or exercising early in the morning, these are things that could be used [for protection],” said Panton. He said initial conversations with police about allowing the public or store clerks to access these items were shot down. “My argument about that – they didn’t think we should have these things because the criminals could have it – is that the criminals have guns,” he said. “If they have the ability to get these weapons, which they have, they certainly have the ability to get pepper spray or bulletproof vests if they choose.” He says, going forward, he hopes police and lawmakers will reconsider their stance on protective items, which could help to deter robberies, or even save a life should a robbery go wrong. ‘the cost of doing business’ in Cayman “We have spent millions on various security features, systems and upgrades, and still we keep getting robbed.” Stanley Panton, Reflections Group CrimeCrime Brothers Prentice Panton, left, and Stanley Panton watch the security video of the latest robbery at their store. – Photo Taneos Ramsay A lone gunman threatened to kill staff, and made off with an undisclosed sum of cash. Anyone with information that could lead to his arrest is asked to call 911. Prentice Panton, owner and CEO of Reflections Group cayman compass news N news FRIDAY, 12 AUGUST 2022 5NORMA CONNOLLY nconnolly@compassmedia.ky The demolition of two old Caymanian buildings at the George Town waterfront over the weekend has highlighted the absence of any legal protections for the preservation of historic structures in the Cayman Islands. On Saturday, two neighbouring houses dating back to the 1930s, on North Church Street, were bulldozed to the ground. Both were on the National Trust’s Heritage Register. One of the houses, listed as Benny Bodden’s House on the register, was operating as Da Fish Shack restaurant until just a few days before it was demolished. The second house, listed as Ainsley Bodden’s House, had in recent years been the site of an art gallery. While the National Trust for the Cayman Islands has taken the lead in registering historic buildings across all three islands, successive governments have failed to introduce legislation that would mandate the preservation of any of the sites listed in the Trust’s registry, or put in place any conditions relating to relocation of old buildings. In 2017, for example, the Progressives-led government issued the ‘National Culture and Heritage Policy and Strategic Plan for the Cayman Islands 2017-2026’. This document states in one of the strategic aims: “Legislation which safeguards built heritage and the harmonisation of legal provisions for the safeguarding of movable heritage and intangible cultural heritage is urgently needed.” The National Trust, in a press release issued in October last year, after the PACT administration had taken offi ce, said that discussions were ongoing with government about creating a “statutory framework” to protect Cayman’s built heritage. Those discussions were based on a proposal that had been drafted by Richard Mileham of the Planning Department in conjunction with the National Trust’s Historic Advisory Committee and which had been submitted to government “a few years ago”, the release noted. Destroying history The National Trust, in that release, also stated that while certain areas are zoned as ‘historic’, “there are no specifi c statutes in law that expressly prohibit the destruction of these structures once purchased”. The Trust’s National Heritage Register contains 353 sites, which includes structures that were on the list when it was fi rst drawn up in the 1990s and which have since been demolished or fell victim to Hurricane Ivan. Not only are there no laws to protect historic buildings in Cayman, there is also no specifi c government funding for this purpose. In January this year, the National Trust launched a ‘Historic Preservation Fund’, and invited individuals and organisations to “fi nancially contribute and directly support the preservation, protection and promotion of built heritage throughout the Cayman Islands”. In a press release announcing that new fundraising mechanism, Annick Jackman, executive director of the National Trust, said, “There has always been a need for specifi c funding to protect the historic structures from our past, which in many instances require a substantial amount of maintenance and care.” She added, “It is of the greatest importance that efforts are made to reach out to the public for assistance at this time, as Cayman’s culture and heritage have never been so at risk by the rapid pace of development and a defi cit of general knowledge around the area of Cayman built heritage.” The National Trust owns or manages 12 historic sites in Cayman, but the many others on its heritage register remain mostly within the private sector. Woody Foster, managing director of the Foster’s supermarket chain, came up against the issue of how to preserve a historical building after buying land next door to the Foster’s Republix store in West Bay. After he revealed plans to relocate the 103-year-old house, known as the Aldine Franklin House, so he could expand the supermarket, Foster’s came under fi re for not preserving the home in situ. The Central Planning Authority eventually granted permission for the expansion plans to go ahead, and the house is currently being dismantled in preparation for its relocation. At the CPA meeting to discuss his application, he said Foster’s was willing to commit to help develop a process for preserving historic buildings on island, including “putting money behind that and putting our name behind that”. Foster suggested at the time that a ‘preservation park’ could be created where historical homes could be relocated and maintained, so that an option would be available if a similar issue arose again. System needs fi xing He told the Compass this week that he had spoken to the National Trust on the issue, and was invited to a meeting to discuss it last week but was off island and could not attend. But, he said, “I am defi nitely interested in working with the Cayman Islands government, the National Trust, and other stakeholders in having a better process. You cannot have a system where you fi ght about this at the point of development application; it is too late then.” Benny Bodden’s House was built around 1937 by its owner, Capt. Thomas Bennie Bodden, who passed away in 1978, according to National Trust records. Ainsley Bodden’s House was built in the late 1930s. On its social media pages, management of Da Fish Shack posted about the restaurant’s sudden closure, stating, “For over 10 years, Da Fish Shack has been a favourite George Town destination for locals and visitors alike and we are sad to have pulled up anchor at our fi rst home. The recent closure of Da Fish Shack was not a decision made by the restaurant owners, but as a result of notice received from the landlords to vacate the premises by July 31st, 2022.” It’s not clear what will replace the two buildings, but the Central Planning Authority had granted planning permission in November 2016 to JIL Corporation Ltd. for two single-storey commercial buildings for retail and restaurant uses to be erected there. In an analysis of the application, the Planning Department at the time said, “The Authority should note that two existing old Caymanian-style houses would be removed to make way for this modern design building with concrete paving surrounding the building. Section 3.02 of the 1997 Development Plan states the Authority will require a standard of design, construction and landscaping which refl ects the local architectural heritage. The Authority should assess if the proposed building design refl ects the local architectural heritage.” The Compass has reached out the National Trust and to the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Culture and Heritage for an update on the discussions over the preservation of historic buildings in Cayman, but had received no response by press time. Razing old houses highlights lack of protection 353 The number of historic sites listed in the National Trust’s Heritage Register Two neighbouring buildings on North Church Street, dating back to the 1930s, have been bulldozed to the ground. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay Benny Bodden's House, most recently operating as Da Fish Shack, was on the National Trust's Heritage Register. cayman compass 6 news N news FRIDAY, 12 AUGUST 2022cayman compass 7 FRIDAY, 12 AUGUST 2022 Ent_HNW_NRG_Col_Inset_OuterMask_CMYKRESHMA RAGOOANTH rragoonath@compassmedia.ky A team of local experts headed by attorney Steve McField has been commissioned to begin a review of Cayman’s permanent residency points system, Deputy Premier Chris Saunders has announced. Saunders, speaking on Radio Cayman’s On the Record talk show with Orrett Connor on Monday, 8 Aug., said a review of the existing system is necessary and Cabinet has approved the committee members tasked with recommending changes. The deputy premier said, in its present state, the points system “is very skewed towards a certain demographic… almost social engineered”. He added that as head of the review committee, McField, who is also the chairman of the Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board, will gauge what the community wants to see when it comes to who becomes Caymanian. He pointed to McField’s “historical knowledge”, which, he said, adds to his ability to explain to the community what his team will be looking at when it comes to the review. He added that, ultimately, it is the community, and not politicians, who “should be deciding who it is that becomes a Caymanian”. Who decides? Saunders explained that, for years, Cayman had a ‘rollover’ system, in which work-permit holders had to leave the islands after seven years, unless they were designated as ‘key employees’, which allowed them to remain here for nine years – long enough to apply for permanent residency. “It means the only way you could have been a key employee is [for] your employer to designate you key employee. So, in essence, it was employers who were deciding who was staying here long enough to be key employees to apply for PR. It can’t be like that,” he said. The ‘key employee’ system, which was enacted in 2004, ended in 2013, when the immigration law was revised, changing the work- permit term limit to nine years and introducing a points system for those applying for permanent residency. Saunders, who is also Minister for Labour, said, while he did not want to preempt the committee’s work, he expects its members to set out criteria for the points system that the community will support, “in the sense of where our people have said this is what we want Caymanians to look like, this is what we want Caymanians to be”. He added, “I’ve said it for years, our success as a country has never been from immigration, it has been from integration. People coming here, becoming part of the social fabric and contributing – that is what it has been about.” That integration is what has been lost along the way, Saunders said. He said Culture Minister Bernie Bush has been given $2 million as part of his ministry’s annual budget for more social programmes to “bring our people together” as part of efforts to build a balanced society. Points system Under the current permanent residency system, an eligible applicant, someone who has been resident here for at least eight years, has to obtain a minimum of 110 points in order to be granted the right to remain permanently in the Cayman Islands. Those points are awarded based on a number of categories, including occupation, nationality, local investment, education and community service. Saunders said government is aware of the issues that have been compounded by the present PR system, such as the resulting growing demand for real estate, as an investment in local property counts towards the awarded points. He said the committee will take an in-depth look at these issues. Cabinet, in its 2 Aug. meeting approved the terms of reference for the review of permanent residence and appeals processes, as well as the members of the review team. Cayman’s permanent residency points system under review Lawyer Steve McField has been chosen to lead a team to review Cayman’s permanent residency points system. - Photo: FIle 110 The number of points an applicant needs to get in order to be granted permanent residency Under the current system, residents who have lived in Cayman for at least eight years can apply for permanent residency. - Photo: Taneos Ramsay “Our success as a country has never been from immigration, it has been from integration. People coming here, becoming part of the social fabric and contributing – that is what it has been about.” Deputy Premier Chris Saunders Permanent Residency Review Committee members Steve McFieldChairman Patricia EstwickDeputy chair Woody Foster Member Taron Jackman Member Nichelle Welcome-Scott Member Cindy Scotland Member Chief officer, Ministry of Border Control and Labour or designate Ex-officio member Christopher Eakin, Ministry of Border Control and Labour Ex-officio member Susan Dixon, Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board Ex-officio member Jeremy Scott, acting interim director, WORC Ex-officio member Kim Bullings, Cabinet Office Ex-officio member Marilyn Brandt, Attorney General’s Chambers Ex-officio member Shari Powell, Caymanian Status and Permanent Residency Board Ex-officio member and secretary cayman compass 8 news N news FRIDAY, 12 AUGUST 2022R E C O V E R, R E C O N N E C T, R E V I V E. · Caribbean Aviation Day brings together government ministers, industry experts, and senior aviation executives to discuss key challenges and opportunities impacting the region. Join us to hear panel discussions featuring: Hon. Kenneth Bryan, MP Minister for Tourism and Transport, Cayman Islands Government Hon. Christopher “Chris” Saunders, MP Deputy Premier and Minister for Finance & Economic Development and Minister for Border Control & Labour, Cayman Islands Government Hon. Edmund Bartlett Minister Ministry of Tourism, Jamaica Hon. Lisa R. Cummins Minister, Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados Hon. I. Chester Cooper Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Tourism and Investments & Aviation, The Bahamas Marla Dukharan Economist and Leading Advisor on The Caribbean Peter Cerdá Regional Vice President, The Americas IATA Dr. John-Paul Clarke Deputy Chair, Cayman Airways Board of Directors Donna Bush Moderator, News Director Cayman Islands Government Television CARIBBEAN Aviation Day September 14, 2022 The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Specially reduced resident rate of $50 includes coffee breaks & lunch. https://bit.ly/CaribbeanAD CI Scan to register Visit: cayman compass 9 FRIDAY, 12 AUGUST 2022Next >